News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
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.
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.
Though the aerospace industry has been a fertile sector for the exploration and adoption of metal additive manufacturing technologies, the automotive industry has remained somewhat more restrained. That is not to say that 3D printing isn’t being used in automotive production—it is being investigated by most if not all car manufacturers—though adoption has been limited due to a number of factors, including productivity and cost-per-part.
Ever the proponent for additive manufacturing technologies, NASA has awarded a $127,000 grant to Phoenix Analysis and Design Technologies (PADT) and Arizona State University (ASU) to advance 3D printing research. The funding, a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant, will specifically go towards biomimicry research for 3D printing objects inspired by naturally strong and lightweight structures, such as honeycomb or bamboo.
Makelab, a Brooklyn-based 3D printing service bureau, is partnering with automation software specialist AMFG to implement the latter’s software into its workflow for easier and more accessible 3D printing. Makelab says its adoption of AMFG’s software platform will also help it to increase automation and streamline its manufacturing operations, which will help it to manage a growing number of clients and projects.
Tethon 3D has received a grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to develop a new ceramic and metal 3D printing system. The newly funded project, entitled “A novel DLP 3D printer optimized for ceramics and metals,” is to begin development immediately and is set to become the first commercially available desktop DLP printer for ceramic and metal AM.
NASA recently added a new 3D model to its database of space-themed 3D printable files. The latest addition is a miniature model of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, also known as SOFIA. The newly released model falls directly in line with our August Industry Focus on additive manufacturing and space exploration.
3D printer manufacturer XYZprinting is aiming to make colour 3D printing more accessible with its newly launched da Vinci Color mini 3D printer. The new 3D printer, being featured through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, is available for as little as $999.95 to early backers and will ultimately retail for $1,600.
Speaking as someone who had a brief stint dancing on ballet pointe shoes: they are not comfortable. Not in the slightest. The rigid shoes, comprised of a hard “box” in the toe and a stiff sole, do make ballerinas look amazingly ethereal when they dance, but anyone who has ever used them will tell tales of horror and woe at the discomfort they cause.
After nearly three years serving as editor-in-chief to 3D printing news site 3DPrint.com (and almost four years writing for it), Sarah Goehrke recently announced she was leaving the website. Fortunately, the experienced additive manufacturing journalist still has her eyes on the industry and is launching into a range of new projects and partnerships. Excitingly, one of these projects entails Sarah joining the 3dpbm team as a contributor.