Introduction of 3D Printing

Slide prepared by : Parker Leung

Tools to ‘create’ physical objects from a virtual 3D model

Additive manufacturing process, widely uses in design and prototyping

What is 3D Printer?

‘Add’ small materials together to form objects

Can produces difficult shapes Less scraps after manufacturing

Additive manufacturing

‘Layer by Layer’

First 3D printer invent in 1984 year, by Chuck Hull (3D Systems Corporation)

Mainly used in industrial prototyping over 20+ years.

History of 3D printing (1)

In 2005, because patent expired of FDM, Dr. Adrian Bowyer of University of Bath, founded a open source 3D printer project called “Rep-Rap”

The first open source 3D printer – “Darwin” launch on 2007

History of 3D printing (2)

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

FDM uses a reel of plastic filament and extruding it through a small diameter nozzle and fused together to form objects.

Stereolithography (SLA) 

SLA uses a laser and a set of mirrors to solidify the layer of UV light curable resin.

Since laser beam is narrow enough, output quality is better than FDM.

Binder jetting / Polymer jetting

Binder jetting uses liquid adhesive to binding the selected polymer powder to form a physical object.

With colour adhesive, it can form colour objects.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 

SLS uses a laser to melt the selected metal / polymer powder and form a physical object.

This method usually uses building metal objects.

Usually print with plastic filaments, likes: ABS – Strong and last long, bad smell during

printing PLA – Made from corn, bio degradable PVA – Water soluble, uses to print ‘supports’

Nozzle size from 0.25mm up to 0.8mm

Layer thickness from 0.05mm up to 0.4mm

More about FDM technology

Single vs Multiple hot ends

Mutli-color FDM

Design with less overhang and bridges ( < 45 degree)

FDM Printing technique (1)

Use ‘support’ structures if necessary

FDM Printing technique (2)

A ‘ horizontal’ base – use less supports

FDM Printing technique (3)

From design to fabricate directly

Build on demand

Make Revolution / 3rd Industrial Revolution

Why we need 3D Printing?

Manufacturing / Building

Bio Medical

Food

Wearable / Jewellery

DIY Design / Makers

Usage of 3D printing

3D Printed Vehicle

3D Printed House

FDM Print with “Conductive Plastic Filament”

Consist of graphite

Print electronic circuit directlyinside the structure

In future, PCBs (2D circuit) may replaced by 3D circuit

3D Printed Electronics

Food Printing

Medical uses

3D Printed Wearable

Scan real objects,to get “cloud of points”

Link up “cloud of points”to form “faces”

Transform into 3D modeling file

How 3D Scanning works?

Autodesk 123D Catch(http://www.123dapp.com/catch)

Skanect

Structure.io (with iPad)

DIY David 3D scanner

Different 3D scanning tools

What is 123D Catch?

How to use Skanect?