Many of us who are into 3D printing wonder what materials were originally used to make the 3d printer.
The ability to print three-dimensional objects has been represented in sci-fi movies before it was even possible. Some films like Dark Man and Westworld even predicted the ability to print out human parts.
All these predictions are coming to reality with the revolutionary invention of 3D printers. NٍِِASA is using 3D printing as a tool to invade Mars, while medical research institutions are experimenting with printing functioning body parts.
With the wide popularity of 3D printing, many are asking what materials were originally used to make 3D printer? In this post, we’ll answer this question by discussing the beginnings of the 3D printing era.
Contents
What Is 3D Printing?
3D printing is the process of creating a three-dimensional object from a digital file. The process is also known by the name “additive manufacturing” as it’s done by building layers of the used material to create solid objects.
You can create anything you want with 3D printing. You can print out sunglasses, toys, aluminum parts, dental models, and even human tissues. This means that 3D printing isn’t going to be just a trend and it could be an invention that changes our world.
When Was 3D Printing First Invented?
Hideo Kodama was the first person to introduce 3D printing to the world in the early 1980s. He wanted to create a rapid prototyping technology (RP) to use as an affordable way to create product prototypes.
Unfortunately, Dr. Kodama missed the deadline and so failed to file his patent requirements. Four years later, three French engineers, Olivier de Witte, Jean-Claude André, and Alain le Méhauté, decided to create a rapid prototyping machine.
Similar to Kodama, the patent didn’t end up by their names. This time their application was abandoned because they couldn’t get the funding for it.
Three weeks later, the American Chuck Hull successfully filed his patent and became the first person to create a 3D printer.
What Materials Were Originally Used to make the 3D Printer?
Kodama used an acrylic-based substance called photopolymer. This is a photosensitive resin that turns into solid plastic once hit by an ultraviolet (UV) light beam creating a 3D object.
Chuck Hull then came with his stereolithography (SLA) invention and changed the whole game. His idea is somewhat similar to Kodama’s but his invention allows manufacturers to create 3D objects from digital data files using (CAD) computer-aided devices.
The process of 3D printing with SLA is pretty much similar to regular inkjet printing. To print a 3D object you need to upload specific digital files called CAD files to the printer and give the order to print. Here, the printer uses filaments of photopolymer resin instead of ink.
Then, the printing process lays down several layers of the filaments until it reaches the desired height and creates a 3D printed object.
There are several types of 3D printing besides SLA including Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and more.
What Materials Are Used for 3D Printing?
It’s insane the number of materials that you can use in 3D printing. The most common materials used for 3D printing include:
Polylactic Acid (PLA)
PLA is among the most used materials for 3D printing. It’s a thermoplastic polyester made from biodegradable products such as corn starch and sugarcane.
Polylactic acid is easy to print with and has a nice smell when heated, unlike other materials. It can be used for products that require detailed designs. However, it’s not used in products that require extreme stress tolerance.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
ABS is another thermoplastic material. It’s recyclable, durable, and affordable. It’s the material that legos are made of.
Even though it’s harder to print than PLA, it’s being used pretty much in manufacturing everything from toys to kitchen appliances and computer keyboards.
Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG)
This is another thermoplastic material of the polyester family. It’s the same as PET but with the added glycol to improve its strength and durability. PETG’s biggest advantage is that it’s a food-safe material.
Like other materials, PETG has disadvantages too. It tends to scratch easier than other materials and can change color while printing as well.
Other Materials
Thermoplastics aren’t the only materials that can be used for 3D printing. Soon enough thousands and maybe more materials will be incorporated into the 3D printing industry.
More Examples for 3D printing materials:
- Metals such as silver, gold, stainless steel, titanium, and more.
- Ceramics
- Food materials like chocolate
- Nylon
- Carbon fiber
- wood
Final Thoughts
3D printing is for sure going to change our future. Luckily, the prices of 3D printers have declined over the years and there are more customer-friendly options.
Also, more materials are being introduced to 3D printing. So basically, buying a 3D printer might be the best investment to make for the future whether it’s for manufacturing business or personal use.