what's a 3D printer and what you could do with it. here's an overview of this new technology, with applications, example and solutions

1. 3D PRINTING3D PRINTING
INTRODUCTION AND EXAMPLESINTRODUCTION AND EXAMPLES

2. FINITURA3D PRINTING
A combination of
technologies that,
starting from a virtual
3D-model, realize a solid
object.
The processes are
various, but all use
layering as a printing
technique: The model is
divided in several
sections, and is printed
layer by layer with a solid
material until the object
is created.

3. RAPID PROTOTYPING

4. SLS
SLS involves the use of
a high power laser (for
example, a carbon
dioxide laser) to fuse
small particles of plastic,
metal (direct metal laser
sintering), ceramic, or
glass powders into a
mass that has a desired
three-dimensional
shape.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w
iki/Selective_laser_sinteri
ng

5. SLA
Stereolithography is an
additive manufacturing
process which employs a
vat of liquid ultraviolet
curable photopolymer
"resin" and an ultraviolet
laser to build parts'
layers one at a time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w
iki/Stereolithography

6. Z-CORP
http://www.zcorp.com/en
/home.aspx
It's an enterprise that
own a prototype
technology that works
printing on powder. The
final piece can be white
or full color

7. FDM
The model or part is
produced by extruding
small beads of
thermoplastic material to
form layers as the
material hardens
immediately after
extrusion from the nozzle
http://en.wikipedia.org/w
iki/Fused_deposition_mod
eling

8. OPENSOURCE FDM:
REPRAP
This was the first project of
an opensource 3D printer
http://reprap.org/wiki/M
ain_Page

9. REPRAP
WORLD
The opensorce nature of
the project allows the
development of a lot of
other 3D printers
http://reprap.org/mediawik
i/images/e/ec/RFT_timeline
2006-2012.png

10. OTHER 3D
PRINTERS
Many other projects
came from the original
reprap, without being
necessary related to the
same design.
Sometimes they share
just the philosophy (DIY,
low cost, opensource,
etc.)

11. YOUR 3D
PRINTER
It's a Sharebot NG with a
double extruder

12. DIY 3D BIG
PRINTER
One of the biggest DIY
3D printers on the
market is the Jumbo 3D-
Printer PRotos X400
It comes from a reprap
but it has a working area
400x400x350 mm
https://grrf.de/en/blog/20
12/11/22/jumbo-3d-printer-
protos-x400

13. 3D PRINTER +
MILLING
MACHINE
Power wasp is an
example of a
multifunctional machine,
it's a 3D printer that can
become a milling
machine
http://www.wasproject.it/w
/power-wasp/

14. ROSTOCK MAX
A new concept of 3D
printer. Instead of being
a cartesian printer it was
a delta printer. In theory
it should be able to print
faster with lower
vibrations
http://www.indiegogo.com/Rostoc
http://reprap.org/wiki/Rostock_M

15. BIG DELTA
Wasp is developing also
a bigger version of the
delta 3D printer that can
prind clay structure
(buildings, houses, etc.)
http://www.wasproject.it/w
/power-wasp/

16. SLA 3D
PRINTER
First SLA project
“prosumer”.
http://formlabs.com/

17. SLS FIRST
TESTS
Experiments on SLS by
Sharebot
http://www.sharebot.it/

18. LOW COST
METAL PRINTER
Printing metal is a pretty
expensive and complex
process. An alternative
to the SLS or Direct
Metal Print is this
process, based on
welding machines.
http://www.3ders.org//arti
cles/20141030-weld3d-
working-on-development-of-
low-cost-3d-metal-
printing.html

19. BIG
PRINTERS
There are professionals
3D printers that arrive to
a working volume of
1000mm x 800mm x
500mm
http://objet.com/3d-
printers/connex/objet1000

20. STAMPA DI
CERAMICA
Unfold design products:
some example of
ceramic 3D printers,
modifying a REPRAP
http://www.unfold.be/page
s/projects/items/stratigrap
hic-manufactury

21. 3D PRINTER
FOR
CHOCOLATE
A 3D printer designed to
print with “fluids”.
It prints chocolate as well
as resin, but it works with
silicone or concrete too.
http://www.psfk.com/2012
/01/3d-printer-chocolate-
cupcake.html

22. MATERIALS

23. ABS E PLA
The most commons
materials for 3D printers:
ABS and PLA.
The first has good
mechanical properties,
but it's harder to printer
(in particular for large
pieces).
The second one is a
biopolymer, available
also clean, but it melt at
a lower temperature and
it's more fragile.

24. NYLON
It's a thermopolymer with
very good mechanical
properties, useful for
gears, structures, and
mechanical pieces in
general
It's still not so used, and
not so easy to print.
http://taulman3d.com/ind
ex.html

25. PRINTABLE
WOOD
It's a mix of PLA and
wood powder. There is a
particular plug-in for the
slicing software that
change the extruder
temperatureto give to the
objects the typical stripe
effect
http://www.3ders.org/art
icles/20121105-finding-
the-proper-temperature-
ranges-for-3d-printing-

26. APPLICAZIONS

27. PERSONAL
FABRICATION
The most important
application is the
“personal fabrication”:
the design and the
production of product
with very small markets
http://www.shapeways.com
/blog/archives/1853-The-
10-Most-Favorited-3D-
Printed-Products-of-2012-on-

28. PRINTED
BRICKS
This project aims to print
bricks with clay or
concrete.
This allows new shapes
and possibilities for the
architects.
http://buildingbytes.info/

29. ELECTRIC
GUITARS
The bodies of these
guitars or basses are 3D
printed. It's possibile to
buy from cubify.com
http://cubify.com/products/
guitars/index.aspx

30. PRINTED
BODY PARTS
A very important and
interesting application is
the medical one.
Beside the possibility to
print directly organic
tissue, there are
biocompatible materials
like titanium.
http://www.3ders.org/articl
es/20120203-83-year-old-
woman-got-3d-printed-
mandible.html

31. MEDICAL
APPLICATION
http://www.3ders.org/articl
es/20130103-3d-printing-
helps-develop-the-world-
smallest-hearing-aid.html

32. FUNCTIONAL
PROSTHETICS
Prosthetics need to be
modified for every
customer. It's also a
pretty expensive object
to make, in particular in
some countries and for
kids.
http://comingupshorthan
ded.com/

33. FUNCTIONAL
PROTHESIS 2
An italian start-up that
designed bionic hands,
based on 3D printing and
Arduino.
http://www.youbionic.com
/

34. 3D VENDING
MACHINES
A Virginia Tech vending
machine. The idea is to
don't have products but
machines that make
what you need in real
time
http://www.dreams.me.vt.e
du/dreamvendor/index.html

35. REPAIRING
OLD
OBJECTS
Sometimes it's almost
impossible or very
expensive to find spare
parts of old object. In
these cases 3D printing
is an interesting
alternative
http://www.3ders.org/articl
es/20121014-replacing-
antique-violin-parts-using-
3d-printing.html

36. PIECES FOR
THE “LOST
WAX”
PROCESS
PLA can be used as a
wax for the lost wax
process
http://3dtopo.com/lostPLA/

37. FINAL
PRODUCTS
PRODUCTION
Alcuni pezzi stampati in
3D vengono già venduti
come prodotti finiti. È il
caso di queste cuffie
audio
http://labs.teague.com/201
2/10/01/prototype-as-
product-1330-printable-
headphones/

38. MYKITA &
MONCLER'S
Occhiali prodotti in
stereolitografia su misura
per chi li indossa
http://www.eyespectacle.
com/2012/10/Mylon-
Mykita.html

39. 3D PRINT IN
FASHION
The design studio
“Continuum fashion” has
been one of the fist
working with 3D printing
for accessories and
shoes.
http://www.continuumfashi
on.com/shoes.php

40. http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.shapeways.com/blog/
http://3dprint.com/
http://www.3ders.org
SOURCES