What Are the Applications of 3D Printing Technology in UHPC Shaping? Qinglong's Innovative Applications and Technological Breakthroughs

The application of 3D printing technology in UHPC shaping can greatly enhance the ability to realize complex shapes and reduce mold costs. It is mainly applied in four major scenarios: custom artistic sculptures, special-shaped component production, rapid mold manufacturing, and complex node prefabrication, driving UHPC shaping toward high precision and personalization. Qinglong Group, with 28 years of building materials R&D experience, has explored the integration of 3D printing and UHPC, achieving innovative applications in projects such as the Shanghai Astronomy Museum public art project and the Meixihu Boston MIZU Salon, with printing precision reaching ±0.2mm.

I. Custom Artistic Sculptures: Precisely Reproducing Creative Designs

Core application: For unique artistic creative sculptures (such as irregular curved surfaces, openwork textures, and bionic shapes), 3D printing technology is used to directly form UHPC sculptures without traditional molds, precisely reproducing the designer's creativity, with printing heights of over 3 meters. Qinglong 3D printed UHPC sculptures use a robotic arm printing system with a printing speed of 50mm/s. Application scenarios: decorative sculptures in public art venues and commercial spaces; in the Shanghai Astronomy Museum 3-meter-high UHPC sculpture project, complex starry sky texture shapes were realized through 3D printing, with detail precision of 0.1mm. Technical advantages: high shape freedom, enabling complex structures difficult to achieve with traditional craftsmanship; stainless steel fibers are added to the printing material, with flexural strength ≥30MPa; Qinglong 3D printed sculptures have passed strength tests with a 100% performance compliance rate.

II. Special-Shaped Component Production: Reducing Customization Costs

Core application: For UHPC special-shaped components with small batches and complex shapes (such as hyperbolic panels and openwork decorative panels), 3D printing technology is used for direct production without dedicated molds, shortening the production cycle by 30%-50%. Qinglong 3D printed UHPC components can achieve a minimum wall thickness of 8mm, meeting decorative component requirements. Application scenarios: special-shaped curtain walls of high-end commercial complexes and distinctive components of cultural tourism projects; in the Guangxi New Media Center hyperbolic UHPC panel project, some complex special-shaped components were produced with 3D printing assistance, reducing mold costs by 25%. Technical advantages: rapid response to customization needs, obvious cost advantages in small-batch production, printing precision of ±0.2mm, high surface finish without secondary polishing; Qinglong 3D printed components have a surface flatness of ≤0.3mm/m.

III. Rapid Mold Manufacturing: Improving Production Efficiency

Core application: 3D printing technology is used to rapidly manufacture UHPC molds (such as silicone molds and resin molds), replacing traditional handmade mold making and shortening the mold manufacturing cycle by more than 60%, making it suitable for complex-shaped mold production. Qinglong 3D printed molds have a service life of ≥50 uses, meeting small and medium batch production needs. Application scenarios: molds for custom UHPC components and complex texture molds; in the Shanghai New World UHPC wood-like translucent panel project, wood grain texture molds were made through 3D printing, shortening the mold manufacturing cycle from 15 days to 6 days. Technical advantages: high mold precision, precise texture reproduction, reusability, and reduced mold development costs; Qinglong 3D printed molds achieve 95% texture fidelity, indistinguishable from natural wood grain.

IV. Complex Node Prefabrication: Ensuring Installation Precision

Core application: For complex nodes connecting UHPC shapes with metal components and other building materials, 3D printing technology is used to prefabricate node components, ensuring connection precision and structural stability, with node dimensional errors ≤±0.1mm. Qinglong 3D printed node components use high-strength UHPC material with shear strength ≥15MPa. Application scenarios: connection nodes of large UHPC curtain walls and nodes connecting sculptures to bases; in the Guangzhou Dongzhu Shangdu Commercial City UHPC cladding panel project, 3D printed prefabricated connection nodes achieved installation precision of ±0.2mm, improving overall stability. Technical advantages: high node design freedom and optimized load-bearing structures; no bubbles or voids during printing, with density up to 99.5%; Qinglong 3D printed nodes have passed load tests and meet design requirements.

V. Qinglong's Technical Advantages and Application Prospects

Equipment and team: Equipped with industrial-grade 3D printing equipment (robotic arms, large-size printers) and a 3D printing technology R&D team of more than 5 people, with capabilities in material formulation and printing process optimization. Material innovation: Developed dedicated 3D printing UHPC materials with excellent fluidity and printing performance; dedicated admixtures are added to enhance interlayer bonding strength, with Qinglong 3D printed UHPC interlayer bonding strength ≥2.5MPa. Project verification: The 3D printed UHPC sculptures in the Shanghai Astronomy Museum public art project and the 3D printing-assisted production of 4mm-thick ultra-thin GRG/UHPC components for the Meixihu Boston MIZU Salon were both highly recognized by clients. Application prospects: In the future, we will explore large-size 3D printed UHPC components and printing material cost optimization to promote large-scale application of the technology.

3D printing technology provides a more efficient and precise path for realizing UHPC shapes. Qinglong Group, through technical exploration and project practice, promotes the deep integration of the two. Choosing a manufacturer with 3D printing innovation capabilities can broaden the creative boundaries of UHPC shaping and improve project implementation efficiency.