Exploring the Latest 3D Printer Technologies

With the advancement of technology, 3D printers have also come a long way back to the 1980s. Presently, many industries use 3D printing technologies for the production of various objects, models, tools, or spare parts. 

Nowadays, every industry is using and benefiting from technology. To print something, one will require a computer-aided design (CAD) and then convert it into a 3D object with the help of a printer. However, every printer has its specifications, which are there for different materials and purposes. So, let us dive into the types of 3D printers so you can choose the right one for your requirements. 

Types of 3D Printers with Specifications 

A printer uses the reference of CAD (Computer Aided Design) and builds the 3D object layer-by-layer with different materials. Therefore, below are some useful 3D printers and their durability, material selection, and other specifications. 

3D printers

SLS (Selective Laser Sintering):

Selective Laser Sintering printer operates by keeping a layer of plastic powder and tracing the part with a laser. SLS components like thermoplastic have high quality and strength thermoplastic that is durable, suitable for practical applications, and can support living pivots, snap-fits, and more. SLS components are grounded but have a rough surface finish. Many SLS components help in making model plans for future infusion shapes.

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling):

 An FDM printer works with plastic filament layer by layer onto a platform. FDM is a popular desktop 3D printer technology used to print plastic parts. It is a cost-efficient and fast way to create physical models. In some cases, FDM can also be used to print functional parts. Pellet 3D printers are similar to FDM. However, they use pellets instead of filaments.

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS):

The process begins by depositing a thin film of powdered metal on the surface of a piece of metal. After that, a high-powered laser cut out the cross-section of the metal part, and then the metal powder is placed together. This process is repeated for each layer of powder. Sintering is different from melting because the metal powder is fused only on the surface of the metal.

Pellet 3D printers

Electron Beam Melting (EBM):

Electron beam melting (EBM) is one of the most advanced 3D printing processes using an electron beam to melt metal particles. The process begins with the deposition of a thin layer of metal powder, and an electron beam traces the cross-section of the powder. The electron beam divides to melt multiple areas simultaneously, increasing the production speed. The high-energy electron beam melts the particles together, which forms a homogeneous microstructure. This results in high-strength parts. For the electron beam to work properly, the build chamber must be stable under a vacuum.

Digital Light Process (DLP):

Digital light processing (DLP) is similar to standard laser-based (SLA) printing. However, instead of using high-powered lasers to cure photopolymers, DLP printers use high-resolution screens to project a high-definition image of the component cross-section on the build plate, curing the material using a conventional light source instead of UV light.

DLP technology is generally cheaper than standard laser-based printing, which has opened up photopolymer technology to a wide range of users.

DLP can create high-quality components. A part is composed of thousands or even millions of cubic volumes known as voxels. The screen pixel size corresponds to the voxel size, so the higher the screen resolution, the better the quality of the part.

Conclusion

The difference between a 3D printer relies on the product you are printing. If you are printing a simple, one-time object, then the FDM printer is the best choice. FDM is very accurate, and the cost of the machines and raw materials is very low. On the other hand, if you are printing an end-use metal product that has to be printed in an extreme environment, then EBM might be the best option for you.

If you are looking for 3D printers or pellet 3D printers, you can check Evo 3D, providing high-end 3D printers and other tools. 

Location: Exeter, UK

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