3D – PRINTING

(a new emerging technology)

3D Printing

Imagine a near future in which a device connected to your desktop prints a SOLID OBJECT!!!!!!

What is 3D printing?

Applying a 2-D image on a 3-D surface

Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is a process of making a three-dimensional solid object of virtually any shape from a digital model. 3D printing is achieved using an additive process, where successive layers of material are laid down in different shapes.

General Principles

Modeling Printing

Modeling: Additive

manufacturing takes virtual blueprints from computer aided design (CAD) or animation modeling software and "slices" them into digital cross-sections for the machine to successively use as a guideline for printing.

General Principles

Printing:

To perform a print, the machine reads the design and lays down successive layers of liquid, powder, or sheet material to build the model from a series of cross sections. Printers melt or soften material to produce the layers. These layers, which correspond to the virtual cross sections from the CAD model, are joined together or automatically fused to create the final shape. The primary advantage of this technique is its ability to create almost any shape or geometric feature.

General Principles

Process

Ergonomic Selections

The main considerations in choosing a machine are generally speed, cost of the 3D printer, cost of the printed prototype, and cost and choice of materials and color capabilities

Printers that work directly with metals are expensive. In some cases, however, less expensive printers can be used to make a mould, which is then used to make metal parts.

What is ABSplus?ABSplus, the most commonly used ink for all modern 3D Printers, is a production-grade thermoplastic that gives models the ability to perform just like production parts in real-world functional testing.

3D Printers

Importance of 3D Printing Ability to revolutionize manufacturing and

society Shift from mass production to customized

products for consumers

Printing generates almost no waste during manufacturing, and does not require lubricants

Expansion beyond simple prototyping Printers have ability to print final products

Possible Opportunities

Food industry Medical science and research

Possible Opportunities

SUCCESS stories

3D printed Jaw

Audi RSQ (the iRobot car)

Challenges Facing 3D Printing

Intellectual property rights of the 3D Printer users.

Nearly anything can be printed by 3D Printers and this is a troubling prospect if criminals use 3D Printers to create illegal products.

In Conclusion

3D printing is an expanding technology which may soon start an industry in which everyone has the possibility of being a manufacturer.