3D printing is the additive manufacturing of three-dimensional solid objects from digital files. The additive manufacturing process includes setting down successive layers of material until the target object is created. You can see each layer of the material if you slice thin cross-sections of the item.
Manufacturers use computer-aided design to create items from various 3D printing materials. The 3D printing materials include:
• Thermoplastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
• Graphite
• Metals (including powders)
• Resins
• Carbon fibers
• Ceramics
3D printing allows manufacturers to make 3D printing services for your business complex items with complicated designs using less material than traditional construction.
Are you in need of 3d printing services for your business? Sculpteo is your trusted additive manufacturing production center that offers high-quality prototypes and finished products in just a few clicks.
Types of 3D Printers
There are three types of 3D printers depending on the kind of printing technique each use. However, all the 3D printer types follow some basic processes to produce items in such that they operate the same way as the basic 2D inkjet printers. The printers lay layers of material from the ground up until the thing is fully formed.
The three main types of 3D printers include:
Fusion Deposition Modeling (FDM)
FDM printers are also referred to as fused filament fabrication (FFF) and are among the most widely used 3D printers at a consumer level. The printers spray thermoplastic filaments through a heated nozzle layer after layer until the item is complete.
FFF printers are ideal for simple prototyping and basic proof-of-concept models. However, FFF printers are not the best option for complex designs or items with intricate details as they have the lowest accuracy and resolution compared to SLS and SLA.
Stereolithography (SLA)
SLA is the oldest D3 printing technology and is most popular for professional manufacturers. The laser technology in the printer sinters particles of polymer powder onto solid structures in the photopolymerization process.
The printer produces high-accuracy, watertight, and isotropic prototypes with smooth, well-finished surfaces. SLAs are ideal for rapid and functional prototyping, dental applications, concept modeling, short-run production, jewelry prototyping, and casting.
Stereo Laser Sintering (SLS)
A powerful D3 printer that uses a high-power laser to sinter fine particles of polymer powder into a complex, solid structure. The machine is equipped with a laser that converts liquid resin into plastic. This printer is best used for end-use parts, functional prototyping, bridge, short-run, or custom manufacturing.
Importance of 3D Printing
3D printers are widely used in manufacturing and automotive industries to make items with complex designs and intricate details. The 3D printing industry is bound to grow in the future as more and more industries embrace this technology.
The printers are more promising in the future mainly due to their speed, flexibility, and accuracy. Rapid prototyping is one of the most significant functions of 3D printers. 3D printers create prototypes in a matter of hours compared to days or months of traditional labor. Additionally, the printers offer more than prototypes. Manufacturers can now print fully finished products.
3D printers are game changers in every industry that needs new structures, big or small. In healthcare, 3D printing produces high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE), prosthetics, implants, and other medical equipment. Construction companies use 3D printers to develop entire buildings and structures, while schools use 3D printers to integrate hands-on learning in classrooms. Students are learning of extinct things, such as dinosaurs, by re-creating them alongside creating projects that are possible solutions to present-day problems.
Get All Your 3D Printing Services in One Place
Get all your 3D printing services through Sculpteo’s online 3D printing service package. You can now innovate with high-quality materials and quality technologies. Contact Sculpteo today for great new manufacturing opportunities and space to innovate and grow your designs.
Also Read: Glancing at the Future of 3D Printing
