3D printing is a technique that makes it possible to produce three-dimensional products from a digital construction drawing. This is built up in layers and can be achieved using plastics but also other raw materials. 3D printing falls under additive techniques, which means that material must be supplied to get a physical end result. In recent years, 3D printing has enabled industries to make prototypes faster, produce faster and do more in-house, which means lower costs and faster turnaround times.
Commonly used 3D printer materials
Commonly used 3D printer materials are:
These materials are all processed at different temperatures and therefore different settings. These materials also all have different properties. Where PLA is characterized by its easy workability, the opposite is the case with nylon and therefore for the advanced user. The prices of the 3D printer materials mentioned are also different, as one is more common than the other.
Costs of 3D printing
The costs of 3D printing have fallen sharply in recent years due to the many (home) printers available and an industry that has become more mature . Where you used to spend hundreds of euros for a prototype, this has now become only a tenth of that due to the good availability of 3D printers, also for home use, and the range of materials that make this possible. Nowadays there are often small platforms locally that make it possible to have a model printed in 3D for a wide variety of materials against material and electricity costs. There are also platforms for 3D printing. This is possible at Hubs , among others, but also at Dutch companies such as Oceanz .
3D printing applications
The applications of 3D printing have increased enormously in recent times. While it used to be only for hobbyists, it is now also used in defense, in hospitals, laboratories and in dentistry. In addition to technological companies, 3D printing is now also widely used in the medical industry, where it will continue to grow rapidly in the coming years, according to all expectations. Despite the fact that very different guidelines apply in the latter medical industry, there are plenty of suppliers who respond to this and make this possible. Dental implants, prosthetics, but also scale models of organs and fractures can be perfectly depicted with it.
Advantages of 3D printing
The benefits of 3D printing are endless, to give an idea of the possibilities:
- Being able to quickly iterate from prototype to end product
- Quite cheap
- Many different choices of materials and colors
- Wide range of companies and private individuals who can do it
- Enormous freedom of form in terms of designs
Disadvantages of 3D printing
There are of course a number of disadvantages to 3D printing that need to be mentioned:
- 3D printing can take quite a long time, especially at large volumes
- Designing 3D files is intensive
- Dimensional tolerances are more difficult to achieve
- Is often not as strong as other subtractive techniques such as CNC and milling