3D Printing: And its use in RC Modeling Dan Frey 17 NOV 2015
Jan 19, 2016
3D Printing:And its use in RC Modeling
Dan Frey17 NOV 2015
3D Printing• Makes part from CAD files
(STL format)• Builds layer by layer
~ 0.010” thick (or thinner)• Thermoplastic materials
(ABS, PLA, Nylon) mostly• Machines now as low as
$175, many ~$500, can be >$30K
• Or outsource your parts
3D Printing Technologies
• Stereolithography
• ZPrinting (liquid binding of powder)
• Selective laser sintering
• Mask image projection
• Fused deposition modeling (extrusion deposition)
Dimension uPrint• Fused deposition• ABS thermoplastic• Support material dissolves in
solution of NaOH and detergent
• Good for large overhangs and possibly for assemblies with relative motion among parts
• Build volume 8 x 6 x 6 in• ~$30K
MakerBot
• Fused deposition
• ABS or PLA
• Some have thermally controlled environment
• Heated bed
• Build volume 10x10x12cm
• $1400 (mini) up to $6500
Fabrikator Mini• Fused deposition• ABS or PLA• No thermally controlled
environment• No heated bed (masking
tape used as bed surface)• Build volume 8 x 8 x 8 cm• ~$180 (plus shipping)
PLA Plastic
~$30/kg
Form 2
• SLA technology (liquid selectively polymerized by laser)
• 0.0055” layers• Object pulled from above• 14.5 × 14.5 × 17.5 cm build vol.• Waxy support material removed
using high pressure water spray• ~$3500
Objet Connex
• Mask image projection (sprays 8*10^6 dropslets/sec)
• 0.0006” layers
• 19x15x8” build vol.
• Waxy support material removed using high pressure water spray
• “Digital Materials let you incorporate a range of hardnesses, opacities, shades or thermal properties into a single model…”
eos Formiga
• Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)• 0.06mm layers• No support material needed
(unbound powder inherently supports the part)
• Machine ~$1M
Outsourcing (rather than owning a 3D printer)
• e.g. shapeways.com• Has SLS nylon parts (“strong and flexible plastic”)
Materials
• Wood
• Alum
• 3D print
Mark One Composite 3D Printer
• Fused deposition• Carbon fiber, fiberglass, nylon• Machine ~$5.5K