
- 3d printer in the learning factory install#
- 3d printer in the learning factory software#
- 3d printer in the learning factory download#
A 2kg titanium part would generally require a 30kg block of titanium to machine it from, generating 28kg of waste, but 3D printing the same part requires only 6kg of titanium wire. Rather than sintering metal powder with a laser like most metal 3D printers, the Norsk Merke 4 uses a plasma arc to melt a metal wire in a process called Rapid Plasma Deposition (a form of Directed Energy Deposition) that can deposit up to 10kg of titanium per hour. Norsk chose to specialize in titanium because it has a very high strength-to-weight ratio and is rather expensive, meaning the reduction in waste enabled by 3D printing has a more significant financial impact than compared to cheaper metals where the costs of material waste are easier to absorb. The 33-centimeter-long structural fittings that hold the aft kitchen galley to the airframe are 3D printed by a company called Norsk Titanium. GE’s fuel nozzles also made their way into the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, but it’s not the only 3D printed part in the 787. Rapid manufacturing is a new method of manufacturing where businesses use 3D printers for short run / small batch custom manufacturing. Iterations are easier and cheaper to make and you don’t need expensive molds or tools.īesides rapid prototyping, 3D printing is also used for rapid manufacturing. From idea, to 3D model to holding a prototype in your hands is a matter of days instead of weeks. In short: it’s fast and relatively cheap. Why use 3D Printers for Rapid Prototyping?

Using 3D printers for these purposes is called rapid prototyping.

Slicing basically means slicing up a 3D model into hundreds or thousands of layers and is done with slicing software. Slicing: From printable file to 3D Printer

Now that you have a printable file, the next step is to prepare it for your 3D printer. Tinkercad offers beginner lessons and has a built-in feature to export your model as a printable file e.g.
3d printer in the learning factory install#
Tinkercad is free and works in your browser, you don’t have to install it on your computer. We often recommend beginners to start with Tinkercad.
3d printer in the learning factory software#
We’ve created an overview on our 3D software page. There are many different software tools available.

3d printer in the learning factory download#
You can opt to create one from the ground up or download it from a 3D library.
