The document discusses 3D printing, including both commercial and consumer 3D printers. It notes that commercial 3D printers have been around since the 1980s and can use a variety of materials like thermoplastics, metals, and ceramics. Consumer 3D printers started when patents expired, allowing for printers like RepRap that use fused filament deposition with thermoplastics. The document discusses common 3D printing materials, software, and predicts that new patents expiring next year will enable new generations of printers using metals and ceramics.

1. 0
The World of 3D
Printers
Philip Wheat
Singularity Innovations

2. 1
Welcome to Houston TechFest
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to disturb others.
• Thanks to our Diamond Sponsors:
Thank you for being a part of the
7th Annual Houston TechFest!

3. 2
Information
• Speaker presentation slides will be available at
www.houstontechfest.org within a week
• Don’t forget to complete the Bingo card to be
eligible for door prizes

4. 3
So why are you here?
• I already have a Printer
• I saw one and want one
• I saw it on the web
• I saw it on the news
• I saw it on the schedule and though it was
interesting
• I didn’t have anything else in this slot and didn’t
want to sit in the common area

5. 4
What are we talking about?
• There’s actually two paths to this story
– Commercial 3D printing/Rapid Prototyping
– What you’ve been seeing in the media (consumer level
printers)
• There’s an additional world of subtractive
manufacturing that’s happening but isn’t getting
as much press
– CNC Routers
– CNC Milling

6. 5
Commercial Printers
• Commercial printers have been around since the
80’s (by some measures earlier than that)
• Commercial printers have a wide variety of
materials
– Thermoplastics
– Metals
– Ceramics
– Photo Cure Epoxies

7. 6
Consumer Printers
• Consumer printers started with the expiration of
the FFD Patents (Fused Filament Deposition)
• RepRap/Fab@Home projects were early projects
in this area
• Based upon precise X/Y/Z control of an extruder
• Extruders normally work with specific ranges of
thermoplastics
• Commercial printers are starting to flood the
property

8. 7
Materials
• Consumer printers
– ABS. Flexible. Strong. Warps.
– PLA. Brittle. Strong. Stable. Compostable.
– Nylon. Flexible. Strong. Stable. Temperamental.
– Wood. Brittle. Weaker. Stable. Temperamental.
• Blends of materials to provide various capabilities.
• Continuous advances in materials mixes.

9. 8
Software
• Replicator-G is the open source champion
• Multiple slicer releases enable different
capabilities
• Makerware is another common software package
• Design software tends to be what you’re
comfortable with. Sketchup, Inventor, SolidWorks
– most if it’s based on your budget.

10. 9
Next Year
• Next February 4 more patents expire.
• Selective Material Sintering is going to create a
new generation of printers.
• Provides capabilities for Metals and other new
materials such as ceramics.

11. 10
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