A short talk on 3D Printing I gave to some startups at NUS Enterprise. Introduces basic concepts of 3D Printing, materials as well as Youtube links on playing music on 3D Printers. Download the slides to view the GIF animations as well as the relevant links.

1. Introduction to 3D-Printing
By: Yeo Kheng Meng (yeokm1@gmail.com)Friday Huddle at NUS Enterprise (4 Sept 2015)
1

2. Lets start printing to get things going

3. About me
• NUS Computer Science Class of 2015
• Currently working in Algo Access
11 July 2015

4. So what is ?
• Med-tech startup aimed at optometrists
1. Information retrieval from optical machines
2. Provide clinical assistance to aid diagnosis

5. 5
How things work?
OD, OS, CYL…
OD, OS, CYL…

6. So why does Algoaccess need a
3D Printer?
• Casing for our hardware product
• >$10K for a mould
• Still iterating Hardware Design

7. So what is 3D Printing?
• An additive manufacturing process that turns a 3D-design
into a real object
• Object is usually built layer by layer

8. Additive (Recent) Reductive (Traditional)
GIF
3D-Printing CNC router
Speed Slower (Hours) Faster (Minutes)
Machine Cost Lower (~4 figures) Higher (~5 figures)
Waste None Very wasteful. Requires post-cleanup
Typ Build Size Smaller (~ 20x20x20cm) Larger (~ 1m x 1m x 1m)
Additive vs Reductive
Additive: http://www.geek.com/science/3d-printing-gifs-clearly-demonstrate-the-future-of-manufacturing-1587928/#gallery=0/wooden-yoda
Reductive: http://giphy.com/gifs/london-3d-printing-3dps-AJvMW3HmcIPq8
Reliability Lower Higher

9. Types of Additive/3D Printing
• Fused deposition modelling (FDM)
• Most common
• Extrusion-based
• Melt plastic and deposit on a platform
• Stereolithography (SLA)
• Shine UV light into photo-sensitive
resin to solidify it
• Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
• Powder-based
• Use laser to melt and solidify
metal/ceramic/plastic powders
SLA: https://makeagif.com/SH74Kk
SLS: http://makeagif.com/CPJTEl
Stereolithography
Selective Laser Sintering

10. Common FDM Materials
Usually comes in spool form
1.75mm/3mm/2.85mm diameter
PLA
(Polylactic acid)
ABS
(Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)
Source Lactic acid (Plant products) Crude Oil
Biodegradable Yes No
Melting temperature 180 – 220 C 230C
Glass transition temperature
(rubber)
60 – 65 C 105 C
Heated bed/platform Not required but good to have Must have
Safety
(Release of fine particles)
Not required but recommended
to have filters
Should use filters or print in well-
ventilated area
• Exotics: Ninjaflex, t-glass, wood-based, conductive

11. From design to actual object
(Live Demo)
Design Object
Slice Object
(Slicer)
Print Object
STL file
Gcode file
via SD card
or USB
• Chop design into layers
• Define print quality
123D Design
Fusion 360
Designspark Mechanical
Solidworks
Sketchup
…
Cura
Repetier Host
Simplify3D
…
Ultimaker 2
Printrbot
MakerBot
Pirate3D
…
Software used
Use your imagination Watch your imagination
come to “life”

12. Quality (layer-height difference)
Layer height: 0.06mm 0.1mm 0.2mm
Approx print time: 30mins 18mins 9mins

13. Drawbacks of 3D-Printing
(compared to injection-mould)
• May be too slow for some use cases
• Not scalable
• Poor finish
• Requires additional touch-up
• Not strong
• Weak between layers

14. Music by 3D Printer
Singapore National Anthem by Ultimaker 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4op7vfobDcA
Singapore National Anthem by Printrbot Simple Metal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI1DXdU53Ps
Still Alive (Portal) by Printrbot Simple Metal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh3QHoTB2Ts
Fringe by Printrbot Simple Metal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en3cRWAqXwg