News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
Ever since the low cost 3D printing industry exploded as a consumer phenomenon (because it has, hype or no hype), it became clear that some of the most fascinating and important applications were in the care for small groups of people with specific requirements. In few of these the benefits have been clear than in 3D printing for the blind.
Tech startup Gravity Sketch is finally launching its much awaited Gravity Sketch Ap ...
The use of innovative technologies such as 3D scanning and reverse engineering can play a huge role in the direct production of a classic dream car such as the Berlinetta Effeffe, handcrafted by Officine Fratelli Frigerio. Through the support of leading experts at The 3D Group (Solid Energy for 3D scanning and reverse engineering, Solid World for CAD 3D modeling and Energy Group, for 3D printing) digital manufacturing showed that it can perfectly blend with the Made in Italy style in automotive maufacturing. The Berlinetta Effeffe (www.effeffecars.com) represents a masterpiece of Made in Italy automotive style and engineering. It is inspired by the legendary 50’s Gran Turismo years yet extremely modern, born out of the passion and the experience of Leonardo and Vittorio Frigerio. This dream this is made entirely by hand by the utmost traditional handcraft, while, at the same time, it leverages on a high-quality craftsmanship process, supported by the most modern technologies.
MakeItLeo is a new cloud service that allows people to upload their 3D models, share them, sell them, and control their distribution in a global market. In a world where the most advanced designs are created digitally, the paradox is that the most unique IP (intellectual property) could be reproduced an infinite number of times. Several solutions are in development in order to retain a certain amount of control over the number of 3D prints per design, with Make It Leo being the one that focuses most on the file itself as well as the designers’ needs.
More affordable, more customizable, more elegant and, soon, available to anywhere in the world: this is the future of 3D printed customized jewelry. The Jewelry Maker app on Google Play, by Taiwan based Elements Lab, is quite literally bringing 3D printed jewelry it to everyone’s fingertips.
People ask if and when 3D printing will become a method of mass production. As far as plastics go, I don’t know. For metals, though, it is a whole different story: it is already happening. Metal 3D printing technologies are evolving at breakneck speed, constantly increasing their size and velocity capabilities. One of the reasons for this, in my opinion, is the intense competition, both between different technologies and different approaches to the same technology. This is not, however, the only reason.
As we’ve seen from the recent explosion of industry-grade open material 3D printers, even relatively low cost and affordable systems are now able to 3D print with temperature, high resistance products. We’ve seen nylon evolve into polycarbonates and even PEEK. And now we see Sabic’s 9085 Ultem, added to the range of the materials offered by 3DXTECH.
The expansion of 3ntr, the Italian company known for its industrial 3D printers, crosses the Atlantic: Plural Additive Manufacturing (Plural) is now the sole U.S. provider of printers, technical support, and services for 3ntr systems.
We often say that 3D printing’s biggest limit is not in the technology but in awareness of what the technology can be used for. All you need is a touch of creativity and inventiveness and even a low cost 3D printer can become a strategic tool in the making of high-end fashion products. For example for a glamorous 3D printed pochette.
The Toulouse FabLab ARTILECT continues to expand and a new component – ARTILECT LAB – was recently created to meet new professional requirements by accompanying the emergence of innovative technological projects. For the occasion, I was asked to create a 3D Voice Print work that would be revealed to the public during the inauguration ceremony of the new “Salle des Machines” area.