Professional Skills for ICT: 3D Printing Tech Report for Business

This report analyzes 3D printing technology for a medium-sized Australian organization. It covers five 3D printing technologies: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), SLS, Stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Processing (DLP), and Continuous Liquid Interface Production. The report explores applications in aerospace, dental, and consumer products, detailing benefits such as manufacturing efficiency, customization, and prototyping, alongside drawbacks like job displacement and material limitations. It discusses the potential for business expansion and provides recommendations for addressing challenges in 3D printing implementation, offering a comprehensive overview of the technology's impact and strategic considerations for businesses.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note:

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Executive Summary
3D dimensional printing technology can be defined as kind of technology in which various kinds
of metals are mainly joined together under the command of computer. An Australian based
medium size organization is planning to implement this particular technology in their
organization. At present the organization handles two types of clients that is both retail and
corporate. The organization has various kinds of retail branches in Victoria. The coming pages of
the reports mainly deals with five different types of technology of 3D printing. It also deals with
various kinds of application in manufacturing and medical domains. Three important application
of 3D printing technology has been discussed in detail. After that various advantages and
disadvantage of 3D printing technology has been discussed in brief. In the end of the report a list
of recommendation has been provided for encountering various kinds of problems in this firm.

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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................4
Discussion............................................................................................................................5
3D printing technology....................................................................................................5
Fused Deposition Modelling Technology (FDM).......................................................5
SLS Technology..........................................................................................................5
Stereolithography (SLA).............................................................................................6
Digital Light processing (DLP) Technology...............................................................6
Continuous Liquid Interface Production.....................................................................6
Application of 3D technology.........................................................................................6
Aerospace....................................................................................................................6
Dental Industry............................................................................................................7
Consumer products......................................................................................................7
Benefits of 3D printing Technology................................................................................8
Manufacturing..............................................................................................................8
Customization..............................................................................................................8
Constant prototyping and increasing productivity.......................................................9
Affordability................................................................................................................9
Storage.........................................................................................................................9
Employment opportunities...........................................................................................9

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HealthCare...................................................................................................................9
Drawbacks of 3D printing Technology.........................................................................10
Decrease in number of jobs.......................................................................................10
Limited Size...............................................................................................................10
Limited Raw Material................................................................................................10
Violation of Copyright...............................................................................................10
Production and Development of Items......................................................................10
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................11
Recommendation...............................................................................................................12
References..........................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
A ten years old medium size organization is looking for adaptation of 3D printing
technology in their organization (Anonymous, 2014). The head office of this is firm is located in
Melbourne, Australia. At present the organization handles both kinds of clients that is corporate
as well as retail. The organization has various kinds of it retails branches in Australia. Currently
this organization is more focused in handling various kinds of computers and printers for large
number of business in Victoria, Australia. The organization is planning to expand its business in
next five years in the other regions of the world. CEO is mainly focused to implement 3D
printing technology after understanding its uses in manufacturing industry. 3D printing
technology can be considered as a useful technology which can help this organization in
expanding their business. 3D printing technology can be considered as an adaptive kind of
technology which has been developed in the year of 1980, which is known to be useful for
manufacturing three dimensional objects (France, & Safari, an O’Reilly Media Company, 2013).
Additive manufacturing generally creates a platform where various kinds of materials can be
easily fused together inform of layers for materials. 3D printing can be easily achieved by the
help of fused deposition modelling (FDM). This particular process can be used like single nozzle
which can be used for extruding melted materials.
The coming pages of the report mainly deals with 3D technology and its application in
various fields. Three important application of 3D technology has been discussed in details in
forth coming pages. Apart from this various benefits and drawbacks of 3D technology has been
discussed in details. In the end a list of recommendation for 3D technology has been discussed in
brief.

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Discussion
3D printing technology
Additive manufacturing (AM) can be defined as a kind of manufacturing process which
mainly deposits various materials in layer by layer form for building a tangible product. The
most common type of additive manufacturing is 3D printing (Cesaretti et al., 2014). This
particular technology tends to be third revolution because it provides new and expanding
technical and social kind of effect. There are mainly five kinds of 3D printing technology like
stereo-lithography (SLA), Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), SLS technology, Digital light
processing (DLP) and lastly continuous liquid interface production.
Fused Deposition Modelling Technology (FDM): In this particular process a plastic or
wax material is provided by the help of nozzle which mainly traces a part of cross-sectional
geometrical areas (Gross et al., 2014). FDM technology just comes after stereolithography and
holds a second position in the list. In this particular technology a plastic filament is generally
wounded in the form of coil and supporting material for an extrusion nozzle. The nozzle can be
easily heated for melting the plastic and a proper kind of mechanism is there which helps in flow
of plastic which is turned on and off as per the requirement.

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Fig 1: Fused Deposition Modelling Technology
(Source: Horne, & Safari, an O’Reilly Media Company, 2016)
SLS Technology: This particular technology was developed at the university of Texas
which is in Austin. This particular technology was patented in 1989 and was originally sold by
DTM corporation. In this technology thermoplastic powder is mainly spread by the help of roller
on the surface of building cylinder (Hoang et al., 2015). After that the piston moves in such a
way that one object of layer thickness can easily accommodate the next layer of thickness. After
that the piston moves upward in an incremental way which can be used for measuring the
quantity of power for each kind of layer which is provided.

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Fig 2: SLS Technology
(Source: Jové et al., 2017)
Stereolithography (SLA): This particular technology is widely or mainly used in rapid
prototyping technology. It can easily produce high or accurate and detail parts of polymer. It is
mainly considered as a first or rapid kind of process which was introduced in the year of 1988 by
3D systems (Horne, & Safari, an O’Reilly Media Company, 2016). Stereolithography technology
mainly builds plastic parts or object is a layer at a particular time by properly tracing a proper
kind of laser beam which is mainly present on the surface of objects of liquid photopolymer. The
self-adhesive kind of material mainly causes each kind of succeeding layer which can be used for
bonding to the previous layer.

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Fig 3: Stereolithography
(Source: Park et al., 2015)
Digital Light processing (DLP) Technology: This particular technology is considered to
be well-known which is mainly used in various kinds of photopolymer resin (Jové et al., 2017).
It is mainly considered to be similar technology which is used in UV laser that can be used for
curing various kinds of photopolymer resins. It mainly results in creation of a huge amount of
space that is present in bottom of various containers.

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Fig 4: Digital Light processing (DLP) Technology
(Source: McMenamin et al., 2014)
Continuous Liquid Interface Production: This particular technology is considered like
a method which can be easily used for proper projection of lager number of sequence which
totally depends on images of ultraviolet rays (Micallef, & Safari, an O’Reilly Media Company,
2015). It is mainly generated by the help of digital light by the help of oxygen based window that
is transparent in outlook.
Application of 3D technology
Aerospace: NASA engineers are focused about this new and advance 3D technology. In
this technology 70 percent is done like a make up for the cover which is built in digital nature. It
mainly displays messages direct from the computers design (McMenamin et al., 2014). In this
technology heated chamber is considered for the production of grade Stratasty of 3D printers. On
the contrary, fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology or additive kind of manufacturing
generally creates complex kinds of shapes which is considered to be much durable in shape

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(Macdonald et al., 2014). For its parts, NASA makes use of three kinds of materials like ABS,
polycarbonate materials and PCABS. FDM which is a well-known kind of 3D printing
technology mainly supports production of grade thermoplastics. It is considered to be lightweight
along with durability that can be easily used in rugged kinds of end user’s parts.
Dental Industry: APEX which is a dental milling centre is considered to be one of the
earlier adopters of CAM technology. This particular technology makes use of CAD design for
producing various kinds of dental parts (Macdonald et al., 2014). The firm took up a decision in
which instead of switching products to CNC milling techniques the organization depend on
3D printing. APEX dental Miling centre is more focused to provide products at much lower cost
along with maintaining high standard of products. APEX Dental Miling centre is considered to
be very much worthwhile 3D solution for printing. It comes up with better kind of advantage like
better products, small processing time or more kind of accuracy. This particular organization
come with idea that 3D printing technology is more advantageous in nature (Park et al., 2015).
APEX Dental Milling centre was highly impressed with the speed of the object of 3D printing
system. The printing models mainly produced a fine kinds of objects which claims to provide
outstanding kind of surface finish products.
Consumer products: This particular technology can easily produce various kinds of
models which comes with thin walls of thickness 0.6m or even less than that. It mainly comes up
with idea for large number of small devices that can be easily packed with minute kinds of
components (Radenkovic, Solouk & Seifalian, 2016). Smoothly finished and realistic colors can
be easily used by this model which is considered to be virtually indistinguishable from large
number of end products. Generally, prototype need a proper combination both flexible and rigid
products. For example, hard shell of helmet and padded mirror are considered as some of the

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examples of 3D technology. So only poly-jet technology can be used for producing prototype
with multiple kinds of materials and colors which is mainly build in an automated way. So ideal
kind of sporting good can be easily used for dealing with large number of designers of sports
goods that can be used with an eye for aesthetics values (Woo Lee & Cho, 2015). FDM
technology mainly works with the idea or production of thermoplastics that can be easily used
for producing parts which comes up with high impact on durability and have high value of
impact. It generally tends to be perfect for large number of components which is used for
withstanding tough and high value of functional testing. For proper capturing of look and feel of
the products only poly-jet can easily deliver various kinds of fine details, textures which are
playful in nature, varied materials along with vivid colours which are presented in single and
automated process which are build.
Benefits of 3D printing Technology
Manufacturing: 3D printing technology is mainly used for manufacturing of large
number of products in an easy and convenient way. With the help of this particular technology
one can manufacture a large number of products as per the requirement. Various objects can be
easily printed as the help of this technology (Youssef et al. 2015). This can be a great platform
where an individual can easily create products which are customizable. It will also allow oneself
to create design in 3D and after them getting printed.
Customization: A great advantage of 3D printing is that with help of raw materials,
blueprint and 3D printer an individual can easily design can be done (Lee et al., 2016). It is
mainly used for analysing the fact how complex can a design be.
Constant prototyping and increasing productivity: 3D printing technology mainly
helps in quick production of large number of things with large number of prototypes or small

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version of real kinds of objects instead of making use of conventional methods (Shim et al.,
2014). It mainly helps the designers for improvising for improving the prototype of any kinds of
flaws that will ultimately affect the quality of large number of products.
Affordability: Initial cost which is involved in setting up for 3D printers generally
compared to be much high and cheaper kind of labour cost and manufacturing cost which is used
in a conventional way (Zhang et al. 2015). Along with this the fact of cost of production or
manufacturing of products by making use of 3D technology is considered to be much equal for
small scale and manufacturing in large mass.
Storage: Traditional kind of manufacturing mainly produces various kinds of additional
products which mainly results in various kinds of problems related to problem of storage (Zhang
et al. 2015). Where in the 3D printing technology various kinds of desired products can be easily
printed when various kinds of excess products are eliminated so no kind of issue of storage cost
comes into action.
Employment opportunities: The increased use of 3D technology has ultimately led to
increase demand of large number of engineers who can easily design and manufacture the
printers (Kloski, 2016). Various kinds of jobs for both technicians and designers will be created
and this will ultimately help in creation of more number of jobs.
HealthCare: With the development of technology customizable human body parts and
organs can be easily manufactured by the help of technology known as Bio-printing (Kloski,
2016). But at present experiment is ongoing and so the potential can be huge. The breakthrough
is not huge but will also result in shortage of various organ donors.

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Drawbacks of 3D printing Technology
Decrease in number of jobs: Decrease in the number of manufacturing jobs will
ultimately affect the economy of any country round the globe. As the economy of country
generally depends on the number of low skilled jobs.
Limited Size: Size of objects which are created with the help of 3D printers at present is
considered to be limited. In the upcoming future large number of items like architectural
structure can be easily created by the help of 3D printing.
Limited Raw Material: Traditional kind of manufacturing of various kinds of products
comes up with enormous value of raw materials which can be used ultimately. 3D printers can
easily work beyond the provided limited (Zhang et al. 2015). Various kinds of large bodies like
architectural structure can be easily treated with the help of 3D printing technology.
Violation of Copyright: The biggest kind of disadvantage which can be gathered in 3D
printing is its counterfeiting. Any person who gets hold of blueprint can easily counterfeit a large
number of objects. It will ultimately become more common to tracing of large number of source
for the counterfeited objects. It will ultimately become much common and tracing of large
number of objects (Zhang et al. 2015). Various kinds of copyright people round the globe
generally come with hard time which can be used for protecting the business rights.
Production and Development of Items: With the help of 3D printing technology
various kinds of things like plastic knives, guns and other kinds of dangerous and hazardous
materials can be easily created (Kloski, 2016). So, this technology will be considered much
easier for various terrorists and criminals to bring various kinds of weapons for any kind of affect
large population without itself being detected.

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Along with the advantages of 3D printing technology, this will have certain number of
flaws and issues in near future and possible steps must be taken for tackling the catastrophe.
Conclusion
The above discussion concludes to the fact that this report is all about 3D printing
technology. 3D technology is developing technology which will have significant importance and
use in the upcoming future. Various kinds of processes of 3D printers will ultimately reduce the
time which is taken by designers and engineers to create and look for prototypes. 3D printing
which ultimately catch on the manufacturing industry. It will ultimately be seen or encountered
by large number of companies as it results in upgrade of technology and everyday decision of
business. Some of the most profitable areas of 3D technology are medical use, replacement of
various customer parts and lastly customizable products. In this technology various kinds of
materials generally move and down we can easily imagine the importance of 3D technology. The
biggest zone of growth of 3D technology is the field of medical. Various medical researchers
round the globe are moving to the idea for creation of artificial bones by the help of 3D printers.
In the above pages of the report various kinds of 3D technology like fused deposition modelling
technology, SLS technology, Stereolithography, Digital light processing technology (DLP),
Continuous interface production has been discussed in details. After that various kinds of
application of 3D technology like Aerospace, dental industry, consumer products have been
discussed in details. Various advantages of 3D printing technology like manufacturing,
customization, prototyping, affordability, storage, employment opportunities and healthcare has
been discussed in details. Different drawbacks of 3D printing technology like decrease in the
number of jobs, limited size, limited number of raw materials, violating copyright, development

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and production of large number of items. In the end of report, a list of recommendation has been
provided so overcoming various issues in this organization.
Recommendation
This medium size organization should implement 3D printing technology as it can easily
provide a large number of benefits like
 The firm should come up with idea of implementing 3D printing as it is
ecofriendly in nature.
 This technology is customizable which can easily various kinds of benefit to this
medium size organization.
 This technology will create a large number of employment opportunities for
Australian citizen.
 3D printing technology can easily increase the overall productivity of the
organization.

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References
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(2016). Applying Hand-Held 3D Printing Technology to the Teaching of VSEPR Theory.
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Build Your Own 3D Printer and Print Your Own 3D Objects (1st ed.). Indianapolis, Ind.:
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Kloski, L., Kloski, Nick, & Safari, an O’Reilly Media Company. (2016). Getting Started with 3D
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