3D printing parts

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Different 3D Printing Processes

Without doubt, 3D printing is among the most promising innovations that has and will continue to transform industries. It has essentially changed the manufacturing processes in all areas including food, medicine, construction and fashion among many others. The technology can only grow even more as more and more innovations are developed. There are different 3D printing processes and each comes with its pros and cons.

3D printing parts
3D printing parts

Whether you are a professional designer, manufacturer or just a hobbyist in 3D printing, it is necessary to get familiar with the options so you can make the right choice in the end. Below are some of the most common methods of 3D printings with their advantages and disadvantages to help you make the right choice.

Stereolithography printing

This 3D process builds the parts layer by layer. A thin pattern or resin is traced and zapped with ultraviolet laser to harden it and the same procedure repeated into the complete part is achieved. The laser pulse binds the layers on top of each other creating sturdy strong parts in the end.

Advantages

  • It offer excellent surface finishes
  • The method uses materials efficiently
  • It offers appealing translucent and transparent parts

Disadvantages

  • The parts are low in terms of mechanical properties
  • Materials used for this method are expensive
  • There is risk of UV degradation

Selective laser sintering printing

Loose materials are turned into compact shapes using intense sudden heat in this 3D printing process. The technology is expensive but it is considered the most accurate method in 3D. Powder like nylon plastic is transformed into solid mass using high powered laser and machines can create custom color for those looking for ready part production.

Advantages

  • The parts have good environmental resistance
  • It offers parts with good mechanical properties
  • It is a mature process offering impressive aging behavior of the parts
  • Applicable in different industries

Disadvantages

  • There build volume for the process is not as impressive
  • The material selection for the printing is limited

Electronic beam melting

This 3D printing process is a powder bead fusion technique that uses electron beam instead of laser beam as the power source. Metal powder is used in the method to melt and form 3D parts layer by layer from a computer. Fully melting under high temperatures is conducted to achieve the desired results. Its application is mainly on aerospace and medical implants.

Advantages

  • It has lower residual stresses
  • The printing process is impressively fast

Disadvantages

  • The printing ends in rough surface finish
  • The maximum part size for the process is limited
  • Dealing with internal passages is a challenge

Fused deposition printing

The 3D machines using this method of printing build the objects by heating and extruding selected thermoplastic filament. It is a printing method very similar to stereolithography and builds the parts layer by layer. It is the only 3D process that builds the parts with production grade thermoplastics hence resulting into parts with excellent thermal, chemical and mechanical qualities.

Advantages

  • It is cost effective
  • Produces very strong materials
  • It can accommodate large build volumes

Disadvantages

  • The process can be slow
  • The surface finish is not as good
  • It is anisotropic

These are some of the services you can get from 3D printing supplier in China but the list goes on. China 3D printing experts have everything you could desire for your parts and can help you make the right choice.

For more information, please refer to http://www.3dprintingchina.com.

WHY SLA IS THE CHEAPEST 3D PRINTER?

Technologically, our world is advancing at a very fast pace. The 21st century marks the beginning of many technological wonders including Virtual Reality and 3D printing. In the past 5-10 years, the use of 3d printing technology has largely increased. Various fields including construction, architecture, education, fashion, healthcare and food all use 3D printers to convert their virtual work into reality.

WHAT ARE 3D PRINTERS?

SLA 3D printed parts
SLA 3D printed parts

 3D printers are computer based machines that bring materials together to create a three-dimensional object. 3D printing changes the way products are produced ranging from very simple objects like toys to complex objects like body parts.

HOW DO 3D PRINTERS WORK?

During the 3D printing services, thousands of tiny pieces of the object to be made come together layer by layer. These layers stick together and finally form the solid object.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF 3D PRINTERS?

The different types of 3D printers used are the following:

  1. Stereolithography (SLA)
  2. Digital Light Processing (DLP)
  3. Fused deposition Modelling (FDM)
  4. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
  5. Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
  6. Electronic Beam Melting (EBM)

This article talks about why SLA 3D printers are the cheapest among the above mentioned ones. But firstly, we need to understand what are SLA 3D printers and how do they work.

WHAT IS STEREOLITHOGRAPHY? (SLA)

This is a type of 3D printing which deals with creating various objects like models and patterns with great intricate detailing. The parts of the objects are made as the tiny materials come closer to each other layer by layer with the help of a liquid polymer that hardens when it comes in contact with UV laser light. Basically, a liquid plastic solidifies to form the solid object.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Basically SLA consists of the following four parts-

  1. A tank which is filled with the liquid plastic known as Photopolymer.
  2. A perforated platform on which the solid object is formed.
  3. The UV laser light.
  4. The computer which controls the platform.

Process: When the UV light comes in contact with the photopolymer which is present over the perforated platform, then the first layer is formed. As the process continues, layers are added over the existing layers and finally the three dimensional object is made.

WHY SLA IS THE CHEAPEST 3D PRINTER?

  1. The SLA technology was first introduced in 1986 by Charles Hull. Since then many different types of 3D printing technologies have emerged but SLA continues to be the best. Being one of the oldest 3D printing methods, it can be considered cheaper than its predecessors.
  2. The technology used to produce 3D printing objects via the SLA method is much cheaper as compared to the technology used by SLS or SLM.
  3. SLA printers are mostly found in larger companies. But recently, many companies manufacture low-cost SLA printers which are being sold to satisfy the general public. These printers provide the same advantages as those of the costlier ones.

Nowadays, you can get information on the internet on how to make affordable SLA printers at home that provide the same advantages as the ones available in the market without having to waste your money unnecessarily.

Resource box: Want to know more about a 3D printing website which can help you to learn about the 3D printing companies in China? Then visit the link given below to access 3D printing china suppliers and learn about 3D printing china manufacturing. http://www.3dprintingchina.com