3D printing has the following three main advantages:
1. Unlimited design space
For objects with complex geometric structures (such as objects with very complex topological structures or cavity structures inside), traditional manufacturing processes cannot be used for processing, and the objects need to be decomposed and processed separately and then assembled. 3D printing decomposes objects into layers of 2D areas, so there is no problem in processing any complex objects. The processing accuracy only depends on the smallest material particles that the printer can output. This is the biggest advantage that 3D printing brings us, allowing designers to design any complex geometric shapes with unlimited design space. It is this advantage that gives us a lot of problems to solve in geometric design and optimization, which will be described in detail later.
2. Zero-skill manufacturing
Traditional manufacturing process equipment is large and expensive, and requires high skills to operate. 3D printers (such as FDM 3D printers) are small and cheap, some of which have entered homes, and are simple and convenient to use. Compared with expensive casting molds, 3D printing only requires a digital file for molding. Therefore, through 3D printing, it is easy to realize personalized design and customization of products, greatly shortening product research and development time. This advantage allows us, as researchers who are not mechanical professionals, to conduct research on related geometry, structure, materials, etc., which greatly deepens and expands related research issues in manufacturing.
3. Unlimited combinations of materials
Multi-nozzle 3D printers can print a combination of multiple materials. Through the stacking and combination of materials, the printed objects have physical and mechanical properties different from those of a single material. Therefore, through the combination of different materials, “new materials” with different properties can be produced. This advantage provides us with the ability to control the physical, mechanical and structural properties of objects by controlling the distribution of materials, thereby producing diversified objects and increasing the flexibility of products.
In short, the three most valued advantages of 3D printing technology are to accelerate the product development process, provide personalized and customized products, and increase production flexibility. From the perspective of molding technology, 3D printing breaks through the traditional molding method. There is no need to make molds and do mechanical processing in advance. By combining the rapid automatic molding hardware system with the CAD software model, various complex-shaped products can be manufactured, which greatly shortens the design and production cycle of the product and significantly reduces the production cost.
Disadvantages of 3D printing
Of course, as a young molding process, 3D printing still has many disadvantages, such as slow molding time, low precision, few material types, and inability to mass produce. At present, the actual use of 3D printing still belongs to the category of rapid prototyping, that is, to provide enterprises with product prototypes before producing formal products, also known as handboards in the industry. Therefore, the 3D printing molding process currently exists as a way to complement traditional manufacturing processes, and it will take some time to become a mainstream production and manufacturing technology. But we must believe that human beings’ pursuit of technology is unlimited. With the continuous progress of the research and development of 3D printing equipment and printing materials, 3D printing technology will be more and more widely used.
