Schlagwort: 3D printing materials

  • FDM vs SLA – 2018 3D Printing Technology Shootout

    FDM vs SLA – 2018 3D Printing Technology Shootout

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    Check out our FDM vs SLA Shootout. We simply explain the differences between these 3D printing technologies, and which to use for which application.

    FDM vs SLA: Explained


    Prusa i3 MK3
    The Prusa i3 MK3 is one of the finest consumer 3D printers you can get. It uses FDM technology to get things printed. (Source: ALL3DP)

    FDM is the abbreviation for Fused Deposition Modeling. In FDM, a strand of material (in this case: thermoplastics) is deposited in layers to create a 3D printed object. During printing, the plastic filament is fed through a hot extruder where the plastic gets soft enough that it can be precisely placed by the print head. The melted filament is then deposited layer by layer in the print area to build the workpiece.

    There is a broad choice of FDM 3D printers for every budget, starting at a few hundred dollars. Filament spools are relatively inexpensive, starting from $25 per kilo. These factors made FDM printers so popular among makers and home users.

    You can find the best FDM 3D printers here: 14 Best 3D Printers of Summer 2018


    SLA is the abbreviation for Stereolithography Apparatus, or simply stereolithography. Like FDM, SLA is an additive method: Models are built layer by layer. SLA, however, uses a curable photopolymer – typically a liquid resin – that is hardened by applying focused light or UV light (this process is called curing). SLA printers usually build the models from top to bottom, the build platform lifts the model upwards, out of the resin bath.

    The light source is either a laser or a digital projector (the technology is often called DLP – Digital Light Processing). Lasers „draw“ the layers; in DLP, an entire slice (a two-dimensional layer) of the model is projected at once into the resin bath.

    Laser SLA printers are usually slower than DLP models because of the small surface of the laser beam. In DLP printers, each layer hardens faster as the entire image of one layer is projected onto the resin. Moreover, DLP projectors are more reliable and easier to maintain than customized laser systems as the projectors use the same technology as business and home cinema projectors. The printed models have to undergo a post-processing process, though.

    Overall, there are less budget-friendy SLA machines than FDM 3D printers. Resin printers can often be found in a professional context, although the prices came down in the last years.

    You can find the best SLA printers here: 25 Best Resin (DLP/SLA) 3D Printers of Summer 2018

    FDM vs SLA: Compared

    FDM vs SLA: Materials and colors


    FDM printers typically use PLA, PETG, or ABS filament. Most FDM printers can handle nylon, PVA, TPU and a variety of PLA blends (mixed with wood, ceramics, metals, carbon fiber, etc.) Filaments are available in various colors. Some manufacturers even offer a service to manufacture RAL colors by demand.

    Most FDM printers can use standard filament rolls that are available in two standardized sizes (diameter: 1.75 or 2.85mm) from various sources. A few printers use proprietary filaments or filament boxes – these are typically more expensive than standard rolls but deliver better quality.

    Owners of SLA printers have only a more limited pallet of resin materials. Quite often these are proprietary and cannot be exchanged between printers from different makers. The choice of colors is also limited. Formlabs, for example, only offers black, white, grey and clear resins. On the other hand, they offer more durable or highly specialized materials (i.e. dental, heat-resistant, or flexible resins) for industrial uses.

    FDM vs SLA: Precision and Smoothness


    SLA printers such as the Moonray print with high precision – you get details you wouldn't see in a FDM printed object (image: Sprintray, the creators of Moonray)
    SLA printers print with high precision – you get details you won‘t see in most FDM-printed objects (image: Sprintray, the creators of Moonray)

    In FDM printers, the printer’s resolution is a factor of the nozzle size and the precision of the extruder movements (X/Y axis). The precision and smoothness of the printed models is also influenced by other factors: As the bonding force between the layers is lower than in SLA printing and as the weight of upper layers may squeeze the layers below, a number of printing problems may ensue (e.g. warping, misalignment of layers, shifting of layers, shrinking of the lower parts – for more details see this article). These compromise the precision and surface smoothness.

    SLA printers consistently produce higher resolution objects and are more accurate than FDM printers. The reason: The resolution is primarily determined by the optical spot size either of the laser or the projector – and that is really small. Moreover, during printing less force is applied to the model. This way, the surface finish is much smoother. SLA prints show details an FDM printer could never produce.

    In fact, the fine details an SLA printer produces is the main reason why one would consider getting an SLA printer.

    FDM vs SLA: Adhesion/removal after 3D printing

    Adhesion to the print bed is a topic when using an FDM printer. Printed objects can be relatively easily removed – if the object sticks to the print bed, a palette knife will do.

    In SLA printers, it can be difficult to remove the printed model from the print platform and often there is a lot of resin left on the platform that you have to remove using a palette knife – and this takes more effort than on an FDM printer. Industrial printer manufacturer Carbon3D even came up with a new idea: They use oxygen to create so-called “dead zone” around the printed model (the oxygen keeps the resin at the surface of the model from hardening).

    FDM vs SLA: Postprocessing 

    After printing on an FDM printer you need to remove supports (if the model has overhangs) and excess plastic either with your fingers or a cutting tool. Sanding helps to get smoother surfaces. More on supports here: 3D Printing Supports Guide – All You Need to Know

    Models printed on an SLA printer such as the Form 1+ are covered in sticky resin that has to be removed in a bath of isopropyl alcohol. This is why you get rubber gloves with most SLA printers – to protect your fingers from the resin and alcohol. Depending on the model, supports may be required, too – removing them is as easy as with FDM printers.

    FDM vs SLA: 3D printing costs

    Consumable in FDM printers are nozzles and filament rolls. As already mentioned, most FDM printers use the same standardized filament rolls, prices for filament have been declining in the last years. 1 kg of PLA filament can be bought for $25, specialized filaments cost more.

    In SLA printers, not only resin is consumed: In SLA printers, the resin tank has to be replaced after 2-3 liters of resin have been printed. The reason is that the tank gets smudged inside over time so the light source is no longer able to precisely project the image in the resin. Depending on the manufacturer and model, resin tanks will set you back around $40 to $80.

    Another component that needs replacing from time to time is the build platform as it gets marred when the user removes the printed model; a platform can cost up to $100.

    The resin is also costly: 1 liter of standard resin will set you back $ 80 to $150.

    FDM vs SLA: Which One to Use?

    In a nutshell: If high precision and smooth finish is your top priority and if cost is of no or of minor importance for a print job, use an SLA printer. If cost does play a role, use an FDM printer.

    When to use FDM

    When to use SLA

    • When intricate details and/or a very smooth surface finish is crucial

    • When strength and durability of the model is not crucial (models made from resin may suffer when exposed to the sun for extended periods)

    • For creating molds for casting to facilitate mass-production (e.g. by jewelry or toy makers)

    When to use a 3D printing service

    There’s a third option that can save you a lot of money. You don’t have to buy a 3D printer to get something printed, you can use a 3D printing service. You can get more information on 3D printing services in this article: 33 Best Online 3D Printing Services of 2018

    All3DP also offers a service that lets you compare the costs of popular 3D printing services.

    The featured image is a collage from two images by Stefan Schweihofer and Hans Braxmeier, via Pixabay.


    License: The text of „FDM vs SLA – 2018 3D Printing Technology Shootout“ by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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  • Researchers Develop 3D Printed Metamaterials That Can Control Vibration and Sound

    Researchers Develop 3D Printed Metamaterials That Can Control Vibration and Sound

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Researchers from USC Viterbi School of Engineering have developed 3D printed metamaterials that can switch between active control and passive states, enabling control of acoustic and optical waves.

    A team of researchers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering has just developed acoustic metamaterials that can be controlled via magnetic fields. While 3D printed metamaterials are traditionally fixed in their geometry, this newly developed material can be remotely  switched on and off.

    The materials have a precisely designed geometric structure, and showcase unique properties like the ability to block sound waves and mechanical vibrations. Using the magnetic field, the 3D printed metamaterials can be altered between active control and passive states.

    “When you fabricate a structure, the geometry cannot be changed, which means the property is fixed. The idea here is, we can design something very flexible so that you can change it using external controls,” explained Qiming Wang, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at USC Viterbi.

    Applications for this newly developed material include noise cancellation, vibration control and sonic cloaking. The team also suggests that these metamaterials could be used to improve existing communication systems.

    These metamaterials are able to control environmental sounds and structural vibrations, both of which share similar waveforms. By 3D printing deformable material that contain iron particles in a lattice structure, the team was able to use the magnetic field to compress the metamaterials.

    “You can apply an external magnetic force to deform the structure and change the architecture and the geometry inside it. Once you change the architecture, you change the property. We wanted to achieve this kind of freedom to switch between states. Using magnetic fields, the switch is reversible and very rapid,” Wang added.


    How These Sound Blocking 3D Printed Metamaterials Work

    In order for this mechanism to achieve its special abilities, the metamaterial structures rely on the properties of negative modulus and negative density. These attributes enable the material to trap sound or vibration within its structure, preventing resonance from passing through.

    The concept might be a bit difficult to wrap your mind around, but the researchers do a nice job of explaining how the properties of these metamaterials work. Objects that contain a negative modulus tend to attract you, pulling you towards them as you exert force on them. On the other hand, objects that exhibit a negative density work in a similarly contradictory way. Instead, when you push these objects away from you, they tend to move toward you. Typically, when you push an object that has normal attributes, it will push back against you.

    Each negative property independently ensures that noise or vibrations are blocked at a certain frequency range. In combination however, they allow the noise to pass through the object. By switching the magnetic field, the researchers are able to maintain versatile control over the metamaterial, switching among double-positive (sound passing), single-negative (sound blocking), and double-negative (sound passing).

    The fabrication system allows the team to 3D print the metamaterials using a beam diameter between a micron to a millimeter. The smaller the beam, the higher the frequency that can be controlled.

    In the future, the team plans to demonstrate negative refraction in these metamaterials. This property allows a wave pass through a material and come back at an unnatural angle. This phenomenon, which Wang “anti-physics”, will be studied by the team when they are able to 3D print larger structures. Additionally, the researchers intend to scale up or scale down the fabrication system for these metamaterials, providing more opportunity to work on a wider range of wavelengths.

    The study was conducted by USC Viterbi Assistant Professor Qiming Wang, PhD student Kun-Hao Yu, MIT Professor Nicholas Fang, and University of Missouri Professor Guoliang Huang. The research paper, entitled “Magnetoactive Acoustic Metamaterials”, was recently published in Advanced Materials.


    Schematic for the acoustic experiment. Cotton pads were attached to the inner surface of the plastic tube to reduce the acoustic reflection. (Source: Advanced Materials)

    Source: USC Viterbi

    License: The text of „Researchers Develop 3D Printed Metamaterials That Can Control Vibration and Sound“ by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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  • 3D Printable Gallium Alloys Could Lead the Way for Flexible Electronics

    3D Printable Gallium Alloys Could Lead the Way for Flexible Electronics

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Oregon State University’s College of Engineering researchers have made progress in the ability to rapidly manufacture flexible electronics and soft robotics.

    Flexible computer screens would undoubtedly be a cool improvement to laptops, hopefully making them more difficult to crack. Amazingly, this isn’t an impossible dream. Researchers from Oregon State University’s College of Engineering are getting closer to making this a reality.

    The researchers, from the college’s Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute, are getting closer to being able to 3D print stretchable electronic devices, soft robots, and flexible computer screens.

    Using a highly conductive gallium alloy, the team is working on 3D printing tall, complicated structures. To make the liquid metal Galinstan suitable for 3D printing, they thicken it to a paste using nickel nanoparticles and sonication (the energy of sound).

    “The runny alloy was impossible to layer into tall structures. With the paste-like texture, it can be layered while maintaining its capacity to flow and to stretch inside of rubber tubes. We demonstrated the potential of our discovery by 3D printing a very stretchy two-layered circuit whose layers weave in and out of each other without touching,” Yiğit Mengüç, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and co-corresponding author on the study.


    Gallium alloys

    3D Printing Gallium Alloys

    The benefits of using a gallium alloy are that it has low toxicity, good conductivity, and is cheap. As a result, the alloys are already in use for flexible electronics as the conductive material.

    However, before the researchers used sonication to mix nickel particles and the oxidized gallium to create a paste, printing was restricted to 2D. But, the team can now print structures up to 10 millimeters high and 20 millimeters wide.

    The gallium alloy paste offers new features to the flexible electronics field. In fact, the alloys are “self-healing” which means that at breakpoints, they’re able to attach back together.

    The researchers also add that it is quick and easy to make. Better yet, its structural change is permanent and the electrical properties are similar to pure liquid metal.

    “Liquid metal printing is integral to the flexible electronics field… Additive manufacturing enables fast fabrication of intricate designs and circuitry,” said co-author Doğan Yirmibeşoğlu, a robotics Ph.D. student at OSU.

    Yirmibeşoğlu adds that with the gallium alloy, “the future is very bright”. He explains that someday we should see soft robots coming out of the printer which are ready for action.

    The researchers are now working on the exact structure of the gallium alloy paste. They’ll learn about how the nickel particles are stabilized. But, they’ll also continue to observe any changes in the paste as it ages.

    Want to find out more? The researchers recently published their findings in Advanced Materials Technologies.

    Source: Science Daily


    Gallium alloys


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  • i.Materialise Adds New Untreated Brass to Finishing Options

    i.Materialise Adds New Untreated Brass to Finishing Options

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    i.materialise is adding untreated brass to its range of finishing options – print your designs in basic brass without polish, coating or plating to give them a vintage look.

    If you’re 3D printing jewelry or miniatures and want to create a vintage appearance, you’ll be interested to hear about i.materialise’s most recent addition to their range of finishing options – untreated brass.

    With this new finishing option, you can print your creations in basic brass. This means you can choose no polishing, coating or plating. However, this can lead to more patina and even damage than if you choose to add a different finish.

    The material, which is an alloy of copper and zinc, has a very old school appearance which will oxidize over time. i.Materialise also point out that this option is more affordable than other options when it comes to 3D printing in brass. This is due to the lack of plating or coating.


    New Material and Reduced Lead Times from i.Materialise

    If you choose untreated brass, it’s worth remembering that it will not receive a PU coating. This means it is not protected against oxidation or scratches. You will also be able to see the printing lines.

    i.Materialise add that brass is very versatile and they offer it in a variety of other colors and plating. Reasons for choosing brass may be to form-fit before ordering in gold or silver due to the significant price difference.

    However, it is also regularly used to print detailed miniatures, sculptures, and jewelry. But, if you’re now worried about scratches, there are over 20 different material options available to peruse instead.

    Another important change happening at i.Materialise is their reduction of lead times for aluminum – they’re now shipping in 12 business days. They’ve also reduced titanium lead times which are now down to 11 business days.

    Keep in mind that although untreated brass is an affordable option, the price is affected by the volume of your print. Visit the company’s website to find out more about the options available to you.

    Source: i.Materialise Press Release


    Website: LINK

  • Polymaker Launches PolyMide CoPA Nylon Material Made with Warp-Free Technology

    Polymaker Launches PolyMide CoPA Nylon Material Made with Warp-Free Technology

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Polymaker is launching a new Nylon material called PolyMide CoPA. This engineering-grade filament is created with Warp-Free technology, which provides the mechanical advantages of Nylon without risk of warpage. 

    Polymaker, the 3D printing filament producer based in Shanghai, has been slowly moving itself towards the forefront of material innovation. Over the last year, the company launched two engineering-grade polyurethane materials and the PolyBox filament container, effectively expanding its reach towards the professional market.

    Now, the Polymaker team is introducing what they’re calling one of their best materials yet…

    Polymaker’s new PolyMide CoPA material is a Nylon co-polymer based filament that offers engineering-grade traits, namely high resistance to heat and mechanical stress. More importantly, the filament avoids one of the common issues that usually plague 3D printing with Nylon – a little thing called warping.

    To solve this problem, Polymaker claims to have developed the PolyMide CoPA Nylon material with its special ‘Warp-Free technology’. This technology works by controlling the microstructure and crystallization of the material, which in turn releases the internal stress that is generated during the printing process.

    While the producer hopes this new filament production technique will improve upon the issues regularly faced with printing Nylon, the PolyMide CoPA will be the very first Polymaker product to feature it.

    “We are very excited about the material and the new applications it enables. It further bridges the gap between engineering plastics and desktop 3D printing,” explains Dr. Xiofan Luo, the CEO of Polymaker.


    PolyMide CoPA

    Warp-Free Technology Drastically Improves Nylon Prints

    Not only is Polymaker claiming that the technology provides “near-zero warpage”, the strong mechanical properties of Nylon also remain unchanged. On top of that, no filler is required, so you don’t need to worry about wearing out the nozzle on your 3D printer.

    Polymaker’s PolyMide CoPA should work with any FDM 3D printer that can reach a nozzle temperature of at least 250°C. In fact, the material doesn’t even need a heated chamber to print.

    The company expects that the new material will be ideal for engineering applications, used to print jigs, moldings, and various automotive components. A research team from Tongji University recently created an eco-car to test the PolyMide CoPA , successfully joining the Nylon parts with carbon fiber panels.


    PolyMide CoPA
    The PolyMide CoPA Zeal Eco-Car from Tongji University.

    Although this Warp-Free technology is just now getting its debut, the company is likely to be developing more Nylon filaments with this unique characteristic in the future.

    Needless to say, Polymaker seems to be leading the way in developing new polyamides that offer exceptional mechanical and thermal properties, while also having the rare luxury of being easy to print with.

    The material will be available in Europe starting January 15, 2018, and throughout the rest of the world on January 22. According to Polymaker, a Natural colored version of the PolyMide CoPA will also be available in March 2018.

    Source: TCT Magazine

    Website: LINK

  • Kwambio Reveals Brand-New Ceramic 3D Printer at CES

    Kwambio Reveals Brand-New Ceramic 3D Printer at CES

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    There aren’t many machines capable of 3D printing ceramics (find an in-depth overview here). Not only are there just a handful of machines commercially available, also the process hasn‘t changed much in years.

    Kwambio, an NYC-based startup, wants to offer a new angle. They built their high-precision 3D printer, Ceramo One, specifically for 3D printing of ceramic objects. The company will reveal the Ceramo One at CES in Las Vegas (Booth #51545, January 8-12, 2018).

    Backed by venture capital, Kwambio launched its factory in Ukraine – the “first specialized in ceramics 3D printing factory in Europe”. The company partnered with designers to produce unique products on-demand, mainly jewelry, homewares, pieces of decor, custom technical parts, and even bone substitute implants.

    In 2017, Kwambio 3D printed over 10,000 different objects.


    Ceramo One Uses Binder Jetting to 3D Print Ceramic Objects

    From the very beginning, Kwambio’s engineers faced a problem, as existing 3D printers couldn’t print a ceramic object with the high precision and speed they wanted.

    Most 3D printing companies print a mold, then pour a ceramic mixture into it to create a traditional cast. Before firing, part of the mold has to be removed. The rest will be disintegrated in the fire. With glazing, it takes around 10 days to make a cup. As Kwambio puts it: This “barely can be called a 3D printing process”.

    Kwambio radically shortened the production time by creating a new way of binder jetting ceramic powders, which allows to 3D print objects layer by layer without compromising precision. Kwambio’s “Ceramo One” prototype is used daily at their factory in Ukraine.


    Ceramo One prints with 160 mm per second at a height of 20 micrometers. A ceramic cup can be manufactured in just some hours. The price per square centimeter is 8 cents instead of the usual 12 to 15 cents. The build volume is 350 x 350 x 380 cm.

    Kwambio offers a palette of 100 colors of ceramic powder; also there are materials that are usable for industrial and even aerospace needs.

    There’s no price tag or release date yet – we’ll keep you posted.

    (Source: Press Release)


    Website: LINK