3D Printing's Ubiquity Knows No Bounds!

3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) is a process of adding layer upon layer of material to create a three-dimensional object from a digital model file.

There are various types of 3D printing available in the market. All have their pros and cons and usage. Some technologies include Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Fused filament fabrication (FFF) / Fused deposition modeling (FDM), and metal printing like Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM).

SLA: It is also known as Resin 3D printing. SLA uses UV-curable resin as a raw material. It offers a high level of detail and is suitable for printing detail-oriented products like jewelry, medical equipment, and more.

SLS: It works by melting polymer powder particles and fusing them layer upon layer to build a part. It offers great freedom in terms of design and is highly accurate. It also provides consistent mechanical properties, making it suitable for building end-use products. Moreover, it needs no support structure and so can be used to create free-form geometries.

DLP: It is similar to SLA. Instead of using a UV laser to cure liquid resin, it uses a digital light projector. It offers a high build speed and is frequently used for rapid prototyping.

FDM/FFF: FDP and FFF are different names for the same method. It works by extruding a plastic filament layer-by-layer on a build platform. It is the most cost-effective and popular 3D printing method.

Metal 3D Printing (DMLS and EBM): It is the most expensive form of 3D printing. DMLS works by using a combination of heat and pressure to make particles stick together. In comparison, EBM works by using high temperatures to melt and fuse the particles. Metal 3D printing is used to create tools, components, and finished parts in the aerospace and automotive sectors.

This is not an exhaustive list. There are more 3D printing methods available in the market like PolyJet, Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), and more.

Almost anyone. 3D Printing is being used in nearly every industry from medical, manufacturing, construction, automotive, aerospace, education to at home by enthusiasts and small entrepreneurs.

The first thing to do is to know the filaments that are compatible with your 3D printer. Check the filament diameter (usually 1.75 mm, can also be 2.85 mm) and nozzle material (brass, tempered steel, stainless steel) as it affects filament compatibility. Every filament fuses at a different heat level, so knowing the maximum extruder temperature is essential. The heating plate you are using also affects the filament choice.

Once you’ve got an understanding of the characteristics of your 3D printer, you can move to the characteristics of the product you want to print. It includes:

Aesthetics like the finish—gloss or matte, smooth or rough texture, colors, level of details, and so on.

Its mechanical properties like flexible or rigid, impact-resistant, heavy or light.

Usage: it’s a prototype or an end-use product. ABS and PLA are the most commonly used filaments.

You can check the technical specification sheet to know the filaments compatible with your printer.

Excelling 3DP printers are designed to be intuitive and simple to use. We deliver our products wholly assembled, so all you got to do is plug and play. Create your CAD file > Convert it to STL file > Convert it into Gcode  + Choose a material > remotely send it to the printer, and prepare to be amazed.

A lot of things. From prototypes, spare parts to end-use products, anything is possible. Some examples of products being printed are decorative items, jewelry, toys, medical equipment, tripods, tools, automotive parts, antiquities, school projects, and prostheses.

It depends on what you’re making. Depending on the design, size, and material used, it can take a few hours to a few days. Our suggestion to our customers is to use 3D printers for complex designs. 3D printers are cost- and time-effective when printing complex products. They require less time and less material to print with high precision than conventional manufacturing.

Printer prices vary as per usage, material compatibility, and features needed to name a few. Ex3dp offers printers in two series. RT series for Everyone and JRD Series for heavy applications.

3D printing is significantly different from traditional manufacturing.

In traditional manufacturing, the material is removed from the given material block to reach the final object. Whereas in 3D printing, the material is added wherever required to get the final object.

In traditional manufacturing, more than one technology is used most of the time. Whereas in 3D printing single machine does the job. No tool change or extra technology is required.

Traditional manufacturing is used for simple, mold-ready jobs, whereas 3D printing is used for complex and intricate assignments.