News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
UK-based Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has revealed the various ways in which it is employing 3D printing technologies, and specifically Stratasys’ FDM systems, to produce flight-ready parts for aircraft and ground-running equipment. The company says that additive manufacturing has enabled it to reduce production costs for certain components, while often also reducing weight.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) and three partners are spearheading MultiPROmobil, an NRW Leitmarkt Project that aims to develop multi-functional laser tools that could help to overcome existing production challenges for electric vehicle designs.
Canadian additive manufacturing company Burloak Technologies is teaming up with MDA, a company specializing in space robotics, satellite payloads, antennas and more, to accelerate commercial space applications for additive manufacturing processes.
The ExOne Company selected Kennametal, a global leader in material science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions as its first partner for beta testing of the X1 25PRO production machine.
In 1765, an instrument maker at the University of Glasgow named James Watt came up with a way of radically improving the efficiency of the Newcomen steam engine—a breakthrough that played a role in ushering in the Industrial Revolution. Today, 200 years after his death, the innovative JetX team from the University of Glasgow is honouring the inventor with the creation of a 3D printed miniature model of Watt’s steam engine.
If you like watching robots destroy each other and 3D printing, you’ll love this! BattleBots, the nearly decade-old robot-fighting series, is bringing additive manufacturing into the ring with the help of 3D printing company Markforged. The company, which specializes in metal and carbon fiber 3D printing, was hosted by BattleBots during filming for the 2019 World Championship and assisted in the production of over 160 robot parts.
The last few years have shown us that there are many ways to overcome the constraints of 3D printing and evolve the technology to cater to the demands of end-use part production. Inkbit, a 2017 spinout from the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), uses machine vision and AI to make production-ready, material jetting-based AM systems.
Michelin and GM, two companies that have been making very significant investments in additive manufacturing just presented a disruptive concept for an airless, 3D printed fully recyclable car tire. The Uptis Prototype represents a major advancement toward achieving Michelin’s VISION concept, which was presented at the Movin’On Summit in 2017 as an illustration of Michelin’s strategy for research and development in sustainable mobility.
Over the past year, furniture giant IKEA, 3D printed custom prosthetic company UNYQ and Sweden’s Area Academy have been working together to create a series of ergonomic products for the gaming community. Though it might not seem like the most physically extreme pass-time, gaming can lead to numerous health problems, including carpal tunnel, tennis elbow and more.
While bioprinting technologies are gradually advancing here on Earth, the next giant leap in the technology’s evolution could come from beyond the stratosphere. The ability to bioprint tissues and cellular structures in space could result in more sophisticated structures, which could culture without the pull of gravity. There are already efforts underway to bring bioprinting to space—notably, Russian company 3D Bioprinting Solutions recently deployed the first bioprinter, the Organ.Aut, to the ISS.