Dec 15, 2013

Commercial 3-D Printers Have Now Been Developed For Home Use

By Prudence Anding


The relatively new technology of using 3D printers is having an impact on the world of manufacturing. It could not have been imagined prior to 1984. Every field of industry is and will continue to be affected. It is getting to the point that it will cost no more per item to produce one than it does to produce a thousand or more.

There are a number of ways that a three dimensional image can be applied to a two dimensional surface. A technique called pad printing makes this possible. It is not the only method. Others are holography, lenticular printing and the 2D parallax stereograms, which can be printed to look like 3D images to human perception.

Turning a 2D image into a 3D solid object is an additive process that uses a digital model. Materials are laid down successively to achieve this. It was back in 1984 that this kind of digital technology was created for the first time. Sales of the machines providing this technology has grown considerably since the year 2000.

The architects, construction companies, aerospace engineers and a lot of other industries find these techniques useful. They are used in mass marketing. Consumers will find lower prices for their purchases according to some predictions.

In an inkjet 3D printing system, the printer spreads a layer of powder in the process. Layers are repeated until the 3D effect is achieved. Full color prototypes are produced. When the bonded powders must be made stronger, wax is added to strengthen and enhance them.

The lamination process uses thin plastic or sheet metal to produce the effect. Liquid is used in the process called photopolymerization. Another process is called multiphoton photopolymerization, which uses gel and is able to produce very small objects.

An introductory article such as this is insufficient to fully explain these complicated processes. What is important for the in home user to know is that an ever more affordable model is being developed with a nominal cost of less than a thousand dollars.

These domestic versions of 3D printers are the right size and in the right price range to be sold for the home use purpose they are being customized for. High speed printing is possible without losing the ability to produce a high definition.

The speed of these home use models will not be as rapid as standard printers. It will, however, be more rapid than the large industrial models. It is expected that the 3D printers will continue to decrease in price. They will also have an ever-increasing impact on manufacturing developmental plans in a large number of fields.




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