three dimensional printer based on LCD shadow masking technique

Project Title

three dimensional printer based on LCD shadow masking technique

Project Area of Specialization 3D/4D PrintingProject Summary

3D Printer based on LCD Shadow Masking is an advancement in Pakistan's industry of additive manufacturing. LCD Shadow Masking is a technique based on Digital Light Processing technology in which a photosensitive resin solidifies, to print the  3D model in a "layer by layer" manner. Anycubic 405nm UV resin is used as a photosensitive liquid, which gets solidify when is exposed to ultraviolet light.

Project Objectives

Quality doesn't mean paying more. This line is the motivation and objective of this project i.e to improve the following two core parameters of the additive manufacturing industry;

Resolution (up to 25 microns)

Cost (less than one lac)

Project Implementation Method

In the first step, the 3D model which needs to be printed is sliced into layers, each of height 25 microns. This step is done with the help of NanoDlp, which is a host software for controlling 3D printers. These layers then appear on the shadow mask, one after the other. Once the layer is appeared on the shadow mask, the resin above this layer solidifies to form that single layer of the object. Once the layer is formed, it gets attached to the aluminium plate which then moves upward with the help of stepper motor.

After the first is formed, the second layer appears on the shadow mask. The same procedure runs again and the second layer gets attached to the first one. In a similar way, all the layers get attached to the aluminium plate and our object comes out in its final 3D printed form.
The motion of the aluminium plate is controlled using a stepper motor. RAMPS; an Arduino mega shield is being used to control the movement of the motor as it provides even stepping and the chance of missing any step is eliminated.

Benefits of the Project

3D printer based on LCD Shadow Masking can print the object up to the resolution of 25 microns. This resolution is far better than the FDM printer’s resolution, which have been used until now in Pakistan. Furthermore, the cost of this printer is almost as same as FDM printers; so, why would anybody buy a printer having low resolution when he/she can afford a high resolution within the same amount.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

In our final deliverables, we will handover a complete software & hardware integrated system which will be able to print a 3D model up to the resolution of 25 microns. Raspberry pi will be performing the job of Model slicing while Ramps along with Arduino Mega will be controlling the Z-axis movement of a stepper motor. A board containing the number of ultraviolet LEDs will be used as a source of UV light for solidifying the photosensitive resin. 

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry ManufacturingOther IndustriesCore Technology 3D/4D PrintingOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and ProductionRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	50000
Raspberry Pi	Equipment	1	9000	9000
HDMI LCD Display	Equipment	1	8000	8000
Ramps 1.4	Equipment	1	1000	1000
Arduino Mega	Equipment	1	1500	1500
Stepper Motor	Equipment	1	500	500
UV LED Board	Equipment	1	1000	1000
Aluminium Plate (Build Plateform)	Equipment	1	3000	3000
Hardware Parts	Miscellaneous	1	10000	10000
UV Resin	Equipment	2	8000	16000