3D printing

3D Printing

3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D model. It works by adding material layer by layer under computer control. This can include plastics, liquids, or powder grains that are fused together.

In the 1980s, 3D printing techniques were mainly used for making prototypes, and were called rapid prototyping. By 2019, improvements in precision and materials made some 3D printing processes useful for actual industrial production. One big benefit of 3D printing is that it can create very complex shapes that would be hard or impossible to make by hand. This includes hollow parts or parts with internal truss structures that save weight and material.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is the most common type of 3D printing used today. It works by melting and layering a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material.

Terminology

The term additive manufacturing (AM) became popular in the 2000s. It describes how material is added together to create objects. This is different from subtractive manufacturing, where material is removed to shape an object, like in machining.

By the early 2010s, the words 3D printing and additive manufacturing were often used interchangeably. 3D printing is more common in everyday language, especially among hobbyists and consumers, while additive manufacturing is used in industrial settings. Both terms describe technologies that build objects layer by layer under computer control.

History

1940s and 1950s

The idea of 3D printing was first described in stories by writers Murray Leinster and Raymond F. Jones in the 1940s and 1950s. They imagined machines that could build objects by adding material layer by layer.

1970s

In 1971, a patent was filed for a machine that could print metal using inkjet technology. This was one of the earliest ideas for 3D printing.

1980s

The 1980s brought new tools and materials for 3D printing. A big moment was when Chuck Hull made the first commercial 3D printer in 1986 using a process called stereolithography.

1990s

In the 1990s, new ways to build objects with metal were created. The term "3D printing" began to be used for processes that could make solid objects by adding material layer by layer.

2000s

In the early 2000s, 3D printing was mostly used in factories and labs. It was still expensive, but people started making designs that let printers create many of their own parts.

2010s

During the 2010s, 3D printing began to be used for real products, like parts for jet engines. It also became more affordable, and people started using it for many new ideas, from electronics to tools.

2020s

By 2020, 3D printers became affordable for everyday users. Amazing advances included printing body parts like prosthetic eyes and making artificial blood vessels in labs.

Benefits of 3D printing

3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, is very useful for engineers. It has many good points. It lets designers make new shapes and custom pieces that were not possible before.

The good things about 3D printing are:

• It can make prototypes faster
• It costs less money
• It makes better quality products
• It can create special designs that other methods cannot

People use 3D printing in many places, like:

• Making light structures
• Creating prosthetics to help people
• Designing art pieces
• Building parts for rockets

3D printing can also help make energy storage systems for clean energy. Because it only adds material where needed, it makes less waste than old methods. This saves materials and energy and helps reduce the carbon footprint. It makes manufacturing kinder to the Earth.

General principles

Modeling

Main article: 3D modeling

3D printable models are made using special computer programs, cameras, or software. These models can be checked for mistakes before printing. Making models is like how artists sculpt.

Models are saved in special file formats, like STL or AMF. These files tell the 3D printer how to build the object.

Printing

Before printing, the model is checked for mistakes. It is then turned into instructions for the printer using special software called a "slicer." The printer builds the object layer by layer. The size and detail of the print can vary.

Finishing

After printing, some people might smooth out the object or paint it to make it look better. There are also ways to make the object stronger or change its shape a little after it is printed.

Materials

3D printing can use many different materials, like plastics, metals, and even chocolates. The most common material for home printers is a special kind of plastic called PLA.

Multi-material 3D printing

Main article: Multi-material 3D printing

Some printers can use more than one material at the same time. This can make objects with different properties in different parts. This is still being researched and developed.

4D printing

Main article: 4D printing

4D printing is a new idea where the object can change shape after it is printed. This change can happen depending on things like temperature or time. This could be useful for making objects that can move or fix themselves.

Processes

3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, builds objects by adding material layer by layer. It starts from a digital design and can use materials like plastics or powders. These materials are fused together by a computer. This is a flexible way to make three-dimensional items from a virtual model.

The method can create complex shapes that are hard or impossible to make with old ways. It is used in many areas, from making toy models to testing tools and even custom parts for machines.

Applications

Main article: Applications of 3D printing

3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, is used in many places like factories, hospitals, and communities that need help. It was first used to make models of new ideas faster and more cheaply. In the 2010s, it started being used to make real products.

3D printing can also make fun food shapes by squeezing out layers of chocolate, candy, or pasta. NASA is looking at this to make special food for astronauts. In fashion, designers use it to make shoes, clothes, and glasses. In cars and airplanes, companies like General Electric use it to make parts.

In health, 3D printing helps doctors make special tools and implants that fit just right. It is also used in schools to help students learn science and engineering by making models they can touch. Museums use it to make copies of old treasures so everyone can see them.

Legal aspects

3D printing has been used in factories for many years. There are rules like patents, industrial design rights, copyrights, and trademarks that can affect it. As more people use 3D printers at home or for small projects, it is not always clear how these rules will apply.

These rules can stop people from sharing 3D designs or selling things made with a 3D printer if they involve intellectual property. But many rules allow private, non-commercial use without asking for permission. For example, patents protect new inventions for about 20 years, and copyrights protect creative works for the life of the author plus 70 years. This means people might need permission or wait until the protection ends before they can make or share some items using 3D printing.

Health and safety

Main article: Health and safety hazards of 3D printing

See also: Health and safety hazards of nanomaterials

When using a 3D printer, some materials can release tiny particles and gases. These could affect your breathing and heart health if you breathe them in. The hot parts of the printer can burn your skin. Some printers use strong lights that might hurt your eyes if you look directly at them, but these lights are usually enclosed during printing.

3D printers have moving parts that could catch your fingers, hair, or clothing. It's important to be careful around them. While these parts usually aren't very strong, they can still cause small injuries. Most home printers use low voltage electricity, which is generally safe, but they still need proper handling. Printers can make noise, from quiet to loud, depending on the type and setup. There are ways to reduce this noise, such as using special supports or covers.

Impact

Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, needs new and better technology to stay useful. Some think it could change how we get things, as people make more items themselves instead of buying them.

Jeremy Rifkin said 3D printing might start a new way of making things, replacing old factories.

Social change

Since the 1950s, people have wondered how affordable 3D printing might change our world. It can help places far from factories by letting people make what they need without waiting for supplies. It might also change how we work and live, making homes more like workplaces.

Some worry about copying designs too easily, or that making things at home could change jobs. Others think it could help poor areas with new tools.

Environmental change

3D printing can help the environment by using less material and energy than old ways of making things. It can also let people make replacement parts, helping products last longer.

But it uses a lot of energy and can create waste that is hard to recycle. Researchers are working on ways to make it better for the planet.