Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned user, here’s a quick guide to a few of the most well-used 3D printing technologies. They all serve a purpose and can be used for a number of applications.
In 3D printing, parts are created by transforming digital data into physical objects. Parts are made through additive processes. 3D printing involves laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each layer can be thought of as a thinly sliced cross-section of the entire object.
Subtractive manufacturing, on the other hand, is the process of hollowing out a piece of material. The material can be metal, plastic, composite or wood, for example. We do this with milling machines, for instance.
Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing can make complex shapes with less material. In many cases, these shapes are not possible to manufacture with traditional technologies.
The past decade has seen a tremendous material development. Many 3D print materials are today on par with, or perform better, than their injection moulding counterpart. This means that 3D printing today really is a viable manufacturing technology. Today, 3D printing can be used when you want to produce end-use parts, parts that are to be used in an assembly or used straight off the printer by the end-user.
The concept of 3D printing started as a way to accelerate industrial product development through a faster prototyping process. Even though there were a few patents prior to Chuck Hull’s 1984 patent for his Stereolithography Apparatus (SLA), the 3D printer is generally thought to have been invented by him. Hull later went on to become a co-founder of the 3D printer manufacturer 3D Systems.
What are the different 3D printing technologies
3D printing isn’t one single technology, but several. Here at PLM Group, we work with the following major technologies. Each of these is described below. Have a read-through and get familiar with the technologies.
What is Fused Filament Fabrication
Fused filament fabrication, FFF in short, is the most widespread technology. This is what most people think of when they hear the word 3D printing. An alternative phrase is also Fused Deposition Modeling, or FDM. A fused filament fabrication 3D printer uses thermoplastic material to create objects layer by layer by pushing it through a heated nozzle. In spite of its origins as a proprietary manufacturing technology from the 1980s, desktop FFF really took off just over 10 years ago when patents expired.
Here at PLM Group, we have been a partner with the US based 3D printer developer Markforged for many years. The company uses a version of FFF in their range of desktop and industrial composite 3D printers. But what distinguishes Markforged is the unique continuous fiber reinforcement technology. With this technology parts are 3D printed in plastic, but reinforced with continuous carbon or glass fiber for maximum strength or other part properties.
Read more about FFF based 3D printers here
What is Multi Jet Printing
MultiJet Printing (MJP) is an inkjet printing process that uses piezo printhead technology to deposit either photocurable plastic resin or casting wax materials, layer-by-layer. MJP is used to build parts, patterns, and molds with fine feature detail to address a wide range of applications. These high-resolution printers are economical to own and operate, and use a meltable or dissolvable support material to simplify post-processing. This also makes support removal virtually a hands-free and allows even the most delicate features and complex internal cavities to be thoroughly cleaned without damage.
Read more about MJP based 3D printers here
What is stereolithography
Stereolithography (SLA) is the first commercialized 3D printing technology, invented by 3D Systems’ Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Chuck Hull in the 1980s. It uses an ultraviolet laser to precisely cure photopolymer cross-sections, transforming them from liquid to solid. Parts are built directly from CAD data, layer-by-layer into prototypes, investment casting patterns, tools, and end-use parts.
Once the SLA printing process is complete, SLA parts are cleaned in a solvent solution to remove any residual uncured resin from the part surface. Cleaned parts are then cured in a UV oven.
Read more about SLA based 3D printers here
DOWNLOAD OUR BUYER’S GUIDE TO INDUSTRIAL 3D PRINTING NOW
What is Digital Light Processing
DLP (Digital Light Processing) is a 3D printing technology used to rapidly produce photopolymer parts. It’s very similar to SLA with one significant difference — where SLA machines use a laser that traces a layer, a DLP machine uses a projected light source to cure the entire layer at once. The part is formed layer by layer.
DLP printing can be used to print extremely intricate resin design items like toys, jewelry molds, dental molds, figurines and other items with fine details. Due to it curing the entire layer at once, it’s much faster than SLA.
DLP is popular because of high print speeds, though accuracy is sacrificed in the process. It is limited to photopolymers that often emit odors that can be problematic in an office environment.
Read more about DLP based 3D printers here
What is Multi Jet Fusion
Multi Jet Fusion is a powder-based technology from HP that does not use lasers. The powder bed is heated uniformly at the outset with infrared heating. A fusing agent is jetted where particles need to be selectively molten, and a detailing agent is jetted around the contours to improve part resolution. While lamps pass over the surface of the powder bed, the jetted material captures the heat and helps distribute it evenly.
MJF is a powerful 3D printing technology that produces highly accurate and durable parts at high speeds. Compared to other powder bed fusion technologies, it can be several times faster. Multi Jet Fusion parts are well fit for end-use, low-to-mid volume production, for rapid prototyping, or as a bridge process to injection molding. All MJF printed parts can be post-processed by dyeing, sanding and plating.
