Around 1870, an industrial revolution to replace steam engines with electric motors began in central England. This great change, known as the "second industrial revolution" by future generations, brought in countless new things that people now think are essential, such as electric lights, telephones, and automobiles. Today, the "third industrial revolution" marked by 3D printing technology (also known as "additive manufacturing technology") is coming to us.
Can make energy utilization rate reach 100%
A good picture from the academic world is enough to make every ordinary person's bloodline: Take the aero engine manufacturing in the cutting-edge industry as an example. Previously, from the purchase of raw materials to the final processing into parts, the utilization rate of materials was only 10%- 20%. The use of 3D printing technology can theoretically achieve a 100% utilization rate of raw materials, working hours, and energy.
In an exclusive interview with Michael Edick, vice president of GM Global and head of advanced technology at GM Global R & D Center, 3D printing technology will be applied in high value-added fields such as aerospace and medical equipment within three years; Within seven years, as the equipment continues to mature and can withstand and undertake 24 hours of uninterrupted manufacturing, 3D printing technology can be fully applied in a wider range of fields.
Production method changed from subtraction to addition
3D printing technology will be regarded as a sign of the "third industrial revolution", actually because of its subversive ideas. Since the beginning of human production, humans have been using subtraction to make parts into desired shapes by cutting. Today, despite the continuous advancement of human technology and the continuous improvement of production processes, a lot of time and raw materials are still wasted. 3D printing technology, that is, additive manufacturing technology, will change the traditional manufacturing method. By adding materials layer by layer to make things, it can save a lot of time and raw material costs.
Ultrasonic equipment manufacturing is a typical example. In order to obtain high-definition imaging, the materials required for the ultrasound probe need to be cut and polished for a long time, which becomes the most expensive and labor-intensive part of the ultrasound equipment. The use of new additive manufacturing technology to "print" the complex components on these probes at once can save hours of cutting and fine processing, which will greatly reduce labor costs and production costs.
According to Ed Chik, at present, 3D printing applications are mainly concentrated in two aspects. The first is for high-performance products such as gas turbines, aircraft engines, and medical devices. In these areas, 3D printing can improve manufacturing capabilities; the second is the combination of 3D printing and traditional manufacturing. The application of 3D printing technology has great potential. It can also be applied in the general consumer field. For example, in the future, people can print the heels of their high-heeled shoes at home, whatever shape they want. In the future, owning a 3D printer is as common as owning a 2D printer.
3D printing will change manufacturing
Simon Jones, a technical expert at Ouhua Law Firm, said: "In theory, everything we have today can be produced by 3D printing technology. This technology is likely to change the entire manufacturing industry."
In fact, many 3D printers have entered the consumer market, with retail prices of around US $ 2,000. As with computers, the price of 3D printers is expected to gradually decline with increasing demand and technological progress. Some people in the industry pointed out that in the industrial field, 3D printing technology will not replace traditional production methods, but will join hands with traditional methods. "This technology will affect the way some products are produced, but it will never replace the old one."
Francis Gerry, head of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization, pointed out that by 2015, the global 3D printing industry's output value is expected to reach 3.7 billion US dollars. This compares to last year ’s global exports of goods of US $ 18.3 trillion. Gerry said that although the output value of the 3D printing industry is still small on a global scale, it is expected to maintain rapid growth, reaching US $ 6.5 billion by 2019.
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