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3D printing and prototyping

One of the most popular uses for 3D printing is to create prototypes of new products (prototypes). Prototypes help to assess the future appearance of the product, its convenience, strength, the correct choice of material, etc. important characteristics.

Custom 3D printing is one of the ways to manufacture products. 3d printing a relatively new production method that has won great success in a short time. Custom 3D printing services are popular in business, architecture, medicine and other areas.

3D PRINTING: PRICE DEPENDS ON THESE FACTORS

  1. Printing method. There are a great many of them. We will consider some of them in more detail below. The quality of 3D printing and the price depend on the chosen method.
  2. Print material … Mostly plastic is used for printing. However, as already mentioned, the choice of materials is quite wide.
  3. Print time. 3D printing time depends on the size of the product and its complexity. The more time it takes to print, the correspondingly higher the price of 3D printing.
  4. Post-processing needs. Some printed products require improvements: grinding, painting, removal of supports.

The cost of 3D printing at KLONA leaves from 4 UAH per gram of material.

ADVANTAGES OF 3D PRINTING TO ORDER

  1. Speed compared to other production methods. The object itself is printed from half an hour to several days, depending on the size. Preparatory work (creating a 3D model) takes from several hours to one week, depending on the complexity. And yet this much faster than with other production methods. For example, in preparation for production by injection molding, preparatory work lasts up to six months.
  2. Big variety of materials … Most 3D printers print from plastic. However, the development of technology does not stand still, and today we can print from almost any material. You can already order 3D printing from materials such as metal, wood, chocolate, rubber, clay and even seaweed.
  3. Possibility making complex objects … Modern 3D printers print objects of any complexity and shape. Including, with numerous details and empty inside. Proof of this is the use of 3D printing in medicine, where human life depends on accuracy.
  4. Ease of use. 3D printing does not involve any other tools other than the 3D printer itself and a three-dimensional model of the object. While, for example, injection molding requires a mold, an injection molding machine and highly qualified personnel.

APPLICATIONS OF 3D PRINTING

  1. Prototyping. One of the most popular uses for 3D printing is to create prototypes of new products (prototypes). Prototypes help to assess the future appearance of the product, its convenience, strength, the correct choice of material, etc. important characteristics. A prototype is created for all new products before production starts and 3D printing is the most suitable way to do this.
  2. Business … The use of 3D printing in business is not only about providing 3D printing services. It is also the manufacture of unique items and details, for example, souvenirs, accessories, decorative elements, household items, spare parts, etc. At the moment, this area is actively developing and the number of people who want to order 3D printing of an individual product is only growing.
  3. Creation of layouts. 3D printing is not the only way to create mockups at the moment, but the most accurate one. Because You can print even the smallest object, and it will look very realistic.
  4. Medicine . In medicine, 3D printing is actively used for printing organs, creating prostheses, developing drugs, and much more. Thanks to 3D printing, doctors from all over the world have saved many lives.
  5. The science. Active use of 3D printing is also observed in the field of science and new technologies. Scientists are actively printing houses, airplanes, satellite parts on a 3D printer. All this in the future will be used in everyday life and will greatly simplify it.
  6. Education . 3D printing makes it easy to create scientific aids and mock-ups.

3D PRINTING STEPS

  1. Preparing a 3D model. Before starting the 3D printing process, you need to prepare a 3D model. This task is performed by a 3D-modeler using special software. The more complex the future product, the longer it will take to simulate and, accordingly, the more expensive it will cost. It can take from several hours to one day to create a 3D model of a simple and small device. A complex device with many details is simulated from several days to one week.
  2. The choice of technology, material and miscalculation of the cost of 3D printing. This is one of the most important steps because the quality and characteristics of the future product depend on it. At the moment, there are many technologies and materials for 3D printing. We will talk about them below.
  3. 3D printing … After all the preparatory work has been completed, you can start 3D printing. The process itself, depending on the size of the product, takes from several hours to one day.

TYPES OF 3D PRINTING

FDM 3D printing

This is a technology for creating volumetric objects using the method layer-by-layer application of the material. This is the most popular 3D printing method. Used for creation, prototyping and industrial applications. Materials used in FDM printing – thermoplastics: PLA plastic, ABS plastic, nylon, polyethylene, polycarbonate.

Benefits of FDM printing:

  • relatively low cost of 3D printing;
  • a wide range of materials;
  • high printing speed.

Disadvantages of FDM printing:

  • the need for post-processing of the finished product;
  • the inability to print large solid objects;
  • the need to add supports if there are overhanging elements in the model.

SLS printing

SLS printing is a technology laser sintering of powders. A powerful, narrow-beam laser sinters the powder in the right place, layer by layer. The result is a unified design. SLS printing is not as common as FDM because cannot compete with the latter in price. Materials used in SLS printing : polymers, metals, ceramics, glass, sand mixtures, composite powders. Fields of application: various complex parts for mechanical engineering and the space industry, as well as small-scale production in various industries.

Benefits of SLS Printing:

  • there is no need to use supporting structures, this function is performed by the material itself;
  • high strength of the product due to the use of appropriate material;
  • the ability to print objects of high complexity.

Disadvantages of SLS printing:

  • high cost of 3D printing;
  • porous, rough surface structure;
  • the need for post-processing of the finished product.

SLA 3D printing

SLA printing technology is similar to SLS, only liquid photopolymer is used instead of powder. The laser beam is directed to the material in the right place and the photopolymer solidifies.

Benefits of SLA printing:

  • the highest accuracy in comparison with other 3D printing technologies;
  • the ability to print large-sized objects;
  • the ability to print objects of high complexity;

Disadvantages of SLA printing:

  • high price of consumables;
  • a small selection of consumables;
  • low print speed;
  • massive, sophisticated equipment.

DLP 3D printing

DLP printing technology is based on the same method as SLA. Only instead of laser radiation are used light projectors. This greatly reduces the cost of the 3D printer. The same photopolymer is used as materials. DLP printing technology is used in dentistry, jewelry industry, souvenir making, etc.

Benefits of DLP technology:

  • high printing accuracy;
  • lends itself well to post-processing;

Disadvantages of DLP technology:

  • for higher accuracy, you have to reduce the print speed;
  • high cost of materials.

MJM 3D printing

MJM combines FDM and SLA technologies. The material is applied to the platform in layers using a print head containing a plurality of nozzles. Depending on the printer model, their number ranges from 96 to 448. Each layer hardens in a different way. In the case of printing with thermoplastics, by gradual cooling. In the case of photopolymers – due to ultraviolet radiation.

Advantages of MJM technology:

  • high degree of product detail;
  • the possibility of multicolor printing and printing with different materials;
  • a large selection of materials.

Disadvantages of MJM technology: for overhanging elements it is necessary to use supports.

PROTOTYPING (PRINTING A TRIAL)

Prototyping is widely used in industry. This is the creation of the first sample of the product for verification and testing of its properties. Most often, 3D printing is used for prototyping, because this is the cheapest and fastest way to create a one-off item.

Benefits of 3D Printing Prototyping

  1. Wide range of materials.
  2. High production speed.
  3. Relatively low cost of 3D printing.

Making models

The production of mock-ups using 3D printing is confidently replacing traditional manufacturing methods. This is because 3D printing produces much more accurate layouts. In addition, it is possible to print small objects without reducing the detail of objects.

Order 3D printing and prototyping services from KLONA (Kiev, Ukraine). We know how to choose the best method and material so that you get a high quality product.

Contact us:

hello@klona.ua

+380443388802

+447445536631

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