Hey Everyone,
Vinayak Here,
3D printing has become a hobby of mine and
I've been tinkering with the hardware, firmware,
settings and what not.
3D Printing encompases a wide array of technologies
which are similar in some ways, but still
work in different ways.
Here are the Printer types commonly found,
FDM
DLP
SLA
Let's check them out one by one.
FDM or Fused Deposition Modelling is the most
common 3d Printing technology you will find.
The Ender 3 3D printer I have reviewed earlier
is an example of a FDM printer, and is quite
light on the pocket as far as 3D printers
go.
Most home DIY hobby printing enthusiasts will
at the very least have a FDM printer.
The sheer number of budget FDM printers available
are immeasurable.
These 3D printers use a simple technique of
fused filament deposition, which is supplied
by a spool or roll of filament.
This filament is drawn through to a hotend
which heats up the material, which could be
between 190-250 degrees as per the material
we’re printing with.
This heated filament is pushed through a thin
extruder nozzle to print objects layer by
layer.
A motor moves the extruder to the required
location in X and Z axis.
Once cooled they solidify and keep their shape.
Its like squeezing tooth paste it off the
tube, or more like a hot glue gun, where the
glue solidifies after some time.
Filaments are available in a variety of materials,
such as PLA, PET-G and ABS and also available
are some special mixed plastics that include
wood, metal and carbon fibre.
There are more materials available such as
wood, carbon fibre etc too.
ABS is not recommended to be used in a closed
room as it releases toxic fumes and an exclosure
is recommended if printing with ABS.
PLA filaments are biodegradable.
FDM also supports multi extruders, which allow
for models to have multiple colours.
FDM is ever advancing with newer tweaks and
technologies becoming available and also the
Printers becoming more cost effective, makes
it a cool addition to your home DIY lab.
DLP or Digital Light Processing is a 3D printing
technique where we have a small vat or reservoir
of liquid which solidifies when exposed to
UV light.
The UV light projection is modified to print
the model layer by layer, while the model
is slowly pulled out, and the next layer is
then exposed to the UV light.
Slowly the model comes to shape and one layer
is created at a time, unlike FDM where the
extruder has to move between printed objects
to deposit more filament.
This technique is also called Photo-Polymerization.
These models have a very high detail and are
also used to print high quality miniatures.
One drawback is that this method does not
allow for usage of multiple materials so you
will get a model with one color only.
FDM allows for dual and more extruder setups
which allow for multicolor prints.
Also another important factor against DLP
printing is that the materials used are hard
to work with and also can be toxic.
Also these 3D printers are a bit more expensive
(even though prices have come down) and availability
and price of the materials are on the higher
side.
The prints are dipped into ISOPropyl alcohol
to clean it and either set it out in the sun
to Cure or get yourself a UV lamp.
DLP printing is quite fast and accurate.
SLA or Stereolithography Apparatus is one
of the oldest and widely used additive 3D
printing technologies.
Quite similar to DLP in process, where both
methods cure a resin which is photosensitive
and is solidified photochemically, but the
main difference is that DLP uses a UV light
and SLA uses a UV laser.
DLP is faster than SLA as it can create entire
layers in one projection.
SLA on the other hand needs a Laser to trace
the details of each layer making it have to
be moved around using a mirror.
The SLA printer has a tank filled with a liquid
polymer which is generally clear.
A perforated platform is lowered into the
tank and can move up and down as required
by the printing process.
When a laser is fired at the liquid resin
it solidifies, the laser is guided into position
by the computer using a mirror.
SLA printers mostly print upside-down.
As one layer solidifies, it is raised and
resin is allowed to flow into the plate flowing
below it, and the next cross-section is solidified,
and this process continues until the model
is completely printed.
The resin not touched by the Laser remains
in liquid form and can be reused.
The finished print needs to be removed and
placed in a UV oven to cure it, making it
more strong and less malleable.
SLA in the most precise 3d Printing technique
and can create extremely high quality details.
But using a laser to print the cross sections
it takes a long time.
The resin prints are also fragile, and not
suitable as functional prototypes.
If you need high precision prints with a smooth
finish SLA is the best, but costs of the required
materials and also printers makes it out of
reach for many.
DLP brings some of SLA’s precision, but
has similar material handling problems as
the resins can be toxic.
FDM is the best cost-effective way to print,
if you want to try making models or prototype
your designs on the cheap and with moderate
precision at home.
Dimensional accuracy and resolution is low
as compared to other technologies, but these
printers have entered the sub $200 range or
in other words cost around Rs 15,000, and
raw materials costs between Rs 700-2000 for
1KG roll of PLA.
There are more 3D printing technologies available,
but the ones i’ve listed are the most common
of the lot.
Also do note that 3D printers don't always
work out of the box, and need a little tinkering
to get right.
So unless you like to tinker, 3D printing
may not be something you would want to get
into.
But if you do want to give it a try, there’s
nothing stopping you.
If you have any questions, write in to us
at tech@talkingstuff.net or WhatsApp us at
9652578833.
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Thank You for watching and see you all next
time.
