Cuprins

3D printing technology...................................................................................................................1
1. Material extrusion................................................................................................................1
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)..........................................................................................2
2. Vat polymerization................................................................................................................2
Stereolithography (SLA)...........................................................................................................2
Digital Light Processing (DLP)..................................................................................................2
Materials for 3D printing................................................................................................................2

3D printing technology

3D printers use 11 types of technologies: FDM, SLA, MSLA, DLP, SLS, DMLS, SLM, EBM,
Material jetting, DOD and Binder jetting.
These technologies are categorized into 5 categories:

 Material extrusion
 Vat polymerization
 Powder bed fusion
 Material jetting
 Binder jetting

1. Material extrusion

3D printing process based on thermoplastic materials extruded through a heated nozzle,

melted in the process. The material is deposited on the build platform along a predetermined
path, where the filament is cooled, resulting in a solid object. The technology in this category is
Fused deposition Modeling, or FDM.
Materials: PLA, ABS, PET, PETG, TPU
Advantages: best surface finish, full color and material available
Disadvantages: brittle, not sustainable for mechanical parts, higher costs than SLA/DLP
for visual purposes.
 Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

The most common technology for 3D printing, and the cheapest available. The
technology works by using a thermoplastic filament fed to an extrusion head through the
printer nozzle. The nozzle is heated to the desired temperature and the filament is pushed by a
motor through the nozzle, causing the melting of the filament. The melted material is laid on
the building plate through moving the extrusion head through specific coordinates. The
material cools and solidifies on the plate. After a layer is complete, the printer proceeds with
another layer, building layer upon layer until the object is complete. Sometimes, the object
requires additional support structures.

2. Vat polymerization

3D printing process where a light source selectively cures a resin in a vat. The most common are
Stereolithography and Digital Light Processing.
Materials: Photopolymer resin
Advantages: smooth surface finish, fine feature details
Disadvantages: brittle, not sustainable for mechanical parts

Stereolithography (SLA)

The first 3D printing technology, it was invented in 1986. Uses mirrors, known as
galvanometers, one for X-axis and one for Y-axis. The mirrors rapidly aim a laser beam across
the resin vat, selectively curing and solidifying the object, building it layer by layer. Most SLA
printers use solid-state laser to cure parts. The disadvantage of these technologies which use a
laser is the longer time taken to trace the cross-section of an object, when compared to DLP.

Digital Light Processing (DLP)

The technology is almost the same as SLA, the main difference is that DLP uses a digital light
projector to flash a single image at each layer at once, or multiple flashes for larger parts.
Because the projector is a digital screen, the image is composed out of pixels, resulting a layer
of small rectangular blocks, known as voxels. DLP achieve faster print times because the entire
layer exposed at once. Light is projected using LED screens or UV lamps directed to the build
surface by a Digital Micromirror Device, an array of micro mirrors that control the light
projection and generate the light pattern of the build surface.

Masked Stereolithography (MSLA)

MSLA uses LED arrays as light sources, shining UV light through LCD screens to display a single
layer as a mask. Different to DLP, the pixel size of the LCD photomask defines the granularity of
the print. Another difference is that MSLA uses multiple individual emitters instead of a single
light source. Like DLP, MSLA can achieve faster print times than SLA. Because the low cost of
LCDs, MSLA is the most used technology of budget resin printer segment.

3. Powder bed fusion

3D printing process where a thermal energy source induces fusion selectively between powder
particles to create a solid, encased and supported in unused powder.

Materials for 3D printing

Criteria:

 Price
 Melting point
 Durability
 Biodegradability
 Toxicity
 Finish
 Texture
 Special requirements
Common materials: plastics; composites; metals; ceramics; wax; paper

1. Plastics
Most consumer products today are made from thermoplastics. So, 3D printing adopted the
most used materials to create objects. Most materials used in 3D printing can be used in home
3Dprinting and professional applications alike. The only difference is that the home user uses
FDM.
ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)

The most common and known object made from ABS is the Lego bricks. The strong and
lightweight material is also affordable, and it comes in a broad range of colors. A slight concern
may be the emitted fumes when ABS reaches the melting point. As the working temperature is
between 220⁰C and 250⁰C, usage of a heated printing bed is advised and an enclosed build
space for controlling the cooling of the material, to prevent warping. Another concern may be
the humidity, because the filament degrades if stored in humid air, so storage in vacuum bags
or containers is advised.

PLA (Polylactic acid)

If the ABS melting fumes concern you, PLA is a good alternative. It is a biodegradable plastic,
easy to 3D print, and it contracts less than ABS when cooled. A suitable material for single-use
food contact, it is less durable than ABS and it is susceptible to heat. For engineering parts, ABS
is better than PLA to use. Like ABS, PLA degrades from humidity in air, so a vacuum bag is
needed for storing.

Nylon (Polyamide)

Nylon has a good flexibility and strength, it is used for a wide range of uses, in engineering and
arts alike. Nylon prints have a rough surface, but it could be polished smooth. The layer bonding
is stronger than all others, being ideal for parts with good tensile and mechanical strength.
Nylon also degrades from humididty.

PEEK (Polyether ether ketone)

Material used to