News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
September 2018 is off to a promising start for the additive manufacturing industry, with a slew of new products being announced by Desktop Metal, Velo3D, BCN3D Technologies, Optomec, voxeljet and more. Perhaps the most exciting news, however, comes from HP Inc., which has just officially presented its new HP Metal Jet 3D printing technology.
Furniture company Steelcase recently enlisted the help of 3D printing companies Fast Radius and Carbon to redesign and upgrade its award-winning SILQ office chair using additive manufacturing. Working together, the partners designed, engineered and 3D printed an arm cap for the chair which can be customized to the user’s body. IMTS visitors can see the 3D printed office chair in person in Chicago from September 10 to 15.
Despite some recent letdowns for 3D printing products on Kickstarter, there is no reason to overlook all the projects seeking crowdfunding, as some have also proven to be huge successes. Aiming for the latter scenario is Netherlands-based Lotus 3D Printers, the sister company of filament brand Formfutura, which recently introduced its new LCD SLA 3D printer, the Lotus EZ, on Kickstarter.
Despite having quite recently launched its first metal 3D printing system for the desktop, Desktop Metal has evidently been working hard to improve upon its existing technology. The company has just announced its latest products: the new Studio System+, which features higher resolution printing and more functionalities than its predecessor, and Studio Fleet, a custom-configurable solution for low- to mid-volume production in the office.
This may have slipped under the radar. The Henkel Group is not just establishing itself as a major developer and supplier of 3D printing materials for photopolymerization and powder bed fusion polymer system manufacturers like HP and Carbon. Through it proprietary Loctite brand, the company is also bringing its own Loctite PR10 DLP 3D printer and relative resin materials, including a 3D-printing specific Loctite bonder.
GKN Aerospace is improving production times and removing design constraints for multiple tooling applications since integrating Stratasys additive manufacturing at its Filton manufacturing site in the UK.
Optomec, a leading global supplier of production-grade additive manufacturing systems for 3D printed metals, is introducing the new Optomec LENS 860 Hybrid Controlled Atmosphere (CA) System. This latest addition to the Optomec LENS Machine Tool Series has a larger build volume and supports higher laser power, providing more capabilities for affordable, high-quality metal hybrid manufacturing. The system will be on display at upcoming IMTS in Chicago.
Barcelona-based 3D printer manufacturer BCN3D Technologies has introduced two new 3D printers: the Sigma R19 and the Sigmax R19. Both 3D printers integrate new dual extrusion systems and a slew of other features for better quality, more reliable desktop 3D printing.
Solidscape is one of the most focused and consolidated companies in the world of 3D printing, one which has remained more focused on its end products rather than the process. The company, specializing in wax 3D printing technologies, has found a significant niche in the AM sector, appealing to industries such as jewelry for its rapid manufacturing (rather than rapid prototyping) solutions.
Volkswagen, one of the largest car manufacturers in the world, is inviting designers and innovators to come up with 3D printable designs to take its I.D. Buzz vehicle to the next level. The crowdsourcing initiative, called Print your Buzz, is hosted via the open innovation platform jovoto and aims to generate original and innovative ideas for “customizable and/or functional” elements for the VW van.