The Secret Behind Powder Based 3D Printing

3D printing is a pretty interesting form of manufacturing technology in my opinion. This technology allows for the replication of pretty much whatever you’d like! There are so many options when it comes to this form of manufacturing. If an artist, a designer, or a product developer wants to make something – he or she just has to be able to design it on the computer and this will allow various printers to be able to make the spoken piece. Due to various detail resolutions, material options, and support materials and powders – pretty much anything can be created. If a designer of whatever style can create a 3D image for a piece, it can likely be manufactured.

There are a few methods which give designers the chance to create these intricate designs within the 3D printing world. There are a couple edges that come about through 3D printing. These edges I’m referring to are powder printers, and support material. Do you know what support material is in accordance to this technology? Let’s discuss powder 3D printing first.

What is powder 3D printing? Like all forms of 3D printing, the manufacturing process calls for layer by layer addition of material. The material in powder printing would be… well… powder. This powder would be laid down in layers smaller than your fingernail. These layers will be stacked on top of each other. While the layers are being laid down, an ink head with color, and glue, will hover over the powder. In accordance to the 3D design, the jet will then shoot out an adhesive spray over the powder. This will bond the powders together. While the materials are being bonded together, the ink jet head will then be able to shoot color onto the powder, just like a regular, 2D printer would. As soon as one layer of material has been bonded together and colored, the build tray will drop, and another layer of powder will be laid down. Earlier I mentioned that virtually anything could be created through the use of support materials and powder based printing. This is where the powder comes into play within 3D printing. Only certain parts of each layer of powder will be bonded. This means that the other powder just sits there. The build envelope will be filled with solidified prints, and unused powder. This unused powder in the 3D printing machine will remain in the tray, allowing for solids to sit on them. This gives the actual prints a chance to “float” within the machine.

With the capabilities for 3D printing floating parts, pretty much anything can be manufactured. This kind of thing allows for the creation of truly intricate models that have very intricate centers, curves, and hollow sections. There are a ton of opportunities when it comes down to printing using a powder based printer! If it can be designed on the computer, it can likely be manufactured through powder based printing. There are only a couple limitations. One of the biggest ones would be the build size. Parts can only be 12” x 15” x 8” in size. Keep in mind, a machine can print multiple pieces as well