Three dimensional printers are machines that create solid objects from the guidance of digital commands. The objects are created through an additive process. In this process, the solid object is formed by printing down successive layers of material until the entire replica of the digital image is formed.
The digital file usually is a three dimensional portrait of the desired object. It is created by a computer program called computer aided designs . The file is split into thousands of horizontal layers and therefore making it ready for printing. It is fed into the printer where the object is formed bit by bit.
Two additive manufacturing techniques are broadly used in this advanced printing. The most effective is fused deposition modeling and it uses heat and support elements to create the final product. The technique starts by melting plastic inputs while inside an expulsion nozzle. The nozzle is moved in X and Y axis and thereby forming the object each layer at a time. A computer program directs the nozzle movement so that it completely matches the electronic drawing.
The other technique is referred to as selective laser sintering. It uses various forms of light rays to join the input powders into a compact mass. It does this by injecting the constituent powder as per the scanned cross section on the powdered plate. Each cross section undergoes the same step until the whole product is formed.
This printing technology has several uses in an array of industries. Its earlier uses were for the creation of new concept designs in the architectural field. They produced three dimensional artistic impressions of a new building project so that the engineers could study and research on it.
It is used in the production of end user parts and this virtually cuts across all industries. Every shape envisioned is produced using this technology. For example, it is used in the medical fields to reconstruct bones and prosthetics for amputees. Forensic investigations also apply use of this printing to reconstruct disfigured evidence.
The technology is also used in rapid prototyping where new concept designs are created in the research and development departments of various companies. It has been used in the military for the advancements of new weapons and gadgets. It is fast and less costly than old prototyping techniques.
The use and development of this technology can surpass all boundaries. It will change the way several industries do business especially when the printers become cheap to everyone. Efforts to brand it as a cause of the third industrial revolution are not misplaced.
The digital file usually is a three dimensional portrait of the desired object. It is created by a computer program called computer aided designs . The file is split into thousands of horizontal layers and therefore making it ready for printing. It is fed into the printer where the object is formed bit by bit.
Two additive manufacturing techniques are broadly used in this advanced printing. The most effective is fused deposition modeling and it uses heat and support elements to create the final product. The technique starts by melting plastic inputs while inside an expulsion nozzle. The nozzle is moved in X and Y axis and thereby forming the object each layer at a time. A computer program directs the nozzle movement so that it completely matches the electronic drawing.
The other technique is referred to as selective laser sintering. It uses various forms of light rays to join the input powders into a compact mass. It does this by injecting the constituent powder as per the scanned cross section on the powdered plate. Each cross section undergoes the same step until the whole product is formed.
This printing technology has several uses in an array of industries. Its earlier uses were for the creation of new concept designs in the architectural field. They produced three dimensional artistic impressions of a new building project so that the engineers could study and research on it.
It is used in the production of end user parts and this virtually cuts across all industries. Every shape envisioned is produced using this technology. For example, it is used in the medical fields to reconstruct bones and prosthetics for amputees. Forensic investigations also apply use of this printing to reconstruct disfigured evidence.
The technology is also used in rapid prototyping where new concept designs are created in the research and development departments of various companies. It has been used in the military for the advancements of new weapons and gadgets. It is fast and less costly than old prototyping techniques.
The use and development of this technology can surpass all boundaries. It will change the way several industries do business especially when the printers become cheap to everyone. Efforts to brand it as a cause of the third industrial revolution are not misplaced.
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