Three-Dimensional Printing

(3D Printing)

By

Dr. Vineet Srivastava

3D Printing
• The Three-Dimensional Printing process was invented by MIT
for the rapid and flexible production of prototypes, parts and
tooling directly from CAD model.

• This is a very flexible system capable of creating parts of any

geometry and using any material ranging from ceramics to
metals to polymers to composite.

• The process is also capable of having local control over the

material composition, microstructure and surface texture.

• The 3D printing process uses ink jet printing technology to build

parts in layers.
• The machine spreads a layer of the powder from the feed box to
cover the surface of the build platform. The recoater then
moves across and spreads a uniform layer of powder.

• The printer then prints binder solution onto the loose powder,
forming the first cross-section.

• In some cases, laser is also used to bind the loose powder.

• The powder is glued together at where the binder is printed.

The remaining powder remains loose and supports the layers
that will be printed above.

• When the cross-section is completed, the build platform is

lowered. A new layer of powder is deposited on the platform
and the complete process is repeated.
• The part grows layer by layer in the build platform until the part
is completed surrounded and covered by loose powder.

• Once the part is completed, the excess powder is vacuumed and

the part is lifted from the bed.

• For a robust model that can be sanded, finished and painted,

the part can be infiltrated with the resin or urethane.
3D Printing with binder
3D Printing with laser head
Advantages
• High Speed: Each layer is printed in seconds thereby reducing
prototyping time

• Simple to operate: The system is based on the standard

components developed for the for ink-jet printer, resulting in
dependable printer.

• No wastage of material: Powder that is not printed can be reused

in next cycle.

• Versatile: Parts can be infiltrated to produce parts with wide variety

of mechanical properties to serve a wide range of purposes.

• Colour: Complex colour schemes can be incorporated in RP parts.

Disadvantages
• Relative to SLS process, parts built are much weaker, thereby
limiting the functional testing capabilities.

• Parts built by 3D Printing have a relatively poorer surface finish

and post-processing is frequently required.

• The parts produced by this process has very low dimensional

tolerance.
THANK YOU