The purposes of 3D Printers

3D printers are still in their developmental stages- innovations are being introduced in the field of 3D printing technology on a regular basis. However, these devices have also found a purpose in several areas within a short time, as is evident from the sharp growth experienced in 3D printers from 2003. So what exactly are the purposes of 3D printers? Why are they becoming so popular? The answers to both these questions can be understood by just looking at some of the industries where 3D printers are found to be useful:

3D Printers in the defense industry

3D printers are used to a certain extent in the defense industry. In general, the industry requires versatile 3D models. Companies operating in this sector require several types of 3D models of varying sizes, scopes and physical properties in order to perform simulations and tests on them. In many cases, models would have to be built with composite materials, which can be done with adequately equipped 3D printers. The materials used in the models for defense industries would have to be airtight and watertight, and they may also have to be impact resistant in some cases. Other specialized requirements include seal applications, over-molding, shock absorption, and gasket plugs.

3D Printers in the dental industry

Digital dentistry has already become a major part of the profession. In simple terms, digital dentistry is the use of CAD and also CAM automation in the business models of dental labs, which saves time and manual labor and also improves the precision and quality of dental parts. 3D printers form the heart of this digitalization, since they allow labs to achieve great accuracy in dental part manufacturing. 3D printers can be used to quickly produce precise models of bridges, crowns, stone models, and other orthodontic appliances. These printers do away with the need for manually sculpting dental appliances and allow labs to instead concentrate on their core business functions.

3D Printers in the jewelry industry

The jewelry industry also requires prototypes of designs, and 3D printers have been used extensively for this purpose. 3D models required by this industry have to meet 3 factors for matching the desired end product. The first factor is the fine details of the design, which need to be depicted accurately on the prototype. Since the details are usually very small, 3D printing technology can achieve this accuracy.

The second factor is the smoothness of the surface, which is necessary for bringing about the beauty of the product and to undertake the post-processing. The third and final factor required from 3D models is the tolerance of the product. The prototype models are usually very small, and they would include intricate details to perfectly match the CAD drawing. This may compromise the strength of the model, unless it is made by a reliable 3D printer.

3D Printers for the medical industry

3D printers are also found useful in the medical industry. They are utilized by a number of specific medical fields, such as orthopedic, dental, audiology and many more. 3D printers can make models using biocompatible materials, so that it can serve the needs of the medical experts.