ELECTROMAGNETICS FIELDS AND WAVES

MD.HARUN AR RASHID
ID: 18-39220-3
SECTION: D

TOPICS NAME: 3D PRINTERS

 WHAT IS A 3D PRINTING MACHINE?
3D printers, sometimes known incorrectly as “3D
printing machines”, are additive manufacturing machines
that specialize in making custom parts with accuracy.
As the name suggests, 3D printers add material, layer-by-
layer, to form a 3D object. Virtually any geometry can be
3D printed, including some that cannot be made with
other traditional processes.

3D printers were large, expensive, and used primarily for prototyping and
modeling industrial parts. Over the last decade, costs have dropped
dramatically to the point where most hobbyists or machine shops can afford an
entire rack of these little wonders.
Machining and molding operations that were once limited to high-end CNC
mills and complicated injection molding systems can now be done on
everyone’s desktop. Not only has the technology improved, but costs have also
dropped, as well.
 TYPES OF 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY:
The term 3D printing encompasses several manufacturing technologies that build parts layer-by-layer. Each vary in
the way they form plastic and metal parts and can differ in material selection, surface finish, durability, and
manufacturing speed and cost.

There are several types of 3D printing, which include:

•Stereolithography (SLA)
•Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
•Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
•Digital Light Process (DLP)
•Multi Jet Fusion (MJF)
•PolyJet
•Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
•Electron Beam Melting (EBM)

The right 3D printing process for your application requires an

understanding of each process’ strengths and weaknesses and
mapping those attributes to your product development needs. Let’s
first discuss how 3D printing fits.
 3D PRINTING FOR RAPID PROTOTYPING
AND BEYOND:
It’s safe to say 3D printing is most often used for prototyping. Its ability to
quickly manufacture a single part enables product developers to validate
and share ideas in a cost-effective manner. Determining the purpose of
your prototype will inform which 3D printing technology will be the most
beneficial. Additive manufacturing can be suitable for a range of
prototypes that span from simple physical models to parts used for
functional testing.

Despite 3D printing being nearly synonymous with rapid prototyping, there

are scenarios when it’s a viable production process. Typically these
applications involve low-volumes and complex geometries. Often,
components for aerospace and medical applications are ideal candidates for
production 3D printing as they frequently match the criteria previously
described.
 3D PRINTING CONSIDERATIONS:
there’s rarely a simple answer when selecting a 3D printing process. When we assist customers evaluating their
3D printing options, we typically point to five key criteria to determine what technology will meet their needs:

SLA technology forms plastic

1.Budget parts by curing a liquid thermoset
2.Mechanical requirements resin with a UV laser. As parts are
3.Cosmetic appearance built, they require support
4.Material selection structures which are removed once
the build completes.
5.Geometry
 METAL 3D PRINTING PROCESSES:
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)

Metal 3D printing opens up new possibilities for metal part design.

The process we use at Protolabs to 3D print metal parts is direct
metal laser sintering (DMLS). It’s often used to reduce metal, multi-
part assemblies into a single component or lightweight parts with
internal channels or hollowed out features. DMLS is viable for both
prototyping and production since parts are as dense as those
produced with traditional metal manufacturing methods like
machining or casting. Creating metal components with complex
geometries also makes it suitable for medical applications where a
part design must mimic an organic structure.
Electron Beam Melting (EBM)

Electron beam melting is another metal 3D printing technology that uses

an electron beam that's controlled by electromagnetic coils to melt the
metal powder. The printing bed is heated up and in vacuum conditions
during the build. The temperature that the material is heated to is
determined by the material in use.
 SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING (SLS):
(SLS) melts together nylon-based powders into solid plastic. Since SLS parts are made
from real thermoplastic material, they are durable, suitable for functional testing, and can
support living hinges and snap-fits. In comparison to SL, parts are stronger, but have
rougher surface finishes. SLS doesn’t require support structures so the whole build
platform can be utilized to nest multiple parts into a single build—making it suitable for
part quantities higher than other 3D printing processes. Many SLS parts are used to
prototype designs that will one day be injection-molded. For our SLS printers, we use
sPro140 machines developed by 3D systems.
 DIGITAL LIGHT PROCESSING (DLP):
Digital light processing is similar to SLA in that it cures
liquid resin using light. The primary difference between
the two technologies is that DLP uses a digital light
projector screen whereas SLA uses a UV laser. This
means DLP 3D printers can image an entire layer of the
build all at once, resulting in faster build speeds. While
frequently used for rapid prototyping, the higher
throughput of DLP printing makes it suitable for low-
Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) volume production runs of plastic parts.
Similar to SLS, Multi Jet Fusion also builds functional
parts from nylon powder. Rather than using a laser to
sinter the powder, MJF uses an inkjet array to apply
fusing agents to the bed of nylon powder. Then a heating
element passes over the bed to fuse each layer. This
results in more consistent mechanical properties
compared to SLS as well as improved surface finish.
Another benefit of the MJF process is the accelerated
build time, which leads to lower production costs.
 WHEN TO USE 3D PRINTING:
As stated earlier, there are a couple common denominators among 3D printing applications.
If your part quantities are relatively low, 3D printing can be optimal—our guidance is usually
1 to 50 parts. As volumes start to near the hundreds, it’s worth exploring other manufacturing
processes. If your design features complex geometry that is critical to your part’s function,
like an aluminum component with an internal cooling channel, 3D printing might be your
only option.
 CONCLUTION:
The right process comes down to aligning the advantages and limitations of each technology to your
application’s most important requirements. In the early stages when ideas are being thrown around and all you
need is a model to share with a colleague, those stair-stepping surface finishes on your part aren’t of much
concern. But once you hit the point where you need to conduct user testing, factors like cosmetics and
durability start to matter. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution, properly utilizing 3D printing
technology throughout product development will reduce design risk and, ultimately, result in better products.

 This simple guide is for those who want to understand the differences between different 3D
printing types. It’s also for hobbyists, schools, libraries, and anyone else who wants to invest
in this amazing technology. If you know nothing at all about 3D printing—but would like to
learn—this guide is for YOU. Don’t worry, we’re not going to overwhelm you or blind you
with science.

 By the end of this guide, you’ll have a good, basic understanding of all the 3D printer types
available today. If you’re thinking about investing in a 3D printer, we’ve got you covered.
You’re going to be in a much better position to make a well-informed decision before parting
with your hard earned cash.
T HA NK Y OU