3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing)

WHAT IS 3D PRINTING?

3D printing uses computer-aided design (CAD) to create three-dimensional objects through a layering method. Sometimes referred to as additive manufacturing, 3D printing involves layering materials, like plastics, composites or bio-materials to create objects that range in shape, size, rigidity and color.  

How Does a 3D printer with Additive Manufacturing Technology work?First, a thin layer of the powder material is added to a building platform. There, a powerful laser beam melts the powder precisely at certain points specified by the computer-generated design data. Next, the construction platform is lowered and another layer of powder is added. The material is melted once again, which connects it to the layer below at the specified points.The additive technique was invented more than 30 years ago. EOS has continuously developed and perfected the process and materials since the company's founding.

Additive manufacturing is 3D printing on an industrial scale and describe the more advanced techniques such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). SLS is the process of a laser sintering (forming a solid mass of material by heat before the point of liquefaction) powdered material at points in space defined by computer using a 3D design. This provides a more professional looking finished product, on which the building layers are much harder to see. AM provides results on a larger scale, with greater precision and with a wider variety of materials than FDM but is also much more expensive. Just like FDM, SLS can be used for rapid prototyping but at a later stage of development where higher precision and quality is required. SLS can even be used to 3D print discontinued or very difficult to find parts. A classic car enthusiast/restorer may be missing a vital part that the manufacturer stopped producing years ago. As long as a digital model exists, there’s a good chance an SLS machine can print it for you

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