News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Since The Who’s Pete Townshend smashed his first guitar on stage in the mid 1960s, the destructive performance has become something of a tradition in the music industry. And whether you see the act as an artistic expression or simply as an indulgent, even senseless, performance, there is no question that a violently smashed, splintering axe is an iconic image of rock & roll.
SmarTech Analysis published a new report titled, Additive Manufacturing in the Footwear Industry. In the report the use of additive manufacturing (AM) and revenues connected to 3D printed footwear products are projected to generate over $6.5 billion (USD) in yearly global revenues by 2029, growing at a 19.5% CAGR. The report also goes on to forecast that that by 2023 over $1 billion (USD) will be generated by 3D printed footwear parts alone, including additively manufactured insoles, midsoles, and uppers.
German automaker Audi has announced it will be expanding the use of polymer 3D printing in its production lines. The technology will be leveraged to produce custom designed auxiliary tools on demand. As part of the expansion, Audi will be establishing a separate department to oversee the integration of polymer AM at its Neckarsulm site.
Whether a testament to the accuracy of 3D printing technologies or the vulnerability of the Samsung Galaxy S10’s unlocking system, a recent experiment by Imgur user [darkshark], which used a 3D printed fingerprint to unlock the smartphone, has gained significant media attention.
The Innovation for Manufacturing SMEs (I4MS) program has announced the availability of €300,000 in EU funding to accelerate the competitiveness of small and medium-sized businesses in the 3D printing sector. The funding will be allocated based on an AMable call which invites SMEs from across Europe to submit “proposals that bring forward an innovative idea of functional products that needs Additive Manufacturing.”
NASA engineers are consistently achieving innovative breakthroughs with additive manufacturing. Most recently, they tested a 2,400 lbf 3D printed copper rocket thrust chamber with a composite overwrap to determine whether the part had the necessary heat and structural load resistance.
The Siemens gas turbine business in Finspång, a pioneer in the development of additive manufacturing, has entered into a collaboration with Swedish company Interspectral. The two companies will work together to develop AM Explorer, a 3D visualization tool that will accelerate the industrialization of metal additive manufacturing.
The construction sector has always been very close to the heart of the Belgian BESIX Group and forms the company’s core activities. In recent years, the construction sector has been working hard on catching up with regard to digitization and innovative tools. This technological progress is mainly in the design and design of buildings and structures. By introducing 3D concrete printing via a KUKA KR QUANTEC robot, BESIX Group has now been taking the next steps towards a digital implementation of projects.
Sydney-based machine tool distribution experts John Hart ply is now the Australian distributor of EOS metal 3D printers. For over seven decades John Hart has been providing Australian industry with advanced manufacturing technologies including CNC machine tools, automation and robotics, additive manufacturing systems, CNC lasers, CAD/CAM software and accessories. The company will now be in charge of EOS Australia distribution.
German engineering conglomerate thyssenkrupp announced its plans to open an Additive Manufacturing TechCenter Hub in Singapore this year. The facility, supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), aims to bring additive manufacturing, as well as thyssenkrupp’s engineering capabilities to new customers in the Asia Pacific region.