BCO6672 Essay: 3D Printing - Operation, Benefits, and IS Challenges

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of 3D printing technology, defining it as a process where materials are solidified under computer control to create three-dimensional objects. It contrasts 3D printing with traditional machining, highlighting its additive nature and the use of CAD models and AMF files. The essay details the advantages of 3D printing, such as high speed, cost-effectiveness, and design simplicity, while also addressing its limitations, including high costs for large production runs and material constraints. It identifies various sectors that utilize 3D printing, including car manufacturers, doctors, and aerospace companies, and explains the operational steps, from creating a 3D model to post-processing. The essay concludes by emphasizing the transformative potential of 3D printing across industries and its implications for IS professionals.

Running head: 3D PRINTING
3D Printing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Definition/ Explanation of 3D Printing......................................................................................2
Operation of 3D Printing............................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
3D printing refers to all the procedures where the materials are solidified or joined
with the control of computer systems for the successful creation of any three dimensional or
3D objects, with all the materials that are being added together (Espalin et al. 2014). The
objects in the 3D printing could be of any specific geometry or shapes and are eventually
produced with the help of a 3D model or any other electronic data sources like AMF or
Additive Manufacturing File. There are several technologies such as DTL or
stereolithography and FDM or fused deposit modelling. Hence, unlike the removed material
from the stock within the process of conventional machining, the technology or additive
manufacturing or 3D printing is responsible for building and constructing the three
dimensional object from the CAD model or computer aided design and any AMF file by
properly adding the materials one after another (Compton and Lewis 2014).
The following report provides a brief discussion on the entire concept of 3D printing.
The report highlights various significant features of it with relevant details. The proper and
the significant explanation of this particular technology will be eventually given here.
Furthermore, the complete working principle of the 3D printing will also be explained here.
Definition/ Explanation of 3D Printing
3D printing or the additive manufacturing is the significant procedure by which 3D or
three dimensional solid objects are made from any specific digital file. The complete creation
of the 3D printed object can be solely achieved with the help of several additive processes.
Within any additive process, the object could be created by simply laying down the various
successive material layers until this object is being created (Barnatt 2013). Each of every
successive material layer could be viewed as finely sliced horizontal cross section of that

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particular object. It helps in the production of complex shapes by utilizing fewer materials
than the traditional method of manufacturing. 3D printing refers to the procedure, which
helps in depositing any binder material into the powder bed with the help of heads of an
inkjet printer one layer after another. It is utilized in the broad variety of AM techniques.
There is a significant difference between additive manufacturing and 3D printing. The main
purpose of the additive manufacturing is the achieving of mass production; whereas in 3D
printing it is rapid prototyping.
The processes where all materials are joined with computer systems for successfully
creating a three dimensional object is known as 3D printing. The examples of these materials
mainly include powder grains or liquid molecules when fused together. The utilization of 3D
printing is mainly in the additive manufacturing or AM and rapid prototyping (Campbell and
Ivanova 2013). The objects in the 3D printing could be of any specific geometry or shapes
and are eventually produced with the help of a 3D model or any other electronic data sources
like AMF or Additive Manufacturing File.
3D printing is considered as one of the most advanced as well as enhanced technology
in today’s world. It was first developed in the year of 1984. It eventually comprises of various
significant advantages or benefits. These advantages have made the entire concept of 3D
printing extremely popular and well accepted by all users. The most significant advantages of
3D printing mainly include high speed, single step manufacture, cost effectiveness, lack of
complexity and easy risk mitigation. It is extremely fast and this makes it extremely popular
and advantageous than all the traditional manufacturing methods (Espalin et al. 2014).
Moreover, the involvement of several steps is mitigated and the entire process could be
executed with one step only. It is extremely cost effective and thus could be afforded by all.
The machine operation costs, materials cost and the labour costs are much less than the
traditional manufacturing. Furthermore, the design is very simple to make and hence

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complexity is absent here. 3D printing is even utilized for customizing each and every item
and tools and moulds are not required for this purpose. Due to the lower fixed costs, it is
easily acceptable by all. The wastage is less and the speed of prototyping is much more than
the traditional additive manufacturing. In spite of having these significant advantages, there
are some of the major demerits (Lipson and Kurman 2013). The most significant and
important drawbacks of 3D printing mainly include high costs for the larger production runs,
limited choice of materials, finishes and colours, higher consumption of energy, lack of user
friendliness, lower precision and limited endurance and strength.
3D printing is utilized in any industry or business. Some of the most important sectors
where this technology is used for the preferred prototyping of method of manufacturing are as
follows:
i) Car Manufacturers
ii) Doctors
iii) Dentists
iv) Prosthetics
v) Aircraft Manufacturers
vi) Aerospace Companies
vii) Prop Makers
viii) Product Designers
ix) Architects
x) Students

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xi) Design Entrepreneurs
xii) Engineers
xiii) Drone Enthusiasts
xiv) Shoe Manufacturers
xv) Consumer Product Makers.
These above mentioned industries or sectors are the most important sectors for
utilizing 3D printing in their business (Campbell and Ivanova 2013). However, apart from
these mentioned industries, few more sector also use 3D printing in their business.
The 3D printable models could be created with the help of a CAD or computer aided
design through any 3D scanner or with the help of a photogrammetry software or plain and
simple digital camera. These 3D models are solely created with the CAD results in the
reduction of error and thus could be made accurate before printing and allowing verification
within the object design before printing.
Operation of 3D Printing
The 3D printing has a unique working principle. The steps are given below:
Step 1: It initiates with the successful creation of the 3D model in the system. The
digital design is the instance of a CAD file. It can be created either with a 3D scanner or 3D
modelling software. This is the first and the foremost step in 3D printing (Compton and
Lewis 2014). In this particular step, the software eventually provides some of the important
hints regarding the structural integrity that is expected from the end product. This is done
with the help of scientific data about the various materials, used for creating virtual

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simulations. These typical simulations are about the behaviour of the object under various
conditions.
Step 2: The CAD drawing is then converted to the Standard Tessellation Language or
STL format. Maximum 3D printers utilize STL files with some of the proprietary types of
files like ObjDF by Objet Geometrics and XPR by Z Corporation.
Step 3: The third step in this process is the transferring to the Additive Manufacturing
Machine and the Manipulation of the STL file (Espalin et al. 2014). This is again one of the
most important step as this transfer is done easily and promptly.
Step 4: The fourth step is the setting up of machine. All the machines have their own
requirements like polymer refilling, usability of consumables and binders.
Step 5: The next step is the building of the machine. The procedure of building of the
machine is completely automatic and all the layers are about 0.1 mm thick.
Step 6: The sixth important step after building in the process of 3D printing is the
removal of printed objects (Lipson and Kurman 2013). Various precautions are to be taken
for avoiding injuries in this particular step.
Step 7: Post processing is the seventh step of 3D printing after removal of printed
objects. The brushing off the extra powder and bathing of the printed object for removing
water soluble supports are the basic types of post processing.
Step 8: The final step in the procedure of 3D printing is the suitable application of the
freshly printed objects.

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References
Barnatt, C., 2013. 3D printing: the next industrial revolution. Nottingham:
ExplainingTheFuture. com.
Campbell, T.A. and Ivanova, O.S., 2013. 3D printing of multifunctional
nanocomposites. Nano Today, 8(2), pp.119-120.
Compton, B.G. and Lewis, J.A., 2014. 3D‐printing of lightweight cellular
composites. Advanced materials, 26(34), pp.5930-5935.
Espalin, D., Muse, D.W., MacDonald, E. and Wicker, R.B., 2014. 3D Printing
multifunctionality: structures with electronics. The International Journal of Advanced
Manufacturing Technology, 72(5-8), pp.963-978.
Lipson, H. and Kurman, M., 2013. Fabricated: The new world of 3D printing. John Wiley &
Sons.