3-D Printing Technology
- Using a layering technique, 3D printing uses computer-aided design (CAD) to produce three-dimensional things.
Principle:
- A CAD (computer-aided design) file is used to create a three-dimensional object in 3D printing.
- Utilizing additive methods, 3D-printed objects are produced.
- In an additive process, an object is made by adding layers of material one after another until the product is made.
- It is possible to think of each of these levels as a finely sliced cross-section of the object.
- We can create intricate shapes using 3D printing while utilizing less material than we would with conventional manufacturing techniques.
How a 3-D printer works:
- An inkjet printer controlled by a computer and a standard 3D printer is extremely similar.
- Fused depositional modeling is a technique that involves continuously printing over the same region to create a 3D model one layer at a time, from the bottom up (FDM).
- The printer, which operates totally automatically, turns a 3D CAD drawing into several cross-sectional layers that are stacked one on top of the other to produce a model over the course of several hours.
What “ink” is used by a 3D printer?
- A 3D printer employs neither liquid ink nor solid powder, as opposed to an inkjet printer and a laser printer.
- Layers of molten plastic or powder are deposited by the 3-D printer, which then employs adhesive or ultraviolet radiation to fuse them together (and to the underlying structure).
- Commodities are the most often used raw materials for 3D printing.
Thermoplastic materials:
- Butadiene with acrylonitrile styrene (ABS)
- lactic acid, poly (PLA)
- modified polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG).
- These materials are widely accessible and reasonably priced since they are produced in large numbers by the global chemicals and plastics industries.
- Aluminum and bronze powders, particular grades of stainless steel, a few aluminum alloys, cobalt-chromium compounds, and a small number of titanium alloys are the most easily accessible metallic raw materials.
- In order to increase the range of metals that can be used for 3D printing, private industry and independent research organizations are devoting significant R&D resources.
3D printing uses include:
- Among other things, the following are some intriguing instances of 3D-printed objects: –
- bodily parts and prosthetic limbs
- houses and other structures
- Food
- Medicine
- Liquid structures for firearms
- Glass-based goods
- Acrylic items
- film props
- musical apparatuses
- Clothing Medical equipment and models
Benefits of the 3D Production Process:
- Faster prototyping thanks to 3D printing’s ability to produce parts in a matter of hours. This makes it possible for each step to finish sooner.
- Simple to use – 3D printing has been around for a while and has become very popular since about 2010. Nowadays, a large range of printers and software programs are readily available, making it simple for practically anyone to pick it up.
- Better products: 3D printing consistently creates high-quality goods. The final result will typically always be of the same quality as long as the model is accurate and suitable for the intended application and the same kind of printer is utilized.
- 3D printing is one of the best tools for product design and testing, and it is great for both. It provides chances for model design and testing, making model refinement simple.
- Cost-effective – 3D printing has the potential to be a cheap way to produce goods. Once the model is developed, the procedure is typically mechanized, and waste from raw materials is generally minimal.
- Nearly endless product design options are possible because of 3D printing. The sky is the limit as long as it can be planned in CAD and the printer can handle it.
- Flexible Design: Compared to conventional production techniques, 3D printing enables the design and fabrication of more complicated designs. With the use of 3D printing, design limitations that are present in more conventional procedures are no longer an issue.
- Different materials can be printed with 3D printers, and some of them can even mix or switch between materials. This could be challenging and expensive with conventional printing.
- Another benefit of print-on-demand is that, unlike traditional production methods, it doesn’t require much space to store inventory. As there is no need to print in quantity unless necessary, this saves both space and money. All of the 3D design files are kept in a digital repository. They can so be found and printed as required. By altering individual files, changes to designs can be made for relatively little money without wasting outdated stock or spending money on tools.
- Minimizing Waste: Compared to other processes that involve cutting huge chunks of non-recyclable materials, the fabrication of components only uses the materials required for the part itself, with little to no waste. The procedure not only conserves resources but also lowers the price of the materials used.
- Environmentally Friendly – This method lowers material waste, thus the process is already friendly to the environment.
- Advanced healthcare: Human organs including livers, kidneys, and hearts are printed using 3D printing to help save lives in the medical field. Some of the biggest technological advancements are being made in the healthcare industry, where new uses and advancements are always being developed.
Disadvantages:
- Reduction in Manufacturing Jobs: Because printers handle the majority of the manufacturing automation, there may be a potential reduction in human labor. However, the technology could jeopardize these manufacturing employment by eliminating the necessity for production abroad. Many third-world countries depend on low-skill occupations to maintain their economies.
- Limited Resources: A variety of resins and metals can be used in 3D printing to make objects. However, the choice of raw materials is not all-inclusive. This is because not all metals or plastics can be heated to a temperature that enables 3D printing. Additionally, very few of these printable materials are food-safe, and many of them cannot be recycled.
- Small print chambers found in 3D printers now limit the size of the parts that may be created. Anything larger will require printing in multiple pieces that are assembled after production.
- Due to the printer needing to produce more pieces before manual labour is employed to assemble the parts, this might raise prices and production time for larger products.
- Errors in the design Because some printers have lower tolerances, the finished pieces might not match the original design exactly. This can be rectified in post-processing, but it must be taken into account that this will extend the manufacturing time and cost.
- Layer-by-layer construction is used in 3D printing, commonly referred to as additive manufacturing. Even while these layers stick together, under specific loads or orientations, they may delaminate. When employing Fused Deposition Modeling to produce products, this issue is more serious (FDM),. Parts made of polyjet and multijet frequently have increased brittleness.
- Copyright Concerns More people will be able to produce phoney and counterfeit goods as 3D printing becomes more widespread and affordable, making it nearly difficult to tell the difference. This clearly has problems with quality control and copyright.
