Cited by 1 — Welcome to 3DPI’s Beginner’s Guide to 3D Printing. Whether you are new to 3D printing technology or just looking to close a few.
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(*+,-#./#0.12-123 Chapter 02 : History of 3D Printing Chapter 03 : 3D Printing Technology Chapter 04 : 3D Printing Processes Chapter 05 : 3D Printing Materials Chapter 06 : 3D Printing Global E ! ects Chapter 07 : 3D Printing Bene ” ts & Value Chapter 08 : 3D Printing Applications Glossary 051019244048535772

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Welcome to 3DPIÕs BeginnerÕs Guide to 3D Printing. Whether you are new to 3D printing technology or just looking to close a few knowledge gaps, weÕre glad you stopped by. By now, most of us have heard, at some level, about the potential of 3D printing. But with this guide we are o ! ering insights into the history and the reality of 3D printing Ñ the processes, materials and applications Ñ as well as measured thoughts on where it might be heading. !We hope youÕll ” nd this to be one of the most comprehensive 3D printing resources available, and that no matter what your skill level is, there will be plenty in here to meet your needs. As an added bonus, weÕre working on a handy downloadable PDF version of the entire guide, and hope to have that ready very soon. !Are you ready? LetÕs get started! 3D Printing Ñ also known as additive manufacturing Ñ has been quoted in the Financial Times and by other sources as potentially being larger than the Internet. Some believe this is true. Many others urge that this is part of the extraordinary hype that exists around this very exciting technology area. So what really is 3D printing, who generally uses 3D printers and what for? !”#$4512516#7*35839 !33dprintingindustry.com

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:;-4;5-< The term 3D printing covers a host of processes and technologies that o ! er a full spectrum of capabilities for the production of parts and products in di ! erent materials. Essentially, what all of the processes and technologies have in common is the manner in which production is carried out Ñ layer by layer in an additive process Ñ which is in contrast to traditional methods of production involving subtractive methods or moulding/casting processes. Applications of 3D printing are emerging almost by the day, and, as this technology continues to penetrate more widely and deeply across industrial, maker and consumer sectors, this is only set to increase. Most reputable commentators on this technology sector agree that, as of today, we are only just beginning to see the true potential of 3D printing. 3DPI, a reliable media source for 3D printing, brings you all of the latest news, views, process developments and applications as they emerge in this exciting " eld. This overview article aims to provide the 3DPI audience with a reliable backgrounder on 3D printing in terms of what it is (technologies, processes and materials), its history, application areas and bene " ts. !43dprintingindustry.com PAGE - 6 ============ &124.=>825.1#?#@A*2#53#!”#B4512516C Technology has a ! ected recent human history probably more than any other ” eld. Think of a light bulb, steam engine or, more latterly, cars and aeroplanes, not to mention the rise and rise of the world wide web. These technologies have made our lives better in many ways, opened up new avenues and possibilities, but usually it takes time, sometimes even decades, before the truly disruptive nature of the technology becomes apparent. !It is widely believed that 3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM) has the vast potential to become one of these technologies. 3D printing has now been covered across many television channels, in mainstream newspapers and across online resources. What really is this 3D printing that some have claimed will put an end to traditional manufacturing as we know it, revolutionize design and impose geopolitical, economic, social, demographic, environmental and security implications to our every day lives? !The most basic, di ! erentiating principle behind 3D printing is that it is an additive manufacturing process. And this is indeed the key because 3D printing is a radically di ! erent manufacturing method based on advanced technology that builds up parts, additively, in layers at the sub mm scale. This is fundamentally di ! erent from !63dprintingindustry.com

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&124.=>825.1#?#@A*2#53#!”#B4512516C subtractive manufacturing processes, such as machining, can result in up to 90% of the original block of material being wasted. !In contrast, 3D printing is a process for creating objects directly, by adding material layer by layer in a variety of ways, depending on the technology used. Simplifying the ideology behind 3D printing, for anyone that is still trying to understand the concept (and there are many), it could be likened to the process of building something with Lego blocks automatically. !3D printing is an enabling technology that encourages and drives innovation with unprecedented design freedom while being a tool-less process that reduces prohibitive costs and lead times. Components can be designed speci ” cally to avoid assembly requirements with intricate geometry and complex features created at no extra cost. 3D printing is also emerging as an energy- e# cient technology that can provide environmental e# ciencies in terms of both the manufacturing process itself, utilising up to 90% of standard materials, and throughout the productÕs operating life, through lighter and stronger design. !In recent years, 3D printing has gone beyond being an !83dprintingindustry.com

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&124.=>825.1#?#@A*2#53#!”#B4512516C industrial prototyping and manufacturing process as the technology has become more accessible to small companies and even individuals. Once the domain of huge, multi-national corporations due to the scale and economics of owning a 3D printer, smaller (less capable) 3D printers can now be acquired for under $1000. !This has opened up the technology to a much wider audience, and as the exponential adoption rate continues apace on all fronts, more and more systems, materials, applications, services and ancillaries are emerging. !93dprintingindustry.com

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D532.4E#./#!”#$4512516 The earliest 3D printing technologies ” rst became visible in the late 1980Õs, at which time they were called Rapid Prototyping (RP) technologies. This is because the processes were originally conceived as a fast and more cost-e ! ective method for creating prototypes for product development within industry. As an interesting aside, the very ” rst patent application for RP technology was ” led by a Dr Kodama, in Japan, in May 1980. Unfortunately for Dr Kodama, the full patent speci ” cation was subsequently not ” led before the one year deadline after the application, which is particularly disastrous considering that he was a patent lawyer! In real terms, however, the origins of 3D printing can be traced back to 1986, when the ” rst patent was issued for stereolithography apparatus (SLA). This patent belonged to one Charles (Chuck) Hull, who ” rst invented his SLA machine in 1983. Hull went on to co-found 3D Systems Corporation Ñ one of the largest and most !113dprintingindustry.com

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