The Benefits of a 3D Printer

 


 

A 3D printer produces objects from a digital file called a "printhead." The printhead is also known as the "tool head." Photo courtesy of Ashley McLaughlin. A 3D printer can be used for a wide variety of applications, including the manufacture of musical instruments. Oak Ridge National Lab is collaborating with a company to create the world's first 3D-printed car. Open-source 3D printing movement, America Makes, recently funded the development of a metal printer that can print anything. 

 

While 3D printing uses plastic filament, it can also work with any other molten substance. Researchers at Exeter University have developed a food printer prototype that can print 3D objects from chocolate. In addition to ABS, another popular material for 3D printing is PLA, which is more environmentally friendly and easier to shape than ABS. PETG is a halfway-house material between ABS and PLA. It's lightweight, easy to shape, and recyclable.

 

Many other benefits of a 3D printer include reduced manufacturing costs and greater speed. By eliminating the need for multiple components and assemblies, 3D-printed parts reduce overall weight and increase strength. GE Aviation's LEAP engine, for example, uses 3D-printed Cobalt-chrome fuel nozzles that are five times stronger and 25 percent lighter than conventional ones. A 3D printer can make all sorts of parts quickly and efficiently, and even help companies develop their ideas faster.  Check out this link for a more and better understanding of this topic.

 

Using a 3D printer can create parts of the highest quality and durability. In addition, it allows for intricate designs to be crafted in various materials, including ceramics. Materials such as polyurethane, acrylate, and nylon can be used for these parts. The most expensive 3D printers use this technology, and if you plan to buy one, it's a good idea to look around online to see if the printer fits your needs.

 

The first 3D printer was developed in the 1980s. It was called a "molecular spray" by Raymond F. Jones. Several years later, 3D Systems, Inc., became the first commercial 3D printer. During the 1990s, several other expensive systems emerged. However, costs began to fall dramatically after patents expired in 2009.

 

A typical 3D printer works off of a computer and builds up a 3D model one layer at a time using a process called "fused depositional modeling." It turns a CAD drawing into cross-sectional layers by melting molten plastic, powder, or other materials. Unlike traditional 2D inkjet printers, a 3D printer uses a laser to cut the wood into a shape and then sticking the layers together. View here to learnmore about this topic.

 

The FDM method is the most common type of 3D printing. This method uses a high-powered laser to fuse powdered material into a solid mass. This mass is then moved down fractions of a millimeter layer by layer. Another 3D printing process is known as Stereolithography (SLA) Technology. SLA utilizes a UV-curable resin. The build platform is submerged in a glass-bottomed container. The UV light cured resin cures the resin and the build platform slowly rises out of the glass container. Check out this blog to get enlightened on this topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing.