3D printing technology & applications

 

3D Printing technology:👇

Digital fabrication technology, commonly known as 3D printing or additive manufacturing, uses progressive material addition to construct physical items from a geometrical representation. 3D printing is a rapidly developing technology. 3D printing is now widely used throughout the world. 3D printing technology is increasingly being used for mass modification and manufacture of open source designs in agriculture, healthcare, automotive, locomotive, and aviation industries. 3D printing technology may manufacture an object directly from a computer-aided design (CAD) model, layer by layer deposition of material. This article provides an overview of the many types of 3D printing technologies and the applications of 3D printing technology in the manufacturing business.

3D printing invention;🙋

👉Hideo Kodama of the Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute invented the first 3D printing manufacturing equipment when he invented two additive processes for generating 3D models.

When did 3D printing first appear?

👉Building on Ralf Baker's decorative article work from the 1920s  In 1981, Hideo Kodama finished his early work in laser-cured resin rapid prototyping. His innovation was further developed over the next three decades, culminating in the development of stereolithography in 1984. In 1987, Chuck Hull of 3D Systems invented the first 3D printer, which used stereolithography. This was followed by innovations like selective laser sintering and selective laser melting. Other pricey 3D printing methods were created in the 1990s and 2000s, but their prices dropped drastically after the patents expired in 2009, making the technology available to a wider range of customers.

Working principle:

👉Each type of 3D printer uses a distinct technology to process different materials in different ways. One of the most fundamental limitations of 3D printing — in terms of materials and applications — is that there is no 'one size fits all' answer. Some 3D printers, for example, process powdered substances (nylon, plastic, ceramic, and metal) by using a light/heat source to sinter /melt /fuse layers of the powder together in the prescribed shape. Others treat polymer resin materials by solidifying the resin in very thin layers using a light/laser. Another 3D printing technology is jetting of fine droplets, which is similar to 2D inkjet printing but with better ink and a binder to hold the layers together.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM):

👉FDM 3D printers are a multibillion-dollar industry with hundreds of machines ranging from simple models for children to sophisticated versions for manufacturers. FDM machines are sometimes called fused filament fabrication (FFF), the same technology. FDM, like all 3D printing technologies, begins with a digital model, which is then converted into instructions for the 3D printer to follow. With FDM, a spool of filament (or multiple) is inserted into the 3D printer and fed through to a printer nozzle in the extrusion head. The printer nozzle, or nozzles, are heated to the proper temperature, causing the filament to soften and combine to form a solid item.

 👉3D printing with thermoplastic extrusion is by far the most widespread — and recognisable — 3D technology. Due to its length, the most known moniker for the method is Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), but this is a trade mark registered by Stratasys, the company that invented it. FDM technology from Stratasys has been around since the early 1990s and is now an industrial-quality 3D printing technique. However, the plethora of entry-level 3D printers that have arisen since 2009 mostly employ a similar technology, known as Freeform Fabrication (FFF), but in a more basic form due to Stratasys's patents. The method involves melting plastic filament, which is then deposited, one layer at a time, onto a build platform using a heated extruder and the 3D data supplied to the printer. Each layer hardens and binds to the previous layer as it is deposited.

 

FDM method printing

The first layer is laid down as the printer moves the extrusion head along the specified coordinates on the XY plane. The extrusion head is then raised to the next level height (the Z plane), and the process of printing cross-sections is repeated until the object is entirely produced.

Depending on the geometry of the object, it may be essential to build support structures to hold the model up when it is printed, for example, if the model has steep overhanging areas. After printing, these supports are removed. Some materials used in support structures can be dissolved in water or another solution.

 Videos:👀

FDM  Printing video

3D Printing applications👇

Ø  The medical sector is regarded as an early adopter of 3D printing, but also as a sector with enormous growth potential, owing to the technologies' customization and personalization capabilities, as well as their ability to improve people's lives as processes improve and materials that meet medical grade standards are developed.

Ø  In its early stages, the aircraft industry was an early adoption of 3D printing technologies for product development and prototyping. These companies, which often collaborate with university and research institutions, have been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of technology for manufacturing applications.GE / Morris Technologies, Airbus / EADS, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Boeing are among the prominent users. While most of these companies are realistic about what they are doing now with the technologies, most of which is R&D, some are rather bullish about the future.

Ø  The automotive industry was another early adopter of Rapid Prototyping technologies - the first iteration of 3D printing. Many automobile businesses, notably those at the forefront of motorsport and F1, have followed a similar path to the aircraft industry. Initially (and now) used for prototyping applications, but improving and modifying production procedures to embrace the benefits of superior materials and final outcomes for automobile parts.

Ø  3D printing has proven to be very disruptive in the jewellery industry. There is a tremendous deal of curiosity — and uptake — in how 3D printing can and will help the growth of this business. From new design freedoms provided by 3D CAD and 3D printing to refining existing procedures for jewellery manufacture and removing numerous traditional phases, 3D printing has had — and continues to have — a great influence in this sector.

Ø  Architectural models have long been common use for 3D printing technologies, providing accurate demonstration models of an architect's design. 3D printing provides a reasonably quick, simple, and cost-effective technique for manufacturing detailed models straight from 3D CAD, BIM, or other digital data used by architects. Many successful architectural firms now use 3D printing (in-house or as a service) as an essential workflow element to promote creativity and communication.

Ø  Shoes, headpieces, caps, and purses made their way onto global catwalks as 3D-printed accessories. And some of the most forward-thinking fashion designers have proved the technology's capabilities for haute couture — dresses, capes, full-length gowns, and even some knickers have debuted at various fashion venues around the world. rld.