Design Guidelines For 3D Printing Technology

1. Design printability: Ensure that the designed object can be printed by a 3D printer. Avoid hanging components, excessive cantilevers or small structures, and ensure the necessity of supporting structures.

2. Material selection: Select the appropriate printing material according to the use and requirements of the printing object, taking into account the strength, heat resistance, corrosion resistance and other characteristics of the material.

3. Wall thickness and structural support: The wall thickness and structural support of the object are taken into consideration during design to ensure that the printed object has the required strength and stability.

4. Use of design software: Proficient in using 3D modeling software and able to convert designs into file formats suitable for 3D printing, such as STL or OBJ.

Dimensional Accuracy in 3D Printing

The dimensional accuracy refers to how accurate the size and form of the printed part are compared to that in the CAD design. Factors that affect dimensional accuracy include material quality, equipment, post-processing, and more. Dimensional tolerance, shrinkage, and support requirements are three key elements to measuring dimensional accuracy. Below are the dimensional tolerance of different 3D processes.

For a Guide to 3D Printing Metal Materials

First of all, the technologies commonly used in 3D printing metal materials include direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM). These technologies allow metal powders to be melted or sintered layer by layer into parts of the desired shape.

When selecting metal materials, it is necessary to consider the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, thermal conductivity and other characteristics of the material. Common 3D printing metal materials include stainless steel, titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, nickel-based alloys, etc. Each material has its specific advantages and scope of application.

When designing 3D printed metal parts, factors such as support structure, thermal stress, and surface roughness need to be considered. In addition, it is also necessary to understand the post-processing process, such as removal of support structures, heat treatment, surface treatment, etc., to ensure that the printed parts meet the requirements.

In general, 3D printing metal materials requires comprehensive consideration of material selection, process parameters, design requirements and other aspects.

SLA (Stereolithography)

It is a common stereolithography technology used for rapid prototyping and rapid prototyping. SLA uses ultraviolet lasers to irradiate photosensitive resin to solidify it layer by layer into a solid object. This technology can create complex geometries and details and is suitable for manufacturing models, parts and prototypes. SLA technology is widely used in engineering, medical and art fields.

SLS is the Abbreviation Of Selective Laser Sintering.

It is an additive manufacturing technology, also known as 3D printing technology. In the SLS process, a layer of material powder is evenly spread on the workbench, and then the laser beam scans and sinters the powder layer by layer according to the instructions of the CAD file, bonding it into the desired shape. This process is repeated until the entire part is completed. SLS technology can be used to manufacture complex parts and prototypes with high precision and good material strength, and is widely used in aerospace, medical equipment, automobiles and other fields.

SLM (Selective Laser Melting)

It is a metal additive manufacturing technology, also known as selective laser melting. The technology uses a laser beam to melt metal powder layer by layer to create complex metal parts. SLM technology can achieve high-precision, high-density and complex-shaped metal manufacturing, and is widely used in aerospace, automobiles, medical equipment and other fields. By adjusting the parameters of the laser beam and the distribution of metal powder, the melting and solidification of different materials can be achieved, thereby realizing the manufacturing of a variety of metal materials. SLM technology has important application prospects in the manufacturing industry and can achieve fast, customized and high-performance metal parts manufacturing.

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)

It is a 3D printing technology also known as Fused Deposition Modeling. It is a manufacturing method in which thermoplastic materials are heated to a molten state and then deposited layer by layer through a nozzle into the desired shape. Materials commonly used in this technology include thermoplastic polymers such as ABS, PLA, and nylon.

The working principle of FDM technology is to melt the material filaments through a heated nozzle, and then deposit them onto the modeling platform, layer by layer to form the desired object. This technology has the advantages of low manufacturing cost, fast manufacturing speed, and manufacturing complex shapes, so it has been widely used in fields such as automobiles, aerospace, medical, and consumer goods.