Today, 3D printing has become a hot topic for media coverage. In 1986, 3D printing technology officially appeared, but it was not until the 1990s that attention was paid and applications were mainly limited to the fields of engineering, construction, and manufacturing.
The world's first automotive Urbee printed by a 3D printer.
In July 2012, the global industry analyst company GIA (Global Industry Analysts) released a report saying that the business volume of 3D printers in 2018 is expected to reach 3 billion U.S. dollars, and the largest market for this technology is in the United States. However, as expected, as with cloud computing, 3D printers will soon become areas that Chinese companies are competing to seize.
What is 3D printing?
3D printing is also called desktop manufacturing, where the raw materials it uses are powdered. Creating an object first requires a digital 3D mode. The digital 3D mode is usually saved in STL format and sent to the printer. The principle of "3D printing" layer printing is similar to that of an inkjet printer.
3D printing can be shaped in a matter of hours, allowing designers and developers to achieve a leap from floor plan to solid. Today, everything from aviation accessories to toys, almost everything is inseparable from 3D printing technology. Because it can print assembled products, it greatly reduces assembly costs. In the future, it can even challenge large-scale production methods.
Technology for 3D Printing Applications
Many technologies can be used for 3D printing. The main difference between them is how the stack forms entities. SLS, FDM and SLA are the most widely used technologies for 3D printing, where SLS and FDM use melted or softened raw materials to produce laminates.
In general, the main factors that need to be considered include: speed, model cost, 3D printer cost, selection of raw materials and colorants, and cost.
A brief history of 3D printing
In 1986, Charles Hull developed the first commercial 3D printer.
In 1993, MIT obtained a patent for 3D printing technology.
In 1995, ZCorp Corporation of the United States obtained the only authorization from MIT and began to develop 3D printers.
In 2005, the first high-resolution color 3D printer, the Spectrum Z510, was successfully developed by ZCorp.
In November 2010, Urbee, the world's first car printed by a 3D printer, came out.
On June 6, 2011, the world’s first 3D printed bikini was released.
In July 2011, British researchers developed the world's first 3D chocolate printer.
In August 2011, engineers from the University of Southampton developed the world’s first 3D printed aircraft.
In November 2012, Scottish scientists used human cells for the first time to print out artificial liver tissue using a 3D printer.
3D printing applications
One of the most important applications of 3D printing is in the medical industry where surgeons can use 3D printing technology to create a solid model of the patient's need for a surgical site.
In addition, 3D printing technology will also affect industries such as automotive, commercial and industrial equipment, education, construction and consumer products, as well as games and film for the entertainment industry. Artists can use 3D printers to print their work instantly. .
What is a 3D printer?
The objects printed by the 3D printer are three-dimensional, and a three-dimensional model is created by adding layers. Therefore, this entire process is called "rapid prototyping" or "3D printing."
The resolution of the current printer is an ultra-high resolution of 328 x 328 x 606 DPI (XYZ) to 656 x 656 x 800 DPI (XYZ). The accuracy is 0.025 mm to 0.05 mm per inch. The size of the model can reach 737 mm × 1257 mm × 1504 mm.
For home users, 3D printers have the following disadvantages: First, high cost; Second, the print model takes a long time; Third, the cost of professional 3D software and 3D model design is also high.
To solve these problems, the market has developed a simplified 3D printer for 3D printing enthusiasts to choose. The material it uses is cheap, but not as accurate as a commercial 3D printer.
The difference between 3D printers and rapid prototyping machines
The 3D printer is a simplified version of the rapid prototyping machine, with lower cost and less functionality. Rapid prototyping machines are a traditional method used in the automotive and aerospace industries for many years.
In general, 3D printers are lighter than rapid prototyping machines and are ideal for office use. They have less energy consumption and a smaller footprint, mainly for the physical design of a small number of replica nylon or other plastic materials. This also means that the objects printed by the 3D printer are smaller. The space formed by the rapid prototyping machine is at least 10 inches on each side, while the 3D printer is less than 8 inches. However, 3D printers have all the features of rapid prototyping machines, such as verification design, creation molding, and remote information sharing.
The main manufacturer of 3D printers
Major manufacturers of commercial 3D printers include Objet Geometries, Z Corporation, Stratasys, 3D Systems and others. The main manufacturers of home 3D printers are Reprap, Makerbot Industries, Ultimaker, Botmill, [email protected] and others.
Raw materials for 3D printing technology
The 3D printing technology can use a wide variety of materials such as ABS plastics, PLA, nylon, glass-filled polyamines, photocurable materials, silver, titanium, steel, wax, dry film, and polycarbonate.
(Editor)
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