基于均匀金属微滴喷射的3D打印技术

As a novel type of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, the metal micro-droplet deposition manufacturing technique was developed in the 1990s based on the principle of ink printing technology. In the process, uniform metal droplets are generated as the basic building blocks, and 3D structures are fabricated by sequentially depositing droplets on the substrate layers. Because of its advantages, including a wide range of material selection, free-form fabrication, and no need for expensive equipment, the technology has great potential applications in directly fabricating complex metal parts, electrical circuits, and the structure/function of integrating components. Because of the high melting temperature point, high viscosity, great surface tension, and good oxidability, metal droplet ejection is complex and completely different from the ejection of non-metallic material. In the present work, different modes and principles of droplet ejection are analyzed. Then, the key issues of the technology, such as development of a droplet generator and optimization of process parameters, are discussed based on state-of-the-art and research results of the authors team. Lastly, technology development trends are proposed.