3D PRINTING3D PRINTINGINTRODUCTION AND EXAMPLESINTRODUCTION AND EXAMPLES

FINITURA3D PRINTING

A combination of technologies that, starting from a virtual 3D-model, realize a solid object.The processes are various, but all use layering as a printing technique: The model is divided in several sections, and is printed layer by layer with a solid material until the object is created.

RAPID PROTOTYPING

SLS

SLS involves the use of a high power laser (for example, a carbon dioxide laser) to fuse small particles of plastic, metal (direct metal laser sintering), ceramic, or glass powders into a mass that has a desired three-dimensional shape.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_laser_sintering

SLA

Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing process which employs a vat of liquid ultraviolet curable photopolymer "resin" and an ultraviolet laser to build parts' layers one at a time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography

Z-CORP

http://www.zcorp.com/en/home.aspx

It's an enterprise that own a prototype technology that works printing on powder. The final piece can be white or full color

FDM

The model or part is produced by extruding small beads of thermoplastic material to form layers as the material hardens immediately after extrusion from the nozzle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling

OPENSOURCE FDM: REPRAP

This was the first project of an opensource 3D printer

http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page

REPRAP

WORLD

The opensorce nature of the project allows the development of a lot of other 3D printers

http://reprap.org/mediawiki/images/e/ec/RFT_timeline2006-2012.png

OTHER 3D PRINTERS

Many other projects came from the original reprap, without being necessary related to the same design. Sometimes they share just the philosophy (DIY, low cost, opensource, etc.)

YOUR 3D PRINTER

It's a Sharebot NG with a double extruder

DIY 3D BIG PRINTER

One of the biggest DIY 3D printers on the market is the Jumbo 3D-Printer PRotos X400It comes from a reprap but it has a working area 400x400x350 mm

https://grrf.de/en/blog/2012/11/22/jumbo-3d-printer-protos-x400

3D PRINTER + MILLING MACHINE

Power wasp is an example of a multifunctional machine, it's a 3D printer that can become a milling machine

http://www.wasproject.it/w/power-wasp/

ROSTOCK MAX

A new concept of 3D printer. Instead of being a cartesian printer it was a delta printer. In theory it should be able to print faster with lower vibrations

http://www.indiegogo.com/RostockMAX?c=homehttp://reprap.org/wiki/Rostock_MAX

BIG DELTA

Wasp is developing also a bigger version of the delta 3D printer that can prind clay structure (buildings, houses, etc.)

http://www.wasproject.it/w/power-wasp/

SLA 3D PRINTER

First SLA project “prosumer”.

http://formlabs.com/

SLS FIRST TESTS

Experiments on SLS by Sharebot

http://www.sharebot.it/

LOW COST METAL PRINTER

Printing metal is a pretty expensive and complex process. An alternative to the SLS or Direct Metal Print is this process, based on welding machines.

http://www.3ders.org//articles/20141030-weld3d-working-on-development-of-low-cost-3d-metal-printing.html

BIG PRINTERS

There are professionals 3D printers that arrive to a working volume of 1000mm x 800mm x 500mm

http://objet.com/3d-printers/connex/objet1000

STAMPA DI CERAMICA

Unfold design products: some example of ceramic 3D printers, modifying a REPRAP

http://www.unfold.be/pages/projects/items/stratigraphic-manufactury

3D PRINTER FOR CHOCOLATE

A 3D printer designed to print with “fluids”.It prints chocolate as well as resin, but it works with silicone or concrete too.

http://www.psfk.com/2012/01/3d-printer-chocolate-cupcake.html

MATERIALS

ABS E PLA

The most commons materials for 3D printers: ABS and PLA.The first has good mechanical properties, but it's harder to printer (in particular for large pieces).The second one is a biopolymer, available also clean, but it melt at a lower temperature and it's more fragile.

NYLON

It's a thermopolymer with very good mechanical properties, useful for gears, structures, and mechanical pieces in generalIt's still not so used, and not so easy to print.

http://taulman3d.com/index.html

PRINTABLE WOOD

It's a mix of PLA and wood powder. There is a particular plug-in for the slicing software that change the extruder temperatureto give to the objects the typical stripe effect

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20121105-finding-the-proper-temperature-ranges-for-3d-printing-wood.html

APPLICAZIONS

PERSONAL FABRICATION

The most important application is the “personal fabrication”: the design and the production of product with very small markets

http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/1853-The-10-Most-Favorited-3D-Printed-Products-of-2012-on-Shapeways.html#extended

PRINTED BRICKS

This project aims to print bricks with clay or concrete. This allows new shapes and possibilities for the architects.

http://buildingbytes.info/

ELECTRIC

GUITARS

The bodies of these guitars or basses are 3D printed. It's possibile to buy from cubify.com

http://cubify.com/products/guitars/index.aspx

PRINTED BODY PARTS

A very important and interesting application is the medical one.Beside the possibility to print directly organic tissue, there are biocompatible materials like titanium.

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20120203-83-year-old-woman-got-3d-printed-mandible.html

MEDICAL APPLICATION

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130103-3d-printing-helps-develop-the-world-smallest-hearing-aid.html

FUNCTIONAL PROSTHETICS

Prosthetics need to be modified for every customer. It's also a pretty expensive object to make, in particular in some countries and for kids.

http://comingupshorthanded.com/

FUNCTIONAL PROTHESIS 2

An italian start-up that designed bionic hands, based on 3D printing and Arduino.

http://www.youbionic.com/

3D VENDING MACHINES

A Virginia Tech vending machine. The idea is to don't have products but machines that make what you need in real time

http://www.dreams.me.vt.edu/dreamvendor/index.html

REPAIRING OLD OBJECTSSometimes it's almost impossible or very expensive to find spare parts of old object. In these cases 3D printing is an interesting alternative

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20121014-replacing-antique-violin-parts-using-3d-printing.html

PIECES FOR THE “LOST WAX” PROCESS

PLA can be used as a wax for the lost wax process

http://3dtopo.com/lostPLA/

FINAL PRODUCTS PRODUCTION

Alcuni pezzi stampati in 3D vengono già venduti come prodotti finiti. È il caso di queste cuffie audio

http://labs.teague.com/2012/10/01/prototype-as-product-1330-printable-headphones/

MYKITA & MONCLER'S

Occhiali prodotti in stereolitografia su misura per chi li indossa

http://www.eyespectacle.com/2012/10/Mylon-Mykita.html

3D PRINT IN FASHION

The design studio “Continuum fashion” has been one of the fist working with 3D printing for accessories and shoes.

http://www.continuumfashion.com/shoes.php

http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page

http://www.shapeways.com/blog/

http://3dprint.com/

http://www.3ders.org

SOURCES