Ultimate Beginners Guide to 3d Printing Technology
“Guest Posts: Contributed Content for the Printosynthesis Group.”
Guest Post by
Rohan Kadam
Ultimate Beginners Guide to 3d Printing Technology
Whether you are a newcomer to 3d printing technology or need to hone your basics, our ultimate beginners guide to additive manufacturing is here to help. As this technology is booming across industries and disrupting the traditional processes, it’s essential to keep up with this advancement. To make getting started with 3d printing easier, we have created a complete guide that will walk you through each aspect.
What is 3d printing?
It is a modern process of creating an object layer by layer through a CAD file. It’s an additive process in which the object is built in a bottom to top fashion where one layer is printed over another. This process is the opposite of the traditional method in which the final object’s design is cut from a block of materials leaving huge wastage.
Using 3d printing services, engineers can produce objects with a shorter turnaround time in a much cost-effective manner. Whether trying multiple design iterations or testing a spare part’s functionality, 3d printing technology is the go-to option for companies.
Different 3d printing techniques
3d printing is diversified, and there are multiple technologies present for manufacturing products with distinctive characteristics. There are primarily five types of 3d printing technologies that help you turn your idea into a unique product. Before you buy a 3d printer in India, understand the different technologies.
Stereolithography (SLA)
It’s the earliest industrial 3d printing process that helps you produce objects using a resin material. SLA technology uses a tank of liquid photopolymer resin that is cured using a powerful UV laser. The 3d printer’s laser solidifies the resin in a layered fashion to produce the complete object. The objects made using SLA have a smooth surface finish and intricate details. It’s an ideal technology for creating high-quality anatomical models and high-quality prototypes.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
SLS is among the most-employed technologies in which the 3d printer melts nylon-based
powder together to form a solid object. In this process, the printer uses a powerful laser to fuse the particles to their melting point. As the parts are made using thermoplastic, they offer higher durability that is ideal for functional testing.
This technology doesn’t need support structures, so engineers can simultaneously use the entire platform to produce multiple parts. In addition, the objects made with SLS have rough surface finishing and are suitable to use outdoors. With growing popularity, several companies now offer professional 3d printing services in Pune and other cities.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
FDM is a widely-used desktop 3d printing technology that is popular for 3d printing and prototype services. This 3d printer extrudes the plastic filament layer-by-layer over the printing bed. FDM is the most cost-effective and faster technique to produce physical objects. This process also lets engineers perform functional testing but with limited capabilities.
There are two materials used in the FDM process — a modelling material and a support material. Once the object is ready, the supporting material is removed during post-processing. You can easily find services for FDM 3d printing online in India to build your prototype.
Multi-Jet Modeling (MJM)
In this process, the 3d printer utilizes multi-jet modelling similar to a standard inkjet printer, and it’s also known as thermojet. It’s a popular rapid prototyping method, and it produces wax-like plastic objects.
Instead of using a laser for sintering the material powder, the MJM method uses an inkjet array to spray fusing agents over the nylon powder.
A heating element passes over the bed, and it fuses each layer depending upon the design. The exact process repeats until the final design is complete.
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
Metal 3d printing is the future of additive manufacturing, and DMLS is an advanced method to build solid metal parts. DMLS is an ideal process for primary production and prototyping, and it delivers durable and lightweight components. Metal parts produced using this technology are as durable as parts made from machining and casting. This process also uses a laser to sinter the metal powder to build a solid layer of metal. Then, the machine repeats the process until the complete design is ready.
Key benefits of 3d printing
Whether you opt for 3d printing in India or any other place for personal or commercial purposes, there are numerous benefits to enjoy. Some of the transforming advantages of 3d printing are:
Personalization: Compared to the convention process, 3d printing offers higher personalization with a faster turnaround time.
Complexity: 3d printers can easily handle intricate geometries and deliver a top-quality final product that is superior in terms of surface finish and durability.
Environmentally friendly: 3d printing means less material wastage, and it’s a boon for our planet. As a majority of the wastage is easy to recycle, 3d printing is more sustainable.
No additional equipment: When you buy a 3d printer in India or anywhere else, you don’t have to invest in other tooling or supporting equipment.
Cost-effective: Many people assure that 3d printing service cost is expensive, but it’s not the trust. It’s a highly cost-effective method to speed up the manufacturing process.
3d printing applications
As several industries leverage 3d printing technology to make their manufacturing easier, there are many diverse applications. Be it’s medical, automotive, or aerospace — this advancement offers endless applications.
Automotive: Vehicle manufacturers use 3d printing to manufacture internal and external accessories like brackets, spare parts, seats, and more.
Medical: Manufacturers produce high-quality and personalized prosthetics and implants. Along with this, companies also make portable medical devices.
Aerospace: Light-weight and durable parts are this industry’s main requirements, and 3d printing fits in the job with excellence. Engineers are 3d printing various parts like engine components, interior accessories, and more.
Final thoughts
3d printing is the future of the manufacturing industry, and more companies will soon adopt it to
accelerate their businesses. In future, we will see more mainstream 3d printing & 3d scanning services to boost manufacturing.
About 3D Spectra Technologies LLP
3D Spectra Tech LLP offers excellent 3D printing services. We use the best 3d printers to accomplish every industrial manufacturing requirement with higher accuracy. Along with full-fledged 3d printing services, we offer 3D scanning, vacuum casting, CNC machining, laser cutting, and more.
About the Author:
Rohan Kadam is the owner of 3D Spectra Technologies LLP. The Pune based company is offering high-quality, affordable 3d printing and 3D printing services all over India. The 3d printing company has 40+ materials, 10 years domain experience for all industries. For more information please visit https://www.3dspectratech.com/ or email here sales@3dspectratech.com
