With the iterative upgrading of 3D printing technology and the decline in the cost of raw materials, 3D printing continues to improve efficiency and reduce costs, and the downstream application areas continue to expand. Especially with the domestic and foreign consumer electronics head manufacturers have layout 3D printing technology in smart phones, watches and other 3C products, such as folding screen cell phone shaft cover, electronic watch case, cell phone frame, bezel and other parts using 3D printing technology manufacturing, 3D printing technology in the 3C consumer electronics parts in the mass production of the application (3D3C) is accelerating penetration. According to Statista and Wohlers data statistics, in 2022 the global consumer electronics market size of about 1.01 trillion U.S. dollars (about 7.27 trillion yuan), of which the market size of 3D printing in this field is 2.127 billion U.S. dollars (about 15.306 billion yuan), the penetration rate is only about 0.21%, with great upside. CITIC Securities "Electrical Wisdom Industry 3D Printing Research: Titanium Alloy and 3D Printing from Consumer Electronics" report shows that only titanium alloy 3D printing in the field of consumer electronics market space is expected to exceed 10 billion yuan, 3D printing in the field of consumer electronics has a huge space for development of hundreds of billions of dollars.

In the 12th Shanghai Injection Molding Forum held on March 6, Dr. Zong Guisheng, Chairman of Beijing SANDI Technology Co., Ltd, in a report entitled "SANDI 3D Printing of Metals and Ceramics in the 3C Industry", reviewed the technical research and application progress of 3D printing in the field of 3C electronics, analyzed the problems and bottlenecks faced by 3D printing in the application of 3C, and explored the technology of 3C applications. development direction.
The manufacturing of 3C products requires high surface quality, part flatness, dimensional accuracy, high product demand, automated production and low cost. Based on the above characteristics, at this stage, SLM selective laser melting and BJ binder jetting can be used for the manufacturing of 3C electronic parts and components through two main technology processes. Among them, the SLM process is characterized by high precision, high complexity and high densification, while the BJ process has excellent surface quality and dimensional accuracy, high efficiency and high throughput.

The use of 3D printing technology in smartphones and watches can achieve high strength and lightweight products, while optimizing production time and reducing production costs. For example, a manufacturer using titanium alloy 3D printing of folding screen cell phone hinge shaft cover, the thickness of only 9.9mm, the strength of the enhancement of 50%, while reducing the weight of 62%, the number of hinged parts from 92 reduced to only 4; titanium alloy 3D printed cell phone center frame, weight reduction of 9%.

Why use titanium alloy material? Dr. Zong Guisheng from the titanium alloy of several major characteristics of the analysis: titanium alloy of high specific strength, aluminum alloy 1.3 times, magnesium alloy 1.6 times, stainless steel 3.5 times; titanium alloy of high thermal strength, can be in the 450-500 ° C temperature long-term work; titanium alloy of corrosion resistance is good, acid, alkali, and atmospheric corrosion, pitting corrosion, stress corrosion resistance is particularly strong; titanium alloy of low-temperature Titanium alloy low temperature performance is good, the gap element is very low titanium alloy TA7 in -253 ° C can also maintain a certain degree of plasticity; titanium alloy chemical activity, high temperature can be with hydrogen, oxygen and other gaseous impurities in the chemical reaction, the generation of hardened layer.

Why use 3D printing technology? Dr. Zong Guisheng said, for one thing, the traditional machining of titanium alloy has certain bottlenecks. Because of the high temperature titanium chips easy to burn, poor thermal conductivity, chemical affinity, small modulus of elasticity, cold hardening phenomenon is serious and other problems, resulting in tool wear, workpiece clamping deformation, parts fatigue strength reduction and other problems. Secondly, there are certain problems in the manufacture of titanium/aluminum composite panels. The traditional solid? Solid composite preparation method is susceptible to time, temperature and diffusion coefficient and other factors, resulting in interface metal bonding quality, low material utilization and other issues. Third, 3D printing can realize high integration and reduce assembly. Take the water drop hinge of the folding screen cell phone as an example, the number of parts is as many as 130+, and each part needs to be accurately aligned, which makes it extremely difficult to design. Module assembly technology is complex and involves many patent barriers, so the yield of finished products is low after multiple processes. Fourth, 3D printing to help reduce the cost of titanium alloy manufacturing, releasing a larger market space for 3D printing, and promoting its large-scale application.

As a 3D printing total solution provider focusing on green rapid manufacturing, based on years of laser 3D printing 1.0 equipments and applications, SANDI Technology has independently mastered 3DP, BJ binder jet 3D printing 2.0 equipments, materials and processes, which can meet the manufacturing needs of products of different sizes (from millimeter to meter) and provide users with full-size, multi-material and full-chain rapid manufacturing services. At present, SANDI Technology is exploring the application of 3D printing in 3C electronic field through independent research and development of technology process and industrialization cooperation with supply chain enterprises of famous 3C manufacturers.

For example, the titanium-aluminum alloy laminated composite cell phone frame printed with SANDY SLM can improve the interface strength by 40% compared with the traditional rolling process. customized in-ear hearing aids printed with SANDY SLM have titanium alloy shells up to the ultimate wall thickness of 0.15mm, are lightweight, invisible, 15 times tougher to resist falls, safe and non-allergenic. The product has obtained the national registration certificate for Class II medical devices and realized mass production.

SANDI Technology has completed the development of BJ binder jet metal/ceramic molding equipment such as R&D type R series and production type P series, and dozens of equipments have been installed and used; completed the development of systematic material processes for iron-based materials, non-ferrous metals, high-temperature alloys, refractory metals, ceramic materials, inorganic salts, polymer materials, food materials, etc.; and responded to the multi-species by advancing the CAE simulation and prediction solutions, small batch agile manufacturing needs. In addition, three emperor technology joint Shenzhen Vocational and Technical University to build a joint laboratory of additive manufacturing technology, at the same time, joint Shenzhen Tsinghua University Research Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University and other research institutes of the relevant team to jointly carry out binder injection molding and other materials, process and application of basic technology research, and to promote the industrialization of the industrial molds, cutting tools, 3C electronic products, and complex, large size and complex ceramic products and other fields of application. Application.

For the application of 3D printing in 3C field, Dr. Zong Guisheng said that the market potential of this application is very large, and the current SLM and BJ technologies have relevant application prospects, but there is still a need to solve a series of problems such as product dimensional accuracy, surface finish and automated mass production. Regarding the direction of technology development for 3C applications, he proposed that automated production can be realized through the development of 3C-specific SLM equipment; in the future, Area Laser 3D Printing (AL3DP) technology, which has great potential for large-scale manufacturing, may become a new quality of productivity for the realization of applications such as 3C and bulky products, which is worth paying attention to and looking forward to.

March 6-8 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center is being carried out 2024 16th China International Powder Metallurgy, Cemented Carbide and Advanced Ceramics Exhibition, welcome to visit SANDY booth (Hall H1 A913) to visit and exchange ideas!