BASIC OF 3D PRINTERS AND 3D PRINTING
3D printing is also called additive manufacturing. This term
accurately describes how this technology works to create objects.
"Additive" refers to the successive addition of thin layers between
16 to 180 microns or more to create an object. In fact, all 3D printing
technologies are similar, as they construct an object layer by layer to create
complex shapes.
HOW DOES 3D PRINTING WORK?
Every 3D printer builds parts based on the same main principle:
a digital model is turned into a physical three-dimensional object by adding
material a layer at a time. This is where the alternative term Additive
Manufacturing comes from.
3D printing is a fundamentally different way of producing parts
compared to traditional subtractive (CNC machining) or formative (Injection molding)
manufacturing technologies.
In 3D printing, no special tools are required (for example, a
cutting tool with certain geometry or a mold). Instead the part is manufactured
directly onto the built platform layer-by-layer, which leads to a unique set of
benefits and limitations - more on this below.
The process always begins with a digital 3D model - the
blueprint of the physical object. This model is sliced by the printer's
software into thin, 2-dimensional layers and then turned into a set of
instructions in machine language (G-code) for the printer to execute.
From here, the way a 3D printer works varies by process. For
example, desktop FDM printers melt plastic filaments and lay it down onto the
print platform through a nozzle (like a high-precision, computer-controlled
glue gun). Large industrial SLS machines use a laser to melt (or sinter) thin
layers of metal or plastic powders.
The available materials also vary by process. Plastics are by
far the most common, but metals can also be 3D printed. The produced parts can
also have a wide range of specific physical properties, ranging from optically
clear to rubber-like objects.
Depending on the size of the part and the type of printer, a
print usually takes about 4 to 18 hours to complete. 3D printed parts are
rarely ready-to-use out of the machine though. They often require some
post-processing to achieve the desired level of surface finish. These steps
take additional time and (usually manual) effort.
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