3D printing science

In recent years, China Aviation Industry news of success, advanced fighter aircraft, carrier-based aircraft, transport aircraft after another out, one of the most interesting is that in 2013 the global 3D printing boom, with Northern and NPU two main research driven, Shen fly, flying, XAC and several aviation manufacturing enterprises as the mainstay, the world's second practical applications can use 3D printing technology to produce aircraft parts of the country.

3D printing technology is currently in the forefront of the global technology and cutting-edge applications, the most sophisticated aviation industry is most concerned about in this technology and most rigorous mid-1990s the United States access to such technologies industry attempts, but they have been referred to as near-net shape processing technology, F-22, F-35 have applications, but because some of the processing technology and other reasons, the United States also failed to large-scale applications, but the United States to bring this technology has been used as advanced manufacturing technology by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DRAPA ) leadership, organization, U.S. 30 enterprises long-term study of this technology.

In civilian areas, the first application of this technology is that Japan's Canon Inc., they are in their top SLR camera housing using similar technology to produce a specialAluminium Magnesium Alloy powdersurface cover. Aerospace industry, Lockheed - Martin and Boeing aircraft have demonstrated a similar big box, but did not expressly technology channel. Well, the Chinese how to obtain such results it? What are the advantages of these technologies and disadvantages it?

3D printing applications, the aviation industry is mainly concentrated in titanium, aluminum-lithium alloy, high strength steel, high temperature alloys and other materials, these materials are basically high strength, chemical stability, easy molding, traditional processing costly type , China Laser titanium forming technology has been widely used.

The technique is based on originally appeared electron beam welding technique, electron beam welding is the use of high energy electron beam in a vacuum or near vacuum environment, the direct melting of the welding material body, electron beam has a rapid melting, can be digitally controlled scanning, fast moving features. China from the late 1990s to obtain metal powder electron beam technology has been carried out after the increase in timber molding tow study was formally established in 2006 after the electron beam rapid prototyping Research Division, in the type of material, fast and stable melt solidification, large structural deformation control such progress, at present, has been able to start using the technology to produce aircraft parts, and in the research and development of some key models to be applied.

Electron beam rapid prototyping technology is some technical difficulties for further study, such as high heat molding process, the metal member is more difficult to control the metallic structure, in particular by forming a long time, the first solidified portion subjected to a high temperature for a long time, the metal crystal growth control difficulties, thereby causing large-scale complex component stress and so on.

Electron beam forming cavities of complex, reversing body cavity, molding thin poor, his millimeter precision molding matrix, so that after molding is still the need for conventional machining precision, but also the need for conventional heat treatment, forging or and so on.

But fast electron beam rapid prototyping, 3D metal printing type is the fastest print speed, up to 15KG / hour, equipment industrialized high maturity, basically by shelf product portfolio, the production line to build low cost, has a strong industrial universal basic Meanwhile, the electron beam rapid prototyping equipment while welding ability and has some ability to repair the surface of metal components, broad application prospects. In the engine field, the United States and China in the electron beam control monocrystalline metal near net shape forming technology is actively studying, once the breakthrough, the traditional single-crystal turbine blade production difficulties and the problem of high cost of production will be greatly improved, thus greatly improving the performance of aircraft engines, and engine development and improvement to provide a great boost.

New manufacturing methods require new technology with a series of processing, 3D printing currently only be considered a ray of hope to really achieve large-scale applications produce benefits, but also take a long time to develop and accumulate.

3D printing technology is the emergence of the information revolution in the capture of the last bastion of traditional industries, the end of the bugle call, which triggered a series of new research in the field of science and technology topics, sprayed welding alloy powder metallurgy, microdeposition metallography, micro-hardening, forging, laser shock strengthening and a series of machinery manufacturing, metallurgy and other fields has been the subject will allow lethargic traditional metallurgical sciences, and manufacturing sciences recharged driving force for development in the next few decades, who is in the application of these techniques to obtain the actual field results may be affected and subversion of existing basic outlook of the manufacturing industry.