TECHNOLOGIES
READI trabaja con las tecnologías más revolucionarias, impulsando la Fabricación Aditiva a través de los equipos y procesos industriales más innovadores para el desarrollo de primeras series.
Technologies
In general, the concept of 3D printing is associated with extrusion polymer printers. However, it encompasses much more than that. Over the last 30 years, its focus has grown from prototyping using resin tanks and powder beds to include the production of parts using metals and ceramic materials.
The set of these processes is referred to as Additive Manufacturing (AM). A recent ASTM and ISO standardisation of activities brings these processes together in seven categories.
CATEGORIES
VAT Photopolymerisation
According to ISO/ASTM 52900:2015: additive manufacturing process in which a liquid photopolymer in a tank is selectively cured by the action of light that triggers polymerisation.
Technologies
SLATM: Stereolithography/ Stereolithography System
DLPTM: Digital Light Processing
3SPTM: Scan, Spin, and Selectively Photocure
CLIPTM: Continuous Liquid Interface Production
Process
A liquid deposit of photopolymer resin is cured by selective exposure to light (via laser or projector), which initiates polymerisation and solidifies the areas.
Author: Alejandro Gutierrez Barcenilla
Materials
These processes are only compatible with UV-curable resins.
Powder Bed Fusion- PBF
According to ISO/ASTM 52900:2015: additive manufacturing process in which thermal energy selectively melts regions of a powder bed.
Technologies
We classify them according to the materials used:
POLYMERIC MATERIALS
SLATM: SHSTM (Selective Heat Sintering/ Sinterización selectiva por calor): This technology uses a head with a thermal resistance to melt the powdered polymeric material. It requires less energy than laser but this results in the materials used having poorer mechanical properties, so its use is intended for prototypes rather than functional parts.
SHSTM (Selective Heat Sintering/ Sinterización selectiva por calor): This technology uses a head with a thermal resistor to melt the polymeric powder material. It requires less energy than laser but this results in the materials used having poorer mechanical properties, so its use is intended for prototypes rather than functional parts.
METALLIC MATERIALS
DMLSTM (Direct Metal Laser Sintering): This is the counterpart of SLS, but in this case the material used is metallic.
SLMTM (Selective Laser Melting): This variant of SLS is faster but requires the use of an inert gas, which makes it more expensive.
EBMTM (Electro Beam Melting): This technology uses an electron beam.
Process
Powdered materials are selectively consolidated by melting them together using a heat source, such as a laser or electron beam. The unmelted powder surrounding the consolidated part acts as a support material for additional features.
Author: Alejandro Gutierrez Barcenilla
Materials
Technologies exist to cover a wide range of materials, as long as they are in powder form. Among the polymeric materials we find Nylon, PA, PP, TPU. As for metals, alloys of titanium, aluminium, stainless steel, chrome and copper. Also, ceramic powders and sand.
Blinder Jetting
According to ISO/ASTM 52900:2015: additive manufacturing process in which a liquid binding agent is selectively deposited to bind powdered material.
Technologies
3DPTM – 3D Printing
ExOne
Voxeljet
Process
Liquid binding agents are selectively applied to small layers of powdered material to build parts layer by layer. Binders include organic and inorganic materials. The metal or ceramic parts are usually placed in an oven after printing.
Once the part has been removed, all the excess dust must be blown off, this is done with compressed air and can be a tedious task depending on the complexity of the part. The parts may also require processes such as resin infiltration to improve their mechanical properties.
Auhtor: Alejandro Gutierrez Barcenilla
Materials
Metals such as stainless steel.
These technologies are compatible with any non-metallic material in powder form. Ceramic and composite materials and polymers such as ABS, PA and PC.
Also glass and sandy materials to produce moulds directly.
Material Jetting
According to ISO/ASTM 52900:2015: additive manufacturing process in which material droplets are selectively deposited.
Technologies
PolyjetTM
SCPTM: Soft Curvature Printing/Smooth Curvatures Printing
MJMTM: Multi-Jet Modelling Project
Process
Droplets of material are deposited layer by layer to manufacture parts. Common variations include light-curable resin jets and UV curing, as well as molten material jets that then solidify at room temperature.
Author: Alejandro Gutierrez Barcenilla
Materials
The materials available for these technologies are polymers and light-curable waxes or resins with a wide range of physical and mechanical properties. In addition, these can be combined to obtain better properties. Polymers: Polypropylene, HDPE, PS, PMMA, PC, ABS, HIPS, EDP.
Material Jetting
According to ISO/ASTM 52900:2015: additive manufacturing process in which sheets of material are joined together to form an object.
Technologies
LOM: Laminated Object Manufacture
SDL: Selective Deposition Lamination/Selective Deposition Lamination
UAM: Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing/Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing
Process
Sheets of material are stacked and laminated together to form an object. The lamination method can be adhesive or chemical (paper, plastics), ultrasonic welding or brazing (metals). Unneeded areas are cut away, layer by layer, and removed after the object is finished.
Author: Alejandro Gutierrez Barcenilla
Materials
The most common material used in LOM processes is A4 paper, using a system of ink cartridges similar to conventional printers to colour the objects. However, sheets of any material that can be rolled to generate the laminate (polymers) could be used. UAM allows the use of any metal alloy that can be laminated.
Material Extrusion
According to ISO/ASTM 52900:2015: additive manufacturing process in which material is selectively dispensed through a nozzle or orifice.
Technologies
FFF – Fused Filament Fabrication
FDMTM – Fused Deposition Modeling. A process developed by Stratasys
Process
Material is extruded through a die to form multi-layered models:
1. Depending on the machine the head and build platform move to achieve movement in all three axes.
2. The head heats the filament in order to extrude it and deposit the material to create a layer of the object. The head feeds the filament continuously to continue creating the layers.
3. Once the first layer is deposited, subsequent layers are added on top of each other. The layers stick together as they solidify because the plastic is in a molten state.
4. Once the process is complete, the part can be removed from the build platform for post-processing.
Author: Alejandro Gutierrez Barcenilla
Materials
Thermoplastics and other polymers compounded to enhance their properties, with fibres of e.g. wood, copper, carbon fibre and more. Usually in filament form, but also pellets (FFF); and liquids, in syringes.
Polymers: ABS, Nylon-Polyamide, PC, PC, AB
Directed Energy Deposition)- DED
According to ISO/ASTM 52900:2015: additive manufacturing process in which directed thermal energy is used to fuse materials by melting the one being deposited.
Technologies
LMD: Laser Metal Deposition
LENS: Laser Engineered Net Shaping
DMD: Direct Metal Deposition (DM3D)
DED-arc: Electric Arc Deposition of Metal in Wire
Process
Powder or filament is fed onto a surface where it is bonded by an energy source, such as a laser or electron beam. It is, in essence, a form of welding. Therefore, as in a welding process, the surface finish is poor and must undergo post-processing if improvement is required.
Author: Alejandro Gutierrez Barcenilla
Materials
The materials used are metal alloys with ceramics in powder or filament form.
Metals: Cobalt Chromium, Titanium