Positive effects of 3d printing

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of 3D Printing?

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is becoming popular with manufacturers. The demand is growing due to some of the revolutionary benefits that it can provide. Like almost all technologies it has its own drawbacks that need considering.

This page aims to help with the selection process. We will cover each of the advantages and disadvantages of 3D printing.

This production process offers a range of advantages compared to traditional manufacturing methods. These advantages include those related to design, time and cost, amongst others.

1. Flexible Design

3D printing allows for the design and print of more complex designs than traditional manufacturing processes. More traditional processes have design restrictions which no longer apply with the use of 3D printing.

2. Rapid Prototyping

3D printing can manufacture parts within hours, which speeds up the prototyping process. This allows for each stage to complete faster. When compared to machining prototypes, 3D printing is inexpensive and quicker at creating parts as the part can be finished in hours, allowing for each design modification to be completed at a much more efficient rate.

3. Print on Demand

Print on demand is another advantage as it doesn’t need a lot of space to stock inventory, unlike traditional manufacturing processes. This saves space and costs as there is no need to print in bulk unless required.

The 3D design files are all stored in a virtual library as they are printed using a 3D model as either a CAD or STL file, this means they can be located and printed when needed. Edits to designs can be made at very low costs by editing individual files without wastage of out of date inventory and investing in tools.

4. Strong and Lightweight Parts

The main 3D printing material used is plastic, although some metals can also be used for 3D printing. However, plastics offer advantages as they are lighter than their metal equivalents. This is particularly important in industries such as automotive and aerospace where light-weighting is an issue and can deliver greater fuel efficiency.

Also, parts can be created from tailored materials to provide specific properties such as heat resistance, higher strength or water repellency.

5. Fast Design and Production

Depending on a part’s design and complexity, 3D printing can print objects within hours, which is much faster than moulded or machined parts. It is not only the manufacture of the part that can offer time savings through 3D printing but also the design process can be very quick by creating STL or CAD files ready to be printed.

6. Minimising Waste

The production of parts only requires the materials needed for the part itself, with little or no wastage as compared to alternative methods which are cut from large chunks of non-recyclable materials. Not only does the process save on resources but it also reduces the cost of the materials being used.

7. Cost Effective

As a single step manufacturing process, 3D printing saves time and therefore costs associated with using different machines for manufacture. 3D printers can also be set up and left to get on with the job, meaning that there is no need for operators to be present the entire time. As mentioned above, this manufacturing process can also reduce costs on materials as it only uses the amount of material required for the part itself, with little or no wastage. While 3D printing equipment can be expensive to buy, you can even avoid this cost by outsourcing your project to a 3D printing service company.

8. Ease of Access

3D printers are becoming more and more accessible with more local service providers offering outsourcing services for manufacturing work. This saves time and doesn’t require expensive transport costs compared to more traditional manufacturing processes produced abroad in countries such as China.

9. Environmentally Friendly

As this technology reduces the amount of material wastage used this process is inherently environmentally friendly. However, the environmental benefits are extended when you consider factors such as improved fuel efficiency from using lightweight 3D printed parts.

10. Advanced Healthcare

3D printing is being used in the medical sector to help save lives by printing organs for the human body such as livers, kidneys and hearts. Further advances and uses are being developed in the healthcare sector providing some of the biggest advances from using the technology.

Like with almost any other process there are also drawbacks of 3D printing technology which should be considered before opting to use this process.

1. Limited Materials

While 3D Printing can create items in a selection of plastics and metals the available selection of raw materials is not exhaustive. This is due to the fact that not all metals or plastics can be temperature controlled enough to allow 3D printing. In addition, many of these printable materials cannot be recycled and very few are food safe.

2. Restricted Build Size

3D printers currently have small print chambers which restrict the size of parts that can be printed. Anything bigger will need to be printed in separate parts and joined together after production. This can increase costs and time for larger parts due to the printer needing to print more parts before manual labour is used to join the parts together.

3. Post Processing

Although large parts require post-processing, as mentioned above, most 3D printed parts need some form of cleaning up to remove support material from the build and to smooth the surface to achieve the required finish. Post processing methods used include waterjetting, sanding, a chemical soak and rinse, air or heat drying, assembly and others. The amount of post processing required depends on factors including the size of the part being produced, the intended application and the type of 3D printing technology used for production. So, while 3D printing allows for the fast production of parts, the speed of manufacture can be slowed by post processing.

4. Large Volumes

3D printing is a static cost unlike more conventional techniques like injection moulding, where large volumes may be more cost effective to produce. While the initial investment for 3D printing may be lower than other manufacturing methods, once scaled up to produce large volumes for mass production, the cost per unit does not reduce as it would with injection moulding.

5. Part Structure

With 3D printing (also known as Additive Manufacturing) parts are produced layer-by-layer. Although these layers adhere together it also means that they can delaminate under certain stresses or orientations. This problem is more significant when producing items using fused deposition modelling (FDM), while polyjet and multijet parts also tend to be more brittle. In certain cases it may be better to use injection moulding as it creates homogenous parts that will not separate and break.

6. Reduction in Manufacturing Jobs

Another of the disadvantages of 3D technology is the potential reduction in human labour, since most of the production is automated and done by printers. However, many third world countries rely on low skill jobs to keep their economies running, and this technology could put these manufacturing jobs at risk by cutting out the need for production abroad.

7. Design Inaccuracies

Another potential problem with 3D printing is directly related to the type of machine or process used, with some printers having lower tolerances, meaning that final parts may differ from the original design. This can be fixed in post processing, but it must be considered that this will further increase the time and cost of production.

8. Copyright Issues

As 3D printing is becoming more popular and accessible there is a greater possibility for people to create fake and counterfeit products and it will almost be impossible to tell the difference. This has evident issues around copyright as well as for quality control.

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The Positive Effects of 3D Printing

What makes the utilization of 3D printing on a global scale so exciting is that the technology is being used in nearly every industry in extraordinary ways.

You may be surprised to discover that you may be using or looking right at 3D printed works in your daily life, without even recognizing it. Ponder the fascinating and effective reasons why 3D printing is making a great impact on the world.

1. 3D Printing is Revolutionizing and Combining Industries

There are tons of companies across various trades that you may think are not using 3D printing technologies, but are. From finance to fashion design, many wide-reaching industries are taking the hint and integrating the possibilities of 3D printing into their businesses. Not only are slow-moving industries changing rapidly in its wake, but medical, business, education, and manufacturing powerhouses are starting to collaborate together to discover new 3D printing solutions for all.

2. 3D Printing is Saving Lives

Printing body organs sounds like science fiction, but it is fast becoming a reality. 3D technology has made the creation of customizable human body organs and parts possible. Doctors and medical scientists can use the technology to design and replace organs that are a compatible DNA fit for each patient. This kind of technology can save hundreds of thousands of people globally who are suffering from illness and disease and remove them from extensive organ donor waiting lists.

3. 3D Printing Reduces the Cost of Everyday Items

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, can also be used to print everyday objects for your home and work life from a variety of materials. Digital Trends shares that coasters, pen holders, showerheads, outlet protectors, wall mounts, measuring cups, candle holders, vases, and even smartphone cases are just some of the things that can be created with a 3D printer.

A few decades ago, the idea of wearing 3D printed dresses, belts, and footwear sounded like a line from a science-fiction novel. Local fashion designers and other creatives can print you the ideal outfit, tailored to your exact measurements, in a smorgasbord of materials, colors, and patterns right now.

4. Quicker Customization of Biomedical Devices is a Reality with 3D Printing

The Food and Drug Administration notes that the printing of biomedical devices allows manufacturers and designers to make changes easily to create devices matched to a patient’s anatomy. As a result, many biomedical devices like custom dental plates and prostheses can be created very quickly. In past years, it would take weeks for a dentist to send specifications to a large manufacturer and receive a patient’s custom dental designs for advanced repair or surgery.

Individuals who struggle to get a comfortable fit can now receive a simple scan of their mouth and custom dental works can be printed to scale in a single day at the same office. Finding a prosthetic that fits well and is effective for an individual was tricky, costly, and time-consuming in the past. Now, empowering amputees with the ability to receive high quality, well-fitted prostheses quickly is one of the issues that 3D printing technology solves.

5. Rapid Prototyping and Warehousing is Simplified With 3D Printing

With the help of 3D printing, a product design can be transformed into a prototype quickly. The speed of manufacturing all sorts of products has risen exponentially, so offering an array of products without retaining all of the stock is now possible with 3D printing. This enables decentralization and helps companies to save money by printing on demand. This lessens the responsibility of manufacturers and businesses in storing vast amounts of inventory that may or may not sell. When a sale is made, then the product is printed and shipped.

6. 3D Printing Streamlines the Construction of Cars, Aircraft, and Spacecraft

In the manufacturing world, 3D printing is making a ripple impact. What used to take tons of people and a long construction process can now be completed in a fraction of the time. Geek.com states that 3D printing is now being used to create replacement parts for combat aircraft and to construct next-generation spacecraft to roam the universe. Although producing automotive parts with the 3D printing process is not new; the first 100% 3D printed car hit the road only a few years ago. Consumers can also expect the prices to decline on these items over time.

7. 3D Printing Can Construct Homes and Other Buildings

Did you know that buying a house made from 3D printing technology is now an option? There are industrial-level 3D printers that make printing construction materials a reality. Some scholars report a global housing crisis in the near future, but 3D printing can provide shelter and safety for all kinds of people who are at risk. When a building is destroyed or needs renovation, 3D printing technologies are able to facilitate faster reconstruction than ever before.

8. 3D Printing Enables the Everyday Person to Be Creative

As Moore’s Law of Exponential Growth predicts, 3D printing will only become cheaper and more accessible to significant parts of the population in the near future. Prices vary, but you can currently buy a 3D printer for as low as $200 online. Small-town entrepreneurs with access to the technology can quickly manufacture their own products and cut out the middlemen. The everyday person with an innovative, experimental edge can start designing and printing all kinds of products the same day.

The vast influence of 3D printing can no longer be ignored. Expect far more unique applications of 3D printing in the future as the exponential technology decreases in price, grows more effective, and rises in availability. As more creative individuals from every industry bring their ideas to the drawing board, we can expect more inventions and applications of 3D printing with a positive impact for all in the future.

About the Guest Blogger

Mohamed Bah handles online media relations for Mecsoft Corporations, and in his spare time, he enjoys swimming, traveling, basketball, and playing with his puppy, Leo. He also volunteers in his local community because he believes in showing kindness to everyone.

References:

– Daniels, Patrick. (14 June, 2018). 20 things you’ll never have to buy again if you own a 3D printer. Designtechnica Corporation. Retrieved from: https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/useful-3d-printed-household-items/
– Food and Drug Administration. (26 March 2018). 3D Printing of Medical Devices. Retrieved from: https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/3dprintingofmedicaldevices/default.htm
– Minor, Jordan. (7 May 2018). The Coolest Things to Ever Be 3D Printed. Ziff Davis, LLC, PCMag Group. Retrieved from: https://www.geek.com/tech/the-coolest-things-to-ever-be-3d-printed-1739009/

3D printing.

What are we breathing?

Hello dear. In this article, I will try to tell you about what and in what quantities can be released from plastics during the FDM 3D printing process. The issue will be considered not from the side of global environmental pollution, but from the side of possible pollution of the room or workshop in which the FDM 3D printer directly operates.

I recommend that you read at least the fourth and fifth sections. Link to the video version of the article at the end. Here is the content of the article:

1 What and how much is released from plastics?

2 At what point in time is the emission of suspended particles maximum?

3 Effect of print settings

4 Particulate matter and VOC control methods

5 Pins

I must say right away that all the data is again for foreign plastics. In the comments, you write to me that it would be interesting to read about our materials, and not about foreign ones. Yes, I agree, perhaps the conclusions drawn from my work may not be applicable to "our" plastics. But in defense, I note that, firstly: the conditional foreign ABS should not radically differ from “our” ABS. Secondly, our major producers say that they buy raw materials from European firms. In this regard, I believe that the voiced data should be relevant for domestic filaments.

1 What and how much is released from plastics?

Two types of air pollutants are emitted from any plastic during operation of a 3D printer. Firstly, these are ultra- and finely dispersed (or suspended) particles, the size of which ranges from several nanometers to several micrometers. The second is volatile organic compounds.

In fact, the first group is micro dust, consisting of fragments of plastic, as well as fragments of fillers. In [1], an analysis was made of the release of suspended particles from various plastics during printing of a cylindrical sample with a duration of 60 minutes. Plastics PLA, PVA, ABS, PC, ASA, nylon were analyzed. An analysis of the results showed an interesting regularity in the intensity of the release of suspended particles during the operation of a 3D printer. Look at this graph:

Zero is the start of printing. It is clearly seen that it is at the very beginning of printing that there is a sharp increase in the concentration of suspended particles, then the concentration gradually decreases. The researchers attribute the initial peak to the nozzle's heating period to operating temperature. At this point, the plastic, which is motionless inside the nozzle, is subjected to prolonged heating and, consequently, thermal degradation. It can be seen from the graphs that such a picture is typical for absolutely all plastics. In support of this, the researchers from [2] come to similar conclusions.

Now let's look at each plastic separately. I think it will be most interesting for you to find out which plastics are leaders in terms of the number of emitted particles. ASA took first place, followed by nylon, PC and ABS, respectively. PLA and PVA turned out to be the most environmentally friendly.

This is how the size distribution of emitted particles looks like when printing a sample for pollution leaders:

And this is how the graphs for PLA of various companies and PVA look like:

The difference in the graphs is obvious. Please note that PLA and PVA emit particles at the very beginning of printing, and then, after a while, the release of particles almost stops.

Here are the results of measurements made by the authors of another study [3]:

On this graph, manufacturers and the type of plastic are labeled at the bottom, and the intensity of the release of suspended particles is measured along the vertical axis. Again, ABS and PC are among the leaders in terms of pollution. Additionally, HIPS and nylon joined them in this study. The most environmentally friendly again turned out to be PLA.

As far as carbon or fiberglass reinforced plastics are concerned, they are practically unexplored. In one of the works [4], along with other plastics, I was able to find this:

Underlined in red is PETG with 8-12% fiberglass. As you can see, such plastic is the leader in the selection of large particles. Once again I will say that this is the only result that I could find, so I can’t draw serious conclusions here, but anyway I decided to add it to the publication.

Now let's move on to the isolation of volatile organic compounds. In short, when printing with almost any filament, dozens of different compounds are released. Here, for example, is a table from [4]:

Plastics are signed in the table above. The first column lists the names of the chemical compounds. If there is no number for some connection, it means that it was not fixed by the device during printing with a specific plastic. Analyzing the table, we see that ASA and ABS plastics again become leaders in the anti-rating (ULTRAT is ABS with the addition of 3% polycarbonate). PETG becomes the most environmentally friendly (GLASS Transparent is also PETG, but with the addition of fiberglass).

Now let's turn to the results of research from another work [3], which examines a slightly different set of plastics:

This figure shows two histograms. The left histogram shows plastics with a maximum release of volatile organic compounds up to 40 micrograms per minute, and on the right - with an intensity of more than 40 micrograms per minute. The name of each column indicates the printer on which the material was printed.

Polycarbonate and TGlase (PETT plastic) are the most environmentally friendly. PLA looks a little worse. And nylon turned out to be the worst in terms of the number of emissions. It is interesting to note that for ABS plastics, the amount of emissions is highly dependent on the 3D printer on which they are printed, and can differ by as much as five times.

Pay attention to polycarbonate. If it is one of the most polluting in terms of the release of suspended particles, then it is the most environmentally friendly in terms of the release of volatile organic compounds.

2 At what point in time is the emission of suspended particles maximum?

Let's look at two graphs from [5]:

The left graph shows the particulate concentration inside the MakerBot 3D Printer, while the right graph shows the particulate concentration in the room where the 3D printer is located. Two peaks on the graphs mean two consecutively printed parts. Again, we see that a sharp increase in the number of suspended particles occurs at the very beginning of the printing of the part.

And here is another graph from another work [2]:

Shown here are three graphs showing the change in the concentration of suspended solids when printed with ABS plastic. According to the legend, the graphs differ in nozzle temperature. As in the previous work, it can also be seen here that after heating, at the moment of printing, an increase in the concentration of suspended particles occurs. From these graphs, another interesting point is visible.

3 Effect of print settings

These three graphs show that as the temperature of the nozzle increases, the concentration of suspended particles increases. However, the difference between the charts is significant. Other scientific works [4] confirm this:

This graph shows particulate matter concentration versus ABS nozzle temperature. It can be seen that at a nozzle temperature above 250 degrees there is a sharp increase in the number of ejected particles.

It is interesting to note the effect of printing speed on the concentration of suspended particles. Here is a graph from [2]:

These graphs show the dependence of the concentration of suspended particles when printing with ABS plastic at different print speeds. We compared printing at speeds of 30 mm/s (FR30 in the graph), 60 mm/s (FR60) and 90 mm/s (FR90). It is interesting to note that the maximum concentrations are observed at an average printing speed. In this case, the minimum concentration is observed for a speed of 90 mm/s.

4 Particulate matter and VOC control techniques

4.1 Studies have shown that reducing nozzle temperature reduces the amount of suspended particles released. Therefore, do not raise the nozzle temperature unnecessarily.

4.2 Increasing the print speed reduces the concentration of suspended particles. Another positive effect of increasing the printing speed is to reduce the printing time, which leads to a decrease in the time during which suspended particles are released.

4.3 Filtration. HEPA filters are effective for almost all sizes of particulate matter, but to be useful, you need a 3D printer with a closed chamber. In addition, HEPA filters do not capture volatile organic compounds at all, which, as it turns out, are emitted in abundance from some plastics. They need charcoal filters.

4.4 Ventilation or ventilation. I think this is the most efficient way for most conventional FDM 3D printers used at home and in workshops. Here are pictures from [5] showing the distribution of the concentration of suspended particles in a room with a 3D printer:

In a well-ventilated room, the concentration of particles is an order of magnitude lower and at a distance of more than a meter from the printer, only slightly higher than the background level.

4.5 Optimize printer performance. In paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2, I have already touched on the printing modes, but the authors of the scientific work [2] went further and proposed an interesting way to reduce the amount of suspended particles released. Its essence lies in the fact that we first heat up the empty nozzle to operating temperature, then load the filament and immediately start printing. After printing is completed, remove the filament. Here are graphs from [2] showing the result of such manipulations:

Both graphs show the emission of suspended particles when printing ABS with a nozzle temperature of 240°C and a speed of 60 mm/s. The top graph is printing without loading/unloading the filament.

5 Conclusions

As a conclusion, firstly, I would like to note that such plastics as ASA, ABS and nylon are leaders in terms of the amount of emitted particles and volatile organic compounds. The average highlights are polycarbonate and HIPS. The most environmentally friendly and in terms of suspended particles and volatile organic compounds are PLA and PETG.

Second, print in well-ventilated rooms or ventilate the room when printing. Try not to increase the temperature of the nozzle unnecessarily.

You may have noticed that I didn't say a word about how harmful it all is. The fact is that the assessment of the harmfulness of all this required quite a lot of time. I haven't been able to get definitive answers yet. Now I’ll just say that it’s rather harmful, especially with regular contact. Therefore, in this article, I deliberately did not touch on the topic of harmfulness. I hope that I will be able to deal with this issue to the end and then I will publish all the results.

Video version of the article:

That's all for now.

Sources:

1. Chýlek, R., Kudela, L., Pospíšil, J., Šnajdárek, L. (2019). Fine particle emission during fused deposition modeling and thermogravimetric analysis for various filaments. Journal of Cleaner Production, 117790. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117790

2. Deng, Y., Cao, S.-J., Chen, A., Guo, Y. (2016). The impact of manufacturing parameters on submicron particle emissions from a desktop 3D printer in the perspective of emission reduction. Building and Environment, 104, 311–319. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.05.02

3. Azimi, P., Zhao, D., Pouzet, C., Crain, N. E., Stephens, B. (2016). Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(3), 1260–1268. doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b04983

4. Gu, J., Wensing, M., Uhde, E., Salthammer, T. (2019). Characterization of particulate and gaseous pollutants emitted during operation of a desktop 3D printer. Environment International, 123, 476–485. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.12.014

5. Zontek, T. L., Ogle, B. R., Jankovic, J. T., Hollenbeck, S. M. (2017). An exposure assessment of desktop 3D printing. Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, 24(2), 15–25. doi:10.1016/j.jchas.2016.05.008

What is 3D printing in 2021

3D printing technology has changed the manufacturing process of everything that surrounds us. From children's toys and clothes to prostheses, implants, etc.

The 3D printing process is also known as additive manufacturing. In simple terms, a computer program tells the printer where to lay thin layers of material that gradually turn into a solid object.

Types and processes of 3D printing technologies

The first mention of 3D printing technology appeared in the late 1980s. They were called rapid prototyping technologies. The name refers to a process that was conceived as a faster and more cost-effective method of prototyping in product development. The very first patent application for this technology was filed by Dr. Hideo Kodama in May 1980. But, unfortunately for the inventor, the full patent specification was not submitted until one year after the application was filed. Kodama used ultraviolet light to cure plastic and create an AM object.

Years later, the American Scott Crumb developed the most common type of 3D printing today - FDM (Fused deposition modeling). This technology stands for deposition modeling. This type is characterized by the fact that the thermoplastic material is heated to a liquid state and extruded through the nozzle layer by layer.

Charles Hull, co-founder of 3D Systems, was one of the inventors of the 3D printing technology known as stereolithography. The technology is based on photochemical processes.

But Kodama, Crump, and Hull weren't the only ones to develop 3D printing techniques.

WINBO 3D printer at Art-Up Design Studio

Here are some other types of 3D printing in use today:

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) is by far the most common method for producing thermoplastic parts and prototypes today. Based on the melting of the filament in the nozzle with its subsequent laying in layers. It is also the most economical way of 3D printing due to the availability of a wide range of thermoplastic materials with different technical characteristics, which allow generating both functional parts of mechanism prototypes and volumetric cases, as well as any free spatial decorative forms.
SLA (Stereo Lithography Apparatus) is based on the layer-by-layer curing of a liquid photopolymer material under the influence of UV study. Can print objects in multiple colors and materials with different physical properties, including rubber-like parts. The high printing accuracy of this method makes it more expensive and not optimal for simple plastic structures.
DLP (Digital Light Processing) cures polymers using a light projector rather than an ultraviolet laser. This allows you to create a whole layer in one exposure, thus increasing the speed of production.

Metals too have their own 3D printing techniques. The type of technology is selected depending on the features of the object.

SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) is based on layer-by-layer sintering of polymer powder particles using laser radiation. The nylon powder melts into a strong, hard plastic. Due to the peculiarity of the technology, the surface of the part is not ideal, but very functional for use in prototypes with hinges and latches.
SLM (Selective Laser Melting) is based on layer-by-layer sintering of metal powder under the action of a laser beam. Used in the manufacture of decorative items. Therefore, it is useful for applications in medicine and lightweight structures. Often this method is used in conjunction with traditional metal casting technology to create prototypes or final products.
EBM (Electron Beam Melting) is based on layer-by-layer melting using an electron beam. The printing uses electromagnetic coils to superheat the metal powder in a vacuum.

How 3D printing works

3D printing is the process of layering one on top of another. Every 3D printed object starts life as a 3D model in a computer program.

You can create your own design in programs such as Maya, Blender, ZBrush, CATIA, Solidworks. In addition, ready-made 3D models of parts can be downloaded from sites such as Thingiverse or CGTrader.

When you have a 3D model obtained in one way or another, you “run” it through the “slicer” program (from the English word “to slice”), which converts the original 3D model in STL format into print layers. The information received is eventually converted into a special data format called G-code for further printing on a 3D printer.
Such programs usually come with the 3D printer, or they can be freely downloaded, such as the Cura program. What these softwares have in common is that they create thousands of lines of code for layers. This code tells the printer how to print.

Next, you need to set up your 3D printer, select the print quality and the correct settings for the material. To start printing, you load your "sliced" part into the printer via a USB stick, SD card, or send directly from your computer. And the printer starts a slow additive layering process.

Photograph of Christian Rail from Pixabay

Materials used in 3D printing

The materials available for 3D printing have come a long way. Currently, there is a wide range of materials that differ both in properties, types, and in the states supplied (powder, threads, granules, resins, etc.).

Some materials are developed for specific applications to perform special tasks. For example, the medical sector, where special photopolymer resins (SLA 3D printing technology) are used, the properties of which make it possible to print implants, casts, and so on.

Some of the most commonly used materials:

Plastics. Sintering (SLS) typically uses polyamides or nylon supplied in powder form. It is a strong, flexible and durable material. It is white in color, so it needs to be tinted before or after printing. The most common 3D printing technology today is FDM, which uses ABS or PLA plastic filaments. These plastics are available in a wide range of colors. Compared to PLA, ABS plastic has higher strength characteristics. But PLA is biodegradable, so it's as widespread as ABS.
Metals. More and more metals and metal composites are finding their way into industrial 3D printing. The most common of them are derivatives of aluminum and cobalt. Due to its strength characteristics, stainless steel is often used in powder form in 3D printing technologies such as sintering, melting, EBM. In the last couple of years, silver and gold have been added to the list of metals suitable for printing. This made it possible to significantly expand the possibilities of jewelry production.
Ceramics. A relatively new group of materials used in 3D printing. The peculiarity of printing with these materials is that the printed ceramic parts must go through the same processes as ceramic products made by traditional methods - firing and glazing.
Biomaterials. Currently, a large number of studies are being conducted aimed at exploring the possibility of 3D printing from biomaterials for the needs of medicine. This includes the printing of human organs for transplantation, external tissues for replacement of body parts. To do this, leading institutions research living tissues.
Food. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in experimentation with food 3D printing extruders. Chocolate printing is the most widely used. There are 3D printers that use sugar, pasta, meat, dough.

Photo of mebner1 from Pixabay

What is 3D printing used for

If you can think of an item, then most likely you can print it. Children's toys, jewelry, phone cases and much more are already being printed by enthusiasts on 3D printers. Some use 3D printing for fun. Fun projects already exist: a printed guitar, a loom, and an intricate sculpture created from a combination of laser-fused glass and nylon. 3D printing has already moved beyond its origins in plastic printing and has moved into the use of metal, rubber, wood, synthetic fabrics, and ceramic resins. Functional 3D-printed human organs have not yet been created, but scientists say that this is a matter of the near future.

Because additive manufacturing of complex objects is faster and cheaper than traditional molding and casting methods, it has found its way into industry and the arts. The possibilities of this technology are almost limitless, but 3D printers are not perfect machines. In addition to all the advantages, there are also reasons for concern.

Ethical issues in 3D printers

3D printers consume a lot of energy and emit ultra-light plastic particles into the air, which are then inhaled by humans. These harmful emissions can be compared to a cigarette lit indoors.

While humanity is trying to reduce the use and consumption of plastic, 3D printers are another technology heavily dependent on it. This presents a problem for all ecosystems, in particular for the already suffering oceans with their floating islands of plastic.

A few years ago, the news of the first 3D printed firearm caused a media frenzy. The creation of untraceable weapons by a private individual remains a modern security problem.

From a legal point of view, there is no clear answer to the question of who is responsible in the event of harm to health caused by a printed object. Indeed, in most cases, the developer of a 3D model, the manufacturer of a 3D printer, and the one who printed it are different people or organizations. Determining liability for potential injury and death is a new challenge.

At the same time, the use of 3D printing technology in the medical field to print tissue raises a number of ethical and moral questions. These issues are similar to the talk of stem cell research and gene editing that has been going on for decades.

On the other hand, we have a powerful tool in our hands that is changing the way we create and produce things. We still don't fully understand what this means for our future.

Potential effect on the global economy

If 3D printing continues to develop at the same pace as it is now, then its use could potentially affect the global economy. The transition of production and distribution from the current model to localized custom manufacturing can reduce the imbalance between exporting and importing countries.

3D printing is creating new industries and new professions. Professions related to the production of 3D printers or, for example, a vacancy for a rapid prototyping technician at the Cartier jewelry house. New professional services are emerging, such as supply of materials, printer operator, legal services in dispute resolution and intellectual property issues. With the development of 3D printing technology, the issue of "piracy" becomes an urgent problem.

The impact of 3D printing on developing countries is a double-edged sword. The positive effect for such countries is the reduction in the cost of production through the use of recycled and other local materials. But the loss of manufacturing jobs could hit these economies hard, and it will take time to find a balance.

Where can I use a 3D printer

Owning a 3D printer with the necessary software and materials can still be expensive for individual needs, so public 3D printers are becoming more common.

There are places like labs and 3D printing shops. You can send your design and pick up the finished part in a couple of days. Some companies, such as ART AP Design Studio, also do 3D printing.

If you are a student or student, 3D printing services may be available at your school.

Art-Up Design Studio

Where can I learn how to use a 3D printer

For those who already have the specialty of an engineer, there are advanced training programs (Additional education) from the Russian Academy of Crafts, designed for 36 or 72 academic hours.