Additive manufacturing (AM) alias 3D printing translates computer-aided design (CAD) virtual 3D models into physical objects. By digital slicing of CAD, 3D scan, or tomography data, AM builds objects layer by layer without the need for molds or machining. AM enables decentralized fabrication of customized objects on demand by exploiting digital information storage and retrieval via the Internet. The ongoing transition from rapid prototyping to rapid manufacturing prompts new challenges for mechanical engineers and materials scientists alike. Because polymers are by far the most utilized class of materials for AM, this Review focuses on polymer processing and the development of polymers and advanced polymer systems specifically for AM. AM techniques covered include vat photopolymerization (stereolithography), powder bed fusion (SLS), material and binder jetting (inkjet and aerosol 3D printing), sheet lamination (LOM), extrusion (FDM, 3D dispensing, 3D fiber deposition, and 3D plotting), and 3D bioprinting....

Polymers for 3D Printing and Customized Additive Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing processes take the information from a computer-aided design (CAD) file that is later converted to a stereolithography (STL) file. In this process, the drawing made in the CAD software is approximated by triangles and sliced containing the information of each layer that is going to be printed. There is a discussion of the relevant additive manufacturing processes and their applications. The aerospace industry employs them because of the possibility of manufacturing lighter structures to reduce weight. Additive manufacturing is transforming the practice of medicine and making work easier for architects. In 2004, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers did a classification of the various technologies and there are at least four additional significant technologies in 2012. Studies are reviewed which were about the strength of products made in additive manufacturing processes. However, there is still a lot of work and research to be accomplished before additive manufacturing technologies become standard in the manufacturing industry because not every commonly used manufacturing material can be handled. The accuracy needs improvement to eliminate the necessity of a finishing process. The continuous and increasing growth experienced since the early days and the successful results up to the present time allow for optimism that additive manufacturing has a significant place in the future of manufacturing.

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A Review of Additive Manufacturing

BACKGROUND Three-dimensional (3D) printing, known more formally as additive manufacturing, has become the focus of media and public attention in recent years as the decades-old technology has at last approached the performance necessary for direct production of end-use devices. The most popular forms of standard 3D printing include vat photopolymerization, powder bed fusion, material extrusion, sheet lamination, directed energy deposition, material jetting, and binder jetting, each creating parts layer by layer and offering different options in terms of cost, feature detail, and materials. Whereas traditional manufacturing technologies, such as casting, forging, machining, and injection molding, are well suited for mass production of identical commodity items, 3D printing allows for the creation of complex geometric shapes that can be mass-customized, because no die or mold is required and design concepts are translated into products through direct digital manufacturing. Furthermore, the additively layered approach enables the merging of multiple components into a single piece, which removes the requirement for subsequent assembly operations. Recently, the patents for the original 3D printing processes have begun to expire, which is resulting in a burgeoning number of low-cost desktop systems that provide increased accessibility to society at large. Industry has recognized the manufacturing advantages of these technologies and is investing in production systems to make complex components for jet engines, customized bodies for cars, and even pharmaceuticals. Although standard 3D printing technologies have advanced so that it is now possible to print in a wide range of materials including metals, ceramics, and polymers, the resulting structures are generally limited to a single material, or, at best, a limited number of compatible materials. ADVANCES For the technology to become more widely adopted in mainstream manufacturing, 3D printing must provide end-use products by fabricating more than just simple structures with sufficient mechanical strength to retain shape. Recently, research has resulted in the capability to use new materials with commercial 3D printers, and customized printers have been enhanced with complementary traditional manufacturing processes, an approach known as multiprocess or hybrid 3D printing. Collectively, these advancements are leading to fabrications that are not only geometrically complex, but functionally complex as well. By introducing the robotic placement of components, micromachining for intricate detail, embedding of wires, and dispensing of functional inks, complex structures can be constructed with additional electronic, electromagnetic, optical, thermodynamic, chemical, and electromechanical content. OUTLOOK Multiprocess 3D printing is a nascent area of research in which basic 3D printing is augmented to fabricate structures with multifunctionality. Progress will lead to local manufacturing with customized 3D spatial control of material, geometry, and placement of subcomponents. This next generation of printers will allow for the fabrication of arbitrarily shaped end-use devices, leading to direct and distributed manufacturing of products ranging from human organs to satellites. The ramifications are substantial, given that 3D printing will enable the fabrication of customer-specific products locally and on demand, improving personalization and reducing shipping costs and delays. Examples could include replacement components for grain-milling equipment in a remote village in the developing world, biomedical devices created specifically for a patient in a hospital before surgery, and satellite components printed in orbit, thus avoiding the delays and costs associated with launch operations. The automotive, aerospace, defense, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and consumer industries, among others, will benefit from the new design and manufacturing freedom made possible by multiprocess 3D printing.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/353/6307/aaf2093.full.pdf

Multiprocess 3D printing for increasing component functionality.

A critical review of the use of 3-D printing in the construction industry

A Review on Process Monitoring and Control in Metal-Based Additive Manufacturing

Rapid prototyping (RP) technology has developed as a result of the requirements of manufacturing industry. There are a number of other application areas where RP has been used to good effect and one of these is architectural modelling. However, such application areas often have different requirements from what is offered by the current technology. This paper describes work carried out by the authors to investigate potential applications for architectural modelling, as well as an attempt to explore the limits of the technology. It will go on to discuss how the technology may be developed to better serve the requirements of architects.

Rapid prototyping for architectural models

The prospect of including colour in models using rapid prototyping systems significantly increases the range of potential applications. It is considered that prototypes displaying physical properties suitable for functional use that can also be coloured would lead to domestic use of the technology. The selective laser sintering (SLS) process, whilst not the easiest method for introduction of colour, provides those physical attributes. A mechanism developed for use inside an SLS machine is described along with some preliminary experiments and observations.

Possibility of colouring SLS prototypes using the ink‐jet method

The STL or Stereolithography format, established by 3D systems, gathers the geometric data of the model in a number of triangular surfaces. It can be in ASCII or binary format, and is a de facto standard in the Rapid Prototyping (RP) world. RP has developed greatly over the last ten years. In particular, improvement in materials has meant greater part accuracy and strength, which in turn has increased the range of functional applications. Future applications of RP will focus on rapid tooling and direct manufacturing. Direct manufacturing in particular may see much benefit from the incorporation of color into models. For color RP, besides designing new hardware to add color into the prototypes, it is necessary to redefine the CAD software for adding and accurately positioning color onto the model. STL cannot effectively store this kind of information. Among the existing data file formats, VRML is an acceptable one that is complimentary to existing RP processes. This paper acts as a review to discuss several methods of using VRML for coloring model data. This paper will also discuss the problems occurred in coloring the layer contours of the RP model.

Ling Wai Ming

Papers

Rapid prototyping for architectural models

Possibility of colouring SLS prototypes using the ink‐jet method

Specification of VRML in color rapid prototyping

Low-cost machine vision monitoring of the SLS process

Experimental investigation of ink on powder used for selective laser sintering