The document provides an overview of the evolution of 3D printing. It discusses the history of 3D printing technologies from 1987 to present day. Key developments include the invention of stereolithography in 1987, commercialization of fused deposition modeling (FDM) in 1991, and the expansion of available materials like plastics, metals, and food items in recent years. The document also outlines several applications of 3D printing in fields such as aerospace, prosthetics, footwear, jewelry, and construction.

1. The Evolution of 3D Printing
Ir Bryan SO
Senior Consultant
Hong Kong Productivity Council
27 August 2014
1

2. Ir Bryan SO
About the speaker….
Senior Consultant, Biomedical, Optical and Precision Engineering
Supervisor, Rapid Prototyping Technology Centre (RPTC)
Automation Service Division
With more than 12 years of experience in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Product Development Technologies, Medical
Device Development and the related Regulatory Affairs and Quality Management System. Provides
consultancy services to the medical device industry in GMP, ISO13485 quality system & ISO14971 risk
management system, Pre-market notification (e.g. USFDA 510(k)), etc. Supervises the Rapid Prototyping
Technology Centre in HKPC to provide consultancy services and supports to the industry on new technology development
including CAD/CAM systems, micro-fabrication technology, Opto-mechatronics, micro-laser welding, 3D Printing &
rapid prototyping, as well as industrial design for product development. Investigator of several government funded
development projects including SME Development Fund project on ISO4971 Risk Management for Medical Devices,
Medical Devices Good Distribution Practice (MDGDP), PSDAS project on Biomedical Engineering and ITF
Development Project on Dental CAD/CAM system, Artificial Finger Joint, Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR), Device on
Dermoscopy for Melanoma, etc. Currently the Committee of the Biomedical Division of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
(HKIE-Biomedical Division), the Executive Committee of the IEEE Engineering in Medical and Biological Society Hong
Kong- Macau Joint Chapter (IEEE EMBS), Deputy Executive Secretary General of the Asian Harmonization Working Party
(AHWP) on the harmonization of medical device regulatory and currently serving in various panels of the Hong Kong Medical
and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA).
2

3. State of the Union Address
3
“…We’re elated that 3D printing is gaining
more positive exposure! Help spread the word
by introducing your friends to the
powerful piece of technology…”
By Barack Obama’s, President of US,
12 February 2013, State of the Union Speech

4. The Economist
“Most people probably already own
something that was made with the help of
a 3D printer.”
“Communities offering 3D printing and
other production services that are a bit like
Facebook are already forming online—a
new phenomenon which might be called
social manufacturing.”
~The Economist
Apr 2012
4

5. 5
Media Attention to 3D printing
明報專題B9 [28/6/2013] 亞洲電視金錢世界21/4/2013]
星島日報[9/8/2013]
頭條日報[17/8/2013 ]
新城財經台[14/1/2014]
信報財經新聞A14 [9/7/2013]

6. Contents
• History of 3D printing
• Market Potential
• What is Rapid Prototyping, Rapid Tooling, Rapid Manufacturing ?
• Technologies and Materials
• Future Trend
• What next for 3D printing
6

7. History of 3D
Printing
7

8. History of 3D printing
1987
Birth of 3D printing
3D System invented
stereolithography, a
printing process that
enables a tangible 3D
printing object to be
created from digital data.
1991
Commercialization of
FDM
Fused Deposition Modeling
machine from Stratasys
was commercialized. It
extrudes thermoplastic
materials in filament form to
produce parts layer by layer
1992
SLS was available
Selective laser sintering
from DTM (Now part of
3D Systems) became
available.
2000
Commercialization
of color 3D printer
Z Corp
commercialized the
first color 3D printer in
the world
2007
3D Printing in Multiple
Materials
Objet developed a machine
that can print in multiple
materials
Source: Wohlers Report 2013
8
2013
Stratastys and
Objet merged
Stratastys and Objet
completed their
merger in 2013.

9. Recent bloom
FDM patent (US5121329) expired in 2009
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) patent:
• Initially patented by S. Scott Crump of Stratasys Inc. in 1989
• Expired 20 years of patent protection since 2009
http://apps.shareholder.com/sec/viewerContent.aspx?companyid=AMDA-FNA1K&docid=6470049
9
http://www.google.com/patents/US5121329
http://lawitm.com/3d-printing-patents-expire-reprap-moves-in/

10. 3D Printing Application -
Rocket components
NASA engineers 3D printed the engine parts for the Space Launch System (SLS), the vehicle slated
to take human back to the moon.
Technology used: Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
An engine injector made,
With conventional fabrication techniques of molding and welding: In the range of US$250,000
With 3D printing: In the range of US$25,000 (reduced by a factor of 10)
Production times could also dwindle from six months to just weeks.
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/j2x/3d_print.html 10

11. 3D Printing Application -
Robohand
For roughly US$150, the 3-D printed Robohand lets Dylan, who is
missing the fingers on one hand as a result of Amniotic Band
Syndrome, grab things with bendable fingers, which most prosthetic
hands don’t.
Inventors have since provided free Robohands to South African
children, and the open-source design has been downloaded more than
3,500 times in just three months.
http://singularityhub.com/2013/09/13/3d-printing-delivers-functional- 11
prosthetic-hands-at-a-diy-price/

12. 3D Printing Application -
Running Shoe
3D printing technology:
Selective laser sintering
•Using 3D printing to customize high performance
running shoes for athletes.
New Balance Sports Research Lab
•collects using a force plate, in-shoe sensors, and
a motion capture system.
•Advanced algorithms and software are then
applied to translate data into custom 3D printed
spike designs.
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130307-new-balance-customizes-a-track-specific-running-shoe-using-
3d-printing.html
http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2013/03/08/new-balance-uses-printing-technique-customize-
track-shoes/v0GgY5NN9efZpCWrfq0pTN/story.html

13. 3D Printing Application -
Custom made watch bands
• A New York fashion brand NOOKA partnered with 3D Systems
to delivery a special edition 3D printed Zub 40 watch
collection.
• The watch combines NOOKA’s timepiece with colorful and
interchangeable 3D printed bands. The 3D printed bands are
fused into shape by a high powered laser, one layer at a time.
• Users are encouraged to customize the band with their
favourite color and style. The price for this special edition
watch starts at 73.26 pound.
13
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20131121-3d-systems-
and-nooka-launch-3d-printed-zub-40-
watch-collection.html

14. 3D Printing Application -
Angry Birds Jewelry Designs
Primesmith employs 3D printing to be able to create precision molds much cheaper
and faster. In addition Primesmith plans to start a design process for consumers that
people could online customize their own jewelry pieces.
3D printing could generate more revenues for companies by lowering the expense and
speeding up product process. It becomes certainly a trend for start-up companies to
consider to use for their new product line.
14
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20120520-getting-angry-birds-
jewelry-designs-to-the-mass-market-thanks-to-3d-printing.
html

15. Cooksongold (http://www.cooksongold.com/), a leading supplier of fabricated precious
metals in Europe, is now in cooperation with EOS to launch the new M 080 Direct Metal
Laser Sintering ( DMLS ) machine. This machine provides a turnkey solution for direct
printing of precious metals will enable designers to produce unique luxury products
unconstrained by conventional production techniques. Printing materials include Gold,
Platinum, Silver and Palladium powder.
15
3D Printing Application -
Gold Jewelry
http://www.cooksongold-emanufacturing.
com/index.asp

16. Shapeways (http://www.shapeways.com/) provides an online 3D printing service. You
can 3D print your design with silver, brass, bronze, steel and gold. Designers and
makers can upload their 3D model designs onto the website for 3D printing, instead of
using traditional mold making technology to manufacture.
16
3D Printing Application -
Personalized Jewelry design

17. New York-based Jewelry American Pearl (http://www.americandiamondshop.com/)
allow customers to fully customize their own jewelry to their exact specifications, by
using 3D printer Solidscape T76 to create a lost-wax casting mold and then pours gold
to fashion the final piece. Eddie Bakhash, CEO and son of the founder of American
Pearl said "In the old way, jewelers had to spend a lot of hours carving [by hand]. It
would take me two weeks to create that piece. We can do it in a day now.“
17
3D Printing Application –
Customized Jewelry

18. A Chinese construction company 盈创公司(http://www.yhbm.com/) is building houses
that can be mass-produced using a 3D printer. Using a mixture of cement and
construction waste, the houses can be produced for under $5,000 (£2,970). The walls
and structure of the house are printed layer by layer using a process that allows up to 10
complete houses to be printed in one day.
18
3D Printing Application –
House
http://sh.people.com.cn/n/2014/0331/c1347
68-20896142.html

19. 3D Printed Candies
- 3DSystem
19
Multi-Food Printer
- FOODINI
Chocolate
- Hershey’s
3D Printing Application –
Food
www.naturalmachines.com
www.hersheys.com
www.3dsystems.com/press-releases/3d-systems-sweetens-its-offering-new-chefjettm-3d-printer-series

20. Market
Potential
20

21. Business Opportunity
21
Figure 2： Global Revenues of 3D
Printing Products and Services (from
1993 to 2013)
Y axis：Income (in million USD), red
segment of the bars indicates 3D
printing services while blue segment of
the bars indicates 3D printing products
X axis：Year
The global revenues of 3D printing
products and services in the past 2
years have 34.9% (Year 2013) and
32.7% (Year 2012) growth.
Figure 1： Estimated Global Revenues
of 3D Printing Products and Services
from 2016 to 2020
Y axis：Income(in million USD)
X axis：Year
It is expected that the global income
of 3D printing products and services
would reach a double-digit growth
over the next few years. By 2020,
the Wohlers Associate believes that
the sale will approach USD$21 billion
worldwide.
Figure 3：3D System Sold by
Regions in 2012
Over half of the systems sold
in 2012 came from Israel
system manufacturers. If Asian
countries actively participate in
the future development of 3D
printers, the cost of 3D
printers would likely be
reduced.
Source: Wohlers Report 2014

22. 22
Major 3D Printer Manufacturer
Unit market share of major 3D
printer Manufacturers as of 2013

23. What is 3D Printing?
Additive Manufacturing (增材製造)
vs Subtractive Manufacturing (減材製造)
Rapid
Prototyping (RP)
Tooling (RT)
Manufacturing (RM)
23

24. What is Rapid Prototyping,
Rapid Tooling and Rapid
Manufacturing?
24

25. Rapid
Prototyping
3D
printing
Rapid
manufacturing
Rapid
Tooling
25

26. What is Rapid Prototyping?
Rapid Prototyping is a group of techniques used to quickly fabricate a
scale model of a physical part or assembly using three-dimensional
computer-aided design (CAD) data.
26

27. Application of Rapid Prototyping
Architectural Prototype
Head gear prototype during
product development Wheel and tire prototype
1. www.creatz3d.com/solutions/common-model-usages/focus-group-sessions/
2. www.3dprint.co.nz/success/Bossley_01.html 27

28. What is Rapid Tooling?
Rapid Tooling (RT) describes a process that is the result of combining
Rapid Prototyping (RP) techniques with conventional tooling practices
to produce a mold quickly or parts of a functional model from CAD data
in less time and at a lower cost relative to traditional machining
methods.
Rapid
Tooling
Techniques
Indirect methods
use the RP process to
generate an
intermediate physical
model from which the
tooling inserts are
made.
http://www.3dprototyping.com.au/Rapid-Tooling.html
Direct approaches
use a RP-based
process to make
tooling inserts
directly.
28

29. Application of Rapid Tooling
Jigs & Fixtures Blow and Injection Moulding Silicone Moulding
29
Tool Repair
Injection Moulding Die-casting
www.javelin-tech.com/3d-printer/applications/molding-tooling/
www.eos.info/tooling

30. What is Rapid Manufacturing?
Rapid Manufacturing (RM) is the making of end-use
parts quickly- by any manufacturing method or use of an
additive fabrication process somewhere along the
production chain.
Just the sole of a shoe would
currently require two hours with a
3D printer.
1. mass-customization.blogs.com/mass_customization_open_i/2006/10/footwear_custom.html#sthash.wtQfG5st.dpuf
2. www.smg3d.co.uk/hearing_aids
30

31. Application of Rapid Manufacturing
Footwear Customization : The
First Rapid Manufactured Shoe
Hearing Aids made by Rapid
Manufacturing (RM)
Malaysia have designed two 3D
printed surgical guides that
allowed doctors to save the arm
of a 37 year old Malaysian man.
31
www.3dprinterworld.com/article/3d-printed-surgical-guides-save-mans-arm

32. Conventional Prototyping VS Rapid Prototyping
32
Prototype Manufacturing
Moulding design
Final products Manufacturing

33. Technologies
and Materials
33

34. 34
3D printing Technologies
Vat Photopolymerization
Stereolithography (SLA)
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
Powder Bed Fusion
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
Directed Energy Deposition
Direct Manaufacturing (DM)
Material Extrusion
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
http://www.klex.hr/hr/usluge/prototyping/other-rp-printing-methods-comparasion/
stereolithography-sla/

35. 35
3D printing Technologies
Vat Photopolymerization
Stereolithography (SLA)
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
- Mechanism: a process using an ultraviolet laser
and x-y scanning mirrors on computer-controlled
galvanometers to selectively polymerize
photopolymers.
- Materials: Photopolymer liquid resin
1. www.klex.hr/hr/usluge/prototyping/other-rp-printing-methods-comparasion/stereolithography-sla/
2. www.protocam.com/images/dyed-stereolithography-piec.jpg
3. www.carriocabling.com/images/gallery/DSC00082WEB.jpg
4. www.wired.com/design/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/miicraft-light-based-3d-printer-high-resolution-stereolithography-
sla-wired-design.jpg

36. 36
3D printing Technologies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6ItiCbYFvI#t=17
Vat Photopolymerization
Stereolithography (SLA)
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
Powder Bed Fusion
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
Directed Energy Deposition
Direct Manaufacturing (DM)
Material Extrusion
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Video: Laser Sintering

37. 37
3D printing Technologies
Powder Bed Fusion
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
Electron
- Mechanism: Thermal energy fuses selective
regions of a powder bed. The energy melts the
powder material, which then changes to a solid
phase as it cools.
- Materials: Powder
1. nwrapidmfg.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/IMG_5267.jpg
2. nwrapidmfg.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/NWR-Parts_5233_House.jpg
3. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Selective_laser_melting_system_schematic.jpg

38. 38
3D printing Technologies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIY2BoAmKpQ
Vat Photopolymerization
Stereolithography (SLA)
Digital Light Processing (DLP)
Powder Bed Fusion
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
Directed Energy Deposition
Direct Manaufacturing (DM)
Material Extrusion
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Video: Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication

39. 39
3D printing Technologies
Directed Energy Deposition
Direct Manaufacturing (DM)
- Mechanism: Focused thermal energy is used to
fuse materials by melting as the material is being
deposited. Energy source can be laser or electron
beam.
- Materials: Metal powder
1. http://www.rapidreadytech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Sciaky.jpg
2. http://additivemanufacturing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/AM_Sciaky_DM-AM-TechnologyW2.jpg
3. http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2006/03/06/arcam.jpg
4. http://www.rapidtoday.com/images/Acetabular%20Cup.jpg

40. 40
3D printing Technologies
UV laser light
Stereolithography (SLA)
High-power laser
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
Electron beam
Electron Beam Melting (EBM)
Extrusion
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)

41. 41
3D printing Technologies
Extrusion
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
- Mechanism: Material extrusion machines force
material through a nozzle as the extrusion head
or the build platform moves in the x-y plane. After
a layer is completed, the build platform moves
down, or the extrusion head moves up, and the
next layer is extruded and adhered to the
previous layer.
- Materials: Thermoplastic
1. http://www.custompartnet.com/wu/fused-deposition-modeling
2. http://inov3d.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/1200es-pieces1.jpg
3. http://proto3000.com/assets/uploads/ContentImages/Dimension_FDM_Print.png
4. http://lab.ics.org.ru/media/uploads/omni_koleso.jpg

42. Advantages of 3D printing
• Enable customized and personalized products in a better cost effective manner.
• Applicable to various sectors (e.g. jewelry, architecture, medical industry, toys, glasses)
• Enable shorter cycle time in products design and manufacturing.
• Open up new possibilities based on printable materials.
• Lowering of financial burden in new product development.
• Breaking the constraints on design due to conventional manufacturing limitation.
• Encourage even more innovation and creativity.
42

43. 43
3D Printing Materials – Polymeric
Acrylonitrile Butadiene
Styrene (ABS)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polyvinylchloride (PVC)
Thermoplastic
Polycarbonates (PC)
Sources as listed on the last slide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PVC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarbonate

44. 44
3D printing Materials - Polymeric
Polyamide powder Resin
Plastic Powder
Polyaryletherketone
(PAEK) group powder
Photopolymer Resin
Rubber-like Resin
Sources listed on the last slide

45. 45
3D Printing Materials - Metallic
Alumide
Brass
Stainless Steel
Nickel Alloy
Sterling Silver
Cobalt-Chrome Alloy
Bronze Titanium Gold
www.shapeways.com/materials

46. 46
3D printing Novel Materials
i.materialise® Rubber-Like Material
[TPU 92A-1]
Textile Food
1. www.slashgear.com/3d-printing-gets-squishy-with-new-materials-from-materialise-and-shapeways-
31284481/
2. sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/abstracts/12/sbir/phase1/SBIR-12-1-H12.04-9357.html
3. www.3ders.org/articles/20131023-cu-boulder-researchers-develop-4-d-printing-technology-for-composite-
materials.html
Macronutrients
Flavors and texture modifiers
“Shape memory“ polymer fibers Living human cells
Fibers Tissue Engineering

47. What next for
3D Printing
47

48. What next for 3D printing?
48

49. What next for 3D printing?
Sources as listed on the last slide
3D printed Food
3D printed fabric
3D printed organ
3D printed personalized
product
49

50. HKPC Asian's First Rapid Prototyping Centre
 First SLA machine in HKPC in 1992
 One-stop services on product development & 3D
Printing through RPTC since 1995
www.hkpc.org/rptc
50

51. HKPC Asian's First Rapid Prototyping Centre
51
ATV 金錢世界2013-04-21

52. Print Yourself, Print your IDEA
52

53. Sources on graphics
53
• http://panashape.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/fdm-part-crop-300x217.png
• http://i00.i.aliimg.com/photo/v1/876645074/ABS_rapid_prototyping_ABS_3d_printing.jpg
• http://www.3d-alchemy.
co.uk/assets/album/3d%20printing%20in%20Polypropylene/slides/plunger_end_600.j
pg
• http://www.mediacopy.co.uk/gallery/3D%20Printing/slides/Polypropylene_3d_printed_spring_6
00x4.jpg
• http://www.javelin-tech.com/3d-printer/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/design-series-example80.
jpg
• http://cfnewsads.thomasnet.com/images/large/031/31021.jpg
• http://www.3ders.org/articles/20120101-experiment-polycarbonate-with-diy-3d-printer.html
• http://wpcore.mpf.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/DSC7244-Air-Inlet-
Manifold-ls.jpg
• http://www.within4walls.co.uk/userfiles/General%20Pages/Copy%20of%20l_67207.jpg
• http://www.redeyeondemand.com/images/mTangoPlus.jpg
• http://www.sculptcad.com/application/views/photo_gallery/photo_gallery_images/tango_face.jp
g

54. Q&A
Ir Bryan SO 蘇文傑
Senior Consultant
Biomedical, Optical and Precision Engineering Unit
Automation Service Division
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Email : bryanso@hkpc.org
Office : +(852) 2788-5548
Mobile : +(852) 9389-7133
54
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