Home » Misc » 3D printer groups

3D printer groups


36 of the Best 3D Printing Facebook Groups – Maker Hacks

Author: Chris Garrett

Facebook has quickly become THE place to discuss 3D printing. Here are the best places for quality 3D printing discussion, getting help with your 3D printer problems, and making new friends:

Facebook has quickly become THE place to discuss 3D printing. I have to say I probably spend more coffee break time geeking out about 3D printing on Facebook than anything else, which explains why people keep saying they are bumping into me more and more online.

Here is my list of the best places to go in Facebook for quality 3D printing discussion, getting help with your 3D printer problems, and making new friends:

  1. Maker Hacks – Well I have to start with the group that started this website, right? Maker Hacks is not just for 3D printing, but electronics, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, laser engraving and anything else making related that you can think of.
  2. 3D Printing Club – This is the biggest low drama 3D Printing group I have found with over 27,000 members. Others might be bigger, but this group has best signal to noise ratio due to the actively engaged http://3dpc.tech moderation team (including me!)
  3. 3D Printing for Everyone – Inclusive, welcoming, friendly, and troll-free – all are welcome, from newbs to experts, and no question is off limits.
  4. 3D Printing – Ignore the URL that says Makerbot, this is for all makes and model users of 3D printers. At 40,000 members and growing it is the fastest expanding group out of all that I have seen.
  5. 3D Printer Chat – The group associated with the excellent 3D printing website (I am biased, I write for it), 3D printer chat
  6. Under Construction: Open Source 3D Printing – Unlike the branded groups, this is the open source group, discussing RepRap and all open source 3D printing and hardware.
  7. 3D Printer Builders – Building your own 3D printer?
  8. RepRap – Group dedicated to the RepRap DIY/open source 3D printers
  9. 3D Printer DIY – DIY 3D printer owners and DIY 3D printer discussion.
  10. 3D Printing Hobbyists – As the name suggests, a place for 3D printing hobbyists to discuss and trade.
  11. 3D Scanning and Printing – Want to bring something from the real world into the digital and back again? This is the place to find out more.
  12. 3D Printing Experts – Once you are no longer a beginner, you might find a home here.
  13. 3D Printing Ballers – For 3D printing “ballers”, whatever one of those is 😉
  14. 3D Printing – A smaller group but sure to grow
  15. 3D Print Laser and Milling – For folks who make with more than just plastic!
  16. 3D Printing Business Worldwide – For people using 3D printers for business or business around 3D printing.
  17. 3D Printing Club for Teachers and Schools – 3D printing in education.

Prop Making, Drones, and RC 3D Printing

  1. UK R2 D2 Builders – Build your own Astromech!
  2. 3D Print Props – If you are into cosplay or just having cool 3D printed pop culture items, then this is the group for you.
  3. BB8 Builders Club – Talking of pop culture, everyone wants a working BB8 right? Right?
  4. 3D Printed Multirotors – For folks building their own quadcopter, drone or other flying machine.
  5. Open RC Project – A group about 3D printing your own remote control products!

Brand-Specific

  1. Wanhao Duplicator i3 – The Wanhao Di3 facebook group is super active and helpful. If nothing else, check out the comprehensive sticky message links.
  2. Prusa i3 Mk2 Official – Official, and best, group for the Prusa i3 Mk2 (Josef Prusa is an admin).
  3. Printrbot – This is the new Facebook group for Printrbot owners, and it is already becoming a fave of mine!
  4. Wombot 3D Printer Family and Wombot 3D Printers – For Wombot fans and users. Yes, there are two.
  5. Flashforge – Flashforge, Wanhao D4, CTC community
  6. TEVO Black Widow Owners – For the TEVO Black Widow – not just helpful but necessary for owners of this printer!
  7. Wombot Owners – The unnofficial Wombot owners Facebook group. Again, if you want actual help with your Wombot, join this group.
  8. Folgertech Owners – Group for Folgertech printers.
  9. Creality CR10 – For the Creality CR10 printer.
  10. TEVO Little Monster – The group for the TEVO Little Monster Delta printer.
  11. ANET Group – Official group for the Anet series of printers, including the popular A8

Country/City Specific

  1. 3D Printing Canada and 3D Printing Calgary – For Canadian 3D printer owners. It’s good to have a local perspective, especially when not all products are available or reasonably priced for Canadians.
  2. 3D Printing UK – UK 3D printing community
  3. 3D Skrivare Sverige – Swedish 3D printing group

What are your favourite groups that I missed? I’d love to know if there are cool places I am not visiting, and I will add any more to this list that I hear about.

 

Category: Ideas, Strategies, and AdviceTag: community, facebook, links

About Chris Garrett

Marketing Director by day, maker, retro gaming, tabletop war/roleplaying nerd by night. Co-author of the Problogger Book with Darren Rowse. Husband, Dad, 🇨🇦 Canadian.

Check out Retro Game Coders for retro gaming/computing.

☕️ Support Maker Hacks on Ko-Fi and get exclusive content and rewards!

3D Printing groups | Meetup

Largest 3D Printing groups

  • 1

    Manon

    Organized by Manon

  • 2

    Hardwired NYC: Frontier Tech & Deep Tech (a FirstMark event)

    7,295 Members | New York, USA

    Matt Turck

    Organized by Matt Turck

    Matt Turck

    Organized by Matt Turck

  • 3

    Freeside Atlanta

    6,498 Freesiders | Atlanta, USA

    Freeside Atlanta

    Organized by Freeside Atlanta

    Freeside Atlanta

    Organized by Freeside Atlanta

  • 4

    Art Circle - New York

    5,692 Art Lovers | New York, USA

    Art Circle Social

    Organized by Art Circle Social

    Art Circle Social

    Organized by Art Circle Social

  • 5

    Ace Makerspace

    5,448 Makers | Emeryville, USA

    Rachel McCrafty

    Organized by Rachel McCrafty

    Rachel McCrafty

    Organized by Rachel McCrafty

  • 6

    Dallas Makerspace

    5,165 Makers | Carrollton, USA

    yashsedai

    Organized by yashsedai

    yashsedai

    Organized by yashsedai

  • 7

    Academy for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

    4,560 Members | Chennai, India

    Arjun v

    Organized by Arjun v

    Arjun v

    Organized by Arjun v

  • 8

    Decatur Makers

    4,170 Makers | Decatur, USA

    Decatur Makers

    Organized by Decatur Makers

    Decatur Makers

    Organized by Decatur Makers

  • 9

    San Francisco Biotechnology Meetup

    3,979 Scientist entrepreneur | San Francisco, USA

    Catherine Seo

    Organized by Catherine Seo

    Catherine Seo

    Organized by Catherine Seo

  • 10

    Cambridge Hackspace

    3,932 Tinkerers | Somerville, USA

    Ed

    Organized by Ed

    Ed

    Organized by Ed

Newest 3D Printing groups

  • Raleigh *Thing Groves

    7 Members

    Started Nov 22 in Raleigh, USA

  • Parents of Future Engineers aka Tots and Bots

    2 Members

    Started Nov 15 in Asheville, USA

  • Aero Astro Swugn Bengaluru

    8 Members

    Started Nov 13 in Bangalore, India

  • JP's Open Lab

    12 Members

    Started Nov 5 in Orlando, USA

  • Concordia Montreal SolidWorks User Group

    31 Members

    Started Oct 12 in Montréal, Canada

  • Salvage & Restore for Charity

    15 Members

    Started Sep 14 in Morristown, USA

classification by materials and technologies, varieties of 3d printing

  • The advent of 3D printers has opened a completely new period in the world of modern technology, since it has become possible to print almost any volumetric object on your own. The basis of the operation of such devices is usually reduced to the creation of a digital model, which is then embodied in a real copy. But such devices come in completely different capacities and configurations, and also function on the basis of various materials. Therefore, printer owners should understand these differences in order to know which option and when it will be appropriate to use.
  • Classification of printers by type of materials used
  • Varieties of 3d printing

Classification of printers by type of materials used

It is the consumable that is refilled in a 3D printer that determines the specific type of device. Now several dozen variations have been created, which differ in their density, technique and scope. Knowing the properties of each of them, it will be possible to choose the highest quality base for the future product.

Clay/Ceramic

Partially replicating the properties of ceramic, this 3D printable filament includes a special blend of clay and polymer. Their only characteristic is fragility, so for error-free processing and printing, care must be taken. The loaded material is gradually heated in the oven after printing, and the ceramic filament particles are sintered, creating a slightly shrunken but solid sample, ready for glazing and subsequent processing of ceramics.

Help! One of the best examples of printing clay is Lay Filament's LAYCeramic, which guarantees almost authentic results.

Ceramic thread is recommended when it is necessary to recreate handmade earthenware and accurately repeat such a unique texture from an artificial substitute.

Gypsum

Gypsum's main advantage lies in its ease, efficiency and versatility in 3D printing to replicate different objects. In this case, the gypsum 3D printer is also filled with the appropriate powders, ranging from ordinary gypsum to more complex analogues in the form of putty, cement, and similar versions. This material is evenly distributed over the surface of the desktop, a professional adhesive is applied on top, after which a thin layer of gypsum powder is reapplied.

Attention! Printed products can have any shade, because the color spectrum in some printer models reaches almost 6 million palettes.

Due to the presence of a binder, such printers are often used to create interior decorations - gypsum is perfect for making a mold, which can then be decorated by hand.

Wax

The substance that should be used for wax 3D printing has nothing in common with natural wax, except for the name, low ash content and similar melting points. This material is needed for the manufacture of investment models - molds for casting metals. Subsequently, the wax from the blanks is melted out and the already molten metal is poured instead.

In a similar way, high quality jewelry and copies of metal parts for technology are created. Several technologies are involved here in parallel - inkjet printing or FDM. In addition, there is a separate bonus here - ease of execution, so the clarity and accuracy of repeatable contours is assessed impeccably.

Plastic

Here, to create the next objects, you will have to use liquid photopolymers, which have an interesting principle for creating figures. Referring to the computer model loaded in advance, the ultraviolet laser gradually illuminates the zones selected according to the scheme. A little later, they will begin to gradually harden. Since the exposure is carried out through a specially prepared photomask, an ultraviolet lamp is used. And the template will change with each next layer.

The only drawback is the low speed of work, although a similar 3D printing technology is needed for metal parts. It was she who made printers so popular, which influenced the demand and demand for such devices in the future.

Wood

When you need to print objects that look as close to wood as possible and have similar characteristics, PLA-wood with wood fiber is worth buying. There are many 3D printer filaments on the market based on the formula of the most common breeds. One creative use is to create models used in architecture. But the aesthetic and tactile appeal of such a material is achieved through a decrease in flexibility and strength.

Important! Be careful with the temperature at which you print with wood filament: too much heat will inevitably result in a burnt or caramelized appearance.

Metal (steel/aluminum/gold)

Real metals are not used here either: in fact it is just a mixture of special powder and PLA/ABS. Although such a base still allows you to create prototypes that have the appearance of metal. For additive installations, the finished material is produced in the form of fine spherical granules with a grain size of 4-80 microns, and the technology itself is focused on the alloy using a ytterbium laser.

Help! Now there are about 20 metal materials, the number of which is constantly increasing due to not just standard mixtures, but also unique high-tech substances.

This method is used to produce functional parts and technical prototypes, dies, press inserts and all elements of injection molds. But because of them, you will have to change nozzles more often: the components used are slightly abrasive, which significantly increases the degree of wear.

Polycarbonate

The newest materials are PC or plain polycarbonate. According to numerous reviews, this is an extremely strong, lightweight and transparent thermoplastic. It is well suited for the production of various household products (CDs, bulletproof glass, equipment, sunglasses glasses, diving masks, phone cases) - the material has found its way into a wide variety of industries.

The increased impact strength here is much more reliable than that of glass or acrylic. But the density is less than half the density of glass: this indicates good impact resistance and similar transparency.

Sand

The meaning "sand" in 3D printing combines a group of special powdered materials, which includes such types as: quartz, ceramic, chrome and zirconium sand, oxide. Typically, the variants mentioned are used in foundry production in mechanical engineering and industry. However, there are known cases of their application in related fields - architecture or design.

The principle of operation of the technique with sand is very simple: the printer's print head starts to apply a special binder, powder on top of it and so repeats the same action many times. Additionally, it is worth noting that devices that are focused on sand interact without problems with metal powder.

Polyamide

Polyamide is a unique laser sintered powder material. The complete list of polyamides is wide and includes simple plastics and specialty substances. The much sought-after plastic is rough, so when it is used, granules or horizontally oriented stripes (traces of printing layers) can be noticeable on the final product.

This surface imperfection can be corrected in final post-processing with mini-drills and professional sanding attachments.

It is generally used for pre-finished products, testing and small batch production, ensuring stable performance and multiple copies.

Rubber

A special material that is very close to real rubber in its properties and almost 100% repeats its main properties. This material is well suited for printing flexible things such as buttons, seals, shock absorbers, and even tires for radio-controlled models. The technique is also not difficult: the surfaces are glued together using synthetic rubbers or a soldering gun. Usually, a 3D printer kit comes with a coil packed in a reusable vacuum bag with silica gel so that the substance does not deteriorate during storage.

Silicone

For a long time this material was not used in 3D printing, because it was difficult to heat, which initially made it unsuitable for the production technology in question. But now the numerous applications of silicone stem from the diverse properties of the material: resistance to aggressive media, lack of toxic effects, elasticity and transparency.

Most often, models of toys, masks, soft slippers, elements of joints, buttons and even pneumatic nozzles of complex shape are repeated from it. The silicone base is not machinable and therefore has a high wear resistance.

Varieties of 3D printing

A lot of modern 3D printing technologies have been created at the moment: fresh versions appear regularly, and already known schemes and formulas are continuously modified. Therefore, the owner of a 3D printer needs to stay up to date with new products in order to navigate the whole variety of models and take into account their technological characteristics.

SLA - stereolithography

SLA - based on the irradiation of a liquid photopolymer resin with a laser to repeat solid physical models. The reconstruction of the planned model is carried out in stages, layer by layer: each is drawn by a laser, according to the data embedded in the system. Such irradiation leads to polymerization (hardening) of the material at the points of contact with the beam. Many do not recommend keeping such a device at home due to the toxicity of the photopolymer.

DLP

DLP is an alternative method of digital LED projection that reduces the cost of 3D technology. Compared to laser systems, DLP printers create a projection image of the entire layer until the polymer resin hardens, and then a new layer of material is applied and a new layer drawing of the future model follows. Since their appearance, such devices have been a serious competitor to devices operating on the related SLA technology.

FDM/FFF/PJP

The presented group of FDM printers operates according to the same principle: they extrude a specific material layer by layer through a dosing nozzle. So far, this is the most popular technology in the devices under consideration, which includes makerbot-like counterparts. Printing based on this technique is characterized by high quality, speed and durability of the final products. In addition, it is compatible with most of the previously mentioned materials.

SLM

SLM - the principle of operation of this technology is the laser fusion of metal powder. To do this, the printer chamber is filled with the necessary material using a special feeder. The base is then spread over the platform in very thin layers by means of a leveling paddle. Next, a powerful laser connects two-dimensional pieces of the future product by selective fusion. At the final stages, the platform is lowered, and the whole process is repeated anew until the selected thing is completely built.

Help! It is worth remembering that when printing on SLM, the container is filled with a special inert gas, which prevents the metal from reacting. Steel, cobalt-chromium and other mixtures, titanium, and precious metals are often used as materials.

LCD

This print format is very similar to the previously mentioned DLP principle, although the algorithm itself has the significant advantage of low cost printers. Typically, printers of a similar design include devices that work with illumination of a photopolymer by an LED UV matrix using a modified LCD display as a mask. They have good compatibility with other technologies, but before using polymers for other types, a preliminary check on each selection is required.

SLS

The meaning of SLS (Laser Sintering of Powder Components) lies in the degree of heating of the print material and the materials used. In such designs, there is always a small bath with liquid polymer, where the laser beam passes over the surface, after which the polymer polymerizes under the influence of UV in the treated areas. As soon as one layer is ready, the platform with the part is lowered, the liquid polymer passes into the void and the next layer is baked. This happens in a circle until the entire product is completed.

Attention! After printing in this way, post-processing of the object is necessary - removal of excess material and support, sometimes the surface is polished.

LPD

The protocol, also known as the “line printing protocol”, is a network version of the application layer for transferring large objects to print, is a de facto standard for UNIX systems that provides basic capabilities. Here, a data file intended for printing on a printer is first placed in a temporary area (directory on disk), where the spooling zone is periodically scanned. In fact, such a specific area is a sequential set of queues of jobs for the implementation of copies that are executed in a standard queue.

Polyjet

Another printing method was invented by the Israeli company Objet in 2000. Its essence boils down to the fact that the photopolymer is fired in small doses from thin nozzles (similar to inkjet printing), after which it instantly polymerizes on the surface of the manufactured item under the influence of UV radiation . The main materials here are photopolymers and plastic, although sometimes a special wax is also suitable. As a rule, such three-dimensional printing is used in the manufacture of medical implants, dentures and casts. At the same time, it is allowed to obtain multi-color options and things with different properties (elastic in combination with solid ones).

3 DP

The duplicating process of this inc-jet technology is based on bonding the material in predetermined zones with a unique adhesive. Before printing starts, the future 3D model of the required object must be cut by a special CAD program into horizontal layers, after which the form itself is already sent for printing in a special G-code. The chosen method consists in applying glue to the material, followed by a layer of fresh powder and then all over again. The result is a gypsum-like material (sandstone) - this method is absolutely safe for domestic and office use.

Help! The end result may have a rough surface and low resolution - this is the main flaw of 3 DP.

DMLS

Direct laser metal sintering is a unique metal additive manufacturing technique developed by EOS. DMLS technology is often confused with the related principles of SLS and SLM. The process invariably includes powder material: it goes into the working chamber in a precise amount necessary to apply one layer. Then a special roller levels the substance into an even layer and removes excess from the chamber, and the laser beam sinters the particles with each other and with the previous level according to the contours specified by the digital model.

Important! The central feature of the technology is considered to be a very high print resolution - an average of about 20 microns.

CJP

Regular color inkjet printing is also a kind of 3D printing method, which involves the thin application of powdered consumables with the selective use of a binder polymer. An important difference of this novelty is the multi-colored elements in the models. In turn, unused materials are not removed from the working area during the process, but serve as an additional support for the next levels, which makes it possible to implement objects of high geometric complexity.

EBM

A technique called electron beam melting is another additive manufacturing method for fast-produced metal products. The approved scheme is based on the use of high-power electron beams for fusion of material in a vacuum chamber with the appearance of successive layers that duplicate the contours of a three-dimensional model. Such melting takes place at high background temperatures, reaching about 700–1000 °C, which makes it possible to create parts without residual mechanical stress, which is caused by a temperature gradient between already cooled and still hot areas.

Clip

The innovative scheme and principle of its operation is the use of light and oxygen to cure the photosensitive resin. According to the description, this approach is similar to the typical and well-known stereolithography, where a laser or spotlight is used to cure the photosensitive resin. This is where mechanical 3D printing suddenly turns into a photochemical process, allowing for fine-tuning and ensuring that objects are produced quickly and that there is no delamination effect. Oxygen is actively used as a suppressing agent that prevents the resin from curing in certain areas.

DLS

The most common printing algorithm that corrects the physical properties of resins under the influence of ultraviolet light. Each layer is illuminated, after which the next layer becomes solid. In fact, this is an alternative SLA method that is needed instead of laser systems. Such options project an image of a full-fledged layer, after which another layer of building material is applied, and so the future prototype is gradually formed. 3D devices based on DLS technology show good results.

MJ

Multi-jet modeling is a proprietary additive manufacturing printing method developed by 3D-Systems. This technology is used in the ProJet series of professional devices. So, the reproduction of layers is carried out using a special print head, supplemented by an array of nozzles: their number in modern models varies from 96 to 448 pieces. In the case of photopolymers, each finished layer is treated with an ultraviolet emitter for further polymerization.

LOM

If we consider this version of the layout of three-dimensional figures, then it uses laminated layers that are cut with a knife or laser and glued together. First, a thin sheet of material is fixed, which is cut off clearly along the contour, then the next sheet is laid and so on again. At the final stage, all sheets are pressed or sintered. And when a thin foil is needed to print three-dimensional models, it is sintered thanks to the built-in ultrasonic vibration and pressed into the required format.

LDM

Another technology was developed by the printer manufacturer WASP, focusing first on clay. The method of liquid application of the selected substance solves many technical problems associated with the creation of 3D materials. Such an algorithm allows you to clearly control the flow of clay material fed to the extruder: from beginning to end, the process is synchronized with a stepper motor, which promises a consistent supply of the base. This approach prevents the formation of air bubbles, deformations and other flaws, which ultimately risk causing the destruction of ceramic products.

MJM

MJM has a lot in common with FDM technology and is also called multi-jet. Three-dimensional printing is carried out due to the uniform extrusion of consumables through numerous nozzles located in the print head. These elements are fixed by a line in several rows, the number and location of which depends on the specific model. During the printing process, the head slowly moves in a horizontal plane along the object table, and liquid polymer is sprayed from each miniature nozzle. Immediately after the passed block, under the influence of UV radiation, the material quickly hardens and acquires strength.

Binder jetting

Similar to inkjet printing by applying a powder and bonding it with a BJ binder, designed specifically for the production of molds. A digital model of a given shape is divided into layers in stages, transferred to an additive installation, where a hardener is applied to a previously prepared level of the sand mixture. So in the construction zone, a cured part of a professional mixture is created that exactly repeats the 3D object. In this way, it will be possible to print high-quality large-scale parts, which is more cost-effective than other production methods.

DMT

This technology is considered one of the most efficient types of 3D printing of metal products due to direct layer-by-layer construction in the process of fusing fine powder particles by laser directly from a CAD model. In the DMT process, the material in the required amount is fed pointwise into the melting region formed on top of the workpiece when exposed to laser radiation. This arrangement of powder delivery results in a list of unique benefits.

SDL

Selective pressing patented by Mcor Technologies: this type of printing starts with preparation in special software. Models are assembled in advance and placed in the virtual working chamber of the printer, divided into layers, the impregnation depth is set, and at the end a print job is formed. All operations are performed in the unique software that comes with the device itself.

MIM

Injection molding of metals is a high-tech process of molding complex products made from finely dispersed mixtures of a polymer binder with metal fillers. This method of manufacturing complex profile parts without material waste and subsequent machining is considered today to be the most cost-effective in mass production. Moreover, metal powder is obtained by spraying metal with a particle size of 5 to 20 microns.

Special devices for 3D printing attract a large number of people, but not everyone really understands the built-in functionality of such devices. Therefore, the right prioritization, combined with knowledge of existing technologies and various printing materials, will allow you to use such a unique technique to the maximum.

  • February 14, 2020
  • 7469

Get expert advice

Classification of 3D printers (7 3D printing technologies) / Sudo Null IT News , what principles are laid down in 3D printing technology, what materials are used and, ultimately, what technology is better to use to obtain a certain result, whether it is a titanium part, or a master model for subsequent replication.


The article is based on the book Fabricated: The New World of 3D printing

I. Those that extrude or pour or spray something

1) FDM (fused deposition modeling) printers that extrude some material layer by layer through a nozzle-dispenser, I will not paint in detail, we all know about them. All makerbot-like printers + Stratasys printers + various culinary printers (using icing, cheese, dough) + medical ones that print with “living ink” (when any set of living cells is placed in a special medical gel that is used further in biomedicine)

2) Polyjet technology was invented by the Israeli company Objet in 2000. Stratasys bought them in 2012. The essence of the technology: the photopolymer is fired in small doses from thin nozzles, as in inkjet printing, and immediately polymerizes on the surface of the manufactured device under the influence of UV radiation. An important feature that distinguishes PolyJet from stereolithography is the ability to print with various materials.
Advantages of the technology: a) layer thickness up to 16 microns (blood cell 10 microns) b) prints quickly, as the liquid can be applied very quickly. Disadvantages of the technology: a) prints only using a photopolymer - a highly specialized, expensive plastic, usually sensitive to UV and quite fragile.
Application: industrial prototyping and medicine

3) LENS (LASER ENGINEERED NET SHAPING)
The material in powder form is blown out of the nozzle and hit by a focused laser beam. Part of the powder flies past, and the part that falls into the focus of the laser is instantly sintered and layer by layer forms a three-dimensional part. This technology is used to print steel and titanium objects.
Since only plastic objects could be printed before the advent of this technology, no one took 3D printing particularly seriously, and this technology opened the door for 3D printing to the “big” industry. Powders of different materials can be mixed and thus obtained alloys, on the fly.
Application: e.g. titanium blades for turbines with internal cooling channels. Equipment manufacturer: Optomec

4) LOM (laminated object manufacturing)
Thin laminated sheets of material are cut with a knife or laser and then sintered or glued into a three-dimensional object. Those. a thin sheet of material is laid, which is cut along the contour of the object, thus one layer is obtained, the next sheet is laid on it, and so on. After that, all sheets are pressed or sintered.
In this way, 3D models are printed from paper, plastic or aluminum. Aluminum models are printed using thin aluminum foil, which is cut along the contour layer by layer and then sintered using ultrasonic vibration.

II. Those who sinter or glue something

1) SL (Stereolithography) Stereolithography.
There is a small bath with liquid polymer. The laser beam passes over the surface, and at this point the polymer polymerizes under the influence of UV. After one layer is ready, the platform with the part is lowered, the liquid polymer fills the void, then the next layer is baked and so on. Sometimes the opposite happens: the platform with the part rises, the laser is accordingly located below ...
After printing with this method, post-processing of the object is required - removal of excess material and support, sometimes the surface is polished. Depending on the required properties of the final object, the model is baked in the so-called. ultraviolet ovens.
The photopolymer is often toxic, so when working with it, you need to use protective equipment and respirators. Maintaining and maintaining such a printer at home is difficult and expensive
Advantages: fast and accurate, accurate to 10 microns. To sinter the photopolymer, a laser from a Blu-ray player is enough, thanks to which cheap yet accurate printers using this technology (e.g. Form1) appear on the market.

2) LS (laser sintering)
Laser sintering. Similar to SL, but instead of a liquid photopolymer, a powder is used that is sintered by a laser.
Advantages: a) it is less likely that the part will break during the printing process, since the powder itself acts as a reliable support b) materials in powder form are quite easy to find on sale, including: bronze, steel, nylon, titanium
Disadvantages: a) the surface is porous b) some powders are explosive, therefore they must be stored in chambers filled with nitrogen c) sintering occurs at high temperatures, so the finished parts cool for a long time, depending on the size and thickness of the layers, some objects can cool up to one day .

3) 3DP (three dimensional printing)
Invented in 1980 at MIT by Paul Williams, the technology has been sold to several commercial organizations, one of which is zCorp, now taken over by 3D Systems.
An adhesive is applied to the material in powder form, which binds the granules, then a fresh layer of powder is applied over the glued layer, and so on.

Learn more