4 min read
PEEK 3D printing, All you need to know
The PAEK (polyaryletherketone) family, of which PEEK is a member, is known for its high thermomechanical properties and is at the top of the list of...
Since its inception in the 1980s, additive printing or 3D printing technology has evolved into various technologies. Today in this article we will compare the two currently most popular and versatile 3D printing methods: the hugely popular FDM printing and the Multi Jet Fusion technology which, presented in 2016 by HP, represented the most important step forward in additive technology of the last decade.
An FFF or FDM printer (the acronyms of Fused Filament Fabrication and Fused Deposition Modeling basically mean the same technology) is a 3D printer that is most often used in early concept development and prototyping. The material (molten plastic) is deposited by a three-axis system in single layers and multiple layers are fused together to form the 3D model. The low purchase costs, on Amazon you will find FDM printers starting from just over €/$ 100, and the relative ease of use make this technology the most widespread among makers.
In FDM technology, a filament a) of plastic material is fed through a heated moving head b) which melts and extrudes it, depositing it, layer by layer, in the desired shape c). A mobile platform e) lowers after each layer has been deposited. For this type of 3D printing technology additional vertical support structures are required d) to support the protruding parts. Source: Wikipedia by Paolo Cignoni
The 3D file of the model you want to print is processed by a slicing software (the most used and simple to use are Cura, Simplify3D and PrusaSlicer) which literally "slices" it into layers of the desired thickness and simultaneously generates a file in G- code that describes to the printer the movements of the axes necessary to create the piece itself. Then the FDM printer melts the solid plastic filament and extrudes it from a layer-by-layer nozzle thus forming the 3D object on the build plane. The layers generally have a thickness ranging from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm but which can also be outside these values depending on the purpose of use of the object being created.
Printing process: 1 - Print extruder, 2 - Deposited material, 3 - Construction plan.
Source: Wikipedia by Paolo Cignoni
The two most used materials in FDM printing are ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and PLA (polylactic acid). Both are inexpensive and available in a variety of colors.
FDM printing offers a good range of materials. Source filament to print
FACT: professional FDM printers with prices starting from 25K € and which have heated chambers, nozzles that print at over 500 degrees and have adequate mechanics can create functional high-performance technical pieces among which the most popular are Peek, Carbon Peek, Pekk and other materials suitable for industrial use and metal replacement.
Fact: there are printing farms with over 500 FDM printers!
FDM printing farm: the Prusa printing farm has over 300 FDM printers in a single room
Multi Jet Fusion is an additive manufacturing method developed by the Hewlett-Packard (HP) company and presented in 2016.
The final parts feature quality surface finishes, excellent resolution and more consistent mechanical properties than processes such as selective laser sintering or FDM.
Multi Jet Fusion uses an inkjet matrix to selectively apply fusing agents and details onto a bed of nylon or other material powder, which are then melted by heating elements into a solid layer. After each layer, the powder is spread over the bed and the process repeats until the part is completed.
At the end of the printing process, the build box is removed from the printer. An operator carefully takes parts out of the build box and removes residual dust with various shot peening systems.
To learn more about this topic, we suggest you read: What is Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing?
Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) process scheme: (a) stages 1-5 of the fusion process); (b) 3D construction unit; (c) processing station. Source: research gate
MJF printing technology offers a limited range of materials but they are very versatile from a mechanical point of view. Currently there are five materials available. These materials are PA11, PA12, PA12GB, TPU and polypropylene. For an in-depth discussion we recommend you to read: HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D Printing Materials and Properties
Being able to produce at low cost 100% filled, functional parts with complicated and detailed designs without the need for any support, this technology offers a wide range of solutions, here we will limit ourselves to the main ones:
One of 12 HP Multi Jet Fusion printers installed by Weerg. Get an instant quote.
A question that must be asked when asking whether one technology is better than another is: better for what?
Surely the arrival of MJF technology has marked an epochal leap forward in the simplicity of construction, in the quality of truly functional industrial pieces and in the ability to concretely compete with injection molding.
But it must also be said that FDM printers, albeit with a limited range of professional uses, can provide visually acceptable parts and a considerable range of materials with an investment that starts at around € 150 against the € 500,000 needed to set up a single MJF.
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The PAEK (polyaryletherketone) family, of which PEEK is a member, is known for its high thermomechanical properties and is at the top of the list of...
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