Decipher the Code: 3D Printer Terms & Technologies
If you’re confused by the terms used to describe 3D printing, you’re not alone. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the plethora of 3D printer terms that describe similar technologies but are called different things in different environments.
For example, 3D printing is often called additive manufacturing (AM) in industrial settings. Why? Subtractive processes like carving, turning and machining remove material, while a 3D printer builds objects by gradually stacking controlled layers of powder, liquid or sheet-based materials. Additive fabrication (AF) and additive printing (AP) are alternate terms for additive manufacturing processes.
To complicate the picture, 3D printers utilize varied technologies to construct objects. Let’s take a moment to decipher the code.
Binder jetting and inkjet powder printing spray glues or binders through nozzles onto thin layers of powder to bind the powder into a cohesive shape and fuse the layers to each other.
Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a term copyrighted by Stratasys to describe their patented extrusion process that uses heated nozzles to build objects by depositing and fusing semi-liquid substances in thin accumulating layers.
Fused filament fabrication (FFF) and fused filament method (FFM) are alternate terms for extrusion processes that utilize heated nozzles to melt plastic filaments into semi-liquids that are applied in finely controlled layers to create an object.
Electron beam melting (EBM) occurs in a vacuum chamber where an electron beam is used to melt layers of powdered metal to form a fused metal object.
Laser sintering refers to a wide range of technologies that utilize lasers to generate heat and fuse layers of powder granules into defined shapes. Technologies include selective laser sintering (SLS), which can process varied substances such as ceramics, glass, metal, nylon, plastics and wax, and direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), which can produce metal objects and wax forms used for casting metal parts.
Selective heat sintering (SHS) employs a heat-generating print head to melt, harden and fuse layers of granulated plastics.
Selective laser melting (SLM) is similar to laser sintering, but in SLM the laser created 3D objects by generating sufficient heat to fully melt rather than just fuse powdered materials.
Stereolithography apparatus (SLA) describes the first 3D printing technology, which remains in widespread use. Objects are shaped and built one layer at a time with photo-reactive liquid polymers that can be set and cured with UV light.
These definitions are intentionally simple, direct and spare to keep the focus on the primary characteristics that distinguish one method from another. Since every 3D printer is designed to process specific substances in a defined manner, examine printer capabilities with care, so you choose the printer and technology that suit the designs and materials you want to use.