How does a 3-D Printer operate?

[precision1]

Well not all are same we don't use rolls of materials like simple printers

Ours at work are pretty amazing

They don't work how y'all are saying.they have a build plate and they draw up and down using connection sprues pulling liquid from a vat(pool of liquid) then you scrape them off build plate and detach all the sprues....this is for green stage

All the materials have to be thoroughly cleaned with 99% isopropyl rubbing alcohol

Our materials are all light cure .cured in light boxes with glycerin or water baths with special LED bulbs.

It's all cad cam design and every single one we make is unique and one of a kind in a design software..

I'm still old school analog but I can design and understand how they work.it still takes someone who knows what they are doing to design correctly... For now until Ai is able to do it by itself.we'll see.


Pretty cool I want begin to talk about our milling machines and type materials we are milling.cool stuff

We have multiple scanners and a X-ray scanner also.crazy technology

 

[precision1]

i can also scan broken things around the house and scan it and print it out as a replacement parts..

I can scan say wedding ring band and it have it printed in wax then invest and cast in old school investment casting then cast in crucible with anything from non precious metal to chrome cobalt to 22k gold.we have casting machines also but they are getting obsolete...


There's tons of stuff coming technology from printing and milling machines

 

[urbanrifleman]

Picture looking at a book from the side. The nozzle extrudes a very fine layer of melted plastic. And it builds vertically.

I have an entire product line of shooting accessories. It's how I started my company actually.

 

[centershot]

Thanks to everyone for posting. The U tube is great, but can someone show a picture of their personal machine? The video is of a commercial one that is not in a hobbyist's home.

 

[Chaotik]

Thanks to everyone for posting. The U tube is great, but can someone show a picture of their personal machine? The video is of a commercial one that is not in a hobbyist's home.

Attached is my 2 home 3d printers... Bambu lab A1mini on the bottom and a Bambu lab P1s with AMS on the top. It is currently printing a chrono holder for @big john 5394 .

 

[Dave Berg]

Here's a pic of the most common hobby 3D printer. About $250, maybe half that if you find a good sale.



Edit; I just re-read your post and realized I missed what the input material is. For most hobby printers it's a spool of plastic filament, usually 1.75 mm in diameter, made of PLA (Polylactic Acid) usually made from corn and virtually always from China. Looks a lot like colored weed-whacker line.

The X position (left/right) is set by a belt that moves the extruder left or right (the thing in the center of the crossbar that melts and squirts the plastic) . Y position is set by moving the print surface/heated bed forward or back. Z axis is set by turning a threaded shaft in the vertical support. The print (cup or bear or vase or what have you) is made starting at an X by Y position with Z set about 0.2 or 0.4mm above the print surface and "squirting" the melted plastic while the surface is moving under it. Once the first layer is complete the Y axis is indexed by the thickness of each layer (again often 0.2 or 0.4 mm) and the next layer is started on top of the first. This goes on and on, printed object gets taller until it's finished.

The plastic for most hobby grade stuff is usually PLA or polylactic acid most often made from corn. It's cheap, usually around $8/pound for basic stuff but more if you want glitter, glow in the dark, stuff like that.

Some limitations of a printer like this: Only a single color filament unless you get really good or lucky with changing spools with the printer paused. Max width and depth is around 8 inches. Max height is a little over 9. Not real fast. I printed three dozen battery powered luminaries for my granddaughters wedding and they took over 12 hours each. Mine came in kit form that requires following a YouTube video to assemble.

I would say a computer is a necessity. Even with the appropriate .STL file (Stereolithography) that CAD systems generate and many are available free you still need what's known as a slicer which generates the code for your specific machine set up the way you want it (layer depth, etc.)

It takes time and patience to get the printer properly set up to print that kazoo or flower pot but then it's the machine on it's own which isn't very interesting after a couple hours. But between my daughters and their daughters I'm given plenty of opportunity to keep all three of mine busy.

 

[dontpanic]

Thanks to everyone for posting. The U tube is great, but can someone show a picture of their personal machine? The video is of a commercial one that is not in a hobbyist's home.

Here is my machine. An Ender Pro. Basically the starter machine for most people. I paid $100 for it with a coupon from my son's school. Lot's of upgrades available for it and a lot of fun to play with. I am currently printing new running for my 14" Delta bandsaw. The originals basically self destructed. It is 50 years old.

For programs TinkerCad or Fusion360 are excellent choices. Sometimes they decide to charge but they are usually free for anat