3D Printing - Beyond the Reality

3D printing is one of the cutting-edge technologies in present times to create any objects or things around us. It is also known as 'Additive manufacturing(AM)'.

3D printers are used for 3D printing. These printers refer digital file which is inserted through printer's USB port and follow Additive processing to create three-dimensional objects by adding materials layer by layer.

Do you believe Printers are using Bio Ink now? Any human body parts can be bio-printed via 3D printer using biodegradable gel and actual human cells.

3D printing devices are widely used in medical fields to create thousands of organs, building many human body parts and saving thousands of lives. Furthermore, schools are largely buying more 3D printers in order to educate children with visual objects and make the session more interactive.

How does 3D Printer look like?

Printers are available as desktop printers and commercial printers.

How to choose 3D printers?

3D printers can be selected based on two things such as the size of objects you want to create and the kind of material you require to make objects

What sort of materials used in 3D Printers?

• ABS plastics used for professional quality objects.
• PLA Filament (Polylactic acid) is used to demo purpose objects.

Other materials such as Glass, Wood, Nylon, and Metal can also be used. However, not all desktop printers work with all materials. Expensive commercial printers have the capacity to use many materials.

There are several types of 3D printing methods such as,

•    Stereolithography(SLA)
•    Digital Light Processing(DLP)
•    Fused deposition Modelling (FDM)
•    Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
•    Selective laser melting (SLM)
•    Electronic Beam Melting (EBM)
•    Laminated object manufacturing (LOM)

Based on the requirements, you can choose one of the above methods.

How does 3D printing actually works?

3D printers draw each layer using filament and create object referring to the digital file which is designed via 3D creation software.

3D printer has USB port slot to insert digital file to the printer. Also, it refers digital file and starts printing the object layer by layer using additive processing.

How to design 3D digital models?

It is super easy to create 3D digital patterns and models.

Open Source 3D creation software are available in the market like a blender. we can also use other software such as CAD. I have taken blender as an example below.

Blender software home screen looks as below. This software has several options on the left/right panel to design our desire 3D model.

The beauty of this software is that it works with all operating systems such as windows, Linux and Mac.

After designing 3D model, file need to be saved with '.stl' extension. If you want, you can upload your custom STL model into Online Printing Service too. Also, you can have copyright for your own creative design.

How 3D printing help?

• Awesome things already made by 3D printing methods so far such as cars, homes, cycles, car and everyday essentials.
• Healthcare sector is having enormous benefits out of 3d printing by producing several life-saving organs and medical equipment.
• Aerospace and defense have got several benefits by creating from aircraft simple parts to complicated engines.
• Automotive industry manufacturing production parts using 3D printing as it is time saving and cost effective methodology.

How does 3D Printing and IOT can work together?

If 3D printing can create any physical object, why not Internet of things(IoT) is applicable to connect all 3D printed objects? Yes. It is possible to connect all 3D printed objects and make them interact each other.

How does 3D Printing technology is used in SAP?

SAP started a new revolution through SAP Distributed Manufacturing,

Watch the video below.

Note: The aim of this article is to share my knowledge which I have acquired from various sources.