In recent years, 3D printing technology has continued to innovate and is reshaping the global industrial landscape with its unique manufacturing flexibility and customization advantages. In the field of metal additive manufacturing, Beijing QuickBeam Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "QuickBeam") has realized the leap from single gun to array electron beam technology with its self-developed QuickBeam series equipment, and successfully broke the bottleneck of traditional technology. In particular, the QuickBeam S600 device, as the world's first array electron beam 3D printing equipment, not only refreshed the record of the largest printing format of commercial electron beam equipment, but also brought new solutions to high-end manufacturing fields such as aerospace and medical devices. China Exportsemi will try to deeply analyze the story behind the breakthrough of QuickBeam, and discuss the far-reaching impact of this technological breakthrough on the global additive manufacturing industry.
1. Technological innovation: break through the tradition and achieve large-format high-precision printing
1.1 QuickBeam S350：Robust output of single-gun equipment
The QuickBeam S350 device launched earlier by Tsingken Zhishu uses single-gun electron beam forming technology with a forming size of 350 mm× 350 mm × 500 mm. The equipment supports the printing of a variety of high-performance metal materials such as titanium alloy, high-temperature titanium alloy, high-strength titanium alloy and aluminum alloy, which is widely used in aerospace and medical device manufacturing. The QuickBeam S350 delivers high-precision deposition with an accuracy of ±0.2 mm/100 mm, providing a solid technical support for the manufacture of complex structural components.
1.2 QuickBeam S600：A breakthrough in array electron beam technology
On the basis of the successful application of QuickBeam S350, Tsingyan Zhishu has further developed the QuickBeam S600 device. The equipment adopts the self-developed 2×2 array electron gun technology, and through the working of four electron guns, the printing format is extended to 600 mm× 600 mm × 700 mm, far exceeding the limitations of traditional electron beam equipment on the market (the maximum printing format is about 400 mm ×400 mm). The QuickBeam S600 machine not only has significant advantages in printing large-size components, but also ensures the forming accuracy and splicing quality through electromagnetic insulation and precision splicing technology, truly realizing "high precision, high efficiency, and low cost" mass manufacturing.
The new EG3.1 electron gun and advanced operating software enable the QuickBeam S600 to take full advantage of the high energy density, strong penetration and fast deflection speed of the electron beam. According to official data, the ultimate deposition efficiency of the equipment can be increased to more than 400 cm³/h when printing titanium alloys, which provides the possibility for the efficient manufacturing of complex titanium alloy components in aerospace. In addition, through technologies such as automatic calibration, powder blowing detection and online optical monitoring, the stability and traceability of the printing process are greatly enhanced, providing a reliable guarantee for industrial applications.
Figure: QuickBeam released the world's first arrayed electron beam 3D printing device, QuickBeam S600
2. Application field: a new era of aerospace and medical device manufacturing
2.1 Aerospace field: precision manufacturing of large-scale components
The aerospace industry has extremely high requirements for material properties and structural accuracy, and traditional manufacturing processes often struggle to meet the needs of complex titanium alloy components. With its large-format printing capabilities and high precision, the QuickBeam S600 machine can efficiently manufacture complex titanium alloy parts such as cabins, rudder wings, and integral frame beams, providing strong support for the lightweight and high-performance of aviation equipment. It is reported that the QuickBeam S600 has been put into production and began to achieve mass production and delivery in the aerospace field, and some equipment is expected to be delivered in the first half of this year, which greatly improves production efficiency and reduces manufacturing costs.
2.2 Medical device field: the perfect combination of customization and high performance
In the medical device sector, high-performance metal materials such as titanium alloys are widely used in the manufacture of implants, prostheses and other delicate medical devices. The QuickBeam S350 and QuickBeam S600 devices are capable of producing biocompatible and mechanical medical device parts with high-precision printing capabilities, providing customized solutions for personalized medicine. Implants manufactured using 3D printing technology can not only be customized according to the specific anatomy of the patient, but also significantly shorten the manufacturing cycle and reduce the risk of surgery, thereby improving the treatment effect and quality of life of patients.
3. Market impact: leading the industrial upgrading of 3D printing technology
3.1 The global market size is expanding rapidly
According to China Securities Express and data from relevant market research institutions, the global additive manufacturing (3D printing) industry sales have exceeded the US$20 billion mark in 2023, and the market size is expected to reach US$29.8 billion by 2025, and this figure will climb to US$85.3 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of about 23.4%. In this context of rapid expansion, the QuickBeam S600 device of Tsingyan Zhishu not only refreshed the record of commercial electron beam equipment with its breakthrough technology, but also provided new impetus for the global high-end manufacturing market and promoted the intelligent and digital upgrading of the manufacturing industry.
3.2 Technological leadership and industrial competitiveness
Through independent research and development, QuickBeam has mastered the core electron beam additive manufacturing technology, which makes it occupy a leading position in the global 3D printing market. The successful production of QuickBeam S600 not only proves China's independent innovation ability in the field of high-end manufacturing equipment, but also inspires other companies in the industry to increase R&D investment and promote the continuous iterative upgrading of electron beam 3D printing technology. With the maturity of technology and the continuous expansion of application fields, QuickBeam S600 is expected to become the standard configuration of aerospace, medical equipment, automobile manufacturing and other industries in the future, further enhancing the international competitiveness of China's manufacturing industry.
4. Future outlook: continuous innovation and internationalization strategy
While making remarkable achievements in breakthrough product research and development, QuickBeam is also constantly planning the next development strategy. The company said that it will continue to increase R&D investment in the future, focusing on the following directions:
4.1 Increase printing speed and reduce costs
The company plans to optimize the process flow and equipment performance, further improve the printing speed, and continue to innovate in material utilization, energy consumption control, etc., so as to reduce the overall production cost and enhance the market competitiveness of the product.
4.2 Expand application fields and deepen cross-border integration
In addition to aerospace and medical devices, QuickBeam will actively explore the application of other high-end manufacturing fields such as automobiles and industrial equipment, promote the deep integration of 3D printing technology with traditional manufacturing, and help industrial transformation and upgrading.
4.3 Strengthen cooperation with universities and scientific research institutions at home and abroad
Through in-depth cooperation between industry, academia and research, QuickBeam will continue to introduce cutting-edge theories and new technologies, create an open and shared technological innovation platform, and provide continuous power for equipment upgrading and new product development.
4.4 Promote international market expansion and enhance brand influence
Relying on the advantages of independent core technology, the company will further strengthen international cooperation, establish strategic alliances with world-renowned manufacturing enterprises, jointly promote array electron beam 3D printing technology, create an international brand image, and promote China's manufacturing equipment to the world.
5. Conclusion
The QuickBeam S350 and QuickBeam S600 devices independently developed by Tsingyan Zhishu mark the successful launch of the world's first array electron beam 3D printing equipment. This breakthrough not only refreshes the printing format record of traditional electron beam equipment, but also provides a revolutionary solution for high-end manufacturing fields such as aerospace and medical devices with the advantages of high precision, large format, high efficiency and low cost. With technological innovation as the core driving force, QuickBeam is leading the profound transformation of global metal additive manufacturing technology and injecting strong impetus into the intelligent and digital transformation of China's manufacturing industry.
In the future, with the gradual promotion and application of QuickBeam S600 equipment in various fields, as well as the continuous increase of R&D investment and deepening international cooperation, its competitiveness in the global 3D printing field will be further enhanced. We have reason to believe that this innovation will bring new changes to the global manufacturing industry, open a new era of industrial production, and inject lasting vitality into the development of the industry.
