Rather than extruding thermoplastic in layers, stereolithography (SLA) 3D printers cure layers of liquid resin with a laser on the build platform to create solid models. Resins are liquid polymers that mimic the performance of thermoplastics or have a one-use purpose, like jewellery casting. The significant advantage of SLA is the laser is not restricted …
How To Choose the Best 3D Printing Resin for Your Projects? Read More »
Some 3D printing file formats hold more information than others, giving your 3D printer more detailed instructions. Whether this is beneficial depends on what you are printing and your desired specifications. For example, STL is the most common 3D printing file format because it works for simple models but only contains external surface and shape …
Tinkercad is a free CAD program for beginners that provides a simple and fast way to create 3D models compatible with 3D printers. Tinkercad’s extensive shapes library and drag-and-drop model builder let you build custom models in minutes. You can scale, group, mirror, align and manipulate shapes in multiple ways to hone your skills. However, …
3D printing unlocks unequalled rapid prototyping opportunities but getting caught up in the iteration cycle creates bottlenecks. With fewer iterations you can reduce time to final part and time to market, but it’s easier said than done with traditional, numerical workflow. The traditional process sees engineers applying loads to already-manufactured parts and evaluating where they …
How Topology Optimisation Creates 3D Printing Opportunities Read More »
Many factors determine the accuracy and surface finish of 3D printed parts, but part orientation is up there with the most important. Part orientation refers to how you print parts on the build platform, which dictates the print head’s travel. The cusp of it is that FFF 3D printers produce parts with anisotropic properties where the X, …
6 Effects of Part Orientation on 3D Printed Parts Read More »
There are more than one hundred 3D printing filaments, stretching into the low hundreds when you include SLA, SLS, DLP, EBM and MJF technologies. However, if we stick to the foundation on which 3D printing is built, twelve filaments are prevalent in every industry. This article explores these twelve filaments and provides comparisons, helping you …
A lattice is a repeating pattern of strips, an arrangement so practical that you can find it in everything from apple pie to 3D printing. In 3D printing, lattice structures make parts lighter and stronger, solving strength and rigidity challenges. They are also relatively simple to produce, enabling most 3D printers to maintain high print …
What is a Lattice Structure? – Optimise your 3D Printed Parts Read More »
Hundreds of things can affect the quality of 3D prints, including filament quality, slicing instructions, chamber temperature, nozzle diameters, retraction settings, and even humidity if materials are hygroscopic. Thankfully, if you know why things are messing up, you can resolve most 3D print quality problems without tearing your hair out. This article on seven common 3D …
How To Improve 3D Print Quality? – 7 Tips For Finishing The Final 3D Print Read More »
When you create a 3D model in software, you save that model as a 3D printer file, and there are several file formats to choose from. The most common 3D printer files are STL, OBJ, AMF, and 3MF. While each file format stores information about your model, they differ in the depth of information they …
Which 3D File Format Should I Use? – Tips To Choose The Right File Format Read More »
Nozzles screw into the hot end of a 3D printer extruder, acting as the exit point for the melted thermoplastic filament. 3D printer nozzles are made from solid metal, featuring a tiny nozzle opening. The nozzle opening size (bore size) defines the thickness of the melted filament on exit, with typical nozzle sizes ranging from …
