Printing on Polymers: Fundamentals and Applications is the first authoritative reference covering the most important developments in the field of printing on polymers, their composites, nanocomposites, and gels. The book examines the current state-of-the-art and new challenges in the formulation of inks, surface activation of polymer surfaces, and various methods of printing. The book equips engineers and materials scientists with the tools required to select the correct method, assess the quality of the result, reduce costs, and keep up-to-date with regulations and environmental concerns. Choosing the correct way of decorating a particular polymer is an important part of the production process. Although printing on polymeric substrates can have desired positive effects, there can be problems associated with various decorating techniques. Physical, chemical, and thermal interactions can cause problems, such as cracking, peeling, or dulling. Safety, environmental sustainability, and cost are also significant factors which need to be considered. With contributions from leading researchers from industry, academia, and private research institutions, this book serves as a one-stop reference for this field—from print ink manufacture to polymer surface modification and characterization; and from printing methods to applications and end-of-life issues. - Enables engineers to select the correct decoration method for each material and application, assess print quality, and reduce costs - Increases familiarity with the terminology, tests, processes, techniques, and regulations of printing on plastic, which reduces the risk of adverse reactions, such as cracking, peeling, or dulling of the print - Addresses the issues of environmental impact and cost when printing on polymeric substrates - Features contributions from leading researchers from industry, academia, and private research institutions

Desktop or DIY 3D printers are devices you can either buy preassembled as a kit, or build from a collection of parts to design and print physical objects including replacement household parts, custom toys, and even art, science, or engineering projects. Maybe you have one, or maybe you're thinking about buying or building one. Practical 3D Printers takes you beyond how to build a 3D printer, to calibrating, customizing, and creating amazing models, including 3D printed text, a warship model, a robot platform, windup toys, and arcade-inspired alien invaders. You'll learn about the different types of personal 3D printers and how they work; from the MakerBot to the RepRap printers like the Huxley and Mendel, as well as the whiteAnt CNC featured in the Apress book Printing in Plastic. You'll discover how easy it is to find and design 3D models using web-based 3D modeling, and even how to create a 3D model from a 2D image. After learning the basics, this book will walk you through building multi-part models with a steampunk warship project, working with meshes to build your own action heroes, and creating an autonomous robot chassis. Finally, you'll find even more bonus projects to build, including wind-up walkers, faceted vases for the home, and a handful of useful upgrades to modify and improve your 3D printer.

Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook: Processing, Materials, and Applications, Second Edition, covers both the polymer basics that are helpful to bring readers quickly up-to-speed if they are not familiar with a particular area of plastics processing and the recent developments that enable practitioners to discover which options best fit their requirements. New chapters added specifically cover polyamides, polyimides, and polyesters. Hot topics such as 3-D printing and smart plastics are also included, giving plastics engineers the information they need to take these embryonic technologies and deploy them in their own work. With the increasing demands for lightness and fuel economy in the automotive industry (not least due to CAFÉ standards), plastics will soon be used even further in vehicles. A new chapter has been added to cover the technology trends in this area, and the book has been substantially updated to reflect advancements in technology, regulations, and the commercialization of plastics in various areas. Recycling of plastics has been thoroughly revised to reflect ongoing developments in sustainability of plastics. Extrusion processing is constantly progressing, as have the elastomeric materials, fillers, and additives which are available. Throughout the book, the focus is on the engineering aspects of producing and using plastics. The properties of plastics are explained, along with techniques for testing, measuring, enhancing, and analyzing them. Practical introductions to both core topics and new developments make this work equally valuable for newly qualified plastics engineers seeking the practical rules-of-thumb they don't teach you in school and experienced practitioners evaluating new technologies or getting up-to-speed in a new field. - Presents an authoritative source of practical advice for engineers, providing guidance from experts that will lead to cost savings and process improvements - Ideal introduction for both new engineers and experienced practitioners entering a new field or evaluating a new technology - Updated to include the latest technology, including 3D Printing, smart polymers, and thorough coverage of biopolymers and biodegradable plastics

This book is a survey of the complex world of graphic communication. It is focused largely on print, both conventional and digital, and the processes that make it possible. It is also about the myriad ways digital technology¿from desktop design to web-based publishing, commerce, and IT¿affects the art, science, and business of printing.

Unique in its integration of individual topics to achieve a full-system approach, this book addresses all the aspects essential for industrial inkjet printing. After an introduction listing the industrial printing techniques available, the text goes on to discuss individual topics, such as ink, printheads and substrates, followed by metrology techniques that are required for reliable systems. Three iteration cycles are then described, including the adaptation of the ink to the printhead, the optimization of the ink to the substrate and the integration of machine manufacturing, monitoring, and data handling, among others. Finally, the book summarizes a number of case studies and success stories from selected areas, including graphics, printed electronics, and 3D printing as well a list of ink suppliers, printhead manufacturers and integrators. Practical hints are included throughout for a direct hands-on experience. Invaluable for industrial users and academics, whether ink developers or mechanical engineers, and working in areas ranging from metrology to intellectual property.

Birtchnell and Hoyle explore how printers, designs, materials and infrastructures all need to be 'just right' in order for meaningful social change to happen with appropriate scale. The 3D4D Challenge suggests 3D printing could reach scale in the Global South, even perhaps having the same impact as the mobile phone or microfinance in development.