Technologies
Understand additive manufacturing's categories, technologies, materials, post-processes and terminology.
Printer Categories
AM's 7 printer category types.
The American Society for Testing and Materials International (ASTM) have defined the seven categories of Additive Manufacturing into which all of the different types fit. These are the recognised industry standard printer category classifications.
Material Jetting
Material Jetting is where a printhead (similar to the printheads used in 2D inkjet printing) deposits droplets of a photosensitive material that solidifies under ultraviolet (UV) light, building a part layer-by-layer.
Most Material Jetting technologies require a separate gel-like support material for overhangs. This is either water soluble or can be dissolved in a solution of caustic soda.
6 technologies
AME
Additively Manufactured Electronics
AME parts are formed on a build plate surface.
PolyJet
Jets ultra-thin photopolymer layers cured on contact, for colour-accurate, tactile prototypes.
UV Curable Inkjet
UV Curable Inkjet parts are built on a build plate surface.
Advantages
- Material Jetting technologies offer the highest resolution and accuracy available.
- It can print compellingly detailed objects with intricate geometry and sharp edges.
- It can layer multiple materials achieving multicolour output (Polyjet and UV Curable Inkjet only).
- It produces very smooth surfaces.
Disadvantages
- The equipment is expensive, and build time is slow because it builds one droplet at a time.
- Support structures must be solid, creating significant material waste.
- Cleaning off support materials can be laborious.
- The material options are quite limited and expensive.
- Machine maintenance needs to be meticulous to prevent materials setting in print heads and delivery tubing.
- Due to their poor mechanical properties, these parts are not typically suitable for functional use since they tend to be brittle (except NPJ).
AM Environments
Like any machinery, it is important that it and any ancillary equipment are installed, operated and maintained in the appropriate environment.
These printer technologies can be used in practical environments where recognised studio or workshop protocols are observed.
Some of them require additional equipment as part of their processes which need to be understood and accommodated:
DLP
Digital Light Processing
DLP parts are built off a lifting build platform.
FFF (Large Format)
Fused Filament Fabrication
FFF (Large Format) parts are built on a build plate surface.
PolyJet
Jets ultra-thin photopolymer layers cured on contact, for colour-accurate, tactile prototypes.
PMSL
Projection Micro Stereolithography
PMSL parts are built off a lifting build platform.
SLS (Benchtop)
Selective Laser Sintering
SLS (Benchtop) parts are built within a build chamber.
SLA (Benchtop)
Stereolithography
SLA (Benchtop) parts are built off a lifting build platform.