Over the past 10 years, we have seen a lot of technological advancement, which has given birth to different types of material for 3D printing. This has impacted the way manufacturers, designers and engineers look at 3D printing. In this article, we are going to find out how you can opt for 3D printing material for different purposes. Read on to know more.
Additive manufacturing technology changes material via light, heat or other types of directed energy. As far as the types of material go, there are four types: metals, filament thermoplastics, powdered thermoplastics, and photopolymers. So, the material needs of your project will decide which type you should go for.
Choosing the right material requires that you take into account a lot of factors. Given below are a few factors that you should think about before making a choice.
4 Things to keep in mind for the Material Selection
- Application
First off, make sure you consider the key features or certifications before you opt for something. Based on where the part will be used in the life cycle of the product, your durability needs will differ.
As soon as you have known the type of application, you can easily choose the right stuff.
- Aesthetics
As said earlier, we can’t separate technology from materials for 3D printing. Each type of technology provides the required parts at different resolutions. For instance, some manufacturers make parts that have a very small layer but full CMYKW color, which results in parts that are very detailed. Here, it’s important to note that some materials provide better results if painted, polished or sanded.
- Function
Keep in mind that different types of materials are tested in many ways to make sure they can withstand the stress in different types of environments. There is no need to mention that the product is of no use if it can’t work properly in certain environments. The primary function of the product should meet the required satisfaction level.
- Certifications
Some types of material provide FDA certifications, sterilization features, and biocompatibility for chemical resistance, toxicity certification, and flame smoke. Based on the type of your project, these things may be really important to you.
Therefore, when going for certain material, you need to make sure that the material offers the certifications your project requires. After all, you can’t take any risks as they may cost you a hefty sum of money at the end of the process.
Although you can find a huge collection of 3D printing services in China, know that not all types of material are inexpensive. Moreover, with the passage of time, more types of materials are appearing in the market, which is reducing the gap between end-user production and prototypes. Therefore, machine manufacturers and developers are trying to get the most out of this technology for future evolution. And they have been using the material for a number of innovative applications.
Long story short, these are a few factors that you should take into account when choosing the right type of 3D printing material.
Resource box: This article is originally posted in http://www.3dprintingchina.com.