3D printer, a machine of rapid prototyping technology, is a technology based on digital model files, which uses adhesive materials such as powder metal or plastic to construct objects by printing layer by layer. It used to be used in mold manufacturing, industrial design and other fields to make models, but now it is gradually used in the direct manufacturing of some products, which shows that this technology is spreading.
Now food can also be printed with a 3D printer. This is also the future development direction of 3D printers that most foodies care about.
Edit the working principle of this paragraph.
3D printing is not a new technology. This idea originated in the United States at the end of 19, and was developed and popularized in the 1980s. China Internet of Things School-enterprise Alliance calls it "the thought of last century, the technology of last century, the market of this century". Three-dimensional printing is usually realized by using digital technology material printer. Since entering the 2 1 century, the output and sales volume of this printer have increased greatly, and the price has also decreased year by year.
Using a printer is like printing a letter: [1] Tap the "Print" button on the computer screen, and a digital file is sent to an inkjet printer, which sprays a layer of ink on the paper surface to form a two-dimensional image. In 3D printing, the software completes a series of digital slices by computer aided design (CAD) and transmits the information of these slices to a 3D printer, which will stack successive thin layers until a solid object is formed. The biggest difference between a 3D printer and a traditional printer is that the ink it uses is a real raw material.
There are many forms of thin layer stacking. Some 3D printers use the "inkjet" method. For example, an Israeli 3D printer company named Objet uses a printer nozzle to spray an extremely thin layer of liquid plastic on a mold tray, and then processes the coating under ultraviolet light. After that, the mold tray is lowered for a short distance to stack the next layer. Stratasys, another company headquartered in Minneapolis, USA, uses a technology called "deposition molding". The whole process is to melt the plastic in the nozzle, and then form a thin layer by depositing plastic fibers.
Other systems use powder particles as the printing medium. Powder particles are sprayed on the mold tray to form an extremely thin powder layer, and then solidified by the sprayed liquid adhesive. It can also be cast into a specific shape by a technique called "laser sintering". This is also the technology used by German EOS in its superposition process manufacturing machine. On the other hand, Arcam in Switzerland uses the electron flow in vacuum to melt powder particles. These mentioned above are just some of the many modeling methods.
3d printer and printing (19 sheets)
When encountering complex structures such as holes and cantilevers, gel or other substances need to be added to the medium to provide support or occupy space. This part of powder will not be melted and cast, and finally pores can be formed only by washing the support with water or airflow. Nowadays, there are many kinds of media that can be used for printing, from all kinds of plastics to metals, ceramics and rubber. Some printers can also combine different media to make the printed object hard at one end and soft at the other.
Edit the smallest 3D printer in this paragraph.
The world's smallest 3D printer comes from Vienna University of Technology, which was developed by chemical researchers and mechanical engineers. This mini 3D printer is only the size of a milk carton, weighs about 3.3 pounds (about 1.5 kg) and costs 1200 euros (about 1. 1.0000 RMB). Compared with other printing technologies, the cost of this 3D printer is greatly reduced. R&D personnel are still conducting further experiments on the materials and technology of printers, hoping to make them available as soon as possible.
Edit the largest 3D printer in this section.
After more than ten years' efforts, the Shi Yusheng research team of Huazhong University of Science and Technology made a major breakthrough and developed the world's largest "3d printer". The maximum length, width and size of the machinable parts of this "3D printer" have reached 1.2m. Theoretically, as long as the length and width are less than1.2m (height is not limited), all parts can be "printed" by this machine.
According to reports, because this technology changes complex parts manufacturing into simple bottom-up two-dimensional superposition, it greatly reduces the complexity of design and manufacturing, makes the manufacturing speed of some strange structures that cannot be processed by traditional methods faster, and shortens the production of some complex castings from the traditional three months to about 10 day.
At the same time, for the developed new products, samples can be made quickly according to the drawings, which greatly shortens the research and development cycle.
Today, the equipment has been purchased and used by more than 200 users at home and abroad, and the price of each equipment ranges from several hundred thousand yuan to more than two million yuan.
Edit this paragraph to print music.
A 3D printer that prints music.
In order to explore more applications of 3D printers, Rickard Dahlstrand created unique works of art with Lulzbot 3D printer ... In Stockholm Art Hacker Festival 20 13, Lulzbot 3D printer not only printed out the festival LOGO for participating artists and hackers, but also printed out visual music works while playing classical music as a performance project. The principle of Lulzbot 3D printer printing visual music is that by controlling the motion of stepping motor, the stepping motor can run at different speeds, and the tone of sound determines the speed, so music controls the printing process. The three motors each represent an audio track, and they move in a unique mode. Two motors control the Z-axis movement.
Edit this task step.
The working steps of a 3D printer are as follows: first, model by computer modeling software. If you have ready-made models, such as animal models, people,
Actual process (6 sheets)
Or micro-buildings, and so on. Then copy it to a 3D printer via SD card or USB flash drive, and the printer can print them out after printing the settings. Its working structure is as follows. The working principle of a 3D printer is basically the same as that of a traditional printer, which consists of control parts, mechanical parts, print heads, consumables and media, and the printing principle is the same. A 3D printer mainly designs a complete 3D model on a computer before printing, and then prints it.
Like laser forming technology, 3D printing is completed by layered processing and superimposed forming. The printing process of each layer is divided into two steps. Spray a layer of special glue on the area to be molded first. The glue drops themselves are very small and difficult to spread. Then spray a uniform layer of powder. When the powder meets the glue, it will quickly solidify and bond, while the area without glue remains loose. In this way, under the alternation of a layer of glue and a layer of powder, the solid model is "printed", and after printing, the model can be "planed" as long as the loose powder is swept away, and the remaining powder can be recycled.
Three-dimensional design
The design process of three-dimensional printing is: first, use computer modeling software to model, and then "divide" the built three-dimensional model into layers of sections, that is, slices, thus guiding the printer to print layer by layer.
The standard file format for collaboration between design software and printer is STL file format. STL files use triangular surfaces to approximate the surface of objects. The smaller the triangular surface, the higher the resolution of the generated surface. PLY is a scanner that scans the generated 3D files, and VRML or WRL files generated by PLY are often used as input files for full-color printing.
Printing method
By reading the cross-section information in the document, the printer prints these cross-sections layer by layer with liquid, powder or sheet material, and then bonds the cross-sections of each layer together in various ways to form an entity. The characteristic of this technology is that almost any shape can be made.
The resolution of the cross-sectional thickness (that is, the Z direction) and the plane direction (that is, the X-Y direction) printed by the printer is calculated in dpi (pixels per inch) or microns. The general thickness is 100 micron, that is, 0. 1 mm. Some printers, such as Objet Connex series and Projectet series of 3D Systems, can print a thin layer of 16 micron. The plane direction can print a resolution similar to that of a laser printer. The diameter of printing "ink drops" is usually 50 to 100 micron. According to the size and complexity of the model, it usually takes several hours to several days to make a model by traditional methods. The technology of 3D printing can shorten the time to several hours, which of course depends on the performance of the printer and the size and complexity of the model.
Traditional manufacturing technologies such as injection molding can produce a large number of polymer products at a lower cost, while three-dimensional printing technology can produce a relatively small number of products in a faster, more flexible and lower cost way. A desktop-sized three-dimensional printer can meet the needs of designers or concept development teams to make models.
accomplish
At present, the resolution of 3D printers is sufficient for most applications (the surface may be rough, like sawtooth in the image). In order to obtain higher-resolution articles, the following methods can be adopted: first, use the current 3D printer to print out slightly larger objects, and then slightly polish the surface to obtain "high-resolution" articles with smooth surfaces.
Some technologies can print multiple materials at the same time. Some technologies also use supports in the printing process. For example, when printing some inverted objects, you need to use something that is easy to remove (such as soluble things) as a support.
Edit the application field of this paragraph.
The application object of 3D printers can be any industry, as long as these industries need models and prototypes. Israel's Objet company (renamed Stratasys, 20 12) believes that the industries that have a great demand for 3D printers include government, aerospace and national defense, medical equipment, high technology, education and manufacturing.
Medical science. An 83-year-old man suffered from chronic bone infection, so he changed into a mandible "printed" by a 3D printer. This is the world's first case of making human bones with 3D printing products.
According to foreign media reports, in the near future, surgeons may be able to print bones of various sizes on the spot for clinical use with printing equipment during the operation. This magical 3D printer has been made, and the printing materials used to replace real human bones are being tested intensively.
In laboratory tests, this kind of bone substitute printing material has been proved to support the growth of human bone cells in it, and its effectiveness has also been verified in mice and rabbits. In the next few years, better quality printed bone substitutes will help surgeons repair bone injuries, be used in dental clinics, and even help patients with osteoporosis recover.
The rapid rise of 3D printing technology has become a hot emerging industry, and the types of 3D products it can print are also increasing rapidly. In order to print bones
3D printer pictures (20 photos)
Bos and her colleagues used a commercial ProMetal 3D printer to test these materials. This 3D printer was originally designed for printing metal parts. It will spray plastic colloidal particles on the powder substrate layer by layer, and shape them layer by layer. Each layer is only half the width of human hair.
The main material component of this kind of bone scaffold is calcium phosphate, in which silicon and zinc are additionally added to enhance its strength. When it is implanted into human body, it can temporarily support bones and help normal bone cells grow and develop in the process, thus repairing previous injuries, and then this substance can be naturally dissolved in human body.
It took scientists four years to find a suitable formula for this material, which involves many disciplines such as chemistry, material science, biology and technical science.
Scientific research. Researchers at the University of drexel in the United States made a 3D model suitable for research by scanning the fossils in 3D and using 3D printing technology, which not only preserved all the external features of the original fossils, but also reduced the scale, making it more suitable for research.
Product prototype. For example, in Microsoft's 3D model printing workshop, after the product design is completed, the model is printed by a 3D printer, so that the design and manufacturing department can better improve the products and create better products.
Cultural relics protection. Museums often use many complicated substitutes to protect the original works from the environment or accidents, and at the same time, replicas can also convey the influence of art or cultural relics to more and further people. Because Thomas Jefferson's original work will be exhibited in Virginia, the Smithsonian Museum has placed a huge 3D printing substitute in the original work.
Architectural design. In the construction industry, engineers and designers have accepted the building model printed by 3D printer, which is fast, low cost, environmentally friendly and beautifully made. It completely meets the requirements of designers and can save a lot of materials at the same time.
Manufacturing industry. Manufacturing also needs a lot of 3D printing products, because 3D printing is much better than traditional manufacturing in terms of cost, speed and accuracy. The 3D printing technology itself is very suitable for mass production, so the manufacturing industry can bring many benefits by using 3D technology, and even quality control is no longer a problem.
Food industry. Yes, it is "printing" food. Researchers have begun to try to print chocolate. Perhaps in the near future, many foods that look exactly the same will be "printed" by a food 3D printer. Of course, by then, artificially made food may be many times more expensive.
Automobile manufacturing. It's not that your car is printed by a 3D printer (of course, there may be one day), but that the automobile industry will replace some non-critical parts with 3D printed products when conducting safety tests, so as to reduce costs while pursuing efficiency.
Accessories, ornaments. This is the broadest market. In the future, whether it is your personalized pen holder, your half-length embossed mobile phone case, or the unique ring in the world owned by you and your lover, it may be printed by a 3D printer. You don't even have to wait for the future.
Beauty and skin care 3D printing technology may also help beauty lovers to have cosmetic surgery in the future. Perhaps the most effective way to treat acne in the future is through 3D printing technology! Not only acne, freckle, whitening and other fields are expected to use 3D printing technology!
Edit this history of invention.
origin
The core manufacturing idea of 3D printing technology originated in the United States at the end of 19, and matured and widely used in the late 1980s. 3D printing is one of the latest high dimensions in the technology integration mode.
It is reported that American scientists invented a printer that can print three-dimensional effects, and it has been successfully put on the market. Ordinary printers can print some flat paper materials such as reports. This newly invented printer not only reduces the cost of three-dimensional objects, but also stimulates people's imagination. The application of 3D printers will be more extensive in the future.
A different set of 3D printers
Prior to this, the number of 3D printers was very small, and most of them were concentrated in the hands of Frankenstein and electronic enthusiasts. They are mainly used to print jewelry, toys, tools and kitchen supplies. There are even auto experts who print out auto parts and then customize parts that are really not available in the market according to plastic models.
People can buy this kind of printer in some electronics stores, and factories are selling it directly. However, scarcity is precious, and the price of a set of high-quality 3D printers ranges from 750 to 27,000 dollars.
Scientists say that the use of 3D printers is still limited, but one day people will be able to print more practical items through 3D printers.
Color development method
3D printing originated from photography, sculpture and terrain formation technology studied in the United States more than 0/00 years ago, and took shape in the early 1980s. Its scientific name is "rapid prototyping". its
The earliest 3d printer
The principle is: put the data and raw materials into a 3D printer, and the machine will make products layer by layer according to the program. Printed products can be used immediately.
In the mid-1980s, SLS was developed and patented by Dr. Carl Deckard of the University of Texas at Austin, and the project was sponsored by DARPA. In 1979, a similar process was patented by RF Housholder, but it was not commercialized.
1995, MIT coined the term "three-dimensional printing". At that time, graduates Jim Bredt and Tim Anderson modified the scheme of inkjet printer, and changed it into a solution of squeezing constrained solvent into powder bed instead of ink onto paper.
When it comes to 3D printing, you have to mention 3D printers:
3D printer, also known as 3 d printer, is a cumulative manufacturing technology, which makes 3 d objects by printing multiple layers of adhesive materials At present, a three-dimensional printer is used to make samples. Since 2003, the sales of 3D printers have gradually expanded, and the prices have also begun to decline.
This technology can be used in jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), automobile, aerospace, dentistry and medical industry, education, geographic information system, civil engineering and many other fields.
The earliest 3D printing appeared in 1980s, which was extremely expensive and the number of printable products was pitiful.
Edit the status quo of this industry.
3D printer development
1, price factor:
The price of most desktop 3D printers is around 20,000 RMB, and the price of some domestic imitations can be as low as 6,000 RMB. However, according to the agent of 3D printer, although the domestic 3D printer is cheap, the quality is difficult to guarantee.
For desktop 3D printers, because they can only print plastic products, the use range is very limited, while for home users, the use cost of 3D printers is still very high. Because before printing an article, people must know 3D modeling, then convert the data into a format that can be read by a 3D printer, and finally print it out.
2. Raw materials
3D printing is not a profound technology. The difference between it and ordinary printing lies in the printed materials.
Object in Israel is the company with the most printed materials. We have been able to use 14 basic materials and mix and match 107 materials on this basis. Mixing two materials is also a reality. However, these kinds of materials are far from the materials in the vast world where people live. Not only that, the price of these materials is several hundred yuan a kilogram, and the most expensive is about 40 thousand yuan.
3. Social risk cost
Just as a nuclear reaction can generate electricity or destroy it. The early 3D printing technology made people see a series of hidden worries, and the future development will also worry many people. If everything can be completely copied, what can be created when you think of it? It sounds beautiful and really scary.
The famous paradox of 4.3D printing
3d printing is to make objects layer by layer. If you want to make the article more detailed, you need to reduce the thickness of each layer. If you want to improve the printing speed, you need to increase the layer thickness, which will inevitably affect the accuracy and quality of products. If products with the same precision are produced, there is no cost advantage compared with traditional large-scale industrial production, especially after considering the time cost and scale cost.
5. There is no standard in the whole industry, so it is difficult to form an industrial chain.
In 2 1 century, the manufacturers of 3d printers are in full bloom, such as in the Warring States Period. 3d printers lack standards. The same 3D model is printed by different printers, and the results are very different. In addition, printing materials lack standards. In 20 12-20 13 years, 3d printer manufacturers hope that consumers can buy their own printing materials, so as to obtain stable income. Although this is understandable, after all, ordinary printers also follow this model, but the consistency of raw materials used by 3d printer manufacturers is too poor, which makes it difficult for material manufacturers to enter, and the research and development costs and supply risks are very large, making it difficult to form an industrial chain. On the surface, 3D printers are bound with 3D printing materials, but in fact, materials are bound with printers, which is not conducive to reducing costs and resisting risks.
6. Unexpected process: the preparation process before 3d printing and the processing process after printing.
Many people may think that 3d printing is to design a model on a computer. No matter how complicated the interior and structure are, a 3d printer can print out the finished product by pressing a button. This impression is actually incorrect. Really designing a model, especially a complex model, requires a lot of engineering and structural knowledge, and requires fine skills to make adjustments according to specific conditions. Take plastic melt printing as an example. If a complex part has no reasonable support, the printed result is likely to be deformed. The following processes are usually inevitable. The media described 3d printing as an artifact that can be used directly after printing. But in fact, after the production is completed, some subsequent processes are needed: grinding, sintering, assembly, or cutting, which usually require a lot of manual work.
7. Lack of killer products and designs
It is said that 3d printing can give people great freedom in production and can produce unprecedented things. Until 20 12, there were few or no killer products. Small-scale ornaments, artworks and reverse engineering can be done, but when it comes to large-scale industrial production, 3d printing can't replace traditional production methods. If 3d printing can produce products that can't be produced by other processes, and this product can greatly improve some performance or quality of life, it may promote the popularization of 3d printers faster. But the 3d printer of 20 12-20 13 is not satisfactory.