What are the most popular directions to 3D printing currently? This article provides a detailed introduction to popular 3D printing technologies, printing materials, and application areas.
Popular 3D printing technology
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Technology
Principle:
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology is the process of heating and melting filamentous thermoplastic materials, extruding them through a nozzle, depositing them layer by layer on the workbench according to a preset path, and cooling them to form a three-dimensional object. During the printing process, the nozzle moves in three-dimensional space, constructing the object layer by layer, with each layer bonded to the previous layer until the entire object is printed. This is similar to drawing lines on a plane and then stacking them layer by layer to form a three-dimensional shape.
Features :
- Low cost : Equipment and materials are relatively inexpensive, suitable for beginners and small businesses, schools, etc. for rapid prototyping. For example, small FDM 3D printers are more affordable, which allows more people to access and use 3D printing technology.
- Wide range of materials : a variety of thermoplastic materials can be used, such as PLA (polylactic acid), ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) and other common materials. PLA material has good biocompatibility and can be used in some occasions with high environmental requirements; ABS material has good mechanical properties and is suitable for making some parts that require high strength.
- Easy to operate : The printer structure is relatively simple, and the operation is easy to get started. There is no need for a complex chemical treatment process. After the printing is completed, just take the printed part off the workbench and use it (in some cases where the surface quality is not high, no additional post-processing steps are required).
Light-cured molding (SLA) technology
Principle :
The light-cured molding (SLA) technology utilizes the characteristic that liquid photosensitive resin can quickly solidify under specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light. During operation, the platform gradually descends, new liquid resin flows over, and UV light irradiation solidifies again. This process is repeated, layer by layer, and finally forms a three-dimensional entity. For example, when making high-precision dental models or jewelry prototypes, SLA technology can accurately restore design details.
Features :
- High precision : It can print very fine structures and complex shapes with high resolution, and can achieve micron-level accuracy. This makes it widely used in fields with extremely high precision requirements, such as precision machinery manufacturing, medical dentistry, microelectronics, etc.
- Good surface quality : Because the surface is formed by the curing of liquid resin, the surface of the printed part is very smooth, and almost no additional polishing and other post-processing processes are needed to obtain a good appearance effect. This is very advantageous for the production of products with high appearance requirements, such as display models, artworks, etc.
- Special material properties : photosensitive resin has some special material properties, such as hardness, transparency, etc., which can be adjusted according to different formulas. Some highly transparent photosensitive resins can be used to make optical lenses, transparent shells, etc.
Selective laser sintering (SLS) technology
Principle :
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology is to lay powder materials (such as nylon powder, metal powder, etc.) on the workbench, and then use high-intensity laser to selectively sinter the powder material according to the pre-set model slice data. Then the workbench drops one layer, new powder is spread on it, and laser sintering is performed again, and so on until the entire model is printed. For example, when manufacturing some metal parts with complex internal structures, SLS technology can complete printing without the need for additional support structures.
Features :
- Material Diversity : Various powder materials can be used. In addition to common plastic powders such as nylon, metal powders (such as stainless steel, titanium alloy, etc.) can also be used for printing. This makes SLS technology widely used in aerospace, automobile manufacturing, medical and other fields, and can manufacture parts with high strength and special properties.
- No need for support structure : Because the unsintered powder can play a supporting role, when printing some complex-shaped parts, there is no need to specially design and remove support structures like some other 3D printing technologies, which greatly simplifies the printing process, improves printing efficiency, and reduces material waste.
Digital light processing (DLP) technology
Principle :
Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology is similar to SLA technology, both based on the principle of light curing. For example, when quickly manufacturing larger and relatively simple models, DLP technology can quickly solidify the resin of the entire plane, improving printing speed.
Features :
The printing speed is fast. Compared with the point-by-point scanning method of SLA technology, the printing speed of DLP technology is greatly improved because it solidifies a whole layer of resin at one time, especially for models with more layers and larger areas.
Popular 3D printing materials
Polymeric material
- Engineering Plastics : Industrial plastics used as industrial parts or shell materials are plastics with excellent strength, impact resistance, heat resistance, hardness, and aging resistance. They are a widely used type of 3D printing material. For example, ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Copolymer) is inexpensive, durable, elastic, lightweight, and easy to extrude. It is very suitable for 3D printing and the finished product can be painted in various colors, with high glossiness, good impact resistance, and can be used at extremely low temperatures. PLA (Polylactic Acid) is easy to print, and the material can flow smoothly from the nozzle of the 3D printer. The printing temperature is relatively low and will not emit unpleasant odors, providing high-quality surface details for 3D printing.
- Bioplastics : mainly PLA, PETG, PHB, etc., with good biodegradability, such as PLA materials in addition to biodegradability, are also commonly used in 3D printing applications, with a wide range of applicable scenarios, such as in environmental protection. It is more suitable for high occasions.
- Thermosetting plastics : with high strength, fire resistance characteristics, very suitable for the use of 3D printing powder laser sintering molding process, can better meet the relevant processing and manufacturing needs.
- Photosensitive resin : Due to its fast curing speed, excellent surface drying performance, and smooth appearance after molding, it is the choice for printing many high-precision products. It includes different types such as rigid resin, flexible resin, elastic resin, and high-toughness resin, which are used in different demand scenarios. For example, rigid resin can be used to make some parts that require shape retention ability, and water-washed resin is easy to post-process and can be cleaned with water without alcohol.
Metallic materials
- Black metal : Stainless steel is a commonly used black metal material, which can be used to manufacture different parts according to demand in 3D printing. It has good strength and other properties. For example, in some parts that require corrosion resistance and high strength, 3D printing stainless steel material can be used to achieve
- Non-ferrous metals : Titanium alloys, magnesium-aluminum alloys, gallium, etc. are common non-ferrous metal materials. Titanium alloys have good biocompatibility and high strength, and are commonly used in 3D printing manufacturing of medical implants; in the aerospace field, the lightweight and high-strength characteristics of titanium alloys can meet the manufacturing requirements of aircraft parts, reduce the weight of aircraft and ensure structural strength.
Powdered materials
This type of material is neither plastic nor metal, but due to its excellent adaptability to 3D printing technology, it has become a good choice for 3D printing. 3D printing has high requirements for powder materials, and its forming powder requires good material formability, high molding strength, small powder particle size, not easy to agglomerate, good rolling property, suitable density and porosity, and fast drying and hardening. For example, the first domestic self-produced nozzle sand 3D printer developed by Aisikai Technology Joint Stock Company uses quartz sand in powder materials.
Ceramic materials
Aluminum silicate ceramic powder can be used for 3D printing ceramic products. The 3D printed ceramic products are impermeable, heat-resistant (up to 600 ° C), recyclable, and non-toxic, but their strength is not high. They can be used as ideal home decoration materials such as cookware, tableware (cups, bowls, plates, egg cups, and coasters), candlesticks, tiles, vases, and artworks.
Popular 3D Printing Application Areas
Medical field
Customized medical apparatus and implant manufacturing :
- Through 3D printing technology, medical apparatus can be customized according to the patient’s specific situation, such as customized prosthetics, orthoses, etc., to better adapt to the patient’s physical characteristics and needs, improve treatment effectiveness and comfort. Implants such as artificial bones, cochlear implants, and artificial teeth can also be accurately manufactured based on the patient’s CT or MRI images. These implants have high compatibility with the patient’s tissue, which can effectively reduce surgical risks and postoperative complications.
- In the field of dentistry and orthodontics, X-rays can be used to make 3D printed models using sterile plastics in a short period of time, which helps to improve the accuracy and efficiency of dental treatment.
Paramedical Surgery and Rehabilitation :
- Before surgery, doctors can use 3D printing technology to create a surgical model of the patient, in order to better understand the surgical site and develop a surgical plan. At the same time, guides can be made to guide the implantation position and depth of the implant during the surgery. In the field of rehabilitation treatment, rehabilitation equipment and devices that meet the needs of patients can be made to help patients better undergo rehabilitation training and restore their athletic ability.
- Drug research and production : 3D printing technology can be used to manufacture customized drug dosage and delivery systems to meet more precise drug needs, which helps to improve the targeting and effectiveness of drug treatment, and has important significance in personalized medicine.
- Medical education : The use of 3D printing technology to manufacture models of various parts of the human body for medical students’ learning and training can enable students to more intuitively understand the human body structure and physiological and pathological processes, and improve teaching effectiveness.
Field of construction
Building model making : designers and engineers accept the use of 3D printers to print building models quickly, low-cost, and environmentally friendly. This method is beautifully made, fully meets the requirements of designers, and can save a lot of materials. It can well display the appearance of the building, internal structure and other characteristics, which helps to display and promote the project, and facilitates communication with customers or design teams.
Building Component Manufacturing : Used for producing building components and structural construction, achieving rapid construction and personalized design of some components of buildings, reducing waste and saving time and cost. At the same time, it can also achieve precise control and optimized design of building materials, improving the safety and Sustainability of buildings. Although the overall large-scale application of 3D printing buildings is relatively rare at present, it has begun to show its unique advantages in special building structures or specific building projects. With the further development of technology, its application in the field of architecture is expected to be more widely expanded.
Aerospace field
Aerospace components used to manufacture complex structures such as aircraft parts, rocket parts, and satellite parts. Using 3D printing technology can not only reduce the manufacturing cost and production cycle of parts, but also significantly reduce the weight of parts and improve performance, such as reducing fuel consumption and emissions. For example, the aviation engine fuel nozzle printed by GE Additive Manufacturing Company using SLM technology is applied to the LEAP series engines (including the LEAP-1C engine used by our country C919), meeting the requirements of weight reduction, high strength, corrosion resistance, and high temperature resistance of aviation engines, while also increasing the service life by four times.
Automotive field
Parts manufacturing : It can accelerate the research and production of automotive parts. The production of automotive parts through 3D printing technology can reduce production costs and production cycles. It is suitable for small batch and customized production needs, and can quickly verify and manufacture the physical model of automotive design modifications, providing effective support for the research and development of new automotive models. For example, in terms of prototype manufacturing, prototypes of parts for testing can be quickly manufactured to check the rationality of the design and the coordination between parts.
Car model making : making a car model is another application of 3D printing technology in the automotive industry, which helps automotive companies or automotive designers to carry out appearance display, aerodynamic testing and other aspects of work in the early stage of vehicle development, intuitively displaying the overall shape of the car, lines and other appearance design elements, providing a basis for product optimization.
Consumer goods sector
It is used to produce personalized customized products, such as shoes, jewelry, glasses, etc. Through 3D printing technology, it can be quickly produced according to the personalized needs of consumers, reducing production and inventory costs, while also improving product quality and accuracy. For example, in jewelry production, designers can easily achieve complex and unique design styles, and quickly produce samples or finished products; in the shoe-making field, it is possible to print fitting insoles or personalized shoe styles according to the characteristics of different people’s foot shapes.
Manufacturing sector
Prototyping : In the process of Product Research & Development in the manufacturing industry, 3D printing technology is widely used to make product prototypes. Compared with the traditional manufacturing method of making prototypes, 3D printing can quickly and inexpensively turn the designer’s concept into a solid model. This can facilitate designers to quickly verify the feasibility of the design, modify and optimize the design, effectively shorten the cycle of Product Research & Development, and accelerate the speed of product launch to the market. For example, in industries such as electronic products and mechanical products, 3D printing is often used to make prototypes for appearance, structure and function testing in the early stage of product development.
Parts Manufacturing and Tool Manufacturing : In addition to prototyping, 3D printing technology is gradually being applied to the manufacture of small batches of parts and specialized tools. For those parts and tools with complex shapes, difficult to manufacture using traditional processing methods, or high costs, 3D printing can effectively manufacture them by stacking materials layer by layer. This not only reduces the complexity and cost of production, but also meets the needs of personalized customized production in some special production demand scenarios, improving the production efficiency and flexibility of enterprises.