{"id":9237,"date":"2024-07-26T10:29:26","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T08:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medtech-ingenieur.de\/?p=9237"},"modified":"2024-07-30T10:20:18","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T08:20:18","slug":"additive-fertigung-medizintechnik-fertigungsmethoden-rapid-prototyping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medtech-ingenieur.de\/en\/additive-fertigung-medizintechnik-fertigungsmethoden-rapid-prototyping\/","title":{"rendered":"Additive manufacturing in medical technology \u2013 manufacturing methods and rapid prototyping"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you decided on 3D printing, but aren't sure which process is right for your application? In the following blog post, we'll explore the common processes and ask ourselves which application areas they are best suited for. Let's first clarify: What exactly is additive manufacturing, and why is it so hyped?<\/p>\n

Additive Manufacturing & Rapid Prototyping<\/h2>\n

Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, revolutionizes the production of components and products by applying material layer by layer instead of established, often machining-based manufacturing methods. This innovation enables the production of complex geometries and customized products with high precision, negligible time expenditure, and minimal material waste.<\/p>\n

Rapid prototyping is a key application area of additive manufacturing. It involves the rapid production of prototypes to evaluate design, form, and functionality in early development stages. By using advanced processes such as fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), and selective laser melting (SLM), engineers can create, test, and iterate physical models in a very short time.<\/p>\n

Additive manufacturing opens up entirely new possibilities, especially in medical technology \u2013 from patient-specific implants to optimally adapted surgical instruments. These technologies not only promote innovation but also accelerate development cycles and reduce costs, while simultaneously enhancing customization options.<\/p>\n

Which additive manufacturing methods are used in medical technology?<\/h3>\n

1. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)<\/h4>\n

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing process widely used in the consumer sector.<\/p>\n

\"\"A thermoplastic filament wire is extruded through a nozzle heated to 200 to 300 \u00b0C. The material is applied layer by layer to a build platform, where it quickly cools and hardens.<\/p>\n

By repeatedly applying these layers, the desired object is created (see Fig. 1-A). This technique is particularly popular due to its ease of use and the quick commissioning of a new 3D printer. The large and easily scalable print volume compared to SLA printers is also a particular advantage.<\/p>\n

Devices from the manufacturers \u201cBambu Lab\u201d or \u201cPrusa3D\u201d are widely used because they offer very high speed, an excellent print image directly from the factory, a low failure rate and high dimensional accuracy of the printed parts.<\/p>\n

Since the consumer market in particular is saturated with a multitude of cheap offers \u2013 especially from China \u2013 not all manufacturers are able to shine with these qualities, which damages the reputation of FDM printing in the professional environment.<\/p>\n

Thanks to rapid advances in recent years, it's increasingly possible to tackle most prototyping tasks with an affordable system (approximately \u20ac2,000). Multi-filament systems are also increasingly entering the market, which can also significantly reduce the disadvantages of support structures through the use of specially developed plastic types.<\/p>\n

Likewise, different types of plastic can be combined, such as PLA and PETG, as they do not stick to each other and thus leave a smoother surface than with support structures made of the same material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Advantages of FDM:<\/strong><\/td>\nDisadvantages of FDM:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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  • Cost efficiency<\/li>\n
  • User-friendliness<\/li>\n
  • Variety of materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
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