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US Navy Marks First Flight with 3D printed, Safety-Critical Parts 3D Printing Processes

by Aerospace

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), a division of the US Navy, marked its first successful flight demonstration of a flight critical aircraft component built using additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, July 29. An MV-22B Osprey completed a test flight outfitted with a titanium, 3-D printed link and fitting assembly for the engine nacelle. This link and fitting assembly is one of four that secure a V-22’s engine nacelle to the primary wing structure and will remain on the aircraft for continued evaluation. The flight was performed using the standard V-22 flight performance envelope. “The flight went great. I never would have known that we had anything different onboard,” said MV-22 Project Officer Maj. Travis Stephenson who piloted the flight. The metal link and fitting assembly for this test event were printed at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, New Jersey. Prior to this flight, multiple V-22 components built by Lakehurst and Penn State Applied Research Laboratory were tested at Patuxent River to validate performance. “The flight today is a great first step toward using AM wherever and whenever we need to. It will revolutionize how we repair our aircraft and develop and field new capabilities – AM is a game changer,” said Liz McMichael, AM Integrated Product Team lead. “In the last 18 months, we’ve started to crack the code on using AM safely. We’ll be working with V-22 to go from this first flight demonstration to a formal configuration change to use these parts on any V-22 aircraft.”

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Tesla and SolarCity to Combine 3D Printing Processes

by Automotive

Just over a month ago, Tesla made a proposal to purchase SolarCity and today we are announcing that the two companies have reached an agreement to combine, creating the world’s only vertically integrated sustainable energy company. Solar and storage are at their best when they’re combined. As one company, Tesla (storage) and SolarCity (solar) can create fully integrated residential, commercial and grid-scale products that improve the way that energy is generated, stored and consumed. Now is the right time to bring our two companies together: Tesla is getting ready to scale our Powerwall and Powerpack stationary storage products and SolarCity is getting ready to offer next-generation differentiated solar solutions. By joining forces, we can operate more efficiently and fully integrate our products, while providing customers with an aesthetically beautiful and simple one-stop solar + storage experience: one installation, one service contract, one phone app. We expect to achieve cost synergies of $150 million in the first full year after closing. We also expect to save customers money by lowering hardware costs, reducing installation costs, improving our manufacturing efficiency and reducing our customer acquisition costs. We will also be able to leverage Tesla’s 190-store retail network and international presence to extend our combined reach. Here are some key terms of today’s announcement: this is an all-stock transaction with an equity value of $2.6 billion based on the 5-day volume-weighted average price of Tesla shares as of July 29, 2016. Under the agreement, SolarCity stockholders will receive 0.110 Tesla common shares per SolarCity share, valuing SolarCity common stock at $25.37 per share based on the 5-day volume weighted average price of Tesla shares as of July 29, 2016. After comprehensive due diligence in consultation with independent financial and legal advisors, the independent members of the Tesla and SolarCity boards of directors approved this transaction. Tesla’s financial advisor was Evercore, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz was its legal advisor. The financial advisor to the special committee of SolarCity’s board of directors was Lazard and its legal advisor was Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. As part of the agreement, SolarCity has a 45-day period known as a “go-shop”, which runs through September 14, 2016. This means that SolarCity is allowed to solicit alternative proposals during that time. Each company today filed a Form 8-K with the SEC that provides additional details regarding the transaction. While today’s news is a big step, it isn’t the finish line – we expect the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2016. Before then, the deal must be approved by a majority of the disinterested shareholders of both Tesla and SolarCity voting at each shareholder meeting. We also need to obtain regulatory approval and meet other closing conditions.

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3D Printed Racecar Heads to Birmingham’s Thinktank Readying for Le Mans 24 Hours 3D Printing Processes

by Automotive

A 450bhp partially 3D printed racecar that competed in the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans featuring a host of 3D printed parts will be on display at the Thinktank science museum in Birmingham from 28th July for six weeks. The car is a 300 km/h DOME S103 prototype that was fielded by British racing team Strakka Racing at the round the clock Le Mans endurance classic last year.

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Guides to 3D Printing Adoption Released by SmarTech Publishing as New Series of Reports Aimed at Production Management 3D Printing Processes

by Business

SmarTech Publishing, the leading industry analyst firm covering the 3D printing/additive manufacturing sector, has just announced the launch of a new series of guides to 3D printing adoption aimed at the needs of production management deploying 3D printing in their businesses. Each of the reports in the “Production Manager’s Complete Guide” series covers a different aspect of 3D printing/additive manufacturing. For example, the first report – which has just been published – is a detailed monograph on 3D printing with metalshttps://www.smartechpublishing.com/end-user-reports/the-production-managers-complete-guide-to, one of the hottest topics in the 3DP community. The next two reports in the series will cover (1) prototyping using today’s low-cost 3D printers and (2) how to select between the many kinds of additive manufacturing technologies that are currently available. SmarTech Publishing’s other monographs in this series will appear at regular intervals and each will cover a different topic, each of vital importance to production managers who are contemplating using 3D printing in some area of their firm.

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SHINING 3D Opens Up to the World at Global Partner Summit 3D Printing Events

by Consumer

Although China is ripe with innovation and affordable products it has been traditionally difficult for Chinese companies to reach global markets, especially for advanced manufacturing technologies. SHINING 3D, a leading manufacturers of 3D scanners and 3D printers based in Hangzhou wants to change this trend through its 2016 SHINING 3D Global Partner Summit, where it will host several experts from around the world to show off its capabilities and discover how to best address oversea manufacturing demands. The event will run along several different 3D printing adoption tracks – in the lucky tradition traced by Materialise’s MWC 2015 and the recent In3Dustry show – and it will takes place on July 27-28, at the new SHINING 3D Headquarters in Hangzhou, China.

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Automotive 3D printing gets real as Rolls Royce Phantom integrates over 10,000 AM parts AM Industry

by Business

BMW Group’s Additive Manufacturing Centre reported that 10,000 additively-manufactured parts have been integrated into series production of Rolls-Royce Phantom (Rolls Royce is part of BMW Group) to date. Furthermore, BMW says that new technologies for automotive 3D printing will shorten production times, including HP Multi-Jet Fusion technology, which was used for the first time in car manufacturing. With more than 10,000 additively-manufactured parts built into the Rolls-Royce Phantom, the BMW Group has been using components from 3D printers in series production since 2012. The company will continue to expand this pioneering role in the future. The Additive Manufacturing Centre at the company’s Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ) has also been using these forming processes to produce parts for the new Rolls-Royce Dawn since the start of the year.

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3D Printlife Partners with Fab Lab Hub for Discounted Distribution of its Eco-Friendly Filaments to the Fab Lab Network 3D Printing Processes

by Consumer

Fab Lab Hub has secured special discounts on 3D Printlife’s innovative new environmentally-friendly filaments for Fab Labs and associated organizations within the Fab Lab Network. In addition, proceeds from filament sales go to help fund its non-profit work with Enable, Limitless Child International, and more. “Fab Lab Hub is thrilled to partner with 3D Printlife,” says founder Sarah Boisvert. “Bringing 3D Printing filament to makers in the Fab Lab Network at a discount helps make being environmentally conscious also economical. We’ve tested both the eco-friendly Enviro ABS and PLAyPHAb PLA/PHA blend and 3D Printlife meets all of our quality requirements. We’re looking forward to sharing this exciting new product with our Fab Lab friends.” Fab Lab Hub is a non-profit that helps bring new digital fabrication laboratories associated with MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms into the Fab Lab Network. With over 1,000 fab labs around the world, the network provides a place where anyone can make “almost” anything. Fab Lab Hub also coordinates the Boston-area Enable project, 3D Printing prosthetic hands which are given to those in need, organizes the annual DigiFabCon, Digital Fabrication conference and is launching FabWorkforce, a new platform linking digital fabrication workers, training programs and employers. “We are so proud to partner with Fab Lab Hub to distribute our eco-friendly materials to the Fab Lab community.” said Buzz Baldwin, Co-Founder of 3D Printlife. Fab Lab Hub will provide discounted distribution of 3D Printlife’s eco-friendly 3d filaments to the entire Fab Lab network, and proceeds will provide additional funding for nonprofits like Enable and Limitless Child International, as well as support new and existing Fab Labs.” To ensure that each Fab Lab receives the highest level of service and support, 3D Printlife and Fab Lab Hub have enlisted the aid of BSC Supply in Waltham Massachusetts. For over 30 years BSC has provided individualized account based service in the consumables and imaging technology industries. BSC will furnish each Fab Lab with a dedicated account representative ensuring that every location is working with an expert who not only knows the 3D Printlife product line, but also their individual account. “BSC Supply is excited to partner with 3D Printlife and the unique eco-friendly products they have brought into the 3d filament space.” said Brian McShane, President of BSC. “We look forward to providing the Fab Lab network and Fab Lab Hub the same level service and expertise that we have delivered to our customers for over 30 years.” “BSC enables us to provide personalized expert service to the Fab Lab network.” said Baldwin. “This partnership with Fab Lab Hub and BSC ensures the development of genuine, long term business relationships with the entire Fab Lab community.”