News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing pioneer 3D Systems has introduced its new On Demand Anatomical Modeling Service for medical 3D printing applications. The newly launched service provides medical professionals access to 3D printable and highly detailed anatomical models for improving surgical planning as well as patient education.
Oxford Performance Materials (OPM) is a fascinating company founded in 2000 to exploit and commercialize the use of poly-ether-ketone-ketone (PEKK) through additive manufacturing for medical and industrial applications. The company developed a high-performance additive manufacturing (HPAM) process (a modified laser sintering approach) to produce fully functional, end-use structural parts. Now the company is furthering its expansion into key Asia markets: business development of OPM Asia, a partnership with Tokyo-based JSR Corporation (JSR), is now led by experienced medical device sector executive Curt Jennewine, who will serve as will serve as OPM Asia’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
AddUp, the French metal AM solutions company started by Fives and Michelin, has announced its acquisition of BeAM, a Strasbourg-based specialist in Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technology. AddUp says that the 100% acquisition of BeAM will enable it to broaden its existing portfolio of metal additive manufacturing technologies—it now offers both DED metal and powder bed fusion AM—and subsequently better serve the needs of its clients.
With increasing life expectancies across much of the globe, the need for medication and treatments for age-related degenerative muscle and tendon diseases is growing. And though much research is being done on that front, medical scientists have faced consistent challenges in developing effective drugs for muscle degeneration. Fortunately, a team of researchers in Switzerland is conducting microplate bioprinting research that could offer a solution to one of the main challenges in developing treatments.
SAE International has announced the release of its first suite of Aerospace Material Specifications (AMS) additive manufacturing materials and process specifications which will support the certification of aircraft and spacecraft critical parts by providing a framework to protect the integrity of material property data and provide traceability within the aerospace supply chain.
As forest fires increasingly rage through forests and towns around the world—currently Colorado and New Mexico are battling intense wildfires—it is starting to sink in that they are a reality of climate change and something we will inevitably be seeing more of. To reckon with increasingly powerful and frequent wildfires, firefighters require more powerful and high-quality equipment that they can rely on.
German auto manufacturer BMW recently launched a fashion collection through its BMW i sub-brand, which is focused primarily on developing innovative vehicles using sustainable materials. The new BMW i Collection, consisting of shirts, jackets, bags and other accessories, brings this principle beyond just car making and into fashion.
French 3D printing service Sculpteo has announced it is now operating the largest HP production center in France since the recent acquisition of a new HP Multi Jet Fusion unit. The new addition is the third Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer to be installed at Sculpteo’s French factory.
To fully reap the benefits of additive manufacturing technologies for part production, it is often necessary to go back to the drawing board to reengineer the part in question and optimize its structure for AM. Fortunately, with state-of-the-art software programs such as ParaMatters’ CogniCAD, redesigning a part for AM doesn’t necessarily entail going back to the literal drawing board.
Within the automotive industry, there are countless ways that 3D printing has been adopted, from 3D printed metal replacement parts, to full-colour prototypes, to custom detailing. Recently, Corona, California-based Design Infini highlighted another automotive application for additive manufacturing: wheel design.