In early May, the latest generation of manned spacecraft experimental ship successfully launched by long march 5B rocket was equipped with a "3D printer" for the first time. During the voyage, the device independently completed the sample printing of composite materials with continuous fiber lifting, and tested the scientific test purpose of 3D printing of composite materials in microgravity atmosphere. This is also the first time for China to do a good job in orbit 3D printing experiment, and also the first time for the world to achieve the space 3D printing of continuous carbon fiber lifting composite materials. The prototype of the "3D printer" technology to achieve the first space printing is from the scientific research team of Xi'an Jiaotong University.

The world's faster resin 3D printer can print out structures about the size of human body in a few hours.

The resin 3D printer was developed by American chemist Cha D Mirkin and his colleagues, and reported the scientific research results last October. This is also a significant progress in the field of 3D printing, expanding the application scope of the technology that could only be used to make small and medium-sized low-precision prototype parts. 3D printing technology has not only become faster and larger, but also scientists have proposed a series of innovative technology improvement means to develop materials with better strength, and even mixed a variety of materials on one object to complete printing.

Relativity space, a Los Angeles start-up, is already building rockets that are almost all made by 3D printing, with the goal of sending 1250 kg of stuff into low earth orbit, and plans to do its first launch test in 2021. The printed metal may not always have the heat dissipation function of the metal structure made by the traditional way, but 3D printing can add a series of geometric cooling channels which can not be produced by the traditional way. Moreover, the rocket is almost a one-time or only used several times product, so in a long time, the rocket structure does not need to be as solid as the aircraft alloy, and bear tens of thousands of pressure cycles.

Some big companies also gradually use 3D printers for 3D printing. Airlines such as Boeing and Pratt Whitney gradually use 3D printing to make metal parts of jet engines, which is more cost-effective than milling and can make complex structural parts lighter.

Sources from: https://creality3dpro.store/blogs/news