Laser or Heat Source

3D printers use lasers or heat sources to generate the energy required to fuse materials or solidify them during the additive manufacturing process. The laser or heat source type depends on the 3D printing technology being used. 

Here are some examples of lasers or heat sources:

1. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM): In FDM/FFF printers, a resistor or cartridge heater is used to heat the extruder assembly’s hot end. As the filament melts and extrudes through a nozzle, layers of material are deposited, building a 3D object layer by layer.
2. Stereolithography (SLA): SLA printers use a UV laser as the light source. The laser selectively cures the photosensitive liquid resin, creating the three-dimensional object layer by layer. The UV laser’s focused beam allows for high-precision curing, resulting in intricate and detailed parts.
3. Digital Light Processing (DLP): DLP printers use a UV light source to cure the resin. 3D objects are projected onto the resin surface in cross-section, curing an entire layer simultaneously. This allows for faster printing speeds compared to SLA but may have a slightly lower resolution, depending on the projector’s specifications.
4. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) or Selective Laser Melting (SLM): SLS and SLM use a high-power laser to selectively sinter or melt powdered material (such as nylon, metals, or alloys). The laser’s energy fuses the powder particles together, creating the 3D object.
5. Electron Beam Melting (EBM): EBM technology uses an electron beam as the heat source, which selectively melts powdered metal under a vacuum. The high-energy electron beam can generate higher temperatures than a laser. As such, it enables the production of parts from materials with higher melting points.

3D printing relies heavily on selecting the right laser or heat source to control the intensity, time, and energy output. In addition to affecting the final part’s dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and mechanical properties, these factors also affect the fusing or curing of materials.