Tech Tuesday - Different Types of 3D Printers and Filaments

DIFFERENT TYPES OF 3D PRINTERS AND FILAMENT OPTIONS

3D printers available in different sizes, ranging from the huge commercial printers to the portable easy-to-use 3D printers for home based manufacturing. These printers made use of a number of 3D printing technologies to generate physical 3-Dimensional objects by means of layer upon layer additive manufacturing. The 3-Dimensional objects are made up of 3D printing filament materials which could be Polylactic acid (PLA), wood, metal etc. 3D printers are described by the printing principle involved. Filament printers use extruder type of 3D printing, where the printing material is melted and extruded to generate each layer of a 3-Dimensional object. Most portable 3D printers have a single extruder, and can only print one material or color at a time.

TYPES OF 3D PRINTERS

Portable (Standard) Filament 3D Printers
These printers use the process of fused or filament deposition manufacturing (FDM). This process involves melting a plastic filament, and then deposited it in thin layers to build up a given model. This type of 3D printers has a single nozzle for depositing the filament. These are the cheapest 3D printers; they are simple and easy to operate. However, this type of 3D printers can only print one material at a time and the size of model generated is usually small, about 1,000 square centimeters.

Commercial Filament Printers
These are more complex type of FDM printers, more expensive and have additional or special features compared to the standard filament printer. Some of the special features include multiple extruders and thinner layers (approximately 0.1 millimeters) for improved textured prints. A larger print area gives these printers the capability of bigger prints than the portable printers. Multiple extruders mean multiple colors or materials in one object. However, this type of 3D printers requires specialized maintenance. 

Other-material FDM 3D Printers
Some low-cost printers are designed to use materials other than plastic; these 3D printers can print using air-dried material, such as clay, Sugru and Plasticine. The Plasticine is particularly good for creating models of high flexibility, and Sugru has excellent elasticity strength. Models made from Sugru can be stretched almost like rubber material.

Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printers
This type of 3D printers uses a photo-sensitive resin and a laser to generate layers of an object till a complete 3-Dimensional object is obtained.  These printers are capable of producing high quality objects, but have limited color options. 

Powder 3D Printers
This type of 3D printer use metal powder to generate 3-Dimensional models through the process of printing by extrusion. Selective laser sintering (SLS) method is commonly used, where a laser sinters melts the powder and extrudes it in layers to generate 3D models. The major advantage of powder printing is that it can support a wide range of materials and can produce multiple colors when a mixture of materials is used. 

FILAMENTS OPTION

Polylactic Acid (PLA): this is a plant-based plastic polymer used in FDM 3D printing to create models. It generates little fumes during extrusion.

Laywood is a composite material used in 3D printing to generate 3-Dimensional objects. It is made up of about 40% of recycled wood, and binding polymers. 

Metals: metallic materials are widely used to print 3-Dimensional models. The metal filament is mostly in powdered form and fused together by laser during extrusion from an FDM 3D printer. Using this metal filament makes 3D printing an excellent means of producing high quality jewelry from materials such as gold, platinum, and silver. 

In conclusion, the 3D printing industry is growing very fast, and more varieties of 3D printers are been designed and produced to accommodate the use of more filament materials.

To place your 3D Printing order with us Click Here!

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DimTec 3D

Tech Tuesday - What is 3D Printing?

WHAT IS 3D PRINTING?

Manufacturing technologies are advancing faster than some past technologists envisaged. Since the 90’s, the quest to an improved and reliable means of producing intricate parts has led to the evolution of an amazing means of manufacturing, it is called 3D printing. What is 3D printing? In simple term, 3D printing is a kind of additive manufacturing where parts are produced layer upon layers till the final 3-Dimensional object is obtained as a single entity.  3D printing is also called rapid prototyping; it involved using a mechanically automated method of prototyping 3D objects rapidly through a portable or commercial sized manufacturing machine called 3D printer, connected to a computer which has the blueprints for the objects installed. The 3D printing concept of custom design and manufacturing is amazing, and almost unbelievable. This revolutionary means of prototyping of new products in 3D models saves a lot of time and cost of production by eliminating the need to design objects in parts, produce separately, and later glue the model parts together to form a complete prototype. Now, through rapid prototyping you can produce a complete prototype in a single additive process using 3D printing.

Prototyping of new products
The emergence of 3D printing technologies has brought about an increase in the number of new products prototyping via the method of rapid prototyping. 3-Dimensional printers are now been used by manufacturers to make quick prototypes from their own offices or through the service of a specialized rapid prototyping company. This has made it possible to design, produce prototypes and test the given products as many times as necessary within a short period of time. Hence, manufacturers and entrepreneurs are now enabled to be more creative and experiments with different prototypes before starting mass production.

Home-based 3D printing
The evolution of 3D printing has made possible, the printing of custom designs from the luxury of your home using a personal portable 3D printer. Unlike the case before the popularity of 3D printing, having a home based digital manufacturing has become a profitable venture. A portable 3D printer can be used to print custom designs right from the luxury of your home; you can start producing 3D printed household items such as flower vase, and key-holder or even 3D printed gift items for holiday seasons. Also, you can now easily print a broken part and replace it with a 3D printed one within the comfort of your home via the 3D printing technology.

3D Printers are electro-mechanical equipment which produces physical 3-Dimensional objects from digital blueprints containing the manufacturing data by printing layer upon layer. Portable 3D prints can produce physical models of custom designs via a computer aided design (CAD) program or scanned blueprints with 3D Scanner. 3D printing technology is used in many industries including jewelry, industrial design, engineering and construction, architecture, automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries.

Inclusion, 3D printing has presented us with many possibilities of bringing our creative imaginations to realistic 3-Dimensional physical objects. This makes creativity more interesting and encourages rapid improvement. Want to start experiencing the wonder of 3D Printing and this amazing technology? Contact us and we will happily help you make your vision into a 3D Print. 

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DimTec 3D

Tech Tuesday - Using 3D Laser Scanning Technology for Fast and Efficient Construction Results

Using 3D Laser Scanning Technology for Fast and Efficient Construction Results

When it comes to construction and designing, accuracy matters a great deal. This is why it is important to make use of the right technology that is able to give life to your ideas and inspirations. The concept of 3D laser scanning has grown to a phenomenal extent in the past few years and it has now become crucial technology used by architects, engineers and designers.

Revolutionary technology

The 3D laser scanning helps converting building models into digital models for accurate and faster estimate of the specific area’s shape and dimensions. Laser scanning is a revolutionary technology that is nothing but a perfect combination of a laser and digital camera for perfect building scans. The tool has been highly useful as it is able to capture the existing condition of even tough areas with ease. It enables fast, high quality and efficient results when it comes to construction activities. It is absolutely possible to make use of the technology in case of laser scanning by stair case and railing fabricators.

How useful?

• Fast capturing of data
• Ability to develop CAD model
• Overall improvement in quality of construction
• Contributes towards easy and efficient output

Reverse Engineering

There is no doubt over the fact that 3D Laser Scanning has been highly helpful in case of reverse engineering. It captures scans and creates a CAD model of complex areas and surfaces that cannot be measured with other tools and technologies. Using this scan, you can design a completely new area and remodel the functional surfaces, redesign a specific area without causing any overall defects and perform many other complex functions with utmost convenience.

DimTec 3D, LLC

Since, laser scanning is a booming area that needs expert intervention, it is best to go with a 3D laser scanning service provider with experience and expertise in this field. DimTec 3D LLC is a topnotch provider in the space that not only offers exceptional 3D laser scanning service but also offers training programs on laser scanning.

It is also possible to get FARO Focus 3D equipment rental from the company as well in order to get professional scanning experience. The company is flexible when it comes to rental duration and offers the best of technology to one and all. One can pick out the suitable equipment that matches the requirements from the various tools available.

DimTec 3D, LLC is an industry leader in the world of laser scanning and they provide a wide range of services to choose from. 

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DimTec 3D

Tech Tuesday - Application of lasers in insurance

Application of lasers in insurance

Laser technology has improved over the recent past. Laser industry provides insurance cover to its customers. 3D scanning is an efficient method of detecting the current condition of a building. FARO insurance diagramming software is designed for property insurance, analyzing loss control, risk analysis and also fire protection diagram.

 Laser scanning is useful in insurance companies and handles the following tasks

ü  Assessing property values

ü  Calculation of areas

ü  Surveying inventory in 3D

ü  Risk management functions

3D data is useful in cases of damages. Survey is carried out using software to determine damaged object, that is before and after are compared and is visualized directly. Insurers attempt to check each claim via imagery observation. These lasers detect damages like those caused by fire, natural calamity etc. The amount of damages experienced is quantified more accurately  this will help while setting premium with adequate margin in contrast to quantification. This has revolutionized in insurance company.

 Desktop publishing is an application which is important in insurance industry where lasers printers are used for printing insurance forms, policy pages among others. It also scans pages, generates the kind of font required and also integrates images into single page.

Insurance companies use laser scanning to document the condition of their property’s which they are insuring thus setting a baseline for worthiness and obligation. Laser scanning provides an objective three dimensional dataset.

Laser therapy, a medical breach therapeutic device has incomparable applications and also treatment outcomes. Lasers converts light to biochemical energy thus result in normal functioning of the cells and causing pain to disappear. Laser dentistry for instance provides insurance. Since lasers are used in periodontal treatments insurance has to be covered. Insurance carriers compensate for the procedure being undertaken. Before any surgery is carried out on a patient or treatment by lasers they are always informed whether the procedure is covered and also the extent of coverage.

Laser image scanning provides for real time business intelligence for top managers. The company also keeps track record.  It helps clients to remain spirited through top technology.

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DimTec 3D

3D Printing is Coming

3D Printing has been taking over the Design, Prototyping and Fashion world. With SAM's club selling Maker-bot printers as they where the latest Flat screen TV's, 3D printing is now easy and available to anyone.

Its been almost 2 years since the Kickstarter Campaign for the Flux Printer was launched. We jumped in the bandwagon and received our very own Printer about 1.5 month ago.

Since then we have printed up a storm. This was one of our first prints, perfectly timed with the opening of the Game of Thrones Season in April. 

Don't have a 3D Printer or the patience to learn the technology. No worries!!

Places like 3D Hubs allows anyone to find a local 3D printing services.  

You can order Prints from DimTec 3D directlyHERE. We offer local 3D Printing services and shipping services as well. 

Enjoy and Embrace Technology!

Scan On,

Sarah