News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
3D printing company Markforged has announced the availability of Blacksmith, an AI-powered software that makes additive manufacturing systems “aware” so they can adjust programming and parameters to ensure optimal print results. The software, which Markforged says is the first of its kind, is built to enable smart factory environments and “Adaptive Manufacturing” with the aim of lowering production costs and boosting efficiency.
Just a couple of days ago SLM Solutions reported a Q1 financial performance below expectations, however, as is often the case in a young industry such as 3D printing, single quarter reports can be misleading. The company seems to be actually headed for further healthy growth as it inaugurated new expanded office facilities and application center for its Chinese HQ SLM Solutions Shanghai. After establishing Chinese operations in Shanghai in 2015, the new facility will strengthen SLM Solutions’ presence in China and allow local staff to collaborate with customers to foster selective laser melting innovation.
BASF 3D Printing Solutions is to provide innovative additive manufacturing materials to Paxis LLC for its new WAV (Wave Applied Voxel) technology. This is currently in development and is designed to meet the needs of additive manufacturing users, advanced manufacturing as well as traditional manufacturing markets. The WAV process was created with the end-user in mind in an effort to solve trapped volume issues of within current liquid resin-based technologies.
Belgian chemical company Solvay and 3D printing company Stratasys have announced a strategic partnership through which they will develop high-performance filaments for Stratasys FDM F900 3D printers. The partnership will initially focus on adapting Solvay’s versatile Radel polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) polymer.
HP Inc. is surely smiling a little brighter today, as it has deployed a number of Jet Fusion 3D printing systems to teledentistry pioneer SmileDirectClub, for a total of 49 operating systems. SmileDirectClub, which specializes in doctor-directed, remote clear aligner therapy, now has the capacity to produce over 50,000 unique mouth molds a day and nearly 20 million in the next 12 months. That’s a lot of corrected smiles!
To meet strong demand for consulting in additive manufacturing, Multistation SAS is regrouping its activities in this field within a specialized subsidiary: ADDITIV3X. The goal is to separate the sale of new and used machines from additive manufacturing consulting services. ADDITIV3X continues the partnership initialized with SEGULA TECHNOLOGIES.
Sicnova has signed an agreement with Zortrax to become its sole distributor in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Sicnova will offer the Polish company’s full range of 3D printers.
Industrial AM company ExOne is deepening its materials partnership with Sandvik Additive Manufacturing to advance its binder jetting technology. The news follows ExOne’s recent launch of a new material partnership program.
Composite 3D printing specialist Impossible Objects is not only introducing its latest 3D printer, the CBAM-2, today: the company has lifted the lid on an exciting collaboration with the Utah Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) focused on defense applications. Specifically, UAMMI has successfully fit-checked its first 3D printed carbon fiber part—made using an Impossible Objects printer—for the United States Air Force.
Impossible Objects is presenting two watershed advances in composite 3D printing for the factory floor. The company’s latest 3D printing system, the CBAM-2, and a new partnership with BASF focused on PA6-carbon fiber composites extend Impossible Objects’ patented composite based additive manufacturing process (CBAM) to an unprecedented range of industrial applications.