1

The World of 3D Printers

Philip WheatSingularity Innovations

2

Welcome to Houston TechFest

• Please turn off all electronic devices or set them to vibrate.• If you must take a phone call, please do so in the lobby so as not

to disturb others.• Thanks to our Diamond Sponsors:

Thank you for being a part of the 7th Annual Houston TechFest!

3

Information• Speaker presentation slides will be available at

www.houstontechfest.org within a week

• Don’t forget to complete the Bingo card to be eligible for door prizes

4

So why are you here?• I already have a Printer• I saw one and want one• I saw it on the web• I saw it on the news• I saw it on the schedule and though it was

interesting• I didn’t have anything else in this slot and didn’t

want to sit in the common area

5

What are we talking about?• There’s actually two paths to this story– Commercial 3D printing/Rapid Prototyping– What you’ve been seeing in the media (consumer level

printers)• There’s an additional world of subtractive

manufacturing that’s happening but isn’t getting as much press– CNC Routers– CNC Milling

6

Commercial Printers• Commercial printers have been around since the

80’s (by some measures earlier than that)• Commercial printers have a wide variety of

materials– Thermoplastics– Metals– Ceramics– Photo Cure Epoxies

7

Consumer Printers• Consumer printers started with the expiration of

the FFD Patents (Fused Filament Deposition)• RepRap/Fab@Home projects were early projects

in this area• Based upon precise X/Y/Z control of an extruder• Extruders normally work with specific ranges of

thermoplastics• Commercial printers are starting to flood the

property

8

Materials• Consumer printers – ABS. Flexible. Strong. Warps. – PLA. Brittle. Strong. Stable. Compostable.– Nylon. Flexible. Strong. Stable. Temperamental.– Wood. Brittle. Weaker. Stable. Temperamental.

• Blends of materials to provide various capabilities.• Continuous advances in materials mixes.

9

Software• Replicator-G is the open source champion• Multiple slicer releases enable different

capabilities• Makerware is another common software package• Design software tends to be what you’re

comfortable with. Sketchup, Inventor, SolidWorks – most if it’s based on your budget.

10

Next Year• Next February 4 more patents expire.• Selective Material Sintering is going to create a

new generation of printers.• Provides capabilities for Metals and other new

materials such as ceramics.

11

Please Leave Feedback During Q&AIf you leave session feedback and provide contact information, you will be qualified for a prize

Scan the QR code to the right or go to bit.ly/htf130513