3D Printing Group 7 Report
3D Printing Group 7 Report
3D Printing Group 7 Report
Body ……………………………………………………………………………………… 8 - 13
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….. 14
References ……………………………………………………………………………….. 15 - 17
Executive Summary
Like many other innovations, 3D-Printing is now taking over the globe and slowly being
adopted by countless nations. It possesses various advantages that lead to convenience and
functionalities. In fact, some companies claim that 3D printers can generate prototypes five times
faster and ten times more inexpensively than conventional techniques. In addition to being
popularized as a game changer in terms of its benefits and use, there is also a great probability
3D Printing in the construction industry would give advantages to the contractors as they
can manage simultaneous projects considering the speed of manufacturing facilities. In actuality,
some studies found that utilizing 3D Printing using additive manufacturing methods in the
construction industry would save 60% of the time and 80% of the labor compared to the
traditional construction method. And one of the features of 3D Printing is that it can manage to
Given the convenience it carries, 3D-printing is far from being flawless. In the
meantime, there are still numerous studies concerning the use of 3D printing to significantly
more industries and that includes the study about vitalizing the filament used in the process and
the reducing of the manufacturing time with regards to much bigger materials. Nonetheless, with
the help of 3D-printing, materials needed for a specific use or for a personalized project have
been made possible with little effort and with great efficiency.
Introduction
In this modern era where 3D printing is still growing and developing while taking over
the world, it might be hard to believe that it has been around since the 1980's. At the time that it
was just starting to get known it was called as ‘additive manufacturing’ considering that it is a
process where a material such as plastics, rubbers, metals, foods, and even human cells are used
to create a three dimensional objects by adding one tiny layer at a time without using much
physical and financial effort, duration of the process is also not a problem here. In a computer, a
file containing a model in three dimensions will be transferred to a 3D printing machine where
three types are known, the Stereolithographic printers, Selective Laser Sintering printers, and the
prototypes, were employed in the early stages of material fabrication. Eventually, the art of
creating products developed into the practice of mass producing them, and different industries
adapted these processes based on the raw materials and final result. The new process for
producing goods from materials like plastic, sand, and other powdered materials is called
additive manufacturing. Since the middle of the 1960s, additive manufacturing has been in use,
and there have been several advancements made in the materials utilized in the process. The
Intricate geometric shapes and a variety of structures can be produced without the use of
tools, dies, or fittings by stacking and combining materials in additive manufacturing, often
known as 3D printing. 3D printing has a promising future in the construction sector because of
its potential for automation, the replacement of formwork, the decrease of construction waste,
and the improvement in geometric correctness. The focus of current research is on the flexibility
of processes and material properties. The technological framework primarily consists of the
printing supplies and methods that are necessary for creating this breakthrough technology.
However, as our knowledge of the technology has increased, a variety of financial and
The first industrial 3D printer was created in 1986 by American scientist Charles Hull,
who is regarded as the founder of 3D printing. When Pegna suggested combining 3D printing
with cement-based materials in the late 1990s, the building industry began to test the use of this
technology. The current 3D printing research focuses on advanced materials (like cementitious
materials, polymer materials, and metal materials), processes (like contour crafting, D-shape, and
techniques, and multiple materials), which enable its use in the construction industry.
Dr. Hideo Kadoma received the first 3D printing achievements for his 1981 invention of
a rapid prototyping method. Rapid prototyping is a method that Dr. Kadoma created for printing
solid layers of quickly drying photopolymers that approximate a cross-sectional slice of a CAD
model. Three years later, Charles Hull was granted a patent for a method of stereolithography
called the interaction of a liquid photopolymer with an ultraviolet (UV) laser beam. Each layer
will quickly transform into a solid plastic shape that is congruent with the 3D CAD model when
the liquid photopolymer is exposed to UV light. The earliest rapid prototyping method was
stereolithography, which refers to the quick, accurate, and reproducible manufacture of goods,
typically with computer supervision. The SLA-1, the first commercial stereolithography
apparatus (SLA) ever made, was created by Hull's company, 3D Systems, in 1992.
Carl Deckard received a Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) patent in 1989 from the
University of Texas. SLS was developed in the 1990s and into the early 2000s with a
concentration on commercial applications like casting. For these applications, a new vocabulary
known as Casting and Rapid Manufacturing was developed. In 2005, the phrase was updated to
computer-aided drafting (CAD), a 3D model is produced. The model is then sent as standard
stereolithography language (STL) data to the 3D printer, where it is divided into layers that may
be applied sequentially. Where the printer head inserts an activation agent and premixes it with a
power element, each layer is created. The 3D object is created by successively bonding the layers
together. The first industrial 3D printer went on sale in 2009. A competitively priced alternative
In 1981, ‘XYZ plotter’ the earliest 3D printing equipment was developed by Hideo
Kodama of the Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research and it did not work yet on top of this, it
opened new ideas and various patents which built the foundation in the 3D printing industry of
today. The growing field of additive manufacturing gives so many advantages not just in
providing quality products to the people of the world. Still, it is also effective in other industries
like health and construction. It has only been almost three years, since September 17th, 2020
since one of the first-ever 3D printed houses was built in Germany where other companies
followed to make their projects. Some of these are the first owner-occupied 3D printed houses in
the United States year 2021 and the first five-story 3D printed house in China. It also gives hope
and a new beginning to people who have lost a body part from a severe accident or people who
have had no arms or legs since their birth by using 3D-printed prosthetic implants. Besides this,
additive manufacturing of cells is still on thorough research and study and Harvard University is
on the run.
Although additive manufacturing, often known as 3D printing, was first invented in the
1980s, its application has grown significantly in the last five years. It has affected a wide range
of industries and applications in ways that were previously thought to be either too expensive or
unique things, and reducing labor costs are all common uses for 3D printing. These goals are also
shared by 3D printing of building structures, which has the potential to reduce the number of
materials that must be transported to the construction site, create distinctive formations, lower
the need for laborers, and give the ability to print the buildings in a short period of time.
printing has made rapid advancements. The majority of 3D printing applications are in the field
of prototypes, despite the fact that the technology is still in its infancy in the Philippines. High
costs, constrained build sizes, a lack of skilled labor, a lack of regulations, and potential security
concerns, according to Co & Culaba (2019), restrict the widespread adoption of 3D printing in
our local economy. As a result of examples of 3D printing technology used in our nation, such as
in the medical and construction areas, more people are becoming aware of its potential and
applications. In order to 3D print an entire hotel suite with a jacuzzi, the Lewis Grand Hotel in
the Philippines worked with Andrey Rudenko, a machine learning expert and AI engineer from
Minnesota, USA. Dr. Gary Yu used 3D printing technology to successfully perform spine
surgery on a patient in 2016 at Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines. The
first 3-D printed prosthesis was tested in the Philippines the same year by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the neighborhood clinic Orthopedic Frey Prosthesis Center. If
provided access to affordable prostheses, hundreds of thousands of disabled Filipinos who are
Due to the 3D printing technology’s desirable impact and adaptability in the country’s
country. 3D2Go is one of the pioneering companies in 3D printing in the Philippines. It was
established in 2013 and started its operation in 2014. Various services were offered by the
company from printing, and scanning, to modeling. Frederick Chua founded the company to
provide top-quality 3D scanning, designing, prototyping, and printing services to businesses and
consumers. Their operation functioned and ranged from architectural and engineering cases
(detailed 3D models and designs of buildings, structures, or products), DIY projects, automotive,
manufacturing, medical, and restoration. Their finished 3D outputs were accomplished with the
assistance of quality equipment that they have been using in their workflows such as the 3D
Scanner, SLA Printer, Fused Deposition Modeling Machine (FDM), Flashforge Creator Pro II,
In 2019, Two 3D printing research facilities have been established in the Philippines by
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as part of an aggressive campaign to support
the development of an additive manufacturing sector in the country. One is the Additive
Manufacturing Research Laboratory (AMREL) at the Bataan Peninsula State University and the
other is the Additive Manufacturing Center (AMCen) at the Metals Industry Research and
Development Center in Bicutan, Taguig City. The DOST intends that the aerospace, defense,
biomedical, healthcare, and automotive sectors in the Philippines will grow as a result of 3D
printing. To fully utilize the advantages and possibilities of the technology, they aim to integrate
it for the largest possible implementation. Different industries will be driven to adopt the
technology because of its intrinsic qualities, such as speed in manufacturing and little to no waste
material.
initial stages. However, these technological examples in our country will force 3D printing
technology into the mainstream. Despite receiving a great deal of attention, there have been
limited attempts to use 3D printing in construction in our country. Moreover, for the technology
to be used to its full potential, innovations and improvements concerning the particular
The term “3D printing” refers to a variety of technologies and processes that, when
combined, provide a wide range of capabilities for producing components from a variety of
materials. The additive layer-by-layer production process, which does not require subtractive
methodology, molding, or casting, is the key similarity between 3D printing types. 3D printing is
commonly associated with the Do It Yourself (DIY) culture, but it has expanded to include
commercial and industrial applications. Engineers, for example, frequently use 3D printers today
for prototyping and creating lightweight geometric objects. Stereolithography (SLA), Selective
Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Digital Light Process (DLP), Multi
Jet Fusion (MJF), PolyJet, Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), and Electron Beam Melting
the most affordable method (FDM). Pushing via a heated nozzle is a thermoplastic substance. All
FFF machines have a few traits despite the fact that there are numerous machines with varied
designs. For three-dimensional printing, each FFF 3D printer has an X, Y, and Z axis. While
paper flows in both directions, a home office printer only moves in one. A Hotend, or a part that
component of all FFF machines. The chosen material becomes useful after being heated by a tiny
engine and then pushed into the extruder nozzle. The "Filament" used in 3D printers, such as
plastic and other composite materials, is continuously supplied through an extruder that rotates at
a constant speed around the X and Y axes. This enables the 3D printer to accurately duplicate the
dependent on what instructions your software sends it. 3D Printing is considered an additive
manufacturing process, as you start with nothing and continue to add material until you have the
desired part.
The amount of time it takes to print a 3D object is determined by the type of printing, the
output size, the material used, the desired quality, and the setup configuration. 3D printing can
take from a few minutes to several days. Nowadays, businesses and companies all over the world
use 3D printers to quickly produce prototypes instead of wasting months of time and money on
research and development. In fact, according to some companies, 3D printers can produce
prototypes five times more cheaply and 10 times faster than traditional methods.
Several 3D printing methods have been used by researchers and research organizations
over the years. Some technologies are better suited to the various weather conditions found in
various regions.
perforated platform that is lowered into the tank, a computer that controls the laser
platform, and a tank that may be filled with liquid plastic (photopolymer) make up a
stereolithography system.
Digital Light Processing (DLP) - In 1987, Texas Instruments' Larry Hornbeck created
Digital Light Processing (DLP). The first 3D printed solid model was produced in 1981
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) - was created in the 1980s by Scott Crump, co-
founder and chairperson of Stratasys Ltd. MakerBot (now acquired by Stratasys) created
technology. The 3D model file is loaded into the 3D printer, which builds the item with
plastic threads. The filaments are melted and printed in layers on top of each other by the
printer's nozzle. When the plastic is placed on the construction platform, it hardens
quickly. When the plastic cools, the layers bond together, resulting in a solid form. The
computer controls the nozzle, which travels in the X, Y, and Z axes to print the item
along the printing route defined by the 13 computers. This procedure was continued until
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Melting (SLM) - Carl Deckard and Joe Beaman
invented and patented Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) in the 1980s. The laser was used to
bind powder materials, most often polymers such as nylon, which were scattered in thin
comparable to Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM) in that
it employs powder from the build platform of a 3D printer. A high intensity electron
beam is employed to harden the metal of this kind. The hardened layers are piled on top
Manufacturing (LOM) in the 1980s. Using heat and pressure, layers of plastic or paper
are bonded together and then cut into desired forms with a computer-controlled laser or
blade. The process is one of the quickest and least expensive ways to manufacture 3D
models.
complete, additive manufacturing, such as 3D printing, can build infrastructure in days or weeks.
Some 3D printers are capable of producing 55–75 sq. m of concrete in a day. In keeping with
that, 3D printers are advantageous for contractors as they can manage several projects
simultaneously due to the speed of manufacturing facilities. A study by Vonk, M., found that
employing this additive manufacturing method helps construction organizations save 60% of the
time and 80% of the labor compared to using the conventional manufacturing method.
According to Slowey, K., the yearly production of building waste could double
from its current level of about 1 billion tons by 2025. Pollution is also a result of the construction
sector. One of the technologies that will help to lessen building waste is 3D printing. In the
construction process, just the exact quantity and necessary materials are used. The materials used
can be recycled. Furthermore, 3D printers can run on hydro, wind, and solar energy, which emits
One of the features that highlights 3D printing is that it can produce complicated
designs, shapes, and labor-intensive infrastructure. It gives architects more freedom to express
themselves creatively. Building costly geometric patterns can be simple when using additive
manufacturing technology. When contractors and architects use 3D printers during the
construction process, they may produce more innovations without slowing the pace of
infrastructure development.
because of heavy machinery and dangerous operations. On the other hand, additive
manufacturing machines or 3D printers can do the most hazardous tasks in the field and
automate construction. In line with that, on-site workers can be eliminated from dangerous
locations and operations. That results in reducing accidents and fatalities on construction sites.
The lack of readily available operating materials for the machines is one of the disadvantages of
3D printing in construction. For the equipment to function well, it should meet specific
requirements. As a result, businesses must import materials from other countries, which can be
expensive when materials are not readily available locally. Companies must invest more upfront
winds, storms, and flooding can cause construction to decay over time. Unlike traditional
Building codes and regulations are important considerations in the construction industry
for safety reasons. However, there are currently no clear regulations governing the use of 3D
the experimental stage, with more studies and regulations in place to ensure infrastructure safety.
In the past years, traditional construction struggled in productivity and innovation when
building infrastructures. Given that one of the specialties of additive manufacturing is its speed
in manufacturing infrastructure, what does it hold in the future of the construction industry?
According to a report, 3D printing will eventually be a common and standard feature in the
fabrication process. But there are still a lot of studies and investigations for refining 3D printing
in the construction industries. Is additive manufacturing technology ready to open in the market?
Do companies have the ability to adapt to it? Can the construction industry embrace and hold the
changes of this new technology? These are the things we need to consider before we let the
printing sector is growing. The applications of 3D printing are expanding as more research is
undertaken. The field is undeniably a game changer, with several potential players to keep an eye
on. Despite the fact that 3D printing technology is still in its early stages and has numerous
drawbacks, there are high aspirations and dreams for the future of 3D printed buildings and
construction materials. New filament materials with the ability to ensure varied qualities such as
printing over the next several years. Both technologies are more likely to exist in the market, and
3D printing will be developed using more traditional ways to support them, particularly in the
Although 3D printing has numerous benefits, such as the ability to create complicated
designs in less time and with less material, it may not be essential to totally replace traditional
techniques. The future of the building is most likely an integrated process that allows businesses
transformative one. The ability to locally print practically any designable object would have far-
reaching implications for our society. While forecasting the future is challenging, preparation
and early planning are essential to prepare for the breakthrough advances of 3D printing.
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