EPlus3D

Overwhelmed by the Amount of Processes and Materials Involved in 3D Printing? Check Out This Helpful Chart

Formnext Germany

Share this Article

powderFor those unfamiliar with 3D printing, the technology can seem a bit overwhelming. It can be hard to know where to start when trying to learn about the field, so it’s always helpful when someone expert in the field breaks it into manageable pieces. Every once in a while, we at 3DPrint.com like to offer a few basic introductions or refresher courses for those who are new to 3D printing. Today’s lesson is courtesy of Noah Fram-Schwartz, former 3D Design Lab Lead at Google. He recently created a helpful chart to simplify some of the most common materials involved in 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, particularly at the industrial level–and a look at some of the big names specializing in these technologies.

“Explaining the different types of additive manufacturing (AM) processes can be difficult as there’s significant overlap with materials and hardware between the different technologies,” says Fram-Schwartz. “I’ve created this diagram to make this seemingly sophisticated network of processes palatable for those new to the space.”

printing chart

To start familiarizing oneself with additive manufacturing, it’s important to understand the different types of materials used. Fram-Schwartz’s chart breaks it down into three broad categories: liquids, powders and sheets. Liquids can be comprised of melted plastic, glass or metal.  Plastic resins are the cheapest and most common material used in 3D printing. Solid plastics are fed into the printer in either pellet or filament form, melted, and extruded in liquid form, layer by layer. Once the liquid is extruded onto the print platform, it must be quickly cured, or hardened, so that the next layer can be laid down on top.

slaThe plastics used in 3D printing are typically photopolymers, which, as their name suggests, are polymers that change their structure when exposed to ultraviolet light, so when the layers of plastic resin are extruded, they are hardened by light exposure. Depending on the type of photopolymer, different methods of light exposure may be used: stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Projection (DLP) or Multi Jet Modeling (MJM). These materials, Fram-Schwartz points out, are not typically used in industrial end-use or production parts, due to fact that their photosensitive properties are so easily affected by heat and light.

laser

Powders are commonly used in metal additive manufacturing. Powders, when extruded, are fused into a solid material using lasers, electron beams, or liquid binding agents. The types of powder fusion include Electron Beam Melting (EBM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Binder Jetting (BJ.)

Finally, there is the form of additive manufacturing known as sheet lamination. This form involves laying down sheets of paper or metal and bonding them together by welding, in the case of metal, or adhesive, in the case of paper. The process of welding metal used in sheet lamination is known as Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM), and the process used for paper is called Laminated Object Manufacturing.

bits-from-bytes-material-3d-printerFram-Schwartz is quick to point out that each form of additive manufacturing has its limitations. Most 3D printed objects can only be formed from a single material, with the exception of MJM, FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), and LMD (Laser Metal Deposition, another method used in metal additive manufacturing). Some processes, such as SLA, DLP, EBM, and DMLS, require support materials to keep the prints from losing their shape or collapsing during the printing process.

While the chart provided by Fram-Schwartz does not cover all of the processes used in 3D printing, it does give a pretty good look at some of the more common ones. You can also check out our detailed overview on 3D printing here, if you’d like to read more in-depth descriptions of some of the most common printing methods. If you’re considering an investment in a 3D printer, it’s important to be as informed as possible so that you can make the right choice for your needs.  Discuss this article in the 3D Printing Materials forum on 3DPB.com.

 

Share this Article


Recent News

Norwegian Oil Leader 3D Prints Critical Subsea Part

Sustainability in Manufacturing: Insights from 3D Printing Facilitator Fictiv’s 2023 Survey



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

Featured

Analyzing True Sustainability in 3D Printing

Additive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized the production landscape, enabling unprecedented levels of customization and complex design. However, with its rise, the focus on sustainability within AM has become essential. This...

Xometry Launches Dashboard Collaboration Tool for 3D Printing

3D printing platform Xometry (Nasdaq: XTMR) is expanding its focus on software to deliver added value for clients. A newly introduced order management dashboard aims to provide greater visibility across...

3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: July 23, 2023

This week’s webinar and event roundup is a little lighter, but there are still plenty of 3D printing offerings! Stratasys continues its U.S. tour, Markforged offers two more Demo Days,...

Xometry Bolsters AI Features Amid CEO Poll Indicating Rapid Adoption

AI-powered marketplace Xometry (Nasdaq: XMTR) announced today that it will extend its Xometry Instant Quoting Engine to include instant quoting of inserts, multi-part assemblies, and an expanded range of sheet-cutting...