News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
In April 2019, German engineering conglomerate thyssenkrupp announced its plans to open an AM TechCenter Hub in Singapore, expanding its operations in the ASEAN region. To mark the recent launch of the new additive manufacturing center, thyssenkrupp has published a white paper that investigates the potential of AM in the region.
Ai Build announced a new version of AiMaker with AiCell Medium, the latest addition to its fleet of autonomous large scale 3D printers. This new solution is being demonstrated to the public with a live furniture 3D printing show at Future Lab, during the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019.
Australia-based Aurora Labs Ltd recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sweden-based aluminum manufacturer Gränges AB. The agreement, signed through Aurora Labs’ wholly owned subsidiary A3D Operations Pty Ltd., will focus on the development advancement of aluminum for additive manufacturing in the automotive and other industries.
To make something complicated even more complex, patents in 3D printing do not concern only 3D printing technologies but anything you can invent with them. This latest case is a clear example of a 3D printed invention where the patent also covers 3D printing as the manufacturing method. Finnish engineering services company Etteplan received a patent for its invention created through 3D printing: a motorcycle seat equipped with a moving mechanism – and its manufacturing method.
Despite all the logistic benefits of additive manufacturing, including streamlined supply chains, reduced inventory needs and shipment costs, the technology introduces a set of new challenges related to security. Especially in industries where stringent qualifications are needed, security risks—including compromised or stolen part files—must be addressed through sophisticated authentication and protection processes.
Founded by Bradley Rothenberg just four years ago in New York, nTopology has rapidly become one of the most appreciated generative software tools. In order to expand capabilities beyond lattice design, to address the entire engineering workflow, the company is now introducing the nTop Platform, which enables users to create lighter, higher-performing parts with functional requirements built right in.
The very niche subsegment of 3D bioprinting in space has had a development that we’re excited to report: Swedish bioprinting company CELLINK recently announced that it sent 3D bioprinted stem cells into space. The initiative, brought to fruition through a partnership with scientists from Uppsala University, aims to accelerate the development of a 3D neural stem cell system in order to provide vital insight on how changes in gravity effect cellular properties.
Dutch 3D printing company Ultimaker this week announced the relocation of its headquarters to Utrecht, a city in the central Netherlands. The move—along with a new branding strategy—are steps in the company’s continued expansion, which has been accelerating in recent years as the demand for professional 3D printing solutions has grown.
Metal AM specialist Sciaky, Inc. has announced a research and development partnership with high performance alloy processor Aubert & Duval and aerospace company Airbus. The collaboration, which is driven by the Saint Exupéry Institute for Research in Technology (IRT), will aim to combine traditional metallurgy with newer wire-fed metal 3D printing processes to establish new manufacturing methods for producing aircraft parts made from titanium alloys.
3D printing company EnvisionTEC GmbH has sold a Viridis3D RAM System to German casting company Giesserei Blöcher GmbH, marking the first Viridis3D RAM printer sold in Europe. The Viridis3D RAM System is a binder jetting system developed by industrial AM company Viridis3D, which has an exclusive strategic partnership with EnvisionTEC.