How 3D Printing is Revolutionizing the Future

3D printing — though it may sound intimidating to some — has already been around for more than 30 years.  

The first resin printer was invented by Chuck W. Hull in 1983 and has since revolutionized manufacturing and other global industries. The 3D printer used stereolithography techniques (or SLA 3D printing) in which a laser is used to trace every point in a single layer of resin. The resin then instantly hardens into plastic. Click here to learn more about the history of 3D printing. 

SLA 3D printing techniques have since evolved and also includes 3D printing techniques such as DLP and LCD printing. Click here to learn more about resin 3D printing techniques. 

3D printing has since continued to expand, with affordable 3D printers starting to hit the market, giving hobbyists a chance to design and build their own creations.

This has also brought a rise in numerous 3D printing applications such as medical, dental 3D printing, industrial, model prototyping, jewelry 3D printing, and more.  

Let’s get into the advantages of 3D printing, specifically LCD 3D printing, and its wide variety of applications!

Advantages of LCD 3D Printing

Affordable

As LCD screens are widely available at an economical price, using these screens in resin 3D printing is helping to make 3D printing more affordable and accessible to the general public. 

LCD 3D printers use LED light as the light source while an LCD screen is used to control the light pattern. The light emitted from an LEP lamp passes through an LCD screen and is then absorbed by the resin. The LCD screen is used to generate an image of each layer and an entire resin layer is solidified at once.

Phrozen has been a pioneer in LCD 3D printing by using our very own ParaLED technology in which an array of LED chips project light through an LCD screen. With a price range of $199-$2,300, Phrozen 3D printers allow for fast and affordable printing.

As 3D printers become more affordable, users can easily purchase a 3D printer, store it at home and start printing, even those living in remote areas. 

Fast Turnaround

Using 3D printing technology, designers and makers can quickly generate ideas and concepts and turn them into prototypes and 3D printing models.

LCD 3D printers are able to produce models at a fraction of the cost of typical manufacturing technology, allowing you to print out multiple 3D models in one go, in a single day.

With a reduced production time, consumers can create what they need or want from the comfort of their own homes, in their own time.

Here are some 3D printing ideas for you; if you need household items such as a doorknob or a wrench in a hurry, you can just use a 3D printer to print out the items instead of running to the store. This will save both time & money.

Speed & Efficiency

3D printers can create models at never-before-seen speeds. Parts and prototypes printed by a resin printer can usually be ready overnight — in a process referred to as rapid prototyping — while typical manufacturing techniques could take at least 1-2 weeks for production.

After designing the model or prototype you need, use 3D printing software to slice it and you’ll be able to print out identical parts of a model in one go.

As an example, Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K is capable of printing out 1 layer in only 2 seconds! This means that your models can be ready in just a few hours.

Producing Complex & Intricate Designs

LCD 3D printers allow you to create complex shapes and designs that otherwise wouldn’t be possible with typical manufacturing methods.

Creators are free to express their artistic desires by designing and creating elaborate pieces of work that can easily be printed with LCD 3D printers. This may even be cheaper than printing with traditional methods, as less material could be used to produce the same item.

LCD 3D printers also allow makers to produce custom-made items instead of producing items in batches.

For instance, Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K offers ultra high-resolution printing and is capable of producing extremely detailed prints that match your EXACT designs. 

Click here to learn more about which Phrozen 3D printers are best for hobbyists. 

Applications of LCD 3D Printing

Dental Applications

The medical field has also benefited from the growth of the 3D printing industry. Implants, prosthetics, dental molds, and more can be printed to meet the exact needs of a person.

Dental 3D printing allows dentists to create tooth crowns and accurate dental molds that are an exact replica, just by scanning the patients’ teeth. After scanning, dentists now have a precise 3D model of the patients’ teeth, allowing them to print out dental molds with convenience. 

Even if the design of the 3D dental model needs to be tweaked a bit, that can easily be done through software such as Exocad and then sliced on slicer software such as Formware.

Previously, dentists needed to use injection molding on every single patient, which is a time-consuming and costly process. If there is a slight error, the whole process needs to start from scratch. On average, dental implants for just a single tooth could cost $3,000 to $6,000. 

Phrozen provides a variety of dental 3D printers such as the Sonic XL 4K 2022, and Sonic 4K 2022 3D Printer at an affordable price range, allowing dentists to create customized fits for their patients by using cost-effective and time-saving techniques to increase productivity.  

Click here to learn more about which Phrozen 3D printers are best for dentists. 

Industrial Applications

3D printing is also being widely adopted for industrial applications such as automotive, manufacturing, and robotics, among other industries.

LCD 3D printers are able to print out parts and prototypes with precision and accuracy, which is extremely important for industrial applications. These parts and prototypes are required to be strong and durable which is not an issue when a 3D printer is paired with the correct resin.

While using traditional injection-molding prototypes, it could cost hundreds of dollars and take several weeks just to produce a single mold.

In comparison, LCD 3D printing can print out parts and prototypes such as components for aircraft engines and mechanical parts in hours.

Phrozen Sonic XL 4K, Sonic 4K, and Transform are best for industrial applications and are only available for a price range of $1,400-$2,700. Pair these resin 3D printers with Phrozen Rock Black, Onyx Rigid Pro410, Aqua-Green, or Nylon Tough resin for best results.

Jewelry Applications

Artists, designers, and jewelry makers are now able to express themselves and create one-of-a-kind designs through 3D printing. 

The advantage of jewelry 3D printing is that makers can produce individual pieces of jewelry at a low cost. Jewelry 3D printing can be used to produce jewelry prototypes or to directly manufacture jewelry pieces. Click here to learn how jewelry 3D printing can be used for vulcanized rubber molding.

As LCD 3D printers flash an entire layer at once, makers can also print out a large number of rings and/or jewelry designs at once. Makers can now create intricate jewelry designs at a fast and affordable rate. Need ideas for jewelry 3D printing? Then click here. 

Click here to learn more about which Phrozen LCD 3D printers are best for jewelry applications.