HOW TO CHOOSE A 3D PRINTER: GOOD AND SUITABLE

Minh Thu
Chuyển Giao Công Nghệ
770 Lượt xem
0 Bình luận

A 3D printer is a device for making 3D objects like models, tools, toys, etc… from the 3D model file. In the past, 3D printers were complex machines at high cost, mostly used in industries by engineers and designers, which could not be popularized with the public. But nowadays, with competitive pricing, 3D printers are gradually becoming popular. In the not so distant future, owning a 3D printer can be as easy as owning a desktop or TV. So, how to choose a 3D printer: good and suitable? Let’s check it out.

How to choose a 3D printer? #1: 3D Printing technology

FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling)

FDM, also known as FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication), is the process of making 3D objects by placing materials (usually resins) in layers of overlap until the subject is finished. The resin-like layer of the subject’s cross-section, created from the 3D prototyping software and formed by heating the plastic material and laying the layer through the thermal atomizer. The plastic layer will be hard immediately after being spewing out.

SLA (Stereolithography)

SLA is a 3D printing process in which the laser beams on the photosensitive resin to form the subject.

How to choose a 3D printer? #2: 3D Printing Materials

Popular materials

Most 3D printers use plastic filament rolls made from ABS plastic material (acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or PLA (Polylactic Acid) with various colors. These material belongs to the thermoplastic group, which means that they can be heated to become plasticizers, and when cooled it will freeze into solid form, although the process is repeated as many times.

The ABS materials are flexible, rigid and have high heat resistance, making them suitable for professional expertise.

PLA is able to produce thinner print layers, up sharper and more colorful details, making it suitable for schools and passionate consumers. In addition, the PLA is the resin produced from maize, so the PLA can biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

Some other materials

Nylon: There are some Nylon resin used in 3d printing, the most common is nylon 618. It’s natural color is white, able to paint any color. Often used in medicine.

Resin: usually used to create smooth objects and high detail accuracy and resolution. However, they need to be treated with UV rays, which can cause the resin to lose color. Users of this material often have to paint varnish for the subject after printing.

Wood: The material is processed in the form of plastic fibers, combining between recycled wood and adhesive polymer. The 3D printing of wood is almost identical to 3D printing with PLA and ABS.

How to choose a 3D printer? #3: Attributes of 3D printers

Print size

The larger the print size, the more objects that the 3D printer can create are also larger respectively.

Print speed

An FDM 3D printer usually prints at speeds from 40mm/s to 150mm/s (i.e., spraying between 40-150mm of resin flow per second). The print speed depends on the desired resolution. The higher the resolution, the more 3D print speeds must be reduced (and vice versa).

Print-Class resolution

A high-resolution 3D printing object usually has a very thin print layer, and it is sometimes difficult to see individual print layers. Some 3D printers allow the input of print-class resolution, while others offer only 3 options: “Low”, “medium” and “high”.

Nozzle

With 3D printers, the nozzle is responsible for melting plastic fibers as well as thermal sensors and many when also the system radiator. Using more than 1 nozzle allows you to print an object with a variety of different colors and/or different materials.

How to choose a 3D printer? #4: Other characteristics

Connect

Most 3D printers rely on USB connections and computers to print objects using tomography software. Some 3D printers have the ability to connect via an Ethernet cable or a WiFi connection (from a PC). Some 3D printers offer a USB port or SD card slot so that the printer does not need to rely on the computer in addition to the 3D printing process.

LCD screen and display

3D printers often have a display screen. It can be either an LCD monitor, a touchscreen, or even an LED light that announces important information (3D printing for example).