The 3D printing process refers to the autonomous “printing” of continuous layers of soft, liquid or powdered materials by machines. These materials quickly harden or fuse to form three-dimensional solid objects. Since its advent in the 1980s, 3D printing technology has made great progress and is widely used in manufacturing, medical, aerospace and other fields. Scientists have used 3D printing technology to print rockets, food, and even 3D print biological materials directly in the human body.
Aerospace
Since sending 3D printers to the International Space Station in 2014, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been conducting 3D printing experiments in space. They use 3D printers to manufacture various objects required by the International Space Station. Russian astronauts used a 3D printer on the International Space Station for the first time to produce a component needed for space work – a camera holder. The emergence of China 3D printing machines allows astronauts to print the required parts and tools directly in space without waiting for “shipping” from Earth. In addition, in the microgravity environment of space, 3D printed biological organs and tissues mature faster and more efficiently than on earth. Scientists are expected to use 3D printing technology to print human organs on the International Space Station.
Biomedical
Bioprinting involves using 3D printing technology to create biological structures such as human tissues and organs. Although this technology is still in its early stages, it has shown attractive prospects, and the driving force behind it is “real human needs.” In the future, bioprinting could eliminate the need for donated organs. For example, in June last year, a regenerative medicine manufacturing company in the United States announced that a 20-year-old woman whose right ear was underdeveloped at birth had been transplanted with an ear 3D printed from her own cells. The company says this is the first known example of a 3D printed organ made from living tissue, and that future 3D printing could produce more complex livers, kidneys and pancreas. Additionally, bioprinting allows doctors to print personalized medicines for specific patients.
Bio-3D printing has also begun to move deeper into the human body. Australian engineers have developed a miniature soft robot arm that can 3D print biological materials directly onto human organs. In the future, doctors are expected to send the device into hard-to-reach areas of the human body through small skin incisions, streamlining future medical care. procedures to speed up disease healing.
food printing
Food printing represents a relatively new development trend in the field of 3D printing technology. A research team from Columbia University published a paper in the journal stating that their 3D printer produced a cheesecake using seven ingredients: graham crackers, peanut butter, hazelnut chocolate spread, mashed banana, strawberry jam, cherry syrup and icing. The research team believes that laser cooking and 3D printed food can allow chefs to concentrate aromas and textures on the millimeter scale to create new food experiences. In the future, food printing may become a common way to create personalized meals, for example, restaurants could use food printing technology to create meals specially for a certain customer.
Started in 2009
Bioprinting has already begun to develop
3D bioprinting technology, as the name suggests, is a method of manufacturing biomedical products through 3D printing. This technology uses biodegradable materials or the growth ability of cells to pass cells and other biological materials through a special printer to print artificial tissues and organs according to certain rules and levels. Some people say that this is a new stem cell culture system with bionic functions. Others say that this is a super complex project that combines life sciences and engineering technology.
Currently, with the surge in the global population and the improvement of medical standards, the shortage of organ supply has become a problem in the medical field, and 3D bioprinting technology may become one of the solutions. It is reported that such printed organs can be used for transplantation to solve health problems caused by organ damage or loss of function. In addition, 3D bioprinting technology also brings good news to drug research and development. It can create tissues with specific biological functions and test the effects of drugs on them, thereby achieving more precise clinical trials and accelerating the drug research and development process. At the same time, 3D printing technology is increasingly used in medical equipment manufacturing.
In fact, as early as 2009, the first 3D bioprinter was successfully produced and was named one of the 50 best inventions of the year by Time Magazine. In recent years, 3D bioprinting has entered an era of “a hundred schools of thought contending”. Russian scientists have printed artificial skin, American researchers have printed a combination of outer blood-retinal barrier cells, and Japanese researchers have printed artificial proteins into cartilage and bone… For example, this technology is used to produce precise orthotics and prostheses to meet the needs of different patients. Needed; printing artificial dialyzers and petri dishes for growing stem cells to increase the variety of 3d printing medical devices.
In vivo printed circuits
It is expected to be used in brain-computer interfaces
Recently, British scientists have developed a technology that uses lasers to 3D print conductive circuits in living organisms. This technology is expected to be used to create and maintain human implants or brain-computer interfaces in the future. From pacemakers to bionic ears, electronic implants are already commonplace, but inserting them into the body can carry the risk of infection. And once a fault occurs, it is difficult to repair. In view of this, John Hardy and colleagues at Lancaster University in the UK developed a technology that uses lasers to 3D print conductive circuits in living organisms. The team first injected “ink” containing the fluorescent plastic polypyrrole into the worms. The ink is designed to work with a photonic 3D printer, which uses lasers to print out materials in specific shapes and make them conduct electricity. Using the 3D printer, the team created star-shaped and square conductive circuits inside the worm’s body.
Scientists already know that 3D printing is possible within living organisms, so in principle it would also be possible to print objects about 10 centimeters wide (or thick) for humans or other larger organisms. Scientists have previously used 3D printing technology to print objects within living organisms, but this is the first time the technology has been used to create conductive circuits. This technology is expected to be useful in many fields. For example, in the biomedical field, it can be used to maintain deep brain electrodes and brain-computer interfaces; in the agricultural field, electronic tags can be printed in seeds to prevent counterfeiting, or electronic tags can be printed in fruits to assist robot picking machines.
Mainstream metal 3D printing
Steel and aluminum have always been important materials supporting economic development, but the fusion zone between the two is relatively fragile, so the connecting materials between steel and aluminum have not been fully developed. The two metals have been competing for market share, especially in the automotive industry. Steel is stronger and less expensive, while aluminum has a better strength-to-weight ratio. Combining the two allows for weight savings and reduced carbon emissions without sacrificing structural integrity. However, the fusion of steel and aluminum has been underexplored due to the very different metallurgical properties of steel and aluminum, which can form brittle intermetallic compounds between them: “The challenge of combining aluminum alloys with ferrous materials lies in the two Extremely fragile intermetallic compounds will be formed between them.
From an actual manufacturing perspective, each stage of metal 3D printing will produce different sources of pollution (or substances), which will cause specific hazards. Metal powder used for metal 3D printing usually has a particle size distribution of tens of microns and can be inhaled into the lungs or alveoli. For low-density titanium, aluminum and their alloys, which are reactive metals, the risk is particularly high and must be subject to specific limits on dust concentration; other metal powders, such as steel or other nickel-containing alloys, are classified as carcinogenic or carcinogenic by the Dangerous Substances Directive. Mutagenic and reproductively toxic materials. Long-term contact and inhalation of powder particles will bring certain hidden dangers to the health of operators.
Not only that, dangers also exist during the printing process of components. Part of the exhaust gas generated during the melting process will be brought into the filtration system, and part of it may be discharged to the external space of the printing system, thus causing indoor environmental pollution. Along with the exhaust gas, some inert gases such as nitrogen, especially argon, are also sources of risk. During the equipment maintenance process, such as cleaning the filter system, the dust and ashes are finer than metal particles. If not handled properly, a fire or even explosion may occur due to the stability of the ingredients.
Based on an overall evaluation of the SLM process, Bayreuth University in Germany developed and evaluated a specific solution for powder protection, focusing on the safety protection reactive material Ti6AlV4. Protective measures to reduce hazards are prioritized by the STOP principle, and implementation strategies are based on key factors such as process, location, and employee protection.
Metal powders must be handled with extreme care and, where possible, in a protective atmosphere. At present, the fully enclosed process flow is being valued by equipment manufacturers. Metal printer brands represented by SLM Solutions have implemented fully enclosed operations in all processes from powder filling, cleaning and even mid-stream installation. This kind of space division or encapsulation to minimize dust exposure and hazards. In this case, 3D printed glove boxes have become a preferred equipment choice.
3D printing security protection
As a cutting-edge and highly pioneering emerging technology, 3D printing technology has disruptive significance and role in the process transformation of traditional manufacturing industries and the widespread application of new materials. The 3D printing glove box (additive manufacturing protective glove box) we manufacture is designed for the environment required for the processing of special aerospace parts: 3D printing equipment generally uses two types of powder feeding molding or powder spreading molding. Each molding equipment The glove box design requirements required are different, so it is necessary to design the glove box according to different needs to provide reliable solutions.
The metal 3D printing inert gas protection system is a high-performance, high-quality super purification protective glove box that automatically absorbs water and oxygen molecules. It provides a closed cycle working system that purifies the working environment and can meet 1ppm of specific cleaning requirements. O2 and H2O inert atmosphere environment. It is realized that the body of the selective laser melting device is placed in a sealed box. The sealed box forms a closed loop with the multi-stage dust mobile phone device and the air circulation device. Argon gas circulates in the closed loop, and the atmospheric water content in the system reaches the indicator of less than 1PPM. , the oxygen content reaches the index of less than 1PPM, achieving an ultra-high-purity working atmosphere environment. The processed products can be directly used, reducing reprocessing links. It is an economical cycle purification system designed to meet the needs of scientific research and development.
Technical advantages
●Resolve the reliability of large-volume sealing of 3D printed glove boxes.
●Solve the problem of highly integrated box sealing and interference prevention for signal lines and power lines in 3D printed glove boxes.
●Solve the problem of smoke purification and filter replacement cycle and lifespan problems when the 3D printed glove box is working.
●Humanized and professional design, the cabinet has a beautiful appearance, and the large door on the cabinet has excellent sealing performance and is easy to open.
●Understand the powder feeding air intake of the 3D printing glove box powder feeder or the lens blowing of the powder spreading equipment and the pressure control of the glove box box.