FAQs

What is STL?

December 4, 2019 By Leslie Langnau Leave a Comment

It’s easy to create a three-dimensional object with a CAD program. But to build that three-dimension object with 3D printing/additive manufacturing will require a special three-dimensional file. Several exist including AMF and 3MF. The Standard … [Read more...]

What 3D printing materials were introduced in 2019?

November 27, 2019 By Leslie Langnau Leave a Comment

Materials are key to the success of additive manufacturing whether it is for prototyping or production. In 2019, a number of companies announced partnerships to develop more materials for AM. And some of those materials are emerging. Here’s a … [Read more...]

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5 ways to make additive parts faster

November 20, 2019 By Leslie Langnau Leave a Comment

As customers demand faster build speeds from additive manufacturing, vendors have developed interesting and innovative new ways to deliver that speed. Check out these recent developments in making parts fast. Multimaterial multinozzle 3D (MM3D) … [Read more...]

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Understanding 3DP: Selecting the right process and material for you

November 15, 2019 By Leslie Langnau Leave a Comment

By Ishan Bhide, Applications Engineer, Fictiv Advances in manufacturing have recently provided product developers with new materials to make the manufacturing process more diverse. However, material choice can make a big difference in the success … [Read more...]

Is elongation an important measure in 3D printing materials?

November 13, 2019 By wpengine Leave a Comment

It can be, depending on the design needs of a part. Since many designs call for plastic or resin materials, the designer may wish to known the limits of a material’s elongation. In general, elongation is the measure of how much strain a material can … [Read more...]

What is injection molding?

November 6, 2019 By Leslie Langnau Leave a Comment

Injection molding is one of three main manufacturing technologies used to create parts. (The others are machining and additive manufacturing.) Injection molding offers a predictable and scalable process for rapidly prototyping and/or producing … [Read more...]

What’s the difference between stereolithography and selective laser sintering?

October 23, 2019 By Leslie Langnau Leave a Comment

Stereolithography and selective laser sintering are two very different forms of 3D printing/additive manufacturing technology. They have little in common other than building parts a layer at a time. First, these two systems build with different … [Read more...]

What is Young’s modulus (with 3D printing materials)?

October 16, 2019 By Leslie Langnau Leave a Comment

Vendors and companies involved in 3D printing/Additive manufacturing continuously introduce new materials suitable for these machines. These materials offer a range of characteristics fitting to a design. We’re going to examine a material’s … [Read more...]

In what ways does additive manufacturing give users design freedom?

October 9, 2019 By Leslie Langnau Leave a Comment

Additive manufacturing offers a new way to make objects. First, let’s distinguish the dominant manufacturing technologies. Machining, in the form of milling, cutting, drilling, stamping, and so on makes objects by removing material off of a block of … [Read more...]

Is 3D printing cheaper than injection molding?

October 2, 2019 By Leslie Langnau Leave a Comment

It can be, but it depends on several factors. The number of units to be produced The number of times a design could or will change Time Part finish needs 3D printing is not as fast at making products as injection molding. Thus, when … [Read more...]