《3d printing opportunity and challenges》.pdf

I Q T Q U A R T E R L Y 3D Printing: OPPOrtunities A nD chALL enges By Eugene Giller, Frank Azzolino, and Tom Davidson The development of 3D solid modeling over the last three decades has facilitated the development of 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing (AM), to replace traditional subtractive and molding manufacturing processes for prototyping. 3D printing has become an integral part of the product development process. This technology has drastically reduced prototyping costs and development time. 3D printing enables engineers and designers to have a physical, and often fully functional, mechanical prototype a few hours after completion of the design. 3D printing also vastly improves the development process by enabling rapid design iterations. Recently, 3D printers have found multiple applications reactive material technologies in the manufacture of customized products. For The first group of technologies uses reactive materials example, almost all in-the-ear hearing aids and cured by various energy sources in order to create invisible orthodonture are produced using 3D printers. the desired physical shape. The oldest and most In this article we look at the direction of 3D printing commonly used method is Stereolithography (SLA), technology and specific applications that will benefit in which UV-visible lasers cure light-sensitive resin the U.S. Intelligence Community. (photopolymer). The laser traces a cross-section of the model, causing instant solidification of the liquid major 3D Printing technologies