The article contrasts transparent resin printing and traditional crafts. Transparent resin printing has advantages like high precision and flexibility in design, yet it suffers from high costs, limited size, and a lack of handmade charm. Traditional crafts, rich in artistic and cultural value, use diverse natural materials and are unrestricted by equipment, but they have low efficiency, inconsistent precision, and inheritance difficulties. In production efficiency and accuracy, resin printing excels in small-sized complex products.
Characteristics of transparent resin printing
I. Material properties and appearance effects
The transparent resin material used in transparent resin printing has unique properties. Firstly, it has the characteristic of high transparency, which enables the printed object to present an almost completely transparent effect, showing a clear and textured appearance. For example, in the production of some high-end handicrafts or display models, this high transparency can well restore the visual effect of the design, giving people a delicate and high-end feeling. Moreover, after post-processing, such as fine polishing, polishing, spraying varnish, UV treatment and other processes, transparent resin can be transformed from a semi-transparent state to a fully transparent state to meet different needs. For example, in the production of medical models that simulate real human tissue, the fully transparent effect can allow doctors to observe the internal structure more clearly.
II. Physical properties
Transparent resin has high strength and toughness in terms of physical properties. This ensures that the printed objects have excellent durability and can remain stable in various environments. For example, in the field of architectural design, when making building models, transparent resin models can withstand a certain degree of handling and collision during display without being easily damaged. In addition, in jewelry design, jewelry made of transparent resin can also maintain good integrity during daily wear.
III. Application Areas
Transparent resin printing has a wide range of applications in multiple fields. In the medical field, it can produce high-transparency models that simulate real human tissue, providing convenience for surgeons to simulate and discuss surgeries before surgery, while helping patients better understand the surgical process and expected results. In the field of architectural design, breaking the limitations of traditional building materials, designers can create architectural models with unique shapes and transparency to better showcase design concepts. In the field of jewelry design, exquisite jewelry can be produced, and its unique transparent texture adds a unique charm to jewelry. In addition, in industrial fields such as automobiles and consumer electronics, it can also be used to produce mother molds, conceptual models, general components, and functional components that require high transparency.
IV. Printing process characteristics
Transparent resin printing usually uses light-curing technology, such as SLA (stereoscopic light-curing molding) or DLP (digital light processing). SLA uses a laser beam to sweep the resin can moving on the horizontal axis, causing the material to cure layer by layer; DLP uses a projector as a light source, and reflects light onto the resin through a digital micromirror device (DMD) for light curing (now there are also cases where LCD screens are used instead of DMD). During the printing process, attention should be paid to the characteristics of the resin, such as its wavelength level, which will affect the light output power required for curing, and the printed parts are relatively fragile. If exposed to sunlight, they are prone to deterioration and may warp. In addition, support structures need to be printed and removed during the post-production stage, which may affect the final appearance of the model.
Characteristics of traditional crafts
The diversity of traditional handicrafts
Traditional crafts include many types, such as casting and forging, firing, woodworking, painting, sculpture, dyeing and weaving, and knitting. Each of these crafts has its own unique features.
- The casting and forging process originated more than 6,000 years ago and was quite mature during the Shang Dynasty. It even reached a state of perfection in 513 BC, far ahead of European countries. Nowadays, with the development of industry, it is gradually modernized and technologically advanced.
- The firing process has a long history and complex process, from the early direct firing method to the box and bowl loading firing method, and then to the late Northern Song Dynasty’s overburning method, which promoted the change of Chinese porcelain from the shape to the type of utensils.
- Woodworking techniques include ancient architecture, carving, material selection and cutting, polishing, coloring and varnishing, etc. Woodworking in ancient architecture is more prominent, and modern technology is also more mature.
- Lacquer decoration is a traditional Han Chinese craft that uses lacquer to decorate artworks. Ancient lacquer decoration works often have high collection value.
- Sculpture techniques include wood carving, bone carving, stone carving, and ivory carving, etc. From simple carving in the Shang Dynasty to three-dimensional round carving, Chinese wood carving art reached its peak in the Han Dynasty, and was more perfect in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Modern times are divided into craft wood carving and art wood carving.
- The knitting process dates back to more than 6,000 years ago. Ancestors have mastered the simple knitting process of daily necessities. There are various weaving methods, such as herringbone pattern, cross pattern, plum blossom eye, rhombus grid, etc. Bamboo weaving, grass weaving, willow weaving, rattan weaving, and brown weaving are also famous in China.
The artistic and cultural value of traditional crafts
Traditional crafts have characteristics such as harmony, symbolism, agility, natural interest, and craftsmanship. They are an active cultural element and a unique historical memory, rooted in the customs and practices of the general public, and can provide useful reference perspectives for the development of modern society. Traditional crafts are usually made of natural materials, with distinct ethnic styles and local characteristics, often with a history of more than a hundred years and a complete process, serving as carriers of history and culture. Many traditional crafts exist in ethnic minority areas and characteristic towns, and professionals engaged in the design and production of traditional crafts are called traditional craftsmen. For example, paper-cutting art in China is a common folk art form during the Chinese New Year in Shaanxi and other places. The materials are simple and easy to obtain, but various exquisite patterns can be created through the skilled hands of artists, which contains rich folk cultural connotations. There is also Huangmei picking flower in Hubei, which is known for its exquisite weaving, simplicity and elegance. It has a long history and is a unique local folk handicraft, reflecting the local cultural characteristics and aesthetic concepts.
Production methods and limitations of traditional crafts
Traditional crafts are mostly handmade, and the production process often relies on the skills and experience of craftsmen. Although this handmade production method can endow works with unique artistic charm, it also has some limitations. For example, the production efficiency is relatively low, the production cost is high, especially for some complex handicrafts, which require a lot of time and energy. Moreover, the inheritance of traditional crafts is facing difficulties. Due to complex craftsmanship, low economic benefits, and lack of follow-up personnel, some skills are facing the situation of being lost. Taking traditional woodcut technology as an example, to make a beautiful woodcut work, from material selection, design to carving, polishing and other processes, craftsmen need to have exquisite skills, and the production cycle is long, which limits the possibility of large-scale production. At the same time, it also makes fewer and fewer young people learn this skill, and the inheritance faces challenges.
The difference between transparent resin printing and traditional processes
the production principle and technical means
- Transparent resin printing : Based on digital models, using light-curing technology (such as SLA or DLP), the liquid transparent resin is cured layer by layer through a specific light source, and finally a three-dimensional object is formed. In this process, the computer precisely controls the irradiation path and time of the light source to ensure the accurate curing degree and shape of each layer of resin. For example, SLA technology uses lasers to scan the resin surface point by point, while DLP technology cures the entire resin layer at once.
- Traditional crafts rely on manual operation or simple tool assistance. Different traditional crafts have their own production principles. For example, the casting and forging process changes the shape of metal materials through heating, forging, casting and other operations; the wood carving process uses knives to carve on wood. Traditional crafts rely more on the experience and skills of craftsmen to control the production process, lacking precise digital control methods like transparent resin printing.
Material properties and processing methods
- Transparent resin printing : Using specialized transparent resin materials, this material is liquid when not cured, with certain fluidity and stickiness. During the printing process, printing parameters need to be adjusted according to the characteristics of the material, such as light intensity, wavelength, etc. After printing, post-processing is usually required, such as removing support structures, polishing, painting, etc., to improve transparency and surface quality.
- Traditional Craftsmanship : A wide variety of materials are used, including natural materials such as wood, metal, ceramics, fabrics, etc. The properties of these materials vary greatly, and the processing methods are also different. For example, wood needs to be dried, cut, engraved, etc.; metal materials need to be melted, forged, polished, etc. The processing of materials in traditional craftsmanship relies more on traditional handicraft skills, rather than based on the light-curing characteristics of materials like transparent resin printing.
Production efficiency and scale
- Transparent resin printing : has certain advantages in production efficiency, especially for some small-sized, high-precision complex parts. Once the digital model is determined, the printer can quickly print according to the set program, and multiple parts can be printed at the same time. However, due to the limitations of the build volume of the printer and the cost of resin materials, there may be difficulties or high costs in printing large parts.
- Traditional craftsmanship : Production efficiency is relatively low, especially for complex designs. Handmade processes often take a long time and are difficult to achieve large-scale production. For example, making a traditional handmade wood carving work may take several days or even months, while making a large number of identical wood carving works requires more craftsmen to invest more time. However, traditional craftsmanship also has its unique features in making some large-scale works or personalized customization, and is not limited by the volume of printing construction.
Appearance and accuracy
- Transparent resin printing : can achieve high accuracy, especially in the production of parts with complex internal structures or fine appearance. The surface of the printed object is relatively smooth, and after post-processing, it can achieve high transparency. However, due to the possible problems such as layer patterns and support structure traces during the printing process, in some cases with extremely high requirements for appearance, further fine processing may be required.
- Traditional craftsmanship : The appearance effect has a unique handmade texture, such as the wood grain texture of wood carving works, the handmade kneading marks of ceramic works, etc., which give the works a unique artistic charm. However, in terms of accuracy, traditional craftsmanship may be difficult to achieve the same height as transparent resin printing, especially for some extremely fine and complex geometric shapes, there may be certain errors in handmade production.
Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of transparent resin printing and traditional processes
the advantages and disadvantages of transparent resin printing
(1) Advantages
- High accuracy : Transparent resin printing can accurately manufacture complex shapes and structures based on digital models. For example, when manufacturing medical apparatus models with fine internal structures, every detail can be accurately restored, providing reliable models for medical research and surgical simulation. This accuracy is difficult to achieve with traditional manual techniques, as traditional techniques rely more on the manual operation of craftsmen and are prone to minor errors.
- High design flexibility : as long as there is a suitable digital model, the design can be easily modified and adjusted. This is very beneficial for product research and innovation. For example, in jewelry design, different shapes and structures can be quickly tried without the need to remake molds or make complex manual adjustments like traditional craftsmanship.
- Suitable for small batch production : It has cost and efficiency advantages for small batch production or customized production. Because there is no need to make complex molds, the cost of each production is relatively low, and the production cycle is short. For example, to make some personalized handicrafts or customized parts, transparent resin printing can quickly respond to demand.
- Material property advantages : Transparent resin has good physical properties such as transparency, strength, and toughness, which make the printed products perform well in appearance and durability. In the production of building models, transparent resin models can not only clearly display the structure and design concept of the building, but also withstand a certain degree of collision during handling and display.
(2) Disadvantages
- High equipment and material costs : 3D printing equipment itself is expensive, and the cost of transparent resin materials is relatively high. This makes the initial investment large, which may be a big burden for some small businesses or individual creators. For example, the price of a regular desktop SLA 3D printer may be in the thousands of yuan, and the price of each liter of transparent resin is also more than 100 yuan.
- Printing size is limited : General 3D printers have limited construction volume and are difficult to print large objects. If you want to print large parts, you may need a special large printer, which will be more expensive. For example, in the field of architecture, if you want to make a large building model, you may need to divide the model into multiple parts for printing, and then splice them together, which increases the complexity and cost of production.
- High post-processing requirements : Although the printed objects have certain accuracy and appearance quality, complex post-processing is usually required to achieve better results, such as removing support structures, polishing, etc. These post-processing processes require additional time and technology, and improper handling may affect the quality of the product. For example, when removing support structures, carelessness may damage the surface of the model.
- Lack of handmade artistic sense : The appearance of the printed products is relatively mechanical and regular, lacking the unique handmade artistic sense of traditional craftsmanship. For some products that pursue artistic value and unique handmade texture, this may be a deficiency. For example, when making some high-end artworks, traditional hand-carved works may be more popular in the market.
the advantages and disadvantages of traditional crafts
(1) Advantages
- Unique artistic value : The products made by traditional crafts have a unique sense of handmade art, which is the embodiment of the craftsman’s skills, experience and creativity. Each work contains the craftsman’s emotions and efforts, and has an irreplaceable artistic value. For example, traditional handmade embroidery works, through the craftsman’s careful embroidery, show delicate color transitions and unique needle textures, which have high artistic appreciation value.
- Rich cultural connotations : Traditional crafts are carriers of history and culture, carrying national memories, regional characteristics, and traditional customs. Products made through traditional crafts can convey rich cultural information. For example, China’s paper-cutting art has different styles in different regions, reflecting local folk culture, myths and legends.
- Material diversity and naturalness : The materials used in traditional crafts are mostly natural materials, such as wood, stone, ceramic soil, etc. These materials have unique textures and characteristics. Moreover, the diversity of materials provides more possibilities for creation. For example, the wood carving process can be created according to the texture and texture of the wood, so that the work can blend with the characteristics of the material itself.
- Not limited by equipment and technology : Traditional crafts do not need to rely on complex equipment and advanced technology. As long as the craftsman has the corresponding skills and tools, they can be made. This makes traditional crafts still able to be inherited and developed in some remote areas or with limited resources. For example, some folk traditional weaving techniques only require simple weaving tools for creation.
(2) Disadvantages
- Low production efficiency : Due to relying mainly on manual production, production efficiency is low. It may take a long time to make a complex traditional handicraft, which limits the output of the product. For example, making a traditional handmade ceramic vase, from drawing the blank, drawing the pattern to firing, may take several days or even weeks, which is difficult to meet the needs of large-scale production.
- Precision and consistency are difficult to guarantee : In the production process, due to the instability of manual operation, it is difficult to ensure that each product has the same accuracy and quality. Especially for some complex shapes and fine structures, manual production is prone to errors. For example, in the wood carving process, it is difficult to ensure that every pattern is completely consistent when carving complex patterns.
- Difficulty in Inheritance : The inheritance of traditional crafts faces many challenges, such as complex crafts, long learning cycles, low economic benefits, etc., resulting in a lack of successors. Many traditional crafts are gradually being lost. For example, some ancient casting and forging techniques, due to the impact of modern industrial technology, few young people are willing to learn and inherit this skill.
Advantages and disadvantages of transparent resin printing compared to traditional processes
Advantages
- In terms of production efficiency and accuracy : In terms of production efficiency, for some small-sized products with complex structures, transparent resin printing can quickly complete manufacturing and greatly shorten the production cycle. For example, when manufacturing small mechanical part models, transparent resin printing can be completed in a few hours, while traditional processes may take several days. In terms of accuracy, transparent resin printing can accurately restore the complex geometric shapes and fine structures in digital models, while traditional processes are prone to deviations when producing some very fine structures.
- In terms of design innovation : Transparent resin printing can easily achieve various complex design ideas. Designers can quickly try different design schemes by modifying digital models. This is very beneficial for promoting innovative product design. Traditional technology is often limited by process technology and production costs in the innovation process, and some overly complex designs may be difficult to achieve. For example, in architectural design, transparent resin printing can produce building models with unique spatial structures and transparency changes, which is difficult to achieve with traditional technology.
- Stability of material properties : The material properties of transparent resin are relatively stable, and the quality of the product can be ensured by precise control of parameters during the printing process. The quality and performance of natural materials used in traditional processes may be affected by factors such as the source of raw materials and the environment. For example, the texture and hardness of wood may vary depending on the type and growth environment of the wood, which will affect the final product quality.
Disadvantages
- In terms of artistic value : Transparent resin printed products lack the profound handmade artistic value contained in traditional crafts. Every detail in traditional crafts is carefully crafted by craftsmen, with unique artistic charm and humanistic emotions, while printed products often give people a mechanical and cold feeling. For example, in the production of high-end artworks, traditional handmade carvings or paintings can better reflect the uniqueness and value of art.
- In terms of cultural inheritance : Traditional crafts are an important carrier of historical culture, carrying the memory of the nation and the characteristics of the region. Transparent resin printing, as a modern technology, can produce products with cultural elements, but it cannot deeply reflect cultural connotations and inherit cultural spirit like traditional crafts. For example, China’s paper-cutting art is not only an art form, but also contains rich folk culture and traditional customs, which are difficult to fully reflect with transparent resin printing.
- Material texture : Natural materials used in traditional crafts have unique textures, such as the warm texture of wood and the heavy texture of stone, which cannot be fully simulated by transparent resin. For example, when making some home decorations, wooden carvings will give people a natural and warm feeling, while products printed with transparent resin lack this unique texture.
Advantages and disadvantages of traditional processes compared to transparent resin printing
Advantage
- Material and texture: Traditional crafts often use natural materials such as wood, jade, metal, ceramics, etc. These materials themselves have unique textures, textures, and colors. After careful processing by craftsmen, they can present different artistic effects such as nature, warmth, simplicity, or nobility, giving people a friendly and real touch. Although transparent resin printing materials can achieve high transparency, they are relatively lacking in the richness of texture.
- Craft Inheritance and Cultural Value: Traditional crafts carry hundreds or even thousands of years of historical culture, and are an important carrier of national and regional culture. Its production process contains the skills and craftsman spirit passed down from generation to generation. Each work condenses the wisdom and emotion of craftsmen, with profound cultural heritage and artistic value, and can convey specific cultural information and historical memory. Transparent resin printing is a product of modern technology, and it is relatively insufficient in cultural inheritance and historical heritage.
- Fineness and uniqueness: Many traditional crafts can achieve extremely high fineness and complexity. Craftsmen can show delicate lines, exquisite patterns, and unique shapes in their works with their superb manual skills. Especially in some crafts that require hand carving, embroidery, weaving, etc., they can create unique works of art that are irreproducible. Although transparent resin printing can also produce complex shapes, it is difficult to match traditional crafts in some details and uniqueness.
- Artistic creativity and improvisation: Traditional craftsmen can improvise and adjust their works according to the characteristics of materials, creative inspiration, and personal emotions during the production process, constantly modifying and improving the works to make them more vibrant and personalized. Transparent resin printing requires a precise model to be designed in advance, and it is difficult to make real-time creative adjustments during the printing process.
Disadvantage
- Production Efficiency: Traditional crafts mostly rely on manual production, resulting in slower production speed. Making a complex work may require a lot of time and effort, making it difficult to meet the needs of large-scale production and rapid delivery. Transparent resin printing technology, on the other hand, can quickly transform digital models into physical products through Computer Aided Design and automated printing processes, greatly improving production efficiency, especially suitable for rapid manufacturing of small batches and customized products.
- Cost control: For some complex traditional craft works, due to the production process requiring a lot of labor and time, as well as the selection and processing of materials, the cost is high and the price is expensive, which limits its market popularity. In contrast, when transparent resin printing is mass-produced, its cost advantage will gradually become apparent as the quantity increases, especially when making products with simple structures, which can effectively reduce production costs.
- Shape Restriction: Traditional craftsmanship may be limited by craftsmanship and materials when producing products with complex internal structures or special shapes, making it difficult to achieve ideal results. Transparent resin printing, on the other hand, can easily create various complex-shaped objects through 3D modeling and layered printing technology, including hollow, nested, and irregular structures, providing designers with greater creative freedom.
- Consistency and accuracy: Although traditional craftsmen can achieve high production accuracy through long-term training, it is difficult to ensure that each work has completely consistent size and Quality Standard due to the uncertainty of manual production. Transparent resin printing can achieve high dimensional accuracy and product consistency through precise digital models and stable printing parameters, especially for some industrial parts and model production that require high accuracy, which has obvious advantages.
