3D printing for home usage What it is used for a home 3D technology?

What is 3D printing? It is an additive technology, which means that our models begins built from almost „nothing” layer by layer with minimal waste.

There are several 3D technologies: SLA – Laser Stereolithography. The printer builds the model from photosensitive resin using a laser light, thus the model hardens layer by layer.

SLS – Selective Laser Sintering. The printer builds the model from plastic powder using a laser.

FDM – Fused Deposition Modeling – as my printer works. A heated head melts a plastic fiber and the printer „draw the model on the tray” layer by layer.

Polyjet technology – Combination of „normal printing” and SLA. The raw material here is also photopolymer (like in SLA) however UV light is solidify the roller applied material in this case.

Other 3D technologies (Material Jetting – most similar to inkjet printers; LOM (Laminated Object Manufacturing – works with paper. It’s a half 3D printing and half subtractive technology.

Polyjet, FDM, SLA and SLS

LOM, Metal Sintering, Material Jetting

How old is 3D printing? 3D printing is not as a new technology as many people think: the American Charles Hull invented in 1983, and then founded the first 3D printing company, the 3D Systems. The first method was the SLA. Around 2008 many patents – that protected most of 3D printing technologies – had expired so several home possibilites just came out. The technology became cheaper and the first 3D printer had been published for home consumption. /That was the „equip yourself” Makerbot/ (and the Darwin). Then it was born the „RepRap” concept.

What is „RepRap”? RepRap is an acronym, meaning „Replication Rapid Prototyper, „self-reproducing Printer”. Many parts of this machine made by the same type of this particular printer (the head holder, the sliders, the top of the main part of the extruder, brackets and the display cover.

Printed parts for my machine

How does my printer work? I got the basic kit for my printer, however it was not ready to work with. When I ran it the very first time it wasn’t correct. The printer made pretty wrong models (inaccurate and knurled very much). Why? Because the whole structure vibrated, the head was inaccurate and the cooling was weak. When the model came up, the material jammed in the head, the filament transmission was uneasy.

What have I modified on this printer? First I fixed the head. Next time I constructed the frame, due the vibration dampening, because when the printer was running, the whole structure was vibrating, so the print was ragged, inaccurate, and knurled. I stabilized the plate. I installed the lights onto the frame. I used to work at nights usually, and the workplace was quite dark. I printed a filament-wheel (There is a ball bearing inside). I replaced the filament cable and the pneumatic jacks. I printed a new filament-extruder.

The modified 3D printer

Let’s print a model! For the first time, we need the material called „filament”. This is a thin and soft plastic thread. This material’s type is PLA or ABS (for this device). –ABS is a raw material of LEGO (and many other things, like car’s bumpers, car’s inside parts, and so on). ABS is harder than PLA and we need a heated plate to work properly with it because ABS doesn’t stick properly on the tray, like the PLA does. (While I don’t have heated plate now, I can work with PLA only). –PLA which is a soft plastic, a biodegradable material and it is more eco-friendly than normal plastics (for example the molded ones). I work now only with PLA. It has many colors of this material and it can be found mixed types (with wood, stone, phosphorescent). So we could print easily stone statues or wooden toys.

Printable „wood”

We need designed (or downloaded ) 3D models The printer works only with STL files. STL is a standard triangular language which means, the drawing surfaces is made up by many triangles. The printer’s software slices the 3D STL modell, and if it’s correct (solid, closed) begins the printing layer by layer. I experienced, that the best software for 3D printing design is SolidWorks. The inner structure is formed by the slicer software. When the printing begins: The filament comes by the dial across the extruder (followed by the material with a stepper and a cog-wheel) and goes into the heated head. The head is about 205 degrees of Celsius. It is optimal for the material (PLA). On the three axles moves the head up and down, and to „draw” the model onto the tray (first the contour then the infill). When everything is OK, a few hours later the model would be completed.

Printing the model

What could we create with one of these printers? What it is used for a home 3D technology? This machine’s accuracy is about 0,4-0,6 mms. However the first layer always wider than the others, because that one have to be printed slower than the other layers, due to the traction. The traction is an important question, because while printing the modell it’d comes off from the tray and the printing easily could goes to waste. I printed many things with this printer. I printed for other printers parts, toaster parts, buttons for household appliances, parts of my car (interior and underhood area), fantasy figures, hearts, mini buildings in natural scale, camera parts, mounts, and many prototypes for upcoming board games.

Some printed parts

In industry In industry, anything is possible. 3D printing technology being used in dentistry, medicine (complete prosthetic limbs, fixing limbs, implants, etc), in car industry, aircraft industry, and even at International Space Station too. Could be print food and metal, artifical ear, formal prototypes, jewelry and many-many things.

In the near future Because 3D printing is a brand new technology for home users, it is hard to imagine how could be used at home. I think in the near future the progress would be significant and unstoppable. 3D printer’s prices goes down, and when a NEW 3D PRINTER comes up (because surely I make it ) that would be a useful device for all the home users. Especially if it would runs fluently (without any annoying errors and failure) easy to use and cheap, has automatic calibration, possibly combinated with a 3D scanner (that can reproduce little things around us directly, without design). Spreading of 3D printers are increasing nowadays, and – I believe – within1-2 years there will be a 3D printer device in many-many home all around the world. In my opinion, a lot of manufacturers of different kinds of products only upload the plans of their particular items onto their website, then we could easily buy the selected products only a ’push the button’ in our printer device at home.

Thank you for your attention! And because next comes the lunch break, good apetite! Gabor Krupa