Review and Research Prospects on Additive Manufacturing Technology for Agricultural Manufacturing
, Weixuan Xu 2,†, Junyi Leng 3, Xiaoyue Liu 1, Heyang Xu 2, Hengnan Ding 1, Jianfei Zhou 1 and Longfei Cui 4
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsGeneral comments
Paper is dealing with quite important issues and could be quite useful for corresponding applications. I would only suggest better proofreading and minor corrections. Ideally you should use either ‘Spelling and Grammar check’ option in MsWord with English dictionary, or any of existing web-based resources with similar functionality.
Specific comments
(i) Abstract, line 3 from the beginning:
“…Additive manufacturing encompasses a range of techniques, including 3D printing, laser sintering, and electron beam melting. …”
It is too narrow definition. Moreover, in page 3 and in Table 1you have much wider list of included AM technologies. Also, AM today does not include almost any technology that could be regarded as ‘printing’.
I would suggest changing to something like:
“…Additive manufacturing encompasses a range of different techniques capable of working with very different materials from metals and alloys to polymers and composites. …”
(ii) page 2, Table 1 and related text:
“… powder bed melting…” is it not “powder bed fusion”? Please check!
(iii) page 2 last lines:
“…As we all known, the adoption of AM technology…”=> “…As we all KNOW, the adoption of AM technology…”
Such things should be cleared using spelling and grammar checking software.
Another typical example- page 4, 3d line of the text in 2.2- end sentence dot is missing.
(iv) page 3:
“…However, there is a notable gap in the study of the low-temperature mechanical properties and deformation behavior of medium/high entropy alloys and their composites produced through additive manufacturing. …”
It is just a particular case. I would suggest changing it to:
“…However, there is a notable gap in the study of the low-temperature mechanical properties and deformation behavior of materials used in additive manufacturing, where the focus recently was at potential high-temperature applications. One of the typical examples is medium/high entropy alloys and their composites. …”
(v) page 4:
“…By automatically picking and placing various fruits through
machine vision, the grasp made by this method is not easy to damage the product when
picking crops and fruits, and the problem of damaging the crop surface is greatly reduced….”
Unclear sentence. May be:
“…By automatically picking and placing various fruits through machine vision and advanced grasp mechanism control it is possible to avoid damage to the objects especially such sensitive as fruits and vegetables…”
(vi) Figure 2 is taken from another publication.
You should have a permission from the source to do that. Please contact Journal Editors to find out how this is done.
(vii) page 8, 3.3:
“…In addition to the traditional sensors, there is a new type of sensor, named biosensor,
has a good prospect for development. …”
Language issues. Similar to (iii) it should be cleared through spelling & grammar checking.
In particular case, may be:
“…In addition to the traditional sensors, there is a new type of sensor, named biosensor,
WHICH (or THAT) has a good prospect for development. …”
Comments on the Quality of English Language
Text needs proof-reading.
Minimum demands- computer based spelling and grammar checking (for example using built-in options in MsWord).
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you for your insightful feedback on our manuscript. We appreciate the time and effort you have taken to review our work and provide constructive comments. Below, we address each of your concerns in detail.
The main corrections in the manuscript and the responds to the reviewer’s comments are as flowing:
Reviewer's comments and our responses
Reviewer 3:
Comments #1: Paper is dealing with quite important issues and could be quite useful for corresponding applications. I would only suggest better proofreading and minor corrections. Ideally you should use either ‘Spelling and Grammar check’ option in MsWord with English dictionary, or any of existing web-based resources with similar functionality.
Response #1: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have carefully checked the spelling and grammar errors through the whole manuscript.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #2: Abstract, line 3 from the beginning. Additive manufacturing encompasses a range of techniques, including 3D printing, laser sintering, and electron beam melting. …”
It is too narrow definition. Moreover, in page 3 and in Table 1you have much wider list of included AM technologies. Also, AM today does not include almost any technology that could be regarded as ‘printing’.
I would suggest changing to something like” Additive manufacturing encompasses a range of different techniques capable of working with very different materials from metals and alloys to polymers and composites. …”
Response #2: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We accepted your recommendation and revised in the abstract section.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #3: page 2, Table 1 and related text: powder bed melting…” is it not “powder bed fusion”? Please check!
Response #3: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We accepted your recommendation and revised in the table 1 and carefully checked all the manuscript.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #4: page 2 last lines,“…As we all known, the adoption of AM technology…”=> “…As we all KNOW, the adoption of AM technology…” Such things should be cleared using spelling and grammar checking software. Another typical example- page 4, 3d line of the text in 2.2- end sentence dot is missing.
Response #4: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We accepted your recommendation and carefully checked all the manuscript.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #5: Page 3:“ However, there is a notable gap in the study of the low-temperature mechanical properties and deformation behavior of medium/high entropy alloys and their composites produced through additive manufacturing. …” It is just a particular case. I would suggest changing it to:“…However, there is a notable gap in the study of the low-temperature mechanical properties and deformation behavior of materials used in additive manufacturing, where the focus recently was at potential high-temperature applications. One of the typical examples is medium/high entropy alloys and their composites. …”
Response #5: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We accepted your recommendation and carefully checked all the manuscript.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #6: Page 4: “…By automatically picking and placing various fruits through machine vision, the grasp made by this method is not easy to damage the product when picking crops and fruits, and the problem of damaging the crop surface is greatly reduced….” Unclear sentence. May be: “By automatically picking and placing various fruits through machine vision and advanced grasp mechanism control it is possible to avoid damage to the objects especially such sensitive as fruits and vegetables…”
Response #6: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We accepted your recommendation and carefully checked all the manuscript.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #7: Figure 2 is taken from another publication. You should have a permission from the source to do that. Please contact Journal Editors to find out how this is done.
Response #7: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have cited the paper in the reference and I will contact with the journal editors to find out to make sure it is done.
Comments #8: Page 8, 3.3: “…In addition to the traditional sensors, there is a new type of sensor, named biosensor, has a good prospect for development. …” Language issues. Similar to (iii) it should be cleared through spelling & grammar checking. In particular case, may be: “…In addition to the traditional sensors, there is a new type of sensor, named biosensor, WHICH (or THAT) has a good prospect for development. …”
Response #8: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We accepted your recommendation and carefully checked all the manuscript.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsSpecific comments:
ABSTRACT (Page 1): What is meant by “an advanced material preparation technology” in the context of your description of additive manufacturing (AM)? Material feedstock for use in AM fabrication is usually/generally pre-prepared in readiness for direct use by most AM processes. This is also stated (“As a new material preparation technology…”) in Para 2 of 1. INTRODUCTION. Please revise the language interpretation used.
· 1. INTRODUCTION, Para 1 (Page 2): “…parts produced using this technology exhibit high precision, excellent mechanical properties…” – this is a generalisation that may not stand up to the claims made. One reference only is cited to back up this statement, when in reality, AM does not always improve characteristics such as mechanical properties. Parts are prone to porosity (in MEx, L-PBF, etc) and therefore perform inferior to cast or moulded components. Please review and rectify this statement.
· 1. INTRODUCTION, Para 2 and Table 1 (Page 2): These seven names to detail the seven categories of AM technology are not as defined by ASTM. Please use the correct terms and reference a better source (from ASTM, rather than another journal paper which must be incorrect). There is no such thing as “adhesive injection” or “reductive photopolymerization”. Directed Energy Deposition is not similar to Material Extrusion. Etc…
· 1. INTRODUCTION, Para 2 (Page 2): Please elaborate on how AM influences factors / offers advantages (you make an assumption by stating “we all known [sic]”) such as “production efficiency” (e.g. you make not comment as to volume of products being made/produced), “cost reduction” (same comment, volume is important here) and especially “environmental protection” (e.g. what is being protected and how is this achieved?)…
· 2.1 Manufacturing of Agricultural Machinery Parts… Para 1 (Page 3): What temperature range is being addressed when the authors refer to “extreme temperatures”, “high and low temperatures”, etc. There is no numerical value stated for context? Would it be expected that components would be used outside of normal operational ranges (e.g. -30°C to +50°C)?
· 2.2 AM’s application in soil touching… Para 2 (Page 4): Which reference number should Li et al correspond to (not stated in the main narrative)? Is it a mis-spelling of Liu (ref [13] or ref [8]) or it hasn’t actually been included in the References list?
· 2.2 AM’s application in soil touching… Para 4 (Page 5), after Fig.1: “3D printing can be used to manufacture materials that…” – this is incorrect, 3D printing (or rather AM, as has been used throughout so far in the manuscript) processes materials only – please amend to be accurate. Please also provide definitions for SMA, SMP and LMPA. Figure 1 does not appear to be cited in the main text – please rectify this. Figure 3 in the text is actually referring to Figure 2 (the timeline) – please rectify. Text in the right-hand column in Figure 2 is too small to be legible – this must be rectified.
· 3. Application status and prospect of AM technology…, Para 1 (Page 5): The text refers to Table 4, which immediately follows the paragraph – but where is Table 3? Incremental Table numbering has obviously not been followed. Please rectify. Please apply a common font size for the text in Table 4 (or should be Table 3), rather than use multiple font sizes. In fact, the content of that table could be better presented as part of the main text/narrative, rather than tabulated.
· 3.1 Humidity sensor, Para 1 (Page 7): Figure 3 has not been referred to in the main text, so why does it appear / what’s the context for its inclusion? Please add the reference number (i.e. [16]) after “Yasin et al”.
· 3.2 Temperature sensor, Para 1 (Page 8): Wasson et al does not appear in the list of References. Please review throughout and rectify this issue for all such instances. Figure 5 in the text is actually referring to Figure 4 (Proposed temperature sensing system scheme) – please rectify.
· 3.3 Biosensor (Page 8): Please define AFB1.
· 3.4 Sensor system (Page 8-9): It would be useful to describe what AM processes/technologies have been utilised to fabricate these sensors and allow the reader an opportunity to understand how they might actually function. As most AM technologies are mono-material, what is the mode by which they operate / enable functionality?
· 4.1 Precise identification and classification…, Para 1 (Page 9): Please explain how 3D scanning (a geometric data-capture process) can “achieve accurate identification of agricultural waste”? Figure 6 in the text is actually referring to Figure 5 (Schematic diagram of waste identification…) – please rectify.
· 4.2 Reuse agricultural waste, Para 2 (Page 10): Please add the reference number (i.e. [39]) after “Giani et al”. Please define the meaning of PLA, PBAT, NPK and FDM.
· 6.1 Printing ink selection and optimization, Para 1 (Page 11): Please define PCMC. Table 7 (Page 12) has not been referred to in the main text, so why does it appear / what’s the context for its inclusion?
· 7 Current existing problems of AM technology (Page 13): There are many bold statements being presented in this section, but these are not being considered in the context of necessary volume production of components, and may only prove viable in the context of single unit fabrication. Please review what is presented here and justify more fully, the issues which are presented as “problems”.
General comments:
· There are many instances requiring minor amendments to spelling, punctuation (spacing!) and grammar. Please seek input from a native English speaker who should be able to identify these for you (too many for me to take the time to list). Examples include no spacing between words and parentheses (brackets), use of the full term “additive manufacturing” when ‘AM’ has already been defined, etc.
· Font sizes keep changing at different points in the manuscript. Please refer to the Guidelines for the Preparation of Manuscripts that will be available from the Publisher and ensure that these are followed, and font size remains uniform throughout as required.
· Please do not use ‘3D Printing’ and ‘additive manufacturing’ interchangeably – pick one (preferably AM, as the recognised ASTM terminology) and stick with it throughout the manuscript.
· Please check that all references cited in the main text are actually present in the list of References at the end of the manuscript. Equally, please ensure all references listed are indeed cited.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageSee Comments to Authors - revisions required
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you for your insightful feedback on our manuscript. We appreciate the time and effort you have taken to review our work and provide constructive comments. Below, we address each of your concerns in detail.
The main corrections in the manuscript and the responds to the reviewer’s comments are as flowing:
Reviewer's comments and our responses
Comments #1: ABSTRACT (Page 1): What is meant by “an advanced material preparation technology” in the context of your description of additive manufacturing (AM)? Material feedstock for use in AM fabrication is usually/generally pre-prepared in readiness for direct use by most AM processes. This is also stated (“As a new material preparation technology…”) in Para 2 of 1. INTRODUCTION. Please revise the language interpretation used.
Response #1: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have carefully checked the spelling and grammar errors through the whole manuscript. We revised the “an advanced material preparation technology” into ““an advanced fabrication technology.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #2: NTRODUCTION, Para 1 (Page 2): “…parts produced using this technology exhibit high precision, excellent mechanical properties…” – this is a generalisation that may not stand up to the claims made. One reference only is cited to back up this statement, when in reality, AM does not always improve characteristics such as mechanical properties. Parts are prone to porosity (in MEx, L-PBF, etc) and therefore perform inferior to cast or moulded components. Please review and rectify this statement.
Response #2: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We revised the citation as:
Tan et al. [2] examined laser AM has many advantages over traditional manufacture. They found that parts produced using this technology exhibit short prepare cycle and enables the preparation of complex structures with lightweight properties.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #3: INTRODUCTION, Para 2 and Table 1 (Page 2): These seven names to detail the seven categories of AM technology are not as defined by ASTM. Please use the correct terms and reference a better source (from ASTM, rather than another journal paper which must be incorrect). There is no such thing as “adhesive injection” or “reductive photopolymerization”. Directed Energy Deposition is not similar to Material Extrusion. Etc…
Response #3: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We revised the table 1 and the sentences as follows:
“ASTM classifies AM technologies into seven categories: binder jetting, material extrusion, directed-energy deposition, material jetting, powder bed fusion, sheet lamination, vat photopolymerization.”
Citation paper: Gardan, J. Additive Manufacturing Technologies: State of the Art and Trends. International Journal of Production Re-search 2016, 54, 3118–3132, doi:10.1080/00207543.2015.1115909.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #4: INTRODUCTION, Para 2 (Page 2): Please elaborate on how AM influences factors / offers advantages (you make an assumption by stating “we all known [sic]”) such as “production efficiency” (e.g. you make not comment as to volume of products being made/produced), “cost reduction” (same comment, volume is important here) and especially “environmental protection” (e.g. what is being protected and how is this achieved?)
Response #3: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We deleted the inaccurate statement.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #4: Manufacturing of Agricultural Machinery Parts… Para 1 (Page 3): What temperature range is being addressed when the authors refer to “extreme temperatures”, “high and low temperatures”, etc. There is no numerical value stated for context? Would it be expected that components would be used outside of normal operational ranges (e.g. -30°C to +50°C)?
Response #4: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We deleted the extreme temperatures and revised the sentence as follows:
The demand for agricultural machinery and equipment parts capable of operating under special environmental conditions presents significant opportunities for advancement. Environmental conditions critically impact the performance and durability of mechanical components used in agricultural manufacturing.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #5: AM’s application in soil touching… Para 2 (Page 4): Which reference number should Li et al correspond to (not stated in the main narrative)? Is it a mis-spelling of Liu (ref [13] or ref [8]) or it hasn’t actually been included in the References list?
Response #5: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. Sorry to make you confused. We made a editing mistake and we deleted the citation.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #6: AM’s application in soil touching… Para 4 (Page 5), after Fig.1: “3D printing can be used to manufacture materials that…” – this is incorrect, 3D printing (or rather AM, as has been used throughout so far in the manuscript) processes materials only – please amend to be accurate. Please also provide definitions for SMA, SMP and LMPA. Figure 1 does not appear to be cited in the main text – please rectify this. Figure 3 in the text is actually referring to Figure 2 (the timeline) – please rectify. Text in the right-hand column in Figure 2 is too small to be legible – this must be rectified.
Response #6: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. Sorry to make you confused. We carefully checked all the editing mistake and revised them correctly. The definitions for SMA, SMP and LMPA are shape memory alloy, shape memory polymer and low-melting-point alloy, respectively.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #7: Application status and prospect of AM technology…, Para 1 (Page 5): The text refers to Table 4, which immediately follows the paragraph – but where is Table 3? Incremental Table numbering has obviously not been followed. Please rectify. Please apply a common font size for the text in Table 4 (or should be Table 3), rather than use multiple font sizes. In fact, the content of that table could be better presented as part of the main text/narrative, rather than tabulated.
Response #7: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. Sorry to make you confused. We carefully checked all the editing mistake and revised them. The content in the table 3 could briefly be presented as the format of table, so we would like to keep the table 3.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #8: Humidity sensor, Para 1 (Page 7): Figure 3 has not been referred to in the main text, so why does it appear / what’s the context for its inclusion? Please add the reference number (i.e. [16]) after “Yasin et al”.
Response #8: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. Sorry to make you confused. We carefully checked all the editing mistake and revised them.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #9: Temperature sensor, Para 1 (Page 8): Wasson et al does not appear in the list of References. Please review throughout and rectify this issue for all such instances. Figure 5 in the text is actually referring to Figure 4 (Proposed temperature sensing system scheme) – please rectify.
Response #9: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We made editing mistake here. We checked the whole paper and revised them.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #10: Biosensor (Page 8): Please define AFB1.
Response #10: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. AFB1 is the short of aflatoxin B1. We carefully checked all the editing mistake and revised them.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #11: Sensor system (Page 8-9): It would be useful to describe what AM processes/technologies have been utilised to fabricate these sensors and allow the reader an opportunity to understand how they might actually function. As most AM technologies are mono-material, what is the mode by which they operate / enable functionality?
Response #11: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have added corresponding additive manufacturing processes for sensors and elucidated their practical applications. The newly added references can be found below.
Humidity sensor
It can be obtained real time and accurate monitoring of air humidity, soil moisture, and humidity in breeding grounds. In the 3DP process of additive manufacturing, the adhesive in the form of droplets is sprayed onto the surface of the powder bed through the print head. The solid layer is formed by the solidification of the adhesive, and then a new layer of powder is provided. The construction process is repeated until the part is constructed.[1]
Temperature sensor
It used to monitor temperature changes accurately and assist in precise fertilization,Deng et al.[2] used the 3DP method to prepare and verify the insulation performance of the gas chamber.
Biosensor
It can monitor of agricultural product quality and soil pollution, etc.Lu et al.[3] combined SLS technology with different processing methods such as biosensitive components and pressureless sintering to effectively improve the geometric dimension accuracy of the final sample.
Sensor system
Carry out agricultural production management and intelligent decision support .
According to the forming process, AM-SF can be divided into AM bending, AM drawing, AM flanging, AM spinning, and AM progressive forming processes to complete the manufacturing and processing of complex components[4].
[1]Tang S ,Yang L ,Fan Z , et al.A review of additive manufacturing technology and its application to foundry in China[J].China Foundry,2021,18(04):249-264.
[2]Deng C ,Kang J ,Shangguan H , et al.Insulation effect of air cavity in sand mold using 3D printing technology[J].China Foundry,2018,15(01):37-43.
[3]Lu D , Zhang L , Cheng S ,et al.Microstructure control of SiCw/SiC composites based on SLS technology[J].Journal of the European Ceramic Society, 2022, 42(9):3747-3758.
[4]Ge T , Li Y , Gao D ,et al.Hybridizing additive manufacturing and sheet forming process to manufacture complex components with multi-features: A review[J].Journal of Manufacturing Processes[2024-07-05].
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #12: Precise identification and classification…, Para 1 (Page 9): Please explain how 3D scanning (a geometric data-capture process) can “achieve accurate identification of agricultural waste”? Figure 6 in the text is actually referring to Figure 5 (Schematic diagram of waste identification…) – please rectify.
Response #12: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. The picture has been corrected. As for the capture process of agricultural waste by 3d scanning, additional explanations have been made as follow：
“A large number of parameters are formed in the database by using 3D laser scanning, multi-view stereoscopic (MVS) reconstruction and 3D digitization and other 3D data acquisition methods. Three-dimensional laser scanning system is used to identify crops visually, and three-dimensional point cloud data is collected and transmitted to the computer. The computer processes the acquired initial point cloud data for de-noising, simplifying and fusion processing. With the help of professional data processing software, it obtains the three-dimensional data model of agricultural waste, automatically calculates and analyzes the precise volume of agricultural waste and other data, and generates relevant reports.”
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #13: Reuse agricultural waste, Para 2 (Page 10): Please add the reference number (i.e. [39]) after “Giani et al”. Please define the meaning of PLA, PBAT, NPK and FDM.
Response #13: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We revised the sentence as follows:
“Another study focused on using melt deposition modeling to produce biodegradable agricultural product prototypes, including polylactic acid/ polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PLA/PBAT) and nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K) fertilizer filaments adsorbed onto organ bentonite.”
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #14: Printing ink selection and optimization, Para 1 (Page 11): Please define PCMC. Table 7 (Page 12) has not been referred to in the main text, so why does it appear / what’s the context for its inclusion?
Response #14: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. The PCMC is short for plum seed-derived carboxymethyl cellulose. And the table 7 (now is table 4) is added in the main text.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #15: Current existing problems of AM technology (Page 13): There are many bold statements being presented in this section, but these are not being considered in the context of necessary volume production of components, and may only prove viable in the context of single unit fabrication. Please review what is presented here and justify more fully, the issues which are presented as “problems”.
Response #15: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have carefully checked the whole manuscript and revised all the errors and correct references.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #16: General comments: There are many instances requiring minor amendments to spelling, punctuation (spacing!) and grammar. Please seek input from a native English speaker who should be able to identify these for you (too many for me to take the time to list). Examples include no spacing between words and parentheses (brackets), use of the full term “additive manufacturing” when ‘AM’ has already been defined, etc. Font sizes keep changing at different points in the manuscript. Please refer to the Guidelines for the Preparation of Manuscripts that will be available from the Publisher and ensure that these are followed, and font size remains uniform throughout as required. Please do not use ‘3D Printing’ and ‘additive manufacturing’ interchangeably – pick one (preferably AM, as the recognised ASTM terminology) and stick with it throughout the manuscript. Please check that all references cited in the main text are actually present in the list of References at the end of the manuscript. Equally, please ensure all references listed are indeed cited.
Response #16: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have carefully checked the whole manuscript and revised all the errors and correct references.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis paper is fully related to Mechanical engineering
Page 3 Regarding anti corrosion coating may not work well with soil touching agricultural equipment parts.
Similarly water jet nozzles, sprayer nozzles, drip parts, connecting link etc. Manufacturing may be OK .But 3D printing is fit for high precision equipment only.
Suddenly a farmer wants a replacement for defective, he need that with in Hours, else it may pause the cultivation, which no farmer prefers. Even though lot of job work firms are available, designer decision is the deciding factor to provide the construction details or easy replacement parts.
Page 2.2 Cr composite are known human carcinogens. This may contaminate the products.
For research in the field of agriculture this will have impact where as for a common farmers in poor countries this method may not suitable.
The following points are need to correct
1. Abstract must be re written with more precise content.
2. I suggest this author to include the schematic diagram of this manuscript that should be figure 1.
3. Figure 1 to be replaced by better quality image.
4. Table 3 need to include.
5. I suggest this author, to include future perspective section
6. Reference are should not be greater than 5 years. Refer the following article and cite.
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8040330
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202102443
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you for your insightful feedback on our manuscript. We appreciate the time and effort you have taken to review our work and provide constructive comments. Below, we address each of your concerns in detail.
The main corrections in the manuscript and the responds to the reviewer’s comments are as flowing:
Reviewer's comments and our responses
Comments from reviewer 1
Comment #1: This paper is fully related to Mechanical engineering. Page 3 Regarding anti corrosion coating may not work well with soil touching agricultural equipment parts. Similarly, water jet nozzles, sprayer nozzles, drip parts, connecting link etc. Manufacturing may be OK. But 3D printing is fit for high precision equipment only. Suddenly a farmer wants a replacement for defective, he need that with in Hours, else it may pause the cultivation, which no farmer prefers. Even though lot of job work firms are available, designer decision is the deciding factor to provide the construction details or easy replacement parts. Page 2.2 Cr composite are known human carcinogens. This may contaminate the products. For research in the field of agriculture this will have impact where as for a common farmer in poor countries this method may not suitable.
Response #1: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. As we all known, anti-corrosion coatings can face significant challenges when used in agricultural settings, particularly due to the harsh and varied environmental conditions. So, we have included additional details in our manuscript about the specific limitations and potential degradation mechanisms of these coatings in soil environments. We agree that 3D printing, while offering high precision, may not always be practical for urgent replacements needed in the agricultural sector. Compared with the traditional manufacturing, 3D printing can quickly print out various types of non-standard agricultural equipment parts. Of course, it also needs the local agricultural machinery service provider have a reliable supply chain and the capabilities to ensure that farmers can obtain replacement the parts produced by the AM technology quickly to avoid interruptions in their work. We acknowledge the serious health risks associated with Cr composites and their potential to contaminate agricultural products. We stress the importance of stringent regulatory measures and safety protocols to mitigate any potential contamination risks, particularly in developing countries where farmers may be more vulnerable.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comment #2: Abstract must be re written with more precise content.
Response #2: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. Sorry to make you confused. We have revised the abstract as follows:
“Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, is a manufacturing technology that constructs objects by sequentially adding material layer by layer. It encompasses a range of techniques, including 3D printing, laser sintering, and electron beam melting. As an advanced material preparation technology, AM is characterized by strong design flexibility, the ability to create intricate structures, and cost-effectiveness when compared to conventional material preparation methods.AM technology is widely employed in various sectors such as aerospace, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing, and its application is increasingly expanding into agricultural manufacturing. This study provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the current status of AM technology applied in the five main agricultural manufacturing aspects such as the application of AM technology in the manufacturing of agricultural equipment parts, its use in agricultural sensors, its role in the utilization of agricultural waste, its application in the field of plant growth mechanisms and phytoremediation tissues. The current existing problems of AM technology and future development trends are also concluded to provide the implications for researchers. The adoption of AM technology in agriculture offers significant advantages, including enhanced production efficiency, cost reduction, innovation facilitation, and environmental protection. From initial prototyping to custom production today, AM technology provides more flexible, efficient and sustainable solutions for agricultural manufacturing. Especially in the fields of agricultural machinery, planting facilities and agricultural biomaterials, the application of AM technology has shown great potential and advantages. With the continuous advancement of technology and the reduction of costs, AM technology will become more popular and play a more vital role in agricultural manufacturing. In the future, we can foresee that AM will realize the manufacturing of agricultural products with higher precision, more complex structure and more functions, providing more intelligent and personalized solutions for agricultural production. As such, it is emerging as a critical driving force in the advancement of precision agriculture.”
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comment #3: I suggest this author to include the schematic diagram of this manuscript that should be figure 1.
Response #2: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have added the schematic diagram of this manuscript in figure 1.
Figure 1 Structure diagram of this research
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comment #4: Figure 1 to be replaced by better quality image.
Response #4: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have improved the quality of figure 1 and changed it in the manuscript.
Figure 2 The development and preparation process of 3D printing fixture[20]
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comment #5:Table 3 need to include.
Response #4: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have concluded the table 3and changed it in the manuscript.
Table 3 Summary of the application of AM technology in agricultural sensors manufacturing.
|
Type of sensor |
Agricultural application |
Classic quotation |
Advantages |
|
Humidity sensor |
Plant factory |
Yasin et al.[21] utilized additive technology to integrate a humidity sensor, for regulating water preservation in environmental monitoring of plant growth. |
Additive manufacturing humidity sensor does not require mold, shell, core and other auxiliary products, short manufacturing process, short cycle, fast design iteration speed, can manufacture complex parts sensor. |
|
Intelligent greenhouse control |
Li et al. [22]combines Modbus with 3D printed temperature and humidity sensors to solve the problem of field data acquisition in smart agriculture. |
||
|
Temperature sensor |
Precision agriculture |
Wasson et al.[23] introduced an RFID-based autonomous leaf temperature sensing system for precision agriculture, utilizing metal additive technology with superior high temperature performance and highly sensitive integrated sensors. |
Additive technology has good mechanical properties at high temperature, and has the characteristics of high stable and linear response, high sensitivity, fast transient response, low hysteresis, linear output curve and high precision. |
|
Soil temperature monitoring |
Grosu et al.[24] covers different temperature soil temperature monitoring with a high sensitivity temperature sensor. |
||
|
Biosensor |
Simulate plant growth mechanism |
Dekker et al.[25] uses additive manufacturing biosensors to detect cell metabolites, repair and heal damaged plant tissue, and simulate plant growth processes |
The additive manufacturing biosensor has the advantages of high sensitivity, small error and high specificity |
|
Sensor system |
Intelligent agricultural environmental monitoring |
Ojha et al. [26]proposes additive manufacturing technology specifically designed to enable irrigation automation and environmental monitoring |
AM technology improves the accuracy and efficiency of quality control, strengthen transparency, ensure efficient logistics, and provide high—quality and cost—effective agricultural products supply. |
|
Monitoring the whole process of crop pro-duction and marketing |
Conto et al. [27]realized real—time monitorin by integrating multiple additive manufacturing sensors and HACCP principle traceability system. |
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comment #6: I suggest this author, to include future perspective section
Response #6: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have added future perspective section in the manuscript.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comment #7: Reference are should not be greater than 5 years. Refer the following article and cite.
Response #7: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. We have added some new references in the manuscript.
[1] Zou, M.; Zhang, Y.; Cai, Z.; Li, C.; Sun, Z.; Yu, C.; Dong, Z.; Wu, L.; Song, Y. 3D Printing a Biomimetic Bridge‐Arch Solar Evaporator for Eliminating Salt Accumulation with Desalination and Agricultural Applications. Advanced Materials 2021, 33, 2102443, doi:10.1002/adma.202102443.
[2] Balasankar, A.; Anbazhakan, K.; Arul, V.; Mutharaian, V.N.; Sriram, G.; Aruchamy, K.; Oh, T.H.; Ramasundaram, S. Recent Advances in the Production of Pharmaceuticals Using Selective Laser Sintering. Biomimetics 2023, 8, 330, doi:10.3390/biomimetics8040330.
[3] Molaei, M.J. Principles, Mechanisms, and Application of Carbon Quantum Dots in Sensors: A Review. Anal. Meth-ods 2020, 12, 1266–1287, doi:10.1039/C9AY02696G.
[4] Ji, S.; Gui, H.; Guan, G.; Zhou, M.; Guo, Q.; Tan, M.Y.J. Molecular Design and Copolymerization to Enhance the Anti-Corrosion Performance of Waterborne Acrylic Coatings. Progress in Organic Coatings 2021, 153, 106140, doi:10.1016/j.porgcoat.2021.106140.
[5] Es-soufi, H.; Berdimurodov, E.; Sayyed, M.I.; Bih, L. Nanoceramic-Based Coatings for Corrosion Protection: A Re-view on Synthesis, Mechanisms, and Applications. Environ Sci Pollut Res 2024, doi:10.1007/s11356-023-31658-3.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors1 The author consolidates research findings on AM technology's impact on agricultural parts, materials, sensors, waste reutilization, and plant growth mechanisms through a literature review. This can serve as a reference for future scholars exploring the application of AM technology in the agricultural sector.
2 The author mentions in the abstract that the paper analyzes 'five' domains, but in Section 1, it states that the paper covers 'four' applications, with the difference being the fifth point on "current issues with AM technology." The author should verify if a revision is necessary. Moreover, why is there a sudden insertion of "Conflicts of Interest" in Section 7 on page 14?
3 Although the author suggests future directions for AM technology development, including material selection and process optimization, intelligent/automation, standardization, sustainability, and expanding the application fields of AM technology, the paper's contribution is insufficient. Because it only merely compiles various literature.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you for your insightful feedback on our manuscript. We appreciate the time and effort you have taken to review our work and provide constructive comments. Below, we address each of your concerns in detail.
The main corrections in the manuscript and the responds to the reviewer’s comments are as flowing:
Reviewer's comments and our responses
Reviewer 2:
Comments #1: The author consolidates research findings on AM technology's impact on agricultural parts, materials, sensors, waste reutilization, and plant growth mechanisms through a literature review. This can serve as a reference for future scholars exploring the application of AM technology in the agricultural sector.
Response #1: Thanks for your high interest and positive comments on our manuscript.
Comments #2: The author mentions in the abstract that the paper analyzes 'five' domains, but in Section 1, it states that the paper covers 'four' applications, with the difference being the fifth point on "current issues with AM technology." The author should verify if a revision is necessary. Moreover, why is there a sudden insertion of "Conflicts of Interest" in Section 7 on page 14?
Response #2: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. Sorry to make you confused. We have rewritten abstract and carefully checked all the editing errors to make it meet the quality requirement of the journal. We also deleted the "conflicts of Interest" in Section 7 on page 14.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Comments #3： Although the author suggests future directions for AM technology development, including material selection and process optimization, intelligent/automation, standardization, sustainability, and expanding the application fields of AM technology, the paper's contribution is insufficient. Because it only merely compiles various literature.
Response #3: Thanks for your kind comments for revising and improving our manuscript. As we all know, AM technology is widely employed in various sectors such as aerospace, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing, and its application is increasingly expanding into the agricultural equipment manufacturing. AM encounters several challenges, including the demand for customized equipment, the necessity for efficient production processes, and the imperative for sustainable practices. AM holds the promise of transforming agricultural manufacturing by providing unparalleled flexibility, precision, and material efficiency. So the contribution of this study is to provide a comprehensive re-view and analysis of the current status and future development trends of AM technology applied in agricultural manufacturing. The analysis covered five key areas: the application of AM technology in the manufacturing of agricultural equipment parts, its use in agricultural sensors, its role in the utilization of agricultural waste, its application in the field of plant growth mechanism and phytoremediation tissues, and the current existing problems of AM technology. The adoption of AM technology in agriculture offers significant advantages, including enhanced production efficiency, cost reduction, innovation facilitation, and environmental protection. As such, it is emerging as a critical driving force in the advancement of precision agriculture. We have added some new references and new contents in this revision manuscript. We believe these additions and revisions substantially enhance the manuscript’s contribution, moving beyond a mere compilation of literature to provide original research insights, practical applications, and a more comprehensive analysis of the future potential of AM technology. We hope these changes address your concerns and demonstrate the significance of our work.
The relevant corrections have been made in revised version in the manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThank you for understanding my feedback and addressing/implementing amendments to improve your manuscript.
There remains a number of typographical / grammatical / English language issues, however, these are not overly detrimental to the readability of the manuscript, so I am happy with how it is now presented.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageSome minor issues remain, but not detrimental to the readability of the manuscript.
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn this revised version, the author has added nine references and additional analysis. If the author could present more original research findings rather than just analyzing existing literature, it would significantly enhance the importance of this paper. However, the author mentions that the contribution of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review and analysis of the current status and future development trends of AM technology applied in agricultural manufacturing. This paper indeed achieves this goal.
