Table 1 Classification of additive manufacturing technology
From: The use of 3D additive manufacturing technology in autogenous dental transplantation
Additive Manufacturing Technology | Materials | Characteristics | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|
SLA (Stereolithography Apparatus) | POLYMERS | An object is created by selectively curing a polymer resin layer-by-layer using an ultraviolet (UV) laser beam. The materials used in SLA are photosensitive thermoset polymers that come in a liquid form. | * Polymers that come in a liquid form very high dimensional accuracy and with intricate details * SLA parts have a very smooth surface finish, making them ideal for visual prototypes * Speciality SLA materials are available, such as clear, flexible and castable resins |
FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) | POLYMERS CERAMICS | An object is built by selectively depositing melted material in a pre-determined path layer-by-layer. The materials used are thermoplastic polymers and come in a filament form. | * The most cost-effective way of producing customized thermoplastic parts and prototypes. * Wide range of materials available; from commodity thermoplastics to engineering materials and high-performance thermoplastics. |
SLM (Selective laser Melting) & DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) | METALS | They belong to a powder bed fusion technology that uses a laser beam to fuse metal powder layer by layer. SLM produces parts from a single metal DMLS produces parts from metal alloys. | * Superalloy with excellent wear and corrosion resistance. Excellent mechanical properties at high temperatures. * Its applications are: Aerospace and medical (implants) production parts. |
POLYJET (Material jetting) | POLYMERS | Operates in a similar fashion to 2D printers in material jetting, a print head dispenses droplets of a photosensitive material that solidifies under ultraviolet light, building a part layer-by-layer. The materials (acrylics) that come in a liquid form used in material jetting are thermoset photopolymers | * Can produce smooth parts with surfaces comparable to injection molding and very high dimensional accuracy. * Parts created with material jetting have homogeneous mechanical and thermal properties. * The multi-material capabilities of material jetting enables the creation of accurate visual and realistic prototypes |