PLA 3D PRINTING

PLA 3D PRINTING

In FFF 3D printing, PLA is one of the most common materials used as it is versatile and easy to print. It is possible to use it for a wide variety of applications. 
First of all, let’s start by explaining what PLA is. PLA, or PolyLactic Acid, is a plastic material which is widely used in FFF or FDM 3D printing due to its cheapness, accessibility and ease-of-use. Most applications used in PLA printing do not usually require high thermal or mechanical resistance.
 
PLA presents a very detailed surface finish. Despite the fact that some PLAs on 3D printing presents a more matte colour, the majority of PLAs are generally shiny. There are many colours for PLA, including transparent or multicolour PLA. 
PLA has good flexibility and it also has fragile aspects. At the same time, it has a good UV resistance, which allows you to use PLA parts for other applications as well. It is also odour-free and water-tight, making it ideal for education and office environment. Furthermore, PLA is able to endure up to 50ºC. 
Secondly, there are several points to take into consideration before the printing process irrespective of material. Still, achieving the best result is possible via understanding the basic printing settings. There are more than one kind of PLA, which means the settings can change. The first thing we must take into account is the printing temperature. It is important to know which temperature to apply for a specific type of PLA. This will help you avoid possible extrusion problems and thus guarantee the best surface quality. Another important setting is build plate temperature. Through this setting, you will be able to achieve the best quality on the first layers, which is the most important layer in PLA 3D printing.
 
After setting up the basic parameters, it is important to keep in mind that plastic absorbs moisture from the air. Thus, it
must not be forgotten that if the filament is exposed to humidity for a long period of time, there may be some trouble printing it. It is essential to print in a ventilated area.
Using PLA in 3D printing is effective and easy, but it must not be forgotten that there are important steps to follow, among which is printing temperature.
 
Contact us for more information on PLA printing and more!

Choosing the Right Desktop 3D Printer

Choosing the Right Desktop 3D Printer

Most people are still under the impression that 3D printers are expensive, take too much space and are unfit for office use. That’s why they prefer to have their parts outsourced. However, outsourcing parts requires money, time and effort. Having parts outsourced means you will spend more money to having them delivered to your end as well, which increases lead times and reduces the possibility of carrying out a smooth manufacturing process with no problems. This is why it is better to own professional desktop 3D printers, which have become affordable with proper build volumes. They are safe to use in offices, which is where you work all day. Thus, you will not need to transport parts to receive them.
Professional desktop 3D printers should provide higher throughput than others. Most 3D printers are built with plastics and acrylic. So, you might want to look for a printer which has metal construction. It might be a good idea to see them in person and check the rigidity of the printer. Nexa 3D’s XiP is built out of aluminium with an aluminium body. Its z-axis is anchored from top to bottom, which is uncharacteristic of most resin 3D printers. This results in less vibration during printing and causes better part quality. Furthermore, good results from a 3D printer can only be received if the materials are good. Some professional desktop 3D printers limit you to their materials, while others are more flexible with validated materials and the possibility to use third party materials. Nexa3D’s XiP offers you both, so that you can have an easy experience. It is also possible to achieve higher part throughput and speed while maintaining product quality.
 
Professional desktop 3D printers can be a good option for users who want to be hands-on with their 3D printer to achieve maximum access and want a higher end experience with improved performance and reliability.
Contact us for more detail on desktop resin 3D printers or visit our website: Nexa3D XiP

Ultimaker: History of 3D Printing

Ultimaker: History of 3D Printing

The history of 3D printing is an ongoing and an interesting one. Although it feels like it is a relatively new technology, the first examples of 3D printing dates back to 40 years ago. It first began when Dr. Hideo Kodama invented the first rapid prototyping machines that were able to create parts layer by layer in 1981 What Kodama did was to use a resin which could be polymerised by UV (ultraviolet) light. Then, in 1986, Chuck Hull filed the first patent for Stereolithography technology, or SLA. In this sense, Hull is considered to be the inventor of 3D printing as he created and commercialised both SLA and the “.stl” file format, which is the most common file type used in 3D printing. Then, Carl Deckard licensed SLS technology in 1988 when he was still a student studying in University of Texas. After that, Scott Crump filed the patent for Fused Deposition Modelling, or FDM, technology, which is also known as FFF. It was in the 1990s that a great deal of growth for the early 3D printing industry took place. However, the first SLS printer became commercially available in 2006 The RepRap Project made 2005 an important year for 3D printing. The project aimed to re-think Additive Manufacturing starting with FDM/FFF technology as a low-cost technology. The RepRap Project became an inspiration for every successful low-cost 3D printer. The RepRap 3D printer is made of many plastic parts, which can also be printed by RepRap. This project was successful, which became a catalyst for the rise of commercial 3D printers. Furthermore, 2011 marked the foundation of Ultimaker in the Netherlands, inspired by the RepRap project as well. Today, 3D printers are used in industries such as aerospace, architecture, manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, construction and many others.

Printing technologies and Nexa3D LSPc Technology

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Printing technologies and Nexa3D LSPc Technology

The Differences Between a 3D Resin Printer and a Filament 3D Printer

It is important to differentiate between a 3D resin printer and a filament 3D printer especially for Professional use.

Filament 3D Printers

Filament 3D printing is also referred to as fused deposition modeling technology (FDM or FFF). In filament 3D printing, a solid polymer filament goes through an extruder assembly. After that, a motor drives it through a thermal core. It is then heated up to the point where it melts prior to being extruded onto a build plate with the help of a nozzle. The molten material is then deposited layer.

Resin 3D Printers

Resin 3D printers use liquid resin material which cures when it is subjected to UV light. It’s use depends on factors including surface quality, part throughput, proprietary technologies and more. Resin 3D printers have good surface finish quality, accuracy and precision and fast printing. There are in total three generations of 3D printers: SLA, DLP, and mSLA.

Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing

SLA is the first 3D printing technology invented in 1986 A liquid resin material is held in a vat which is exposed to a laser source reflected onto the resin using a set of mirrors. The polymer resin cures, the laser traces the entire cross-section of the geometry to complete one layer. Then, the process repeats itself until the part is completely printed.

Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D Printing

DLP 3D printers use a light projector which flashes the image of a section, thus printing an entire layer, which brings about fast printing speeds.

Carbon DLS™ (Digital Light Synthesis) technology

A digital light projector generates a series of UV images through an oxygen-permeable. A small amount of oxygen passes through, which brings about a dead zone. The process leads to high quality surface finish and part production in fast speeds.

Masked Stereolithography (mSLA)

LSPc technology is the patented technology of Nexa3D and a variant of mSLA resin 3D printer. 3D image slices are projected onto the vat where photopolymerization takes place layer by layer. It also ensures high performance. The LSPc membrane creates a no-stick zone between the printed part and the vat, which makes this. technology ultra-fast.

Contact us to receive more information on Nexa3D printers and the benefits of LSPc technology, or visit our website: Nexa3d

Ultimaker Metal Expansion Kit

Ultimaker Metal Expansion Kit

Meet Ultimaker Metal Expansion Kit

Ultimaker Metal Expansion Kit is now available. With the metal expansion kit, you can print complex stainless steel parts more easily. You can upgrade the Ultimaker S5 with the Metal Expansion Kit and explore new metal 3D printing applications. Thanks to the easy and smooth workflow of the kit, it is possible to create stainless steel parts easily and in a much more efficient and affordable way.

Metal 3D Printing Workflow in 4 Steps For Metal Expansion Kit

Step 1: 3D print your part

Print with BASF Forward AM Ultrafuse® 17-4 PH stainless steel filament to create a “green part”.

Step 2: Send to post-process

Send your green part for post-processing by BASF’s network of certified debinding and sintering services.

Step 3: Track and receive

Track debinding and sintering progress via an online portal, and receive your part back in 10 business days.

Step 4: Use your metal part

Put your finished metal part to use – from small series of tools to auxiliary components

17-4 PH stainless steel plus, which is a metal-optimised support material, gives you the possibility to create strong parts with complex geometries freely. Also, Ultimaker Cura 5.0 includes metal FFF features which provide you with full control and guarantee high-quality metal part production. Furthermore, the Ultimaker s5 has a low total cost of ownership and a small size, which makes it easy to adopt and scale an easy-to-afford metal 3D printing solution. Compared to some other additive methods, you can save up to %90 when you are producing the metal parts and tools that you need. Freely 3d printing plastic or metal parts on the Ultimaker S5 makes it brings together a much wider range of possible applications. Moreover, you can switch between materials easily and quickly just by changing out the print cores, which makes your printer all the more versatile.

The Ultimaker Metal Expansion Kit includes:

  •  BASF Forward AM Ultrafuse® 17-4 PH (1 kg)
  •  BASF Forward AM Ultrafuse® Support Layer (300 g)
  •  Packaging for green parts and a voucher toward post-processing
  • Ultimaker Print Core CC 0.4
  • Ultimaker Print Core DD 0.4
  • Magigoo Pro Metal (50 ml) adhesive
  • Free Ultimaker Cura software with optimized metal part slicing features
  • Access to exclusive metal FFF e-learning content on Ultimaker Academy

BASF Forward AM Ultrafuse® 17-4 PH, which is an ideal stainless steel, is the perfect choice for high-strength and stiff parts. Its excellent corrosion and heat resistance makes it possible to withstand the most challenging operating conditions. A catalytic debinding and sintering process carried out for traditional metal injection moulding is what makes it possible to achieve these properties.

Ultimaker Metal Expansion Kit comes with a voucher toward post-processing your 3D print within 10 business days. What makes it possible is BASF’s network of certified debinding and sintering services. You can easily book your part’s post-processing on the calendar through an online portal, and check in on the progress any time you want. Furthermore, you can unlock some additional features inside t

Finally, if you are not an expert 3D printer-user, do not worry. With the Ultimaker Metal Expansion Kit, you will have access to a 1-hour e-learning course and get guidance, which will help you create high-quality metal parts with Ultimaker successfully.

Nexa3D Launches New Desktop Resin 3D Printer: XiP

Nexa3D Launches New Desktop Resin 3D Printer: XiP

Nexa3D has recently launched its new desktop resin 3D printer: XiP. The XiP uses Nexa3D’s signature technology, Lubricant Sublayer Photocuring (LSPc) technology just like its other industrial 3D printers NXE400 and NXD 200.

Resin 3D technology is generally divided into 3 categories: Stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Processing (DLP) and Masked Stereolithography (mSLA). Mainly, mSLA technology exposes resin material to UV light to cure it. It does not trace each layer, but uses a large area UV light source, which is masked with LCD screen. In this way, the patterned light is exposed to the resin simultaneously throughout the curing plane, which makes the whole process fasther than SLA. However, LSPc is the fastest among all.

 Nexa3D improved printing times in a revolutionary way by introducing a self-lubricated membrane which does not stick to the printed part or the LCD screen underneath. This is what makes ultrafast printing possible. Furthermore, the XiP is easy to use. It can be easily operated by an expert user or a dentist who does not have any related experience in 3D printing. Another user-friendly feature the XiP provides is the Smart Resin System. Nexa3D cartridges provide ease of use, allowing quick load and unload of the materials. Also, thanks to its modular design, XiP gives you the possibility of repairing or replacing parts easily and quickly. You will not need to do this very often, though, as the XiP is tough and long-lasting. You can also easily leave the printer unattended overnight. Without the need of constant monitoring, the XiP provides fast and easy 3D printing experience. Also, Nexa3D cares about maintaining sustainable production. As mentioned earlier, the XiP is long-lasting. However, if your printer needs to retire, the aluminium body can be easily recycled.

 
Contact us for more information on the XiP or take a look at our website: Nexa3D