Additive Manufacturing

 

The continuous growth of technologies, materials and processes has positioned Additive Manufacturing as the ideal fit for multiple industries. From accelerated time -to-market for mass customization and personalization, the benefits of AM have revolutionized product cycles across multiple categories.

 3DPD’s AM services enable customers to manufacture parts at different levels of production quantities, low to mid volumes. With an impressive array of materials ranging from those used in general purpose to complex applications, 3DPD is the ultimate go-to service choice for our customers.

3DPD’s AM division has successfully executed complex aerospace and automotive parts in various 3D Printing technologies in Plastics as well as Metals.

As 3D Printing terminology is a part of overall Additive Manufacturing Process to create a 3D product with the help of Additive Manufacturing, the design for additive manufacturing is design for manufacturability as applied to additive manufacturing. This concept emerges due to the enormous design freedom provided by AM technologies. Typical DfAM methods or tools include topology optimization, design for multiscale structures (lattice or cellular structures), part consolidation, and other design methods which can make use of AM enabled features.


SLS

Selective Laser Sintering is one of the most widely used manufacturing techniques for low volume production for Nylon material parts. The process fuses the powder raw material using a laser. Materials available for this process are similar to Injection molded Polyamides with Glass Filled types and Polystyrene. SLS is a relatively new technology that so far has been used for rapid prototyping. Its most common application is in prototype parts early in the design cycle, such as investment casting patterns, automotive hardware, end use parts for aerospace, military etc. 

With large industrial size SLA machine build platforms, the overall 3D Printing time required for the majority of the projects is ranging from 1 to 3 days only. The project completion time can also be further reduced with the help of the intelligent support system and post-processing skills.

World Class EOS machines support 3DPD’s prototyping which are used widely in multiple industries across the world due to its ability to make complex geometric shapes with little or no added manufacturing effort.

Machine – EOS Formiga P110

Build Platform – 200mm x 250mm x 330mm

Machine – EOS P-395

Build Platform – 340mm x 340mm x 620mm

Materials – Multipurpose Polyamide 12 (PA 12) such as PA2200 Nylon & PA3200 Glass Filled Nylon

SLS
SLA 3D Printing


SLA

Stereolithography Apparatus (commonly known as only Stereolithography) is the earliest developed 3D Printing technique. The process utilizes a laser beam to cure a photopolymer liquid resin layer by layer. Materials for SLA are similar to those available for the Injection Molding process. Properties achieved are similar to ABS, Polypropylene (PP). Transparent Polycarbonate (PC), Food grade, Medical grade and Flame retarding grade materials are easily available as well.

Machine – Shining 3D iSLA – 650 Pro (total quantities 3)

Bed Platform – 650mm x 600mm x 400mm 

Materials – Properties achieved are similar to ABS, Polypropylene (PP) &  Transparent Polycarbonate (PC),


DLP

Digital Light Processing is a similar process to Stereolithography. DLP uses a more conventional light source, such as an arc lamp with a liquid crystal display panel, which is applied to the entire surface of the vat of photopolymer resin in a single scan. Generally due to this method, the DLP is faster than SLA. The materials and the properties achieved are also similar to that of SLA.

3D Systems Figure 4 Standalone is an affordable and versatile solution for low volume production and same-day prototyping for fast design iteration and verification, offering speed, quality, and accuracy. The machine and & materials are tested so vigorously that the parts printed in these machines are ready for direct product application and not only used for prototyping anymore. With the help of laser scanning the entire layer at once makes it the fastest liquid resin based 3D Printing.

Machine – 3D Systems Figure 4 Standalone (total quantities 2)

Bed Platform – 120mm x 70mm x 196mm

Materials – Properties achieved are similar to ABS & Production Grade 65A Shore Hardness Elastomer & Biocompatible Rigid White.

DLP 3D Printing
SLM

SLM

Selective Laser Melting, also referred to as Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is a metal component additive manufacturing technique developed to melt and fuse metallic powder material via a high power-density laser. Material options for this process range from Aerospace grade Titanium Alloys like Ti6Al4V, Nickel based Alloys like IN625 or IN718, Steel Alloy grades such as SS 316 or Maraging Steel to widely used in Automotive as Aluminium Alloys AlSi10Mg.

Best of German Engineering SLM Solutions SLM 280 machines are one of the best in class Metal 3D Printers with dual-laser power capacity, ideal for medium to high volume metal additive manufacturing part production and prototypes.

Machine – SLM 280 (total quantities 2)

Build Platform – 280mm x 280mm x 365mm

Materials – Aluminium based alloy AlSi10Mg, Nickel based alloy IN625, IN718, Titanium based alloy Ti-grade 2 & Fe based alloys Maraging Tool Steel 1.2709, Stainless Steel 316L & Superalloy C22.