3D printing is an ever-evolving technology. Previously, prototypes were crafted from a block of material that left behind unnecessary waste, but these days, 3D printing involves intelligent production that uses less material and is, therefore, more sustainable than ever. A study released on April 25th 2022 discusses the development of
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The best example of the application of Additive Manufacturing (AM) or 3D Printing is found in the Aerospace industry, which produces potentially lighter and stronger parts than traditional manufacturing parts. The aerospace industry was a forerunner in 3D printing and contributed significantly to its development. Some aviation companies began using
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Read on to learn more about metal 3D printing with Markforged technology… There are several metal 3D printing technologies suited to different applications, and all of them work differently: SLM (Selective Laser Melting) is the most mature technology, using high-powered lasers to selectively fuse metal powder spread on a bed
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You’ve probably already heard of SLA (stereolithography), a 3D printing process in which layers of liquid-resin are selectively cured solid with a laser. SLA is a mature technology that offers several advantages over FFF, including speed, flexibility, and precision. However, the biggest advantage is there is no mechanical print head
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ESD (electrostatic discharge) is the transfer of electrical charges between two contact points. ESD-safe materials like those from Essentium reduce or stop static electricity discharge, protecting electrostatic-sensitive devices. Essentium is a leading producer of ESD-safe materials for FFF/FDM 3D printers, including Essentium’s HSE 280i HT, HSE 180 and
A quick guide to printing Essentium’s ESD-safe materials Read More »
What is SLS refresh rate? The SLS refresh rate is the percentage of the new cartridge that is ‘refreshed’ with new, unused powder, with the remainder made up of recycled powder. For example, 30% recycled powder means a 70% refresh rate. The Formlabs Fuse 1 makes
SLS Refresh Rate: What is it, and how does it work? Read More »
When printing thermoplastics with dual extrusion, one extruder is typically dedicated to printing a support material and the other a core material. We have covered core materials before (FFF plastics, SLA resins, FFF metals), but what of the support materials used in FFF plastic printing? This article introduces 3D printer support materials,
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SLA 3D printers use a UV laser to cure liquid resin into hardened plastic on the print bed, turning the liquid resin into a solid, three-dimensional model. The resin is made from photosensitive monomers and oligomers, combined in short chains, which turn into long chains with post-curing. There’s an enormous
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In addition to plastics, some FFF/FDM 3D printers are capable of printing metal filaments providing the extruder is rated for metals, and the nozzle can be upgraded to hardened steel to cope with the abrasive filament. Metal FFF is based around metal injection moulding (MIM), which uses a three-step process
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Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is the simplest and most common additive manufacturing technology. Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is the same thing, except it is a trademarked term owned by Stratasys. An FFF 3D printer extrudes melted thermoplastic in layers to form a three-dimensional model. Various thermoplastics are available, from standard
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