How Much Do You Know About 3D Printing And 3D Printer Aluminum Profiles?
- By:sjhmalu
- Date:12-10-2022
How much do you know about 3D printing and 3D printer aluminum profiles?
3D printing is a kind of rapid prototyping technology, which is a technology of constructing objects by layer-by-layer printing based on digital model files, using adhesive materials such as powdered metal or plastic. 3D printing is usually achieved using digital technology material printers. It is often used to make models in the fields of mold making, industrial design, etc., and then gradually used for the direct manufacturing of some products. There are already parts printed using this technology. The technology has applications in jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), automotive, aerospace, dental and medical industries, education, geographic information systems, and other fields, so to speak, 3D printing covers Most industries in the society have brought great convenience to our lives. Many design problems are extremely simple under the blessing of 3D printing technology. Today, let’s learn about 3D printing. 3D printers have 3D printers for aluminum profiles. related content.
3D printing has brought about a global manufacturing revolution. In the past, the design of parts and components completely depended on whether the production process could be realized. However, with the advent of 3D printers, this fixed production idea has been completely subverted, which has made enterprises in the production of parts. No longer consider the production process, many problems can be solved easily, any complex shape design can be realized by a 3D printer, so you no longer worry about the design problems, which not only greatly improves the accuracy of machine parts, but also makes it The operation is more sophisticated and smooth.
This important feature can be especially reflected in the aluminum industry, that is, the use of specially customized 3D printers for the processing of aluminum parts, and the accuracy of the product can be controlled to the micron level. This feature is critical and progressive for the refining of aluminum alloy parts of various machines.
There are many defects and deficiencies in our traditional aluminum alloy casting technology. The problems existing in the production of cast aluminum alloys are mainly reflected in the following two aspects.
1. Casting will be accompanied by the formation of many defects during the casting process, such as wrong sides, inconsistent size, insufficient pouring, pores, slag inclusions, pinholes, etc. These defects cause the rejection rate of the casting process to be more than 15%.
The traditional casting molding process from ingot to machining to the final actual parts requires multiple processes to complete, and the material utilization rate is low. The material utilization rate of some complex parts is only about 10%, and the casting process The requirements of the mold are extremely high, and some small parts with high complexity cannot even be formed by casting methods. Therefore, the limitations of traditional forming processing methods such as casting are becoming more and more obvious in some specific fields (aerospace parts, complex parts for automobiles, mineral processing special-shaped flow parts, etc.).
3D printing technology can specifically solve some of the defects exposed in the above-mentioned casting process, and meet the forming and processing needs of special parts that are difficult or impossible to process during the casting process. With the acceleration of the industrialization process, people’s requirements for the structure and casting performance of aluminum alloy parts are also increasing. Now the development trend of aluminum alloy structural parts is the overall forming of complex-shaped structural parts and the intelligence of the process flow. The rapid production and manufacture of parts with complex shapes, precise dimensions, small and thin walls, and no overall allowance will be the development direction of aluminum alloy parts processing in the future.
Advantages of aluminum applications in 3D printing:
1. Low melting point.
Aluminum has a low melting point, so its 3D printing laser sintering temperature is much lower than other metal materials.
2. Low density.
Aluminum can be used to make light structures and is known as “flying metal”. Therefore, the support requirements required when printing objects are lower than other metal materials.
3. It can be strengthened.
The strength of pure aluminum is not high, and it can be turned into an aluminum alloy by adding various elements to increase its strength.
4. Good plasticity and easy processing.
Aluminum can be drawn into tubes and filaments and extruded into various profiles. There are also reports of FDM printing using aluminum materials.
aluminum profile 3d printer aluminum profile 3d printer aluminum profile 3d printer
Disadvantages of aluminum applications in 3D printing:
1. High chemical activity.
After aluminum is made into powder, the surface area is increased, its chemical activity is further increased, it is easy to burn, and the processing safety is low.
2. Low strength and poor mechanical properties.
3. A dense and firm aluminum oxide film is easily formed on the aluminum surface, resulting in difficulty in sintering.
Aluminum alloy materials can overcome the above shortcomings to a certain extent. Aluminum alloy material has a series of excellent characteristics such as light density, good elasticity, high specific stiffness, and specific strength, good wear resistance and corrosion resistance, good impact resistance, good electrical and thermal conductivity, good forming performance, and high recycling and regeneration. . Aluminum alloy materials are used in many fields: because of its good electrical conductivity, it can replace copper as a conductive material; aluminum has good thermal conductivity, and is an ideal material for manufacturing machine pistons, heat exchangers, rice cookers and electric irons; Aluminum alloys are also used in the construction industry, such as aluminum doors and windows, structural parts, decorative panels, aluminum curtain walls, etc.; aerospace, shipbuilding, petroleum, and defense industries require more sophisticated aluminum alloy materials. A supersonic aircraft is about 70% aluminum and its alloys. In ship construction, a large passenger ship often uses several thousand tons of aluminum.
For industrial-grade aluminum profile 3D printers, the toughness of 3D printing materials is an important aspect that determines its wide application. Aluminum alloys have light density, good elasticity, high specific stiffness, and specific strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance A series of excellent characteristics such as good, good impact resistance, good electrical and thermal conductivity, good molding performance, and high recycling and recyclability, aluminum 3D printers will gradually ban 3D printers of other materials and become the mainstream of the market, 3D printer aluminum profiles Market prospects.
It is now very common to use industrial aluminum profiles to make frames for various equipment, such as aluminum frames for 3D printers. Industrial aluminum profiles have the advantages of wear resistance, corrosion resistance, simple and light installation, etc.
Do you know what are the advantages of the industrial 3D printer aluminum profile frame made from this?
·Reasonable structure and high flatness
The high-quality industrial aluminum profile has relatively high surface straightness, no welding is required during installation, and the flatness is high. The entire 3D printer aluminum profile frame has a reasonable structure, and uniform force and its service life is extended to avoid bending deformation.
The structure and connection method of the aluminum profile frame are all related to each other. The entire 3D printer aluminum profile frame is connected by special accessories for aluminum profiles, without welding, and the connection part avoids bending and deformation so that the connection is stable and firm.
·The appearance is unified and beautiful
After the surface treatment of industrial aluminum profiles, the appearance is smooth and beautiful, without unevenness. The common colors are black, silver white, gold, etc. You only need to choose the corresponding color according to your personal needs, and the entire aluminum profile frame can be visually To achieve a unified and beautiful effect!
·Durable
The corrosion resistance, corrosion resistance, and weather resistance of aluminum are one of its most notable advantages. Aluminum naturally rusts and resists corrosion without additional treatment. This is due to the presence of a thin, naturally formed protective film of aluminum oxide on its surface. By anodizing, the 3D printer aluminum has been extruded to make it more resistant to corrosion. For example, in an outdoor environment, 25-micron anodization can be performed, which both enhances corrosion resistance and improves surface finish. In addition, aluminum requires no maintenance and in most cases can be corroded without fear.
·Lightweight and strong
Aluminum conducts heat very similarly to copper but is much lighter. Aluminum is an excellent conductor of heat, and aluminum extrusions are contoured to maximize heat transfer surface area and thermal pathways. A typical example is a computer CPU cooler, where aluminum is used to remove heat from the CPU.
·Stylish appearance
Extruded aluminum can be painted, plated, polished, and anodized, giving engineers a wider choice of appearance than other materials.
·Wide range of applications
Any section shape can be formed by aluminum extrusion, so the application range of aluminum extrusion is very wide, and engineers can design different sections to meet the requirements of different application environments.
·Easy secondary processing
Aluminum extrusions can be easily formed, cut, drilled, machined, stamped, bent, and welded to suit specific purposes.
·Absorb shock and deformation
In construction, aluminum extrusions resist deformation caused by weather and construction movements. In vehicles, impact energy can be absorbed. Aluminum extrusions maintain strength and flexibility under load and rebound from impact.
While the construction industry continues to dominate aluminum extrusion, industry use has expanded as more engineers and designers understand the nearly limitless design possibilities when using aluminum extrusion.
Aluminum has been an important part of the aerospace market from the beginning – the original aircraft models used aluminum parts in the engines to save weight. Today, aluminum accounts for 75-80% of modern aircraft and is often chosen for structures and engines due to its lightweight yet durable characteristics. Aluminum is also one of the main components of many spacecraft.
·Transportation industry
In the transportation industry where specific strength is critical, aluminum extrusions are ideal for engine blocks, transmission housings, panels, roof rails, and chassis, as well as vehicle bodies and components for automobiles, ships, trucks, railroad, and subway vehicles choose.
·Construction products industry
Unlike steel, aluminum can be extruded into complex designs and manufactured to strict building product specifications, helping to advance its use in many residential and commercial building products. From windows, doors, atriums, and skylights, to ramps, balconies, and various roof designs, architects are turning to aluminum to create green, sustainable buildings that will stand the test of time.
Since aluminum extrusions were first introduced to washers and dryers, it has revolutionized the home appliance market, making air conditioning systems and refrigerators more energy efficient than ever. Today, many of our everyday items, including fitness and sports equipment and furniture, feature aluminum extrusions.
·Electronics industry
Today, aluminum extrusions are used in many electrical and electronic devices. Due to its unique electrical and thermal conductivity, custom aluminum profiles are often used for motor housings, high heat sinks, and internal frames. In some cases, the complete product housing is designed in aluminum, which can be found on many laptops, Apple iPhones and iPads, and HDTVs.
· Lighting industry
Because of aluminum’s thermal conductivity, engineers were able to design complete extruded LED luminaires that transfer and dissipate heat for optimal thermal efficiency. In addition, extrusion dies are relatively inexpensive, and aluminum extrusions are easy to cut, form, bend, machine, and anodize or paint, making them ideal for efficient lighting and green.
Some applications of 3D printing aluminum alloy parts
car
Porsche 3D printed aluminum alloy pistons for the 911 flagship GT2 RS, which boosted the engine by 30PS to 730PS. Porsche optimized the load on the piston and designed a complete closed cooling duct on the top of the piston. This design can only be achieved by 3D printing. The final product is 10% lighter than the original piston. Porsche is still 3D printing in 2020. A gearbox housing has been produced and passed quality and pressure tests. In the aftermarket sector, 3D printing is becoming more and more popular. When some parts are discontinued, they can be manufactured by 3D printing.
Aerospace
Although titanium alloys are the metal of choice for aerospace, aluminum alloys still account for a large proportion. Airbus is developing a series of 3D-printed aluminum alloy parts for the A350 aircraft. And in the communication satellites they built, more than 500 3D-printed parts have been used. Boeing is also 3D printing aluminum custom parts for their planes, satellites, and helicopters. They used an aluminum alloy material coated with special particles, which can create high-strength aluminum alloy parts, making the overall body lighter and achieving better fuel economy. In short, the emergence of high-strength aluminum alloy materials for 3D printing has opened a new door for parts processing that must be realized by forging. Combined with the design freedom released by 3D printing, high-strength aluminum alloys will be used in pressure vessels, The field of hydraulic manifolds, brackets, and high-strength structural parts has gained a huge market space for imagination. The market prospect of 3D printer aluminum profiles is infinitely broad, The development of aluminum alloy materials will gradually grow.
What is the difference between aluminum profiles and traditional building materials?
Aluminum profiles can be used as architectural aluminum profiles, radiator aluminum profiles, general industrial aluminum profiles, etc. It has the advantages of high quality, lightweight, corrosion resistance, good decoration, long service life, and rich colors. So what is the difference between aluminum profiles and traditional mechanical manufacturing materials such as carbon steel and stainless steel?
In the field of construction, it is often necessary to use industrial aluminum profiles to make doors and windows into curtain walls. Since one of the materials of industrial aluminum profiles is aluminum, the doors and windows of industrial aluminum profiles are not only beautiful and durable but also have strong hardness resistance and are not easily deformed. They are commonly used materials for industrial aluminum profiles. Why?
·Materials can be reused: Since the mechanical parts made of industrial aluminum profiles are not thermally welded during the entire production process, the parts are easy to disassemble, and all materials and accessories can be reused; however, traditional materials have high costs due to cutting deformation and disassembly, is rarely reused. Saving man-hours: Due to the simple production process, a lot of man-hour costs can be saved; especially when reworked due to production errors, it can save several times the time compared to traditional materials.
·High precision: Since the manufacturing process has not undergone overheating welding, the material is not deformed, and the assembly accuracy is high; the traditional material heat welding will deform and affect the assembly accuracy.
·Gorgeous appearance: The appearance of the equipment using industrial aluminum profiles is more modern, and its unique anodized coating is more stable than the existing coating methods
Nowadays, more and more aluminum profiles appear in our lives, and people’s demand for aluminum profiles is also increasing. Aluminum profiles are loved by all walks of life because of their characteristics, but in applications, when industrial aluminum profiles cannot meet When the production requirements of the factory, special customization is required. So why choose custom processing of aluminum profiles, what is there to say? What are the advantages of custom-processing aluminum profiles?
Advantages of custom processing of aluminum profiles:
1. The mold opening and customization mode of aluminum profiles is more accurate: the corresponding mold customization has different sizes and technical standards, and users can send the drawings of the corresponding profiles to the processing manufacturers according to different needs. At the same time, the mold-making customization of industrial aluminum profiles can make the production related to the customized processing of aluminum profiles more refined and the product texture better.
2. The machining accuracy and process are more reliable: precise machining methods and advanced instruments greatly improve the production effect. In the process of mold opening and customization of aluminum profiles, the characteristics of product design will be reasonably considered, which can be customized according to the user’s price and psychological expectations. Molding and customization of aluminum profiles can show better processing results.
In short, in the process of custom processing of aluminum profiles, aluminum profile manufacturers will provide corresponding service solutions according to the needs of users, formulate more professional and better product production standards according to the needs of users, and can use their technology in the production process. The model and customization requirements are improved; the aluminum profile customization process makes the integrity and creativity of the product structure and shape bring outstanding application effects.
