The 3D printing technology entered the fray in the year 1986, but did not gain importance until 1990's. In the recent years, 3D printers are available in the market at a low cost and yet, the efficiency levels set are of high standards.
The technology comes under rapid prototyping systems, and incorporates a fully working ink jet printing system as well. The 3D printing technology is preferable since it promotes full color for prototypes.
The 3D object is created layer-wise; one after another placed finely one above the other. A fine powder that consists of plaster, corn starch and resins are used to build the layers. These layers are bonded by an adhesive from the inkjet print head. The shape of each cross-section of the desired object is determined by a CAD file. The strength of these prints can be increased by thermo-set polymer impregnation or wax.
Some printers use a liquid named photopolymer for the formation of each layer. This photopolymer layers are cured by using an Ultraviolet (UV) lamp that is attached to the inkjet printer.
There is also a method called Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) in which a nozzle deposits molten polymer into a mold layer by layer. The strength of these objects can be increased by inserting one metal into another.
The joining of cut thin layers of exact shapes provides a laminated finish. Each technology has its own merits and demerits. However, the main factors to be considered are speed of finishing, cost of the object and the printer, materials used (powder or polymer) and color capabilities amongst others.
Some applications of 3D printers include architectural design, organ printing, metal casting, education and others
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