3D Printing Technology: What materials can you 3D print
3D Printing Technology
The 3D printing technology is a process of making stereoscopic solid objects with the help of a digital model. Nowadays, the extreme development of IT makes it possible to access the Internet wirelessly, chat with friends and relatives on distance, and perform sophisticated tasks with merely one click.
All these possibilities are provided for people to make life easier and faster. Nevertheless, the world does not stand still, and new technologies appear day by day.
That is why in the nearest future, it will be possible to print solid objects, both tangible goods and intangible services will be delivered with the help of our computer.
People will be able to transform virtual reality into real everyday life. All this can be achieved with the means of 3D Printing Technology.
Let us determine what the 3D Printing Technology is, and what characteristic the technology possesses.
Definition of 3D Technology
3D Printing is a common term for defining additive manufacturing. It is based on the distinct traditional machining techniques, which commonly rely on the removal of material.
There are different points of view, concerning the definition of the 3D printing process. The given printing process uses nanoparticle-loaded inks for printing in the usual way.
The main goal of the invention is to improve the properties of the final result by changing the structure of strength and rigidity.
One more scientist tends to think that 3D printing is a system that consists of multiple print-heads, which transmit a range of materials from different units into one pass.
“The print-head technology is a micro-electro-mechanical system device, that is designed to print objects that are functional with print-heads some 295 mm wide” (Hutchings and Graham 341).
It’s a production of a three-dimensional product, which designed with the help of a digital model. The procedure is additive because various layers are laid down one after another, to form different shapes.
3D printing has gained popularity in the industrial world, thus, such industries as engineering, architecture, and construction use this technology for creating high-tech products.
Main Processes for 3D Print
There is a great number of processes for 3D printing; the most popular ones rely on a printer that makes the object from the powered material.
3D printing is different in comparison with the common office printer. It consists of two main parts, namely “a build box” and a printing head. Build box includes a smooth bed of attire ground material, such as pulverized steel and powered plastic.
In some cases, heads may contain either a heat source that melts the powdered material or jests, which task is to spray binder in the accurate pattern. A wide range of different machine models influences the appearance of various methods of a 3D printing process.
What materials can you 3d print?
The most popular methods are plastic extrusion deposition, granular materials binding, lamination, and photopolymerization. Extrusion deposition is a method, which uses a plastic filament or metal wire to supply an extrusion nozzle.
The nozzle warms to melt the material and moves in horizontal and vertical directions as well. The object manufactured by displacing small pellets of thermoplastic material to create layers after extrusion from the nozzle.
One more relevant method is granular materials binding. The fuses separate the layers, then move them by adding another layer and repeat the procedure till the parts are built up.
This process supports overhangs and thin walls in the part that is produced with the help of non-fused media. Another method that’s called lamination uses paper as a building material.
Some companies reduced a specially coated paper that used a carbon dioxide laser, and simply laminated it. Due to the development of various materials and machines, companies began selling printers that laminate objects with the means of plastic and metal sheets.
Photopolymerization
The last method to be described is photopolymerization. The given approach observes the desired 3D object in a block of gel with the help of a special laser.
The gel solidifies only in the places where the laser remains focused, and the remaining parts washed away. In such a way, objects of virtual life can become real ones.
All these methods have various features, depending on the material used for producing objects, and machines designed for each method.
There are some advantages and disadvantages to every method; thus, various companies try to choose the best one, which will satisfy their wishes.
Standard Applications
3D printing usually designed for making people’s life easier, faster, and happier. That’s why it’s widely used in almost every aspect of people’s lives. Standard applications comprise metal casting, education, healthcare, and entertainment.
Speaking about industrial usage, 3D printing was used for rapid prototyping and research aims; thus, universities and various companies use 3D printing machines.
Moreover, 3D printing strongly influences the field of rapid manufacturing. What’s more, it’s considered to be a progressive technology, which pushes rapid manufacturing to the next level of development.
What is the technology behind 3d printing?
3D printing remains widely used for domestic affairs because it produces ornamental objects. Moreover, the Fab@Home project used 3D technology for producing chemical compounds.
The researchers point out that this technology used in industrial and domestic use as well. One more interesting fact about 3D technology is that it’s used in the world of clothing. Fashion designers make various 3D dresses and shoes.
Such a famous sports company as Nike uses 3D printing to manufacture shoes, for both football players and athletes. One may say that 3D printing has gained popularity in the modern world of industry. New objects that anyone could not even imagine in the past are commonplace nowadays.
Future Technology
All in all, 3D printing technology is the future technology, which will enable people to create anything from the virtual world into reality.
The greatest benefit of this technology “is that the field moves faster than the speed of light, and technological advances take place in huge leaps and bounds” (Lipson). Due to the wide range of printers, it became possible to choose the model that suits one the best.
That is why various companies use this technology for creating new interesting products that are unique. Moreover, 3D printing technology became popular not only in the industrial fields, but also in education, health care, entertainment, and even fashion.
Author Bio
This article was written by Nataniel Clark who works as a writer at EssaysMasters.com. He is the author of many articles and reviews connected with new technologies. Also, he is a student at the California Institute of Technology. Writing is one of his hobbies.
