Plastic 3D printing
Various types of plastics can be used as printing materials. The most popular is ABS plastic which is often sold in filament form. This plastic is not biodegradable and requires a heated nozzle when being extruded through the hot end of the 3D printer to melt into a liquid state so it can be deposited layer by layer onto the platform. Polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) are two common examples for 3D printer filament material, while nylon and polycarbonate are two other variants that fall into this broad category.
Structure and properties of plastics:All plastics are made from long carbon molecules bonded together into chains known as polymers. These chains form a carbon network known as a 'resin' through which solvents are able to flow without dissolving the polymer chains and without causing chain breakages. Hence, some plastics are soluble in a solvent like acetone, while others are insoluble. Some possible solvents used to dissolve polymers are alcohols (methanol and ethanol), ketones (acetone), or esters such as acetates.
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PLA | PLA is biodegradable, cheap, and is quite stable when exposed to light, humidity, and temperatures during printing. |
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Resin | Resin is a plastic material, which is melted and cured to form the solid-state by adding a hardener. Resin is used in 3D printing to print the layer one on another. |
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ABS | ABS plastic is very tough and flexible. It has a high impact strength. |
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Nylon | Nylon is one of the strongest plastic materials. It can fluoresce under UV irradiation and it is resistant to solvents and water in general, but not under extreme conditions. |
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PETG | PET is available in a wide array of colors and resins. It has also a high-temperature resistance and good electrical insulating properties. |
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TPU | TPU is a polymer which has excellent abrasion resistance. It also provides flexibility, toughness, and low friction. |
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ASA | ASA is known as an eco-friendly polymer, which can be recycled. It is preferred in outdoor applications. |
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PEI | PEI is a tough and flexible thermoplastic, which can be recycled. It is engineering plastic & is flame retardant. |
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PC | PC is resistant to acids, alkalis, oils, solvents, heat, water, and oils. It is highly durable & possesses high strength. |
Metal 3D printing
All metals, including gold, silver, and aluminum are currently used as 3D printing materials. Metals in 3D printing can vary widely in their properties, depending on several factors, including their chemical composition (e.g. copper alloys), physical properties such as strength and stiffness (e.g. nickel alloys), or chemical and mechanical properties (e.g. titanium). Moreover, the melting point of a metal is not the same for each metal, making it difficult to specify which metals will work best in a given application without extensive testing and experimentation.
Metal parts produced with FDM machines are easily manufactured and will maintain strength during repeated use or over extended periods of time. Additionally, metal prints do not experience the same amount of wear from friction as plastic prints on nylon-based machines.
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Aluminum | Aluminium is the most widely used metal in 3D printing. It can be found in high-performance/high-strength applications, such as aircraft and aerospace, medical equipment manufacturing, etc. |
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Stainless steel | Stainless steel is an extremely versatile metal that can be used for virtually any application from medical equipment to aircraft manufacturing. |
Plastic CNC machining
Plastic CNC machine systems are capable of machining plastic to very fine detail. Due to their relatively high flexibility and low weight, CNC machines are well-suited for creating products with intricate features. The CNC machine is trained to follow the CNC or G-code files that are generated by a CAD program such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or Pro/ENGINEER. Plastics that have high rigidity, such as nylon, are ideal for plastic CNC machining.
To ensure the quality of the finished product, during outfitting and commissioning of plastic CNC machine systems that use plastics as material, a trained operator should run each process a minimum of twice before releasing it into production to assure that all steps are performed exactly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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POM (Delrin/Acetal) | POM, or polyoxymethylene, is a thermoplastic that is used in the manufacture of kitchenware and other household products. POM is better suited to long run parts because it has greater strength than ABS. |
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PEEK | This is one of the strongest plastics available for 3D printing. It has good electrical insulating properties, and it can be extruded into thin pipes with excellent flexibility. |
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PVDF | PVDF, or polyvinylidene fluoride, is one of the most durable plastics available for 3D printing. This material has great electrical insulating properties, and it can be extruded into thin pipes with excellent flexibility. |
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Polyethylene | Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic that has a high-temperature resistance, low flexibility, and good electrical insulating properties, making it suitable for applications where strength and rigidity are desired. |
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G-10 | G-10 is a composite that is used in the molding of aircraft components. It has good electrical insulating properties, and it can be extruded into thin pipes with excellent flexibility. |
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FR4 | FR4 is a composite that is used in the molding of aircraft components. It has good electrical insulating properties, and it can be extruded into thin pipes with excellent flexibility. |
Metal CNC machining
A wide range of metals can be CNC machined. One of the common materials used in this process is aluminum, but steel and other metals are also used in various applications.
Metal CNC machines are capable of machining metal to very fine detail. Due to their relatively high flexibility and low weight, CNC machines are well-suited for creating products with intricate features
| Name | Description | |
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Titanium | Titanium is a strong metal with low density, thus making it desirable for CNC machining applications. |
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Stainless steel | There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form. |
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Beryllium | Beryllium is an extremely light metal and is a strong material that can be easily CNC milled for the creation of complex parts. |
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Magnesium | Magnesium is a soft metal that is commonly used to create basic tools, with its alloys being more frequently used in 3D printing due to their attributes of: high strength, good conductivity, and low cost. |
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Hastelloy | Hastelloy is a specialty metal alloy that has great resistance to corrosion and oxidation. |
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Nickel silver | Nickel silver is a silver-colored alloy that consists of copper, nickel, and zinc. It has a bright color and a high electrical conductivity. |
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Tungsten | Tungsten is a strong dense metal that has the highest melting point of all metals, and due to its ability to withstand high temperatures, it is often used in products where durability is required. |