Main technology
3D printer, successfully printed an F 1 racing car [2]
Ordinary printers used in daily life can print plane objects designed by computers, while the so-called 3D printers have basically the same working principle as ordinary printers, but the printing materials are somewhat different. The printing materials of ordinary printers are ink and paper, while 3D printers are filled with different "printing materials" such as metals, ceramics, plastics and sand, which are real raw materials. After the printer is connected to the computer, the "printed materials" can be superimposed layer by layer through computer control, and finally the blueprint on the computer can be put on it. Generally speaking, a 3D printer is a device that can "print" real 3D objects, such as robots, toy cars, various models and even food. The reason why it is popularly called "printer" refers to the technical principle of ordinary printers, because the process of layered processing is very similar to inkjet printing. This printing technology is called 3D stereoscopic printing technology.
Printing method
Three-dimensional design
British engineers "print" out unmanned aerial vehicles [9]
The design process of three-dimensional printing is: first, use computer modeling software to model, and then "divide" the built three-dimensional model into layers of sections, that is, slices, thus guiding the printer to print layer by layer.
The standard file format for collaboration between design software and printer is STL file format. STL files use triangular surfaces to approximate the surface of objects. The smaller the triangular surface, the higher the resolution of the generated surface. PLY is a scanner that scans the generated 3D files, and VRML or WRL files generated by PLY are often used as input files for full-color printing.
application area
naval vessel
2065438+July, 2004 1 day, the United States Navy conducted an experiment on rapid manufacturing of warship parts by using advanced manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing, hoping to speed up the task and reduce the cost.
Aerospace Science and Technology
At the end of September 20 14, NASA is expected to complete the first imaging telescope, and all components are basically made by 3D printing technology. Therefore, NASA became the first unit to try to manufacture the whole instrument using 3D printing technology.
Medical field
3D printed liver model
On July 8, 20 15, a research team composed of Tsukuba University and Dainippon Printing Company announced that it had developed a method to make a three-dimensional model of the liver that can clearly see the internal structures such as blood vessels with a 3D printer at a low price. It is said that if this method is put into application, a model can be made for each patient, which is helpful to confirm the surgical sequence before operation and explain the treatment method to the patients.
3D printed skull
On August 28th, 20 14, Master Hu, a 46-year-old farmer from Zhouzhi, fell from the third floor and hit a pile of wood, and his left brain cap was smashed. After the operation in the local hospital, Master Hu's life was intact, but the left cerebral lid was sunken and he became a "half-headed man" in the eyes of others.
3D printed spine implanted in human body
In August, 20 14, Peking University's research team successfully implanted a 3-D printed spine for a boy aged 12, which is the first case in the world. It is understood that the little boy's spine grew a malignant tumor after a football injury, and the doctor had to choose to remove the spine where the tumor was located. However, the special feature of this operation is that the doctor did not use the traditional spinal transplant surgery, but tried advanced 3D printing technology.
3D printing palm to treat disability
20 14 10, doctors and scientists put a palm on the children's clothing of a 5-year-old girl in Scotland, England by using 3D printing technology.
3D printed heart saves a 2-week-old baby with congenital heart disease.
201413 Dr. Emile Bacha, a doctor at new york Presbyterian Hospital, told the story that he saved a 2-week-old baby with a 3D printed heart. The baby has a congenital heart defect, which will cause "many holes" in the heart. In the past, this kind of surgery needed to stop the heart beating, open the heart to observe, and then decide what to do next in a short time.