Stratasys equipment uses a spool of plastic (like fishing line but bigger) and feeds it into a pointed print head where it is melted and dispersed. The models are very strong, but you have rough side walls and are limited when building complex geometries.
Another company is Zcorp, they use a starch powder and a liquid binder. they are still fairly new, there parts are fragile and rough, but can be post processed several ways, ie wax, or glue to beef up the strength.
3D uses a Uv sensitive resin and a uv laser to grow the parts (sla). they the very accurate and there are very few limitations as far a building parts. They also have the thermo jet the uses a wax and a print head to make parts, these parts are weaker then Sla material.
In my opinion all the companies have there place, but 3d is the leader.
As for use in the medical field, ie hips and knees, Johnson&Johnson use sla to make custom replacement parts, and I am sure there are others.
I know this stuff because i work in the field, hope it helps. |
