In this section, we look at the different materials typically used in the today’s subtractive digital fabrication processes to provide the foundation knowledge for the following analysis section.
Subtractive digital fabrication means that the materials get subtracted in the process of forming the objects from digital representations of 3 dimensional objects. CNC Machining (computer numerical control machining) is a typical subtractive digital manufacturing process.
MATERIALS USED IN CNC (COMPUTER NUMERICAL CONTROL) MACHINING:
1. ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) — tough, rigid and durable within a wide temperature range and low cost parts. They provide superlative surface quality, colorfastness and luster.
2. Acetal — rigid, and highly machinable providing excellence wear resistant surfaces.
3. Acrylic — strong and stable with weather resistance, excellent optical clarity and good tensile strength. It is machinable, heat-bendable and solvent-bondable.
4. HDPE — rigid and light with high tensile strength, good abrasion and chemical resistance.
5. Nylon — tough, strong and highly machinable with low coefficient of friction providing high sliding properties. It resist chemical corrosion abrasion also has excellent impact and wear resistance.
6. Polycarbonate — very strong and have excellent optical clarity which makes one of the toughest transparent sheets available. Polycarbonates can be as clear as glass but have 10 times stronger than other clear plastics. It is also UV resistant and better thermal insulator than glass.
7. Aluminum — light but strong, naturally soft, and ductile which makes it very easy to machine. Aluminum is non-toxic and electrically and thermally conductive.
8. Steel — a metal material that is made by iron combined with carbon, manganese and silicon. Carbon steels are basic steels with surface treatments. Alloy steels contain added elements that cause the steel to exhibit enhanced properties when heat treated.
9. Stainless Steel—iron alloys with at least 10% chromium. Other elements include nickel, molybdenum, copper, titanium, silicone, aluminum, sulfur and etc. It is highly machinable and exhibits greater corrosion resistance than ordinary steel and it also provides variations in strength.
A CONSOLIDATED TABLE OF DIGITAL MANUFACTURING MATERIALS
The following table is an overview of the digital manufacturing materials categorized by the types of the materials and the types of the digital manufacturing processes that allows us to analyze the possibility of recycling them.
Section I: Introduction
Section II: Present (YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN THIS SECTION)
Section III: Future
Complete Table of Contents
Reference