The document discusses various 3D printing technologies and materials. It provides information on common 3D printing materials like ABS, PLA, nylon and describes their properties and best printing practices. Examples of applications are given, such as using ABS to make printer components and polycarbonate for parts requiring heat resistance. Overall guidelines are provided on preparing models and converting them to G-code for 3D printing.
2. Type Technologies Materials
Extrusion Fused deposition modeling (FDM)
Thermoplastics (e.g. PLA, ABS), HDPE,
eutectic metals, edible materials
Wire Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3) Almost any metal alloy
Granular
Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) Almost any metal alloy
Electron beam melting (EBM) Titanium alloys
Selective heat sintering (SHS) Thermoplastic powder
Selective laser sintering (SLS)
Thermoplastics, metal
powders, ceramic powders
Powder bed and inkjet head 3d printing,
Plaster-based 3D printing (PP)
Plaster
Laminated Laminated object manufacturing (LOM) Paper, metal foil, plastic film
Light polymerized
Stereolithography (SLA) photopolymer
Digital Light Processing (DLP) photopolymer
3. Model
• A Model is made with CAD software
• Or from scanned images
gCode
• Model is “sliced” into layers
• X, Y, Z coordinates
Object
• 3D Printer uses gCode
• Deposits plastic, layer by layer
4. Many ways to a 3D model
Design a model with CAD software such as:
Solidworks, AutoCad, SketchUp
From a 3D scan of an object
Download a free 3D model from many
sources
5. A 3D model is saved as an STL format
The STL file is “sliced”
gCode is X Y Z coordinates, speed, temperature
and more
gCode
6. 3D Printer takes gCode
Melts plastic
Deposits layer by layer
7. Each layer of plastic is deposited on top of the
previous layer
The warm plastic bonds to the prior layer
With each layer, an object slowly materializes
8. Materials:
Called filament
Standard size is 3mm and 1.75mm
Looks like Weed Wacker wire
Typically available in 1 or 2 pound spools.
1 pound of ABS filament = $48
10. Impact resistance and “toughness”
◦ Most commonly used thermoplastic
◦ Legos, automotive trim components, automotive bumper bars,
enclosures for electrical and electronic assemblies
◦ Useful characteristics within a temperature range from −20 to 80 °C
(−4 to 176 °F)
3D Printing
◦ Stronger, more stable (long term), and less brittle than PLA, handles
higher temperatures
◦ General rule/design consideration – printed parts have 30% the
strength of injection molding
Available in all colors, including gold, silver, fluorescent
hues and glow in the dark
11. Parts For
3D Printers
“We use this material
to make almost every
plastic component on
the Airwolf 3D printers
because of its ease of
printing and resistance
to high temperatures.”
-Airwolf 3D
12.
13. Prints well straight on glass with Wolfbite
(www.aw3d.com)
Print Temperature: 240-250°C
14. Heat bed REQUIRED
◦ Capable of at least 120C necessary for proper adhesion
◦ Risk of curling without proper surface preparation
Large Prints will crack if not designed carefully or if enclosure is
not present
◦ Tall prints need to printed quicker
◦ Add perimeters for strength
Heated build volume
◦ Can quickly wear components (motors, bearings, plastic)
◦ Servicing inconvenient
15. Environmentally friendly
◦ Made from starch rich plants such as corn, wheat, and sugar
beets
Starch is separated and dextrose goes through fermentation
process
◦ Bio-degradable and compostable
Commercial compost – 30-45 days
Easy to print
◦ Fun, smells pleasant (like waffles)
◦ Little-to-no warping
Available in all colors, including gold, silver and
fluorescent hues (even hybrids)
17. Does not require a heated bed
◦ Prep surface with Airwolf red tape for best adhesion
Fans on the extruder are mandatory
◦ Fans on extruder reduces chance of jams
◦ Fans on print surface can help cool printed surface for
appearance benefits
Minimize excessive retraction
Melting point: 195° - 220°C
18. Perfect for large demonstrative models
◦ Little surface tension, so minimal chance of cracking
◦ No need for heated build chamber
Print time is not an issue
◦ We have printed for 5 days straight with PLA without
warping/cracking
However, will change form in direct sunlight
◦ Cellphone cases left in car will distort in less than a day
Functional prototypes should be treated
19. Taulman 3D 618, 645, Bridge Nylon Filament
Nylon based co-polymer
Excellent surface bonding
Reduced water absorption and tear resistance
Color: white/clear
Dyeable
Bridge
◦ Tends to be more flexible, but less susceptible to warping
◦ Print at 270C with bed at 60C
◦ Pet tape with glue stick for adhesion
◦ Used for Airwolf gears
20. Polycarbonate is an extremely strong, impact
resistant thermoplastic
Bleeding-edge technology and is currently
experimental
Used in Airwolf extruders for heat resistance
Unlike acrylic or plexiglass (they shatter and
crack), Polycarbonate tends to bend and deform
and after much effort will eventually stretch like
very hard rubber until it eventually breaks
Hygroscopic and will absorb moisture from the air
21.
22. Extruded at or above 300C for best layer-layer
adhesion
Many current 3D printer extruders are not
compatible with temperatures above 250C Make
sure your printer is capable of these temperatures
or your extruder may fail
Print surface is PET tape and then glue stick on top
of that
The faster and hotter an object is printed the more
clear the end results
23. Combination of Polycarbonate with ABS
Extruded at or above 280C for best layer-layer
adhesion (advanced extruder needed)
High heat distortion is an improvement over ABS
Low temperature impact resistance gives it an
advantage over polycarbonate.
Works excellent for small/midsize prototypes that need
to “function”
Heated chamber preferred for large, complex builds
Print surface is PET tape and then glue stick on top of
that
24. The printed wood will appear rough, similar to
MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard)
Paintable, grindable, carvable and stainable
Heated bed is not necessary
Available in two shades of brown
Similar thermal durability as PLA
25.
26. Heated bed ideally at 60C
Print Temperature: 175°C to 200°C
Prep surface with blue painters tape
Adding extra extrusion to the beginning of your print will
help prevent dry extrusion during the initial layers
Increasing the retraction setting of your part during
slicing will reduce 'leakage' while the hotend is moving
between sections (especially over open areas)
LAYWOO-D3 will harden over time,
for delicate parts allow 30-60 min
for your print to set
Alternating the temperature during
your print (even by as little as 10
degrees) will vary the coloration,
giving it a 'grained' look
27. High Impact Polystyrene is very similar to ABS in its
printing properties, but works with different
solvents (Limonene for HIPS vs acetone for ABS)
Easy to paint and glue
When printing, best to keep bed temps at 100C or
lower, but extrusion at normal ABS temps works
fine
Color: White
Use for support material on HD2x and use solution
to remove support material from part
28. Water-soluble synthetic polymer
It prints very easily and can be used as wash away
support structure when using more than one
extruder
Can be used with a dual extruder 3D printer to add
support materials
Best printing comes with a 100C heated bed and
slightly lower temps than ABS (190-210C)
Color: Off white
Dissolves in water !!! (quickly)
Like Elmer’s glue
29. Soft PLA is a flexible 3D printing material that feels
and acts much like rubber
Support built into prints can be easily removed
(unlike traditional PLA)
Can be used to make parts that can bend or must
flex to fit their environment - stoppers, belts,
springs, phone cases and more
Biodegradeable
30.
31. Layer height is best kept down to maximize layer-to-
layer bonding because the parts need to be extra
strong as they are flexed in use
Recommended Extrusion Temperatures: 200C-215C
Sticks well to a bed that is layered with blue painters
tape
Slow print speed for best results
Keep bed at 60C
32. Also referred to as “thermoplastic rubber”
High elasticity: Extremely flexible and strong
3D printed TPE feels much like rubber and bounces
back into shape
REACH and RoHS 2002/95/EC Directive Compliant
Filament shore hardness of approximately 85A
Available in Red, Blue, White and Black
34. Prep platform with blue
painter’s tape
Recommended extruder
temperature: 240°C
Recommended platform
temperature: 40°C
35. Has a grey stone color
Allows you to give your prints a smooth or stone-like
texture
Ideal for jumbo-printers
Objects are paintable and grind-able
Contains super-fine milled chalk and harmless co-polyesters
37. You can print LAYBRICK in a range of about 175°C
to 210°C
In the lower range, the print will come out mostly
smooth, whereas at higher temperatures it will
begin to have a sandstone-like texture
Prep surface with blue painters tape
It is recommended to use a fan when printing at
higher temperatures (always to avoid jamming)
38. Extremely translucent (91% of light passes
through) and is also flexible
Print nearly clear items
Safe for household and food products
Compared to ABS it also absorbs far less moisture
from the air and thus cuts down on warping
significantly
Soluble in brake cleaner
40. It sticks great to a bed that is layered with blue
painter’s tape or on PET film with Elmer’s glue
stick
Print it at a slower speed (around 20-30mm/s)
than normal materials
Compared to ABS it also absorbs far less moisture
from the air and thus cuts down on warping
significantly
Extrusion Temperatures: 230°C-240°C
41. A low temp (212C) industrial 3D printing material
Considered “water-clear” and “optically correct”
A low TG means that parts printed in T-glase,
should not be exposed to high temperature use or
applications. The measured TG of T-glase is 78C
Made of FDA approved polymers for direct food
contact/containers
Not biodegradable like PLA however it is a
considered 100% reclaimable
There are supposedly no odors or fumes when 3D
printing with T-glase
42.
43. Optimum temperature is about 212c to 224C, but
will print down to 210C and up to about 240C
(depending on speed)
T-glase easily sticks to heated acrylic and glass
print tables (with PET film) for the smoothest
bottom surface possible
Very low shrinkage makes printing large flat
surfaces a breeze
Prints to acrylic, glass, Kapton and other platforms
44. Concept:
Photos of your feet are turned into 3D
models
Select FeetZ shoe elements and shoe is
custom made to form and function
needed
FeetZ 3D prints shoes in TPE
46. Pioneering intercontinental robotics:
Uses 3D printers in its design and
manufacture of telepresence robots
Large build platform of 12” x 8” and
heated bed enables Orbis to print larger
parts of the robots with a 3D printer