News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
An IBM scientist has taken it upon himself to build a low-cost microscope after being disappointed with image quality results using his lab’s commercial device. The DIY microscope, which just about anyone can recreate at home, costs just $300 and is made of LEGO bricks, a Raspberry Pi computer, an 8MP Raspberry Pi camera and some 3D printed components.
Heraeus AMLOY, a specialist in amorphous metals, has partnered with machine manufacturing company TRUMPF to advance the 3D printing of amorphous metals. The group of materials, also known as metallic glasses, demonstrate exceptional strength (twice as strong as steel) but with less weight and more elasticity. Through their collaboration, the companies aim to establish additive manufacturing as a standard production process for amorphous metals.
The Blue Origin National Team, which includes Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Draper, was selected by NASA to begin to develop the Artemis Human Landing System. Existing and in development, technologies provide the head start needed to meet NASA’s goal of landing at the South Pole of the Moon. Lockheed Martin’s Ascent Element is based on Orion; Northrop Grumman’s Transfer Element is based on Cygnus; and Blue Origin’s Descent Element is based on the Blue Moon lander and BE-7 engine, which has been in development for several years.
As Boeing lays off 16,000 employees, the firm’s President and CEO Dave Calhoun issued a letter addressing aerospace market realities. The COVID-19-induced expected dramatic drop in airline travel, with US passenger volumes down 95%, is leading to a dramatic drop in aircraft and aircraft services demand.
A team of engineers from the University of Nottingham has developed a 3D printed face shield that has been certified by CE for use in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. The team is leveraging 3D printing resources from the University of Nottingham’s Centre for Additive Manufacturing as well as from local partners to produce and deliver 5,000 face shields to Nottingham’s NHS and community healthcare workers.
Andrew Rush, the President and CEO of Made In Space, has been appointed to serve on the NASA Advisory Council (NAC) as a representative member, and as Chair of its Regulatory and Policy Committee for a three-year term. Made In Space has worked with NASA in recent years to implement 3D printing aboard the International Space Station and to develop innovative satellite manufacturing technologies.
Right now, 3D printing is a common denominator in addressing the world’s biggest challenge: the lack of emergency respiratory devices. During the development of this project feedback from Brazil, Colombia, USA, Canada, Argentina, Morocco, Tunis, Italy, Taiwan, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Belarus and Austria confirmed that the key ingredient for a newly designed emergency respiration system has to be simplicity, a level that I have never been working on before. And that these simplified devices need to remain functional and efficient. The result is this Printable Ventilator-Free* Respiratory Kit, which can be downloaded free from GrabCAD.
Introduction Additive manufacturing can be used to create various industrial goods. When we ...
Binder jetting company ExOne revealed today that it has been working in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh to develop reusable metal filters for respirators. The 3D printed filters, which are now undergoing initial testing, could help to protect against the COVID-19 virus and other contaminants in a sustainable way.
German additive manufacturing company Rapid Shape has announced a partnership with dental manufacturer VOCO, also based in Germany. The companies are combining their capabilities—including 3D printing systems and dental-grade materials—to offer their customers more freedom and flexibility when choosing what materials to work with. In short, the companies will work to qualify more dental materials for additive manufacturing.