EIT week37-2 3D Printing Technologies

Other 3D Printing Technologies

Overview

• Course: Engineering Interaction Technologies
• Professor: Michael Wessely, Interactive Matter Lab

Diverse 3D Printing Methods

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

• Description: Plastic filament is extruded through a hot nozzle, melting and then solidifying to form layers.
• Equipment: Original Prusa i3 MK3S kit, among others available at IDC.

Direct Ink Writing (DIW)

• Process: Similar to FDM but uses cold extrusion to print pastes, such as food or ceramics, typically using a syringe and air pressure(cold extrusion).
• Applications: Food fabrication, ceramic printing.

Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)

• Technique: Layers of paper or other materials are colored, glued, and cut into shape to form an object.(first sheet 2D color printed, then glued, then cut into shape)
• Materials: Can include conductive traces for heating, allowing integration with electronic functions.

Stereolithography (SLA) and Digital Light Processing (DLP)

• SLA: Uses a laser to cure liquid resin in a tank, building layers as the platform lowers. (使用激光在液态树脂中逐点固化，逐层构建物体。)

• DLP: Similar to SLA but uses a projector, allowing entire layers to solidify at once, enhancing speed but affecting resolution due to pixel shape.(使用投影仪一次性固化整个层面，提高速度。)

• what are some benets / drawbacks of using a projector vs laser?
  • using a projector’s benefit:
    • faster
    • resolution and surface finish due to sqaure pixels
  • using a projector’s drawback:
    • material is relatively expensive
    • complicated following steps, needs to be clean and solidify

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

• Mechanism: A laser fuses powder materials layer by layer, suitable for metals, glass, and ceramics.(使用喷墨头将粘合剂喷洒在粉末床上，逐层粘结成型。)
• Note: Primarily industrial due to the high temperatures involved.
  • benefits in SLS
    • suitable for complicated geometric shape without an addtional supportive structure
    • high toughness, fits in functional component
  • drawbacks in SLS
    • expensive device, industry
    • following steps are complicated

Binder Jetting (BJ)

• Process: Uses inkjet heads to deposit binder onto a powder bed, layer by layer.(类似于2D喷墨打印，但在三维空间中喷射并用紫外光固化)
• Capabilities: Can produce full-color objects by printing onto powder.

Polyjetting

• Method: Similar to 2D inkjet printing but on three-dimensional objects, curing the deposited ink with UV light.

Innovations and Advanced Applications

• Experimental Technologies:
  • Organovo: Focuses on bioprinting, particularly human organs.
  • Carbon 3D: Known for significantly faster printing processes.
  • ExpandFab, LaserFactory, PrintFlatables: Explore new materials and fabrication methods that extend the capabilities of traditional 3D printing.

Summary

• Future Directions: Encourages the creation of custom printing processes and materials, showcasing the expansive potential of 3D printing technology in various fields, from medical applications to consumer electronics.