3D Printing

Hey guys!

You all must've printed documents or pictures on paper sheets using printers, but have you ever given a thought that how can we print 3D objects  just like we print pictures? 

So the answer to the above question is a big YES! We can print solid objects by producing the digital files of that object. This process is called 3D printing and the device which makes it possible is called a 3D printer.

Now let's discuss what happens in this process. First of all we create a digital model of the object using CAD softwares. After this we convert the digital file into .stl extension file. For those who are new to the term .stl, it stands for Standard Tessellation Language. stl files describe only surface geometries of any 3D digital file. Basically in a .STL file you would see a mesh of triangles instead of your model. These triangles will be used to print the object in the real world. Now if we go a little deep, we can imagine these triangles in 3D planes. What the system does with this file is that it finds the intersection point of each and every vertex of the triangle and gives it's co-ordinates in the 3D space. After this by the application of loops and by coding, the printer prints the object.

This process of 3D printing is pretty complex but the steps mentioned above have somewhat made it look easier to understand.

For better visualization, let us take a CAD model made on Solidworks. We will see it's digital view as well as how it will look in it's .stl file.

The image given below is a CAD model of a tension spring.

Now let's see how it's stl version would look like.

The image given below is the enlarged version of the above image. We can clearly see the mesh of triangles.

 Awesome right! This version is fed into the printer and it prints the object.

We have discussed enough about the processes, now let's talk something about 3D printers. There are basically 9 types of 3D printers. They are:

•   Stereolithography(SLA)
•   Digital Light Processing(DLP)
•   Fused Deposition Modelling(FDM)
•   Selective Laser Sintering(SLS)
•   Selective Laser Melting(SLM)
•   Electronic Beam Melting(EBM)
•   Laminated Object Manufacturing(LOM)
•   Binder Jetting(BJ)
•   Material Jetting(MJ)

Just like normal printers need ink cartridges for printing, 3D printers also require material which is called plastic filament.

This was all for this post, we will talk about these printers and the impact of 3D printers on the industry in upcoming articles.

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