We can see the importance of metal 3D printing to industrial manufacturing, and even the great role it has played in our country. The Long March 5B carrier rocket mentioned earlier is a successful case, and its development prospects are particularly good:
1. Space manufacturing: Is it possible to 3D print the products needed by the earth in space?
In 2014, the astronauts of the International Space Station printed the world's first 3D printed space wrench on the space station. So far, mankind has taken the first step in the application of 3D printing technology in the space environment. We can expect that in the future, we can print the objects needed by the earth in space. The limitation of metal 3D printing is that it cannot print large objects. In space without gravity, it is possible for us to print objects that are hundreds of kilometers away.
2. Intelligent 3D printing control method: automatic recognition and automatic feedback
Only by mastering the core technology can there be development prospects. If the printer can be intelligent in the future, the tedious work that requires human thinking is now replaced by the machine. As long as we master smart core technologies, our 3D printing industry will take a step forward!
3. SLM technology and traditional processing technology (precision cutting, casting, heat treatment, etc.) composite forming
The combination of 3D printing technology and traditional technology can best reflect its value when used in the aerospace field. At a symposium of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2014, Professor Wang Huaming of Beihang said that China can now print out the glass window frame of the C919 aircraft cockpit in only 55 days, while a European aircraft manufacturing company said that they need at least to produce the same thing. In 2 years, it will cost US2 million to make molds alone. The use of 3D printing technology in China not only shortens the production cycle, improves efficiency, but also saves raw materials and greatly reduces production costs.
Most of the aerospace manufacturing fields are using expensive strategic materials, such as titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys and other difficult-to-process metal materials. The utilization rate of materials in traditional manufacturing methods is very low, generally not more than 10 percent , or even only 2 percent -5 percent . The huge waste of materials means that the machining procedures are complicated and the production time period is long.
Metal 3D printing technology, as a near-net molding technology, can be put into use with a small amount of follow-up processing, and the material usage rate has reached 60 percent , sometimes even more than 90 percent . We also need to perform fine processing on the printed model. Some of our company's equipped processors not only improve the utilization rate of materials, but also save processing costs and improve the fineness of the finished product.
If we can make full use of the advantages of low-cost, short-cycle, digital, and intelligent metal 3D printing technology, it may be useful for the preparation technology of high-performance metal structure materials, high-performance large-scale and complex integral key metal component manufacturing technology, and structural design technology for major equipment in the future. , And even have a transformative impact on the equipment production model.