3D Scanning and Printing

- 3D Printing Techonology -

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is like having a mini factory on your desk. Imagine drawing something on your computer, and then, instead of printing it on paper, you bring it to life in three dimensions. It stacks layers of material, usually plastic, but sometimes metal or even chocolate, one on top of the other until you've got a physical object. You can create almost anything, from toys and tools to complex parts for machines or even prosthetic limbs. It's a game-changer because it allows for custom, on-demand production without needing a whole assembly line. Just design, print, and voilà!

Here are the main 3d printing technologies

1. Stereolithography (SLA): This is like using a magic light wand to solidify liquid plastic into cool shapes. A UV laser zaps the liquid resin in a tank layer by layer until your object is fully formed. It’s great for detailed models and smooth finishes.
2. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS): Imagine spraying a thin layer of powder and then hitting it with a laser to fuse it into a solid piece. That’s SLS. It builds stuff by melting powder together layer by layer. No need for support structures, so you can get really complex.
3. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM): This one’s like a hot glue gun on steroids. It heats up plastic filaments and squirts them out to layer up and make your object. It’s the most common type, super versatile, and great for prototyping and functional parts.
4. Digital Light Process (DLP): DLP is similar to SLA but uses a digital light projector to flash a single image of each layer all at once. It’s faster because it cures whole layers instead of drawing them out with a laser.
5. Multi Jet Fusion (MJF): MJF spreads out a layer of powder and then sprays it with a binding agent that’s activated by an infrared light. It allows for super fine details and strong parts, perfect for both prototypes and final products.
6. PolyJet: This technology is like a high-quality inkjet printer but for 3D printing. It sprays tiny droplets of a photopolymer that are instantly cured by UV light. You can get crazy detail and even mix different materials for varied properties and colors in a single print.
7. Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS): DMLS is the metalhead cousin of SLS. It uses metal powder and a laser to build metal parts layer by layer. It’s perfect for high-strength, complex parts and prototypes without the need for molds.
8. Electron Beam Melting (EBM): EBM uses—you guessed it—an electron beam to melt metal powder together, layer by layer, in a high-vacuum environment. It’s great for making durable and stress-resistant parts, especially in aerospace and medical industries.

- FabLab Puebla 3D printers -

We have to admit that in FabLab Puebla one of our most sought after thecnologies for rapid prototyping is 3D printing. That's why we have a staggering 27 3D printers in total.

• Ender 3 (14 units): These are the workhorses of the 3D printing world. Popular for their affordability and reliability, Ender 3 printers are great for beginners and pros alike. They're versatile, easy to use, and perfect for a wide range of printing projects.
• Sindoh 3DWOX (5 units): Sindoh printers are known for their user-friendly design and excellent print quality. The 3DWOX models, in particular, are fantastic for educational settings, offering features like enclosed printing areas for safety and consistency in printing.
• Elegoo Mars 3 (1 unit): This is a resin 3D printer, which means it uses UV light to cure liquid resin into solid objects. It's capable of incredibly detailed prints, making it ideal for intricate models and prototypes that require high precision.
• Elegoo Saturn 2 (1 unit): A larger sibling to the Mars, the Saturn 2 also uses resin printing technology but offers a bigger build volume. This allows for larger models or batch printing of smaller items, all with the exquisite detail resin printers are known for.
• Stratasys (1 unit): Stratasys printers are at the forefront of professional 3D printing. They're known for exceptional print quality and the ability to print with a variety of advanced materials. This printer is likely the go-to for high-end prototypes and complex projects.
• ROSTOCK MAX™ V3 (1 unit): This is a delta-style printer, which means it uses three arms to move the print head in all directions. It's known for its speed and efficiency, as well as its tall, cylindrical printing area, making it great for tall prints.
• Anycubic Photon Mono M5S (1 unit): Another resin printer in your arsenal, the Photon Mono M5S is celebrated for its speed and the quality of its prints. It's great for detailed models and prototypes, with the added advantage of monochrome screens for faster curing times.
• Ultimaker 2+ (2 units): Ultimaker printers are renowned for their reliability, ease of use, and excellent print quality. The Ultimaker 2+ models are no exception, offering versatile printing capabilities with a variety of materials, making them perfect for everything from educational projects to professional prototypes.
• Formlabs Form 1 (1 unit): Pioneering the desktop SLA (Stereolithography) scene, the Form 1 brings professional-grade 3D printing into more accessible settings. Known for its precision and ability to create highly detailed prints, this printer is a favorite among designers and engineers for prototypes and final products that need to look and feel top-notch.

ENDER 3 S1 PRO

• Printing Technology: FDM
• Build Volume: 220 x 220 x 270 mm
• Printing Speed: 150 mm/s
• XY resolution: ± 0.1 mm
• Layer Height: 0.05 - 0.4 mm
• Nozzle Temperature: Up to 300° C
• Supported Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, PA, WOOD

SINDOH 3DWOX 1

• Printing Technology: FDM
• Build Volume: 210 x 200 x 195 mm
• Printing Speed: 200 mm/s
• XY resolution: ± Not Given
• Layer Height: 0.05 - 0.4 mm
• Nozzle Temperature: Up to 270° C
• Supported Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, ASA

Stratasys Dimension 1200es

• Printing Technology: FFM Fused Filament Fabrication
• Build Volume: 254 x 254 x 305 mm
• Printing Speed: 150 mm/s
• XY resolution: ± Not GIven
• Layer Height: 0.254 - 0.33 mm
• Nozzle Temperature: Not GIVEN
• Supported Materials: ABS, PLA, PET, PC, ASA

ROSTOCK V3 MAX

• Printing Technology: FDM
• Build Volume: 250 mm D x 400 mm H
• Printing Speed: 300 mm/s
• XY resolution: ± 0.1 mm
• Layer Height: 0.1 - 0.4 mm
• Nozzle Temperature: Up to 280° C
• Supported Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU

ULTIMAKER 2+

• Printing Technology: FDM
• Build Volume: 223 x 223 x 205 mm
• Printing Speed: 300 mm/s
• XY resolution: ± 0.12 mm
• Layer Height: 0.02 - 0.2 mm
• Nozzle Temperature: Up to 260° C
• Supported Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG

ELEGOO MARS 3

• Printing Technology: MSLA
• Build Volume: 143 x 89.6 x 175 mm
• Printing Speed: 30-50 mm/h
• XY resolution: 0.035 mm
• Layer Thickness: 0.01-0.2 mm
• Supported Materials: Supports most resins on the market

ELEGOO SATURN 2

• Printing Technology: MSLA
• Build Volume: 218.88 x 123.12 x 250 mm
• Printing Speed: 30-70mm/h
• XY resolution: 0.028mm
• Layer Thickness: 0.01-0.2 mm
• Supported Materials: Supports most resins on the market

ANYCUBIC PHOTON M5s

• Printing Technology: MSLA
• Build Volume: 200 x 218 x 123 mm
• Printing Speed: 70mm/hr
• XY resolution: 19x24μm
• Layer Thickness: 0.01 mm
• Supported Materials: PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, PA, WOOD

FORM 2

• Printing Technology: SLA
• Build Volume: 145 x 145 x 175 mm
• Printing Speed: Depends on Resin
• XY resolution: ± 0.14 mm
• Layer Thickness: 0.025 - 0.1 mm
• Supported Materials: Formlabs Resins

- How To Use -

- 3D Printing Materials -

There are various materials that can be used for 3D printing, each with its own characteristics and properties. Below is a cheat sheet of common materials used in 3D printing used in FDM and more importantly available in Puebla and their main differences:

The following is a guide on case use. Which means that it establishes the advantages, Disadvantages and hardware requirements of FDM materials.(This list includes both materials foun in Puebla and those which could be acquired in case of special needs).

- Design Rules -

Overhang

Overhangs refer to parts of the model that extend out over an area with no material beneath them.

Printing Angle

The angle at which a feature can be printed without support. Angles up to 45 degrees are often manageable without supports, but this can vary based on the material and printing technology.

Bridging

Bridging refers to spanning a gap between two parts of a print without support beneath. The success of a bridge depends on the material's properties and the printer's capabilities, with shorter spans typically being easier to bridge.

Wall thickness

The minimum thickness of walls that can be successfully printed, impacting the object's durability and structural integrity. Thin walls may not print well, while very thick walls can waste material and time.

Dimensions

Accurate dimensions are crucial, especially for functional parts that must fit together. 3D printing can introduce variances due to material shrinkage or printer calibration issues.

Anisotropy

3D printed objects can have varying strengths in different directions due to layer-by-layer construction. This must be considered in the design phase, especially for mechanical parts under stress.

Surface Finish

The quality of the print's exterior, which can range from rough to smooth. Surface finish is influenced by the printer's resolution, the material, and post-processing techniques like sanding or chemical smoothing.

Clearence

Clearance involves the space between the support structures and the actual part being printed. Adequate clearance ensures supports can be removed easily without damaging the print, typically around 0.2mm to 0.5mm depending on the material and print resolution.

- Support -

- Infill -

The inside of a 3D print is called infill, and it can be adjusted in terms of density 0% is hollow while 100% is solid. The main determining factor for infill percentage is the type of application for which the part is destined to be used. Prototypes and hobbyist creations rarely need more than 20% infill. Functional parts that will be exposed to mechanical stress loads will typically require infill percentages of 50% or more.

Infill pattern is the structure and shape of the material inside of a part. Ranging from simple lines to more complex geometric shapes, infill patterns can affect a parts strength, weight, print time, and even flexibility. As we are using Cura as slicing software, we have available, 14 types of infill

Lines

• Description Similar to “rectilinear” in other slicers, this is a 2D grid of non-continuous lines where only one axis is printed per layer.
• Typical Density 0-15%
• Typical application Models or figurines where 3D prints don’t typically require a great deal of strength.
• Printing Speed Fast

Zig-Zag

• Description Essentially the same as Lines infill if “Connect Infill Lines” is selected. In other words, it’s one continuous line per layer, oriented in one direction.
• Typical Density 0-15%
• Typical application Models or figurines where 3D prints don’t typically require a great deal of strength.
• Printing Speed Fast

Lightning

• Description An internal support structure that resembles lightning bolts, where it gets denser toward the top of the model. Since it can reduce material use by 90%, this infill type is great for faster prints.
• Typical Density 0-15%
• Typical application Models or figurines where 3D prints don’t typically require a great deal of strength.
• Printing Speed Fast

Grid

• Description A self-explanatory 2D pattern, the main advantage of a grid is print speed, as it’s the least complex of the three.
• Typical Density 15-50%
• Typical application 3D prints subjected to low stress, such as guides or similar.
• Printing Speed Medium

Triangles

• Description A 2D mesh made of triangles, this pattern has an inherent advantage in strength when a load is applied perpendicular to the object’s face. It also makes sense for parts with thin, rectangular components, which might otherwise have very few connections between walls.
• Typical Density 15-50%
• Typical application 3D prints subjected to low stress, such as guides or similar.
• Printing Speed Medium

Tri-Hexagon

• Description This 2D pattern produces hexagons interspersed with triangles. One advantage is that hexagons are an efficient shape, making them a strong infill pattern relative to their material usage. In addition to that, the tri-hexagon infill has shorter lines to connect each side, leading to fewer issues with bowing from poor print cooling.
• Typical Density 15-50%
• Typical application 3D prints subjected to low stress, such as guides or similar.
• Printing Speed Medium

Cubic

• Description This is a 3D pattern of stacked and tilted cubes.
• Typical Density >50%
• Typical application Functional 3D prints, for example shelf brackets which require high strength in multiple directions.
• Printing Speed Slow

Cubic subdivision

• Description This variation of cubic uses less material.
• Typical Density >50%
• Typical application Functional 3D prints, for example shelf brackets which require high strength in multiple directions.
• Printing Speed Slow

Octet

• Description Also known as tetrahedral infill, this pattern stacks pyramid shapes.
• Typical Density >50%
• Typical application Functional 3D prints, for example shelf brackets which require high strength in multiple directions.
• Printing Speed Slow

Quarter cubic

• Description This 3D pattern is like octet, but half of the pyramid shapes are shifted with respect to the other half
• Typical Density >50%
• Typical application Functional 3D prints, for example shelf brackets which require high strength in multiple directions.
• Printing Speed Slow

Gyroid

• Description A particularly unique 3D pattern, which gives the impression of waves. This results in a print that is equally strong in multiple directions. This infill pattern would therefore be a good choice for a part that will be stressed in multiple ways.
• Typical Density >50%
• Typical application Functional 3D prints, for example shelf brackets which require high strength in multiple directions.
• Printing Speed Slow

Concentric

• Description This 2D pattern produces “waves” through the interior of the print, mimicking the shapes of the outer walls. This resembles a stone thrown into the water that makes concentric circular ripples on the surface.
• Typical Density 0-100% (depending on how “squishy” you want your print to be)
• Typical application Flexible infill patterns to preserve the bendy nature of the print.
• Printing Speed Medium

Cross

• Description Another 2D pattern, cross, produces grids of what appear to be very fancy crosses. The spaces between the crosses allow for bending and twisting.
• Typical Density 0-100% (depending on how “squishy” you want your print to be)
• Typical application Flexible infill patterns to preserve the bendy nature of the print.
• Printing Speed Medium

Cross 3D

• Description This 3D pattern is similar to cross, but as the print grows, the lines move at inclines. The end result is an object with slightly more rigidity.
• Typical Density 0-100% (depending on how “squishy” you want your print to be)
• Typical application Flexible infill patterns to preserve the bendy nature of the print.
• Printing Speed Medium

Choosing an infill pattern is important, but there’s more to it than that. One commonly overlooked setting with infill is the infill line direction. This is set at 45° by default so that both the X and Y motors work together to print infill at maximum speed. However, it may be advantageous to orient the infill at a different angle in order to provide maximum strength or flexibility to the part, especially if its walls are diagonally aligned.

Finally you can look at more information on 3d Printing on the following link: Link