3D Printing Introduction
by
Krunal Makwana
01 Mar 2022
Introduction – What is 3D printing?
3D Printing is a process for making a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many successive thin layers of material. It brings a digital object (its CAD representation) into its physical form by adding layer by layer of materials.
3D Printing Technology is Additive Manufacturing Process.
Additive Manufacturing Process is a process in which 3D object is completed by means of depositing (adding) a physical material in form of layers whereas, in traditional Subtractive Manufacturing activity, the process is completed by means of successively removing/cutting the physical material to make a 3D object.
Subtractive manufacturing can be done by manually cutting the material but is most typically done with a CNC Machine.
3D Printing Process
3D Printing process begins with a computer model (CAD) design - the blueprint of the physical object. Later this CAD design file is sliced into thin layers by software provided with 3D Printer machine. These layers are very thin and 2-dimensional, laying down successively makes a complete 3D object. The file with this layer instructions generated by the software is called G-code used as instruction-set for 3D Printer.
From here-on 3D Printer works as per its process.
3D Printers use multiple processes viz. FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling), SLA (Stereolithography), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), DLP (Digital Light Processing), SLM (Selective Laser Melting) ..etc
Among all these methods - FDM, SLA and DLP are widely used in industries and consumer applications also.
All these processes use a different type of raw material as input -
FDM uses Filament plastic for melting and printing layer
SLA & DLP uses Resin liquid
Large scale industrial SLS 3D Printer uses a laser to melt (sinter) thin layer of metal or plastic in powder form.
This wide range of materials provides a wide scope to use 3D Printing technology in Industrial Manufacturing, Automotive, Medical, Healthcare, Education, Robotics, Jewellery, Arts, Gift & Decor, Food and many more.
Now Gcode will be processed by 3d printer using 3d printing material to make a 3d object as per the process. Time for 3d printing an object may vary as per technology and 3d printer specification.
3D Printing vs. Traditional Manufacturing
3D Printing is a great tool for manufacturing custom jobs for prototyping & testing before mass production or for even very small requirements.
When compared with other traditional manufacturing methods like subtractive (CNC) or formative (Injection Moulding) manufacturing technology, additive manufacturing technology (3D Printing) is a low cost and quick turnaround time option. 3D Printing is a very efficient cost and time-wise in cases where one or very few parts are required.
3D Printing can produce prototypes very quickly at a low-cost by eliminating high-cost setup requirements of the traditional manufacturing process. This special advantage compared to traditional manufacturing for prototype & testing job work makes 3D Printing technology goto solutions at many industries.
3D Printing Application
3D Printing also referred to as "Rapid Prototyping" technology is now being used in almost all industrial verticals as prototyping tool and small scale manufacturing setups also.
Here is a quick list of a few application references:
1.) Medical and Dental
3D printing technologies are being used for making prototypes to support new product development for the medical healthcare and dental industries, the technologies are also utilized to make patterns for the downstream metal casting of dental crowns and in the manufacture of tools over which plastic is being vacuum-formed to make dental aligners.
2.) Aerospace
Aircraft development is very critical in nature, the R&D process and standards are very demanding & high-end. For this industrial-grade 3D printing systems are solutions. Over the years 3D Printing Process and new-age 3D Printing materials development have seen a number of key applications developed for the aerospace sector — and some non-critical parts are all-ready flying on aircraft.
3.) Automotive
4.) Jewellery
5.) Art / Design / Sculpture
6.) Architecture
7.) Fashion
8.) Food
9.) Consumer
3D Printing is a process for making a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model, typically by laying down many successive thin layers of material. It brings a digital object (its CAD representation) into its physical form by adding layer by layer of materials.
3D Printing Technology is Additive Manufacturing Process.
Additive Manufacturing Process is a process in which 3D object is completed by means of depositing (adding) a physical material in form of layers whereas, in traditional Subtractive Manufacturing activity, the process is completed by means of successively removing/cutting the physical material to make a 3D object.
Subtractive manufacturing can be done by manually cutting the material but is most typically done with a CNC Machine.
3D Printing Process
3D Printing process begins with a computer model (CAD) design - the blueprint of the physical object. Later this CAD design file is sliced into thin layers by software provided with 3D Printer machine. These layers are very thin and 2-dimensional, laying down successively makes a complete 3D object. The file with this layer instructions generated by the software is called G-code used as instruction-set for 3D Printer.
From here-on 3D Printer works as per its process.
3D Printers use multiple processes viz. FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling), SLA (Stereolithography), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), DLP (Digital Light Processing), SLM (Selective Laser Melting) ..etc
Among all these methods - FDM, SLA and DLP are widely used in industries and consumer applications also.
All these processes use a different type of raw material as input -
FDM uses Filament plastic for melting and printing layer
SLA & DLP uses Resin liquid
Large scale industrial SLS 3D Printer uses a laser to melt (sinter) thin layer of metal or plastic in powder form.
This wide range of materials provides a wide scope to use 3D Printing technology in Industrial Manufacturing, Automotive, Medical, Healthcare, Education, Robotics, Jewellery, Arts, Gift & Decor, Food and many more.
Now Gcode will be processed by 3d printer using 3d printing material to make a 3d object as per the process. Time for 3d printing an object may vary as per technology and 3d printer specification.
3D Printing vs. Traditional Manufacturing
3D Printing is a great tool for manufacturing custom jobs for prototyping & testing before mass production or for even very small requirements.
When compared with other traditional manufacturing methods like subtractive (CNC) or formative (Injection Moulding) manufacturing technology, additive manufacturing technology (3D Printing) is a low cost and quick turnaround time option. 3D Printing is a very efficient cost and time-wise in cases where one or very few parts are required.
3D Printing can produce prototypes very quickly at a low-cost by eliminating high-cost setup requirements of the traditional manufacturing process. This special advantage compared to traditional manufacturing for prototype & testing job work makes 3D Printing technology goto solutions at many industries.
3D Printing Application
3D Printing also referred to as "Rapid Prototyping" technology is now being used in almost all industrial verticals as prototyping tool and small scale manufacturing setups also.
Here is a quick list of a few application references:
1.) Medical and Dental
3D printing technologies are being used for making prototypes to support new product development for the medical healthcare and dental industries, the technologies are also utilized to make patterns for the downstream metal casting of dental crowns and in the manufacture of tools over which plastic is being vacuum-formed to make dental aligners.
2.) Aerospace
Aircraft development is very critical in nature, the R&D process and standards are very demanding & high-end. For this industrial-grade 3D printing systems are solutions. Over the years 3D Printing Process and new-age 3D Printing materials development have seen a number of key applications developed for the aerospace sector — and some non-critical parts are all-ready flying on aircraft.
3.) Automotive
4.) Jewellery
5.) Art / Design / Sculpture
6.) Architecture
7.) Fashion
8.) Food
9.) Consumer
Editor’s Picks
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Anycubic
The Anycubic Photon M3 Max impresses with its exceptionally large build volume and the high-resolution 13.6 inch 7K monochrome display.Key Features of the Anycubic Photon M3 Max Large build volume: 298 x 164 x 300 mm (L x W x H) Device size: 400...
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[𝐃𝐋𝐏 𝟑𝐃 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲], Anycubic Photon D2 uses thousands of mirrors (DMDs) to concentrate light directly to the bottom of the 3d Printer resin tank, minimizing light source distortion and diffusion, achieving better printing accuracy than LCD 3D machines of the same resolution.[𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲],...
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Powerful LCD Resin Printer with Very High Resolution for Precise ModelsWith the large format Anycubic Photon Mono X 6K you can print large models with vivid details. This powerful resin printer can be used for everything from jewellery to dental applications, figurines, decorative objects...
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【Dual-Gear Direct Extruder】The dual-gear direct drive extruder with gears made of SUS303 stainless steel features adjustable extrusion force and a 3:1 reduction ratio, which ensures smoother filament feeding and stable & accurate printing, greatly reducing nozzle clogging and gear jumping problems. Ideal for printing...
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Anycubic photon Ultra:It is a first desktop DLP 3d printer in the 3D printer market.It enjoys ultra-high precision printing quality and long durability at the price of LCD 3d printer,and will win a considerable market.Technical Specifications System:ANYCUBIC Photon Ultra Operation :2.8 inch Touch Screen...
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10" 8K Monochrome LCD ELEGOO Saturn 2 adopts a 10-inch 8K mono LCD screen with an HD resolution of 7680x4320 and an ultra-fine XY resolution of 28.5 microns, outputting outstandingly detailed 3D models with a cure time of only 1-3s per layer. The scratch-resistant...
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[Direct Drive Extruder] The advanced Titan extruder solves most of the problems of filament clogging and uneven extrusion, and achieves high-precision printing. And the maximum printing speed of 150 mm/s realizes high-efficiency printing.[Dual Z-Axis Synchronization System] Dual Z-axis design, double screw drive, makes sure...
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𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲, ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X 2 is equipped with a 9.1'' 4K+ large mono LCD screen with a resolution of 4096 x 2560, and a single pixel is able to reach 48μm, which is 4% higher than Photon Mono X, offering 3D...
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[7.6" Screen & Large Print Volume] The ANYCUBIC Photon M3 resin printer features 7.6" screen and can print up to max volume of 7.08" x 6.45" x 4.03", giving you more possibilities for your creations. Adds a replaceable anti-scratch film (an extra protective film...
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[Overview of Neptune 3 Pro] 225*225*280mm printing size can meet the needs of most users. With an STM32 motherboard, all axes of ELEGOO Neptune 3 Pro are driven by silent stepper motors for quieter and more precise movement during printing, which reduces the noise...
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Bigger and more powerfulAnycubic Wash & Cure Plus is ideal for cleaning and curing your resin prints. With an even larger cleaning container and an enlarged curing platform, larger print results can now also be post-processed perfectly. The material properties of the resin are...
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Easy Assembly & Fast Printing: ANYCUBIC KOBRA NEO 3D Printe is pre-Installed 3D Printers. It is makes it possible to set up the 3d printer within 10 minutes. Faster installation than other FDM 3D printers. Anycubic Kobra Neo prints at a typical speed of...
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6.23-inch 4K monochrome LCDThe Photon Mono 4K has a print resolution of 3840 x 2400, 35 µm XY pixels and 7% light transmission, which guarantees highly detailed prints. The printing speed reaches up to 50 mm / h and the curing time of a...
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[360° all-round exposure] The post-curing station adopts 2 L-shape light bars (each built-in 14 UV LED lights) and adds 4 UV LED beads beneath the turntable. Work with 360°auto-rotating turntable and a handheld UV lamp that cures the nooks and crannies and interior of...
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A resin 3D printer creates unattainable details compared to FDM printers. However, it is well known that post-processing the finished models can be tedious.To solve this problem, the Anycubic research team has now developed the successor to Wash & Cure with more UV lights...
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[Easy to Assemble: Integrated structure with metal profile body, 95% highly pre-assembled, only 3 minutes to set up, no cable tangling danger, easy to install and maintain, quick to use.[High Precision: Remote Titan extruder with stronger extrusion, stable filament feeding. The modular hotend integrates...
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DESCRIPTIONThe 3D printer for beginners with many features!Anycubic has become one of the most popular 3D printer brands in the market due to its strong research and development activities. With their business philosophy of producing simple, affordable and yet high-quality products, they appeal to...
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