3D PRINTING Imagination to Reality

3D printing or additive manufacturing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a computer design file. It’s similar to the 2D CAD model which came into existence long back. 3D printing become most popular among Hobbyists, Industrialists and Product Designers as they could make a prototype of their design. So is it so tough to design?, No, many 3D design softwares released to engage the non engineering people to just design their prototypes using drag and drop options.

Is 3D printing new concept?

No, 3D printing is not new concept. It existed before 90’s and called in the name of Rapid Prototyping (RP). What’s more interesting is the first patent for Rapid Prototyping is filed by DR. Kodama, in Japan in May 1980.

The first working 3D printing model was developed by Charles Hull, co-founders of 3D Systems, Now a dominant player in 3D printing Industry. The first system by Charles was based on the process called stereolithography, method in which layers are added by curing photopolymers with ultraviolet light lasers

In 1989 Scott Crump, one of the founder of Stratasys Inc. filed a patent for Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). The proprietary technology that is still held by the company today, but is also the process used by many of the entry-level machines, based on the open source RepRap model, that are prolific today. The FDM patent was issued to Stratasys in 1992.

Modern printers uses different process such as Selective laser sintering (SLS), Fused deposition modeling (FDM), Photo-reactive resin with a UV laser or other similar power source one layer at a time and Stereolithography (SLA). Among all Selective laser sintering (SLS) and Fused deposition modeling (FDM) are most commonly used technologies.

3D printing: Is not complex as you think!

First step is to make a digital model for your design. Many 3D design softwares available to design but compatibility to the specific 3D printer model should be checked before designing. Once the 3D design is done, the design is converted into 1000’s of horizontal lines. These slices are read by the printer to create 3D model. Most of the work will be taken care by the advanced 3D model softwares available in market today.

Different file format created for uploading into 3D printer such as, OBJ, STL, VRML etc.,. OBJ file format represents 3D geometry and most printers and softwares supports OBJ file format. The files can be uploaded to printer via Wifi, USB, SD card.

This buzz in 3D printing ignites different researches and R & D team to come up with different standards and printing methods. This could cause compatibility issue with different manufacturers. To address this issue in 2010, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) group “ASTM F42 – Additive Manufacturing”, came up with set of standards for 3D printing or Additive Manufacturing. They classified 3D printing processes into 7 categories according to These seven processes are:

• Vat Photopolymerisation

• Material Jetting

• Binder Jetting

• Material Extrusion

• Powder Bed Fusion

• Sheet Lamination

• Directed Energy Deposition

Each process uses different type of printing method. Stereolithography is most commonly used and well known method for 3D printing. The process uses the metallic or non-metallic material to build the 3D objects from scratch slice by slice. The process simplified version can be seen in the image below.

3D printing: Future of Design

3D printing market has many potential areas. It could make significant contribution either direct or indirect to the product design. Other than product design it could even come into every home to help the hobbyists and designers to come up with instant 3D model and visualize it.

3D printing market is expected to reach USD$9.6Billion by end of 2020. The advantage of additive manufacturing includes the reduced time for Product Design & Time-to-market. Many open source standards allows the major people to adopt to 3D printing as it reduces the cost of printers.

Some researchers around the world started using 3D printing for some interesting applications. Here a chinese company built entire house in just 45 days! Yes you read it correct, only in 45 days. It could even withstand earthquake upto 8.0.

One step ahead of this Local Motors, the Arizona-based automaker built a self driving bus called Olli. Massive 3D printer used to create different parts of autonomous bus and then integrated by the special designing team.

3D Printing Adoption in India

India with its focus to become global manufacturing hud is expected to adopt to the new trends easily. Earlier in 90’s the basic 3D printer cost in India was above 1.5 lakh. Post 2012 India started to adopt the open source 3D printing standards. Indian business people took advantage of this climate and started to tie-up with global printer manufacturers and positioned themselves as resellers in India.

Notably, Arvind Nadig who began to sell Indian made 3D printers to small business , professionals and designers at cost of 1.2 lakhs. LBD Makers, Chandigarh based company sell entry-level 3D printers that cost between 75000 to 1.5 lakhs.

Entry-level 3D printer from LBD Makers

Constant support from Government to “Make in India” and Start-ups looking into different model will help the 3D printing adoption in India. It could change the people live their life like a blind person able to feel the photograph, Body parts made specially for the patient, Less pollution in manufacturing.