3D Printers - Revision history

DT Online at 20:05, 14 August 2016

2016-08-14T20:05:37Z

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	The '''[[Table of File-Types\|STL File]]''' can be exported from most modern '''[[CAD]]''' applications ''(e.g. '''[[FreeCAD]]''')'' or 3D Modelling sofware such as ~~[https://www.tinkercad.com/~~ '''~~Tinkercad~~'''], [http://www.123dapp.com/design '''123D'''] Design or [http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/SketchUp '''SketchUp Make'''] ''(with [https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/sketchup-stl '''SketchUp STL extension'''])'' all of which are free to download and use. Alternatively, a simple Internet Search for <STL Files>, for example, will reveal many sources for existing models which can be downloaded, edited and used.		The '''[[Table of File-Types\|STL File]]''' can be exported from most modern '''[[CAD]]''' applications ''(e.g. '''[[FreeCAD]]''')'' or 3D Modelling sofware such as '''[[TinkerCAD]]''', [http://www.123dapp.com/design '''123D'''] Design or [http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/SketchUp '''SketchUp Make'''] ''(with [https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/sketchup-stl '''SketchUp STL extension'''])'' all of which are free to download and use. Alternatively, a simple Internet Search for <STL Files>, for example, will reveal many sources for existing models which can be downloaded, edited and used.

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	=====Features and Applications=====		=====Features and Applications=====

	A variety of '''Additive Manufacturing''' techniques have been developed ''(e.g. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography '''Stereolithography'''], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_metal_laser_sintering '''Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)'''] and even [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_3D_printing '''Construction 3D Printing'''] which prints buildings with concrete!)'' but the method most commonly available for schools and hobbyists is based on building up a model from layers of a plastics filament and fusing them together ''(i.e. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling '''Fused Deposition Modeling'''])'' in which a coil of plastics ‘wire’ is fed through a computer controlled heated nozzle.		A variety of '''Additive Manufacturing''' techniques have been developed ''(e.g. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography '''Stereolithography (STL)'''], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_metal_laser_sintering '''Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)'''] and even [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_3D_printing '''Construction 3D Printing'''] which prints buildings with concrete!)'' but the method most commonly available for schools and hobbyists is based on building up a model from layers of a plastics filament and fusing them together ''(i.e. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling '''Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)'''])'' in which a coil of plastics ‘wire’ is fed through a computer controlled heated nozzle.

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	The '''[[Table of File-Types\|STL File]]''' can be exported from most modern '''[[CAD]]''' applications ''(e.g. '''[[FreeCAD]]''')'' or 3D Modelling sofware such as [https://www.tinkercad.com/ '''Tinkercad'''], [http://www.123dapp.com/design '''123D'''] Design or [http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/SketchUp '''SketchUp Make'''] ''(with [https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/sketchup-stl '''SketchUp STL extension'''])'' all of which are free to download and use.		The '''[[Table of File-Types\|STL File]]''' can be exported from most modern '''[[CAD]]''' applications ''(e.g. '''[[FreeCAD]]''')'' or 3D Modelling sofware such as [https://www.tinkercad.com/ '''Tinkercad'''], [http://www.123dapp.com/design '''123D'''] Design or [http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/SketchUp '''SketchUp Make'''] ''(with [https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/sketchup-stl '''SketchUp STL extension'''])'' all of which are free to download and use. Alternatively, a simple Internet Search for <STL Files>, for example, will reveal many sources for existing models which can be downloaded, edited and used.

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2016-08-14T13:26:42Z

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	A variety of '''Additive Manufacturing''' techniques have been developed ''(e.g. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography '''Stereolithography'''], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_metal_laser_sintering '''Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)'''] and even [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_3D_printing '''Construction 3D Printing'''] which prints buildings with concrete!)'' but the method most commonly available for schools and hobbyists is based on building up a model from layers of a plastics filament and fusing them together ''(i.e. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling '''Fused Deposition Modeling'''])'' in which a coil of plastics ‘wire’ is fed through a computer controlled heated nozzle.		A variety of '''Additive Manufacturing''' techniques have been developed ''(e.g. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography '''Stereolithography'''], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_metal_laser_sintering '''Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)'''] and even [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_3D_printing '''Construction 3D Printing'''] which prints buildings with concrete!)'' but the method most commonly available for schools and hobbyists is based on building up a model from layers of a plastics filament and fusing them together ''(i.e. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling '''Fused Deposition Modeling'''])'' in which a coil of plastics ‘wire’ is fed through a computer controlled heated nozzle.


			=====Software=====

			The control or driver software for '''3D Printers''' accepts '''[[CAD]]''' models in the '''[[Table of File-Types\|STL File Format]]'''. This file-type converts the surface of a 3D CAD model into a series of triangluar facets which the driver software can then convert into a series of thin layers or '''‘slices’''' and produce a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-code '''G-code'''] type file to control the printer.


			The '''[[Table of File-Types\|STL File]]''' can be exported from most modern '''[[CAD]]''' applications ''(e.g. '''[[FreeCAD]]''')'' or 3D Modelling sofware such as [https://www.tinkercad.com/ '''Tinkercad'''], [http://www.123dapp.com/design '''123D'''] Design or [http://wiki.dtonline.org/index.php/SketchUp '''SketchUp Make'''] ''(with [https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/sketchup-stl '''SketchUp STL extension'''])'' all of which are free to download and use.


			Most CAD and 3D Modelling applications will produce some errors in the output STL file ''(e.g. around holes or intersections)'' and so loading it first into verification software such as [http://www.meshmixer.com/ '''Meshmixer'''] ''(a free program from Autodesk)'' will check the faceting and fix any surface flaws.

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DT Online at 12:18, 13 August 2016

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	[[File:3D Printer.png\|400px\|right]]		[[File:3D Printer.png\|400px\|right\|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ZBS86ZW/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B00ZBS86ZW&linkCode=as2&tag=dton06-21]]
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DT Online: Created article

2016-08-13T11:30:36Z

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[[File:3D Printer.png|400px|right]]
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=====Description=====

Most traditional manufacturing processes for single components are based on the removal ''(or subtraction)'' of materials from standard bar stock for example ''(e.g. by drilling, milling or turning on a lathe)''. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing '''3D Printing'''] is the general term now used for '''Additive Manufacturing ''(AM)''''' which, by contrast, creates objects by a process of fusing together layers of material to build up a 3D product.

=====Features and Applications=====

A variety of '''Additive Manufacturing''' techniques have been developed ''(e.g. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography '''Stereolithography'''], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_metal_laser_sintering '''Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)'''] and even [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_3D_printing '''Construction 3D Printing'''] which prints buildings with concrete!)'' but the method most commonly available for schools and hobbyists is based on building up a model from layers of a plastics filament and fusing them together ''(i.e. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_deposition_modeling '''Fused Deposition Modeling'''])'' in which a coil of plastics ‘wire’ is fed through a computer controlled heated nozzle.

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<span style="color: green">'''Note:'''
Although school use of 3D printing may be limited to plastics and similar materials, models created in wax can then be used in a '''[[Lost Wax Casting]]''' process to create protoypes in metals such as Aluminium and various Zinc based alloys ''(e.g. Kayem or Mazac)''.
</span>
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'''[[Injection Moulding]]''' can be less expensive when manufacturing large quantities of plastics products, but '''Additive Manufacturing''' is generally more flexible and less expensive when producing relatively small quantities or single prototypes - hence the alternative name of '''Rapid Prototyping'''.

{{CNC Equipment Buyers Guide}}

[[Category:Computer Controlled Equipment]]