Umeshin Lab

Metal-Plastic Hybrid 3D printer

Metal and plastic 3D printers are additive manufacturing devices that create objects layer by layer, but they differ in materials and processes. Metal 3D printers employ technologies like Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) or Selective Laser Melting (SLM) where metal powders (such as aluminum, titanium, or stainless steel) are selectively fused together using a high-powered laser. The laser precisely melts and binds the metal particles according to the design, layer upon layer, forming durable and intricate metal parts. These printers are utilized in industries like aerospace, automotive, and healthcare for producing high-strength, complex metal components with exceptional precision and mechanical properties.

On the other hand, plastic 3D printers, also known as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) or Stereolithography (SLA) printers, use thermoplastics or photopolymer resins to construct objects. FDM printers heat and extrude thermoplastic filaments layer by layer, creating the desired shape. SLA printers use UV lasers to cure liquid resin into solid layers, producing detailed and smooth plastic parts. These plastic 3D printers are widely used in various fields, including prototyping, consumer goods, and medical devices, offering versatility and cost-effectiveness in producing customized or small-scale parts.

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