3D printing industry news and blog articles
Yes it is possible to 3D print (3DP) metals. In recent years the development of 3DP has given rise to a number of different technologies from Direct Metal Laser Sinter (DMLS) to Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) that can print metals. This means it is now possible to create complex geometries that share the same material […]
Read ArticleTraditional ceramic materials are clay based and include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain used by human populations dating back almost 20,000 years. In fact these material are still used in everyday product such as bricks, tiles, plates and glasses for example. More recently due to advances in material science, engineered ceramic materials are used in technical […]
Read ArticleInvestment Casting is the process of manufacturing metal parts by coating, plastic or wax patterns into a ceramic slurry to be entirely coated and dried to form a geometry. The wax is then melted to create an internal ‘hollow’ so that molten metals can be poured. Once cooled the ceramic outer shell can be broken […]
Read ArticleWe often get asked what the advantages and disadvantages of a given technology are. As with all processes there will be advantages of FDM in certain applications, whereas it may be at a disadvantage compared to another process for a different application. As an example, FDM is considerably cheaper and has significant H&S benefits when […]
Read ArticleIn the last decade it has become possible to 3D print ceramic materials ranging from Porcelain, Hydroxyapatite, Alumina and Zirconia through to industrial ceramics such as Silicon Nitride (Si3N4), Aluminum Nitride (AlNi) and Silicore. With 3D printing ceramics you have the advantages of both 3D printing (tooling free manufacturing) and the unique material properties of […]
Read ArticleCeramic 3D printing is the processes of depositing ceramic material layer by layer to form a geometry without the use of tooling. Previously, methods such as Ceramic Injection Moulding, Machining and Slip Casting were used to manufacture parts, with each process having their advantages and disadvantages. In recent years the development of 3D printing has […]
Read ArticleRapid prototyping, 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing are broadly terms used to describe the process of depositing a material layer by layer to form a geometry without the use of tooling or machining.
Read ArticleWe are often asked if Stereolithography (SLA) is better than Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) or vise versa. The same could be asked of a Range Rover Defender compared to a Ferrari. In both cases the answer depends on what it is you want to do with it! You wouldn’t take a Ferrari on a safari!! […]
Read ArticleOf all the 3D printing (AM) materials that can be Additively Manufactured, it must be that of 3D metal printing that ‘3D newbies’ consider to be black magic! Up there with the printing of body parts and guns it seems to be an astounding sci-fi concept, not an actual technology available for use by any […]
Read ArticleThe future of 3d printing (AM) has been depicted as the saviour of the human race!, or the next phase of human development akin to an industrial revolution! – well, maybe both are a marketeers exaggeration, but it is a technology that many had marked as the next big thing. Baring in mind Stereolithography technique […]
Read ArticleAdditive Manufacturing, also called 3D printing is a process of building parts layer by layer until the part is complete. The opposite of additive manufacturing is subtractive manufacturing; a traditional process of taking material off a block or billet to create a geometry. Invented more than 35 years ago, the Additive Manufacturing process of building […]
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