The 3D printing industry is developing rapidly. In 2016, the construction of the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center began. In January 2022, it passed the acceptance inspection of its capabilities and can provide solutions for product development in various industries. The platform for R&D pilot tests, the platform for public testing, and the platform capability for engineering and technical services demonstrate the role of 3D printing platform construction.

Data shows that in my country’s 3D printing application service industry structure in 2019, the scale of the industrial application service industry was 2.923 billion yuan, accounting for 64%; the scale of the consumer application service industry was 1.644 billion yuan, accounting for 36%. The shipbuilding industry, as a large part of the traditional industry, has also begun to accept the influence of 3D printing in recent years.

As early as March 2017, the first 3D-printed 1-meter sailboat in China sparked heated discussions among industry professionals. In October 2019, a 3D printing boat with a length of 7.6 meters and a weight of 2268 kg was unveiled in a laboratory at the University of Maine in the United States. This is the world’s largest 3D printer and the largest in many years. 3D printed boats and 3D printed objects, showing the promise of 3D printing technology for model and prototyping.

In early November this year, physicists at Leiden University in the Netherlands used 3D printing technology to print the world’s smallest boat, with a length of only 30 microns, which is only six times larger than a bacterial cell. Using a scanning electron microscope, the researchers photographed the ship, showing it had an open cabin, a chimney, and even small portholes. Particularly impressive is the fact that the entire model is only one-third the diameter of a human hair. The researchers of the project said they hope to apply it to precisely targeted drug delivery in the human body in the future.

3D printing uses only the amount of material necessary to build the ship, without creating excess waste. Compared with the early traditional manufacturing methods, the cost of shipbuilding will be further reduced, thereby indirectly reducing labor costs and shortening the construction period. 3D printing produces parts that are lighter in weight compared to traditional manufacturing methods. This means that the hull can become faster while maintaining sufficient strength, achieving better balance, and reducing the potential risks of overweight and unstable driving.

From the point of view of materials, the demand for new materials in marine engineering and aerospace has the characteristics of high speed, energy saving, long voyage, and lightweight. The prominent problem in the marine environment is corrosion, while high-performance engineering plastics and resin-based composite materials have outstanding Advantages: light-specific gravity, and excellent corrosion resistance. In the future, with the continuous deepening of the application of 3D printing in the field of ships, the development and upgrading cycle of high-performance engineering plastics and resin-based composite materials is expected to be further shortened.

So, what is the difference between the traditional manufacturing process and the additive manufacturing method? In general, the traditional subtractive manufacturing process refers to the use of existing geometric model workpieces, and tools are used to gradually cut, grind, and engrave the materials, and finally become the required parts. On the other hand, 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is to use 3D printing equipment to layer digital three-dimensional models and to continuously accumulate and bond special materials such as metal powders, thermoplastic materials, and resins layer by layer, and finally superimpose to form a layer. three-dimensional whole.

Some industry insiders pointed out that the multi-variety and small-batch production model can be used for repair and remanufacturing. Like many metallurgical types of machinery and mining machinery, a layer of alloy with higher performance is sprayed on the parts to restore their original precision, and all valuable equipment can be repaired at a small cost, even better than the performance of new products. improve. It also includes equipment from many years ago. A part is damaged and there is no supplier. It can be repaired directly with 3D printing.

It is foreseeable that with the rapid development of the economy and the gradual improvement of people’s living standards, consumers will increasingly pursue personalized needs. 3D printing will work with robots, automation equipment, intelligent interconnection systems, and other technologies to improve the flexibility of manufacturing production lines. It can produce customized products at a lower cost, thus promoting the transformation of traditional manufacturing methods in the direction of personalization and precision.

The 3D printing industry is developing rapidly. In 2016, the construction of the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Center began. In January 2022, it passed the acceptance inspection of its capabilities and can provide solutions for product development in various industries. The platform for R&D pilot tests, the platform for public testing, and the platform capability for engineering and technical services demonstrate the role of 3D printing platform construction.

According to data, in 2019, in China’s 3D printing application service industry structure, the scale of the industrial application service industry was 2.923 billion yuan, accounting for 64%; the scale of the consumer application service industry was 1.644 billion yuan, accounting for 36%. As a large part of the traditional industry, the shipbuilding industry has also begun to accept the influence of 3D printing in recent years.

As early as March 2017, the first 3D-printed 1-meter sailboat in China sparked heated discussions among industry professionals. In October 2019, a 3D printing boat with a length of 7.6 meters and a weight of 2268 kg was unveiled in a laboratory at the University of Maine in the United States. This is the world’s largest 3D printer and the largest in many years. 3D printed boats and 3D printed objects, showing the promise of 3D printing technology for model and prototyping.

In early November this year, physicists at Leiden University in the Netherlands used 3D printing technology to print the world’s smallest boat, with a length of only 30 microns, which is only six times larger than a bacterial cell. Using a scanning electron microscope, the researchers photographed the ship, showing it had an open cabin, a chimney, and even small portholes. Particularly impressive is the fact that the entire model is only one-third the diameter of a human hair. The researchers of the project said they hope to apply it to precisely targeted drug delivery in the human body in the future.

3D printing uses only the amount of material necessary to build the ship, without creating excess waste. Compared with the early traditional manufacturing methods, the cost of shipbuilding will be further reduced, thereby indirectly reducing labor costs and shortening the construction period. 3D printing produces parts that are lighter in weight compared to traditional manufacturing methods. This means that the hull can become faster while maintaining sufficient strength, achieving better balance, and reducing the potential risks of overweight and unstable driving.

From the point of view of materials, the demand for new materials in marine engineering and aerospace has the characteristics of high speed, energy saving, long voyage, and lightweight. The prominent problem in the marine environment is corrosion, while high-performance engineering plastics and resin-based composite materials have outstanding Advantages: light-specific gravity, and excellent corrosion resistance. In the future, with the continuous deepening of the application of 3D printing in the field of ships, the development and upgrading cycle of high-performance engineering plastics and resin-based composite materials is expected to be further shortened.

So, what is the difference between the traditional manufacturing process and the additive manufacturing method? In general, the traditional subtractive manufacturing process refers to the use of existing geometric model workpieces, and tools are used to gradually cut, grind, and engrave the materials, and finally become the required parts. On the other hand, 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is to use 3D printing equipment to layer digital three-dimensional models and to continuously accumulate and bond special materials such as metal powders, thermoplastic materials, and resins layer by layer, and finally superimpose to form a layer. three-dimensional whole.

Multi-variety of low-volume production models can be used for repair and remanufacturing. Like many metallurgical and mining machinery, by spraying a layer of a higher performance alloy on the part to restore the original precision, all valuable equipment can be repaired at a fraction of the cost, even outperforming new products. promote. It also includes equipment from many years ago. Broken parts, no supplier. It can be directly repaired with 3D printing.

It is foreseeable that with the rapid development of the economy and the gradual improvement of people’s living standards, consumers will increasingly pursue personalized needs. 3D printing will work with robots, automation equipment, intelligent interconnection systems, and other technologies to improve the flexibility of manufacturing production lines. It can produce customized products at a lower cost, thus promoting the transformation of traditional manufacturing methods in the direction of personalization and precision.