The potential of 3D printing is almost unattainable. In recent years, its use in product manufacturing has increased, specifically by 41% according to the financial audit E&Y. While it is true that this is not a new technology, because 3D printing has been on the market for several decades, its development has been experienced thanks to software and hardware.
Thus, in the industrial field, new materials are being developed, improving machines in speed, price and software; as well as increasing the capacity of printed parts that will exceed development applications.
In these processes, in Infinitia we have great experience and the necessary background to give a quick and effective response. Read on and learn more about 3D printing prototypes and everything related to this modern technology.
What is 3D printing technology?
3D printing is a tool used to generate and modify three-dimensional objects. Undoubtedly, it is a technological revolution. The fact of elaborating a detailed plan to produce solids with volume is considered a 180-degree turn in the design process. In addition, there is a process history that allows modifications or iterations to be made at any time.
The main feature that differentiates 3D manufacturing from what might be termed as “the old-fashioned way” is the way in which the element is constructed. Additive methods build objects by adding material layer by layer, laying them down in the form of thread or powder; whereas the traditional way develops the parts using a mold.
In practice, this disparity translates into considerable savings. With 3D printing prototypes, material waste is reduced almost to a minimum.
Thus, one of the main advances is the ability to create solutions that meet customer requirements. Not to be forgotten is the fact that additive manufacturing affects the supply chain, especially the storage of parts.
How Infinitia applies 3D printing
At Infinitia we have been committed to this 3D technology since our beginnings, since it is a very valuable tool when validating models, product designs or preparing tooling for our day-to-day work in the laboratory.
The use of 3D design prototypes is a great contribution to additive manufacturing. It also offers full performance in our design and prototyping area, as it allows us to speed up the product manufacturing process. 3D printing accepts a greater number of interactions, allowing us to manufacture prototypes or demonstrators in a more efficient way, as well as to stay ahead of the competition in the market. “An advantage to be taken into account in a globalized market and where the introduction of new products or adaptations is constant,” says Javier Sanz, the CEO of our company.
In addition, other advantages are the low cost in the creation of parts and the specialized and customized work strategy. The development of parts can be customized. “It allows us to achieve a very high level of customization, as we can design each piece individually,” explains Sanz. In this sense, “we are even able to improve its design from scratch and make a part or product scalable when previously it was not,” he says.
3D printing brings ecological and economic advantages that feed back on each other. To name a few: greater efficiency in the product manufacturing process, low cost in low-run parts, minimization of material waste… by studying, for example, the technical feasibility of a new product and designing an MVP or validating assemblies and ergonomic postures during the assembly of the final product in series.
Finally, the sectors most in demand for this 3D technology are automotive and aeronautics; but also the food sector, where in recent years countless companies have emerged that are using 3D printing to print food and even cook it afterwards.
Types of 3D printing
Did you know that there are different techniques to achieve 3D prototypes? We review the most popular types of 3D printing. Many of them we use in our own processes:
Fused Material Deposition (FDM).
If you want to manufacture functional and cheap prototypes, you need to opt for this type of 3D printing. FDM typically uses filament spools of materials such as PLA or ABS; although nowadays there is a wide range of materials, colors and additives.
As it is the cheapest prototyping technique, it is usually used for large parts. Also, this 3D printing technology encounters certain resistant limitations due to the adhesion between layers and surface finishes of the resulting objects. The direction in which the layers are deposited is a determining factor in the strength of the part and in achieving certain geometries.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Selective laser sintering or SLS is a method of additive manufacturing by superimposing layers of material in powder form, mainly polyamide, which are converted into a solid piece, when melted by the laser.
From Infinitia we have 3D printers that give rise to resistant parts with good finishes. They allow us to create very good details in critical areas. A very interesting advantage to test the final design of a product.
In addition, it allows to check the operation of clipping in plastic parts since, due to its technology, it creates walls with great flexibility and bending behavior very close to an injection molded part.
Stereolithography (SLA)
It consists of the manufacture of 3D printing parts or prototypes by bonding successive layers of photosensitive resin, cured by ultraviolet radiation. This technique is suitable for small parts with careful aesthetics and very precise details. It is one of the most widely used 3D technologies at the domestic level, so it is widely used by fans of models or dioramas.
Fused deposition modeling FFF
Another technique for developing 3D printing prototypes is fused deposition modeling. It is a fast methodology that allows the generation of final parts, which is why it is so useful for prototyping. In addition, you can work with a wide variety of materials.
Do you know how it works? Objects are generated by depositing layer by layer of molten thermoplastic polymer.
Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
In this case, different high-power lasers are used to sinter powdered plastic materials. In other words, to produce strong and durable parts with heat, but without reaching the melting temperature. The part is shaped by pressure.
This technique is perfect for 3D printing prototypes or small parts.
Digital Light Projection (DLP)
It is very similar to SLA, the difference is the type of light used. DLP uses a light from a digital light projector and can only create one image per layer. It is a very accurate technique and therefore a widely used option for 3D prototypes.
Matrix pixel shadow masking (MSLA)
This type of technology is an evolution of DLP. In this case, it does not use a projector but a pixel array to project light through a mask. This results in higher printing speed. The 3D printers that cover this type of printing are of high quality and at the same time affordable.
Types of 3D printers
Thus, as there are so many 3D printing techniques, we find many design and printing equipment to carry out the manufacture of 3D printing prototypes. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- SLA 3D printers (or resin 3D printers).
- FDM 3D printers
- SLM 3D printers
- SLS 3D printers
- LDM 3D Printers
- DLP 3D Printers
How to know which printing technology to use?
As you can see, we can differentiate different types of 3D printers and techniques to achieve 3D printing prototypes. In order to perform a fast and efficient prototyping, it is necessary to know in depth how they work and, for this, it is necessary to count on professionals.
At Infinitia we are here to help you. We are a multidisciplinary team of product development specialists. We create efficient solutions for companies. Discover what we can do for your organization.