News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Stratasys-owned 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot has announced the release of a new material for its METHOD 3D printer, ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate). The filament is the latest addition to MakerBot’s Precision Materials series for METHOD and is well suited for outdoor applications that require resistance to harsh environments—such as those in the automotive, power and gas, agriculture, oil and gas and transit industries.
Following the success of the first 3D printed sneaker produced using the TripleCell platform—the 990 Sport—partners New Balance and Formlabs have debuted a second sneaker model, the FuelCell Echo Triple. The new running was produced using the innovative footwear 3D printing platform, which combines Formlabs’ stereolithography (SLA) technology with the custom Rebound Resin.
Cincinnati Incorporated, an Ohio-based machine equipment manufacturer, has signed a 10-year partnership agreement with NASCAR racing team Hendrick Motorsports. The agreement will see Cincinnatti Inc. become the 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champion’s official Metal Fabrication and Additive Equipment provider.
Underwater aquatic research seems to be taking up a new motto: do as the fish do! There is an undeniable trend in the field to explore the development of new research tools that not only blend into the aquatic environment more easily but also mimic deep sea residents. For example, MIT created a robotic fish called SoFi, and even more recently a student at TU Delft utilized 3D printing to create a robotic fish that swims through water like a tuna.
BeAM, a leading machine manufacturer in the field of DED (Directed Energy Deposition) technology for additive manufacturing, and the global technology company Siemens announced at EMO 2019 their plans to further intensify their collaboration. The partnership focuses on Sinumerik One, the new CNC generation from Siemens.
Vertico, a Dutch firm that has developed a concrete 3D printing technology, recently demonstrated its capabilities by 3D printing a concrete footbridge in collaboration with the University of Ghent. Not only a feat for its concrete AM technology, the bridge showcases Vertico’s ability to utilize optimized design to reduce material consumption without compromising strength or stress-resistance. According to the Amersfoort-based company, the bridge’s design allowed for a material reduction of 60%!
Lamborghini is an adopter of 3D printing – that is known. The company has been using the technology for prototyping for several years, although this was never officially confirmed beyond a Lamborghini placed inside the Energy Group (an Italian Stratasys distributor) booth at several AM shows. Lamborghini even went public with a production application using Carbon’s DLS technology for its Urus SUV. The latest Lamborghini model presented ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show (could the location suggest something, with Formnext on the way?), the Lamborghini Sián FKP37, packs all the latest automotive technologies and – for the first time – introduces a number of 3D printed final parts (likely produced with Carbon’s technology like the Urus). That makes sense since it is also the most customizable Lamborghini ever.
Though big industrial sectors like aerospace, automotive and medical are often the focus for additive manufacturing applications, the technology is finding its way into countless industries, sometimes radically transforming, sometimes slightly improving production workflows. The latest comes from the hosiery sector, where Italy-based hosiery equipment producer Lonati SPA has adopted 3D Systems’ AM solutions to streamline its workflow.
It’s clear when looking at the Zeus 8 motorcycle that it is not your run-of-the-mill chopper. With a dramatic elongated body and exposed battery cylinders, the electric motorcycle is a vehicle that even non-motorcycle-enthusiasts can gawk at. The impressive sickle, designed by Alabama-based Curtiss Motorcycles, has been in development for some time and is now finally approaching production—thanks in large part to hybrid manufacturing company Fast Radius.
Raise3D, a 3D printer manufacturer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, has unveiled its latest 3D printer model, the E2. The new machine, described as a multi-purpose, user-friendly, industrial-grade 3D printer, is part of a new series of printers that are being developed by Raise3D for specific materials, applications and industries.