3D Printing has become more accessible to the general public in recent years. Using this technology lets you create physical objects by adding materials layer by layer. Nowadays, you can buy a desktop version that costs around $100 and are easy enough to operate.

Also known as additive manufacturing, anyone can use this technology for any purpose. Aside from creating prototypes and toys, it is also used in various industries and applications such as aerospace, architecture, automotive, robotics, healthcare, movies, education, and research, among others.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Before you settle with 3D Printing as your manufacturing process of choice, it is essential to understand that it has its advantages and disadvantages. We’ve written the advantages and disadvantages of 3D Printing as compared to other manufacturing methods:

Advantages

  • Highly customizable design – Depending on your skills in working with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, you can create a 3D object according to your preferences.
  • Geometric complexity with no extra costs – No matter how complex your design is, you can design any shape you’d like for no additional cost. This is because you don’t have to create molds to make this happen.
  • Low start-up costs – 3D printers and materials are cheaper and are becoming more accessible to anyone.
  • Large range of materials to work with – Aside from several types of plastics, you can also work with other specialty materials that have specific characteristics. There are materials with high heat resistance, high strength, or biocompatibility.

Disadvantages

  • Lower material strength – 3D printed objects are often weaker and more brittle compared to bulk materials. This is one of the reasons why 3D printed parts are used for non-critical functional applications or are only for prototyping.
  • Less cost-competitive when producing at higher volumes – If you’re planning to produce more quantities of an object, 3D Printing might not be the best way to go. It’s often cheaper and cost-effective if you provide molds or custom tools if you’re planning to produce more than 100 units.
  • Limited accuracy and tolerance – Depending on your process and the machine’s calibration, you might have discrepancies on the measurements of your design and the actual object.
  • Post-processing – 3D printed objects are rarely immediately used after they come off the printer. There are some things you still have to do to improve the appearance of the object. This includes the removal of the support structure, sanding, smoothing, and painting.

How It Works

To make it easier to understand, 3D Printing is quite similar to what you do with a regular inkjet printer for printing documents and photos. This process requires several components, which include the use of software specific to designing and printing, the 3D printer, and the material of your choice. We’re going to show you the step by step process below:

Design

Just like printing a document or photo on paper, the first step is to have a digital file of your design. The most common file format used in saving 3D objects is the STL file.

Create or Download a 3D Object

If you decide to make a 3D object from scratch, you can use CAD software like SolidWorks. Using the tools and features of CAD software will take some getting used to. But once you’ve familiarised yourself with it, it will be easy to design your 3D objects.

But if you haven’t mastered the CAD software just yet, that’s okay. You can get 3D objects from websites like Thingiverse, where users share their files to anyone.

Converting the STL File to a G-Code File

Now that you’ve got the STL file for your 3D object, we can now proceed to the printing process. The STL file needs to be converted to another file format called the G-Code. The G-Code is the file format recognized by your 3D printer and is produced by the slicing software like Ultimaker’s Cura. Follow the steps below to convert your file:

  1. Open the STL file using your 3D printer software
  2. Customize the settings and location of your 3D object
  3. Save the 3D object as a G-code file and load it on your SD card

Printing

Before we proceed to the printing process, make sure of the following things:

  • The material filament of choice is already loaded on the 3D printer
  • If you’re using a different filament for this print, make sure to purge the nozzle first by moving some of the new filament forward.
  • You’ve changed the settings on the 3D printer to match the material you are using
  • There’s a sticker on the heat bed

After you’ve checked everything on the list above, you can now insert the SD card. Look for the file name of your object and hit the print command. Depending on specific settings like the infill density, the printing time could vary.

When the Printing is finished, you can now remove the printed object from the heatbed. To make it easier to remove, it’s always a good idea to heat the heatbed a little bit.

Post-Processing and Support Removal

Because 3D printers can’t deposit material on thin air, some of your designs will require a support structure. They are often more brittle and hollow compared to your design. This is one of the reasons why 3D printed objects aren’t used immediately off the printer.

Aside from removing the support structures, you also have to do certain post-processing methods to make your object look good. This includes techniques like sanding, smoothing, and painting.

Materials Used for 3D Printing

While it’s true that the common filaments used for 3D printers are usually different types of plastics (like ABS or PLA), there are other options for materials. You can also print 3D objects using nylon, metal, and wood.

However, these filaments are not made up of pure material. When you buy a wood or metal filament, you’re buying a plastic filament that’s been coated of fused with wood or metal particles. While the filament may not be 100% wood or metal, you do get an object that looks like it’s made out of wood or metal.

Other materials are available for industrial 3D printers. These include resins, ceramics, wax, paper, and sandstones.

Wrapping Up

With the 3D printer becoming more accessible to the public, there are endless possibilities and opportunities in this technology. Whether you’re a DIY-er or an expert in a particular field, 3D Printing is a technology that you can maximize for your purpose.

If you’ve enjoyed reading our article today, pass it on to your family and friends who might be interested in this fantastic technology. Let us know if you’ve got any questions or comments for us by leaving a message below.

This article has been written by Jovia Sevilla.

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