Focus on Manufacturing Using 3D Printing Day 2: 3D Printing Materials for Direct Manufacturing
Webinar Content Intent Focus What’s available What’s possible Considerations Focus Industrial-grade 3D printers Source: Stratasys Direct Manufacturing
Fundamentals 3D printing = additive manufacturing Elements Both used for: Product development Production Elements 3D-data driven Automated Add material No tooling
State of the Industry Technology advances Material advances Standards Diverse landscape Material advances Diverse range Standards Very few Adoption Tiny percentage
3D Printing Materials Plastic Metal Ceramic Sand Wax Paper Electrical “ink” Biologicals Glass Gypsum Foodstuffs
3D Printing Materials Supplied as: Liquid Powder Filament Wire Sheet Supplied in: Cartridges Canisters Drums Spools
3D Printing Materials Advances Pace More thermoplastics Additional polymers Composites Blend on the fly Pace Slow and steady But will accelerate Source: Stratasys Source: Somos
3D Printing Materials Advances Pace Caution: More thermoplastics Additional polymers Composites Blend on the fly Pace Slow and steady But will accelerate Caution: Research reported as commercially viable Source: Kurt Barnett
Breadth of Options Broad but shallow No equivalencies Why? Round hole : square peg Why? Following the demand Path of least resistance Expensive to develop
Breadth of Options Thermoplastics Metals ABS ASA Nylon PC/PC-ABS PPSF ULTEM® PS TPU TPE Metals Titanium Superalloys Stainless steel Steel Aluminum Precious metals
Manufacturing Success Select key material properties Not material (by name) Design for the material Arduous path But necessary
Manufacturing Challenges Materials Paired with technology (by vendor) Properties Adjustable, sometimes variable Anisotropic Qualities Material dependent
Manufacturing Challenges No standards Test/measurement Little performance data Simple spec sheets
Manufacturing Opportunities Unobtanium Catalyst for adoption Multi-material parts No assembly required Gradient materials Localize performance
Guidance Define properties Design for: Keep eyes open Select technology Select material Gather data Design for: Material Technology Orientation Keep eyes open
Questions Todd Grimm T. A. Grimm & Associates (859) 331-5340 Todd.Grimm@tagrimm.com