What is 3D printing technology also called?

3D printing technology is also called additive manufacturing technology. 3D printing technology is a technology that uses adhesive materials such as powdered metal or plastic to construct objects by printing layer by layer based on digital model files. 3D printing is usually implemented using digital technology material printers. It is often used to create models in fields such as mold manufacturing and industrial design, and is gradually used for the direct manufacturing of some products.

The operating environment of this tutorial: Windows 10 system, Dell G3 computer.

3D printing technology

3D printing (3DP) is a type of rapid prototyping technology, also known as additive manufacturing. It is based on digital model files. , a technology that uses bondable materials such as powdered metal or plastic to construct objects by printing layer by layer.

3D printing is usually achieved using digital technology material printers. It is often used to make models in the fields of mold manufacturing, industrial design and other fields, and is gradually used in the direct manufacturing of some products. There are already parts printed using this technology. The technology has applications in jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education, geographic information systems, civil engineering, firearms and other fields.

On January 14, 2019, the University of California, San Diego used rapid 3D printing technology for the first time to create a spinal cord scaffold that mimics the structure of the central nervous system, successfully helping rats restore their motor functions.

On May 5, 2020, China’s Long March 5B carrier rocket made its first successful flight, carrying a “3D printer”. This is China’s first space 3D printing experiment and the first international 3D printing experiment of continuous fiber reinforced composite materials in space.

Limiting factors

• Material limitations

  Although high-end industrial printing can print plastics, certain metals or ceramics, However, materials that cannot be printed are relatively expensive and scarce. In addition, printers have not yet reached a mature level and cannot support a variety of materials that are encountered in daily life.

  Researchers have made some progress in multi-material printing, but unless these advances are mature and effective, materials will still be a major obstacle to 3D printing.

• Machine limitations

  3D printing technology has achieved a certain level of reconstruction of the geometry and function of objects. Almost any static shape can be printed. , but those moving objects and their clarity are difficult to achieve. This difficulty may be solvable for manufacturers, but if 3D printing technology wants to enter ordinary households and everyone can print whatever they want, then the limitations of the machine must be solved.

• Intellectual Property Concerns

  Over the past few decades, concerns about intellectual property rights have become increasingly prevalent in the music, film, and television industries. 3D printing technology will also involve this issue, because many things in reality will be more widely disseminated. People can copy anything they want, in any quantity. How to formulate laws and regulations for 3D printing to protect intellectual property rights is also one of the problems we face, otherwise there will be a proliferation phenomenon.

• Moral Challenge

  Morality is the bottom line. It is difficult to define what kind of things violate moral laws. If someone prints biological organs and living tissues, they will encounter great ethical challenges in the near future.

• Cost commitment

  The cost of 3D printing technology is high. The first 3D printer sold for RMB 15,000. If you want to popularize it to the public, price reduction is necessary, but it will conflict with costs.

  Every new technology will face these similar obstacles in the early stages of its birth, but I believe that finding reasonable solutions will lead to more rapid development of 3D printing technology. Just like any rendering software, it must be constantly updated to achieve the goal. The ultimate perfection.

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