Design and production of plastic parts for read-write didactic equipment using 3D printer

Abstract

3D-printing technology is part of the large group of additive manufacturing methods that present a huge potential for increase the number of new application areas in manufacturing industries. Nowadays 3D printing is only implemented in several practical applications as 3D printer farm. In all the materials applications, plastic, cellulose or metallic, using 3D-printing could enable mass customization of special products by reduction of the material consumption. In this article the authors present the design and obtaining using a 3D printer of some special parts of read-write educational equipment for preschools and school children. The plastic elements present complex details like letters and digits with a high resolution at a relative small scale. If the number of products design for fabrication is larger than 2 and smaller than 1000 the production of small complex parts can be realized using a 3D printer without involving a metallic mould which will increase the final production price. Some of the plastic materials that can be used for 3D printer present numerous advantages like weight, non-allergenic, non-corrosive, non-toxic and in various colours. 2D and 3D images of some components of the read-write equipment are design and presented.