3d printing technology to create a picture. Laser sintering of powder materials

It is noteworthy that the concept of "3D printing" among enthusiasts and technologists did not exist until 1995. In the meantime, in the same 1986, the technology of selective laser sintering of polymers was developed - SLS (Selective Laser Sintering).

Two years later, Scott Crump invented the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology. That it is the most common, because it has a relatively low cost of both materials and equipment depreciation. Today, it is FDM printers that are most often used at home. It is believed that the first such device was released in 1991.

For a decade, there has been relative calm in the 3D printing industry. In 2000, PolyJet technology was developed.

In 2005, the RepRap community of enthusiasts was created. The project is based on two ideas:

any RepRap printer can print another RepRap printer;
all 3D printing device designs are publicly available.

“RepRap is an invention that sweeps global capitalism, begins the second industrial revolution and saves the environment ...” - It was written on the front page of The Guardian. We will not go into details about why we are talking about the second industrial revolution. It all depends on what foundation to repel when synthesizing certain definitions.

In eight years, four generations of RepRap 3D printers have been developed. However, even now the task of reproducing one RepRap device by another has not been completed. It's one thing to print plastic parts; the other is to create microelectronics and metal elements of the extruder structure.

In 2010, scientists managed to print an artificial 3D vessel. Now, development is underway to create full-fledged human organs. Stem cells are used as the “material”.

At the same time, engineers were able to develop simple 3D food printers that can print, for example, sweets or pizza.

It is already known that, starting this year, the largest IT companies will begin their full-scale expansion in the 3D printing market. So, Epson announced its intention to produce large-scale industrial 3D-printers. But HP wants to lead the FDM printing industry.

Key 3D printing technologies

Today, there are many technologies for volume printing, but all of them are somehow divided into several methods.

In 3D printing (for better understanding), it is customary to call a drawing a model, and the resulting object - a layout.

Printing methods

Interestingly, 3D printing methods are somewhat reminiscent of conventional (read - 2D) paper printing methods.

Sintering SLS (Selective Laser Sintering). The material in the form of a powder is applied in a thin layer, and then sintered using a laser. So, layer by layer, a layout is created.
Extrusion, or the application of thermoplastics (FDM - Fused Deposition Modeling). The printer nozzle (extruder) melts the material to a liquid state and applies it in a thin layer. When cooled, the plastic crystallizes again.
Photopolymerization. The printer nozzle applies a thin layer of liquid photopolymer, which hardens under the influence of ultraviolet radiation.
Stereolithography SLA (Stereo Lithography). The portion of the liquid photopolymer is laser illuminated and solidifies. Then, the formed hardened layer is again placed in a liquid polymer and illuminated by a laser. So the second layer appears.

Depending on the 3D printing method, the device can be either monochrome or color. Extrusion FDM printers print layouts in just one color. Although there are models with several printheads, each of which can load a thread of a different color.

Three-dimensional 3D printing of a material object according to its three-dimensional computer model is a unique technology of our time, which is expected by great prospects in the future. More recently, devices using it seemed fantastic, but today they have become a reality, and have become available even for home use. Although the cost of 3D printers is still high, and exceeds the price of other computer devices, they are finding more and more practical application not only for applied creativity, but also for various business areas. The continuous development and improvement of this technology has already led to the creation of industrial devices. Which one to choose?

What is a 3D printer, its purpose

A peripheral computer device that, according to a digital volumetric model, creates a material object by layer-by-layer application of rapidly hardening material, is called a 3D printer. For the operation of such a device, a computer three-dimensional model is required, made in any of the 3D editors or obtained on a 3D scanner. Today there are several varieties, depending on the technology used:

FDM and DIW 3D printers using an extrusion method based on forcing molten material through a thin hole in a special device called an extruder (in the first type of printers, thermoplastics preheated to the melting limit are applied layer-by-layer to the cooling surface of the platform, and in the second, ceramic slurry, which called ink, in large architectural models thick ceramic slurry can be used);
Extrusion technology (FDM) 3D printing printers make the layout by layering molten plastic extruded through an extruder. The print head moves along the X and Y axes, and the printing platform moves down the Z axis
printers of the SLA-DLP type, using the method of photopolymerization, in which a liquid photopolymer is used, and hardening of each layer is carried out by exposure to ultraviolet laser;
In 3D printers built on SLA technology, the product is formed in a tray filled with photopolymer resin. Under the action of UV radiation from a laser acting on a thin resin layer, it hardens and the base drops down to the thickness of the next layer
printers that use an aligned powder layer to create a three-dimensional material object, bonded layer by layer by various methods, by applying glue by inkjet printing (3DP printers) or by melting it with an electron beam in vacuum (EBM), laser radiation (SLS or DMLS, depending powder type) and heating head (SHS);
EBF 3D printers, in which a wire melting under the influence of electronic radiation is used to obtain a material model;
printers built on the principle of lamination, or layer-by-layer film deposition, in each layer of which a part contour is cut with a special cutter or laser;
printers with spot feeding of powder melted by laser or electronic radiation;
devices working using the multi-jet modeling method (MJM), when quickly hardening material is applied by inkjet printing;
bioprinters are innovative peripheral computer devices that are just beginning to be introduced, they use the cells of a living organism to form internal organs, and in the future will be able to create high-grade material for transplantology (there are already cases of successful manufacture and transplantation of the jaw for a human and thyroid gland for a laboratory mouse) .

Video: how the mechanism works

The possibilities of such a unique peripheral computer device are almost unlimited. Today it is already used for the following purposes:

quick creation of accurate models in architectural design, the design of various mechanisms and machines, as well as in the design of interiors and landscapes in order to finalize the project and present it to the customer;
the manufacture of any parts of complex shape for single or small-scale production, as well as spare parts for the repair of various devices;
manufacturing models and molds, including when creating jewelry;
the construction of buildings and structures of any complexity, for which they use special devices that resemble a tower crane, instead of cables that have highways for supplying liquid concrete (such a device allows you to build 1 floor in 10 hours, which significantly reduces construction time);
creating prostheses and internal organs for transplantation in medicine;
making models of complex devices for educational aids;
creation of geographic information systems, which are a three-dimensional map of the area in color, with accurate display of the terrain;
production of household items, various accessories and items for decorating the interior;
development of layouts of packaging and containers for marketing purposes;
manufacturing of experimental equipment cases - automobiles, automation systems and various electronic devices;
production of advertising and souvenir products;
production of exclusive clothes and shoes according to the shape and size of a particular client, obtained by 3D scanning.

This list clearly demonstrates the prospects for the use of 3D printers and their relevance in various fields of human activity.

How to choose: options to pay attention to

When buying any complex device, you need to clearly define for yourself the goals for which you are going to use it. This will determine which operating parameters are best for you. Given that such a peripheral device is not cheap, you should choose it most carefully, taking into account all the operating parameters, so that you do not regret the purchase later.

First of all, you need to determine the type of printer used by 3D printing technology. The most popular and affordable models today for home use or small business are:

FDM printers, using a polymer filament of various types as a material, and having fairly good print quality and the lowest price;
SLA devices on photopolymers with higher print quality and price, ideal for jewelry production;
the most expensive peripheral devices of this group are SLS devices, which melt the powder with a laser, it is not practical to buy them for the home, and they can be suitable only for business, because of the high cost (up to 30 thousand dollars).

Among the main selection criteria, the following can be noted:

The type of print material. When choosing a 3D printer, you need to consider that consumables for devices such as FMD will cost less than for SLA printers. For those who decide to purchase an FDM printer, there is a large selection of plastics of different colors and types (PLA, ABS, HIPS, PVA and others), but the polymer filament made of PLA plastic is ideal for beginners, since this material is easier to use, and products from it are obtained perfectly smooth and smooth. For those who choose a 3D printer, SLA will have to purchase more expensive material in the form of photopolymer resins. For non-professional printer models, it is best to buy a photopolymer of the Vera, Somos or Tanga series, which are distinguished by transparency, high strength, heat resistance and stability of plastic.
Print accuracy. It is higher with SLA printers. The accuracy of reproducing the model in extrusion-type devices largely depends on the thickness of the layer that the printer fits when printing. So, the thinner the hole of the extruder nozzle, the higher the clarity of the reproduction of a digital model in a material object. Today, printer models are available with different nozzle bore diameters from 0.1 to 0.4 mm. It should be understood that the smaller the hole of the extruder nozzle, the more time will be spent on the manufacture of the model. Here everyone has to choose for himself what is more important for him - the accuracy of the 3D model or the speed of printing.
A print area that determines what maximum size an object can print with this printer. There is, of course, the ability to produce larger objects, but only in parts, gluing them with special glue. To do this, using the 123D Make program, the digital model is divided into separate parts. But, if you do not want to do gluing, then when choosing a printer, compare the desired dimensions of the manufactured layouts with the print area of \u200b\u200ba specific model.
Design Features. It matters whether it is open or closed, and from what materials the body and the supporting elements are made. These factors most affect the rigidity of the entire structure, which determines the speed of movement of the print head, as well as the ability of the bearing parts of the device to damp vibrations and vibration from several electric motors, responsible for moving the printer head along all three axes (X, Y and Z) and its the table along the Z axis. A case made of wood, although it seems to someone too budget option, but it perfectly absorbs vibrations. Bearing structures made of aluminum or steel will be more durable and durable. It is better to buy SLA printers with a well-ventilated working camera, which will contribute to faster curing of the photopolymer. And for FDM-type devices, especially when working with ABS plastic or nylon, which have a high degree of shrinkage during quick cooling, it is better to purchase a 3D printer with a closed housing and a working area lining.
Availability of auxiliary software. Volume printers are high-tech computer devices that require special software to operate. First of all, a 3D printer must recognize and be able to read all 3D editors and various data input formats. The latter include the STL and X3D languages, as well as the VRML standard. There are many support programs that allow you to perform a wide variety of activities in preparation for printing and creating a material model. Such are, for example, slicer programs that allow you to cut an object into parts for printing in parts (Kissslicer or Cura) or 123D Catch, designed to work with a cloud service, and allowing you to get a three-dimensional digital model of an object from photographs taken from different camera angles. The presence of support programs provided by the printer manufacturer greatly facilitates the work with such technically sophisticated devices. And this fact should also be paid attention to when choosing them.

Most Suitable 3D Printers for Small Businesses

3D printing using 3D printers is the most promising area for small businesses today. With the help of these computer devices that do not require too much financial investment, as for industrial printers, it is possible to establish small-scale production of various goods.

Of the wide variety presented on the printer market for these purposes, the most suitable models that meet the following criteria:

print quality should be quite high to create unique and realistic models that are interesting for sale, which immediately eliminates the relatively cheap printers costing up to $ 1,000;
it is desirable that the printer is adapted for color printing (FDM, DIW, 3DP or EBF printers), which will save time on coloring the goods in small-scale production;
the device must support work with at least two main types of plastics (PLA AND ABS), which will expand the possibilities of its use and allow the production of products for children (PLA plastic is intended specifically for children's goods);
the price of consumables used by the 3D printer should provide an acceptable cost of finished products sufficient for a normal level of business profitability;
the size of the working chamber must correspond to the dimensions provided for the production of models, while it should be borne in mind that printers with a larger print area will cost more.

In any case, the choice of printer will depend on what type of business you intend to do. Extrusion-type devices are suitable for the manufacture of small crafts, and more expensive photopolymer printers are suitable for the manufacture of jewelry or dentures. Of the most suitable for small businesses, you can name the following models:

Flashforge Creator Dual, with the volume of the working chamber 5.2 liters and two extruders, the printer supports three types of plastics - ABS, PLA, PVA and has a print accuracy of 0.1 mm;
3Dison pro AER from the Korean company Rokit, with a workspace volume of 15.3 liters capable of working with 50 materials, having a high printing speed (up to 1000 mm / s) and a layer thickness of 0.025 mm;
3D stereolithographic printer type SLA model
Pico 2 from Asiga, the ideal choice for those who decide to engage in jewelry or dental care, the device is powered by a solid-state LED source of ultraviolet radiation.

Which device to choose for home

Given the still high cost of peripheral computer devices for three-dimensional printing, it would hardly be advisable to buy too expensive and sophisticated 3D printer for home use at a cost of 5 - 10 thousand dollars and more. It will be quite enough devices at a price of $ 500 to 3 thousand. It all depends on the customer’s demand for print quality and its financial capabilities.

Best of all, if the 3D printer for the home will have simple and intuitive controls, a user-friendly interface and an ideal value for money. All printers that are in demand today for home use can be divided into the following groups according to price categories:

budget models, the most affordable of this type of device at a price of 300 to 1 thousand dollars;
middle-class printers (1–1.5 thousand dollars);
a fairly high-end device at a reasonable price from 1.5 to 3 thousand dollars.

Among the most popular printers for 3D printing, the following models can be noted:

Printrbot simple$ 300, which applies to extrusion printers (FMD), and is sold unassembled - self-assembly of the device will help to better understand its design and understand the principle of operation of this equipment;
Kino XYZ printing da Vinci 1.0 - this is a new printer of the Taiwanese company XYZ printing, which has a high printing resolution comparable to more expensive devices - 0.1 mm, its cost is about $ 500 (the technology uses layer-by-layer overlay of molten plastic - FDM);
Cubify cubexbelonging to the middle price segment, with a cost of $ 1300, and characterized by high printing quality and the speed of creating a model with its large sizes, this printer is available in three designs - with 1, 2 and 3 extruders, which allows you to get color models of computer models, can connect to a computer via a USB connection or a Wi-Fi module.
Afinia H-Series H479having high printing accuracy (0.15 - 0.4 mm), user-friendly software that works with inexpensive thread of decent quality ABS plastic, such a device costs $ 1,500.

Rating of the best 3D printers

The most famous expert in the field of volume printing in the world is the foreign portal 3D Hubs, which regularly makes a rating of the best models of printing peripherals in various nominations. According to the version of this Internet resource, the following 3D printer models were named the best in 2017:

Original Prusa i3 MK2manufactured by the Czech company Prusa Research. This printer is intended for electronics enthusiasts who are new to 3D printing, who will be able to assemble it from their components themselves, since it is sold disassembled. The device belongs to the extrusion models of the FDM type, and supports working with 15 types of plastic, including ABS and PLA, Carbon and Nylon, HIPS and FilaFlex, Bamboofill, Laybrick and others. This model in work can use at the same time to 4 various materials. It has an integrated Z axis and a heating table with a printed surface made of plastic like PEI. A printer of this model has a fairly large print area of \u200b\u200b250 x 210 x 200 mm, a minimum thickness of 0.05 mm to be laid on a plastic layer, and a printing speed of 40-60 mm per second.
BCN3D Sigma R17 (Release 2017). Launched by Spain-based BCN3D Technologies, this 3D printer is the continuation of the Sigma 3D printer line, popular worldwide. The new model uses an independent double extruder, which allows to avoid deformations when changing the color of products, as well as simultaneously print two identical layouts. In the upgraded device, a new cooling system was applied and the technology of microchips controlling the power was updated. All this allowed to make the printer work more silent. Sigma R17 has a high print accuracy of 0.125 mm and a layout area of \u200b\u200b297 x 210 x 210 mm. In the work, a plastic thread is used from the following polymers ABS, PLA, HIPS, PET and Exotics, which the extruder extrudes with a minimum layer thickness of 0.05 mm.
Formlabs Form 2 -stereolithographic (SLA) 3D printer manufactured by the American company Formlabs, equipped with a powerful laser, touch screen and Wi-Fi module. The device has a print area of \u200b\u200b145 x 145 x 175 mm and a layer thickness of 0.025 - 0.1 mm. This printer runs on liquid photopolymers and allows the use of resins from other manufacturers. It is equipped with a heated platform and an integrated control panel.
PowerSpec 3D Pro.This model is made in China and belongs to the price category of budget 3D printers. Its distinguishing features are durability, high printing speed and the presence of a double extruder in the design, which is rare for low-cost models. 3D Pro supports three types of plastics (PLA, ABS and PVA) and has high print accuracy. The thickness of the stacked layer is 0.1 - 0.3 mm.
OrdBot Hadron. This printer is manufactured by ORD Solutions from Canada. The model is a mechanical 3D printing platform made of aluminum. It has high rigidity, reliability and print speed (400 mm / s). The principle of its work is based on FDM technology. The device supports two types of plastics - ABS and PLA, and has a print area of \u200b\u200b190 x 190 x 150 mm. The design of this printer provides the ability to connect a second extruder, a servo drive, a liquid crystal screen and other equipment that can significantly upgrade the device after purchase.

Three-dimensional 3D printing technologies are just beginning to conquer the computer market, and the cost of printers for translating a digital model into a material object is still quite high. But behind these technologies, the future, and certainly 3D printers, will soon appear in every home, turning into a mundane addition to the computer. Already today, many models have become available to people with an average income level, and are widely used not only in small business, but also in everyday life. Using the above recommendations, you can easily choose the right printer for home use or your own small business.

3d printing technology develops every day. Today, more and more traditional photographic images are replaced by funny plastic figures, exactly repeating the shapes of real people. For their manufacture, special printer systems are used that allow you to create durable products with a long service life. The technology by which accurate miniature copies of people are obtained was formerly called stereolithography. Its developer is Charles Hull.

3d printing of photorealistic models

To print three-dimensional small clones, compact equipment is used today. The process of making human figures is quite complicated. It requires utmost care and accuracy. In the process of constructing volumetric models, reduced copies of people are obtained, repeating all the features of their figures and facial expressions. A preliminary scan of a living object. For this, contact or non-contact equipment is used.

The second version of the device in appearance resembles an ordinary household iron. The study of a person takes no more than 15 minutes. Using a special computer program, you can create its reduced model.

How to print 3d images of people

Not so long ago, Spanish scientists have developed a scanner with which the necessary measurements can be carried out in a few seconds http://3dklon.ru/. In the world of electronic technology, unique novelties are constantly appearing. Unfortunately, the novelty is not yet available for mass production.

For the scanning procedure, special platforms with a rotating mechanism are used. Electronic equipment is capable of producing several thousand pictures, which are subsequently transferred to a computer.

Processing of the information obtained is carried out using a program that allows you to adjust the actual dimensions of the human figure. At the request of the client, you can make a plastic copy in which there will be no ugly fat deposits. Processing of images obtained by the scanner is carried out within 60 minutes. Before starting to work, the customer can get acquainted with the previously created layout from different angles.

For printing, special plastic is used, which is applied in separate layers. The process of making figures is controlled by the program. On the desktop in a special window you can see the level of print completion, expressed as a percentage.

American Dave White, owner of a small DTW photo studio, has found an interesting use of 3D printing. It offers its customers Topografics - personalized 3D volumetric photos.

These images are obtained from ordinary two-dimensional images, their surface is textured, and when the image is backlighted with diffused light, an unusual effect is manifested - the photos seem voluminous.

Dave says:

To print them, we experiment with technology, and Polyjet. With these photos, you can not only see the memorable moments again, but also feel them by touch and watch them awaken to life, again and again. We also develop frames for our three-dimensional photos with a built-in artificial light source.

The photographer adds:

I plan to continue the development and bring the process to perfection, try to reduce the cost without sacrificing quality, and make Topografics accessible to everyone. As 3D printing becomes more common, I expect that the market for such photos will also expand steadily.

Dave White is not the first to come up with this idea. Earlier, Amanda Gassea of \u200b\u200bInstructables printed several similar pictures on a 3D printer, and the principle of creating them is pretty simple. First, digital photographs are converted into a black and white image, then on its basis a computer program compiles a map of the heights of the layers of the future object.

Further, the obtained models are printed on a 3D printer in high resolution: in darker areas of the image, the material layer is thicker, in bright areas the layer is thinner, therefore they are more transparent. With the background lighting of a photo printed in this way, an illusion of its bulk is created.

The 3D printer in our office (Objet Connex500) prints with a hard, translucent, white material that can be used to create these unique black and white prints. These prints can be incomprehensible when viewed from the side, but when you look at them with backlight, they recreate images with surprising accuracy and even add some subtle dimensions and textures to the “scene”.

By varying the thickness of this translucent material, you can control the amount of transmitted light, thereby controlling brightness (thin sections of the material will look brighter and thick areas darker). In this project, I converted different colors to thickness, which allows me to accurately reproduce any shades of gray in the image. I typed on this 3D loom photographs of the cat Teddy (Fig. 4), Saturn and his companion Titan (Figs. 5 and 6), the Williamson mountains by Ansel Adams (1 pic. 2 and 3).

All these 3D models were obtained using algorithmic processing using the library ModelBuilder. This library allows you to save 3D geometry in STL and STL format, which can then be printed on a 3D printer.

To start using this library at home, you need to download the latest version of the library ModelBuilder and install in the folder you need. If you have the predecessor of the ModelBuilder library (the so-called Unlekker library) installed, you will need to remove it and reload the projects.

Copy your project and save it. The library will automatically put this file in the folder of the same name.

To sketch, replace the part with quotation marks in the following line:

String name \u003d "YOUR_FILE_NAME.jpg";

I think it will work out with GIF ,. Jpg ,. TGA, and. PNG filesbut I only checked, but I checked only Jpg. The sketch will be processed in a couple of minutes, but in the end it will tell you that it will be finished. The resulting file will be located in the sketch folder with the name "NAME_OF_ORIGINAL_FILE.stl"

You can open the STL file with various programs, I like MeshLab (it is free and open source).

By default, my work will be scaled to 8 in width, with a base thickness of 0.01 to 0.02, you can change these settings.