3D Printing
XYC Prototype: Your Trustworthy 3D Printing Manufacturer!
Shenzhen Xie Yicheng Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. is a professional processing prototypes equipment and service provider. Our company was established in 1997 and is located in Shenzhen, China, mainly aiming to markets such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and India. We provide CNC processing, sheet metal bending, 3D, injection molding and other services, and use a variety of industrial-grade materials to build functional components in the automotive, medical, and consumer electronics fields.
Rich Experienced
With over 25 years of production experience, our team specializes in 3D printing, CNC machining, injection molding, and sheet metal fabrication to meet virtually any complex geometry part or finish requirement.
Well Equipped
Our production center is equipped with multi-axis CNC milling machines, CNC engraving machines, wire cutting machines, hand grinders, surface grinders and other equipment. We can quickly process complex parts for prototypes, small batches or high-volume production.
Quality Assurance
We conduct dimensional and visual inspections of each product during and after production, and strictly implement ISO 9001, AS 9100, ISO 14001 and ISO TS16949 quality standards.
Customized Services
We provide customized services for our products, include its dimensions, materials, and support OEM and ODM orders.
3D printing is a process in which a digital model is turned into a tangible, solid, three-dimensional object. The creation of a 3D printed object is achieved using additive processes. In an additive process an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created. Each of these layers can be seen as a thinly sliced cross-section of the object. There is one exception though, and it’s called volumetric 3D printing. With volumetric printing entire structures can be formed at once without the need for layer-by-layer fabrication. It’s worth noting, however, that as of now, volumetric technology is primarily in the research phase.
Features of 3D Printing
Rich Options
Using commercial and industrial grade printers, we offer over 60 3D printing options for materials such as metals and plastics, including selective laser sintering, fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, and direct metal laser sintering.
Flame Retardant
Our 3D printing services offer a variety of flame retardant polymers and are qualified to UL-94 V-0 and FAR 25.853 60-second burn tests. These include FDM ULTEM 9085, FDM ULTEM 1010 and SLS Nylon 12 (flame retardant).
Quick Production
The speed of 3D printing projects enables developers to create physical snapshots of their designs through an iterative process and design a variety of precise moving parts and integrated assemblies, through direct digital manufacturing technology.
True Price
Our 3D printing prices update in real time when you change materials, delivery times, etc. These prices have no hidden fees, are actual prices, and include shipping and customs fees up front.
Application of 3D Printing
To stay cost-effective, vehicle mass production must be optimized for efficiency. Using 3D printing, car makers are able to design and print manufacturing aids such as tools, jigs, and fixtures at a much lower cost. These are then used in the pre-production of a vehicle model to allow for more rounds of operator feedback and testing. 3D printers are also used in the automotive aftermarket. Mechanics and body shops have found the technology to be an affordable and easy way to create tools and parts that make fixing and modifying vehicles faster and easier.
The aerospace industry is in a constant state of evolution, with engineers and designers working continuously to improve the efficiency, safety, comfort, and efficacy of aircraft. Combined with 3D printing technology, the industry can accomplish this at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional manufacturing methods. For example, the ability to print complex shapes means we can design better, more efficient parts.
3D printing allows for easy customization. This makes it ideal for creating one-offs or small batches of end-use parts used by consumers. For example, some businesses today use 3D printers in-store to fabricate products according to customer specifications while they wait. And when it comes to the manufacture of consumer products, 3D printing helps automated packaging lines increase efficiency. 3D printing parts and manufacturing aids allow production lines to increase uptime and speed up with changeovers.
3D printing is increasingly used in the medical industry where MRI data can be easily turned into a 3D printed object. These custom models are then used to help explain complex medical conditions to patients. 3D printing also can help surgeons plan complex surgeries. By practicing on a 3D printed model, surgeons can prepare for the real thing. This leads to safer surgeries and better-informed patients.
3D printing has become an essential tool in the defense industry. Army, navy, and aerial forces find that the technology helps to increase operational readiness by allowing for on-site production of necessary parts, even in forward positions. This means less waiting for replacements and faster repairs – especially when custom parts are needed that are not available off the shelf. Plus, FDM printers use a wide range of specific materials that allow for reinforced items to be printed that can withstand extreme environments in the field.
3D printing is a fantastic tool for education – especially in science, technology, engineering, and math subjects (STEM). It lets students bring their designs to life and helps educators make aging curricula feel new and exciting. From elementary school to university, 3D printing can spark a passion for design thinking. By giving students hands-on experience, it helps them understand complex concepts and encourages creative problem-solving. These are skills that will be invaluable in their future careers.
Benefits of 3D Printing
Production Speed and Flexibility
Using traditional production methods such as outsourcing, creating a single part or a prototype can take weeks. But with in-house 3D printing, products can be designed, fabricated, tested, and refined in just days. Such rapid prototyping reduces the time from having an idea to holding a part in your hands. The result? Big savings in manufacturing costs – both in terms of time and money – and faster design cycle times. The knock-on effect of this means that manufacturers and product designers can go to market faster.
More Design Freedom
3D printing has the potential to create complex and innovative geometries that might be difficult, expensive, or even impossible to achieve with traditional practices. With CNC machining or milling, geometries are limited to the size and shape of the available tooling. Instead, printed 3D models are built up layer by layer and soluble support materials can be used. This means that parts can be light-weighted or even optimized using generative design. And assemblies can be simplified and printed as a single part, increasing strength and efficiency.
Low-cost Customization
3D printing can be used to create custom part designs using a wide range of materials at no additional cost. By contrast, every custom design made using traditional production methods requires changes to their tooling configuration which takes time. In some cases, even new tooling needs to be designed and tested before manufacturing can continue. In this way, 3D printing is changing how quickly companies can respond to the market as consumer preference changes.
Less Dependent on Supply Chains
In-house 3D printing is also a useful way to produce parts that you need, where and when you need them. This means that workshops or factories do not have to rely so heavily on supply chains where spare or replacement parts being shipped from a central hub. It also avoids lengthy lead times and the risk of parts being held up at customs. Instead, more and more companies are creating a digital inventory of certified parts, which can then be locally 3D printed.
More Environmentally Friendly
Because 3D printing involves additive manufacturing, there is far less waste material than seen in traditional, subtractive manufacturing technologies. Not only is there less waste, but organizations' carbon footprint is reduced thanks to more production taking place locally, instead of being shipped from external suppliers that are sometimes thousands of miles away.
Improved Confidentially
Keeping production in-house can help to protect intellectual property and maintain confidentiality, which can be particularly important for sensitive or proprietary designs.
Types of 3D Printing
Stereolithography (SLA)
SLA 3D printers use a laser to cure liquid resin into hardened plastic in a process called photopolymerization. SLA resin 3D printers have become vastly popular for their ability to produce high-accuracy, isotropic, and watertight prototypes and parts in a range of advanced materials with fine features and smooth surface finish. SLA resin formulations offer a wide range of optical, mechanical, and thermal properties to match those of standard, engineering, and industrial thermoplastics.
Resin 3D printing a great option for highly detailed prototypes requiring tight tolerances and smooth surfaces, such as molds, patterns, and functional parts. SLA 3D printers are widely used in a range of industries from engineering and product design to manufacturing, dentistry, jewelry, model making, and education.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers use a high-power laser to sinter small particles of polymer powder into a solid structure. The unfused powder supports the part during printing and eliminates the need for dedicated support structures. This makes SLS ideal for complex geometries, including interior features, undercuts, thin walls, and negative features. Parts produced with SLS printing have excellent mechanical characteristics, with strength resembling that of injection-molded parts.
The most common material for selective laser sintering is nylon, a popular engineering thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties. Nylon is lightweight, strong, and flexible, as well as stable against impact, chemicals, heat, UV light, water, and dirt.
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
Fused deposition modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF), is the most widely used type of 3D printing at the consumer level. FDM 3D printers work by extruding thermoplastic filaments, such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PLA (Polylactic Acid), through a heated nozzle, melting the material and applying the plastic layer by layer to a build platform. Each layer is laid down one at a time until the part is complete.
FDM 3D printers are well-suited for basic proof-of-concept models, as well as quick and low-cost prototyping of simple parts, such as parts that might typically be machined. However, FDM has the lowest resolution and accuracy when compared to SLA or SLS and is not the best option for printing complex designs or parts with intricate features.
Common Printer Software 3D Printing
Even beginners to 3D printing quickly find that software is at the heart of their workflow. This is because these tools determine what will be 3D printed and how. Let's look at the core 3D printing software categories.
CAD
CAD and 3D printing go hand in hand. CAD software (which stands for Computer Aided Design) is a central part of any 3D system as it enables you to create a 3D model from the ground, up. There are many types of CAD software, each with its own benefits. If you would rather not design a part from scratch and shortcut the process, using a 3D scanner is another option. By scanning a part or model and uploading it to CAD, you can then clean up the mesh so that it is ready to transfer to the next stage in the 3D printing process.
Slicing Software
A 3D printing slicer – also known as slicing or print preparation software – is a 3D software that converts a 3D model into a language your 3D printer understands. Slicing software digitally cuts a model into flat layers, which your printer can then print one by one. Millions of slices are made with it every day for a variety of 3D printers. That said, slicing software is not always needed. This is thanks to integrations that allow you to print directly from CAD or via a digital library of parts and models stored in the Cloud.
Remote 3D Printing Software
One of the more powerful methods of 3D printing allows users to 3D print from outside the printer's local area network. Using cloud-based tools, all you need is an internet connection to log in and start a print. Then, your 3D printer can produce your part while you are out of the office, sleeping, or even on vacation. And because models are stored in a digital library, you can your team can share and iterate on designs, monitor the progress of print jobs, and even reprint parts without the need to slice them again.
Suitable Material Used in 3D Printing
PLA
Derived from organic, renewable resources and easy to print with, PLA is the go-to beginner’s filament. PLA also has great visual properties, making it the most popular 3D printing filament. However, it has low-temperature resistance and there is a higher chance compared to other materials that its mechanical properties will degrade over time. For these reasons, PLA is often not the first choice for functional and mechanical applications.
PETG
A well-balanced mix of properties has seen PETG grow to become one of the most widely used 3D printing materials. It could easily be classed as an 'engineering material', but it's also a good option for beginners thanks to good printability. Combining impact and chemical resistance with good thermal properties, while also being cheaper than many other engineering materials, it’s the go-to filament for engineering applications for many users.
Nylon
Possessing chemical resistance and the ability to withstand significant mechanical stress, nylon is a versatile option for end-use parts.
ABS
Offering superior mechanical and heat resistance properties compared to PLA, ABS is a material for more demanding applications. However, it can be difficult to print with, especially on a cheaper, open-frame 3D printer. An enclosed build chamber and controlled temperature give a much more reliable experience.
TPU
With its rubber-like properties, TPU can be twisted, stretched, and withstand impacts without problems.
PP
Semi-flexible and fatigue-resistant, PP (or polypropylene as you may know it) is ideal for applications that need some flexibility, such as hinges or liquid containers.
Composite Materials
These filaments combine a polymer with fibers of another material to give enhanced properties. There are two main categories. Engineering composites including glass, carbon, or metal fibers offer enhanced mechanical properties such as strength and stiffness. And for unique visual properties, there are composite options like ceramic or wood filaments for 3D printing, or even glow-in-the-dark. (Note: the fibers in composite filaments can cause abrasion, so check your printer is compatible before using any).
Metal Materials
Metal 3D printing systems have been around for a long time. But only recently has metal printing become more affordable and accessible. Nowadays, affordable desktop FDM 3D printers are disrupting the industry by producing parts in stainless steel grades like 17-4 PH and 316L. This 3D printing technique requires extra post-processing, where the 3D printed parts are debinded and sintered to remove the unwanted plastic and leave behind a strong metal part. Metal 3D printing offers advantages over metal milling as more complex shapes can be created and parts can even be hollow and lighter in weight.
Support Materials
Each new layer of a 3D print requires the layer underneath to support it. Issues arise when a print’s design requires an overhang or an element that’s suspended in mid-air. So these materials literally ‘support’ it during the printing process and are removed after. Supports can be printed with the same material as the rest of the print, but their removal can affect its surface quality and dimensional accuracy. To avoid this, specialized support materials have been developed.
Soluble Support Material
Soluble support materials are dissolvable, so there is no risk of damaging your part during manual removal. PVA support material dissolves in water, while HIPS requires the solvent d-limonene.
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Frequently Asked Questions of 3D Printing
Q: What is 3D printing in simple words?
Q: Why is 3D printing illegal?
Q: What is the point of 3D printing?
Q: Is 3D printing just plastic?
Q: Is it hard to 3D print?
Q: Is there anything illegal to 3D print?
Q: Can I take a picture of something and 3D print it?
Q: What Kinds of Things Can You 3D Print?
Making small plastic objects.
Printing metal and plastic parts.
Printing medical implants and prosthetic body parts.
Printing food items.
Printing architectural models.
Printing educational materials.
Q: How much is a 3D printer?
Q: How is Wood Utilized in 3D Printing?
Q: Can you 3D print a person?
Q: How do I turn my logo into a 3D model?
Q: Can the government track what you 3D print?
Q: Do I need a computer to use a 3D printer?
Q: What things Cannot be 3D printed?
Q: Why 3D printers are not used at home?
Q: Can you eat off of 3D prints?
Q: Does the military use 3D printers?
Q: Why is 3D printing controversial?
Q: How bad is 3D printing for the environment?
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