Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Materials Chemistry and Environmental Engineering

DOI: 10.54254/2755-2721/123/2025.19586

Research on the Development and Application of 3D

Technology
Mingyu Hu1,a,*
1
Guangdong Experimental High School SSAL international curriculum, Guangzhou, Guangdong
Province, 510000, China
a. [email protected]
*corresponding author

Abstract: 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a manufacturing technique

that creates three-dimensional objects by adding materials layer by layer. Unlike traditional
reduction manufacturing such as cutting and grinding, 3D printing does not require the
removal of material from large pieces of material to form the desired shape but rather builds
the object by adding material. Although the concept of 3D printing dates back to the 19th
century, it began to commercialize in the 21st century, though the technology is still evolving.
With its advancements, 3D printing technology has become relatively mature and is now used
to produce various models and applications, including those in aviation, medicine, and other
fields. This paper explores its applications, benefits, and potential challenges in 3 paragraphs.
This study adopts the method of literature reading and analysis. 3D printing has
revolutionized the medical field by enabling the creation of custom prosthetics implants, and
even bio-printed organs. It allows personalized devices that fit patient perfectly, reducing the
need for adjustment and increasing comfort. In the aerospace sector, 3D printing is used to
create complex and lightweight components for aircraft and spacecraft. This can lead to
reduced fuel consumption, lower emissions, and improved performance. Additionally, 3D
printing facilitates the production of parts that are challenging to manufacture using
conventional methods.

Keywords: 3D printing, bionic stent, 3D print heart, aerospace engine metal stent, Mechanical
manufacturing.

1. Introduction
This paper mainly enumerates three examples to discuss the application of 3D printing technology in
various fields, including 3D-printed hearts, 3D-printed bionic stents, and its application in mechanical
manufacturing. Despite significant advances in 3D printing technology, there are still some
challenges and gaps. These include a lack of high-volume manufacturing cases, relatively high costs,
the absence of intelligent design methods, and limited integration with other technologies. In addition,
certain specific 3D printing technologies remain underdeveloped in China, such as the binder jet metal
3D printing system, post-processing techniques, unsupported metal 3D printing systems like
VELO3D, and high-speed cold spray metal 3D printing technology. The commercial application of
these technologies faces difficulties and involves many cross-disciplinary challenges, such as those

© 2025 The Authors. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
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DOI: 10.54254/2755-2721/123/2025.19586

related to metal materials, binders, and degreasing sintering processes. This paper provides case
support and technical analysis for the research of 3D printing.

2. Analysis of Application
2.1. 3D Technology in Medical Applications
This chapter aims to describe two aspects of 3D printing in the medical field—3D-printed hearts and
bio-3D-printed bionic stents.

2.1.1. 3D Printing Heart

3D printing technology currently can be used to print hearts, such as the atrial structure of human
ventricles.
Using 3D printing technology, a model of non-restrictive perimembranous ventricular septal defect
(VSD) can be made. The model was based on a sample of an 8-month-old child weighing 9 kg, with
data obtained from a cardiac enhanced CT scan and imported into 3D printing software (MimicsV
21.0 and 3-MaticV 13.0), provided by a Belgian company in DICOM format for 3D reconstruction.
In the software, the appropriate volume rendering conversion function was selected, and 3D filling
technology was applied to ensure the integrity and clarity of the heart structure. By adjusting the
imaging threshold, the heart region was precisely separated from the CT data and converted into a
3D digital model in STL format. The model was then printed using the J750 digital anatomy printer,
which employed melt deposition technology to secure the model onto a designed platform with a
bracket for maintaining its anatomical position. In terms of material selection, a mixture of gel matrix
resin, tissue mucosa resin and Argillus type 30 rubber was used to print the heart model, while a solid
material of polystyrene resin was used to make the platform and scaffold. In addition, the ring part
was printed using a mixture of the two materials, while the lobe was printed using a flexible
transparent material (UV-curable resin, model FLX910T), in order to closer the texture and
appearance of the model to the real heart tissue.

Figure 1: 3D printed heart model before and after simulated training

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DOI: 10.54254/2755-2721/123/2025.19586

Figure 1 illustrates a 3D-printed heart model. Its production process includes sample source, data
acquisition, 3D reconstruction, editing and conversion, 3D model production, layering and printing,
material selection, lobe printing, and model fixation. Through this process, a highly simulated heart
model can be made, which provide a powerful auxiliary tool for the research and teaching of heart
disease.

2.1.2. Bionic Scaffold

Figure 2: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells/methacrylate gelatin repair rotator cuff
injury

Figure 2 shows the brief steps of 3D bio-printed bionic scaffold. Most rotator cuff injuries are
concentrated in the supraspinatus tendon region, which is mainly due to the insufficient supply of
blood vessels to this tendon, coupled with the complex anatomy of the rotator cuff itself, so that
clinical results are often unsatisfactory. However, with the rapid development of the field of cell
biology, new opportunities have emerged to improve tendon repair.

2.2. Aerospace Area

3D printing technology has also been fully used in the aerospace field, such as printing aerospace
engine metal brackets.
3D technology can print metal support parts on solid motor composite shells. The main function
of this part is to address the issue of preparing threaded holes at the connection points of composite
structural parts, while simultaneously strengthening the tensile strength of these structures and
buffering the mechanical differences between the connected components. The material of this part is
TC4 titanium alloy, which is used in groups on the same product, and needs to meet the characteristics
of quality stability, connection transition, stress buffer, lightweight and so on. Overall, this part plays
an important role in the composite shell of the solid motor, and through the application of 3D printing
technology, the precise manufacturing of this complex component can be achieved to meet the above
requirements. Not only does 3D printing ensure the performance of the molded parts, but it also allows
for the optimization of structural design and weight reduction. This technology opens up a new
development path for the design and manufacture of high-performance solid rocket engines.

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DOI: 10.54254/2755-2721/123/2025.19586

2.3. Machinery Manufacturing Field

3D printing technology offers numerous advantages in the field of mechanical manufacturing, such
as:
* Rapid prototyping: 3D printing technology can quickly create prototypes, assisting designers in
testing and validating before full-scale production, which significantly reduces the product
development cycle.
* Complex structure manufacturing: 3D printing technology is capable of producing complex
geometric shapes that are difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods,
bringing flexibility in design and manufacturing to the mechanical manufacturing sector.
* Customized production: 3D printing technology enables on-demand production, meeting the
needs for personalized and small-batch production, thereby increasing production efficiency and
reducing inventory costs.
* High material utilization: Compared to traditional subtractive manufacturing, 3D printing uses
an additive process, making more efficient use of materials and minimizing waste.
* Precision and dimensional accuracy: As the technology evolves, the precision of 3D printing is
continuously improving, approaching from the micrometer level to the nanometer level, allowing 3D
printed products to meet the high precision standards required in the mechanical manufacturing field.
* Cost-effectiveness: With lower setup costs, 3D printing is ideal for producing small batches of
parts at reduced costs, making it especially suitable for responding quickly to market changes and
customer demands.
* Innovation and flexibility: 3D printing technology fosters innovation as it allows for rapid design
iteration and provides the possibility of manufacturing designs that are difficult to achieve with
traditional methods.
* Enhanced printing efficiency: 3D printing technology, which combines computer technology,
mechanical and electrical technology, and optical technology, not only significantly reduces the time
consumed by mechanical molding but also helps to comprehensively improve printing efficiency.
Stereolithography 3D printers are manufacturing machines that use photopolymerization
technology for three-dimensional printing. They belong to additive manufacturing techniques and are
also known as a type of 3D printing technology. At the start of printing, the surface of the resin vat is
covered with a thin layer of resin. Then, a computer-controlled laser scans the resin surface according
to the cross-sectional contour of the three-dimensional model, and the resin exposed to the laser
immediately solidifies. Subsequently, the build platform descends by one layer, and new liquid resin
is covered over the solidified resin. This process repeats, with the laser scanning and solidifying each
new layer, until the entire model is constructed.

3. Disadvantages of 3D Printing
As stated in Chapter 2, 3D printing technology has been fully utilized in various fields. However, this
printing technology also has its drawbacks:
Cost issues: 3D printers and their materials can be relatively expensive, especially for new
technologies and professional-grade equipment.
Material limitations: The available printing materials are limited, and not all metals or plastics are
suitable for 3D printing, which may restrict its use in certain fields.
Size limitations: The size of the printing chamber of 3D printers restricts the size of the printed
components; large components may need to be printed in multiple parts and assembled afterward.

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4. Conclusion
This article primarily analyzes 3D printing through case studies in the medical, mechanical
manufacturing, and aerospace sectors. By analyzing these cases, the article identifies the advantages
of 3D printing as well as some remaining shortcomings. As a representative of additive manufacturing,
3D printing technology is continuously driving innovation in the manufacturing industry. Despite the
significant progress made in 3D printing technology, there are still some research gaps and challenges,
such as binder jetting metal 3D printing systems, support-free 3D printing systems like VELO D, and
"regional 3D printing" technology with 2 million laser points for metals. These gaps and challenges
represent areas for future research. In terms of cost, the high cost of 3D printing limits its application
in mass production; in terms of the industry chain, the connections between upstream material
suppliers, midstream equipment manufacturers, and downstream application service providers in 3D
printing still need to be strengthened. The future research directions for 3D printing technology are
multifaceted, covering material science, design innovation, technology maturity enhancement, and
environmental sustainability. These research efforts will not only promote the advancement of 3D
printing technology but also have a profound impact on related industries. With the continuous
advancement of technology, 3D printing is expected to achieve broader applications and greater
influence in the future.

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