News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Just outside of Bologna, work is advancing on an ambitious construction 3D printing project spearheaded by Italian company WASP and Mario Cucinella Architects. Together, the companies are constructing the first prototype of a sustainable, 3D printed habitat called TECLA.
It’s challenging enough to reduce plastic consumption here on the ground but in the air it’s practically impossible. I’ve become all too wary of all the plastic that is barely used and simply thrown away on flights. Apparently, I’m not the only one. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is attempting to curb the amount of plastic it tosses after flights by transforming used water bottles into 3D printing filament.
One of the most iconic cars from Bentley’s history – Sir Tim Birkin’s 1929 supercharged 4½-litr ...
The government of Dubai today announced another milestone for the UAE city in the area of construction 3D printing. Now, not only is Dubai home to the first 3D printed office building, it also hosts the largest 3D printed two-storey structure in the world. The building, which spans 640 square meters and is 9.5 meters in height, was recently recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Digital manufacturing company Voxel8 has completed a Series B funding round led by the investment arm of DSM, DSM Venturing. The investment round also saw funding from HP Tech Ventures and existing backers Bræmar Energy Ventures and ARCH Venture Partners. The funding—though unspecified in its amount—will enable Voxel8 to ramp up the adoption of its footwear/textile 3D printing technology.
GKN Powder Metallurgy, the division of GKN where most of the group’s AM activities are concentrated, has acquired FORECAST 3D, a large California-based firm that provides production 3D printing services leveraging multiple HP MJF systems. As GKN acquires FORECAST 3D, it adds 25 years of experience in polymers to its advanced additive manufacturing production capabilities and market leadership ambitions in this high growth market.
Anouk Wipprecht, one of the best-known tech-fashion designers making intensive use of 3D printing technologies, has worked with “bionic” singer Viktoria Modesta on the latest Rolls Royce Campaign. Anouk has collaborated with Viktoria on several projects in the past, transforming the singer’s prosthetic leg in a stylish augmentation. This time the duo, along with director Jora Frantzis, and Dutch designer Rem D. Koolhaas (of UnitedNude), produced items for a performance art piece that embodies the essence of Rolls Royce’s Black Badge brand. One of the special items they created is a prosthetic limb with an electricity effect, wrought from Rolls Royce Black Badge carbon fiber.
One Piece manga fans had a chance to get interactive with their favorite One Piece characters 3D printed in huge sizes for the publication’s 20th Anniversary celebrations. Fans used the event app’s augmented reality videos to film themselves together with the 24 giant 3D printed props and to customize the videos to share on social media.
Carboni e Metalli, an innovative startup based in the heart of the Italian Motorvalley, worked with metal AM service provider Beam IT to create a radical concept motorcycle using several metal 3D printed parts. Named Lunar Project, as it pays homage to the successes of the Apollo missions, the bike was presented at the 2019 Wildays in Italy and took home the “BEST OF SHOW” award for the best motorcycle.
This Friday, we’re rounding up some news items that reflect both the good of the industry and its growth and a bit of the bad. On the positive side, BCN3D has restated its commitment to open source technologies with the release of 3D printer files for its Sigma R19 and Sigmax R19 and Origin has started shipping its Origin One 3D printer. The industry received some more negative news from Aleph Objects, however, which appears to be downsizing significantly to stem problems of cash flow.