Utep 3d printing

W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation

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Driving the Additive Manufacturing Revolution

Located at The University of Texas at El Paso, the Keck Center is a unique multidisciplinary research facility focused on the use and development Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies with primary focus areas in AM Technology Development, Engineered and Structured Materials, and Advanced AM Applications.

About the Keck Center

Expert Solutions Provider

Research

Additive Manufacturing technology allows us to take a computer-aided design (CAD) of an object and quickly create a 3D model, mold, or functional part by precisely building layers of material. It is an exciting technology that explores new worlds of research, limited only by the imagination.

Facilities

The Keck Center occupies over 13,000 square feet of floor space and has more than $8 million in research infrastructure, including over 50 AM systems and combined facilities for advanced manufacturing, metrology and reverse engineering, materials characterization and testing, and synthetic and analytical chemistry.

Services

Our services can help you achieve your goals, providing your company with a competitive advantage through access to our vast selection of 3D printing machines and testing equipment. Fast turnaround and excellent quality of manufactured parts have always been our priority when delivering your final product.

In August 2015, UTEP was selected as the first satellite center of America Makes. The goal of America Makes is to expand its current regional, industrial, and technological footprint while further maximizing the reach and capabilities of this satellite center through enhanced collaboration. A ribbon cutting ceremony hosted The Honorable Penny Pritzker, U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Our mission is to lead the Additive Manufacturing (AM) transformation through multidisciplinary activities that include education, research, outreach, technology development and commercialization, and industrial partnerships.

GAIA- Makerspace Central

3D Cloud-Based Printing

3D cloud-based printing allows you to design wherever you are and send jobs to print at our facility from remote locations. The UTEP GAIA space currently has the second largest number of 3D-cloud based printing users in the nation.

3D Resin Printing

Create high-resolution parts at a fraction of the cost and footprint of industrial 3D printers. Scale your prototyping projects with desktop stereolithography using our Form Labs 2 printer. Used by companies such as Sony, Tesla, Ford, Boeing and Google.

Laser Engraving and Cutting

Carve, etch, cut, and engrave dozens of materials to bring your ideas to life.

CNC

CNC Machining is a process used in the manufacturing sector that involves the use of computers to control machine tools. Tools that can be controlled in this manner include lathes, mills, routers and grinders. The CNC in CNC machining stands for Computer Numerical Control. GAIA has a CNC router for your use.

Unity

Unity software, while originally built around gaming experiences, has now become a standard in the automotive, architectural, engineering, construction, and film industries. Unity is also an emerging tool which is utilized to give artificial intelligence bots a human like appearance.

Fusion 360

Fusion 360 which is used for CAM, engineering simulations, as well as designing in a wide ranges of fields. It is one of the best known products for generative design.

Maya® 3D

Professional software used for animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering. It is used in industry for animation, special effects environments, motion graphics, virtual reality, and character creation.

Arduino

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for anyone making interactive projects. Arduino senses the environment by receiving input from sensors, and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and actuators.

Raspberry Pi

A low-cost, high-performance computer that people use to learn, solve problems and create unique solutions. Many of the current IoT projects start on prototyping on either a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino.

Circuit Printing

Development platforms have become the easiest starting point for many projects. Take your breadboard projects to the next level with our Voltera circuit printer.

MySQL Series

MySQL is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS).

AR/VR hardware (coming soon)

Soldering Stations

Soldering is a process in which two or more items are joined together by melting and putting a filler metal (solder) into the joint, the filler metal having a lower melting point than the adjoining metal. Unlike welding, soldering does not involve melting the work pieces and is used in a wide range of electronics projects.

Yamaha LS Audio Mixers

These lightweight digital live-sound consoles have recallable head amps, a built-in USB memory recorder/player, and stunning sound quality for mixing audio.

Internet of Things IoT Prototyping

Learn to quickly design and test devices using a range of tools/software including Node Red, MQTT, Mosquitto and others.

What is 3D printing and how it can be used! Interesting!

What is 3D printing

3D printing technology was patented in the 80s of the last century, but gained popularity relatively recently. New, promising techniques have been developed and the possibilities of 3D technologies have reached a completely new level. However, to this day, the technique is not known in all circles, and not everyone is aware of what 3D printing is. In today's article, we will try to explain in detail and in an accessible way what 3D printing is and where it is used.

In short, 3D printing is a technique for manufacturing three-dimensional products based on digital models. Regardless of the specific technology, the essence of the process is the gradual layer-by-layer reproduction of objects.
This process uses a special device - a 3D printer, which prints certain types of materials. More details about it are written here. Other names for the technology are rapid prototyping or additive manufacturing. Often the phrase "additive technologies" is used in the meaning of "3D technologies".

3D printing steps

To make it clearer what 3D printing is, let's take a look at the playback process step by step. Below are the specific stages of 3D printing. How it works:

3D modeling of the required object is performed according to certain rules;
The file with the digital model is loaded into the slicer program, which generates the control code for the 3D printer;
Sets required 3D printing options;
The code is written to a removable memory that connects to the 3D printer;
3D model reproduced.

Objects are reproduced gradually. According to the required shape, the selected material is applied layer by layer, forming the finished product. It is worth noting that the possibilities of 3D printing are almost limitless, that is, anything can be made. In some technologies, very thin overhanging elements are provided with supports, thanks to which they can be avoided from sagging.
Naturally, this is a very simplified description of the stages of 3D printing, but they give a very clear idea of the essence of the technique.

Other questions and answers about 3D printers and 3D printing:

Basics What is 3D scanning?
Basics What is a 3D model?

3D Printing Technologies

Different 3D printing technologies are used to reproduce different objects. They differ both in the consumables used, and in the speed and accuracy of printing. Here are the main 3D printing technologies:

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) . One of the most common 3D printing technologies, used in most desktop 3D printers, and represents an ideal price / quality ratio. Printing occurs by layer-by-layer supply of a thread of molten plastic;
Laser stereolithography (SLA) . The formation of the object occurs due to the layer-by-layer illumination of a liquid photopolymer resin by a laser, which hardens under the influence of radiation. One of the variations of this technology is DLP 3D printing. It uses a special projector instead of a laser. Both 3D printing methods are used to create objects with a high degree of detail. In the case of DLP printing, speed is also an added advantage;
Selective laser sintering (SLS) . Reproduction is performed by layer-by-layer melting of a special powder under the action of laser radiation. This 3D printing method is widely used in the industry for the manufacture of durable metal elements

3D Printing Applications

As you may have guessed by now, 3D printing is extremely versatile. The second name of the technology - rapid prototyping - speaks for itself. In the manufacture of prototypes and models of models, 3D printing can be simply indispensable. It is also a very cost-effective solution for small-scale production. In the aerospace and automotive industries, 3D technologies are already being used with might and main due to the high profitability and speed of manufacturing components. Culinary professionals are working on the development of 3D food printers, and in medicine, 3D printing has become something of a technology of the future. With the help of 3D bioprinting, it is planned to produce bones, organs and living tissues, but for now, implants and full-fledged medicines are printed on 3D printers. Desktop 3D printers can be used for domestic purposes: for repairs, making various household items, and so on. And designers, fashion designers, sculptors and artists appreciate the possibilities of 3D printing and 3D modeling as an unusual way to realize their talent.

Well, that was a brief description of what 3D printing is. We hope we were able to provide the necessary information in an accessible way. If you have additional questions that we have not covered, write to us by e-mail and we, if necessary, will add your questions! Best regards, 3DDevice team.

We also want to remind you about the possibility to order 3D printing, 3D scanning, 3D modeling services or purchase of related equipment and consumables with delivery throughout Ukraine in 3DDevice. If you have any questions, please contact us at one of the phone numbers listed here. We look forward to collaborating!

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3D printing on order in Nizhny Novgorod, cost of services

The cost of printing on a 3d printer allows you to use the service not only for commercial and state enterprises, but also for individuals - innovative production technologies have become widely available. Prototyping of 3d models is the reading of information from a computer program by special equipment and translation into a real object by successive building up layer by layer until the formation of a finished product. ProPlast-NN LLC carries out 3d printing to order - the price of is calculated individually depending on the size of the object, the number of ordered samples, the material from which they will be made and the method of prototyping.

3d printing and prototyping - the latest technologies in practice

The combination of computer technology with production allows you to multiply the speed of production, reduce the cost of creating the necessary items. Volumetric printing is developing at a rapid pace, from the realm of fantasy, it has become a familiar production process, which can be carried out using various methods. Order 3d printing in Nizhny Novgorod for one model or batch of products, just call Pro Plast-NN LLC at the numbers listed on the site. The customer will receive a three-dimensional plastic part, made with a high degree of accuracy according to the drawings or based on a real analogue. Small-scale production of products by 3D printing and prototyping is possible.

Where created 3d models and prototypes are used

Prototyping on 3d printers allows you to quickly and at low cost get a sample of the desired part from a polymer material, made with a high degree of accuracy, without roughness or distortion. Depending on the technology used and the material from which the sample is made, the product acquires high-tech properties: ideal shape, strength, plasticity, temperature stability. Models have found application in many areas, so they make custom 3d printing companies of different specializations:

medicine;
automotive;
serial industrial production: mechanical engineering, instrumentation, metallurgy;
architecture - when creating models of buildings and complexes;
designs;
souvenir production.

How 3d prototyping is carried out

The basis for prototyping is a 3d image of an object, compiled by a computer program with three-dimensional modeling functions. 3d custom prototyping is performed with high accuracy of transferring an image into a physical object using one of several possible methods:

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling). A moving molten polymer thread forms an object of complex geometric shape in layers, which can subsequently withstand high mechanical and thermal loads.
SLS (Eng. Selective Laser Sintering). This is the sintering of a powder in a container under the targeted action of a laser beam.
MJM (from the English. Multi Jet Modeling - modeling with many nozzles). Multi-nozzle 3d printer prototyping , applying molten material with multiple inkjet heads, based on the principle of a laser printer.
LOM (from the English Laminated Object Manufacturing - the production of an object by lamination). Bonding layer by layer of thin films, as is done with lamination. After reaching the desired volume with a laser tool, an object of the desired shape is cut out of the mass.
SLM (from English Selective Laser Melting - selective laser melting). Selective fusion of metal with a targeted laser beam, resulting in a solid object.
EBM (from the English Electron Beam Melting - electron beam melting). Creation of a product from a powder that is melted by a directed electron beam.
STL (from English stereolithography - stereolithography). Purposeful formation of a solid object by a laser beam directed into a container with liquid polymer rubber.

Benefits of 3d printing and prototyping

What are the advantages and benefits for a customer who decides to order a 3D printing with a printer?

Before launching a new product into mass production, an enterprise can purchase a prototype, test it, make changes to avoid errors in the design development of the product, and reduce the cost of production.

If a private or public enterprise needs to produce a small batch of products, it is more profitable for him to apply for a small-scale prototyping service than to carry out design and engineering development and testing of prototypes, reconfigure production, use labor resources and equipment. Printing on a 3D printer at affordable prices will save businesses a significant amount, reduce production costs.

The desired samples can be obtained in a short period, regardless of the degree of complexity of the object being created. Typically, the prototyping process lasts from one to ten days, depending on the specifics of the chosen manufacturing method. You can place an order for 3D printing at Pro Plast-NN LLC - we will answer your questions, calculate the cost, conclude an agreement and print products in a short time.

The cost of 3d printing with the printer is low, which allows customers to reduce their own costs for design development, testing and sample production. LLC "Pro Plast-NN" makes high-quality 3D printing - the price is calculated by managers individually, depending on the volume, complexity of the work, the chosen manufacturing method and the material from which the sample is printed.

The cost of prototyping and creating 3d models

Answer to question how much it costs to print on a 3d printer depends primarily on the number of ordered products, the material from which the product is made, the size of the object, and the technology of its manufacture.