Additive Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that builds objects layer by layer from digital design data. Unlike traditional subtractive manufacturing methods that involve cutting away material from a solid block, additive manufacturing adds material gradually, allowing for complex geometries and customisation without the need for specialised tooling. Various technologies, such as Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and others, are used in additive manufacturing to create objects from a wide range of materials including plastics, metals, ceramics, and composites. AM offers numerous advantages including rapid prototyping, cost-effectiveness for small batch production, design flexibility, and the ability to create highly intricate and customised parts. It finds applications across industries including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, consumer goods, and more, revolutionising the way products are designed, prototyped, and manufactured.
Fused Deposition Modelling
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing, a popular additive manufacturing technique, involves extruding thermoplastic filaments layer by layer to create three-dimensional objects, making it versatile, accessible, and widely used for prototyping, small-scale production, and hobbyist projects.
Selective Laser Sintering
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing process used to create three-dimensional objects by selectively fusing powdered materials, typically polymers or metals, with a high-powered laser. The process begins with a 3D model sliced into thin layers, and a laser selectively sinters or binds the powdered material together based on the cross-section of each layer. Once a layer is complete, a new layer of powder is spread, and the process repeats until the entire object is formed. SLS offers advantages such as high accuracy, intricate geometries, and the ability to create functional prototypes and end-use parts without the need for support structures.
Multijet Fusion
Multijet Fusion is a type of additive manufacturing technology used to create three-dimensional objects by selectively jetting fusing and detailing agents onto a powdered material bed, followed by a heating step to fuse the material together. The process begins with a thin layer of powder spread over a build platform. High-resolution inkjet arrays selectively apply fusing and detailing agents to the powder layer according to the desired design. The material is then exposed to an energy source, such as infrared light, which heats and fuses the powdered material where the agents were applied. This process repeats layer by layer until the object is complete. Multijet Fusion offers benefits such as high speed, fine detail resolution, and the ability to produce functional parts with isotropic properties.
Stereo Lithography
Stereolithography (SLA) is an additive manufacturing process used to create three-dimensional objects by selectively curing liquid photopolymer resin layer by layer using an ultraviolet (UV) laser. The process begins with a 3D digital model sliced into thin cross-sectional layers. A UV laser traces the shape of each layer onto the surface of a vat of liquid resin, solidifying it. Once a layer is complete, the build platform moves down, and a new layer of liquid resin is spread over the solidified layer. This process repeats until the entire object is formed. SLA offers advantages such as high accuracy, fine detail resolution, and the ability to create complex geometries, making it suitable for prototyping, product development, and rapid manufacturing.
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