Relevant types of 3d printing regarding business plans:

 

1. (SLA) Stereolithographic Technology

SLA is a method of 3d printing commonly used for rapid prototyping for visual form as resin is often to brittle for active use. It creates objects and forms using a viscous liquid based thermoset polymers. Thermoset polymers are either polymers, resin or plastics that are changed from viscous liquid into solid through exposure to heat or varied forms of radiation. In the SLA method, the thermoset polymers are through exposure to an ultra violet laser, the precise focus of the laser allows for high quality detail. Once each layer is set the printing platform moves so that the next layer can be produced as so on. The process works from the bottom up forming the top layer last.

 

Following completion of the printing job the object is usually censed of any excess polymer. It’s common for the object to be cure in a UV oven to ensure proper polymer binding throughout the object. Following this depending on the polymer used, it can be sanded to provide a surface workable for multiple finished.

 

This method throughout high precision industries such as aerospace, medical equipment and custom products for other businesses.

 

Example materials: Photopolymer resin – Victra 413 - DWS

 

Example models: XFab 2500 SD - DWS

 

1. (DLP) Digital Light Processing Technology

DLP is very similar to the SLA system mentioned previously with the major difference between he two being the use of a projector in DLP instead of Ultra Violet lasers in the SLA method. This method uses photopolymers, the most common being Liquid plastic resin, the resin sets when exposed to high light levels that above ambient room lumen levels. This method achieves a faster print time than SLA as it sets an entire layer at once by projecting the entire image instead of forming the layer with a laser drawing the form.

 

DLP is notably robust by comparison due to the lack of overly technological parts i.e. lasers and it produces very high-resolution models without fault. The compatibility with cheaper printing materials also enables printing jobs to be cheaper while allowing greater complexity in comparison to SLA.

 

Example materials: Photopolymer materials, Ceramic, Plastic, resin

 

Example models: SprintRay Pro – dental printing

 

1. (FDM) Fused Deposition Modelling Technology

This 3d printing method is often used for prototyping, developmental modelling and rough non-commercial use objects. This layered method is increasing in quality as time progresses and the printing capability increases to allow thinner more precise detailed layers. This method creates 3d form by heating Thermal set materials and extruding them through a chosen nozzle to select layer thickness. For this method, the printing base is fixed and the nozzle is mobile along all three axes, this draws out each layer and then moves onto the next. Supports must be designed into the digital model to allow the model to form successfully if the base form is exceeded over the materials soft strength. The print times of this method are often longer due to the distinctive layers and there set times. One drawback is that all models must be sliced to create individual layers for the printer to process.

 

Example materials: Thermoplastics

 

Example models: UPrint se – Tri Tech , Fortus 380

 

1. (SLS) Selective Laser Sintering

This method of 3d printing is primarily used for high precision fully functional prototypes, it has similar speeds of production to the SLA method however its materials enable more strenuous uses.  SLS uses powerful lasers to thermally fuse particles to form a larger collective form. The standard material of use for this method is Metal however other thermally malleable materials useable. This method works by having a platform that is lowered as each layer is fused using a high-powered laser, then material is evenly deposited to form another layer ready for fusing. 

 

Example materials: Nylon , metal , ceramics

 

Example models: Fuse 1 – from labs , ProX SLS 6100 – 3D systems

 

1. (SLM) Selective Laser Melting

SLM is heavily utilised in the space and aerospace for varied use not just prototyping. The method of printing is similar to SLS due to the use of metallic powders and lasers, the main difference is this method actually melts the metal particles to join them with a stronger bond, enabling thinner stronger structure that allows greater intricacy and quality. This is the primary reason for its use in aerospace as its makes ultra-light, ultra-strong material components.

 

Example materials: Metal

 

Example models: SLM 280 Production – SLM solution s

 

1. (BJ) Binder Jetting

Binder jetting is primarily used for rapid prototyping with some small uses in specific professions for creating useable products. Similar to SLS and SLM, BJ uses powdered material on a base plat form to create 3d form powder based material, however this method allows the use of; Metal, sands and plastics. This is due to the fact it uses a binding agent to connect particles instead of heat bonding. The binder excreting nozzle prints onto the powder in a 2d plane then the base lowers, more powder is added and the process repeats until the form is complete.

 

‘Metal Binder Jetting is up to 10x more economical than other metal 3D printing processes (DMSL/SLM). Moreover, the build size of Binder Jetting is considerably large and the produced parts require no support structures during printing, enabling the creation of complex geometries. This makes metal Binder Jetting a very appealing technology for low-to-medium metal production’ – 3d HUBS

 

Example materials: metal

 

Example models – ExOne 3D, HP Metal Jet

 

As well as the example of 3d printing methods above, there are additional types, however they are less developed and not relevant to are business plans. These methods are; LOM (laminated object Manufacturing), EBM (Electron Beam Melting) and MJ (Material jetting).

 

Each of the specific methods detailed above has a specific relevance to areas of the business plan, listed below is a method and its reason for selection;

 

FDM: Selected due to its ability to be scaled up and print large structures (buildings), the systems design allows for a vast array of materials including mortar based mixes.

 

SLA/DLP: These have been selected for potential use for creating decorative 3d printed elements to be sold and drive interest in 3d building construction.

 

SlS, SlM, BJ: These have been selected for creating structural elements as show pieces for interior projects, possibly if efficient enough for construction projects.

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