By Ashley Blystone
When we take a picture with our cell phone, we can only capture images in two dimensions — height and width. But what if we could take a picture in three dimensions, otherwise known as 3D? Well, we can!
To measure the third dimension of depth, scientists use special equipment to take pictures of an item from many different angles. Someone using a computer can combine these pictures into one image, this will look like the real thing. However, we’re still looking at the image on a flat computer screen, which makes it difficult to see the full dimensions.
We can solve this issue by converting this 3D model into a physical copy that you can hold in your hand. This is done using a 3D printer.
There are lots of different materials that can be used to create these 3D prints. These materials include polymers, metals, ceramics, and even cells.
There are two main types of 3D printing:
In extrusion printing, a plastic filament, usually a polylactic acid, is heated until it can flow through the extrusion head. As the computer follows a detailed pattern, the head squirts out tiny amounts of the plastic as it moves along a “stage” (image below).
The printing begins by outlining the object printed directly on the stage. The 3D object is then built layer by layer. After printing, the object is allowed to cool before being moved.
The second type of 3D printing is stereolithography. A photopolymer is used to build an object. A photopolymer is a material that polymerizes (or “cures”) when light hits it. In polymerization, a single molecule will chemically react with itself to form long chains (polymers) that are like clones of the original molecule.
The stage sits in the liquid photopolymer, and the light source, which is usually a laser, is directed to form the pattern of the 3D object. The stage is then raised a small amount, exposing more fresh liquid. Then the process is repeated continually until the object is complete. After printing, the object is removed and cleaned up.
What can be done with a 3D object? some models are used to help surgeons plan difficult operations. Some scientists are also looking at 3D printing to help them repair parts of their patients’ bodies. 3D printing is also used to manufacture parts of cars, office buildings, and even houses! Smaller models can also help students learn chemistry!
Ashley Blystone is a Research Specialist at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
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