3D Printing: Innovations and Applications with a Focus on Custom 3D Printing in China
3D printing (3DP), also known as Additive Manufacturing (AM), is a technology that fabricates solid objects by successively adding materials layer by layer, based on 3D CAD data. The historical development of 3D printing has been marked by continuous progress and expansion. From its origins in rapid prototyping, it has evolved to find widespread applications across various sectors, including jewelry design, footwear manufacturing, industrial design, architecture, engineering, automotive, aerospace, and medical fields such as dentistry.
On January 14, 2019, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, achieved a breakthrough by using rapid 3D printing to create a spinal cord scaffold that mimics the central nervous system, successfully restoring motor function in rats. This highlighted the technology's potential in biomedical engineering.
In a key milestone for custom 3d printing china, on May 5, 2020, China's Long March 5B rocket carried a 3D printer during its maiden flight, conducting the country's first space-based 3D printing experiment. This event also represented the world's first attempt at 3D printing continuous fiber-reinforced composites in space, showcasing China's advancements in tailored manufacturing solutions.
Further exemplifying the impact of custom 3d printing china, on July 17, 2025, a team at Hunan Cancer Hospital successfully performed the province's first limb-salvage surgery on a child using a customized distal tibia prosthesis produced with 3D printing. This case demonstrated how personalized medical devices are transforming patient care in China.
