News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
For the past two years, officials and teams from Formula 1 have negotiated to come up with a new set of regulations for the 2021 racing season. Among the many updates made to the Formula 1 2021 technical regulations is the approval of two additive manufacturing metal powders developed by Colorado-based Elementum 3D, A6061-RAM1 and A2024-RAM2.
The Czech Republic is preparing to break ground on its first 3D printed house next month. The stylish housing structure was designed by Michal Trpak of sculptural architectural studio Scoolpt, and will be constructed in collaboration with the Stavebni sporitelna Ceske sporitelny (Buřinka) building society. The 3D printed house, whose most distinguishing feature is that it floats, demonstrates how 3D printing technologies can be used to create housing more sustainably than traditional means.
US-based Pikus Concrete is teaming up with Sika to commercialize 3D concrete printing technology in the construction industry and to capture its vast potential. Pikus’ first 3D concrete printer with Sika technology has commenced operation in Lehi, Utah. The company is working on implementing the technology in the first construction projects. This marks the first time a construction 3D printing deal involves two well-established commercial construction companies. Previous projects have generally involved at least one startup or government investment entity.
During the “Dream Road” Winsun global conference organized by Yingchuang (Winsun) on construction 3D printing technology and procurement – held in the Shanghai Qingpu Yingchuang recycling industrial park – the company presented its latest progress and upcoming projects, including colored architectures and graphene structures.
After finalizing the 3D printed reefs in the labs of the Civil Engineering School of the University of Cantabria, 3DPARE is deploying them off the Atlantic coasts of England, France and Spain. Portugal is next in line.
Remember the 3D printed Lamborghini story? So much has happened since, including Lamborghini swapping it for a real one and… a pandemic. However, Sterling Backus never stopped working on the project (actually can you think of anything better to do during a lockdown?) and now he’s taking the beast – whose official name is the 3D Printed Interceptor – out for a spin.
A new partnership forged between GE Renewable Energy, COBOD International and building materials company LafargeHolcim will seek to develop optimized 3D printed concrete bases for wind turbines to make them taller and more cost effective. The turbines, which are expected to reach record heights of 200 meters, will be co-developed through a multi-year collaboration that seeks, overall, to increase renewable energy production while lowering the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE).
In the past, we have often seen ambitious conceptual ideas for 3D printed buildings – even skyscrapers – draw much hype but never see the light. This is no longer the case. The recent concept of a floating 3D printed concrete house has already begun construction, now a new concept for 3D printed observation tower – named Supernatural Concre(a)tion may follow suit, as the project from Dubai-based studio Nyxo is actually a blueprint that covers every detail.
Motorsports, and Formula 1 in particular, is considered one of the driving segments for AM adoption. But one thing is the ability to rapidly produce lighter AM car parts and an entirely different thing, especially in F1, is the ability to actually use them. That’s because the regulations for additive manufacturing in Formula 1 are very (very) strict and sometimes block AM materials and applications.
LEHVOSS North America, a provider of thermoplastic 3D printing materials, has signed a formal agreement with Forward Engineering North America (FENA), a Michigan-based division of global engineering and consulting firm Forward Engineering GmbH that is focused on the use of fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials for the serial production of automotive structures.