Mastering 3D Printing : A Guide to Modeling, Printing, and Prototyping

Get the most out of your printer, including how to design models, choose materials, work with different printers, and integrate 3D printing with traditional prototyping to make techniques like sand casting more efficient.This book is for new 3D printer owners, makers of all kinds, entrepreneurs, technology educators, and anyone curious about what you can do with a 3D printer. In this revised and expanded new edition of Mastering 3D Printing , which has been a trusted resource through five years of evolution in the 3D printing industry, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of 3D printing. This book presumes no foreknowledge and describes what you need to know about how printers work, how to decide which type of printer (filament, resin, or powder) makes the most sense for you, and then how to go forward in the case of filament and resin printers. This new edition now includes material about consumer resin printing, the evolution of lower-cost metal printing, and the plethora of both materials and applications. What You’ll Learn Choose among the different 3D printing technologies Create or find 3D models to print Make both easy and challenging prints come out as you imagined Assess whether your business, factory, home or classroom will benefit from 3D printing Work with applications that are good candidates for first projects in home and industrial applications Who This Book Is For People who are encountering 3D printing for the first time, or for those who want to level up their skills. It is designed for the nontechnical adult and minimizes jargon. However more sophisticated users will still find tips and insights of value. Table of Contents About the Authors Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: 3D Printer Hardware and Software Chapter 1: Why Use a 3D Printer? Additive Manufacturing History of Robotic 3D Printing The RepRap Project Crowdfunding and Makers Kit or Fully Assembled? When to Use a 3D Printer Laser Cutting vs. 3D Printing CNC Machine vs. 3D Printing Complexity Beyond This Book Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 2: 3D Printers and Printable Materials Filament Printers Parts of a Filament Printer Stepper Motors Control Build Platform Extruder How Printing Works Filament Choices PLA PET ABS Nylon Challenging Filaments Dissolvable Support Multimaterials vs. Multiple Extruders Aftermarket Upgrades Advanced Filament Printers Resin Printers: SLA, DLP, and LCD Printing Process Post-processing Materials Other Technologies SLS Binder Jetting and Material Jetting Bioprinting Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 3: 3D Printer Workflow and Software Workflow Overview Models Types of 3D Printable Files Mesh Repair Programs File Repositories Scanning Slicing Software: Filament Printers Slic3r MatterControl Ultimaker Cura Other Programs Using a Slicing Program Example: Ultimaker Cura Simulating Your Print Print Quality and Layer Height Shells Platform Adhesion Brims Skirts Rafts Supporting and Orienting a Model Support Orientation Avoiding Support by Cutting a Model into Pieces Managing Internal Open Space Bridging Infill Retraction and Stringing Temperatures Speeds, Cooling, Extrusion Multipliers More Exotic Settings Troubleshooting Printing More Than One Object at a Time Multiple Extruders G-code Host Programs Octoprint Resin Printers Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 4: Selecting a Printer: Comparing Technologies Who Will Use the Printer? 3D Printer Resolution Selecting a Printer Filament vs. Resin Time to Print Selecting a Filament-Based 3D Printer Platforms and Nozzles Multiple Extruders One Big Printer or Several Small Ones? Printer Connectivity Open Source Materials vs. Cartridges Filament Size Enclosed or Open Buy Within a Brand Should You Buy a Kit? Initial Costs, Filament Printing Selecting a Resin Printer Cleaning and Curing Resin Printer Technologies Common Types of Resins Initial Costs, Resin Printing Printing with Powder Using a Service Bureau Instead Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 5: Operating and Troubleshooting your 3D Printer Getting Started with a Filament Printer Where to Put It Ventilation and Drafts Noise Dust Storing Filament Your First Print Calibrating Your Printer When a Print Starts During a Print When a Print Finishes Normally Getting a Part Off the Build Platform Picking Off Support and Cleaning Up the Print Restarting or Shutting Off the Printer Manually Controlling Your Printer Stopping a Print Changing Filament Changing Temperatures During a Print Basic Hardware Troubleshooting Checking the Motion of One Axis at a Time Backing Out of a Bad Situation Extruder Not Extruding Clearing a Clogged Nozzle Cold Pull Dealing with a Hard Clog Clicking or Grinding Noises Post-processing Tools and Space Recycling Prints Getting Started with Resin Printers Before and During a Print Post-processing Working with Resins Staff and User Training Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 6: Surface Finishing Filament Prints Specialty Materials Gluing Pieces Together Using an Acetone Slurry Welding with a 3D Pen Sanding, Painting, and Dyeing Chemical Smoothing Sanding Painting and Clear Coats Dyeing Nylon Summary and Questions for Review Part II: Designing for 3D Printing Chapter 7: 3D Models 3D Model File Formats Scanning Off-the-Shelf Scanning CT Scans Downloading and Modifying Models Models of Everyday Things Specialized Databases Creating a New Model Using a CAD Program Options for Getting Started Quickly Tinkercad: Drag and Drop OpenSCAD: A CAD Programming Environment Programs for Specific Applications Engineering and Architecture Programs Visual-Effects and Sculptural Programs Creating Multiple-Extruder Files Using One Extruder for Support Material Two-Color or Two-Material Prints Ultimaker Cura’s Process for a Dual-Extruder Print Complexity Is Free: Hardware as a Service Speed vs. Customization Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 8: Design Rules for 3D Printing Filament-Based Printing Resin Prints Powder Prints Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 9: Special Geometries Vase Prints Other Uses of Vase Mode Printing Hollow Printing Transparent (Solid) Pieces Tall Pointy Prints Printing on Fabric Printing Interlocking Pieces Summary and Questions for Review Part III: Applications Chapter 10: Manufacturing Plastic Parts Functional Plastic Parts Composite Filaments Conductive Parts Printing Large Filament Parts Additive Manufacturing at Scale Print Farms and Service Bureaus Short-Run Manufacturing Mass Customization Reverse Engineering and Spare Parts Industrial Mold-Making Case Study: Aftermarket Automotive Case Study: Dentistry Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 11: Metal 3D Printing and Casting Metal 3D Printing Technologies Filament Metal Printing Printing Process Debinding Sintering Debinding and Sintering Equipment Shrinkage and Part Accuracy Binder Jetting Part Accuracy Direct Metal Laser Sintering Accuracy Pros and Cons, Printing Techniques Specialty Applications Casting Designing Models for Casting Sand Casting Investment Casting Investment Casting with Resin Investment Casting with PLA Low-Temperature Metals Finding Casting Services Casting vs. Printing Metal Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 12: Prototyping and 3D Visualization Prototyping Science and Math Modeling Medical Visualization Visualization Best Practices Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 13: 3D Printers in the Classroom Logistics Issues Time to Print Print Queue Management Curriculum Issues What “Design Thinking” Means Art and Theater Math and Science Robotics Learning Differently Creating Terrain: Geography and History Teaching Coding Examples of Student Projects 3D Vermont Relitigating Historic Battles Elementary Students Summary and Questions for Review Chapter 14: The Future User Experience Materials Printing Food Printing Medications Bioprinting: Printing Living Tissue Architecture and Printing Concrete Test and Validation Modeling and Simulation Generative Design Standards Manufacturing Without Molds and Forms 3D Printing in Remote Environments Summary and Questions for Review Appendix: Links About the Authors Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Index "Get the most out of your printer, including how to design models, choose materials, work with different printers, and integrate 3D printing with traditional prototyping to make techniques like sand casting more efficient. This book is for new 3D printer owners, makers of all kinds, entrepreneurs, technology educators, and anyone curious about what you can do with a 3D printer. In this revised and expanded new edition of Mastering 3D Printing, which has been a trusted resource through five years of evolution in the 3D printing industry, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of 3D printing. This book presumes no foreknowledge and describes what you need to know about how printers work, how to decide which type of printer (filament, resin, or powder) makes the most sense for you, and then how to go forward in the case of filament and resin printers. This new edition now includes material about consumer resin printing, the evolution of lower-cost metal printing, and the plethora of both materials and applications. What You'll Learn; Choose among the different 3D printing technologies; Create or find 3D models to print; Make both easy and challenging prints come out as you imagined; Assess whether your business, factory, home or classroom will benefit from 3D printing; Work with applications that are good candidates for first projects in home and industrial applications. Who This Book Is For: People who are encountering 3D printing for the first time, or for those who want to level up their skills. It is designed for the nontechnical adult and minimizes jargon. However more sophisticated users will still find tips and insights of value." "Get the most out of your printer, including how to design models, choose materials, work with different printers, and integrate 3D printing with traditional prototyping to make techniques like sand casting more efficient. This book is for new 3D printer owners, makers of all kinds, entrepreneurs, technology educators, and anyone curious about what you can do with a 3D printer. In this revised and expanded new edition of Mastering 3D Printing, which has been a trusted resource through five years of evolution in the 3D printing industry, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of 3D printing. This book presumes no foreknowledge and describes what you need to know about how printers work, how to decide which type of printer (filament, resin, or powder) makes the most sense for you, and then how to go forward in the case of filament and resin printers. This new edition now includes material about consumer resin printing, the evolution of lower-cost metal printing, and the plethora of both materials and applications. What You'll Learn: Choose among the different 3D printing technologies Create or find 3D models to print Make both easy and challenging prints come out as you imagined Assess whether your business, factory, home or classroom will benefit from 3D printing Work with applications that are good candidates for first projects in home and industrial applications"--Amazon.com Get the most out of your printer, including how to design models, choose materials, work with different printers, and integrate 3D printing with traditional prototyping to make techniques like sand casting more efficient. This book is for new 3D printer owners, makers of all kinds, entrepreneurs, technology educators, and anyone curious about what you can do with a 3D printer. In this revised and expanded new edition of Mastering 3D Printing, which has been a trusted resource through five years of evolution in the 3D printing industry, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of 3D printing. This book presumes no foreknowledge and describes what you need to know about how printers work, how to decide which type of printer (filament, resin, or powder) makes the most sense for you, and then how to go forward in the case of filament and resin printers. This new edition now includes material about consumer resin printing, the evolution of lower-cost metal printing, and the plethora of both materials and applications. You will: Choose among the different 3D printing technologies Create or find 3D models to print Make both easy and challenging prints come out as you imagined Assess whether your business, factory, home or classroom will benefit from 3D printing Work with applications that are good candidates for first projects in home and industrial applications