3D printing (or rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing, intelligent manufacturing, additive manufacturing) technology is a rapidly developing emerging technology in the field of manufacturing industry. It is based on the computer 3D design model, and uses the software layered discrete and numerical control molding system to stack and bond metal powder, ceramic powder, plastic, cell tissue and other special materials layer by layer by using laser beam, hot melt nozzle and other methods, Finally, it is superposed to form a solid product, which is called "manufacturing technology with the significance of industrial revolution".
Unlike the traditional manufacturing industry, which finalizes and cuts raw materials to produce finished products through mechanical processing methods such as molds and turning milling, 3D printing transforms three-dimensional entities into several two-dimensional planes, and greatly reduces the complexity of manufacturing by processing materials and superimposing them layer by layer. This digital manufacturing mode does not require complex processes, huge machine tools, and numerous manpower. It can directly generate parts of any shape from computer graphics data, so that production and manufacturing can be extended to a wider range of production population. Therefore, the appearance of 3D printing technology will profoundly change the traditional manufacturing form from two aspects: one is to make profound changes in manufacturing process; The second is to revolutionize the manufacturing mode.
3D printing is the main realization form of Additive Manufacturing. The concept of "additive manufacturing" is different from the traditional "removal" manufacturing. Traditional NC manufacturing generally uses cutting, grinding, corrosion, melting and other methods on the basis of raw materials to remove excess parts and get parts, and then combines them into final products by assembly, welding and other methods. "Additive manufacturing" is quite different from it. It can directly generate objects of any shape based on computer graphics data by adding materials, simplify the product manufacturing process, shorten the product development cycle, improve efficiency and reduce costs without the need for prototypes and molds.
The main materials and key accessories are raw materials (powder, resin, wire, etc; The main foreign manufacturers are 3DSystem, STRATASYS and eos. They are the whole industry chain and play with the whole industry chain.
At present, the price of 3D printing industrial machines is between $300000 and $1.5 million, while the price of domestic machine tools is generally below $100000. 3D printers are machines. To replace the traditional industry, it is necessary to wait until the steel price, labor cost and energy price rise significantly and the information society is formed before we can talk about competition; At present, the development trend of medical, education, aerospace, military, automobile and other applications is good.
Some small and medium-sized enterprises have become agents of foreign 3D printing equipment, selling full sets of printing equipment, molding software and special materials. Some small and medium-sized enterprises have purchased various kinds of 3D printing equipment at home and abroad to provide services for research, development and production of related enterprises. Among them, Guangdong Industrial Design Center, Hangzhou Xianlin Rapid Prototyping Technology Co., Ltd. and other enterprises have set up 3D printing service centers, giving play to the advantages of intensive scientific and technological talents, providing services to customers at home and abroad, and obtaining good economic benefits.
At present, some technologies in China are at the world's advanced level. Among them, the laser direct metal processing technology has developed rapidly, which has basically met the mechanical performance requirements of special parts, and is the first to be used in aerospace and aviation equipment manufacturing; At the same time, the 3D printing technology of biological cells has made remarkable progress, and it can produce three-dimensional simulated biological tissues, providing key technical support for scientific research in biological and medical fields in China.
On the other hand, Yan Yongnian of Tsinghua University, Shi Yusheng of Huake University, Lu Bingheng of Xijiao University, Wang Huaming of Beihang University, and Xu Xiaoshu of Huashu, Hunan Province, have different technologies and have no value in ranking. At present, Wang Huaming and Yan Yongnian have participated in the industrialization of listed companies. Huake University once had Shenzhen Venture Capital involved, while the capitalization of Xijiao University was weak.
In terms of the whole domestic industry chain, the technology is basically seen abroad. SLMSLSSLAFDM technology is competitive abroad in terms of research and development in domestic universities and industrialization. However, materials and lasers need to be imported, with low profits. High end machines and materials are still monopolized abroad, and the domestic market share in the world is 8-10%.
The difference between China and the United States is that China has huge market potential and the world, but its innovation and scientific and technological strength is weak. Materials, information technology and ideas are not conducive to the development of upstream technologies of 3D printing. 3D printing development focuses on both industry and consumer goods. In the short term, the industrial market is more attractive. There are many 3D printing processes, and the yield varies according to the material and quality requirements. The comparison between 3D printing and traditional manufacturing should focus on efficiency, complexity and difficulty.
1、 3D printing needs to rely on technologies in multiple disciplines, at least including the following aspects:
Information technology: advanced design software and digital tools should be available to assist designers in making three-dimensional digital models of products, and automatically analyze the printing process according to the models, so as to automatically control the trend of printing equipment.
Precision machinery: 3D printing takes "superposition of each layer" as the processing method. To produce high-precision products, it is necessary to have high requirements on the degree and stability of printing equipment.
Material science: The raw materials used for 3D printing are relatively special, which must be able to liquefy, powdery, filamentate, re combine after printing, and have qualified physical and chemical properties.
2、 Distribution of application fields of 3D printing:
3、 The important strategic significance of developing 3D printing industry in China:
The development of 3D printing industry can not only improve the level of product development in China's industrial field, but also help overcome technical difficulties, and easily form new economic growth points and promote employment.
At present, a new wave of digital manufacturing is emerging in the world. Faced with the decline of manufacturing competitiveness in recent years, the developed countries vigorously advocate the strategy of "re industrialization and re manufacturing", propose that intelligent robots, artificial intelligence and 3D printing are the key technologies to achieve digital manufacturing, and hope that through the breakthrough of these three digital manufacturing technologies, they will consolidate and enhance the leading power of the manufacturing industry, accelerate the development of 3D printing industry, and promote the transformation of China from a "big industrial country" to a "strong industrial country".
The development of 3D printing industry can improve the level of product development in China's industrial field and improve the ability of industrial design. The traditional method of industrial product development is usually to open the abrasive tools first, and then make samples. The use of 3D printing technology can reduce the manufacturing time to 1/10 to 1/5 of the previous time without opening the abrasive tools, and reduce the cost to less than 1/3. Some good design concepts, no matter how complex their structures and processes are, can be manufactured in a short time by using 3D printing technology, which greatly promotes the innovative design of products and effectively overcomes the problem of weak industrial design ability in China.
The development of 3D printing industry can produce complex, special and personalized products, which will help overcome technical difficulties
3D printing can provide important technical support for the research of basic science and technology. In the aerospace, aviation, large-scale weapons and other equipment manufacturing industries, there are many types of parts and components with high performance requirements, which require repeated testing. With 3D printing, in addition to its advantages in development speed, it can also directly process special and complex shapes, simplify the structural design of equipment, solve technical problems, and achieve catching up with key performance.
Developing 3D printing industry can form new economic growth points and promote employment
With the popularization of 3D printing, "mass customization" will become an important production mode. The close combination of 3D printing and modern service industry will generate new subdivided industries and new business models, create new economic growth points and increase social employment. For example, self-employed entrepreneurs can purchase or lease low-cost 3D printing equipment (some of which have been less than 10000 yuan), provide services through e-commerce and other platforms, customize various kinds of small and medium-sized products for a large number of consumers, such as daily necessities, cultural and sports equipment, and China's major machinery and equipment accessories, stimulate personalized demand, and form a cultural and creative manufacturing with a scale of tens of billions or even hundreds of billions of yuan
4、 Policy suggestions to support the development of China's 3D printing industry:
Take measures such as actively supporting and guiding the establishment of industry associations, encouraging research and development, and strengthening education and training in fiscal, tax and financial policies to further promote the socialization of 3D printing.
Formulate digital manufacturing plan to promote the priority development of 3D industry
It is suggested that 3D printing technology should be positioned as the key technology and common technology of productive service industry, cultural creativity, industrial design, advanced manufacturing, e-commerce and manufacturing information engineering, and the industry should be included in the priority industry and product catalog. In terms of fiscal, tax and financial policies, enterprises are encouraged to invest, research and develop, produce and apply 3D printing, and support the import and export of 3D printing equipment.
Strengthen the construction of industry alliances and industry associations to promote the coordinated development of 3D industry
Actively guide industrial design enterprises, 3D digital technology providers, 3D printer and material R&D enterprises and institutions, and 3D printing service application providers to form an industrial alliance, strengthen discussion and exchange on the platform of relevant societies and associations, and jointly promote 3D printing technology R&D and industry standard formulation. The construction of market platforms to promote the development of 3D printing technology, including 3D printing e-commerce platform, 3D printing data and property rights protection mechanism, 3D printing and surrounding project investment and financing mechanism, will promote the sustainable development of the industry.
Increase support for science and technology to improve 3D printing technology
Set up a special fund to focus on the R&D of key technologies such as digital technology, software control, printing device and material technology. In R&D support, we should pay attention to establishing a fair and just R&D performance evaluation system, and encourage each R&D subject to explore different technology paths. Strengthen support for 3D printing industry university research cooperation, especially give policy support to enterprises implementing industrialization in marketing and social promotion.
Strengthen education and training, promote the social promotion of 3D printing, incorporate 3D printing technology into the construction system of relevant disciplines, and cultivate 3D printing technicians. Training on 3D printing technology and peripheral applications is carried out in the form of industry associations, expos, forums and other organizations. Display, publicize and promote 3D printing technology in public institutions such as science and technology museum, culture and art center and youth activity center. Develop 3D printing service center, promote the application of 3D printing technology, and accumulate application experience for the development of 3D printing industry.
The field of 3D printing is developing rapidly. From giant house printers to micro nano cell printers, various new technologies emerge in endlessly, but they are mainly concentrated in professional fields. The civil market is mainly based on fusion deposition rapid prototyping (FDM) technology with simple architecture, and both the effect and accuracy are unsatisfactory. With the development of technology and the reduction of cost, desktop 3D printers can also really achieve WYSIWYG printing effects. 3D printing will no longer be a dream to change the world.
