Like with 3D laser scanning, 3D laser printing has evolved and is becoming faster than researchers could have imagined
3D laser scanning has become one of the hottest table topics in the current years because there are unlimited benefits for various professionals who use this technology. Not only that, but it’s becoming so advanced that people in many different fields are finding unexpected uses for this fantastic technology.
Faster 3D laser scanning has led to faster 3D printing. This means more and more large-scale companies are adopting this equipment to increase the quicker production of various objects and instruments.
What is 3D laser scanning
3D laser scanning is the act of taking thousands of pictures per second on an object or scene. These pictures collect tiny and subtle details that are then stored in the technologies system. After it is stored, it is saved forever for future reference. It can then be downloaded in other programs to be studied or edited.
This technology was initially created in the 1960s but didn’t gain adoption until the 1990s. 3D laser scanning first started with big cameras and bright lights to measure how far an object was from the light. It has since then evolved into portable handheld devices that can easily be maneuvered, still using laser lights to measure objects and capture accurate data.
What is 3D printing
After an object is scanned, it can then be uploaded to a system where a user can edit the image. After the object is modified in the system, it can then be 3D printed. The first 3D printer was made in 1983 by a man named Chuck Hull. The original printers were known to print small products with lower quality than making it by hand.
It has now sped up to an unbeatable speed with better quality for mass production companies. This is why it is gaining so much adoption so quickly. Many companies involved in producing high-quality products rapidly and accurately can’t wait to start using this technology.
Jennifer Lewis who is a materials scientist at Harvard University says: “You’re not going to be sitting in your home, printing out exactly what you want to repair your car any time soon, but major manufacturing companies are really adopting this technology,”
Latest techniques
Like with 3D laser scanning, 3D laser printing has evolved and is becoming faster than researchers could have imagined. The method of these printers still uses light-sensitive resin, which is the same as the original. However, the program has been sped up and able to see at a larger scale.
How it works
To print an object, there is a vat full of resin where a light beams down. This light carries a preprogrammed, edited image that is then shown inside of the resin. This light-cured a whole layer producing the first parts of the object. As the stage rises, each layer is brought up, producing the pieces of a whole object. This is faster, more accurate, and very exciting for researchers.
Final thoughts
3D laser scanning has unreached potential and is creating a stir in 3D laser printing. This technology is known for its speed and precision and has incredible commercial potential. Since these advances, whole companies have been formed around the idea of 3D laser printing and scanning. It is a sustainable way to mass-produce objects, and therefore is some of the most valuable technology this world has seen.
