3DP, as the name implies, is 3D printing, which is the origin technology of 3D printing technology. The working principle of 3DP is to spread a layer of powder first, then spray the adhesive on the area to be molded with a nozzle, so that the material powder can be bonded to form a part cross section, and then repeat the process of spreading powder, spraying and bonding, and stack layer by layer to get the final printed part.
3DP technology is used in foundry industry. What 3D Science Valley reminds Gu You is that we are most likely to think of printing sand molds, while ignoring another application: printing PMMA. For a detailed introduction of these two applications in the foundry industry, please refer to "I want to complete the trial production as soon as possible" released by 3D Science Valley. -Classic cases of foundry industry in Germany and Japan.
Of course, the printing material range of 3DP technology is also developing constantly. Besides sand mold and PMMA, what new materials will enter this field in the future? It deserves attention and expectation.
Representative enterprises:
Voxeljet, Germany
Voxel was founded in 1999. The company also produces three-dimensional inkjet printers through MIT's non-exclusive patent license. Voxel Technology was listed on the new york Stock Exchange in 20 13 10. Voxeljet equipment sales increased from 19 in 20 14 years to 25% in 20 15 years. Its equipment price is between 6,543.8+200,000 euros and 6,543.8+600,000 euros. Voxeljet is mainly used in aerospace industry, and also provides prototype service and product development service for foundry, automobile industry, artists and architects.
Exone USA
ExOne is an industrial 3D printer manufacturer, which mainly serves aerospace, automobile, heavy equipment, energy and other fields. Its application field is mainly small batch and high value manufacturing of composite sand molds. In 20 15, it will also launch its largest 3D printing system-Exerial. This practical system can enable customers to carry out industrial mass production, which exceeds other systems that can be used for rapid manufacturing and small batch production at present.
Fenghua, Li Zhuo City, China
In China, the technology of 3D sand printing is called PCM technology, which comes from the technological practice of R&D and Tsinghua University Laser Forming Center (1997). In 2002, Foshan Science and Technology Bureau introduced the project and settled in Foshan. Fenghua Li Zhuo equipment is characterized by rapid manufacturing without die-casting, flexible and accurate integrated manufacturing, which can manufacture metal mold blanks, with low operating cost and high degree of automation.
///SLS selective laser sintering technology
SLS process is made of powder material. Spreading material powder on the upper surface of the molded part and scraping it flat; Scanning the section of the parts on the newly laid layer with high-intensity CO2 laser; The material powder is sintered together under the irradiation of high-intensity laser to obtain the cross section of the part, which is bonded with the part formed below; When sintering a section, a new layer of material powder is spread out and the lower section is selectively sintered. The biggest advantage of SLS process is its wide range of materials. Nylon, wax, ABS, resin coated sand (coated sand), polycarbonate, metal and ceramic powder can all be used as sintering objects.
The application of SLS technology in foundry industry includes replacing sand casting process with sintered coated sand. Sintered plastic materials for investment casting.
Representative enterprises:
EOS in Germany
EOS, founded in 1989, is a world-famous rapid prototyping equipment manufacturer. EOS provides a modular solution portfolio, including systems, software, materials and materials development and services. In addition to SLM selective laser melting technology, its selective laser sintering technology (SLS) of plastics and metals is in a leading position in the market.
China TPM Yingpu
Zhongshan yingpu photoelectric equipment co., ltd was established in 2004. In 2007, the first laser sintering 3D printing system for directly manufacturing nylon plastic parts was built in China. In 20 13, Yingpu reached a joint venture agreement with a 3D printing giant from the United States, and in 20 14, launched the Shanghai joint venture company plan to engage in the research, development, production and sales of industrial 3D printing technology with laser sintering polymer materials and metal materials as the core technologies.
China yuanshun huashu high-tech
Huashu Hi-Tech has not only the manufacturing capability of selective laser sintering (SLS) equipment, but also the material production technology. SLS nylon powder materials of Huashu Hi-Tech are not only supplied to the domestic market, but also successfully sold to overseas markets such as the United States, Sweden and Italy.
China huake 3D
Wuhan Huake 3D Technology Co., Ltd. is the largest professional 3D printing equipment R&D and manufacturing platform in Central China with a registered capital of 60 million yuan. A high-tech enterprise jointly sponsored by Huazhong University of Science and Technology Industry Group, Huazhong Numerical Control, South China University of Technology Investment, Xu He Holdings and Huazhong University of Science and Technology Rapid Prototyping Technology Team.
China AFS Longyuan Automatic Forming
Established in 1994, Beijing longyuan automatic prototyping system co., ltd is a holding subsidiary of 3DP Technology, Inc. Long Yuan is the earliest enterprise in China to develop selective powder sintering laser rapid prototyping machine. At present, the technical scope of the equipment includes SLS, SLM and lens technology. Long Yuan Mould Service Center has rapidly manufactured a large number of irregular and complex parts for aerospace, automobile and motorcycle, pump valve body and other industries.
China Wuhan Binhu Binhu Hotel
Relying on the Rapid Manufacturing Center of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan Binhu Electromechanical Technology Industry Co., Ltd. is one of the earliest units engaged in independent research and development of 3D printing technology in China. Since 199 1, the company has developed and manufactured 3D printing equipment with different molding principles, such as SLS and SLM.
///photosensitive resin curing technology
Liquid photosensitive resin is cured into the shape of the product by curing reaction (laser head or projection, and chemical means). Similar to SLA (light curing rapid prototyping equipment), there are DLP (digital light processing) digital light processing and CLIP continuous liquid interface manufacturing technology.
Photosensitive resin curing technology is mainly used in investment casting in foundry industry, and can also replace wood molds used in sand casting. In addition, 3D Science Valley believes that photosensitive resin curing technology itself has developed rapidly, including the combination of ceramic, carbon fiber and other material technologies with resin curing technology. What new applications this technology will bring to the foundry industry in the future is worthy of attention and expectation.
Representative enterprises:
American 3D systems company
1988 American 3D systems company manufactured and commercialized the world's first rapid prototyping machine SLA250 according to this patent. Since then, 3D printers based on SLA molding technology have entered the public eye. 3D Systems' 3D printer ProX 800 based on SLA molding technology is suitable for many fields.
China Unicom Liantai 3 d
Since 2000, Luen Thai Technology has been engaged in the R&D and application of industrial 3D printing technology for more than ten years, and it is the earliest enterprise engaged in the production of R&D and SLA laser rapid prototyping technology for 3D printers in China. In the field of investment casting, Luen Thai 3D printed photosensitive resin prototype with special hollow structure is used for rapid casting of metal products, which greatly shortens the time from design to production. Liantai 3D closed-loop control system and photo-curing rapid prototyping 3D printing method have independent intellectual property patents.
China pu Li si ma la bu pu Li sheng electromechanical
Shanghai Plyson Electromechanical Technology adopts liquid crystal optical devices, and its 3D printer Da Rui 400 based on stereoscopic mask aligner technology (SLA) is independently developed by Plyson Electromechanical Co., Ltd., with independent intellectual property rights. Da Rui 400 was developed based on Plyson's years of technical accumulation in the research field of exposure equipment and photosensitive chemistry technology, and the unique MFP technology has been patented.
In addition, photosensitive resin curing technologies include EnvisionTec (which provides sales and services in China through Swiss Dachang Foreign Firm), Carbon3D and FormLab, as well as Lei Zhi Electronic Technology in China, Zhuhai Xitong Electronics and Zhongshan Oriental Boda Electronics.
Besides photosensitive resin, FDM melt extrusion 3D printing technology can also be used for investment casting. In detail, the desktop 3D printer released by 3D Science Valley helps Siemens manufacture metal parts.
3D Science Valley believes that in terms of industrialization, the application of photosensitive resin curing technology in jewelry and dental investment casting is changing the traditional industrial chain of these industries and giving birth to new user experience. Focusing on personalized large-scale production, photosensitive resin curing technology will surely move from prototype application of manual design verification to additive manufacturing application.
Opportunities and risks coexist. For equipment manufacturers and material suppliers, more accurate and faster become the key words that can occupy a place in the field of photosensitive resin curing technology. Fierce technical competition also brings great pressure to upstream enterprises. For domestic enterprises engaged in R&D and service of photosensitive resin curing technology, how to lay out the industrial chain and how to compete at the brand strategy level will challenge the wisdom of operators.
///Wax film casting technology
3D printing of wax figures has been widely used in our lives. For example, jewelry designers can directly print 3D ornaments into wax models through digital design tools, or dentists can make dentures, dental molds, dental molds and so on. And a large number of wax molds are used instead of traditional plaster molds to make harder dentures for patients.
Representative enterprises:
American 3D systems company
The main model of 3D system for batik printing is ProJet? 35 10 series.
American SolidScape company
American SolidScape Company is a subsidiary of Stratasys, which was established in 1994. The printed wax model is an ideal prototype for dewaxing casting and molding, and is widely used in biomedical products, orthopedics, dentistry, artificial limbs, jewelry, toys and other fields.
review
In addition to the 3D printing technology and enterprises described in detail above, 3D printing is also used for metal mold printing in the casting field. The near-net-shape forming technology of lens constantly breaks through the printing size limit, which also brings the application space of material technology solutions for multi-material printing. When the printing size of sand mold or investment mold is limited, LOM laminated 3D printing technology can also be used instead of wood mold for printing. So far, international automobile manufacturers have used LOM laminated 3D printing technology to print out the "wooden mold" of large crankshaft.
China foundry industry is facing the pressure of transformation and upgrading. China Foundry Association predicts that by 2020, the number of foundry enterprises will be reduced to less than 65.438+0.5 million, the total output of castings will reach 55 million tons, and the output value of castings will be about 700 billion yuan. Foundry enterprises (about 4,500), accounting for 30% of the total number of enterprises, will produce more than 80% of the total casting output. The proportion of nodular cast iron (including vermicular graphite cast iron) in cast iron output will increase from 37% in 20 14 to about 42%, and the output of light alloy castings such as aluminum and magnesium will increase from 13% to about 20%. By 2020, the comprehensive energy consumption of foundry in China will be reduced by 65,438+00% compared with 2065,438+05, and the utilization rate of waste sand will be further improved, and the annual recovery of foundry waste sand will reach more than 3 million tons.
And 3D printing will play its unique role in it.