In modern times, the mainland has been plundered and invaded by many countries. During this period, military aggression and economic plunder by foreign powers were the norm. Since the Opium War, the mainland has been forced to open a number of treaty ports, forced to sign unequal treaties, and cede land to pay reparations, which has caused the continuous loss of national economic resources and the people's lives have become more and more difficult.
Due to the Qing Dynasty's long-term isolation from the country and its lack of communication and cooperation with the outside world, it lagged far behind the Western powers in terms of science and technology. At that time, Western countries were experiencing the industrial revolution and the rapid development of science and technology, while China was still stuck in the traditional agricultural economy and handicraft production methods, and the progress of science and technology was slow.
Although China's position in the global economic system has risen dramatically since the end of the 20th century, especially in the high-tech sector, China has shown strong development potential and rapid progress. However, due to its late start, the United States and its Western allies still have a considerable technological first-mover advantage in key areas such as high-tech, precision instruments, and large-scale manufacturing.
Taking advantage of this advantage, Western countries have imposed a series of blockades and restrictions on China's key technological fields. These include export controls, technology transfer restrictions, and outright trade bans. These measures not only limit the access of Chinese companies to advanced technologies, but also increase the difficulty and cost of domestic R&D.
For example, in the field of semiconductors, the United States has set strict restrictions on the export of high-grade chip equipment to China, trying to block China's development in this field. In addition, by striking directly at Chinese high-tech companies such as Huawei, Western countries are trying to weaken China's influence in the global communications technology market.
However, with the rise of China's economy and the continuous strengthening of technological capabilities, Western countries are also feeling unprecedented pressure. We have also taken countermeasures, including restrictions on the export of rare earth elements, including germanium and gallium, as well as key technology products such as drones and large tunnel boring machines.
In addition, we have recently made significant progress in the field of 3D printer beds, leading the world and deciding to ban the overseas sale of this technology.
What is a 3D Printer Bed?
In short, the 3D printer bed is a composite machine tool that integrates 3D printing molding technology and CNC machining technology. Combining these two technologies in a single device, the 3D printer machine is able to create three-dimensional entities directly from the digital model by layering them, which can then be further refined by CNC machining.
This integrated processing method not only greatly shortens the process from prototype to finished product, but also greatly improves material utilization and production efficiency. The most direct effect of the 3D printer bed is to greatly reduce the manufacturing cost and improve the production efficiency. The traditional manufacturing process usually includes multiple complex links such as casting, forging, and cutting, which is a waste of materials and cumbersome.
The 3D printer bed can fundamentally change this production model, because it is a direct generation of entities from digital models, so it reduces intermediate links, greatly saves raw materials, and makes the manufacturing process more flexible and efficient. In traditional manufacturing methods, complex designs often mean higher costs and production difficulties.
However, the ability of 3D printer beds to accurately manufacture complex internal structures is undoubtedly a huge breakthrough for parts that are difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. This means that designers can innovate without the constraints of traditional processing, enabling individual and customized production.
And the 3D printer bed has a wide range of applications. In aerospace, automobile manufacturing, medical equipment and other industries, 3D printer beds have shown great application potential. For example, in the aerospace sector, 3D printer beds can be used to manufacture complex aero engine parts, and in the automotive industry, it can quickly produce personalized automotive parts.
In the medical field, 3D printer beds can be customized to the specific conditions of patients, such as surgical implants. This wide applicability not only improves the level of personalization of the product, but also significantly shortens the product development cycle.
3D printer bed made in China
Industry is essential to the growth of the country, and in this process, the role of machine tools is indispensable, it is the core force to promote industrial progress. In the past few years, the machine tool industry in mainland China has risen rapidly. Although there is still a gap compared with the well-known Japanese and German machine tool brands.
In the past, German machine tools were undoubtedly the leaders in the industry. For example, the machine tools used to process the propellers of the US Navy submarines are the machines of the German Duline brand. Similarly, when France produced submarines for Australia, the same brand of equipment was used. Even Japan's Honda still relies on German Duline machines for the production of sheet metal parts and drawing dies for automobiles.
In 2010, the domestic machine tool industry has not been able to get out of the depression, and the domestic demand for machine tools is completely met by importing from abroad. Therefore, it has been "stuck" by these countries.
In order to change the situation, we decided to develop 3D printing technology. There is no inheritance relationship between 3D printing technology and traditional CNC machine tool technology, it is a new technical system developed from the bottom up.
Not long ago, a research team led by Zhang Haiou from Huazhong University of Science and Technology made a breakthrough in the development of a 3D printed CNC machine tool that integrates casting, forging and milling, an innovation that has made China leap to the forefront of the world in this field of technology. With a 3D printer bed, all steps can be done on one machine, and the time of the entire process is reduced by 40%-70%.
After we succeeded in manufacturing, the United States also approached us, and in the face of frequent invitations from American aircraft engine manufacturers, we politely rejected their kindness. On the other hand, Europe's Airbus has managed to reach an agreement with Continental, which made its CEO almost laugh out loud, and he bluntly stated that by working with Zhang's team, Airbus will be able to ensure that its leading position in global commercial aircraft manufacturing will continue.
However, the mainland has now explicitly included this technology in the "List of Export Restricted Technologies". We have imposed an export ban. This is not only a protective measure for our key technologies, but also a response to Western countries.
3D printer bed overtaking in corners
It is undeniable that China has achieved innovative breakthroughs in many fields in the current technology and manufacturing industry, and even achieved leapfrog development in some aspects. We have succeeded in building the world's most comprehensive industrial production chain, and this progress will further promote mutual motivation in all aspects.
For example, the successful flight of the C919 large passenger aircraft is a strong proof of the strength of China's 3D printing technology. This model makes extensive use of 3D printing technology in the manufacturing process, especially in the production of parts that are difficult or inefficient in traditional manufacturing.
Through precise printing, not only the production efficiency is greatly improved, but also the high performance and reliability of the parts are ensured. Its stable operation in extreme aviation environment proves the advancement and feasibility of 3D printing technology in the aviation field.
Similarly, the AG600 amphibious aircraft, as the world's largest amphibious aircraft, is also inseparable from the support of 3D printing technology in its development process. 3D printing technology not only simplifies the production process but also reduces manufacturing costs.
More importantly, it allows for greater flexibility in the design of the aircraft, enabling the production of more complex and high-performing components, which is critical to meeting the high standards of components required for a special aircraft such as the AG600.
epilogue
Through revolutionary technological innovation, 3D printing not only promotes the progress of aerospace and high-end manufacturing, but also heralds the reshaping of the entire manufacturing model. With the maturity of technology and the expansion of application fields, 3D printing technology will surely promote the development of China's manufacturing industry.
It is precisely because of China's deep investment in the field of machine tools, coupled with the unremitting pursuit and innovation of many top scientists, and the continuous efforts in the field of machine tool research, that China stands out in the competition in the global stimulated machine tool market and occupies a leading position. This not only shows the strength of China's high-end machine tools, but also wins high praise and envy from all over the world.