Der er forskellige materialer, der bruges i 3D-printprototyper. 3D-print er fleksibelt nok til at give producenterne mulighed for at bestemme formen, teksturen og styrken af et produkt. Sammenlignet med den traditionelle produktionsmetode er produktionstrinene forkortet. Desuden kan disse produkter fremstilles med forskellige typer 3D-print prototypematerialer.
1. Plastmaterialer
Af alle de råmaterialer, der bruges til 3D-printprototyper i dag, er plastik det mest almindelige. Med sin fasthed, fleksibilitet, glathed og række af lyse farvemuligheder er plastikkens tiltrækningskraft let at forstå.
Plastprodukter fremstilles ofte ved hjælp af FDM-printere, hvor termoplastiske filamenter smeltes og formes til form lag for lag. Den type plast, der bruges i denne proces, er normalt lavet af et af følgende materialer:
◆ Polylactic acid (PLA): PLA is one of the most environmentally friendly options for 3D printers, it is derived from natural products such as sugar cane and cornstarch, so it is biodegradable. Plastics made from hard and soft acids come in both soft and hard forms and are expected to dominate the 3D printing industry in the coming years. Rigid PLA is a stronger material and is therefore ideal for a wider range of products.
◆ Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS): Valued for its strength and safety, ABS is a popular choice for home 3D printers. Also known as "Lego plastic," the material consists of pasta-like filaments that give ABS its firmness and flexibility.
◆ Polycarbonate (PC): Polycarbonate is not commonly used compared to the above plastic types, it only works in 3D printers with nozzle designs that operate at high temperatures. Among other things, polycarbonate is used to make low-cost plastic fasteners and forming trays.
2. Metal materiale
In the 3D printing industry, the second most popular material is metal, which is used through a process called direct metal laser sintering or DMLS/SLM. DMLS printers are also appealing to manufacturers of jewelry products that can be 3D printed faster and in larger quantities—all without the need for long, detailed work.
3D-print af metal har også åbnet døren for, at maskinbyggere i sidste ende kan bruge DMLS til at producere med hastigheder og mængder, der ikke kan opnås med det nuværende montageudstyr. Tilhængere af denne udvikling hævder, at 3D-print vil give maskinbyggere mulighed for at producere metaldele, der er stærkere end traditionelle dele fremstillet af raffinerede metaller.
Udvalget af metaller, der er egnet til DMLS-teknologi, er lige så forskelligartet som de forskellige 3D-printere plasttyper:
◆Stainless Steel: Ideal for printing utensils, cookware and other items that may end up in contact with water.
◆Bronze: Can be used to make vases and other fixtures.
◆Gold: Ideal for printed rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces.
◆Aluminum: Great for thin metal objects.
◆Titanium: Sturdy, the first choice for sturdy fixtures.
3．Powder Material
Today's more advanced 3D printers use powdered materials to construct products. Inside the printer, the powder is melted and distributed in layers until the desired thickness, texture and pattern are achieved. These powders can come from a variety of sources and materials, but the most common are:
◆ Polyamide (Nylon): With its strength and flexibility, polyamide provides a
høj detaljegrad på 3D-printede prototypeprodukter. Materialet er særligt velegnet til brug i 3D-print af dele og sammenlåsende dele i prototyper.
◆ Aluminum powder: Composed of a mixture of polyamide and gray aluminum,
aluminiumspulver kan bruges i nogle af de stærkeste 3D-printede prototyper. Anerkendt for sit granulerede og sandede udseende, kan pulveret bruges i industrielle modeller og prototyper.
◆ In powder form, materials such as steel, copper and other types of metals are
nemmere at transportere og forme til ønskede former. Ligesom de forskellige plasttyper, der bruges i 3D-printede prototyper, skal metalpulveret opvarmes til det punkt, at det kan fordeles lag for lag for at danne den fulde form.
4. Harpiksmateriale
Harpikser er lavet af flydende polymerer, der når deres endelige tilstand, når de udsættes for UV-lys. Harpiksen findes normalt i sorte, hvide og klare varianter, men nogle prints produceres også i orange, rød, blå og grøn. Materialet er opdelt i følgende tre kategorier:
◆ High Detail Resin: Usually used for small models that require intricate
detaljer. For eksempel er fire-tommers figurer med indviklede garderobe- og ansigtsdetaljer ofte trykt i denne harpikskvalitet.
◆ Paintable resins: Sometimes used in smooth surface 3D printing, such resins are known for their aesthetic appeal.
◆ Clear Resin: This is the strongest resin category, so it is best suited for a range of 3D printed products. Typically used for models that must be suffocating and have a transparent appearance.