3D printing, in spite of what you may think, has been around for over 20 years. However, the technology is only just now reaching the point where it is affordable and accessible to most people. What does the future of 3D printer in Canada look like? What will the next few years have in store for this groundbreaking technology?

3D printers function by heating up and extruding a continuous PLA-based filament. The filament is then laid down in layers and gradually built up into a physical object. 

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 

Fused deposition modeling, also known as fused filament fabrication or additive manufacturing, is a 3D printing technology used in printers like ANYCUBIC Mega Zero 2.0. It uses a fusing head to melt and extrude plastic filaments. FDM printers have been around since the 1980s and are very accurate in producing 3D models. This technology works best with materials such as ABS and PLA, which can be easily manipulated by melting and extrusion. However, this technology is not ideal for objects composed of harder materials such as ceramics and metal as the extruding head needs a material that is very flexible to use.

Stereolithography (SLA)

Stereolithography is the oldest and safest form used in 3D printing. It uses a laser beam that traces across a pool of liquid resin in order to produce an object. The laser beam is used to trace a solid object into the resin, and then the object is hardened and fused into place. The 3D printing process through a SLA 3D printer takes less time to complete compared to a FDM printer. Stereolithography works best with materials such as ABS because it is very resistant to warping and greatly increases the life of the printed part. As ABS does not move, this can lead to problems when designing with moving parts. However, this technology can easily produce any shape and possesses many unique advantages over other printing technologies.

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

Selective Laser Sintering, also known as Additive Manufacturing in 3D printer in Canada, is a method of such printing using a laser to melt powdered metals into a solid object. All the powder is then fused together and hardened in order to create the final product. The process is similar to stereolithography but is faster and stronger because the laser can melt the powder into an object over a shorter period. This technique works best with materials such as ABS and PLA, which are very resistant to warping and cracks when painted. This technology produces parts that are extremely strong with no need for sanding or painting.

FDM vs SLA

SLA and FDM printers like ANYCUBIC Photon Mono SE 3D printers both have their pros and cons.

• One of the biggest differences between the two is that SLA printers use a laser beam to melt the resin, while FDM printers use an extruder head to melt a filament. 
• However, with FDM technology, you’re limited by how much material you can physically feedthrough on a single run. FDM printers are also typically cheaper than the more expensive SLA printers. However, FDM technology has the advantage of being able to print in a wide range of materials whereas SLA printers typically only work with ABS and PLA.

Future Of 3D Printing

The future of three dimensional printing is limitless. 3D printing has been evolving at a rapid pace, and will continue to do so as manufacturers work to redesign it for the future. As technology progresses, 3D printers in Canada are able to create more complex objects.

The future of this technology will be all about speed. The goal is to drive the print speeds up to an average of 50 mm/s or more. FDM, the most popular 3D printer in existence today, also reached a record speed by printing at 250 mm/s.

In addition to speed, other developments in such printing are expected. In the future, 3D printers such as ANYCUBIC Mega Zero 2.0 will be able to print other materials such as metal and glass because of advances in software and materials science. Scientists are also working on methods of three dimensional printing such as digital light processing that could eventually allow for photonic-based printing.

Conclusion

3D printers like ANYCUBIC Mega Zero 2.0 and ANYCUBIC Photon Mono SE 3D printers have been in the market for a long time. But this printing technology still has a long way to go. There is tremendous potential and this technology can do wonders in business units and production houses. If you want to buy a 3D printer for yourself or for your business to be a part of the growing industry, you can find quality 3D printers in Canada at Mech E-Store. They have a great collection of high quality 3D printers, materials and accessories for all of your 3D printing needs!