Different Types of 3D Printing Processes
The Additive Manufacturing technology comprises of 7 significant methods to manufacture 3D model. Since 1986, Additive
Manufacturing or 3D Printing has played a very important role in the field of
manufacturing. The inventor of this technology Mr. Chuck Hull has made this
technology to speed up the manufacturing process and eliminate the extra cost
that was needed to first examine the product before starting the production.
Engineers and scientist have
accepted this technology and is now very much popular in almost every field.
People have started knowing its benefits and started learning its processes. Some
companies also started customizing 3D printer according to their manufacturing
needs.
Firstly, 3D printers were used
to make only prototypes made by plastic materials but slowly as the scientist
started working on this technology, they invented new methods and new materials
for 3D printing. These new materials and methods were invented to serve one
particular industry. For example, the FDM technology which uses plastic materials can
only be used for prototyping.
There
are total 7 different methods of 3D printing and each method has their own
different way of printing. This methods are beautifully described by 3D HUBS in form of a table which comprises of main methods with their sub methods and reputed companies manufacturing these machines:
A short explanation about how
these methods work along with the popular sub-method are described below:
Vat Polymerization
Method: SLA (Sterolithography)
& DLP (Digital Light Processing)
Working: This technology works by curing liquid photo-polymer resin in a vat by UV light.
Working: This technology works by curing liquid photo-polymer resin in a vat by UV light.
Material Extrusion
Method: FDM (FusedDeposition Modelling)
Working: Plastic/Composite Material is selectively dispensed through a nozzle or orifice.
Working: Plastic/Composite Material is selectively dispensed through a nozzle or orifice.
Powder Bed Fusion
Method: SLS (SelectiveLaser Sintering), SLM (Selective Laser Melting)
Working: This method uses high energy laser beam which selectively fuses plastic or metal powder particles.
Working: This method uses high energy laser beam which selectively fuses plastic or metal powder particles.
Material Jetting
Method: PMJ (Plastic
Material Jetting)
Working: Droplets of material are selectively deposited and cured by UV Light.
Working: Droplets of material are selectively deposited and cured by UV Light.
Binder Jetting
Method: SBJ (Sand/Gypsum
Binder Jetting), MBJ (Metal Binder Jetting)
Working: This method of 3d printing uses liquid bonding agent which selectively binds regions of a powder bed.
Working: This method of 3d printing uses liquid bonding agent which selectively binds regions of a powder bed.
Direct Energy Deposition
Method: LENS (Laser
Engineering Net Shape), EBAM (Electron Beam AM)
Working: A high-energy source beam fuses material as it is deposited.
Working: A high-energy source beam fuses material as it is deposited.
Sheet Lamination
Method: LOM (Laminated
Object Manufacturing)
Working: Sheets of material are bonded and formed layer-by-layer.
Working: Sheets of material are bonded and formed layer-by-layer.
All the above explained
processes work on the same principle of printing which is printing the whole product layer-by-layer. The two things
that separate the above processes from each other are:
- Energy Source used to solidify the product material – Heat, Ultra Violet Rays, Laser Beams, Electron Beams, Bonding Agent, UV Light + Oxygen.
- Material used for manufacturing products – Plastics, Composite, Polymer, Sand, Metal, Wax.
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