3D Printer

3D printing is the popular name for additive manufacturing (AM), a process known also as rapid prototyping. It consists of a construction process based on the deposition of thin layers one after another. The thickness of each layer determines the precision of the object in comparison with the model created with the help of a design program such as CAD - computer-aided design.

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In the beginning, this technology was used to create models of products in order to evaluate the design or the utility of the object to be created. However, with its technological development, nowadays it is used to create numerous products.

The first step in the additive manufacturing is the creation of the model in the CAD or a similar program. Then, the format is converted to one that the 3D printing machine can read: STR. This step is followed by the transfer of the file to the machine and the setting of the parameters like extrusion temperature, print speed etc. Then, comes the printing itself and then the removal of the printed object of the bqse and post-process like sanding or painting for example. 

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The advantages of AM are: the fast building ; the single step manufacturing; the easy and automated process; the design flexibility; and the non expensive machinery.

Nowadays there are many STR models avaiable to download on websites, facilitating even more the process. One example is the Thingiverse.

 

The following videos illustrate a build of a traffic cone in time lapse using the same 3-D printer used in this project. 

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