Variety Of 3D Printers.

Traditionally, in reviews of 3D-printers it is mentioned LOM-technology (Laminated Object Manufacturing), invented by Michael Feygen in 1985. Here a laser beam cuts out the sheet material, which can be a anything (paper, laminates, metal foil and even ceramics), and then heated rollers glue the layers together. Disadvantages are clear: a rough surface of products, bundles, and the possibility of errors and stratification in completely slotted sheet. But you can easily remove the damaged layers and make them again. Judging by the results in search engines (more precisely, their absence), suchprinters are no longer in vogue, though on the website of Landfoam you can see exquisite specimens of landscapes and architectural sites, produced by the order with the help of this technology.

Unfortunately, laser 3D-printers of any type are very expensive: so, the price SLS-device of company EOS, which is even difficult to be called printers because of their size, could easily reach a million dollars. But prices of another variety of 3D-printers – inkjet – are becoming more democratic.

Inkjet printers.

The most obvious way of 3D-inkjet printing is squeezing the liquid polymer on the surface of the work piece. The technology FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) works in such a way, which idea belongs to Scott Crump, founder of the company Stratasys. The first printer of the FDM technology was released in 1991. Now Stratasys produces several varieties of FDM-printers, of which the most famous is the series Dimension (under the name of the same name business units). Machines Dimension – are one of the cheapest among the 3D-printers, the price of entry-level models falls below $ 20,000. However, the more “advanced” FDM-devices (such as FDM Titan) can cost in ten times more.

FDM-printers use the thread of thermoplastic plastic (in the cheapest Dimension it is used less robust and resistant polystyrene FAA, in more expensive – polycarbonate, PC), which is melted and through the die is fitted by the print head on the sample surface. Since the thin overhanging elements can be deformed during the printing process, the second die is provided in the head. These elements are washed by water solution in an ultrasound bath from the finished product. As a result, we have smooth and strong products, but the accuracy is bad: the best FDM-models have the thickness of the layer 0,127 mm, ordinary – 0.178 mm or more. In addition, the process is quite slow.

In principle, the FDM-printers allow to receive multi-color samples (it is available for up to seven colors of plastic, or any other color on special order), but it is necessary to change the cartridge with a thread during the work. A noticeable advantage of printers from Stratasys – is the ability to work on the principle of plug & play, all operations are extremely automated. They say, NASA is considering FDM technology as a candidate for the “space factory.

Another method of inkjet printing called Polyjet is developed by the Israeli firm Objet Geometries, whose device with a beautiful name Eden is well known all over the world. Polyjet is a relative of laser technology in SLA, but instead of baths with liquid photopolymer it is used jet head, squeezed it on the surface of the detail. Then, as in the technology SGC, the polymer is cured under UV lamp. Price of”Eden” is quite high – $ 60-100 thousand for the initial “office” models, that, however, is in several times lower than that of SLA-analogues. Speed of the work – is about 20 mm / h, thickness – from 0.16 mm.

Over the recent decades rapid prototyping services managed with solving lots of tech problems happening when trying to present a product, design or model. Have you ever experienced such a problem too? Then you are invited to visit this rapid prototyping methodology site.

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