Nowadays, designers and engineers expect a higher speed of manufacturing way to achieve fast product development. The prototyping stage is one of the most important milestones which represent design verification, and a solid model can easily help to find out if there is anything needed further for design improvement. However, there are a few ways can offer prototypes, such as CNC machining, and injection molding. Vacuum casting and so on for low-volume production. Besides, the faster process is called 3D printing.

What Is 3D Printing?

3D printing is a process of creating a physical object from a digital model by adding successive layers of material. It is also known as additive manufacturing. Because it involves adding material rather than subtracting it. As is the case with traditional machining processes like milling or lathing.

In 3D printing, a digital model is created using computer-aided design (CAD) software or a 3D scanner. The digital model is then sliced into thin layers, which are used to guide the printing process. The printer deposits layers of material, such as plastic, metal, or composite, on top of each other, building up the object layer by layer.

There are many different types of 3D printers, which use a variety of technologies and materials. Some common technologies include fused deposition modeling (FDM), selective laser sintering (SLS), and stereolithography (SLA). 3D printing is used in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, architecture, and art, and has the potential to revolutionize the way we design and create physical objects.

How Does 3D Printing Works?

The Design Process of 3D Printing

First, use computer modeling software to model, and then “partition” the built 3D model into layer-by-layer sections, that is slices. To guide the printer to print layer by layer. The standard format for collaboration between design software and printers is the STL format. An STL file uses triangles to approximate the surface of an object. Smaller triangles produce higher-resolution surfaces.

Slice Processing

The printer reads the cross-sectional information in the file. Printing these cross-sections layer by layer with liquid, powdery, or sheet materials. And then glues the cross-sections of each layer in various ways to create an entity. The peculiarity of this technique is that it can create objects of almost any shape. The thickness of the section printed by the printer (that is the Z direction) and the resolution in the plane direction. That is the X-Y direction is calculated in dpi (pixels/inch) or microns. The general thickness is 100 microns, that is 0.1 mm, Traditional manufacturing techniques such as injection molding can manufacture polymer products in large quantities at low cost. While 3D printing technology can produce relatively small quantities of products in a faster, more flexible, and lower-cost way. A desktop-sized 3D printer can meet the needs of designers or concept development teams to manufacture models.

Finish of The 3D Printing

The resolution of the 3D printer is sufficient for most applications (it may be rough on a curved surface, like jagged images), and to obtain higher resolution items, the following methods can be used: first, use the current 3D printer Slightly larger objects can be produced with a little surface sanding to get a “high-res” item with a smooth surface. Some technologies can print with multiple materials at the same time. Some technologies also use support during the printing process. For example, when printing some upside-down objects, it is necessary to use some easy-to-remove things (such as soluble substances) as supports.

What Materials Used in 3D Printing?

There are a wide range of materials used with process of 3D printing. Including below aspects;

Plastics:

One of the most common materials used in 3D printing is plastic. Many different types of plastics can be used, including acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), and nylon.

Metals:

It is also possible to 3D print metal objects, using technologies such as selective laser sintering (SLS) and metal binder jetting. Common metals used in 3D printing include aluminum, steel, and titanium.

Composites:

3D printers can also be used to create objects made of composite materials, which are combinations of two or more materials. These materials can include a combination of metals and plastics or a combination of different types of plastics.

Other materials:

In addition to the materials mentioned above, it is also possible to 3D print objects using a variety of other materials, such as ceramics, glass, and even food.

The choice of material will depend on the specific application and the desired properties of the finished object.

The Advantages of Using 3D Printing for New Product Development

Actually there are many good perspectives to have 3D printing and verify the design before freeze. here are several advantages to using 3D printing for new product development:

Fast Timing:

3D printing allows for rapid prototyping, which means that designers and engineers can quickly create and test prototypes of new products. This can save time and resources compared to traditional manufacturing methods, which may require the creation of tooling and molds.

Customization:

3D printing enables the creation of customized, one-off products. Which may not be possible with traditional manufacturing methods. This can be especially useful for creating customized products for individual customers.

Complex Geometry:

3D printing allows for the creation of complex, organic shapes and geometries that may be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. This can open up new possibilities for product design.

Material Options:

3D printing offers a wide range of material options, which can enable the creation of products with specific properties or characteristics.

Sustainability:

3D printing can be more environmentally friendly than traditional manufacturing methods, as it often requires less material and energy, and produces less waste.

Overall, 3D printing can offer a more efficient, flexible, and sustainable approach to product development, which can help companies to bring new products to market faster and more cost-effectively.

How Step Rapid Support In 3D Printing for Your NPI And Business Growth

Step Rapid offers comprehensive manufacturing technology for bringing your design concepts into reality. Such as rapid prototyping, CNC machining, and injection molding. Most of them require a quick delivery time in low-volume manufacturing, 3D printing is one of the typical ways that exist to settle your most urgent needs of yours. Especially in the verification stage of new product development, this would help to turn into the end product from prototyping to production. And it directly motivates the NPI process and your business.

Come to us if you have any question, or contact us directly via sales@www.steprapid.com.