India’s First 3D-Printed Post Office Inaugurated

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is 3D printing?
• How is 3D printing done?
• What are some of the notable examples of 3D printing?

Why in news?

• India’s first 3D-printed post office was virtually inaugurated by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Bengaluru’s Cambridge Layout.
• Its construction was completed in just 43 days — two days ahead of the deadline.
• Multinational company Larsen & Toubro Limited built the post office with technological support from IIT Madras.

What is 3D printing?

• Background
  • Invented in the 1980s, 3D printing burst into the mainstream around the 2010s, when many thought it would take over the world.
  • The technology, however, at the time was expensive, slow and prone to making errors.
  • In recent years, some of these flaws have been done away with, making 3D printing more prevalent than ever before.
• About
  • 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating three-dimensional objects from digital models by adding material layer by layer.
  • It is an additive process, in which layers of a material like plastic, composites or bio-materials are built up to construct objects that range in shape, size, rigidity and colour.
  • This process allows for more efficient and customized production compared to traditional subtractive manufacturing methods.

How is 3D printing done?

• Requirement
  • To carry out 3D printing, one needs a personal computer connected to a 3D printer.
  • All they need to do is design a 3D model of the required object on computer-aid design (CAD) software and press ‘print’.
  • The 3D printer does the rest of the job.
• Design
  • The process begins with creating a digital 3D model of the object one wants to print.
  • This model can be created using 3D modelling software or obtained through 3D scanning techniques.
• Slicing
  • The 3D model is sliced into thin horizontal layers using specialized software. Each layer represents a cross-section of the final object.
• Preparation 
  • The sliced model is sent to the 3D printer, along with instructions regarding the printing parameters such as layer thickness, print speed, material type, and temperature.
• Printing – The 3D printer reads the instructions and starts the printing process. It uses various methods and technologies, including:
  • Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
    • This is one of the most common 3D printing methods.
    • It involves extruding molten thermoplastic material through a heated nozzle that moves along the X, Y, and Z axes.
    • As the material is deposited layer by layer, it cools down and solidifies, forming the final object.
  • Stereolithography (SLA)
    • SLA uses a liquid photopolymer resin that is cured by a UV laser.
    • The laser selectively solidifies the resin layer by layer, creating intricate and highly detailed objects.
  • Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
    • In SLS, a laser fuses powdered material (such as plastics, metals, or ceramics) layer by layer.
  • Powder Bed Fusion (PBF)
    • Similar to SLS, PBF uses a laser to selectively melt and fuse powdered materials like metals, plastics, or ceramics.
    • The difference lies in the process details and the materials used.
  • Inkjet Printing
    • Some 3D printers use inkjet-like technology to deposit material in droplets, which are then cured to form layers.
• Layer-by-Layer Construction
  • The printer continues to deposit material layer by layer based on the sliced model until the complete object is formed.
  • Supports might be included for overhanging or intricate parts, and these supports can be removed after printing.
• Post-Processing
  • Once the printing is complete, there might be some post-processing steps, such as cleaning, curing, sanding, painting, or assembling, depending on the material and desired finish.

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What are some of the notable examples of 3D printing?

• 3D printing is being used in a host of different industries like healthcare, automobile and aerospace.
• In May this year, aerospace manufacturing company Relativity Space launched a test rocket made entirely from 3D-printed parts, measuring 100 feet tall and 7.5 feet wide.
  • Shortly after its take off, however, it suffered a failure.
• At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the healthcare industry used 3D printers to make much-needed medical equipment, like swabs, face shields, and masks, as well as the parts to fix their ventilators.

Q1) What is inkjet printing?

Inkjet printing is a popular and versatile digital printing technology used for producing high-quality images and text on various surfaces, including paper, fabric, plastic, and more. It works by propelling tiny droplets of ink onto a substrate (the material being printed on) to create the desired image or text.

Q2) What is additive manufacturing?

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a revolutionary manufacturing process that creates three-dimensional objects by adding material layer by layer, as opposed to traditional subtractive manufacturing methods that involve cutting away material from a solid block or molding material into a shape.

Source: India’s first 3D-printed post office inaugurated in Bengaluru: How does 3D printing work? | Investopedia | 3D Printing.Com | The Hindu