A little information on 3d printing materials for beginners

A Little Information on 3D Printing Materials for Beginners

Introduction •

3D printing materials have evolved with the additive manufacturing technology.

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Powder, filament, resin, granules, metal, bio materials, ceramics, .....the list just goes on.

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If you are a beginner for AM, This guide on 3D printing materials is for you.

Plastics •

Nylon or Polyamide is a common printing materials used for creating prototypes and end-use products. It is strong, durable, flexible, and reliable plastic material for 3D printing. Being originally white, it can also be colored before and after the printing.

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ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is preferred for making robust and functional components for real use. It has a strong resistance to high temperature being petroleum-based polymer. ABS is inexpensive and ideal for desktop 3D Printing.

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PLA – It is made from bio-degradable plastic materials, and hence is best for eco-friendly 3D printing. Used in both resin and filament form, PLA is the preferred plastic for FDM processes. It helps in gaining smoother outer finish on printed objects.

Metals •

Stainless steel, gold, silver, bronze, copper, aluminum, chrome, and titanium are used in powder form for 3D printing.

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Metals are used for 3D printing application in medical, jewelry, and manufacturing industries.

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The 3D printing technology used with metals is selective laser sintering.

Biomaterials •

Lots of research has resulted in creating bio materials for 3D printing applications in the medical industry.

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These materials are used for printing human implants, external tissues, body organs, biomedical devices, etc.

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The 3D printing process for biomaterials is known as solid free-form fabrication (SFF).

Ceramics •

Ceramics are waterproof materials with high temperature resistance properties.

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They are food-safe and best for printing creative objects like cups, bowls, plates, etc.

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However, firing and glazing after 3D printing need to be done through the same traditional methods of production.

Contact Us Zeal 3D Printing Services Melbourne Contact No.: 1300 719 729 Email: info@zeal3dprinting.com.au  USA Contact No.: +1 419 213 9586 Email: info@zeal3dprinting.com.au