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3D Printing for Beginners: The 3D Printer

As we continue to learn more about 3D printing through our own experiences and with the help of Marines knowledgeable in this field, we have created this guide to help those looking for a quick starting point.

Anatomy of a 3D Printer

“Anatomy of a 3D Printer” | Photo from 3D Printer Power

Anatomy of a 3D Printer

(Bumgarner, 2014)

1) Extruder: consists of the extruder motor which feeds the filament to the hot end

Types of Extruders

  • Direct Extruder: extruder and hot-end are connected
  • Bowden: extruder and hot-end are not connected

2) Hot-end: consists of heaters, temperature sensor, extrusion end, aluminum block and nozzle (sizes can be from 0.2mm to 1.2mm) through which the filament is extruded

Common Types of Nozzles

  • brass
  • hardened steel
  • stainless steel

3) Print Bed: heated platform where the 3D object is printed on to

Common Types of Print beds

  • glass
  • polypropylene sheets
  • PEI
  • steel plates

4) Filament: material used by a 3D printer in order to create a 3D object (commonly thermoplastics)

Common Types of Filament

  • ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene): higher heat threshold, strength good for creating functional parts, however it is known for creating fumes
  • PLA (polylactic acid): recommended for beginners, good for prototyping, biodegradable
  • PVA (polyvinyl alcohol): water soluble used best as support material, biodegradable
  • PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol): food-safe, higher heat threshold, strength good for creating mechanical parts
  • Nylon (polyamide): durable and flexible, requires higher printing temperature and best with enclosure
  • TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane): flexible, higher heat threshold, higher impact resistance, not easily usable on just any 3D printer
  • Polycarbonate (polyamide): durable and flexible, requires higher printing temperature and best with enclosure
  • Composite: 3D printing filaments made of different materials such as wood, carbon fiber, metal, etc.

Types of 3D Printers

(Bumgarner, 2014)

When purchasing 3D printers, one can choose from a turnkey (fully-assembled), a kit (requires assembly) or DIY.

  1. Gantry: extruder moves along the X and Y axis while the bed moves along the Z axis
  2. Moving bed: extruder moves along the X and Z axis while the bed moves along the Y axis
  3. Deltabot: extruder moves along the X, Y and Z axis while the bed is fixed.

The 3D Printing Process

(Bumgarner, 2014)

  1. Model or capture: use of CAD software that exports to STL in order to design and create a 3D model
  2. Fixup: process of checking the 3D model for design errors, making sure the model will print on the best surface, utilizing tools to scale up or down, rotate or create multiple copies
  3. Slice: process of preparing the 3D model for printing by generating toolpaths or series of instructions (most commonly the G-Code) for the 3D printer in executing the print job
  4. Print: the actual 3D printing process where the 3D printer uses the toolpaths generated during the slicing process.