Table 3.
Summary of different types of 3D printing technologies and corresponding 3D printed heart models. Adapted from References [36,46,47,48,49].
| 3D Printing Technologies | Printing Materials | Advantages | Disadvantages | 3D Printed Heart Models | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strengths | Weaknesses | ||||
| Stereolithography (SLA) | Photopolymers | Large part size | High cost, moderate strength | High detail and accuracy, smooth surfaces | Low tensile strength |
| Polyjet (PJ) | Photopolymers | Variety of materials including multi-colored materials | Slow speed, high cost | High accuracy with flexibility, durability, and translucency | Low tensile strength |
| Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) | Powder materials | Large part size, variety of materials and good strength | High cost, low resolution | Moderate accuracy | Inferior anatomical details |
| Binder Jetting (BJ) | Powder materials | Very low cost, variety of materials, relatively fast, does not use heat | Slow speed, fragile parts with limited mechanical properties | NR | Low accuracy |
| Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) | Thermoplastic materials | Low cost, variety of materials, good strength | Slow speed and a scaffold is needed to support the object during printing | Moderate accuracy, more suitable for medical devices | Limited values in surgical and anatomical models |