3d printers or printing technology, which is also known as Additive Manufacturing is part of modern technology. These printers help in the process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital model. To achieve this level of innovation Additive Process is used in which an object is created by laying down successive layers of material. The printing technique used in 3d printer is very different as compared to traditional methods of printing an object. Under these printers method of cutting and drilling is followed to construct a 3d object. These printer are new in the market today, therefore they cost higher than normal printers available for personal and professional use
Technology use in 3d printers is known as digital technology and is available for use in commercial market since start of 21st century. At first these printers were adopted by researchers but today these are part of some other fields as well like jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education, geographic information systems, civil engineering, and many other fields.
Principles followed by 3d Printers:
3D printers work on Additive technology which is used to describe the product life cycle from pre-production to full scale production and even for tooling applications or post production customization. There are some principle that printers follow to fulfill are requirements of this 3D printing technology.
3D Design: in additive manufacturing virtual designs are used to get the best print from the printer. These designs come through computer aided design (CAD) or animation modeling software, which are later transformed into thin, virtual, horizontal cross-sections by 3d printer. Another important function of printers is to create successive layers until the model is complete because slicing counts as most important principle that printers follow.
To transfer the information about object that has to print, STL file format is used between CAD software and machine. This STL file gives details about appropriate shape of a part or assembly using triangular facets. Smaller facets produce a higher quality surface.
Printing: once 3d printer get information about shape of object now it moves to next step which is printing. To print the object machine reads in the design and lays down successive layers of liquid, powder, or
sheet material, and in this way builds up the model from a series of cross sections. These different layers which is section of CAD model at joined in the end so that final shape can be generated. Additive manufacturing technology gives ease to users to print any shape or feature on any material.
Users are also free to select resolution of printer and decide the thickness of each layer. Minimum resolution of 3d printer currently available in the market is 16 micrometers. X-Y resolution is comparable to that of laser printers. The particles (3D dots) are around 50 to 100 micrometers (0.05-0.1 mm) in diameter.
Finishing: Once layers of model are joined now it’s time for printer to give finishing details to the printed object. For this purpose resolution and surface finish can be enhanced by printing an object slightly oversized in standard resolution, then removing material with a higher-resolution subtractive process. To get better results some 3d printers work with two different materials at a time, one work as part material and the second as the support material.
3D printing services: many enterprises are today working for home based and professional customers. They offer online 3d printing services and deliver the final model to the customers. Anyone can send them their 3D designs to service providers company website which are printed via industrial 3D printers in order to provide best to customers.