Groups 19 and 20, OMIS 351

Groups 19 and 20, OMIS 351

What is 3D Printing? 3D printing is a process of creating a three dimensional object from 3D model data by placing one layer above another layer successively. Initially the process of 3D printing took hours to prototype a product but after the development of Rapid Prototyping Systems the process became faster. Rapid prototyping system incorporates a fully working ink jet printing system where a fine powder that consists of plaster, corn starch and resins are used to build the layers and the layers are bonded by an adhesive from the inkjet print head. It became preferable since it promotes full color of prototypes.

Groups 19 and 20, OMIS 351

How Is It Currently Used? Because of its cost effectiveness it is financially accessible to small and medium sized business. Important usages are :

Archaeology-In replicating ancient & priceless artifacts. Paleontology-In reconstructing fossils. Marketing-In creating models for pre production sales demos. Pathology-In reconstructing bones and body parts. Toy industry-In developing plastic models. Advertising companies-To create 3D ads on Magazines and

Newspapers. Biology-In Computer Aided tissue Engineering.

It is also used in Metal Casting, Architecture, Education, Health care industries etc.

Groups 19 and 20, OMIS 351

Advantages

Complete 3D models can be manufactured including those with hollow parts that could not possibly be made by hand in one piece, even by the most skilled engineer or craftsperson. Parts such as bearings, engineering parts and complex working models can be manufactured.

A variety of resins and waxes can be applied to the completed model. These increase the strength of the model, its temperature resistance and allows paint and finishes to be applied realistically.

A two part urethane can be added to the model to give it the properties of rubber. Models can be electroplated to give the look and feel of a range of metals. Prototyping machines such as the ZPrinter 310 can even be used to produce

highly accurate patterns for casting. Manufactured model parts can be combined with real parts to produce a fully

functioning product that can then be tested and evaluated.

Sources: http://www.technologystudent.com/cam/prn3d4.htm http://www.arptech.com.au/services/3dpsrv

Groups 19 and 20, OMIS 351

Disadvantages

Current 3D printing tends to yield sporadically rough surfaces. Sometimes encourages informal design methods which may cause more problems to

fix. May not be suitable for large sized applications. The user may have very high expectations about the prototype’s performance and it

might fail in the exact replication of the real product or systems. 3-D printers are still expensive. Sometimes a very slow process for large build volume parts. Not suitable for extensive functional testing Not strong enough to create a working product Fragile prototypes, walls of less than 3mm of thickness can snap before they are

strengthenedSources : www.3-d-printing.blogspot.com/2008/12/although-three-dimensional-printing-has.html

www.arptech.com.au/services/3dpsrv.html

Groups 19 and 20, OMIS 351

Future Applications Production. Output spare parts for all types of products, which could not

normally be stocked as part of a store’s inventory. Instead of throwing away a broken item, you could take it somewhere and have them call up the appropriate spare parts online and simply print them out.

Space. NASA has already tested a 3D printer on the International Space Station, and recently announced its requirement for a high resolution 3D printer to produce spacecraft parts during deep space missions.

Military. The US Army has experimented with a truck-mounted 3D printer capable of outputting spare tank and other vehicle components in the battlefield.

Bioengineering. Another possible future application is in organ printing (also known as bioprinting or tissue printing). This is where replacement parts for the human body may be printed via an inkjet style process with the nozzles outputting layers of living cells.

Culture. In the future, museums could also print out exhibits as required from their own digital collection, or indeed from a global archive of artworks scanned from long-lost or too-delicate-to-display originals.

Source: http://www.explainingthefuture.com/3dprinting.html

Groups 19 and 20, OMIS 351

Future Applications Construction. One day we may have the science that enables us to 3D print

objects of larger sizes such as boats, industrial objects, public art and whole building structures.

3D printed ¼ scale model Artist’s rendering of a roundabout sculpture of rendering at right in Pisa Italy

Source: http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/217-3D-printing-buildings-interview-with-Enrico-Dini-of-D_Shape.html