3D PRINTING
TECHNOLOGY
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
3D Printing Technology
Introduction to 3D Printing
3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three
dimensional object is created by laying down successive layers of material. It is also known as rapid prototyping, is a mechanized method whereby 3D objects arequickly made on a reasonably sized machine connected to a computer containing
blueprints for the object. Th e 3D printing concept of custom manufacturing is exciting to nearly everyone. This revolutionary method for creating 3D models with the use of inkjet technology saves time and cost by eliminating the need to design; print and glue together separate model parts. Now, you can create a Complete model in a single process using 3D printing. The basic principles include materials cartridges , flexibility of output, and translation of code into a visible pattern.
Typical 3D Printer
3D Printers are machines that produce physical 3D models from digital data by printing layer by layer. It can make physical models of objects either designed with a CAD program or scanned with a 3D Scanner. It is used in a variety of industries including jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction, automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education and consumer prod ucts.
History of 3d Printing
The technology for printing physical 3D objects from digital data was first
developed by Charles Hull in 1984. He named the technique as Stereo lithography and obtained a patent for the technique in 1986. While Stereo lithography systems had become popular by the end of 1980s, other similar technologies such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) were introduced.
In 1993, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) patented another
technology, named "3 Dimensional Printing techniques", which is similar to the inkjet technology used in 2D Printers. In 1996, three major products, "Genisys" from Stratasys, "Actua 2100" from 3D Systems and "Z402" from Z Corporation, were introduced. In 2005, Z Corp. launched a breakthrough product, named
Spectrum Z510, which was the first high definition color 3D Printer in the market.
Another breakthrough in 3D Printing occurred in 2006 with the initiation of an open source project, named Reprap, which was aimed at developing a selfreplicating 3D printer.
MANUFACTURING A MODEL WITH THE 3D PRINTER
The model to be manufactured is built up a layer at a time. A layer of powder is automatically deposited in the model tray. The print head then applies resin in the shape of the model. The layer dries solid almost immediately. The model tray then moves down the distance of a layer and another layer of power is deposited in position, in the model tray. The print head again applies resin in the shape of the model, binding it to the first layer. This sequence occurs one layer at a time until the model is complete
Very recently Engineers at the University of Southampton in the UK have
designed, printed, and sent skyward the world’s first aircraft manufactured almost entirely via 3-D printing technology. The UAV dubbed SULSA is powered by an electric motor that is pretty much the only part of the aircraft not created via additive manufacturing methods.
World’s First 3D Printed Plane Takes Flight
Created on an EOS EOSINT P730 nylon laser sintering machine, its wings,
hatches and control surfaces basically everything that makes up its structure and aerodynamic controls was custom printed to snap together. It requires no fasteners and no tools to assemble.
Current 3D Printing Technologies
Stereo lithography - Stereo lithographic 3D printers (known as SLAs or stereo lithography apparatus) position a perforated platform just below the surface of a vat of liquid photo curable polymer. A UV laser beam then traces the first slice of an object on the surface of this liquid, causing a very thin layer of photopolymer to harden. The perforated platform is then lowered very slightly and another slice is traced out and hardened by the laser. Another slice is then created, and then another, until a complete object has been printed and can be removed from the vat of photopolymer, drained of excess liquid, and cured. Fused deposition modelling - Here a hot thermoplastic is extruded from a
Temperature-controlled print head to produce fairly robu st objects to a high degree of accuracy.
Selective laser sintering (SLS) - This builds objects by using a laser to
selectively fuse together successive layers of a cocktail of powdered wax, ceramic, metal, nylon or one of a range of other materials.
Multi-jet modelling (MJM )- This again builds up objects from successive layers
of powder, with an inkjet -like print head used to spray on a binder solution that glues only the required granules together.
The VFlash printer, manufactured by Canon, is low -cost 3D printer. It’s known to build layers with a light -curable film. Unlike other printers, the VFlash builds its parts from the top down. Desktop Factory is a startup launched by the Idealab incubator in Pasadena, California.
Fab@home, an experimental pr oject based at Cornell University, uses a syringe to deposit material in a manner similar to FDM. The inexpensive syringe makes it easy to experiment with different materials from glues to cake frosting.
The Nanofactory 3D printing technologies are introdu ced that are related to the nanotechnologies. .
3D Printing Capabilities:
As anticipated, this modern technology has smoothed the path for numerous new possibilities in various fields. The list below details the advantages of 3D printing in certain fields.
1. Product formation is currently the main use of 3D printing technology. These machines allow designers and engineers to test out ideas for dimensional products cheaply before committing to expensive tooling and manufacturing processes.
2. In Medical Field, Surgeons are using 3d printing machines to print body parts for reference before complex surgeries. Other machines are used to construct bone grafts for patients who have suffered traumatic injuries. Looking further in the future, research is underway as scientists are working on creating replacement organs.
3. Architects need to create mockups of their designs. 3D printing allows them to come up with these mockups in a short period of time and with a higher degree of accuracy.
4. 3D printing allows artists to create objects that would be incredibly difficult, costly, or time intensive using traditional processes.
3D Saves Time and Cost
Creating complete models in a single process using 3D printing has great benefits. This innovative technolog y has been proven to save companies time, manpower and money. Companies providing 3D printing solutions have brought to life an efficient and competent technological product.
The evolution of 3d printing
This reality of affordable on -demand prototyping was first conceived by visionaries at mit who in 1993 developed the fastest and most affordable method of prototyping — 3d printing. Upon z corporation’s founding in 1994 by some of these same Visionaries, we promised to put on-demand prototyping within the reach of every designer or engineer. This promise would entail developing 3d
printers that would follow the footsteps of document printers and quickly evolve to deliver speed, Affordability, accuracy, colo r and usability. We are working to keep that promise:
First generation —3d printing arrives
In 1996, we introduced the z®402, the market’s first 3d printer, redefining speed and affordability in rapid prototyping. Later Versions like the z402c and z406 introduced multicolor 3d printing for more vivid and informative models when needed.
Second generation – improved performance, affordability
and color
our release of the zprinter® 310 in 2003 introduced breakthrough speed, a simplified user experience and unprecedented Affordability. In 2005, the spectrum z™510 redefined 3d printing with a new generation of high -resolution printing and Vivid color.
Third generation – focus on ease of use
In 2007, the zprinter 450 kicked off the third generation of 3d printers with a focus on ease of use and office compatibility. The Automated, self -contained, all-in-one (print, depowder) solution improved convenience and office -friendliness. It was followed By the zprinter 650 in 2008, with increased size and performance, and the zprinter 350 in 2009, which introduced a new level Of 3d printing affordability. These printers increased the accessibility for new classes of users
How Does 3D printing Work?
The fundamental purpose of a 3D printer is to quickly transform an idea into a physical object. That idea is usually first embodied in a 3D computer model created in 3D CAD software like SolidWorks ®, Autodesk® Inventor® or Pro/ENGINEER®.
All of these software tools export 3D models as files in standard formats for 3D printing, including .STL, .WRL(VRML), .PLY, .3DSand .ZPR. The exported file is a mesh, or series of triangles oriented in space, that enclose a 3D volume. This mesh must be “water tight” so that the model is a solid, not just surfaces that may not have any thickness (see Figure 1.1 on page 5). In other words, the design at this point must be ready to exist in the real world, not just on a computer. With the file now in a printable format, you launch ZPrint™ software on your PC. Using ZPrint, you can scale up or scale down the file you wish to print, orient the part in the build chamber, and direct the 3D printer to print multiple versions of the part in the same build (with or without variation s). Then ZPrint slices the 3D model file into hundreds of digital cross -sections, or layers. Each 0.004 inch (0.1 mm ) slice corresponds to a layer of the model to be fabricated in the ZPrinter (see Figure 1.2).
When ready to start the print job, you click “3D Print.” This sends the digital layer files to the ZPrinter, and the model begins printing immediately.
The ZPrinter prints each layer, one atop another, as the physical part is constructed within the build chamber of the machine. We’ll detail how the ZPrinter accomplishes this task next. Once the ZPrinter completes the final layer, a short drying cycle runs. Then the physical object can be removed.
