3D Printing Research:
Types of 3D printers:
An additive process. Mainly uses plastic; it transforms it from a liquid state to a solid state to build up the model.
Also an additive process; the DLP uses light to harden liquid resin into a solid. Since the liquid resin is in a large container, this process does not produce waste (by not creating additional support structures to hold your model) and works rapidly because of the use of light.
This form of 3D printing is well-known (MakerBot). It is an additive process which builds up your model in layers from the bottom to the top using different kinds of materials. However, there are models that will need structural support, such as cantilevers, and that is why it is not recommended for complex models. These support structures would have to be removed afterwards. (so it produces more waste, more time and a rougher model)
This is also an additive process but like DLP, produces no waste of material. Here, a laser transforms a layer of powder into a solid form. after the first layer, another layer of powder is added and the process repeated. It produces no waste because the powder is recycled and the model is supported withing the bed of powder.
Very similar to the SLS, the SLM uses a high-powered laser to melt powder into metal. Mostly used by aerospace.
Same process as the SLM, with the difference that EBM uses an electron beam.
The LOM uses sheets of materials such as coated paper, plastic or metal that are layered on top of each other and cut using a laser. This form of 3D printing is one of the fastest and most affordable because of the use of materials. However it does produce a lot of waste form the cut out of sheets.
*** All information from http://3dprintingfromscratch.com/common/types-of-3d-printers-or-3d-printing-technologies-overview/
*** Click each link to learn more about each process
At Pratt Institute:
Pratt Webpage to 3D Printing Center
Pratt 3D Printing Center – Design Guide
Pratt 3D Printing Center – File Fixing in Magics RP
