News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
GE Additive has signed a five-year cooperative R&D agreement (CRADA) with the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) aimed at establishing AM process, materials and software that accelerate the industrialization and adoption of the manufacturing technology.
Spanish footwear brand Camper, recognized for its stylish yet casual and comfy shoes for men and women, has found its own way to benefit from 3D printing technologies. At its headquarters in Inca, on the island of Mallorca, Camper has installed a number of desktop 3D printers from Barcelona’s BCN3D Technologies, which are helping to streamline its shoe design process.
One of the most production-capable photopolymerization technologies, digital light synthesis (DSL) from Carbon, had not yet gotten involved in the eyewear business. Until now, that is, as J of JINS, a luxury eyewear brand from Japan, just launched its Neuron4D brand, with two models integrating a lattice cushion made using Carbon technology.
SAE International released the first Additive Manufacturing (AM) Polymer specifications for the aerospace industry. AMS7100: Fuse Filament Fabrication Process and AMS7101: Material for Fused Filament Fabrication represent the first specifications released under the AMS-AM Additive Manufacturing Non-Metallic (AMS-AM-P) committee. These standards were created following a request from airlines through the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s EMG to be able to realize additively manufactured plastic cabin parts.
Building an SLS system is more complicated than most realize. This is what SLS system manufacturers have been saying for years, five years to be exact, since the first SLS patent expired in February 2014. Then a few companies set out to change that myth and only one of them – so far – has succeeded: Krakow, Poland-based Sinterit. Its Lisa and latest Lisa Pro systems are real, reliable products. We had the chance to test and review their technology first-hand, after visiting the company in Krakow for a hands-on training session.
Despite major developments in technology, 3D printing still intimidates many newer users. Many of the assumptions regarding 3D printing are steeped in confusion about its uses, popularity, and price. Consumers often view 3D printers as million-dollar devices when, in reality, consumer-grade tech costs $700 on average, with professional quality printers rivaling industrial machines at the mid-4-figure price range.
Texas-based bourbon brand Bulleit is taking its recent 3D theme in stride. In April, the company unveiled an elaborate 3D printed bar (as well as 3D printed cocktails) as part of a marketing campaign. Now, it is taking things a step further with a pair of 3D printed sneakers. The limited-edition shoes were unveiled last night at the Bulleit 3D Printed Frontier Experience in Dallas.
The Singapore arm of the German safety and quality expert, TÜV SÜD, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with thyssenkrupp Innovations, an innovative additive manufacturing solutions provider, to establish the principles governing their cooperation in jointly developing the market for additive-manufacturing-enabled solutions in the Asia Pacific region. The companies will work together over a period of three years, starting with setting up industrial-grade manufacturing solutions as well as testing, inspection and certification services for land transportation and mobility, and industrial plant services. The companies may expand the scope of the MoU to cover other sectors as well.
Materials and chemical giant BASF has taken a keen interest to 3D printing recently. As reported by 3D Printing Media Network’s Spanish language sister website Replicador.es, the multinational giant joined the international Barcelona-area based additive manufacturing Hub, IAM 3D HUB, as a technological partner. The company is thus aligned with the Hub’s mission and objectives and will support its mission by providing know-how, materials, and technologies for new 3D printing applications. BASF also wants to contribute with new points of view based on its experience in the chemical and materials development sector.
PTC signed a definitive with Onshape, creators of the first Software as a Service (SaaS) CAD/CAE product development platform. As per the agreement, PTC acquires Onshape for approximately $470 million. The acquisition is expected to accelerate PTC’s ability to attract new customers with a SaaS-based product offering and position the company to capitalize on the inevitable industry transition to SaaS. Pending regulatory approval and satisfaction of other closing conditions, the transaction is expected to be completed in November 2019.