Inspiring the future of 3D printing with technological innovation

Every detail in production and processing can't be careless. We want to give our customers the best products. Quality is our strength. On July 1, the reporter saw Fan Yazhuo at the Additive Manufacturing Laboratory of the Institute of Titanium Technology of Panzhihua Iron and Steel Research Institute. He is communicating with workers.

Fan Yazhuo is the head of the additive manufacturing project team of the Institute of Titanium Technology of Panzhihua Iron and Steel Research Institute. Recently, he and his team completed the construction of the argon station and the matching debugging of the atomization equipment. This indicates that the institute has made progress in the development of spherical titanium alloy powder preparation technology for 3D printing, laying a foundation for the industrial production of spherical titanium and titanium alloy powder. In the face of the achievements, Fan Yazhuo said frankly: There is no best in the innovation of scientific research, only better!

Cross-line, handy

Fan Yazhuo, 38, is a high-tech talent introduced by Panzhihua. In 2015, he came to Panzhihua to study 3D printing technology. Fan Yazhuo said with a smile that he never thought about doing research in this area.

Fan Yazhuo studied undergraduate majors in non-metallic materials, master's degree in magnetic materials, and Ph.D. in electrochemistry. After his Ph.D., he has been engaged in the research of titanium anode materials. "In our jargon, I am doing cross-disciplinary research, but I think that with so many professions in hand, in my research of 3D printing, my thinking will not be imprisoned." Fan Yazhuo said.

Fan Yazhuo said that many people don't understand 3D printing. In fact, 3D printing is based on a digital model. The new manufacturing technology of material is stacked layer by layer to create a physical item. It will combine traditional process, production line, factory model and industrial chain. It has a profound impact and is a representative subversive technology in the manufacturing industry.

The metal powder materials for 3D printing include titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, bronze alloys, nickel alloys, etc. Titanium alloy powders are the most important part in the 3D printing industry chain of metal parts, and are also the greatest value. Electrode induction gas atomization is one of the main methods for industrial production of titanium alloy powder in the world. It is also the only method for mass production of spherical titanium alloy powder for 3D laser printing in China. Fan Yazhuo said that Panzhihua has abundant resources of vanadium and titanium. It is the responsibility and obligation of a scientific worker to convert vanadium-titanium hard magnetite into a soft product.

Innovation, never stop

At the beginning of the study, it was "following." Fan Yazhuo recalled: "At that time, Germany's ALD technology was the world leader. For our just-initiated research, we can only follow, we will aim at their advanced technology and products, and catch up."

Fan Yazhuo said that in the follow-up study, while learning to absorb the advanced technology of German counterparts, our team also needs independent research and development, walking on two legs, melting other people's advanced technology into their own things, and then transforming into their own technology.

In 2015, the Institute of Titanium Research began preparations for the preparation of spherical titanium and titanium alloy powder preparation platforms for 3D printing;

In 2016, complete the basic equipment and installation and commissioning of aerosolizing equipment;

In 2017, through the systematic research, the gas atomization equipment was initially modified, and the process of preparing spherical titanium and titanium alloy powder by gas atomization was completed, and the qualified products with stable quality were obtained. The overall technology and product quality reached the international advanced level;

In 2018, the breakthrough in the preparation of spherical titanium alloy powder for laser printing became the only full-process enterprise in Panxi region with titanium alloy to 3D printing products. Its EIGA preparation spherical titanium alloy powder technology, -45 micron once The yield is over 35%, reaching the world's top level;

This year, the team began to move from laboratory to industrial production. After successively completing the matching research of argon station construction and atomization equipment, the project team is relying on the market to gradually industrialize the laboratory research results, and get rid of China's high-end spherical titanium alloy powder as soon as possible. Passive situation.

"It took us only five years to complete the process of catching up and achieve 'and run'." Fan Yazhuo believes that at this point in time, innovation should be promoted to the highest level, because we have no role model to learn. Everything can only be on your own.

"On the road of science, only by taking every step to stabilize, can we take the innovation technology to the roots." Looking back on the road of scientific research and innovation in the past decade, Fan Yazhuo's biggest sentiment is "persistence." He said: "To do scientific research, we must be able to withstand loneliness, resist temptation, and stick to it in one direction. Looking back at our work from scratch, from small to large, we feel full of sense of accomplishment." In the future, He wants to use 3D printing technology to transform the technological achievements of the double-invasion technology in the hot land of Panzhihua East District and contribute a little strength.