News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
After working with Team Penske in five championship and over 70 race wins since 2017, Stratasys has announced an enhanced technical partnership with Penske. The parties have entered into a new multi-year partnership agreement, which allows Stratasys to maintain its technical support for the four systems currently deployed in Penske’s shop.
Given plans to revisit the lunar surface by the late 2020s and to take a crewed mission to Mars by the late 2030s, critical technologies must mature. In missions of extended duration, in situ resource utilization is necessary to both maximize scientific returns and minimize costs. While this presents a significantly more complex challenge in the resource-starved environment of Mars, it is similar to the increasing need to develop resource-efficient and zero-waste ecosystems on Earth. In a recent paper published on PLOS One, scientists at Singapore University of Technology and Design used recent advances in the field of bioinspired chitinous manufacturing to develop a Martian biolith to be used with additive manufacturing technology within the context of a minimal, artificial ecosystem that supports humans in a Martian environment.
Sterling Backus’ 3D printed Lamborghini was one of 3dpbm’s biggest stories ever and rightly so. The project is truly amazing: to think that someone could 3D print several parts of an Aventador replica’s body at home, on basic desktop systems (used as a base shape for composites), and actually build a working car seemed impossible. And yet, here it is: the (almost) final product looks truly amazing and it is a great inspiration for STEM education, which is exactly what Backus set out to promote.
Dutch construction design firm Studio RAP has been 3D printing ceramic tiles for their work on design elements of the pioneering New Delft Blue project in the historic Dutch city of Delft. After printing these tests at Studio RAP’s workshop, the tiles went straight into the kiln at Koninklijke Tichelaar where they were also beautifully glazed.
The BMW Group has transposed its 3D printing activities to its motorbike racing team by printing S 1000 RR World Superbike components at the curbside, on-demand. This method allows the team to quickly prototype new components at the circuit. Testing is made more efficient, which is an old story for those familiar with additive manufacturing prototyping. Full production runs on these bikes occur after the 3D-printed prototypes are fully tested before final production occurs in Munich. BMW also uses its 3D printers at races to produce non-critical parts track-side.
LM Industries, the parent company of Local Motors – the first company to develop largely 3D printed EVs – raised $15 million from Mirai Creation Fund II (managed by SPARX Group Co., Ltd, the Japanese asset management firm). This financing will help Local Motors deliver Olli to customers and consumers who are seeking ways to redefine local mobility.
Three months after its foundation, Additive Drives GmbH, developers of additively manufactured electric motor components, obtained a seven-digit (€1.5 million) seed investment from the Munich-based investor AM Ventures Holding GmbH. The financing round is intended to further advance the market launch. In addition to scaling the business in the area of prototyping, high-performance series applications are also to be enabled. By means of 3D printing, Additive Drives takes electric machines to unexpected levels of performance and efficiency.
When Rolls Royce makes a car it looks at every detail so that you don’t have to. In order to maintain the minimalistic, luxurious style of the original, the new Rolls Royce Ghost Extended went the extra mile to develop unique part geometries that would enable the increased legroom without compromising the car’s style. In order to achieve this, the British car company made intensive use of 3D printed parts.
In anticipation of the 2024 Olympic Games, Plaine Commune Grand Paris has awarded the Freyssinet / Lavigne & Cheron Architects / Quadric / XtreeE / LafargeHolcim consortium the design-build of a 40-meter pedestrian footbridge in Paris whose deck will be entirely made of 3D printed structural concrete.
Scaled Ltd, a UK firm specializing in large format 3D printing via a robotic extrusion process, unveiled its Project Chameleon 3D printed electric vehicle. The company started working on the Chameleon vehicle less than half a year ago, aiming to demonstrate how the way vehicles are manufactured can be revolutionized through AM.