The technology of 3D printing, sometimes referred to as additive manufacturing, has come a long way since its inception in the 1980s. Even though rapid prototyping was the original intent of 3D printing, the technology has grown in many other sectors. Automotive, architecture, engineering, construction (AEC), industrial design, education, dental, medical, military, aerospace, clothing, eyewear, art and jewelry, food, and many others use additive manufacturing technology for both prototyping and distributed manufacturing.
Today we will cover some of the applications of 3D printing by showcasing solutions for researchers, educators, and engineering students, highlighting the benefits of 3D printing, and describing its most common usage.
Table of Contents
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
Laminated object manufacturing (LOM)
The industrial applications of additive manufacturing
Aerospace & Defence
Automotive
Healthcare & Medical
Additive manufacturing and associated terminology
The term ‘additive manufacturing’ (AM) refers to a three-dimensional solid object of almost any shape that can be created from a digital model. It entails applying thin layers made of liquid, powdered plastic, or metal and then connecting those layers together to create an object.
Another term related to additive manufacturing is 3D printing prototyping. We mentioned it in the introduction; it is also called rapid prototyping, and it is the process of creating different pieces out of several material layers. 3D printing prototyping is a simple, quick, and affordable way to create products.
In 2015, the ISO/ASTM 52900 standard was created to define the terminology used in additive manufacturing (AM) technology, which employs the additive shaping principle and enables the construction of real, three-dimensional (3-D) geometries through the addition of material gradually. More information about the fundamentals and vocabulary can be found here.
7 Types of 3D Printing Technology
If you are new to the world of 3D printing technology, it is important to find out what processes and materials are available. There are various 3D printing methods used to build 3D structures and objects, and some are more popular than others.
Stereolithography (SLA)
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
Laminated object manufacturing (LOM)
Stereolithography
SLA is one of the oldest processes of 3D printing, invented by Chuck Hull in 1986. It is a perfect method for mechanical engineers that want to confirm whether some part can fit in their design. Stereolithography, however, is not just useful for engineers; if you want to print a plastic prototype of a project, it is also a great technique.
How does an SLA printer work? SLA printers do not function like normal desktop printers. They work with an excess of liquid plastic that hardens and forms into a solid object. A stage of the printer descends into the tank by a tiny amount as the plastic hardens, and the laser creates another layer until the printing is complete. Each of these layers is created by the printer using a powerful laser that is guided by X and Y filtering mirrors, also known as galvanometers or galvos.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is currently the most popular 3D printing technology. With this technology, you can print operational prototypes and also consumer products, such as plastic gears, whitewater canoes, Lego bricks, etc.
The procedure for using a 3D printer to produce three-dimensional objects using advanced contemporary additive techniques—fused deposition modeling (FDM).
The FDM printer melts thermoplastic filaments like ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PLA (Polylactic Acid) and applies them layer by layer to a build platform through the use of heated nozzles. Until the portion is finished, one layer at a time is applied. Besides thermoplastic, it can extrude supporting materials. It is in some way similar to stereolithography.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
SLS is a 3D technology that sinters polymer powder particles onto a 3D model to produce a solid structure using a high-power laser. Because it offers a low cost per part and design freedom (SLS does not require support structures because unhindered powder envelops the components during printing), it is commonly used by manufacturers and engineers.
SLS 3D printers help create complex geometries that are difficult or prohibitively expensive to fabricate using traditional procedures, such as moving parts, interlocking parts, inner channel parts, and others. SLS is suitable for various applications, including bespoke, bridge, or small-batch manufacturing and SLS quick prototyping.
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
Larry Hornbeck of Texas Instruments designed DLP in 1987. It is another 3D printing process similar to stereolithography but provides quicker print times than SLA. However, both DLP and SLA function with photopolymers. The digital light processing technology, utilizing a digital micromirror laid out on the semiconductor chip, is common in 3D printing, mobile phones, and film projectors. DLP printing can be used to print incredibly detailed resin objects, including toys, jewelry molds, dental applications, adornments, figurines, amplifiers, and other objects with precise details.
Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a newer 3D technique developed by German scientist Wilhelm Mainers in 1995. It is a metal additive manufacturing technology that utilizes a high-power-density laser to melt metallic fuse powders to produce near-net-shape parts fully.
object that was produced by a metal 3D printer. Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
EBM is a type of additive manufacturing used to create metal items. It is frequently categorized as a quick production technique because of the faster printing process. Creating parts requires using an EBM in a high vacuum to melt metal powder layer by layer. The powdered metal is melted by a high-energy mean of electrons. Electron Beam Melting is similar to Selective Laser Melting as they both print from powder but EBM uses an electron beam instead of a laser.
opportunities.
Aerospace & Defense
3D printer jet engine printed model metal plastic
Designers can create robust material and consolidated components, which is especially important in the aerospace industry. 3D printing allows for designing useful parts for airplanes, such as wall panels, air ducts, and structural metal components.
Military benefits from drones, and every component of the drone’s assembly, with the exception of the electronic parts, can be additive manufacturing. The 3D model-creating technology makes it simple to produce accessories like cases, covers, mounts, and boosters that make proper drone storage possible. Furthermore, metal 3D printing is used to repair aerospace and military equipment.
Automotive
The automotive industry needs lightweight components and resistance to harsh environments to improve the drive comfort and make the vehicles survive different environmental conditions. For example, Porsche designed an innovative 3D-printing technology for bucket seats, allowing customers to choose between three firmness levels for the comfort layer during the drive. Besides the ergonomic fit, the seats offer lower weight, a unique design, improved comfort, and passive climate control, as the ‘3D-printed body form full-bucket seat’ is based on the lightweight construction.
3D holographic model projection of an electric car.
Additive manufacturing offers a large range of robust, high-temperature materials and methods and the capacity to construct extremely complicated shapes. Organizations use it, among others, for testing.
