3D printing companies seek expanding market
日前，西博会一参展企业现场演示3D人像打印技术，引得观众阵阵惊呼。这项技术是利用激光的高穿透性，将激光束穿过水晶，准确定位在水晶内部的目标部位上，利用激光的高温将目标部位的水晶微粒熔化，形成类似浮雕的效果。体验者在3D相机前照相，照片通过3D成像传输到了电脑中技术人员在电脑中稍作设置，人像瞬间就被输入打印机中水晶放入激光内雕机中，打印头在水晶块上不停“扫射”。激光枪在水晶块上不停“扫射”，水晶块内部目标部位不断出现小点，逐渐连成一片，形成人像。打印一个人脸像需要100元，而打印全身的立体人像，包括材料、人工、损耗在内大概需 2000元。
3D printing is one of the latest growth industries in China. Young entrepreneurs and private companies are starting to invest in the new technology and coming up with innovations.
3D printing companies have flocked to this year’s West China International Fair, bringing their newly designed products and technologies, looking to expand their market in western China.
"The price of a 3D printer is still high, but many local companies have already considered buying the product. Especially jewellery companies. It’s easier for them to design their product effectively and efficiently," said Johnson Luo, Area Sales Manager at Renishaw.
The market for 3D printing and services was reportedly worth 2.2 billion dollars worldwide last year, 29 percent up from the previous years. The industry has been growing by more than 20 percent annually and growth is expected to accelerate.
This is one of the biggest 3D printing centers in China’s southwest Sichuan province in Chengdu city. Experts say 3D printing is increasingly being used in the automotive, aerospace, and medical industries. They also say it could become more important in the final stages of production.
As 3D technology booms, companies are realising that if they want to get ahead, 3D is a way to reduce high costs of material and production.
"For example, we used to spend about 5,000 yuan designing a product sample, but now we use a 3D printer, we only spend 200," said He Jun, director of Sunfire Creative Industry Organisation.
But experts say Chinese companies are only at an early stage of using and producing 3D technology. There’s still a long way to go in unlocking its full potential.(CCTV)
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