3impresión, Una tecnología de fabricación aditiva desarrollada desde la década de 1980, Se usó originalmente para la prototipos rápidos y ahora se usa ampliamente en ingeniería, Campos médicos y otros. It is known for its high cost-effectiveness, flexible design and diverse material selection, which can produce complex shapes with less material usage. With technological progress, 3D printing has become more popular and economical, and the market size is expected to reach $46.80 billion by 2026. From stereolithography technology to fused deposition modeling technology, to the launch of open-source 3D printers, 3D printing technology continues to innovate, and its application scope and accuracy continue to improve, indicating that it will profoundly affect our way of life and work. En este artículo, we will introduce what is 3D printing, the main components of 3D printers, commonly used printing materials, types of 3D printing technology, 3D printing application areas, and advantages and challenges of 3D printing, for consumers to refer to when purchasing 3D printers.
Working Principle of 3D Printing
3D printing technology constructs three-dimensional objects by stacking materials layer by layer. The working principle begins with a digital model, which is usually created by Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. The model is divided into thin layers by the 3D printing software, each representing a cross-section of the object. The 3D printer reads the information of these layers and begins the printing process.
- Material preparation: The printer selects the appropriate material according to the model, such as plastic wire, powder or liquid resin.
- Printhead movement: The print head moves along a predetermined path, accurately placing the material on the printing platform.
- Material curing: The material is heated in the print head or cured by laser to form a solid layer.
- Layer upon layer: After each layer is printed, the printing platform drops or the print head rises, leaving space for the next layer to print.
- Finish printing: Repeat the above steps until all layers are printed, forming a complete three-dimensional object.
- Additive Manufacturing
3D printing is a form of Additive Manufacturing (AM), which builds three-dimensional objects by adding materials layer by layer, as opposed to traditional subtractive manufacturing (such as cutting and milling). Additive manufacturing allows complex shaped parts to be directly manufactured from digital models without the need for complex tools or molds.
The Main Components of a 3D Printer
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Key components
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Función
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extrusora
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1. Responsible for heating and extruding materials (such as plastic wire) to build objects layer by layer.
2. In fused deposition modeling (MDF) impresoras, the print head typically includes a heating element and an extrusion nozzle.
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Build Platform
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1. The base on which the object is built during printing.
2. Some printers use a heated platform to prevent material from warping during printing.
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Motion Control System
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1. Includes stepper motors and drivers that control the precise movement of the print head and print platform.
2. Ensure that the print head moves accurately along the predetermined path to achieve precise stacking.
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Marco
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1. The structure that supports the printer is usually made of metal or plastic.
2. It needs to be strong enough to maintain stability during printing.
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Heating Element
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In printing technologies that require heated materials, such as FDM, a heating element is used to melt the material.
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Sensors
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Used to monitor various parameters during the printing process, como la temperatura, posición, etc..
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Control Unit
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1. Includes the main board and power supply to control all operations of the printer.
2. Receive instructions from the computer and control the movement of the print head and platform.
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Software
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Software for designing 3D models, slicing processing (converting models into layer data that printers can understand), and controlling printer operations.
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Material Supply System
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Provide materials for the print head, such as plastic wire on the reel or powder in the container.
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Cooling System
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En algunos casos, a cooling system is required to help materials cure quickly.
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Interfaz de usuario
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Allows users to interact with the printer, establecer parámetros, start and monitor print jobs.
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These components work together to enable 3D printers to construct three-dimensional objects layer by layer based on digital models. Different types of 3D printers (such as FDM, SLA, SLS, etc.) may have different components and configurations to adapt to their specific printing technologies.
Common 3D Printing Materials
Please note that the specific print temperature and hot bed temperature may vary depending on the material brand and printer model, so you should consult the specific material data table or test to determine the best setting before printing.
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Tipo de material
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Ventajas
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Desventajas
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Nozzle temperature
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Hot bed temperature
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PLA (Ácido poliláctico)
(The most commonly used consumables in FDM 3D printers, suitable for beginners to use )
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200 ° C to 220 ° C
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50 ° C to 60 ° C
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Tough PLA
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Alrededor 210 ° C
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20°C-60°C
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PLA+
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210°C-230°C
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20°C-60°C
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Wooden PLA
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210°C-230°C
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20°C-60°C
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Metal PLA
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210°C-230°C
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20°C-60°C
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PETG (Glicol de tereftalato de polietileno)
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220 ° C to 250 ° C
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50 ° C to 80 ° C
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abdominales (Acrilonitrilo butadieno estireno)
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210 ° C to 250 ° C
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80 ° C to 110 ° C
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TPU
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210 ° C to 230 ° C
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30 ° C to 60 ° C
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Nylon (Pensilvania)
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240 ° C to 270 ° C
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50 ° C to 70 ° C
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Carbon fiber
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190°C-220°C
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0-60°C
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asa
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240°C-260°C
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90°C-110°C
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PVA (Alcohol polivinílico)
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180 ° C to 220 ° C
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45 ° C to 60 ° C
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Tipos de tecnologías de impresión 3D
3D printing technology is mainly divided into the following 7 types, each technology has its specific application areas and advantages.
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Tipo
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Ventajas
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Desventajas
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Application scenarios
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Estereolitmicromografía, SLA
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Modelado por deposición fundida, MDF
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Sinterización por láser selectiva, SLS
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Multi Jet Fusion, MJF
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Puñetazo, BJ
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Directed Energy Deposition, Deducir
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3D Printing Application Areas
- Manufacturing industry: used to manufacture tools, molds, regiones, etc..
- Medical industry: printing customized prosthetics, dental implants, biological tissues, etc..
- Construction industry: printing building components or entire building structures.
- Education: As a teaching tool to help students understand three-dimensional space and design.
- Arte y diseño: Creating complex artworks and design prototypes.
- Consumer products: print personalized consumer goods, such as jewelry, juguetes, etc..
3D Printing Advantages and Challenges
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Ventaja
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Challenge
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Design flexibility: Can print almost any shape and structure.
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Material limitations: The print quality and performance of certain materials are still limited.
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Customized production: suitable for small batch or single-piece production.
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Velocidad de impresión: Printing speed is slower than traditional manufacturing methods.
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Rentabilidad: Reduce material waste and lower costs.
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Postprocesamiento: The printed object may require additional post-processing steps.
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Rapid prototyping: Accelerate the product development cycle.
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Conclusión
The future of 3D printing technology will become more widespread, efficient, and economical.
Desktop 3D printers can provide professional-level performance and consumer-level price and ease of use, gradually eroding the traditional manufacturing industry. Desktop 3D printing technology is improving material performance, production efficiency, and User Experience, and is expected to continue to develop in the future. Desktop and industrial 3D printers are complementary rather than substitutes, and companies are more inclined to purchase multiple lower-priced desktop 3D printers to increase production capacity and facilitate cost control. The influx of desktop 3D printers is actually expanding the market for all participants, indicating one of the most disruptive trends in the 3D printing industry.
With technological advancements, desktop 3D printing will become a viable option in an expanding range of applications, especially in terms of cost-effectiveness in producing batch parts and the potential for high-quality part automation, which will significantly expand the industry. Desktop 3D printing technology will play an increasingly important role in the future manufacturing field due to its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and constantly improving technology.
