[3D Printing Guide 1.2] - What 3D printing methods are available?

This is the 2nd article I publish of my 3D Printing Guide series - if you missed part 1 you can find it here in overview (of course here on steemit): https://steemit.com/technology/@hastla/4j3h3c-3d-printing-guide-1-0-overview

In that theoretical short guide I will list all different 3D printer types and methods. You will learn and know finally what is the most common and cheapest.

What 3D printing methods are available?

In general there are this 3D printer types available today:

Stereolithography(SLA)
Digital Light Processing(DLP)
Fused deposition modeling (FDM)
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Selective laser melting (SLM)
Electronic Beam Melting (EBM)
Laminated object manufacturing (LOM)

When normal consumer refer today on 3D printing they use in 99% FDM and a few have SLA printing machines. The other methods are more or less industrial methods what are not available on the market.

So how is FDM printing working?

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology was developed by Scott Crump founder of Stratasys Ltd. in 1980s. In general there are thermoplastic (called filament - mostly sized in 1,75mm or 3mm diameter) extruded at the constant melting temperature of used plastic. The printer then build objects layer by layer.... this is on all the same, don`t depend how they look like.

FDM printers can print cheap high quality production grade parts and prototypes and are machines cost from 200-5000USD. In general you can build with little tuning of a cheap reprap DIY kit a decent machine for around 250USD what print like an expensive one.

How are the prints looking?

Well you can print nearly all parts but to show you something - here is my printed drone :-)

In following series we will look at different printers & DIY printer kits plus I will give you tips on high quality budget printing and what hardware is suggested.

That printed drone was made with the popular 200USD DIY kit named TEVO Tarnatula - I would highly recommand that kit as you will have an awesome owners group at facebook with 21k owners of same machine what help each other. I really prints awesome with just a few addons like a 2usd fan for example . Additional there are hundrets of upgrade parts available on Thingiverse for that machine - my oldest have nearly 5k hours on it :-)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TEVO.3dprinter.owners/

Here some pics from people after building... so there is in most cases massive room for perfection here:

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Buy the Tarantula here, secure direct from producer via Aliexpress:

http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/neY7yRf6e

Thanks and hope you like it - please don`t hesitate to comment for questions!

hastla

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