3D printing is referred to as Additive Manufacturing (AM) i.e. creates the object by adding layer upon layer of material until the object is formed. The object can be made using printing materials such as plastic filaments, resin (liquid), powders, and paper.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
THE MOST COMMON TECHNOLOGY FOR DESKTOP 3D PRINTING; GREAT FOR QUICK AND LOW-COST PROTOTYPING.
The FDM printing process starts with a string of solid material called the filament. As the material is extruded as a layer of the object, it instantly cools down and solidifies – providing the foundation for the next layer of material until the entire object is manufactured.
As the cheapest 3D printing technology on the market, FDM also offers a wide variety of plastic-based materials in a rainbow of colors including ABS, PLA, nylon and even more exotic material blends including carbon, bronze or wood.
FDM is a great choice for quick and low-cost prototyping and can be used for a wide variety of applications.
Stereolithography and Digital Light Processing (SLA & DLP)
LIQUID RESIN SELECTIVELY CURED BY LIGHT; MOSTLY USED FOR HIGH-DETAIL PROTOTYPING, SCULPTURES AND JEWELRY.
Both Stereolithography (SLA) and Digital Light Processing (DLP) create 3D printed objects from a liquid (photopolymer) resin by using a light source to solidify the liquid material.
To create a 3D printed object, a build platform is submerged into a translucent tank filled with liquid resin.
Once the build platform is submerged, a light located inside the machine maps each layer of the object through the bottom of the tank, thus solidifying the material.
SLA uses a laser, whereas DLP employs a projector.
SLA & DLP 3D printers produce highly accurate parts with smooth surface finishes and are commonly used for highly detailed sculptures, jewelry molds, and prototypes.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
HIGH STRENGTH LASER SINTERED PLASTICS, SUITABLE FOR FUNCTIONAL PROTOTYPES AND PARTS WITH COMPLEX DESIGN.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) uses a laser to melt and solidify layers of powdered material into finished objects.
These printers have two beds that are called the pistons.
When the printing process begins, a laser maps the first layer of the object in the powder, which selectively melts – or sinters – the material.
Material Jetting (PolyJet and MultiJet Modeling)
THE MOST PRECISE TECHNOLOGIES FOR REALISTIC PROTOTYPES WITH FINE DETAILS AND SMOOTH SURFACES.
Material Jetting (Stratasys PolyJet and 3D Systems MultiJet Modeling) technologies are similar to inkjet printing, but instead of jetting drops of ink onto paper, these 3D printers jet layers of liquid photopolymer onto a build tray and cure them instantly using UV light.
The build process begins when the printer jets the liquid material onto the build tray. These jets are followed by UV light, which instantly cures the tiny droplets of liquid photopolymer.
Material Jetting offers many advantages for rapid tooling and prototyping, as it allows users to create realistic and functional prototypes with fine details and precision.
These are the most precise 3D printing technologies today, printing with up to 16-micron (that’s thinner than a human hair) layers.
Binder Jetting
FULL COLOR PRINTING FROM SANDSTONE, WIDELY USED FOR LIFELIKE SCULPTURES AND (SCALE) MODELS.
The binder jetting technology is similar to SLS in the way that the printer uses thin layers of powdered material to build up an object, but instead of using a laser that sinters the layer together.
These printers use a binding agent extruded from a nozzle to bind the powder together.
The process starts with a nozzle spreading the binding agent across the first layer of the object and binding the powder together.
The ability to print in full color has made sandstone popular for architectural models and lifelike sculptures.
Metal Printing (Selective Laser Melting and Electron Beam Melting)
INDUSTRIAL 3D PRINTING PROCESSES FOR FUNCTIONAL PROTOTYPES AND FINAL PARTS FROM VARIOUS METALS AND ALLOYS.
Selective Laser Melting and Electron Beam Melting (SLM and EBM) are two of the most common metal 3D printing technologies.
Just like SLS, these processes create objects from thin layers of powdered material by selectively melting it using a heat source.
Due to the higher melting point of metals they require much more power – a high power laser in the case of SLM or an electron beam for EBM.
Materials include various metals and alloys including steel, titanium, aluminum, cobalt-chrome and nickel. Metal printing is considered the “holy grail” of additive manufacturing and 3D printing;
it is widely used in the aerospace, aircraft, automotive and healthcare industry for a range of high-tech, low-volume use cases from prototyping to final production.