3D printers have arrived in the domestic living rooms, but the idea behind them is not new. What is revolutionary, however, is to “print” a 3D volume model designed on a PC as an ordinary document as a real object. However, you need a 3D printer, and it is an advantage to be familiar with 3D software. Good 3D software is available free, for example Blender. A 3D printer already costs less than 1000 euros. Conrad Electronic offers a 3D printer kit for 699 euros.
3D printer method Fused Deposition Modeling
In order to create a real three-dimensional object in a 3D printer, there are several methods, of which we briefly describe only the two mainly used in the home use.
3D printer method Stereolithography
The first and most commonly used method is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). This method uses plastics for the final product, which are liquefied by the action of heat and thus melt into the desired form layer by layer (melt coating). This works in principle as in a hot glue gun in which a hot glue is liquefied by heat. In the printer, the hot-melt adhesive is a plastic wire, which can have different color and characteristics depending on the end product. In addition, the nozzles are much finer here and are guided precisely by precise mechanics. The mechanics are controlled by a special software which, for example, is free of charge for most of the offered kits as open source software.
17 Minutes 3D Printer Printing
The second method applies to 3D printers, which are used for both private and business applications. This is the principle of stereolithography already developed in 1980. An interesting example of this is the 3D printer Form1 developed by the US-based company Formlabs. With this principle, a liquid resin is used as the material, which cures at the exact point where a laser beam hits it.
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The resin is filled into a vessel at the bottom of the printer. After the data of the 3D volume object is sent to the printer and the printing process starts, the printhead plunges into the liquid resin. Immediately, the first layer of the part to be printed is bombarded with the laser beam, point by point, so that it hardens. Thereafter, the print head is raised by a few micrometers to immediately form the next layer by means of the laser beam. This is repeated until all the layers and thus the complete part have the desired shape. With this method, much finer structures are possible (25 microns per layer) than in the previously described melt-coating method.
For home use, 3D printers are still the exception and more for enthusiasts, but that could change soon. And at the latest, when the devices are steadily cheaper, similar to laser and inkjet printers. The diversity and the falling costs of the materials which can be used for printing also contribute to this. For example, there are already 3D printing processes that create 3D volume models made of metallic or ceramic materials on the PC. Thus, models or prototypes can be produced cost-effectively in a comparatively short time. However, such printers cost several tens of thousands of euros and are also not suitable for their desk at home because of their size and way of working.
But at least: For the hobby-capable 3D printers, there are also already different plastic materials. This also includes those which remain elastic and soft after cooling. For example, you could print a pair of extravagant shoes for the offered. It is also possible to produce 3D spare parts, such as a special sealing ring or an abnormal screw, which are no longer available or difficult to procure. This requires knowledge of the operation of a 3D program.
Even if you do not want to have a 3D printer, does not go blank. There are now a number of service providers that offer 3D printing on the Internet. To do this, you first upload the data from a 3D project to the service provider online and select the material and color of the object. Subsequently, the object information is checked and the costs for the part to be printed are determined from the expected material consumption and work. Small items such as earrings or finger rings cost around 10 euros. If you accept and pay the costs, you receive your virtual 3D volume model as a real object after a short time.
Nearly all 3D printing service providers also offer their own designs, such as jewelery, fantasy objects or objects of everyday use (cups, plates, vases), which are made available by other customers, in almost endless creations. Thus it is also possible without knowledge of the operation of 3D software, already for less than 10 euro rare objects to be produced by 3D printing. Our table on the following page shows a selection of 3D print service providers.
If you are not familiar with 3D software, you can access freely available 3D data from the Internet. This data can then also be uploaded to the service provider in order to produce a real product using 3D printing. An example of this is the design template of a cover for the smartphone Nokia Lumia 820. This could then be redesigned with own ideas, so that one is almost unique.
Download: Table
3D printers are becoming cheaper
3D printer services
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