3D printing is no ordinary fire. However, when you really see the resin products and processes coming out of the 3D printer, I am still a bit disappointed with this popular technology. Long printing time, insufficient accuracy, and less realistic colors. But it does not matter, these do not prevent 3D printing from becoming a big hit. After all, it is still in its infancy, and after it matures, it will indeed change the production method of the manufacturing industry and will also make some changes in our lives.

When people are concerned about how 3D printing machines work and what 3D printing can do, they have ignored one of the most profitable parts of 3D printing in the future: materials. American giant 3DSystem estimates that in the next three years, the materials sector will become the largest source of profits for the 3D industry. Remember how HP printers make money? That's right, sell toner cartridges! Does this also inspire you to understand the 3D printing industry? Interview with Professor of Department of Materials Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, PhD supervisor: Yao Shan, let's take a look.

Materials will be more profitable and are now mostly monopolized by foreign countries

In the future, the development of 3D printing technology will definitely require more and more materials. What is the development of China's material-related industries?

Yao Shan: I think that in the future, 3D printing materials and technologies will be a process of mutual promotion and mutual development. It is not enough to see the Obama administration ’s support for 3D printing policies. It should be seen that he also has a material genome plan. The two plans are parallel.

In terms of materials, it is necessary to realize rapid research and development of new materials through multi-scale mathematical modeling, computer simulation and other digital new technologies. In fact, 3D printing solves the problem of material forming. In the past, complex shapes and structures could be formed using new methods.

However, after the material is formed, it is necessary to solve the problem of material performance necessary for engineering applications. In addition to formability, other material performance requirements, such as corrosion resistance, strength and hardness, etc. This puts forward requirements for new materials. If there are new materials that can achieve the performance of products made by traditional processes, it will be of great market value.

In the field of casting, 3D printing can make very complicated molds, but with the new casting alloys, the performance of the cast samples can reach the level of traditional forgings or higher, which can have a greater impact on the industry, and even reach "Forging by casting".

One advantage of casting is that it has advantages in the manufacture of complex shapes, but it is not as good as forged products in performance. If new casting materials are developed, high-end parts can be made.

Why didn't you do material research and development in the past? Because the molding technology is immature, even the best materials cannot be molded by casting. 3D printing technology has provided new molding technology, and the next step will certainly promote the development of new materials.

How will the field of 3D printing materials develop in the future? Are there many types, or are there some common ones?

Yao Shan: Some new materials adapted to 3D printing will definitely appear in endlessly in the future. Because foreign materials are currently relatively expensive, some domestic researchers have also seen this market or demand, combined with their own research direction and expertise, to develop new materials, even new material systems.

The main body of the resin material is used for modeling, this area is mainly to reduce costs. New technologies or new materials will reduce costs. I believe that in a relatively short period of time, a lot of material will emerge. There are also metal powders, such as titanium powder and stainless steel powder, which are made by some people. However, due to the small demand and relatively high cost, the metal forming technology will mature in the future, and the cost in this regard will also decrease.

The main reason for the current high material prices is still foreign patents and monopolies. Another reason is that our demand is relatively small and there is no need to do it ourselves. According to my personal judgment, once the manufacturing industry attaches importance to it, our demand will come up in three to five years, and the cost will definitely fall.

In what areas is our material field relatively weak?

Yao Shan: I currently feel that resin materials may be weak. The demand for metal powder is relatively small and relatively high-end, and it should not be much worse at home than abroad. Most of the biological application materials are doing basic research, which not only needs to solve the problem of molding, but also faces the problems of biological activity and biocompatibility, and also needs continuous exploration and research.

Now the relatively large demand is still conventional 3D printing materials, liquid resin, resin powder, nylon powder, wax powder, etc., foreign monopoly is a lot, we should still seek greater development in this field in the next step.

Aerospace, automotive are the most mature, biomedical is the hottest

What industries are currently doing more mature? What are the models of these industries?

Yao Shan: The first category that we have been more successful in is aerospace. This kind of relatively high-end and complicated industrial parts, our domestic level and international level can be said to be equivalent or synchronized. In this system, there may not be a big gap in level, and even in some places we have done better than them. The application of 3D printing in this field should be said to be a relatively mature market.

However, due to the characteristics of the aerospace manufacturing field, the process cost of the traditional method is also very high. The application of the 3D printing method may have a lower cost and a shorter manufacturing cycle than the traditional method. This makes the technology develop faster in this industry and its application is more successful.

Another successful industry is the automotive industry. According to my understanding, more than 30% of the market share of 3D printing is in the automotive industry. In the development of new products and new models, a large number of 3D printing technologies are used. The automotive industry has matured. Some domestic car manufacturers have begun to consider, learn foreign methods, and even have introduced 3D printing technology.

In fact, this method has been used in China's auto industry more than ten years ago. For example, Dalian Diesel Engine used this technology to develop new products. Therefore, the domestic automobile industry has a relatively early understanding of the technology of 3D printing, but the quantity is not enough.

What is the specific application of the automotive industry?

Yao Shan: First of all, the body design. The cost of a newly designed model is very, very high if you make a set of formal molds. You can use 3D printing technology to manufacture a prototype mold or a product that replaces the mold to make a body in white. Fast, and the cost is not high.

Even if only from the appearance, it can be printed out with resin and other materials, so that everyone can judge and actually feel the appearance of the new car to see if it is acceptable. This is not an engineering application, just looking at the appearance. This may take a short time. The design of the car model can be completed at a very low cost. There is also the development of new engines, many of which are cast. If the traditional method is to make a mold to achieve casting, the cost is very high.

Using 3D printing technology can eliminate the need for molds and realize the trial production of some new engines, which can shorten the cycle and reduce costs, especially shorten the cycle, and the benefits are more obvious.

Is the technology of 3D printing still far from practical application in biological applications?

Yao Shan: The application of biomedicine is the most popular field and direction. Because biological applications are mostly individualized, they are not suitable for mass production, such as restoration of teeth and bones. In addition to the requirements of material hardness performance, there are also biocompatibility issues, and it is a high value-added field. The future is definitely a very important direction.

There are many material issues involved. So I personally feel that it has not yet been applied to the general public, except for the production of some dentures. Others, such as printing a metal bone system and various biological materials together, have not yet reached the state of practical application.

Looking forward to innovative investment from enterprises, policy guidance is still needed

What are the problems facing this industry now? What kind of support is needed to make 3D printing truly enter production life?

Yao Shan: There are already some projects supporting 3D printing in the support plan and 863 plan of the Ministry of Science and Technology this year. In many places in Liaoning, Jiangsu, and Shandong, from the province to the city, there are some projects that support or introduce guiding policies. I now personally think that it is not entirely a matter of government understanding and policy, mainly because the enthusiasm of enterprises has not been fully mobilized.

Enterprises depend on specific applications and effects. This is, after all, a new technology. If this technology achieves a significant effect in some companies, the demand for the company will increase accordingly. In the early stage of doing these things, enterprises must invest heavily, have high costs, and have risks. The government can let them do it through taxation, project support, and support policies. As long as it is done, the follow-up market will become larger, and the government will not invest any more. This market will also develop well. So guidance is very important.

Most of our companies are tracking, and they are not willing to invest in innovation. Only a few companies, or those with sensitivity, are willing to do this. But their investment is high. However, most of our enterprises follow the trend. A certain enterprise has done well, and many enterprises have followed up. Now it should be said that it is a stage of cultivation and incubation, the maturity is already relatively high, and some guiding policies are needed.

Now some casting and equipment manufacturing companies are also contacting me. It can be said that the people who think that this technology can bring benefits and have this understanding have already appeared in the early days, but it can really have market maturity. I judge it will take two or three years. When these people who take the first step create value and win returns, a large number of people will follow this market.

What is the relationship between 3D printing and traditional industrial manufacturing?

Yao Shan: From the perspective of new product development, 3D printing technology should have absolute advantages. After the product is finalized, its advantages will be reduced to mass production. But it does not necessarily have no application. For example, in traditional manufacturing, molds are first made, and then formed by pressure processing and other methods. But the mold is also a single-piece, small-batch product. If you use 3D printing to make the mold, it is a good application. 3D printing can be well integrated with traditional technology, bringing a change to traditional manufacturing technology and process flow.

Don't put 3D printing against traditional technology, it seems that 3D printing must replace traditional. not like this. I think the first step of 3D printing is to integrate traditions and change some processes or processes. Finally, with the development of material technology, 3D printing may directly go to the application.

In addition, due to the relatively high cost of materials and machines, companies cannot afford to buy large amounts of equipment. I heard that there is a company that makes dentures in the United States, and an enterprise has 150 3D printers. This example reminds us that 3D printing must not be batched? This is a relative concept. The current situation is that the cost of equipment is high, the number of sets is small, and it is temporarily unable to form a mass production state. If the cost is reduced, it may also form a batch manufacturing capacity.

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