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3D printed turboprop engine by GE to power next-generation Cessna Denali plane 3D Printing Processes

by Aerospace

Named Cessna Denali, the Textron plane will have the largest cabin in its class—seating up to eight people—and an engine powerful and efficient enough to reach Chicago from Los Angeles or Miami from New York. Textron and GE Aviation, which developed the engine, brought the plane’s cabin and engine mock-ups to the EAA AirVentures airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the announcement took place on Monday.

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Hans Fouche Gets Serious with Cheetah 3D Printer at Decorex in Johannesburg 3D Printer Hardware

by Technologies

Hans Fouche’s Cheetah 3D Printer was on show at Decorex 2016 in Johannesburg South Africa for the first time. With it were some 3 meter tall pillars that were 3D printed in just 9 hours, along with some colorful and creative Bar Stools, with unique bottle shapes, hand painted by Sam, a talented artist from the I Make Makers Village of Irene. Fouche 3D Printing, Hans Fouche’s company, is now working with them, to turn the large size 3D prints of the Cheetah into some stunning decorative and display products, with the help of the Craftsman and Artists of the I Make Makers village, thereby advancing both the high tech 3D printing and traditional crafts, to the benefit of both parties. The objective of Fouche’s participation at Decorex was to show that the Cheetah, with a price of just $9,900 (US), and the fact that it prints using affordable ABS granules instead of filament, is clearly a market leader cost wise, and with it’s 1 cubic meter print volume, it represents a true bargain for the large size 3D Printer segment. “We know that we have a unique product,” Fouche stated. “We hope and trust that it will provide jobs, change the way that products are manufactured- small batches that require less storeage, and that it will inspire creativity! We use at least 25kg pellets a month. That is at least $80 worth of plastic. To do that with filament would cost $625, with spools priced at $25.” The Cheetah uses ABS granules as the raw product for filament, therefore cost per print is significantly lower. Cost per kilo is less than $4/kg for ABS granules. As standard, Fouche uses a 3mm nozzle in order to achieve a 0.5 KgHour flow rate. 1mm, 2mm, 4mm, 5 mm, and 6mm nozzles are also available.

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iGo3D Acquires GetReady43D to Invest in 3D Printing Literacy 3D Printing Processes

by Consumer

iGo3D, a leading European reseller and distributor of desktop 3D printing equipment, announced today that it has acquired GetReady4 3D, the brand and project co-founded by Diogo Quental and Nadia Yaakoubi with the goal to contribute to 3D printing literacy. Since its start in 2013, iGo3D has focused on identifying, distributing and reselling the best 3D printing hardware, software and materials. In the end of Q2, however, with Diogo Quental taking up the role of CEO at the reseller, the company decided to go a step further and contribute to educate the public on 3D printing technology. As a result Nadia Yaakoubi chosen as a co-coordinator for a newly established Learning Area.

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Ourobotics CEO Jemma Redmond Dies Unexpectedly AM Industry

by Business

Ourobotics CEO Jemma Redmond, one of the most outspoken and forward thinking professionals in the young low cost 3D bioprinting industry, has reportedly died unexpectedly yesterday, August 16th. As founder of bioprinting startup Ourobotics, Jemma has been working on a low cost bioprinter capable of working with up to 10 different materials. Through her blogs and social marketing skills she was working non-stop at ways to reproduce life in a lab, her legacy will very likely continue on even after her untimely death. With an MSC in Nanobioscience and a background in applied physics, Jemma has started building her own bioprinters on a kitchen table and attempted to grow fingers. She demonstrated 3D bioprinting in liquid with flow recently built the 10 material bioprinter with the Ourobotics team. She had recently pitched and won at SVOD Europe in Google HQ, Dublin. The causes of death have not been made public yet. All the information we have at this time comes from a post on Ourobotics social media accounts. We also know that Jemma passed away quickly and without suffering. “We are sorry to say, today we lost our dear CEO Jemma Redmond unexpectedly. She was an inspiration to all her colleagues and a great friend.” We can independently confirm this only from Jemma’s death notice. I had exchanged messages just a few days ago with Jemma and it is very hard for me to believe she has died. The 3D printing industry is generally very young and death just seems to have no place in it. However it does: life is a very delicate balance and that is exactly what Jemma was working to preserve and augment. She was just at the very beginning of her projects and career in the but she had already had a profound influence with many people involved with the future of biofabrication. Her show must, and will, go on. Rest in Peace, Jemma.

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3D Printing in Dentistry Revenues to Hit $3.7 Billion by 2021 3D Printing Processes

by Medical

SmarTech Publishing has just published a new 140-page report showing where the money will be made with 3D printing in dentistry and identifying winners and losers in this segment. This new report assesses the revenues from 3D printers and related software, materials and services sold to the dentistry sector in 2016 will reach $1.6 billion but says that such revenues will grow to $3.7 billion by 2021.

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Stratasys Uses 3D Printing to Bring Ancient World’s Wonder Back to Life for the Olympics 3D Printing Events

by Consumer

Stratasys, the 3D is teaming with Atlanta’s Millennium Gate Museum to resurrect one of the rarest pieces of art in Ancient Greece through 3D printing. Working alongside the 3DCenter at Kennesaw State University and backed by a Stratasys Fortus 900mc Production 3D Printer, the team is unveiling a near-exact 3D printed replica of one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” – the Statue of Zeus at Olympia. This project represents one of the larger 3D printed classical works re-created via advanced Fused Deposition Modeling. Imagined by sculptor Phidias in 432 B.C., the initial structure was designed on a wood frame with gold and ivory panels. Taking more than 12 years to construct, the ancient statue honored King of the Greek Gods, Zeus. It was destroyed in a fire during the 5th Century A.D., and artists and historians have struggled to recreate its presence for modern times. With a unique ability to maximize production-grade thermoplastics to create strong, dimensionally stable, and accurate 3D printed parts – Stratasys Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology was the impetus to overcome these challenges. “Artists around the world are being liberated by the full-fledged realism made possible by Stratasys 3D printing technology. Having the capacity to design and 3D print using highly durable materials with complex geometries and the highest levels of accuracy, museums can re-introduce some of history’s most treasured works” said Sig Behrens, General Manager of Global Education, Stratasys. “Teaming with Stratasys, institutions are completely transforming education and learning – as students and museum visitors are now able to grasp the power of forgotten classic art. 3D printing is the very impetus sparking a highly realistic learning experience – ensuring these essential pieces of history are never again forgotten. Creating and Innovating with Industrial Strength, Durability and Scale For massive recreations like the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Fortus 900mc Production 3D Printer ensures artists can build these large parts with an enhanced degree of speed and scale – up to 3x faster than traditional 3D processes. Offering maximum flexibility, creators can easily fine-tune performance and speed – achieving more realistic parts, generating complex designs and producing the smooth finish artwork requires. With the durability of production-grade thermoplastics, museum creators were guaranteed the resulting statue was highly stable to remain intact during the most challenging environments. Re-Introducing the World to Classic Work Additive manufacturing is making this rare statue available for the first time in several thousand years. Based on an initial image of the piece, designers translated the rendering into a CAD file using 3D modeling software. Actual production was achieved via an additive approach – laying successive material layers until the 3D print was complete. With the final replica standing at 6 feet tall, the work is being unveiled in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games. “Throughout history, there are always instances where the most precious works of art get destroyed or broken. In the past, this disappearance meant items were lost forever. That’s why we’re so heavily invested in the artistic value of 3D printing,” said Jeremy Kobus, Director of The Gate Museum. “Committed to working at the intersection of technology and art, we see the tremendous potential of 3D printing for educational applications. Teaming with Stratasys and KSU’s 3DCenter, our hope is to deliver creations far too few have even tried to attempt.” The Statue of Zeus at Olympia will be the centerpiece of the museum’s newest exhibit “The Games: Ancient Olympia to Atlanta to Rio”, opening August 20, 2016. The event features a range of Greek artifacts from The Hearst Castle Collection in San Simeon, CA and the Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta, GA. Underlying the exhibition will be an exploration of 3D printing as a recognized art form – and as an effective tool for the preservation of historical artifacts.

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Formlabs Raises $35 Million in Series B Funding, Announces Autodesk Partnership 3D Printer Hardware

by Technologies

Formlabs, the company founded in 2012 by MIT graduates that changed the SLA market forever when it introduced the first low cost SLA system, has raised $35 million in Series B funding. The round came from Foundry Group and Autodesk, as Formlabs also announced plans to collaborate strategically with the global CAD software leader. The investment includes participation from existing investors DFJ Growth, Pitango Venture Capital, and Pascal Cagni, bringing Formlabs’ total investment to date to $55 million. Beside giving yet another demonstration of the ever clearer potential of 3D printing, these newly injected resource will enable Formlabs to scale its operations to meet growing customer demand worldwide, grow R&D efforts, and to extend Formlabs’ reach in the market and ecosystem. “Formlabs’ efforts over the years in introducing new materials and capabilities have defined the category of professional desktop 3D printing, resulting in significant growth for the company along the way,” said Max Lobovsky, co-founder and CEO of Formlabs. “With the new investment, we’re excited to develop more powerful tools to enable anyone working with 3D content to create remarkable things. Formlabs will continue to grow the stereolithography business and bring new tools to the world to advance our goal of making digital fabrication more powerful and accessible.” Joining Formlabs’ board will be Brad Feld, co-founder of Foundry Group whose investments include MakerBot and Fitbit. Feld has been an early stage investor and entrepreneur for over 20 years and was co-founder of Techstars. “From the moment of its founding, Formlabs saw the opportunity in making professional desktop 3D printing accessible and was a key pioneer in the category,” said Brad Feld, co-founder of Foundry Group. “While the excitement and hype around consumer 3D printing has waned, the professional 3D printing category has had unabated demand, with Formlabs emerging as the leader in desktop 3D printing.” With Autodesk’s investment in Formlabs, the two companies plan to strategically collaborate on software integration and joint marketing initiatives. “Formlabs has brought a lot of innovation and great execution to the desktop 3D printing market, and Autodesk is excited to invest in the company’s future,” said Carl Bass, CEO of Autodesk. “But even more importantly, we’re eager to work together to improve digital design and manufacturing for product designers everywhere.” Pascal Cagni, who was head of Apple in Europe, will be joining as a strategic advisor to help bolster Formlabs’ expansion efforts across the EMEA territory. Through an expanding network of distribution partners, Formlabs’ global reach now extends across five continents in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. With rapid growth across all business fronts, Formlabs has seen 100 percent growth in annual sales for the third consecutive year and is shipping over 1,000 printers a month. Formlabs printers are now the top-selling 3D printers in stereolithography worldwide. Earlier this year, Formlabs acquired Pinshape, the fast-growing 3D printing community online that hosts a flourishing marketplace of 3D designs. Most recently opening a location in Japan, Formlabs now has over 190 employees across offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. About Formlabs Formlabs designs and manufactures powerful and accessible 3D printing systems for engineers, designers, and artists. Their flagship product, the Form 2 3D printer, uses stereolithography (SLA) to create high-resolution physical objects from digital designs. The company was founded in 2012 by a team of engineers and designers from the MIT Media Lab and Center for Bits and Atoms. With its powerful, intuitive, and affordable machines, Formlabs is establishing a new benchmark in professional desktop 3D printing. Formlabs also develops its own suite of high-performance materials for 3D printing, as well as best-in-class 3D printing software. About Foundry Group Foundry Group is a venture capital firm that invests in information technology, Internet, and software startups. It works alongside entrepreneurs to give birth to new technologies and to build those technologies into industry-leading companies. It is located in Boulder, CO but invests in companies across North America. About Autodesk Autodesk makes software for people who make things. If you’ve ever driven a high-performance car, admired a towering skyscraper, used a smartphone, or watched a great film, chances are you’ve experienced what millions of Autodesk customers are doing with our software. Autodesk gives you the power to make anything. For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.

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Zortrax Confirms Dell Deal Never Happened, Maintains Investors Were Informed 3D Printer Hardware

by Technologies

One of 3D printing’s biggest stories, i.e. the sale of some 5,000 Zortrax M200 machines to Dell Computers in Asia, was recently discovered not to have never actually happened by 3DPrintingBusiness.Directory contributor Mike Molitch-Hou. Now – as reported by 3DPrintingMedia.Network partner 3D Printing Center -Zortrax has responded to Mike, confirming that the Dell deal never actually happened while maintaining that, although the media were not, all investors were fully and timely informed.

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All about 3D printed rhino horn by bioprinting startup Pembient 3D Printing Processes

by Environment

Sometimes you read news on generalist media about 3D printing and it’s hard to understand whether it is something real or just media hype. Most of the times it is media or social media hype (or inverse hype as in the recent “3D printing is dead” cases) especially when it concerns bioprinting applications. One of the biggest recent stories was the 3D printed rhino horn by a startup specializing in 3D printed wildlife products called Pembient. The idea is just perfect: using bioprinting and 3D printing technologies in order to produce a rhino horn that is sufficiently similar to the real thing that it would drive down the price of it so much that it would make it not worth going out and killing the rhinos for it. But can it really be done or is it just a stunt? Using bioprinting and bioreactors to produce animal products without the animals is the best chance we have (beside the whole world going vegan) to face to upcoming food crisis as well as the ethical and environmental issues that inevitably derive from intensive animal farming. A company called New Harvest has been leasing the bioficial food revolution and while progress is effectively taking place, a real solutions seems still decades away. This does not mean that some projects, such as Pembient’s rhino horn, might not become reality much sooner. Through Ourobotics Jemma Redmond I got in touch with Matthew Markus, the founder and CEO at Pembient to find out just what kind of timeline they expect. The premises are pretty good. As Markus writes in the Pembient white paper “Rhinoceros horn mainly consists of calcium and melanin embedded in a keratin matrix. It is produced by epidermal cells that undergo keratinization in a manner similar to the growth of human hair and nails (Nowell, 2012, p. 6). There are two basic ways to biofabricate rhinoceros horn. The first way involves 3D printing a biodegradable scaffold in the shape of a horn. Next, stem cells taken from a rhinoceros are cultured, differentiated into keratinocytes, and seeded onto the scaffold. Over time, the keratinocytes become filled with keratin protein filaments and die leaving behind a solid object. The second way starts with the production of rhino­specific keratins in genetically engineered microorganisms. Once purified, these keratins are then amalgamated with rhinoceros DNA and other biomolecules into a solid using a proprietary 3D printer. Whatever the process, the intent is the same, namely to produce an artefact that is physically and forensically identical to rhinoceros horn.” So the science and the technology are in the right place. The economics for this project appear to be in the right place as well. “… Suppose a seller can either obtain rhinoceros horn from the wild at $12,000 per kilogram or from a biofab at $8,000 per kilogram,” Markus writes citing a previous 1970 study by Akerlof. “Further suppose – he goes on – the seller can sell the acquired horn at $35,000 per kilogram. In this case, the markup for the wild­sourced horn is 192% versus 338% for the biofab­sourced horn. So, all things being equal, it is in the seller’s interest to sell biofabricated horn. On the other hand, assume a buyer knows there are biofabricated horns on the market. Further assume the buyer estimates that about 75% of the horns being sold are biofabricated. In this case, the expected value of any given horn is $8,750 per kilogram. Thus, it is in the buyer’s interest to either push for a price reduction or not transact at all.” Now the big question. When will this be possible and is it truly feasible from in terms of business model? “So far we have created what I would call “low-fidelity prototypes” using various different technologies either based on liquid resins or ceramics powders, as well as a more tissue-engineering based route whereby we created the biodegradable scaffold and applied the bioinks to it,” Markus said. This was the first approach in order Pembient to assess the market. The goal is to produce the rhino horns with the same exact materials, down to a DNA level, as the real ones, making it virtually impossible to distinguish. The powder Pembient developed contained a mix of keratine along with the ceramics, which represented a first step toward that goal.” “We want to be a commodity supplier, selling in Eastern and Western markets. We want to create a global, open market with significant business development opportunities for bioficial rhino horns. However – Markus points out – this is still far away and will require investments from others who believe in the benefits that it could bring in the long run. “The sad part is that if the rhinos were to become extinct, which is exactly what we would like to avoid, this business would make even more sense as the prices of the remaining horns would go sky high.” “We were really bullish when we first developed the powder and expected to be in the market within a year. This may not be the case but I do think that we could be able to present a valid product within five years at most.” Furthermore, as is the case with other forward looking 3D printing projects, the experience acquired will be used in other applications, especially in many other keratin based animal products that are in demand on the black market. So unfortunately the answer is no, the 3D printed rhino horn is not yet ready to save all the black rhinos as generalist media would have you believe, However the answer is also yes: Pembient is really working toward this goal and has thus acquired significant experience in 3D printing keratin based products. Hopefully they will perfect their method before the last rhino is killed.