3d Printing Project In Agriculture Industry And Architectural Engineering

Proto Labs 3D Company

Proto Labs is one of the Top 3D printing companies in the world. It specializes in fast 3D printing prototyping using the three additive process which includes stereolithography, selective laser sintering and direct metal laser sintering. It also produces parts of plastic using its method called 3D DLS printing and that what dazzles me too. With the growth in demand for different products’ over the years they provide functional protypes, complex designs and production components with the fastest delivery of single day which is truly magnificent. With the help of the developers, designers and engineers they are also providing a low-volume production for 3D printed products (as cited in Emerging Tech Investing News, 2019).

3D Printing

3D Printing is a process in which material is joined or solidified under computer control to create a 3-dimensional object. A CAD software like AutoCAD is used where the 3D model is created by the engineers/designers and then scanned and later solidified through 3D printers.

There are variety of Use of 3D printing but few of them are used in Education, rapid prototyping rapid manufacturing.

1. It can be used by the structural engineers and architecture students to make a raw model of the buildings or other structural areas which they would build later in real-life.
2. It can also be used in fast prototyping which initially used to take around weeks, thus any other changes required on the protype can easily be done on the files which the engineers/designers are working on and reprint it as and when necessary.
3. It is used by jeweler manufacturing companies to make moulds out of it.
4. It’s also used by customizable gift shops so as to customize gifts as per the customer’s choice.

Industry uses

Most companies using 3D printing are primarily focusing on research and development prototyping. It used to take few weeks for the protype to get ready after its initial design but now with the help of 3D printing it can be prototyped within a day (as cited in Javelin, 2019).

Agriculture industry

The 3D printing can be very effective on agriculture industry which is possible by making a protype of different agriculture machineries. It can be used to innovate new technology that can later be optimized and used in the agriculture industry (as cited in Javelin, 2019).

Architectural Engineering

With the help of 3D moulds and the models designed by the architecture it can be of very effective use for structural engineers to design and innovate their technology so as to make new different design and structure of various buildings. Any new change in the design can be re printed and a 3D view of the architectural structure would be ready even before the actual structure is build (as cited in Javelin, 2019).

Benefits to Industry

1. Architecture is a very challenging market. So as to keep up the client demands and visualize components more easily it would be very beneficial for the architectural industry to have a 3D prototyping in their company.
2. The asset uptime would be increased if 3D printing is used in agriculture industry and it would have more durability with lighter components.
3. On Education industry it is very beneficial because it will have student’s participation and attention to details when the products are actually viewed in 3D (as cited in Javelin, 2019).

Benefits to User

1. It would be of good use to architects wherein they just don’t need to visualize things but they can actually have a 3D view of the structures that they will be making in future. So, any structural change that is required can be pointed out easily on 3D moulds or structures.
2. The cost of 3D printing for prototyping would not be as much as the conventional prototyping. It would give the user a freedom to improve the shape as and when required for agricultural products and heavy machineries.
3. In aerospace the users of those aerospace research and development can develop a low cost and rapid speed metal prints for aeroplanes. It would also involve less risk and greater productivity for the same.

Printers

The following are the types of 3D printers:

1. Selective Layer Sintering (SLS) It is power based 3D printing.
2. Stereolithography (SLA) It is liquid based 3D printing.
3. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Plastic Filament Extrusion Based technology (2016).

Materials

The materials used for 3D printing are as follows:

• ABS Plastic.
• PLA (Polylactic Acid).
• Wax.
• Resin.
• Steel / Metal.

Pros of 3D Printing

1. It can be possible to make any geometrical shapes by using CAD tools.
2. Provides rapid prototyping and any changes on the design can easily be implemented on the moulds and products
3. Lighter parts can be made by the manufacturing companies easily with the speed of achieving target products within few hours

Cons of 3D Printing

1. There is a limitation on the materials that can be used in 3D printings as only few materials can be used which are compatible with the 3D printers.
2. The size of the parts are of limited size so it would result in gluing.
3. There is a possibility that the parts are not moulded or finished properly so it would result in the parts being brittle and could separate.

References:

1. 2019. Emerging tech investing news. Retrieved from https://investingnews.com/daily/tech-investing/emerging-tech-investing/top-3d-printing-companies/
2. 2016. Types of 3D printers. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ik2QS47cOuQ
3. 2019. Javelin. Retrieved from https://www.javelin-tech.com/3d/industry/