News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
In addition to announcing its new LaserProFusion polymer additive manufacturing technology, German company EOS also showcased a number of other captivating technologies and AM applications at Formnext 2018 last week. Notably, the company presented a number of 3D printed components Gravity Industries’ Jet Suit. The companies even demonstrated the wearable flying device early in the week.
Three Freeformer exhibits were on show at Arburg‘s Formnext 2018 booth, along with more examples of functional parts made using the Arburg Plastic Freeforming (APF) process than ever seen before. There was a world premiere of the Freeformer 300-3X, which for the first time enables the additive manufacturing of complex plastic parts from three materials in a durable hard/soft combination with a support structure. Four interactive stations will be available where trade visitors can test the quality and functionality of selected parts for themselves. Furthermore, two tried-and-tested
Belgian chemical company Solvay introduced three new medical grade additive manufacturing materials for the healthcare industry at Formnext last week. The new materials, KetaSpire PEEK (NT1 HC), KetaSpire PEEK (CF10 HC) and Radel PPSU (NT1 HC), are Solvay’s first high-performance filaments for medical use.
Additive Industries, the Dutch metal additive manufacturing company, has announced a professional partnership agreement with French industrial gas supplier Air Liquide. The companies, which made the announcement at Formnext this week, will intensify their existing long term collaboration to push forward industrial AM.
A fast-growing Shropshire e-commerce company has signed another important distribution deal. 3D Printz Limited has been appointed as an official UK distributor for Micro Swiss LLC, based in America’s Mid West, which makes replacement nozzles and hot ends kits for 3D printers.
Callaway Golf Company, a manufacturer of golfing equipment, has entered into a consultancy agreement with GE Additive’s AddWorks team through which it will seek to exploit the benefits of 3D printing. Callaway has already unveiled the first product to be realized as part of the collaboration: a redesigned Odyssey R-Ball Prototype putter head.
Gentle Giant Studios, a 3D Systems-owned photogrammetry company, has launched two new mobile 3D scanning studios. The two systems, the Juggernaut I and Juggernaut II, are marketed at the entertainment industry and offer a fully mobile scanning capabilities.
Kodak has launched its KODAK Portrait 3D printer at Formnext 2018 in partnership with Smart International, Kodak’s global brand licensee for all things 3D printing. The new desktop 3D printer, targeted at the professional market, offers such features as dual extrusion, an enclosed all-steel structure and more.
As part of its updated software strategy, GE Additive is teaming up Autodesk to streamline the metal 3D printing process through the development of an integrated workflow software for GE Additive systems. The workflow will combine the Autodesk Fusion 360 platform with GE Additive Build Preparation interfaces to connect all stages of the AM process, from design and simulation to printing and machine analytics.
Carbon named by Erpro Group as their first partnership in France with digital 3D manufacturing company following the installation of a Carbon M2 3D Printer.