News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Amid the growing global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with schools, cultural spaces and businesses shuttering to slow the virus’ spread, the additive manufacturing industry is also finding ways to play its part. While some recently passed events, like AMForum in Berlin, went ahead, several upcoming industry events have been postponed or outright cancelled.
Additive manufacturing is increasingly being adopted by consumer brands who take advantage of improved customization, lighter products and faster product development. The consumer sector of additive manufacturing encompasses eyewear, footwear, sports equipment, jewelry and fashion, among others.
Many have been asking what the implications of the current COVID-19 pandemic are going to be on additive manufacturing as an industry. The relationship between coronavirus and 3D printing is not entirely clear, mostly because we are very far from understanding what the long, medium and even short terms implications of the pandemic are going to be on global supply chains.
Aerospace giant Safran is bringing all of its additive manufacturing activities under one roof at a new site called the Safran Additive Manufacturing Campus. Construction of this Factory of the Future began in March and is on track to host as many as 50 production-grade 3D printers working with metallic powder or other feedstock, melted by a laser beam or other means.
The 32nd Annual AMUG Conference and Business Meeting, which was scheduled to take place in Chicaco on March 22-26, 2020 has been canceled. The much overdue decision came in response to the escalation of the covid-19 threat, which has so far been greatly underestimated by US policymakers in particular.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lithoz has postponed the opening event for its Innovation Lab.
One of Australia’s leading metal additive manufacturing companies Titomic has announced a partnership agreement with Ascent Aerospace, a U.S.-based provider of production and automated assembly systems for the aerospace, defense and space sectors. The companies will work together to bring Titomic’s Kinetic Fusion (TKF) additive process to Ascent’s associated aerospace customers.
One of the big developments of the past year in the consumer 3D printing market has been the introduction of professional-level bike saddles, manufactured using Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology. Within the span of a couple of weeks at the end of last summer, Carbon revealed two partnerships with established bike companies: Specialized and fizik. We’re going to take a closer look at what the new trend signifies for additive’s adoption in the cycling world.
German 3D printing reseller Solidpro, an HP Gold Partner, has announced a strategic partnership with Munich-based DyeMansion, a provider of post-processing solutions for polymer additive manufacturing. Through the collaboration, the partners are aiming to offer their customers access to the entire AM value chain, from concept to finishing.
ANCA, an Australian manufacturer of machine tools, is teaming up with national science agency CSIRO, Sutton Tools and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) to develop and bring to market a new hybrid manufacturing platform that combines additive and subtractive capabilities. The new and potentially disruptive system will be designed to manufacture custom cutting tools made from tungsten.