News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
3D printer manufacturer Markforged today announced that it has shipped over 100 units of its metal 3D printing system the Metal X to clients around the globe. The Massachusetts-based company expects to “more than double” the number of shipments by the end of the year.
Ceramics expert Nanoe has announced it will be launching its Zetaprint system at Formnext 2018. Zetaprint, which is billed as the first metal and ceramic desktop 3D printing system, consists of an adapted FDM technology compatible with metal and ceramic filaments, along with a debinding vessel and sintering furnace. The whole system will reportedly cost 10,000 euros.
Authentise, an AM process automation software provider, has just announced a new collaboration with 3D software giant Autodesk through which it will integrate Autodesk’s Netfabb software with its additive workflow management tools. The software integration will offer users a more seamless process for editing, preparing and monitoring 3D prints.
BASF Venture Capital GmbH is investing in Prismlab, a leading provider of 3D printing processes and 3D printers, headquartered in Shanghai, China. Prismlab has developed a patented printing process that is characterized by a very high printing speed, high level of precision and lower printing costs. BASF’s venture investment will enable Prismlab to further accelerate its product development and innovation while strengthening its market reach to the global market.
Additive Manufacturing Technologies Ltd. (AMT), a UK-based specialist in post processing solutions for 3D printed parts, is expanding its business operations and customer support into the North American market. The expansion was marked by the appointment of Luis Folgar as AMT’s new Executive Vice President for the Americas.
One of the highlights at the SLM Solutions trade fair booth at formnext will be the world’s first 3D printed chassis from Divergent3D. After receiving extensive coverage worldwide, the chassis is finally going to be shown to an audience of AM experts. SLM Solutions is a strategic long-term partner of the company with comprehensive collaboration and consulting in focus: from the co-development of an additive manufacturing facility to individual parameter development.
Silicon Valley-based additive manufacturing company Carbon has announced a number of new appointments to its board of directors. Most notably, Ellen J. Kullman, the former Chair and CEO of DuPont (who has sat on Carbon’s Board of Directors since April 2016) has been named as the Lead Independent Director of the Board.
In the summer of 2015, Edwin and Liesbeth were making dinner. When they tossed away another packaging, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Why is it now ‘worthless’? They emptied their trashcan and were confronted with their personal habits and widespread plastic consumption and waste. One thing lead to another and the Clean2Antartica dream was born: using that recycled plastic to 3D print a solar-powered vehicle that could take them to the cleanest place on Earth: the South Pole.
Custom 3D printed eyewear is something of a trend in the industry, with a range of startups promising to deliver bespoke frames to customers thanks to AM. If there is one brand you’ll want to keep your eye on, it is probably King Children, a New York-based company that recently secured $2 million in funding for its launch.
Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and sports car manufacturer KTM is a major adopter of AM technologies. Today many of the company’s R&D activities with additive manufacturing take place through its KTM Technologies division, which in turn includes several different companies and AM service bureaus. KTM was among the first clients of HP’s 3D printing technology and has carried out some fascinating experimental development on the X-Bow sportscar. The latest case study is more closely related to the company’s core business: motorcycles. Specifically, on a brake lever for its top of the line Duke 1290. The lever was generatively redesigned for topology optimization, 3D printed by powder bed fusion in different materials and “hybridized” with continuous fiber reinforced plastics(CFRP) composites in a truly unique application case.