The rapid growth of the domestic three-dimensional printing industry looks forward to new developments

Three-dimensional printing that reproduces three-dimensional images in three-dimensional space has become an important content in the field of special printing. When it comes to stationery printing, three-dimensional printing is unavoidable. It can be said that three-dimensional printing has added a lot of beauty to the world of stationery decoration. Three-dimensional printing, as a special printing technology developed independently, has attracted the attention of many people in the industry. For this reason, some relevant persons and readers who are engaged in the three-dimensional printing industry pay close attention to the development of three-dimensional printing in China.

Introduction to 3D printing

Stereo printing is the principle of simulating the space difference between human eyes, shooting from different angles, recording pixels of different angles on the photosensitive material, and then using the combination of grating materials to restore the process of printing with three-dimensional effects.

1. Features of 3D printing

(1) Strong three-dimensional sense, can reproduce objects realistically. The product image is clear, rich in layers, vivid in image and profound in mood.

(2) The three-dimensionally printed manuscripts are often shot by modeling design or scenery, and the printed materials are generally printed with high-quality coated paper and high temperature resistant ink, so the gloss is good, the colors are bright, and it is not easy to fade.

(3) The surface of the printed product is covered with a layer of concavo-convex cylindrical lens grating, which can directly obtain the stereoscopic effect of the panoramic picture.

2. Realization of three-dimensional printing

The realization of three-dimensional printing requires several steps, namely manuscript making, plate making, printing + raster synthesis or direct printing.

(1) Manuscript making

For the manuscript, it can be produced by stereo photography. This method is the most traditional manuscript production method for stereo printing. The key to its operation is to take a stereo photo. The layout, distance, angle, center point, etc. of the subject need to be taken before shooting Accurate calculation. There are generally two methods for obtaining stereoscopic images, that is, the direct method and the indirect method that people often say. The direct method is to take a picture through a cylindrical grating, move the camera within a certain field of view, and take the subject continuously. The indirect method is based on a specific method. Take a corresponding number of photos in the location (5 ~ 8 camera positions), and then accurately combine them into one. In comparison, the indirect method has a better three-dimensional effect than the direct method, but it is more laborious and generally not used.

Thanks to the development of computer software technology, the way of obtaining stereoscopic pictures is now much simpler. The high-end technology is to use professional stereoscopic image software to directly process the flat images in layers and convert them into stereoscopic images, such as 3D4U software, or printing factories use graphics The 3D software developed and improved by image software can also be processed using existing common image software, such as Photoshop.

(2) Printing

It can be said that there are many ways to realize three-dimensional printing. At present, there are two main methods of three-dimensional printing in China. One is to print directly on the back of the grating through an offset printing machine, and the other is to first print the pattern through a high-precision offset printing machine. After printing on the paper, then compound grating.

Three-dimensional printing has higher requirements for the color separation and screening accuracy of the plate making, and at the same time, it must ensure a higher accuracy of overprinting to avoid paper expansion and contraction during the printing process, resulting in inaccurate overprinting. The calculation accuracy of parameters such as the spacing and angle of the grating should be high, and the compound molding requires accurate positioning.

3. Material technology for 3D printing

(1) Paper
The paper for three-dimensional printing is required to have the characteristics of compactness, smoothness, smoothness, and small elasticity. Usually, coated paper or cardboard is used.

(2) Grating material
There are mainly hard plastic stereo gratings and soft plastic stereo gratings. Hard plastic stereo gratings are made of polystyrene materials through injection molding to form concave-convex cylindrical mirror gratings; soft plastic stereo gratings are mainly made of PVC film base and pressed by metal grating rollers or grating plates. Whether it is a hard plastic material or a soft plastic material, the transparency of the grating is required to be good.

(3) Ink
Fast drying speed is one of the most important requirements for ink for 3D printing. At present, some ink manufacturers can provide inks and additives suitable for three-dimensional printing. With proper ink selection, 3D printed images will have sharp subtle levels and sharp edges.

(4) Adhesive
If the image on the printing plate is not directly printed on the grating, the adhesive is still indispensable. Its function is to enable the printed matter and the grating to be firmly pasted together, and to protect the ink layer from changing color at high temperatures.

4. Application of 3D printing

In the development of three-dimensional printing, people are also constantly trying to widely apply three-dimensional printing to various fields. Three-dimensional printing is particularly outstanding in stationery decoration, from rulers, stationery boxes to various notebooks, file covers, to calendars, desk calendars, postcards, even mouse pads, playing cards, etc., three-dimensional printing is used. In particular, some commonly used children's stationery, because it satisfies the children's psychology of hunting, is more popular with children.

In addition to stationery, we can easily find three-dimensional printing figures in our daily lives. Three-dimensional pictures are often used to make window advertisements or used in advertising hangtags, tobacco and alcohol anti-counterfeiting trademarks and other fields. Three-dimensional printing can also be used for the outer packaging of various products such as food, medicine and cosmetics. The daily necessities are also fertile ground for the survival and development of three-dimensional printing.

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Development status of domestic stereo printing

The development time of three-dimensional printing in China is not short, but because it has not been able to find a suitable market positioning, its application is not very wide. However, with the development of related technologies and the growth of market demand, the domestic three-dimensional printing industry is developing rapidly, and has formed a distinctive "Chinese characteristics."

1. Technology Development

(1) Professional software enters, common image software is popular

Today, 3D printing related software is constantly being introduced and has already entered the Chinese market. Professional software such as 3D4U is well known in the field of 3D printing. It can be said that the entry of professional software into the market is also a breakthrough in 3D printing technology. It is more convenient to convert ordinary pictures into 3D printed manuscripts. Some large-scale three-dimensional printing enterprises in China have begun to use it.

Although many professional production softwares have appeared, in general, ordinary image software (such as Photoshop, etc.) is still very popular with 3D printing companies. As for the reasons for reluctance to adopt professional software, some interviewees reported that they were reluctant to try because they were worried that the software did not come from practice. The price factor also discourages many 3D printing companies that are already familiar with the application of ordinary image software to switch to expensive professional software.

(2) The innovation of printing equipment promotes the progress of three-dimensional printing

As the application of UV technology continues to mature, many equipment manufacturers have launched various types of UV offset presses. At the same time, printing plastic sheets with an offset press is no longer a problem. Heidelberg, Manroland, KBA, Komori, Ryobi, etc. have all launched offset presses with this function.

The innovation of offset printing equipment has greatly promoted the development of three-dimensional printing, and printing directly on the grating can be realized. As a result, the production efficiency of three-dimensional printing is greatly improved, and the product accuracy is sufficiently guaranteed.

(3) Coexistence of multiple processes

At present, the production level of 3D printing in China is uneven, and various processes are used. The situation of 3D printing enterprises is different, and the processes adopted are also different. But mainly the two methods described above, namely, printing directly on the grating and printing on the paper and then pasting on the grating, or pasting on the plastic film and pressing out the grating.

(4) Enhanced environmental awareness

Whether three-dimensional printing is used in stationery, food packaging or children's toys, the requirements for environmental protection should not be ignored. At present, the European and American markets already have relevant laws and regulations in these areas, and China is constantly improving in this regard. If you still do not pay attention to environmental protection, you must restrict the domestic printing companies to accept foreign orders to a certain extent.

During the interview, many interviewees also mentioned such problems. For example, the three-dimensional small cards that were previously packed in instant noodle bags were very popular with children, but due to food safety and hygiene issues, they have now been restricted.

This problem involves almost all consumables in 3D printing, including grating materials, inks, paper, adhesives, etc. To be non-toxic and harmless, you must choose superior materials, which increases the production cost.

The good news is that most three-dimensional printing companies now recognize this development trend and work hard on materials to make environmentally friendly products in order to retain more business.

(5) Technology needs innovation

In recent years, the domestic three-dimensional printing market has been greatly developed and a number of well-known enterprises have emerged, such as Wuliangye Push 3D Co., Ltd. and Guangzhou Meibang Pute Technology Co., Ltd. etc. But on the whole, domestic three-dimensional printing companies generally lack the spirit of innovation. The lack of innovation here includes two aspects: one is the lack of technological innovation; the other is the lack of product innovation.

Many domestic printing companies do not have enough knowledge about new product development. As long as they have the hard work on hand, they will not actively seek technological breakthroughs, and rarely work hard on developing new products. Different from abroad, printing methods such as fragrance and foamed grating, which are rare in China, have long been widely used in three-dimensional printing.

Today, as printing companies become more and more digitized, 3D printing companies should apply the latest technology to the field of 3D printing. They should dare to explore, so that there will be great development.

2. Market development

(1) The foreign order is the protagonist

The three-dimensional printing enterprises are mostly in Guangdong, Shanghai and Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Many of these enterprises are joint ventures or wholly foreign-owned enterprises. In terms of business sources, especially for enterprises with a certain scale, foreign orders are the main business of 3D printing enterprises. Obviously, foreign investment or joint ventures have unique advantages in receiving foreign orders. Such enterprises can easily rely on the resources of the foreign party to operate the foreign order business.

At present, the application of 3D printing in foreign countries is more extensive, and the market is relatively mature. Many foreign companies have chosen China's cheap labor and low cost and sent the business of 3D printing to China to greatly reduce production costs.

Generally, the requirements for external orders are relatively high, and the consumables such as grating materials and inks need to be imported, but even so, domestic three-dimensional printing companies can still bring many benefits to foreign customers.

Of course, companies that only do domestic business also exist widely. Relatively speaking, these companies are generally smaller in scale and use more domestic consumables. In the area of ​​Jiangsu and Zhejiang, relying on many small-scale commodities manufacturers in the region such as stationery and toy production, signage, etc., many three-dimensional printing companies also have sufficient business volume.

(2) Printing by "machine"

At the beginning of the interview, there was a phenomenon that caught the author ’s attention, that is, some 3D printing companies do not have their own printing equipment. After making the film, they need to get it to other printing houses to print the finished or semi-finished products. The process of cutting or pressing is then brought back to press or die cutting. Such a phenomenon of printing by "machine" is not accidental, but is a phenomenon generally existing in the field of three-dimensional printing.

The reason is that the printing equipment is expensive. The three-dimensional printing requires high precision, and it is necessary to print on the machine either thicker coated paper or cardboard or a thicker grating. The requirements on the performance of the printing machine are very high and the damage to the printing equipment is serious. Generally, only some imported equipment can competent. However, the cost of purchasing these imported equipment is extremely high, and most domestic three-dimensional printing companies have chosen to use "machine" printing as a method.

The author analyzes that this may be one of the reasons why the three-dimensional printing companies are distributed in Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas. Backed by many excellent printing companies, they can take the printing business to different printing plants to print. Many local advanced printing equipment They are all resources that they can use.

Looking forward to new developments in 3D printing

There are three types of three-dimensional products: three-dimensional, animation, and changeable maps. The change effect produced is completely different from the traditional flat printing. The three-dimensional products are easy to catch people's attention because of their superb and novel and moving characteristics, and impress those customers who are seeking novelty and vitality. These features enhance the added value of products, and become an excellent means for customers to promote commodities and improve their market image and novel advertising media. This kind of product has been popular in Europe and America for many years and is in great demand.

At the same time, we should also see that 3D printing should also have a large market in China. In addition, the prepress technology (software) and printing of 3D printing are almost the same as those of ordinary printing. Ordinary printing factories can already use it as a new Investment projects, especially when the cost of 3D printing is already accepted by most printing plants, ordinary printing companies can increase their profits through this new investment project. Relatively speaking, three-dimensional printing is more profitable than traditional printing.

During the interview, many interviewees provided us with a variety of 3D printing applications that could be developed. Expanding the application field of 3D printing is an important content for the development of 3D printing.

1. Three-dimensional cartoon

The animated stereoscopic film can obtain a dynamic picture by changing the viewing angle. If the printed three-dimensional print is called a three-dimensional space print, and then the dynamic factor is added to combine the three-dimensional sense and animation, a new four-dimensional space print can be produced. This three-dimensional print is more novel and has many applications.

2. Large format advertising

Three-dimensional printed light box advertisements are not common now, but there have been many attempts. Because large format advertising printing has high requirements for rasters and inks, this kind of application is not much in China, mainly because the production cost is too high (general advertising products are not large in volume). However, many people in the industry are still very optimistic about this application, because the light box advertising market is now highly competitive, and advertisers must come up with some new and more tempting forms of expression to attract customers. At present, the form of 3D printing is the best, and there is no need to invest expensive costs. As long as it is strictly controlled in technology, it can produce exquisite 3D printed products. Therefore, in the near future, such an updated form of publicity media will certainly be favored by advertisers.

3. Anti-counterfeiting function

The imaging technology of three-dimensional printing itself is equivalent to the use of optical encryption anti-counterfeiting methods, which cannot be simply copied like ordinary printed products. This technology can be applied to anti-counterfeiting labels for tobacco, alcohol, beverages, cosmetics, clothing, medicines and other products. Some experts boldly predicted that in the near future, three-dimensional printing trademarks will inevitably become the main anti-counterfeiting method.

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