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SLM (Selective Laser Melting) 3D printing technology, that is, selective laser melting technology, is a metal 3D printing process widely used in the industrial field. The following is a detailed introduction:Technical principle: SLM technology uses high-intensity laser as the energy source, controls the shape and intensity of the laser beam through the CNC system, melts and solidifies the metal powder layer by layer on the metal powder bed, and converts the three-dimensional geometric structure in the digital model into a physical product.Process flow: First, the metal powder is evenly spread on the printing platform. The laser selectively melts the powder according to the model slice data to form a solidified layer. Then the printing platform drops a layer thickness, spreads the powder again, and the laser continues to melt the powder. This is repeated, stacked layer by layer, and finally the three-dimensional parts are printed.Features of SLM printing productsHigh precision: The diameter of the laser beam can be controlled at the micron level, which can accurately melt the metal powder and produce parts with high dimensional accuracy, which can meet the needs of many high-precision industrial applications.Strong ability to manufacture complex structures: It can realize integrated molding of complex geometric shapes (such as honeycomb structures, internal flow channels, and topology optimization frames), breaking through the limitations of tools or molds in traditional processing, and can manufacture parts that are difficult to process with traditional processes.Excellent material properties: Metal powder forms a dense metallurgical bond during rapid melting and solidification, and the mechanical properties of printed parts are close to or even better than traditional forging materials, with good strength, density and surface quality.High material utilization: Unmelted powder can be recycled and reused, and the material waste rate is low, usually less than 5%, which is much higher than traditional cutting.Advantages and disadvantages of SLM technologyAdvantagesHigh design freedom: Parts of any complex shape can be manufactured according to design requirements, without considering issues such as tool accessibility and mold manufacturing in traditional manufacturing processes, which provides great freedom for product design.Save materials and costs: Use on-demand printing to reduce waste generation, especially for high-value materials. For complex parts, multiple processing steps are not required, which can reduce production costs.Wide range of materials: supports a variety of metal materials, such as aluminum alloy, stainless steel, titanium alloy, high-temperature alloy, etc. Different materials can also be selected according to specific needs to meet the requirements of different industries for material performance.Short production cycle: No mold making is required, and the transformation from design to finished product can be quickly realized. It has obvious advantages for small-batch production and rapid iteration of products, which can greatly shorten the product development and production cycle.DisadvantagesMaterial limitations: Currently, it is mainly applicable to metal materials, and the purity and microstructure of the materials are required to be high. The types of materials that can be selected are still relatively limited compared to traditional manufacturing.Printing speed and size limitations: Due to the limited irradiation range of the laser, the printing speed is relatively slow, and it is difficult to print large-size objects. The molding size is usually limited by the size of the equipment molding cylinder.High equipment and operating costs: SLM printing equipment is expensive and has high maintenance costs. At the same time, the cost of metal powder materials is not low, resulting in high overall production costs, which limits its application in large-scale production.Application fieldsAerospace field: used to manufacture high-strength, low-weight parts, such as engine parts, internal and external structural parts of aircraft, etc., which can reduce the weight of parts, improve fuel efficiency, and manufacture complex inner cavity structures that cannot be achieved by traditional processes.Medical field: can produce personalized implants, prostheses and medical devices, and through precise 3D scanning, tailor the most suitable treatment plan for each patient, such as customized orthopedic implants, dental restorations, etc.Automobile manufacturing field: widely used in the production of functional prototypes, customized parts and small batches of parts, while improving the strength of parts and reducing weight, improving the performance and safety of automobiles, such as high-performance engine components, lightweight chassis, etc.Mold manufacturing field: can manufacture cooling channels and inner cavity structures that are difficult to achieve with traditional methods, improve the performance and production efficiency of molds, and shorten the mold manufacturing cycle.Latest trendsMulti-material composite printing: research on the in-situ fusion of gradient materials and functional coatings, so that printed products have better performance and functions, and meet the needs of more complex application scenarios.Manufacturing of large-size components: Through multi-laser collaborative scanning and other technologies, the existing size limit of the forming cylinder is broken through, large-size components can be printed, and the application of SLM technology in the field of large-scale parts manufacturing is expanded.Intelligent closed-loop control: Combined with artificial intelligence technology, the melt pool status is monitored in real time, and the printing parameters are automatically adjusted to ensure that the defect rate is close to zero, improving the printing quality and stability.

In a dust-free workshop in Fengyang Economic Development Zone, Anhui Province, micron-sized silver powder is pouring out of the atomization equipment. These seemingly ordinary metal powders carry the hope of the 3D printing industry to overcome the safety pain points - they are magnesium alloys, but they will not burn easily.On June 26, 2025, according to the resource library, 3D printing metal powder manufacturer Zhongti New Materials announced that the first industrial mass-produced 3D printing flame-retardant magnesium alloy powder CNPC-AZX912 was officially launched. This innovative material with a ignition point of up to 620°C is expected to reduce the flammable and explosive safety risks of magnesium alloys in 3D printing applications.Magnesium alloy is currently the lightest metal structural material with a density of only 2/3 of that of aluminum alloy. It has higher specific strength and good shock absorption performance. It is known as the "21st century green engineering material" and is widely used in aerospace, automotive, medical and other fields. However, due to its high chemical activity, magnesium alloys are easy to burn or even explode in 3D printing, which has become a key problem restricting its industrial application.Zhongti New Materials told the resource library that the company not only retained the advantages of magnesium alloy in terms of lightweight and high specific strength through the optimization of material composition and surface technology, but also greatly reduced the risk of dust explosion, and the material is safer and more controllable during storage, transportation and printing.Zhongti New Materials' formula innovation:AZX912 magnesium alloy powder is mainly composed of magnesium (about 87%) and aluminum (about 9%), supplemented by trace alloying elements, to form high-melting-point intermetallic compounds in the magnesium matrix. These nano-scale particles are evenly dispersed, acting as a "fire barrier" and significantly improving the flame retardant effect.At the same time, AZX912 is prepared using the independently developed ultra-high-speed plasma rotating electrode atomization technology, with a powder sphericity of more than 92%, very few satellite balls, and a particle size controlled at 30-90μm, which can be customized according to different 3D printing processes and product requirements.In addition, the Fire and Explosion Prevention Laboratory of Northeastern University also issued an authoritative test report (No.: 2025020700021), and the results showed that AZX912 exhibited excellent flame retardant properties.For actual users, this is not only a set of experimental data, but also an important guarantee for daily safety.The most direct benefit is that it has lower requirements for ambient oxygen concentration. The limit oxygen concentration (LOC) of AZX912 reaches 9.8%. In actual application, it only needs to control the system oxygen concentration within 6.8% (already including a 3% safety margin). Compared with traditional magnesium alloy materials, it has a larger operating space and is safer to use.More importantly, its dust cloud has a minimum ignition temperature of 620℃, which is insensitive to high-temperature hot surfaces, which means that in daily 3D printing operations, the equipment has lower requirements for explosion-proof electrical equipment, and can reach the T3 temperature group, which greatly reduces the difficulty of use.In terms of explosion risk, the maximum explosion pressure (PMAX) of AZX912 is only 0.58MPa, which is more than 40% lower than that of conventional magnesium alloy powder, and fully complies with the international standard of the EU ATEX explosion-proof directive for industrial dust Pmax less than 0.9MPa. In other words, when factories use this material, the safety bottom line is greatly improved and the actual risk is significantly reduced.However, Zhongti New Materials also reminds that although AZX912 has good body flame retardancy, the risk of explosion still exists. Related production equipment still needs to be equipped with dust collection, and reasonable explosion-proof and explosion-control measures, such as inerting, explosion venting, and explosion isolation, etc. Specific suggestions are as follows:Dust control: The dust concentration in the working environment should be controlled below 25 g/m³ (the lower explosion limit of magnesium alloy), and a dust concentration monitor should be equipped for real-time monitoring.Explosion-proof measures: Nitrogen inerting (oxygen concentration ≤6.8%) is preferred, or explosion venting and explosion isolation devices are installed. Electrical equipment must meet the explosion-proof requirements of the T3 temperature group (surface temperature ≤200℃).Electrostatic protection: The equipment should be effectively grounded, and the ambient humidity should be kept above 60% to prevent low-energy electrostatic discharge (MIE=10~20 mJ).Here, we also add one more point: magnesium will react with water and carbon dioxide, so when magnesium catches fire, you must not use water or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, only dry powder fire extinguishers can be used, or directly cover with sand. Previously, serious accidents have occurred in the industry due to improper operation, and safety issues must be given enough attention.With the launch of the new 3D printing flame-retardant magnesium alloy powder CNPC-AZX912, this lightweight material is expected to open up a broader application space. It is not only suitable for test battery trays for new energy vehicles, but also for satellite brackets in aerospace, and will also become an important material for orthopedic implants in the medical field.In fact, as an important participant in 3D printing metal materials, Zhongti New Materials is accelerating its industrialization layout. By 2026, the company will build more than 50 powder production lines covering a variety of product types. Among them, for the titanium alloy market, the company has built three phases of new factory buildings, focusing on the large-scale production of 3D printing recycled titanium alloy powder. It is expected that by the end of 2025, the annual production capacity of Ti6Al4V alloy powder will reach 700 tons.

In a dust-free workshop in Fengyang Economic Development Zone, Anhui Province, micron-sized silver powder is pouring out of the atomization equipment. These seemingly ordinary metal powders carry the hope of the 3D printing industry to overcome the safety pain points - they are magnesium alloys, but they will not burn easily.On June 26, 2025, according to the resource library, 3D printing metal powder manufacturer Zhongti New Materials announced that the first industrial mass-produced 3D printing flame-retardant magnesium alloy powder CNPC-AZX912 was officially launched. This innovative material with a ignition point of up to 620°C is expected to reduce the flammable and explosive safety risks of magnesium alloys in 3D printing applications.Magnesium alloy is currently the lightest metal structural material with a density of only 2/3 of that of aluminum alloy. It has higher specific strength and good shock absorption performance. It is known as the "21st century green engineering material" and is widely used in aerospace, automotive, medical and other fields. However, due to its high chemical activity, magnesium alloys are easy to burn or even explode in 3D printing, which has become a key problem restricting its industrial application.Zhongti New Materials told the resource library that the company not only retained the advantages of magnesium alloy in terms of lightweight and high specific strength through the optimization of material composition and surface technology, but also greatly reduced the risk of dust explosion, and the material is safer and more controllable during storage, transportation and printing.Zhongti New Materials' formula innovation:AZX912 magnesium alloy powder is mainly composed of magnesium (about 87%) and aluminum (about 9%), supplemented by trace alloying elements, to form high-melting-point intermetallic compounds in the magnesium matrix. These nano-scale particles are evenly dispersed, acting as a "fire barrier" and significantly improving the flame retardant effect.At the same time, AZX912 is prepared using the independently developed ultra-high-speed plasma rotating electrode atomization technology, with a powder sphericity of more than 92%, very few satellite balls, and a particle size controlled at 30-90μm, which can be customized according to different 3D printing processes and product requirements.In addition, the Fire and Explosion Prevention Laboratory of Northeastern University also issued an authoritative test report (No.: 2025020700021), and the results showed that AZX912 exhibited excellent flame retardant properties.For actual users, this is not only a set of experimental data, but also an important guarantee for daily safety.The most direct benefit is that it has lower requirements for ambient oxygen concentration. The limit oxygen concentration (LOC) of AZX912 reaches 9.8%. In actual application, it only needs to control the system oxygen concentration within 6.8% (already including a 3% safety margin). Compared with traditional magnesium alloy materials, it has a larger operating space and is safer to use.More importantly, its dust cloud has a minimum ignition temperature of 620℃, which is insensitive to high-temperature hot surfaces, which means that in daily 3D printing operations, the equipment has lower requirements for explosion-proof electrical equipment, and can reach the T3 temperature group, which greatly reduces the difficulty of use.In terms of explosion risk, the maximum explosion pressure (PMAX) of AZX912 is only 0.58MPa, which is more than 40% lower than that of conventional magnesium alloy powder, and fully complies with the international standard of the EU ATEX explosion-proof directive for industrial dust Pmax less than 0.9MPa. In other words, when factories use this material, the safety bottom line is greatly improved and the actual risk is significantly reduced.However, Zhongti New Materials also reminds that although AZX912 has good body flame retardancy, the risk of explosion still exists. Related production equipment still needs to be equipped with dust collection, and reasonable explosion-proof and explosion-control measures, such as inerting, explosion venting, and explosion isolation, etc. Specific suggestions are as follows:Dust control: The dust concentration in the working environment should be controlled below 25 g/m³ (the lower explosion limit of magnesium alloy), and a dust concentration monitor should be equipped for real-time monitoring.Explosion-proof measures: Nitrogen inerting (oxygen concentration ≤6.8%) is preferred, or explosion venting and explosion isolation devices are installed. Electrical equipment must meet the explosion-proof requirements of the T3 temperature group (surface temperature ≤200℃).Electrostatic protection: The equipment should be effectively grounded, and the ambient humidity should be kept above 60% to prevent low-energy electrostatic discharge (MIE=10~20 mJ).Here, we also add one more point: magnesium will react with water and carbon dioxide, so when magnesium catches fire, you must not use water or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, only dry powder fire extinguishers can be used, or directly cover with sand. Previously, serious accidents have occurred in the industry due to improper operation, and safety issues must be given enough attention.With the launch of the new 3D printing flame-retardant magnesium alloy powder CNPC-AZX912, this lightweight material is expected to open up a broader application space. It is not only suitable for test battery trays for new energy vehicles, but also for satellite brackets in aerospace, and will also become an important material for orthopedic implants in the medical field.In fact, as an important participant in 3D printing metal materials, Zhongti New Materials is accelerating its industrialization layout. By 2026, the company will build more than 50 powder production lines covering a variety of product types. Among them, for the titanium alloy market, the company has built three phases of new factory buildings, focusing on the large-scale production of 3D printing recycled titanium alloy powder. It is expected that by the end of 2025, the annual production capacity of Ti6Al4V alloy powder will reach 700 tons.

3D printed faucetsA 3D printed faucet is a faucet made using 3D printing technology, which allows designers and manufacturers to create unique and complex shapes that are difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional methods.3D printed faucets typically involve a process where metal powder is layered and melted into a final shape using selective laser melting (SLM), selective laser sintering (SLS), or other 3D printing technologies. These faucets are not only innovative in design, but also more flexible in manufacturing and can be customized to suit customer needs.Advantages of 3D printed faucetsDesign freedom: 3D printing technology allows designers to create complex and personalized designs that are difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods.Rapid prototyping: It can quickly go from design to physical object, shortening the product development cycle.Customization: The design and functionality of the faucet can be customized to the specific needs of the user.Reduced waste: 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that reduces material waste compared to subtractive manufacturing (such as milling).Complex internal structure: It is possible to manufacture faucets with complex internal channels and structures that are difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing.Disadvantages of 3D printed faucetsCost: Although the cost of 3D printing technology is decreasing, the cost of printing a single piece is still higher than traditional methods of mass production.Material limitations: Although the number of available printing materials is increasing, they are still limited, and the performance of some materials may not be as good as traditionally manufactured materials.Post-processing: The printed faucet may require additional processing steps, such as grinding and polishing, to achieve the required surface quality and functional requirements.Production efficiency: 3D printing is generally slower than traditional manufacturing methods, especially for large-scale production.3D printed faucets represent a technological innovation in the bathroom industry. They not only provide unlimited possibilities in design, but also show the potential for flexibility and customization in the manufacturing process. Despite the challenges in cost and efficiency, 3D printed faucets are expected to become more popular in the future as technology advances and costs decrease.3D-gedruckte WasserhähneEin 3D-gedruckter Wasserhahn wird mithilfe der 3D-Drucktechnologie hergestellt. Designer und Hersteller können damit einzigartige und komplexe Formen gestalten, die mit herkömmlichen Methoden nur schwer oder gar nicht realisierbar sind.3D-gedruckte Wasserhähne entstehen typischerweise in einem Verfahren, bei dem Metallpulver schichtweise aufgetragen und mithilfe von selektivem Laserschmelzen (SLM), selektivem Lasersintern (SLS) oder anderen 3D-Drucktechnologien zu einer endgültigen Form geschmolzen wird. Diese Wasserhähne sind nicht nur innovativ im Design, sondern auch flexibler in der Fertigung und können individuell an Kundenwünsche angepasst werden.Vorteile von 3D-gedruckten WasserhähnenDesignfreiheit: Die 3D-Drucktechnologie ermöglicht Designern die Erstellung komplexer und personalisierter Designs, die mit herkömmlichen Fertigungsmethoden nur schwer realisierbar sind.Rapid Prototyping: Der schnelle Übergang vom Entwurf zum physischen Objekt verkürzt den Produktentwicklungszyklus.Individualisierung: Design und Funktionalität des Wasserhahns können an die individuellen Bedürfnisse des Nutzers angepasst werden.Weniger Abfall: 3D-Druck ist ein additives Fertigungsverfahren, das im Vergleich zu subtraktiven Fertigungsverfahren (wie Fräsen) Materialabfall reduziert.Komplexe Innenstruktur: Es ist möglich, Armaturen mit komplexen Innenkanälen und Strukturen herzustellen, die mit herkömmlichen Fertigungsverfahren nur schwer zu erreichen sind.Nachteile von 3D-gedruckten ArmaturenKosten: Obwohl die Kosten der 3D-Drucktechnologie sinken, sind die Kosten für den Druck eines einzelnen Stücks immer noch höher als bei herkömmlichen Massenproduktionsverfahren.Materialbeschränkungen: Obwohl die Anzahl der verfügbaren Druckmaterialien zunimmt, ist diese immer noch begrenzt, und die Leistung einiger Materialien ist möglicherweise nicht so gut wie bei herkömmlich hergestellten Materialien.Nachbearbeitung: Die gedruckte Armatur kann zusätzliche Bearbeitungsschritte wie Schleifen und Polieren erfordern, um die gewünschte Oberflächenqualität und die erforderlichen Funktionen zu erreichen.Produktionseffizienz: 3D-Druck ist im Allgemeinen langsamer als herkömmliche Fertigungsverfahren, insbesondere bei der Großserienproduktion.3D-gedruckte Armaturen stellen eine technologische Innovation in der Badezimmerbranche dar. Sie bieten nicht nur unbegrenzte Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten, sondern auch das Potenzial für Flexibilität und individuelle Anpassung im Herstellungsprozess. Trotz der Herausforderungen hinsichtlich Kosten und Effizienz dürften 3D-gedruckte Wasserhähne in Zukunft mit dem technologischen Fortschritt und sinkenden Kosten an Popularität gewinnen.