We want to hear from you. Where is resin 3D printing winning and what are the hurdles? Take the树脂3D打印上的聚光灯survey now.
Our series looking at the State of Resin 3D Printing continues with insights gained from running a 3D printing bureau. With more than twenty years of experience,AME-3Dis an industrial 3D printing service provider based in Sheffield, UK. In this article Managing Director, Rich Proctor, ofAME-3D讨论了如何SLA 3 d打印技术的领域nology needs to advance and how new materials could propel the sector further.
3DPI: How have you seen resin-based 3D printing develop in recent years?
Rich Proctor: There are more varied technologies compared to ten years and more ago. Before there was only SLA, not there’s DLP, MSLA, LFS etc. Also, the materials are much improved.
When we first began with our SLA systems, the materials were incredibly hydroscopic and brittle. A part could be a very different size before and after the weekend. Now there is a vast array of materials from ABS like, polycarbonate like, to flexible rubber simulants and even end-use true silicone.
The accuracy of systems has increased, too, with some running 10µm layers, which gives much better detail.
Finally, the machine speed is much quicker. Our latest machines will run a full build in about the same time as our old machines, but the difference is they are 8 times larger, meaning more can be built faster than ever.
3DPI: What do you consider the next technology hurdles for photopolymer-based 3D printing to overcome?
Rich Proctor：在过去的20年中，材料已经走了很长一段路，但始终可以改善。SLA系统上的所有材料都复制了最终用途聚合物，但到目前为止，它们从未完全符合真实物质的属性。
此外，紫外线材料将始终容易受到阳光的影响，这限制了SLA组件在户外工作的时间。现在比以前更好，但仍然存在局限性。
防水材料也是如此。这些更好，但仍然有限。
At AME-3D, we have a mixture of old and brand-new machines and can maintain them to a high standard. From an environmental point of view, a reusable consumable material would be ideal. If this were possible the support structures used in the printing process could be reused and not thrown away.
Resolution will always be improved by being increased, as in the laser spot will be refined to focus to an ever-smaller spot size. This means that parts can have finer detail. It’s like drawing with a sharp pencil rather than permanent marker. This however adds time. If we could increase the fine-detail without sacrificing time that would be a significant game-changer.
Speed has also increased dramatically but remains steady with SLA. The name rapid prototype is slightly overplayed with SLA. DLP is a significantly quicker technology but build volumes are small and they are a more expensive investment. (The investment in both machines and material is higher). If SLA could become faster and DLP larger then both technologies would be adopted for more applications.
3DPI: What applications of vat photopolymerization do you see as under-developed by the market, and why?
Rich Proctor: Previously, material capability has hindered the use of vat photopolymerization technology because it has been hydroscopic and brittle. Now it is much more robust and accurate, making it well-suited for end-use parts that it previously wasn’t appropriate for.
同时，其他技术（例如SLS，MJF和FDM）以牺牲SLA为代价进入了最终用途的游戏。现在，由于增值税光聚合技术得到了改善，这有可能改变。
例如，医疗设备，解剖模型，具有矫正材料等灵活材料的组件以及航空航天行业可以从增值税光聚合中受益，并更广泛地使用它。
3DPI: Where are opportunities for materials development in regards to vat photopolymerization technology?
Rich Proctor: Material for SLA and DLP systems have largely been rigid with some examples being flexible. The processing of the material is complicated for flexible material, but the advantage to the user is great.
As mentioned previously, both waterproof and UV stable materials would help to increase the usage opportunity of vat photopolymerization technology.
And similarly, chemical resistance would give SLA the opportunity to work in a broader market and be used in markets where SLS, MJF, and FDM are currently dominant.
增值税光聚合材料迈出的一大步是使其适合受管制的行业，例如，使它们安全，皮肤安全或符合FDA。
本系列中的更多文章：3D打印状态： 树脂。
We want to hear your opinion on resin 3D printing,take the survey now.
Want to contribute further? Get in contact if you’d like toshare your thoughts on this topic.
Subscribe to the3D打印行业newsletterfor the latest news in additive manufacturing. You can also stay connected by following us onTwitterand liking us onFacebook.
Looking for a career in additive manufacturing? Visit3D打印作业在行业中选择一系列角色。订阅我们的YouTube频道，以获取最新的3D打印视频短裤，评论和网络研讨会重播。betway必威手机版登录
特色图片显示AME 3D产品开发技术员安迪·霍尔（Andy Hall），首先是RS Pro 800的大部分。照片通过AME 3D。
