Feb.7, 2015 | By Simon

After announcements from many different consumer-based 3D printing companies that they will be offering an expanded collection of materials for 3D printers - not to mention the legions of existing materials out there -  it’s easy to become confused with what materials might work best for your specific application.

While some printers use paper, such as those produced by MCor Technologies (although the finished print truly is strong), others such as SLM Solutions use Laser Melting technologies to fuse metal together for more rigid 3D printing applications such as wheels for a moon-bound rover.

However the majority of 3D printers on the market use some variation of a thermoplastic to bring digital 3D models to life.  Whether the plastic has bendable or rubbery properties or is able to withstand repeated abuse, the options are vast and can vary from job to job.    

Aiming to help users approach figuring out which material might work the best for them, CAPINC, a 3D design solution company and reseller of SolidWorks and Stratasys 3D printers, has created an infographic that they hope will help steer users in the best direction for their next 3D printing project.  

 

They have also outline how different 3D printing materials may be “strong” but not “tough”.  For example, the outline that if you were to forge a hammer out of hardened glass and one out of 3003 aluminum, the glass hammer would be technically stronger as a material but wouldn’t be able to hold up to the demands of repeated blows like aluminum, which is softer, would.    

“Things that are ‘Strong’ aren’t necessarily ‘Tough’, and things that are ‘Tough’ may not be ‘Strong’,” they said. “This is why we don’t have glass hammers or high carbon steel bullets.”

Although few people might ever be making hammers or bullets on a 3D printer (yet - at least), the metaphors that are given can easily be translated to existing 3D printing materials: you wouldn’t want to create a part for something that might easily break after a few uses despite it seemingly being a “strong” material.  

Additionally, the melting temperature of some filaments - such as those the are used with Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printers - can drastically affect its performance abilities.  If exposed to high temperatures, these materials warp and can become weaker and less-tough for some of the more strenuous applications.  In comparison, materials such as nickel or ceramic that have significantly higher melting temperatures might be better-suited for jobs that require a tougher material.    

One example that is given for appropriately picking the correct 3D printing material is with medical instruments.  In order to sanitize medical instruments from patient to patient, all tools are required to undergo a sterilization process that can include high-temperature steam autoclaving.  Although one might argue that you could print a new instrument for each patient, the costs still might not be feasible for some.  Additionally, some printed parts may need to undergo special considerations for the purpose of MRI scans or when working with static electricity-sensitive objects such as some circuit boards.   

So how do you know which 3D printer filament will be the best one for your job?  Whether your industry is in electronic, military, consumer, hobbyist or any other form of manufacturing where 3D printing is commonly used,  CAPINC is offering their infographic for free so you know exactly what the best strength, toughness, resolution and temperature requirements are for your next job.  


Posted in 3D Printing Technology

 

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