Track: Graduate Student Paper Competition

Abstract

3D printing technologies are proving to be an increasingly useful tool not only for the creation of prototypes, but
also of finished components. 3D printing has become a mature technology able to product finished objects and
non finished parts intended to support the production. This is possible because of the continuous innovation in
materials that are now able to achieve specific requests. Moreover the lowering of the hardware’s costs played a
central role in the expansion of 3D printing technology. Another important aspect of 3D printing processes is in
fact their application within the production process of other components, for example, by considering less
inexpensive technologies such as FDM and mSLA. The goal of this research is to take advantage of the great
variety that 3D printing offers in order to implement this process across different mechanical and prototyping
applications to emphasize the importance of spreading this technology. This is achieved studying specific
application.

Keywords
3D printing, FDM, MSLA, vacuum valve, carbon fiber lamination