News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Industrial 3D printer manufacturer Voxeljet has offered a glimpse at its newest development, the VJET X-IOB additive manufacturing system. The innovative product, says the company, is the world’s first fully automated 3D production solution and can offer manufacturers an alternative to traditional serial production processes.
Composite 3D printing, and especially carbon fiber 3D printing, is quickly advancing and gaining more applications within the industry. Presently, the number of companies working on composite 3D printing technologies is relatively small—we recently highlighted many of them—though they are all playing their part in pushing forward innovation. One of the bunch, 3D printing leader Stratasys, has honed in on its composite AM technology, especially of late.
Initially priced at just $100 on Kickstarter, the SparkMaker seemed to be just another one of those too-good-to-be-true 3D printer deals that fail to adequately deliver to their backers like the Buccaneer, the ONO, the Peachy printer or Tiko 3D’s Unibody. Instead, it not only delivered, it also went on to general commercial availability and reportedly sold more than 5,000 units. We at 3dpbm even got one to test through our Italian-language portal Replicatore.it. Now the ultra-affordable LCD photopolymerization 3D printer is coming back with a new and improved 1080p version, the SparkMaker FHD (Full HD).
Researchers from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a method for proving where 3D printed parts come from and ensuring their design integrity by embedding QR code clouds into the 3D model in a new and clever way. That is, rather than simply sticking a QR bar code onto the 3D model’s surface, the research team has devised a way to convert QR codes into subtle 3D features which can be integrated into a given part without affecting its properties and, crucially, without being noticeable to counterfeiters.
After raising over $92 million in funding, Velo3D today finally emerged from over 4 years of stealth mode operation by releasing its first end-to-end metal additive manufacturing solution comprised. The full package delivers on Velo3D’s announced goal of truly disrupting metal AM in terms of cost and productivity. It comprises the Velo3D Sapphire 3D printer, the Flow print preparation software, and what the company refers to as Intelligent Fusion technology.
Forget dyes and pigments, researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a new way to create colour effects using a computational design tool and 3D printing. The novel process uses the design tool to automatically generate 3D printable nanostructures which create defined colours when light is shone through them.
After the challenges experienced with its own Ember 3D printer, CAD giant Autodesk is focusing much of its efforts on harnessing the potential of 3D printing hardware through its software tools and high-profile partnerships with companies working on some of the most advanced AM technologies. The latest Autodesk AMSYSTEMS partnership focuses on the development of next-generation multi-material/multi-technology AM equipment.
Polish 3D printer manufacturer VERASHAPE signed its newest distributor, 3Dvisual, a renowned Barcelona-based supplier of extrusion, laser sintering and stereolithographic machines, as well as 3D scanners. The company also provides 3D Printing services, 3D scanning, prototype design and production, as well as training in the use of 3D Printers.
Aleph Objects, Inc. has a new tool head that enables users to accurately 3D print penny-scale parts. The ultra precise Aerostruder v2 Micro Tool Head is at SIGGRAPH 2018, where attendees can watch this meticulous tool head in action, paired with the recently-released LulzBot Mini 2 3D Printer. The company will be showing off a “micro art gallery,” featuring tiny patrons viewing miniature art exhibits. The new tool head is expected to be available for purchase in September 2018.
3D pens such as the 3Doodler have carved out a niche in the broader 3D printing market. Though varied in its applications, the 3D drawing devices have primarily become a new artistic medium, enabling artists (both professional and amateur), hobbyists and designers to create objects and three dimensional creations like never before.