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3D Printing Technology and Its Application in Industrial Manufacturing
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EMCEME 2019
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 782 (2020) 022065
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1757-899X/782/2/022065
1
3D Printing Technology and Its Application in Industrial
Manufacturing
Botao Hao* and Guomin Lin
Xijing University of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an, China
*Corresponding author e-mail: 949724965@qq.com
Abstract. 3D printing technology is widely used in industrial manufacturing, medical
biology, and cultural creativity because of its direct molding.Based on the
characteristics and advantages of 3D printing technology, this paper takes the 3D
printing technology molding principle and process flow as the research object, and
analyzes 3D Application of printing technology in automotive manufacturing,
aerospace and electrical industries.
1. Introduction
3D printing technology, also known as rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing, is a technology
based on three-dimensional models that uses materials such as plastics, metal powders, and adhesive
materials to build materials layer by layer. The traditional "debarring processing" uses cutting, cutting,
turning, milling, grinding and other processes to remove the unnecessary parts of the material, and
waste materials. When the shape of the workpiece is complex, it is often difficult to process and even
unable to process. 3D printing technology is stacked layer by layer, no tools and molds are needed, the
production cycle is greatly reduced, and structures that are difficult to process or cannot be processed
by traditional processes can be manufactured, and the material utilization rate is high. 3D printer
technology can produce products with any complex shape, without having to consider processing
problems, and solve the design and manufacturing problems of complex parts. Therefore, 3D printing
technology is a very important production method in industrial manufacturing [1].
2. Status of 3D printer technology
2.1. Foreign status
The United States and Europe have always been the leaders in the research, development and
application of 3D printing technology. The United States is the global leader in 3D printing technology
and application, while Europe also attaches great importance to the research, development and
application of 3D printing technology. At present, in developed countries in Europe and the United
States, 3D printing technology has initially formed a successful business model. For example, in the
consumer electronics industry, aviation industry, automobile manufacturing and other fields, 3D
printing technology can produce small batch customized parts with low cost and high efficiency, and
complete complex and sophisticated manufacturing [2]. Currently, in the global 3D printer industry,
whether the system (equipment) development, production or marketing, the United States is the
world's leading position. Two companies, 3D Systems and Sratays, have the majority of the market.
EMCEME 2019
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 782 (2020) 022065
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1757-899X/782/2/022065
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2.2. Domestic status
Domestic 3D technology emerged in the late 1980s. In 1988, professor yan yongnian, a pioneer of
rapid prototyping technology in China, set up the laser rapid prototyping center of Tsinghua
University. Xi 'an jiaotong university has independently developed a variety of 3D printer nozzlers,
developed advanced curing system and supporting materials, and its printing accuracy can reach
0.1mm. The University of Science and technology of China has developed a jet device to deal with the
combination of multiple nozzles, which is expected to be applied in the fields of micro-manufacturing
and optoelectronic devices. Some of the domestic technology in the world's advanced level. The
technology of laser direct processing of metal has developed rapidly and can meet the requirements of
mechanical properties of special parts. Laser direct manufacturing technology for forming large
titanium alloy structure parts has the characteristics of short flow and low cost, which has wide
application prospects [3].
3. Process flow of 3D printing technology
The common 3D printing technology types include SLA (Stereolithography) three-dimensional
engraving technology; FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) selective cladding of filamentous material;
SLS (Selected Laser Sintering) selective Sintering of powder materials; LOM (Laminated Object
Manufacturing); 3D Printing powder selective bonding technology, etc. The following are the
principles and characteristics of common 3D printing technologies, as shown in table 1.
Table 1. Principles and characteristics of common 3D printing technologies
Types principle material advantage Disadvantage
SLA UV laser Solidify Photosensitive
resin
Excellent
performance rough surface
FDM
High-temperature
nozzle
Melt extrusion
Plastic wire easy to use Poor accuracy
SLS Laser melting
sintering powder Excellent
performance rough surface
LOM Laser cut hot melt
adhesive bonding Foil large size Poor performance
3DP Nozzle adhesive powder Color printing Intensity
difference
The process flow of 3D printing technology is shown in Figure 1. It mainly includes four steps,
which are three-dimensional model establishment, preprocessing, prototyping and post-processing.
Figure 1. Process flow chart of 3D printing technology
EMCEME 2019
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 782 (2020) 022065
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1757-899X/782/2/022065
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(1)Three dimensional model: 3d CAD data model directly drives the additive manufacturing
system.Therefore, the first process of additive manufacturing process should be to design the 3d CAD
data model of the product. At present, the data file format widely accepted by various software is STL.
Therefore, a large number of small triangle planes should be used to approximate the original solid
model and approximate the original 3d data model.
(2) Preprocessing: select the appropriate molding direction and cut the 3d model with a series of
planes with the same spacing along the direction of the molding height, so as to obtain the 2d contour
information of the cutting layer. The smaller the spacing height, the higher the molding accuracy and
the longer the molding time, and the lower the molding efficiency.
(3) Prototyping: Using a forming head, under the control of a computer, according to the contour
information of the cross-section of each layer, a two-dimensional scanning movement is performed,
and the materials of each layer are stacked and bonded to obtain the final three-dimensional solid. The
forming head can be a laser head or a nozzle.
(4) Post-treatment: The purpose of post-treatment includes improving the strength of the product
and reducing the surface roughness of the product. The process includes repairing, grinding, post-
curing, peeling, polishing, and coating.
4. Application of 3D printing technology in industrial manufacturing
4.1. Application of 3D printing technology in automobile manufacturing
3D printing technology application benefits Saddle is a significant industry for the automobile
manufacturing industry. Almost all famous car manufacturers in the world have earlier
cited 3D printing technology to assist the development of their new models, and have achieved
significant economic and time benefits [4].
The BMW Company in Germany uses 3D printing technology to improve the ergonomics of hand-
held assembly tools, improve productivity, worker comfort and process repeatability [5]. For example,
the installation handheld device of a certain model adopts an internal thin rib structure instead of the
original solid structure, and the mass is reduced by 1.3 kg, which improves the handheld comfort,
reduces the quality and improves its balance.
Hyundai Motor Company adopted the United States Stratasys company FDM 3D printing system
designed for inspection, evaluation and aerodynamic function test [6]. TaeSunByun, chief engineer of
Hyundai Motors' Automated Technology Department, said: "The accuracy and stability of the space is
crucial for design inspection. The FDM Maxum system using ABS engineering plastics meets these
two requirements. With a length of 1382mm, the maximum error of only 0.75mm [7].
4.2. 3D printing technology in the field of aerospace applications
Aerospace manufacturing field - generally single-piece small-lot production, expensive materials, high
product requirements, complex shapes, traditional manufacturing processes, high cost and long cycle
time [8]. Using 3D printing technology to make models for testing, direct or indirect production of
products has significant economic and time benefits. The more complex the product is, the more
advantageous it is. As shown in Figure 2.
EMCEME 2019
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 782 (2020) 022065
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1757-899X/782/2/022065
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Figure 2. Advantages of 3D printing complex products
Aerospace parts are often complex systems operating in a limited space, the SLA model can be
used directly in the wind tunnel test, and the intake line can be assembled test, discussed
manufacturability evaluation, to determine the optimum rational production process. Through
auxiliary technology such as rapid investment casting and rapid sand casting, the single-piece, small-
lot production of special complex parts, such as turbines, blades, impellers, etc, and trial production
and testing of engine and other components.
Many parts of engines in the aerospace industry are made by precision casting. For high-precision
wood molds, the traditional process is extremely expensive and takes a long time to make [9]. Using
3D printing technology, it is possible to produce the master mold of investment casting directly from
3D CAD digital model, which significantly reduces the time and cost. In just a few hours, CAD digital
models can be used to produce low-cost and complex 3D printing master models for investment
casting [10].
4.3. 3D printing technology in the electrical industry applications
With the increase in consumption levels and the increasing number of consumers pursuing a
personalized lifestyle, the frequency of electrical product upgrades is increasing. Constantly improved
appearance design and structural changes caused by functional changes have made the rapid
production of electrical product shell parts and components have a wide market demand.
The first version of the plastic parts of the hair dryer, the development of new products is a key task.
The production of the first version of the sample can make the user intuitively understand the
designer's design concept and design intent, so that the hair dryer Eventual marketing. Many of the
plastic parts involved in the production of the first edition can be quickly
manufactured using 3D printing technology for evaluation, assembly and performance testing, greatly
reducing the development cycle and increasing the success rate of development.
5. Conclusion
According to the characteristics of 3d printing technology in industrial manufacturing, suitable for
complicated and difficult to machining materials component, do not need heavy forging industrial
infrastructure and mould, short design cycle, high material utilization, the unique advantages [11]. In
the field of industrial manufacturing shows the effect that cannot replace and broad application
prospect, become an international frontier research hotspot and important directions.
EMCEME 2019
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 782 (2020) 022065
IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1757-899X/782/2/022065
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