3D Printing Introduction
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
Vendor:
ELEGOO
Main Features: 【Pre-installed Klipper Firmware】The Neptune 4 Pro 3D printer is designed to be fast and efficient. It features a quiet Klipper motherboard and ARM 64-bit 1.5G main frequency quad-core processor for sufficient processing power, allowing it to print at a amazing speed of...
- Regular price
- Rs. 32,999.00
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- Rs. 32,999.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
ELEGOO
Print volume: 420*420*480mmMax printing speed: 500 mm/s11x11 (121) points auto levelingUp to 300°C nozzleCompatible with PLA/PETG/ABS/TPU/Nylon FilamentsWIFI/WLAN/USB transfer
- Regular price
- Rs. 41,999.00
- Regular price
-
Rs. 46,000.00 - Sale price
- Rs. 41,999.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
Anycubic
The Anycubic Photon Mono 2 is an excellent choice for 3D printing beginners, thanks to its 6.6-inch 4K+ LCD screen and high resolution. Bigger and Higher Resolution-Photon Mono 2 uses a 6.6-inch monochrome LCD screen with a resolution of 4096*2560, which can display the...
- Regular price
- Rs. 15,999.00
- Regular price
-
Rs. 25,000.00 - Sale price
- Rs. 15,999.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
Anycubic
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...
- Regular price
- Rs. 7,777.00
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- Rs. 7,777.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
Anycubic
● 10.1-inch 12K● The 1st Consumer Grade Leveling-free● 3X Print Speed Average 105mm/h Tech Specs Machine Weight - 19.6lb./8.9kg Machine Dimensions - 18.11x10.63x11.41in./460*270*290mm(HWD) Printing Volume - 190oz./5.4L Printing Dimensions - 7.87x8.58x4.84in./200x218x123mm(HWD) Average Printing Speed - With high speed resin - 105mm/hr. or 4.13 in./hr.With general resin -...
- Regular price
- Rs. 48,750.00
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- Rs. 48,750.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
Anycubic
● 10.1 Inch 12K Exquisite Details 11520x5120 Resolution● Upgraded Workshop 3.1, Better Slicing Experience● Big Printing Dimensions: 200x218x123mm(HWD)
- Regular price
- Rs. 37,500.00
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- Rs. 37,500.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
ELEGOO
Main Features: 【7-Inch 9K Mono LCD】Equipped with a 7-inch 9K mono LCD offering an impressive 8520x4320 resolution and 18µm XY resolution, Mars 4 Ultra allows you to print incredible complex models with crisp details. The mono LCD is protected by a 9H hardness tempered...
- Regular price
- Rs. 30,999.00
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- Rs. 30,999.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
ELEGOO
10-inch 12K mono LCD 9H tempered glass XY resolution of 19×24μm Build volume of 218.88×122.88×260 mm³ Up to 150mm/h printing speed Linux OS with 4Gb RAM Wi-Fi transfer speeds of 6-10Mbps 4-point leveling system Laser-engraved build plate ACF release liner film for faster printing....
- Regular price
- Rs. 50,999.00
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- Rs. 50,999.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
ELEGOO
Main Features: 【10-Inch 12K Mono LCD】With a 10-inch 12K mono LCD boasting a stunning resolution of 11520x5120 and an XY resolution of 19x24μm, ELEGOO Saturn 3 is capable of producing highly detailed and intricate models with ease, at a printing speed of up to...
- Regular price
- Rs. 45,999.00
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- Rs. 45,999.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
ELEGOO
[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...
- Regular price
- Rs. 16,400.00
- Regular price
-
Rs. 25,000.00 - Sale price
- Rs. 16,400.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
artillery3d
[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...
- Regular price
- Rs. 30,000.00
- Regular price
-
Rs. 50,000.00 - Sale price
- Rs. 30,000.00
- Unit price
- per
Vendor:
ELEGOO
The Elegoo Neptune 4 Plus FDM 3D Printer offers an expansive print volume of 320x320x385mm, providing ample space for large-scale projects. With a remarkable maximum printing speed of 500 mm/s, it ensures swift and efficient printing processes. The convenience of 11x11 (121) points auto leveling enhances...
- Regular price
- Rs. 34,999.00
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- Rs. 34,999.00
- Unit price
- per
