"3D printing +" combined with traditional industries is the icing on smart manufacturing!

Like the Internet of Things, 3D printing is one of the most important high technologies in the 21st century, with distinctive tool attributes. However, 3D printing itself is difficult to form an industry. Only by combining with traditional industries or with other smart manufacturing industries to help them improve their quality, can they really exert their power. At present, 3D printing technology has been applied and developed in many areas of smart manufacturing. The "3D printing +" model has created many examples of icing on the smart manufacturing industry.

A. 3D printing + smart transportation

3D printing technology has been widely used in the field of smart vehicles. The three aspects of sea, land and air have now been introduced into product development and production.

The JAC Group Italian Design Center has spent a year meticulously polishing the small smart electric car project since it was launched in March last year and has developed the first generation of 3D printers that can be used in the production of complete vehicles. According to the person in charge of the design center, they used 3D printing to make cars because the technology can reduce the number of body parts by at least 10 times. After mass production, it can cut 90% of vehicle development costs, and the production time is also greatly reduced.

Recently, RAMLAB Laboratories of Rotterdam Port, the largest port in Europe, released its first pilot components produced using 3D printing technology. Using 3D printing for ship parts not only shortens delivery time, but also saves time and money, while also reducing the inventory requirements for a large number of parts. Through this technology, the port of Rotterdam is expected to become the most efficient port in Europe.

Boeing, the famous aircraft manufacturer, announced this month that it will hire a 3D metal printing company to print titanium parts for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This measure is mainly to solve the overweight problem of the Boeing 787, while also saving the manufacturing cost of each aircraft by 200-300 million US dollars.

2. 3D printing + robot

The introduction of 3D printing technology in robot manufacturing can be described as a combination of high technology and high technology. The 3D printing robot family currently has many unique members.

In April last year, MIT researchers used the Stratasys 3D printer to print a complete, hydraulically-powered robot. After adding the motor and the battery, the robot can even stand on its own and get out of the printer. Robots manufactured using this 3D printing technology do not need to be assembled, and the print box does not need to extrude bubbles, which is more powerful and more efficient than the assembly printing.

This month, Tottori Medical Ventures TmsukR&DInc. in Japan and Tottori University Hospital jointly created a 3D printing robot called Mikoto, designed to help train young doctors, medical students and emergency nurses. The reason why researchers use 3D printing technology to make this medical simulation robot is also a high degree of simulation ability of 3D printing technology, which is undoubtedly of great benefit to medical students' training.

Three. 3D printing + sensor

3D printing products often have a high degree of simulation effect, and it can be said that the combination with the sensor is natural. In recent years, the two partners have indeed created more and more "artifacts."

In March of this year, a team of scientists in Switzerland used computer algorithms to create the average shape and texture of fruit, and then printed a physical replica of the mixture of water, carbohydrates, and polystyrene through the 3D printing technology, allowing highly accurate imitation of the flesh. In this way, the temperature sensor installed in it can provide accurate information on the internal temperature of the fruit to help the fruit transportation and storage industry better determine product quality.

This month, researchers at Swansea University in the UK developed a "smart bandage." Bandages are manufactured by a 3D printer with built-in microsensors developed by nanotechnology experts, connecting wounds to the 5G infrastructure, enabling doctors to monitor specific wounds at any given time, enabling them to tailor treatment plans for individuals and their wounds and reduce The need for continuous inspection, and an immediate warning of infection in the wound. These 3D printed smart bandages can be tried in the next 12 months.

With the rapid development of the smart manufacturing industry, the "3D printing +" model will have more in-depth extension and evolution. 3D printing will infiltrate and merge through many fields and create a new era of intelligent manufacturing together with other high-tech.