3D Printers

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). 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. Stereolithography, Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and even 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. Fused Deposition Modeling) in which a coil of plastics ‘wire’ is fed through a computer controlled heated nozzle.

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).

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.

DT Online Buyers' Guide

Safety Point!

Fully enclosed machines with interlocks are advised for school use.
Only Lasers with the laser beam totally enclosed should be used in schools and an interlock provided to prevent operation unless the laser is enclosed - check Laser Safety with supplier.
Always isolate any CNC machine before adjusting tools or work piece and ensure hands are well clear of the table before switching on - when the program runs : the cutter will move!


GenMitzu CNC Router	Trend CNC Machine Engraver	GOWE CO2 Laser Cutting Machine	Flashforge 3D Printer	Sign Cutter Plotter	Scanner	Computerised Digital Sewing Machine