News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Last month, UK-based metal AM powder manufacturer Metalysis appeared to be in dire straights, as it announced it was placed into administration. Since then, things are looking up as mining company Power Resources Group (PRG) has announced it is buying the metal AM company out of administration.
Chinese sportswear brand PEAK Sports Products introduced a new model of fully 3D printed sneakers – upper, midsole and outsole – in the domestic Chinese market. As leading Chinese 3D printing media Nanjixiong reports, the first 600 pairs of the new FUTURE FUSION PEAK3D sneakers were briefly available on the company’s online store, on July 5th, for 1,299 Yuan (about $190) and sold out in a matter of seconds.
Carnegie Mellon has been selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to lead a research team dedicated to examining new ways to build and power aircraft of the future, through NASA’s University Leadership Initiative. As part of the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program, Carnegie Mellon will help solve the nation’s most pressing problems in aviation.
Australian startup Hearables 3D—a spin out of a research initiative at Swinburne University—has developed a process for 3D printing custom fitted ear devices, such as earphones and hearing aids, in less than an hour. The technique relies on smartphone 3D scanning and ultra-fast stereolithography 3D printing.
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.
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.
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.