Compared with traditional machining technology, 3D printing is a new type of processing technology suitable for rapid prototyping and low-cost customization. Because of its superiority, 3D printing has been widely used in various industries. And you must understand the shortcomings of traditional manufacturing and want to solve some problems by understanding this technology in depth. What I want to say is that by studying this article, you can not only improve your skills, but also meet your personalized needs.
What Is 3D Printing Technology?
3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, is a process through which 3D objects are created by depositing layer upon layer of material. During this period, it uses digital models (such as CAD files) to superimpose plastic, metal, resin and other materials layer by layer through printers to finally produce various complex physical structures.
How Does 3D Printing Work?
Many people are curious about 3D printing and want to know how it works? And now I will introduce the whole flow in detail so that you can better understand this process.
1. Design
The first is the design stage. You use CAD software to draw up a 3D model that can be designed from scratch or be obtained via 3D scanning. It is also worth noting that, once the design is finished, you have to export it as an STL or some other 3D printing compatible file.
2. Slicing Processing
In this step, you will import the 3D model file into the slicing program. These software will slice the model and decompose it into cross-sections layer by layer. And you also need to set the parameters, including layer thickness, printing speed, filling density, etc. After that, when the entire slicing process is completed, a set of G-code is generated and used to control the 3D printer to work.
3. Material Preparation
Material preparation is also necessary. You have to choose the appropriate printing material based on the customer’s needs. As for common materials, there are plastics, metals, resins, ceramics, etc.
4. 3D Printing Process
After you have completed all the preparation work, it is time to 3D print. The 3D printer will print the object layer by layer according to the instructions of the G code. During this period, depending on the printing technology you choose, the printing process will also be different. These technology types will be introduced in detail later.
5. Post-Processing
Finally, there is post-processing of the finished product. Some printing components will use support materials when printing, and these materials need to be removed after 3D printing is completed; some printing parts also have processing requirements, such as grinding, coloring, polishing, etc.
Types Of 3D Printing
Okay, after talking about the workflow, I will tell you about the 9 types of 3D printing technology.
1. FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
The thermoplastic is heated and melted by the nozzle, and the molten material is extruded in layers to make a 3D part. FDM is cheap, so it is very suitable for prototyping and small batch manufacturing.
2. SLA (Stereolithography)
SLA has high printing accuracy, so it is commonly used to produce parts with complex shapes. The operating principle is to use a laser or a light source to solidify liquid photosensitive resin, and the solidified resin will form layer by layer to create a 3D object.
3. DLP (Digital Light Processing)
Since DLP has a high printing speed, it can be used for the mass production of high-precision parts. It is the same principle as SLA, but DLP uses a digital light source to cure the whole layer of resin at the same time.
4. SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)
SLS employs lasers to sinter powders layer by layer, which is within a 3D space to build a 3D object. It is a process that can produce complex shapes.You can use materials such as plastic, metal, and ceramics for 3D printing. The only downside is that the equipment is too expensive.
5. PBF (Powder Bed Fusion)
PBF has the characteristics of high precision and high performance and is widely used in the production of parts in aerospace, automobile manufacturing and medical fields. This technology uses high-energy laser beams or electron beams to melt powder materials, melt and deposit them layer by layer, and finally build three-dimensional solid objects.
6. Material Jetting
Material Jetting is highly accurate as well as multi-material and multi-color capable. It basically deposits liquid materials (for example, photosensitive resin or wax) in layers onto the print bed through a nozzle and solidifies them using UV light.
7. Binder Jetting
The Binder Jetting employs a nozzle that sprays binder on the powder bed, bonding it to a substrate or layer by layer to form the final component. It prints fast and with different types of materials.
8. DED (Directed Energy Deposition)
DED is good for large-form metal parts production. The technique employs a laser or electron beam to melt metal powder or wire and build up a 3D object one layer at a time.
9. BAAM (Big Area Additive Manufacturing)
BAMM works on the same principle as FDM, but the process operates with a scaled-up material extrusion system, which makes it well suited for very large objects manufacturing.
What Is 3D Printing Used For?
1. Prototype Manufacturing
This is the most widely used application of 3D printing. You can use 3D printing to design concepts, test products, and make complex parts.Due to its low cost, 3D printing is also suitable for small batch production.
2. Mold Manufacturing
Mold making is another widespread area of application. Especially under the traditional process, it takes a long time to make molds, high costs, and complex structures. At this time, it is very cost-effective for you to use 3D printing to make molds.
3. Medical
3D printing is also a common process used in the medical industry. Due to its high customization and accuracy, customized medical devices, implants and human models are also produced by 3D printing.
4. Aerospace
Complex parts can be made at a low cost by 3D printing, therefore in the aerospace industry, it is also widely applied for the manufacture of light-weight high-strength components.
5. Automotive
In the automotive industry, 3D printing can produce prototypes and functional parts to complete rapid iterative designs. And it can also make lightweight components, which can reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency. In addition, in terms of automotive interiors, personalized accessories can also be printed according to customer needs.
6. Consumer Goods
In daily life, 3D printing generally meets personal customization requirements and prints various types of consumer goods, such as eyeglass frames, shoes, toys, etc.
7. Construction
3D printing can print various architectural models in the construction field, reducing design time. In addition, this technology can also be used to make complex building structures, reducing the difficulty of social engineering.
8. Art Design
I don’t need to say more about art design. Artists and designers can use 3D printing to realize complex creative designs, make sculptures, etc.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of 3D Printing
I believe that after understanding the types and applications of 3D printing, you will definitely wonder what the advantages and disadvantages of 3D printing are, and what advantages can meet your needs. Don’t worry, I will explain them to you one by one next.
1. Advantages Of 3D Printing
(1) High Degree Of Design Freedom
3D printing can produce more complex parts than traditional processes. Because it is stacked layer by layer, 3D printing can easily handle complex structures such as hollow structures, grid structures, and porous designs. For example, aerospace components and medical implants can be produced well with 3D printing.
(2) Personalized Customization
Personalization can be said to be the most significant feature of 3D printing. 3D printing technology can help you produce unique products based on your personal needs and ideas. At this time, you only need to design the digital model, and then you can produce the physical object.
(3) Rapid Prototyping
3D printing is not required for any complex operation or equipment. With this technology, you can quickly turn your design ideas into physical objects with significantly less product development time.
(4) Reduce Material Waste
Traditional machining processes like turning, cutting, milling, and so on are all subtractive processes that create a lot of waste. 3D printing is a process of additive manufacturing, layering the material layer upon layer, which will significantly reduce the material waste.
(5) Reduce Production Costs
3D printing itself doesn’t require either expensive equipment or grinding tools, and the waste of material is minimal, so the cost of the production is very low.
(6) Shorten Production Cycle
3D printing does not involve complicated machining processes and the whole process from design to finished product can be completed rapidly. This significantly reduces the manufacturing period.
(7) Support Multiple Materials
The material is definitely what you pay attention to. In fact, 3D printing is capable of using many materials such as plastics, metals, ceramics, resins, and so on.
(8) Reduce Part Weight
With the improvement of design, the lightweight parts with strong and functional can be fabricated by 3D printing.
(9) Suitable For Small Batch Production
3D printing does not require molds, so it is more economical when producing parts in small batches.
(10) Environmentally Friendly
On the one hand, 3D printing reduces material waste; on the other hand, 3D printing also supports recyclable materials.Well, 3D printing is pretty good when it comes to environmental protection.
2. Disadvantages Of 3D Printing
(1) Slow Printing Speed
3D printing involves the layering of materials, and this layer-by-layer building up method determines the printing speed. Therefore, if you want to print complicated or large items, it may take hours or even days.
(2) Limited Material Selection
Although 3D printing supports many materials, compared with traditional production, there are still some limitations in materials. Metals with high thermal conductivity, highly reflective metals, composite materials, etc., are difficult to use in 3D printing.
(3) Surface Quality Issues
3D printed parts may have layer lines or surface roughness on the surface and need to be post-processed to get the expected effect.
(4) Limited Printing Size
The scale of 3D printing is restricted, it is hard to print large objects directly. These larger objects typically have to be printed in parts and glued together.
(5) Complex Post-Processing
In reality, a lot of 3d printed products do require post-processing, including removal of support structures, surface sanding, heat treating, and more. This adds to the time and expense of production.
(6) High Requirements For Professional Skills
3D printing requires technical requirements for operators. For example, You need professional knowledge to use and maintain 3D printing equipment. Besides, you also have to be skilled in operation of modeling software to make 3D printing model designs.
(7) Intellectual Property Issues
This is an issue which is more likely in 3D printing.This technology could create challenges for protecting intellectual property, including unauthorized copying and distribution of design files.
(8) Not Suitable For Mass Production
The production efficiency of 3D printing is low. A single printing can only have one or a few parts, and the speed is slow as well.
What Material Is Used For 3D Printing?
It has been mentioned that 3D printing uses a variety of materials to produce parts. These materials will vary depending on the 3D printing technology and usage requirements. Below, I will introduce these materials to you in detail.
1. Plastic Materials
(1) PLA
PLA is a cheap, green material, it is commonly used for prototyping.
(2) ABS
ABS material has high strength and good heat resistance. This material is often used to make industrial parts, toys, etc.
(3) PETG
PETG material has high toughness and corrosion resistance, so this material is also used to print industrial parts.
(4) TPU
TPU material has good flexibility and strong elasticity. Parts such as mobile phone cases and wearable devices are made of this material.
(5) PA
PA material has high strength and good wear resistance. This material can be used to print mechanical parts.
2. Metal Materials
(1) Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion and has high strength. The material can be used to print tools, mechanical components, etc.
(2) Aluminum Alloy
Aluminum alloy is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, so the material is commonly used to print automotive parts and aerospace parts.
(3) Titanium Alloy
Because of the high strength and good corrosion resistance of titanium alloy, it is also widely used in aerospace and medical fields.
3. Resin
(1) Ordinary Resin
Resin is often used for prototyping and model design. These resin 3D printed components have smooth performance and high precision.
(2) High-Temperature Resistant Resin
High-temperature resistant resin has excellent high temperature resistance and is very appropriate to be used in high temperature conditions. Thus, this material is typically utilized in mold making in the 3D printing industry.
(3) Flexible Resin
Flexible resin has excellent flexibility, so it is used to print flexible parts.
4. Ceramic
Ceramics are predominantly employed in a unique 3D printing technique. This material has high hardness, high heat resistance, and resistance to chemical corrosion. It is also very good for high-temperature and corrosion-resistant products, such as dental ceramics and ceramic components for high temperature.
What Software To Use For 3D Printing?
Whether you want to use 3D printing to make components or want to learn more about 3D printing, you must be familiar with the software suitable for 3D printing. All software has its own strengths and you can select a suitable one based on your needs.
1. Modeling Software
- TinkerCAD: Free, simple model design, suitable for beginners
- Fusion 360: Powerful function, supports parametric design and complex model making
- AutoCAD: Professional-grade design software for engineering drafting and 3D modeling
- Blende: Free, supports complex models
- SolidWorks: Industrial-grade modeling software, suitable for mechanical manufacturing and product design
- SketchU: Easy to learn and suitable for quick design
2. Slicing Software
- Ultimaker Cura: Free and open source, supports multiple printers with a rich set of features
- PrusaSlicer: Tailored for Prusa printers, it supportsmultiple materials and printing technologies
- Simplify3D: Commercial product, feature-rich and fast slicer
- Chitubox: Designed for resin printing and supports SLA/DLP printers
- Lychee Slicer: Best for resin printing, supports multiple printers
3. Printing Control Software
- OctoPrint: Free, supports remote control
- Repetier-Host: supports a variety of printers and has rich functions
- MakerBot Print: Specifically used for MakerBot series printers
- FlashPrint: Designed for FlashForge printers
4. Professional Simulation And Optimization Software
- Materialise Magics: Professional software that can be used for model repair and printing optimization
- Netfabb: Mainly used for model repair, slicing and printing simulation
In Conclusion
The above is my entire introduction to 3D printing technology. I believe that through reading the entire article, you will have a deeper understanding of 3D printing, which will also be of significant help to your future work. Of course, if you need 3D printing services, you can also contact us. We have professional 3D printers and a engineer team that can produce high-precision and high-quality components for you. Send us an inquiry now!
FAQ
Q1: how much does 3d printing cost?
A: There are many factors that influence the cost of 3D printing, such as materials, size of printed part, type of printer, complexity of printed parts and requirements for post-processing. In general, the price of 3D printing can be as low as $10 and as high as thousands of dollars.
Q2: When was 3d printing invented?
A: 3D printing was first invented in 1983 by Chuck Hull, an American engineer.
Q3: How long does 3d printing take?
A: 3D printing time is affected by many factors such as model size, complexity, type of printer, and print layer height settings. A small model can be a matter of minutes to a couple of hours, but a big complex model can take dozens of hours or even days.
Q4: Is 3D printing just plastic?
A: While plastic is the most common material,3D printing can also be done with metals, ceramics, resins and other materials.
Q5: Is 3D printing actually printing?
A: Although in our opinion, 3D printing is different from flat printing on paper, it is also a kind of “printing”. After all, traditional printing sprays ink or powder on paper, while 3D printing transforms digital models into 3D objects by stacking materials layer by layer. This emerging printing method is more like expanding the concept of printing, from 2D to 3D.
