Dr. N.

Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

MEPE34
Additive Manufacturing

Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam

Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
National Institute of Technology
Tiruchirappalli – 15
Email: nsiva@nitt.edu
Mobile: 9443649278

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

3Dimensional Printing

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

3Dimensional Printing

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

3Dimensional Printing

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)

building platform [1]

feed roller [2]
heated lamination roller [3]
laser cutter [4]
National Institute of Technology, Trichy
 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM)

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Multijet Modelling (MJM)

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Multijet Modelling (MJM)

In PolyJet or MultiJet Modeling (PJM/MJM), liquid acrylic polymers are layered onto a
build platform with a printhead with one or more nozzles and cured by exposure to UV
lamps. The printhead moves across the platform in paths pre-defined by a CAD model
during the process until a layer is completely printed. The UV lamps are located
directly on the printhead and cure the plastic as soon as it has been applied. The
intensity of the UV light is adjusted so that the uppermost layer does not cure
completely, which achieves a stable connection between the superimposed layers.
Once the last level has been printed, the UV lamps travel over the entire component
several times to complete curing.

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Multijet Modelling (MJM)

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

What is “Drop-on-Demand” Printing?

In industrial inkjet printing, there are two basic
kinds of printheads: Continuous Inkjet (CIJ)
heads and Drop-on-Demand (DOD) heads. At
Engineered Printing Solutions, we specialize in
DOD industrial inkjet printers. What is the
difference between the two technologies, and
what are the advantages and disadvantages of
each? This post will explore these
questions. But first, a quick explanation of the
two differing technologies.

As the name implies, CIJ printheads dispense a continuous stream of

ink. The ink that is not needed for the print job is collected and
recirculated back to the reservoir. With drop-on-demand inkjet
printing, the printhead dispenses ink only when needed. Drop-on-
demand technology, when combined with variable drop sizes, permits
greyscale printing, creating both photorealistic gradients and also vivid
blacks, even on porous surfaces such as corrugated cardboard.

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

What is “Drop-on-Demand” Printing?

Continuous inkjet printing is an older technology. The advantages that it provides
include high drop velocity, permitting longer throw distances and faster throughput
rates. Additionally, since the nozzle is in continuous use, clogging is not usually a
problem. Drawbacks to CIJ printing include a high degree of wasted ink due to
recirculation, and also the need for solvent-based inks in CIJ printheads.

Drop-on-demand inkjet printing, on the other hand, uses only enough ink to
create the image, and drop-on-demand print heads can create gradients and
greyscale effects at effective resolutions of 1200 dpi and higher. With the use of
fast-curing UV-LED based inks, drop-on-demand inkjet printers can match the
throughput rates of CIJ systems at a fraction of the unit cost.

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Binder Jetting
The binder jetting process uses two
materials; a powder based material and a
binder. The binder acts as an adhesive
between powder layers. The binder is usually
in liquid form and the build material in
powder form. A print head moves
horizontally along the x and y axes of the
machine and deposits alternating layers of
the build material and the binding material.
After each layer, the object being printed is
lowered on its build platform.
Due to the method of binding, the material
characteristics are not always suitable for
structural parts and despite the relative
speed of printing, additional post processing
can add significant time to the overall
process.

National Institute of Technology, Trichy

 Dr. N. Siva Shanmugam, Department of Mechanical Engineering

As with other powder based manufacturing methods, the object being printed is self-
supported within the powder bed and is removed from the unbound powder once
completed. The technology is often referred to as 3DP technology and is copyrighted
under this name.

Binder Jetting – Step by Step

1. Powder material is spread over the build platform using a roller.

2. The print head deposits the binder adhesive on top of the
powder where required.
3. The build platform is lowered by the model’s layer thickness.
4. Another layer of powder is spread over the previous layer. The
object is formed where the powder is bound to the liquid.
5. Unbound powder remains in position surrounding the object.
6. The process is repeated until the entire object has been made.
Metals: Stainless steel
Polymers: ABS, PA, PC
Ceramics: Glass
All three types of materials can be used with the
binder jetting process.

National Institute of Technology, Trichy