Advances in three dimensional printing – state of the art and future perspectives

Purpose – This paper surveys the current state and capabilities of three dimensional printing (3DP). A comprehensive review of 3D Printing applications is presented. The scope of the applications includes design, manufacturing, the medical field and architecture.Design/methodology/approach – A large variety of manufacturing applications such as rapid pattern making and rapid tooling using the 3DP process directly or as core technology, as well as further implications in design and engineering analysis, medicine, and architecture are presented and evaluated.Findings – Some research issues are also discussed. An attempt, based on the state of the art, to show weaknesses and opportunities, and to draw conclusions about the future of this important process rounds up this paper.Research limitations/implications – The scope of this research survey is limited to evaluation and comparison of processes that may be characterised as 3D printing technologies.Practical implications – The study is very useful as a basi...

[1]  Anath Fischer,et al.  New Trends in Rapid Product Development , 2002 .

[2]  D. Dimitrov,et al.  On the achievable accuracy of the three dimensional printing process for rapid prototyping , 2003 .

[3]  Gideon Levy,et al.  RAPID MANUFACTURING AND RAPID TOOLING WITH LAYER MANUFACTURING (LM) TECHNOLOGIES, STATE OF THE ART AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES , 2003 .

[4]  Andrea Gatto,et al.  Impact of time compression techniques on spotlight production , 2003 .

[5]  Rémy Glardon,et al.  Direct rapid tooling: a review of current research , 1998 .

[6]  Andrea Gatto,et al.  Benchmarking of Rapid Prototyping Techniques in Terms of Dimensional Accuracy and Surface Finish , 1995 .

[7]  Vladimir Mironov,et al.  Organ printing: computer-aided jet-based 3D tissue engineering. , 2003, Trends in biotechnology.

[8]  D Dimitrov,et al.  Development, evaluation, and selection of rapid tooling process chains for sand casting of functional prototypes , 2007 .

[9]  D. Dimitrov,et al.  Rapid prototyping driven design and realisation of large components , 2007 .

[10]  D. Dimitrov,et al.  An Investigation of the Capability Profile of the Three Dimensional Printing Process with an Emphasis on the Achievable Accuracy , 2003 .

[11]  Jean Thilmany.  Printing In Three Dimensions , 2001 .

[12]  Wei Sun,et al.  Freeform fabrication of Ti3SiC2 powder-based structures: Part I—Integrated fabrication process , 2002 .

[13]  D. Hutmacher,et al.  Scaffold development using 3D printing with a starch-based polymer , 2002 .

[14]  M. Cima,et al.  Modeling and designing functionally graded material components for fabrication with local composition control , 1999 .

[15]  David Bak,et al.  Rapid prototyping or rapid production? 3D printing processes move industry towards the latter , 2003 .

[16]  Paul Sharke.  Rapid Transit to Manufacturing , 2001 .