Three Dimensional Printers as a Way of Computer Aided Ceramics Manufacturing and a Case Study in Today'S Conditions

Abstract

Three dimensional printers as a way of computer aided manufacturing have been used commonly today. This method, which was grounded on rapid prototyping technology and developed in 1980s and patented, is used many different fields today such as automotive, architecture, construction, medicine, industrial design, fashion design and food industry. Depending on the material and properties of the product to be manufactured, there are different types and operating principles of three dimensional printers. Different kinds of materials such as plastics, metal, polymer and ceramics are processed in these printers. Ceramics manufacturing with three dimensional printers operates according to the principles of mortar masonry, encrusting and laser sintering. This technology which has been still developing has been used by different artists and workshops. This way of digital manufacturing is accepted as a new invention in the art of ceramics and a quite attractive way of shaping of forms which are hard to mold in hand. In this research, general information about the usage and the functionality of three dimensional printers in ceramics field will be given, and it will be an example to develop and use three dimensional printers in today's conditions. The manufacture with three dimensional printers that operate according to the principle of stratigraphic manufacturing; the problems during this manufacturing process, what should be done to solve these problems and application examples are going to be analyzed in this research.