Overview of 3D Printing

3D printing (3DP), also known as additive manufacturing, is a type of rapid prototyping technology. It is a technique that constructs objects layer by layer based on digital model files, using powdery metals or plastics and other bondable materials. 3D printing is usually achieved by using digital technology material printers. It is often used in fields such as mold manufacturing and industrial design to make models, and later gradually applied to the direct manufacturing of some products. There are already components printed using this technology. This technology has been applied in various fields such as jewelry, footwear, industrial design, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), automotive, aerospace, dentistry and education, geographic information systems, civil engineering, and others.

On January 14, 2019, the University of California, San Diego, used rapid 3D printing technology to create a spinal cord scaffold that mimics the structure of the nervous system, successfully helping rats regain their motor function.

On May 5, 2020, China's successful Long March 5B carrier rocket was equipped with a "3D printer". This is China's 3D printing experiment in space, and it is also an experiment to conduct 3D printing of continuous fiber-reinforced composite materials in space.