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Materialise Lists Automation, Metal and App Driven Innovation as Top 2018 Trends for AM 3D Printing Processes

by Consumer

Making forecasts about which directions the AM industry will take is a dangerous job (just ask those who forecasted 3D printing stock trends during the 2013 mini-bubble). If you want accurate forecasts there are two ways to go about it, one is to consult with market analysists and another is to ask professionals in the industry. You might not always get the same answers but when you do you are likely to be on the right track. The forecasts from the pros at Materialise – one of the largest AM service bureaus and 3D printing software providers in the world – is very much in line with our own here at 3DPBM: 2018 will see a lot of product driven 3D printing innovation, more automation, and integration of 3D printing into production lines and a lot more metal 3D printing. 3DPBM will cover many of these top 2018 trends and topics in our monthly Industry Focus sections. So stay tuned!

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Lulzbot to Produce 3D Printers During CES 2018 Consumer Products

by Consumer

The LulzBot booth at CES 2018 will be a show floor 3D printer factory, using award-winning LulzBot 3D Printers to produce more 3D printers. This unprecedented display will give CES-goers in Las Vegas a first-hand look at how LulzBot 3D Printers are manufactured in Loveland, Colorado, USA with domestic and imported parts. From the 3D printing of specialized components, to final calibration and packaging, the entire process of making a LulzBot 3D printer will happen live. Attendees will have opportunities to win one of the 20 limited-edition Las Vegas-built printers bundled with accessories and filament.

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Luxexcel partners with Vuzix to provide 3D printed prescription lenses for AR headsets Consumer Products

by Consumer

Luxexcel has teamed up Augmented Reality leader Vuzix Corp to provide 3D printed prescription lenses for the Vuzix Blade AR headset. Luxexcel 3D printed prescription inserts will be introduced with the Vuzix Blade model, at CES Las Vegas, 2018. The Luxexcel VisionPlatform enables 3D printing of ophthalmic lenses for specialty applications including Augmented Reality applications. Recently, Luxexcel raised funds to accelerate its activities in ophthalmic smart eyewear.

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Aectual 3D prints Terrazzo floors for Schiphol airport Construction 3D Printing

by Architecture

The Dutch construction 3D printing tradition – which began as a large-scale experiment with the 3D Printed Canal House in 2013 – is living on through Aectual. The Amsterdam-based technology company launched a sustainably produced 3D printed floor with terrazzo infill at the latest Dutch Design Week. Aectuals’ smart manufacturing technology makes it possible to custom 3D print any design on large surfaces, where each square meter is unique. It’s not going to make a 3D printed airport floor.

Winsun 3D Prints Bus Stop, Announces 3D Printed Public Toilets Nationwide Construction 3D Printing

Winsun 3D Prints Bus Stop, Announces 3D Printed Public Toilets Nationwide

by Architecture

Construction 3D printing is literally taking off and one company – more than many others involved – is taking digital, additive building practices from concept to reality. Winsun’s President and CEO, Ma Yihe, has always maintained that one of the biggest challenges that need to be overcome is lack of industry awareness since the benefits of using 3D printing technologies for construction have been widely established. The company has now set out to start a 3D printed public toilets revolution nationwide as well as a 3D printed bus stop revolution starting in Fengjing Ancient Town, Jinshan, a popular cultural town in China.

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Learn How EU’s €4.8M HINDCON Project Will Industrialize AM for Construction Research & Education

by Architecture

Part of the Horizon 2020 framework, the €4.8 million EU’s HINDCON (Hybrid INDustrial CONstruction) project aims to adapt additive manufacturing technologies to the construction sector. One of the primary goals of the project is the development of an “all-in-one” system advancing towards industrialization and overcoming the limitations of actual approach for introducing Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing in construction activities. The project, which started in 2016, has a duration of 36 months and will see the participation of France’s construction 3D printing experts XtreeE, among others.

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3D printing filament industry leaders discuss opportunities and challenges AM Industry

by Business

Although it started almost as a game, today 3D printing filament manufacturing for low-cost 3D printers is an industry. So much so that even giants such as SABIC, Verbatim (Mitsubishi) and others have begun to target it, while other large companies such as Covestro (Bayer) and Eastman Chemical partnered directly with companies operating in the low-cost 3D printing arena. Not to mention that NatureWorks, the largest producer of PLA in the world, has recently begun focusing specifically on 3D printing.