3D printing technology has made it easy for people to create various products — from toys and clothing to prosthetics, homes, and even houses. Though there are many kinds of 3D printing technologies, not all of them are equally well-suited for beginners.
Suppose you’re thinking of starting a small business specializing in 3D printing. In that case, there are several factors that you’re going to want to consider to make sure that your customers get the best quality model at a fair price. This article will discuss the different ways to get started with 3D printing and the factors you should consider when picking a 3D printer.
Types of 3D Printing
Choose a Solid, Established Technology
Ideally, it is best to choose a technology established and accepted by the mainstream market. It doesn’t mean there aren’t solid 3D printing technologies in the DIY community; however, it is essential to be aware that many of these technologies haven’t been vetted. If you’re looking for an affordable 3D printer for beginners, the MP Select Mini 3D Printer is the best 3D printer for you.
Why? 3D Printing
It was cheap. The MP Mini is one of the most affordable 3D printers globally, but it’s not cheap. It’s excellent for beginners. In this guide, we will explore the primary 3D printing technologies and the benefits and limitations of each one. Learn more
There are four primary technologies used in 3D printing: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Digital Light Processing (DLP). Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)In this article, we’ll compare several standard 3D printing technologies and their characteristics to determine the best for beginners.
SLA (Stereolithography Apparatus)
SLA (stereolithography apparatus) is one of the first 3D printing technologies invented. It is often used for printing parts of prosthetics. It is beneficial for printing objects with details; SLA is also easy because it doesn’t require special knowledge or experience. Even though it’s an unmodified technology, it’s generally easier to learn than other printing methods.
Because of these drawbacks, SLA 3D printing is not suitable for beginners.
DLP Method Of 3D Printing
DLP (Digital Light Processing) is the most common 3D printing technology you can use at home. It works by illuminating a vat of resin with a digital light projector (DLP). This is one of the most popular 3D printing technologies. It produces a high-quality part with a smooth surface finish. DLP is also an inexpensive 3D printing process and doesn’t require much maintenance.
DLP (Digital Light Processing)
DLP 3D printers are used for high-quality rapid prototyping 3D Printing
3D Printing MaterialsSLA has several limits:
- It is slow and expensive.
- A large number of parts must be printed at once.
- It is a low-resolution technology.
- It has minimal use.
DLP (Digital Light Processing)
DLP is a technology used in many new laser printers. In DLP, an image is created using a digital light processing chip. This technology has not yet been used for 3D printing.
FDM (The unique characteristic of SLA is its build process. You place a thin layer of resin on the surface of the build platform, which is then solidified by a UV source on top of the build platform. Once it has hardened, the build platform is lowered to begin the next layer, and so on.
This means that the 3D-printed object is consistently built from the bottom upward. I think the layers will be visible on parts that have holes. The SLA technology uses a laser to trace a digital file created using CAD software to form a piece with the desired shape on a platform submerged in a liquid ultraviolet (UV) light curable resin tank. This process is repeated until the body is complete. After printing, the piece is cured in the tank, removed from the resin, and rinsed in water to remove the uncured resin.
Characteristics of SLA: There is no limit to the object’s size.
- It is expensive.
- Parts have smooth surfaces with clean edges and corners.
- Parts are strong because ultraviolet light hardens each layer.
- Parts can be post-processed.
- Processing time is very high.
- Materials
Resin: SLA uses a UV light curable resin. Materials are made with various resins, including acrylate (a)Very detailed print.
- Higher resolution than other 3D-printing technologies
- It uses less material than FDM.
- Curing time is 10-15 minutes per layer.
- Low cost per printed object
- Low maintenance costs
- Low energy costs
- The printing speed is slow.
Cost: The cost will vary depending on the model and size.
Quality of the model: The quality of an SLA model is good.Accuracy: ± 0.1 mm
Layer thickness: 8 – 15 mm
Bridging: “bridging” is the distance the printer can construct the layer to span over an open space without support.
Speed: 1 – 2 cm / h
Software: You can use the printer software, but I recommend using Cura or ReplicatorG, which are included.
• Speed: SLA has the slowest printing speed among FFF and SLS.
• Accuracy: SLA has the most accurate prints.
• Surface finish: SLA can be sanded, post-cured, and painted like injection-molded parts.
• Dimensional accuracy: SLA has the most accurate dimensional accuracy.
• Undercuts: SLA parts can be printed with undercuts, but the supports are visible.
The big problem with the SLA technology is that the price is still very high. The price is almost $10,000. I found a few online stores selling SLA 3D printers, such as Fabbaloo, and the price is around $6,000 to $ 10,000. If you are interested in SLA technology, I am sure you will find them.
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) Technology:
SLA technology is a steeper price, and FDM technology is a more economical price. The primary plastic material of FDM 3d printers is ABS and PLA. Both are common, but ABS plastic material is more durable than PLA plastic material. If the ABS material 3D printer is heated and cooled simultaneously, it will be very brittle, which makes it easy to break.
The most affordable 3D printers use FDM technology. The plastic material is the same as the PLA material I discussed earlier. It is the same filament that you can buy. The difference is that the FDM machine uses it very differently, and when they are used together, they make the FDM technology.
The way the FDM machine works is incredible. First, you make a 3D model on your computer.FDM is one of the most widely used 3D printing methods. The FDM technology was created by Scott Crump, who founded Stratasys in 1989. According to Stratasys’s official website, the FDM technology was first introduced in 1995 and started to popularize in 2004. Learn more
The FDM technology is characterized by using a spool of thermoplastic filament to create a 3D object.FDM is also called the fused filament fabrication method. It is one of the most widely used 3D printing technologies. FDM is a plastic extrusion technology, and it became popular mainly because of its low cost and extensive use of plastic filaments. FDM has been around for more than 30 years.
FDM 3D Printer Price
The price of the FDM 3D printer is the lowest of all FDM technology, which is suitable for beginners. This technology is also known as extrusion technology. First, a layer of thermoplastic is melted and extruded from a nozzle. The material then cools and solidifies. This process is repeated, and the model is built from the bottom layer. As with SLA, the FDM technology is also used to print three-dimensional objects.
I will not introduce you to the FDM technology in detail because it is unsuitable for hobbyists.
Best 3d printer for beginners. Flashforge Adventurer 3, which sold 100,000+ units, allows you to get started with 3d printing quickly and effectively.
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