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CTA requests tariff exemptions for 3D printers, robots and more Legislation

by Business

While the United States Trade Representative Office (USTR) has made certain exemptions in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic—including waiving tariffs on imported ventilators, oxygen masks and nebulizers—a number of U.S. trade groups, including the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), have requested to broaden the scope of tariff-free products. Reuters reports that the CTA has called on the USTR to waive tariffs on products including 3D printers, drones, robots and personal computers that are made in China.

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Westinghouse Electric Company installs 3D printed part in commercial nuclear reactor Industrial Additive Manufacturing

by Environment

A significant milestone for additive manufacturing has been achieved in the nuclear industry: a first-of-its-kind 3D printed component has successfully been installed into a commercial nuclear reactor. The part, a 3D printed thimble plugging device, was installed by nuclear energy company Westinghouse Electric Company at Exelon’s Byron Unit 1 nuclear plant during its spring refueling outage.

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Open source Face Shield X can be 3D printed in under 60 seconds AM Industry

by Business

London large-format 3D printing company Ai Build open-sourced a unique face shield design – which it names Face Shield X – in an attempt to tackle the global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) with advanced additive manufacturing technology [download link in comments below]. Due to slow response in the early phases of the pandemic, the UK is currently the European nation that is hardest hit by Coronavirus, as the situation improves in Italy and Spain.

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Formlabs to 3D print 3,000 ventilator adapters a day with FDA approval AM Industry

by Medical

3D printing company Formlabs has not been idle since the novel coronavirus was declared a pandemic. The company has used its resources to support COVID-19 relief efforts with face shields, nasal swabs and more. Most recently, Formlabs revealed it has been granted emergency use authorization by the FDA to 3D print adapters which can convert BiPAP machines into much-needed ventilator systems. The company says it has the capacity to produce up to 3,000 3D printed adapters a day, which can be deployed to hospitals treating critically ill COVID-19 patients.