This week is a little less busy in terms of 3D printing-related webinars and virtual events: just two on Tuesday, three on Thursday, and one available to watch on-demand. Read on for all of the pertinent details!

Hands-On Virtual Mimics Enlight Mitral Workshop

If you missed last month’s Materialise webinar about medical 3D planning for TMVR (Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement), fear not—the online workshop, “Mimics Enlight Mitral Workshop,” returns this Tuesday, February 2nd, at 11 am EST. During the hands-on webinar, four trainers will discuss how to plan for TMVR using the software interface and image segmentation system, and attendees will learn the value of 3D planning for TMVR, how to create an accurate virtual 3D model, how to plan efficiently and assess risk by leveraging automation and consistent measurements, and more. After the workshop, attendees will receive a three-week evaluation license so they can keep learning about 3D planning.

Learning goals:

• How to plan more thoroughly in less time with AI assistance
• How to use accurate 3D modeling to achieve a deeper understanding of the patient’s heart
• How to obtain reliable measurements through automation

You can register for the workshop here.

AM Coalition: Congressional Policy Panel

Last week, the Additive Manufacturing Coalition, a national membership organization that works to connect members with the federal government and help them navigate legislative and public funding challenges, held a live Zoom forum about what the AM industry can expect from the 117th Congress. Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) discussed the upcoming session of Congress, and this week the AM Coalition is holding a second live Zoom forum about the subject at 3 pm EST on the 2nd.

“A View From Washington: Congressional Policy and Budget” will consist of a panel discussion regarding the 117th Congress and the Biden administration. The panelists include North Carolina State University’s Director of Federal Affairs Matt Peterson; the Senior Advisor for The Roosevelt Group, Matthew Hermann; and Ryan Keating, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13). You can RSVP for the event here, and if you have questions you’d like to be included in the Zoom forum, you can email them to the AM Coalition.

TriMech Discusses DELMIAWORKS

Stratasys and SOLIDWORKS reseller TriMech is getting its slate of webinars started this month with one on Thursday, February 4th, at 10 am EST called “Get to Know DELMIAWORKS.” TriMech Elite Application Engineer Stephen Petrock will explain how the software can connect all of your business systems into one, show real-time production monitoring and scheduling, demonstrate quality management of your manufacturing process, show how you can link your business operations, and more.

“Enterprise Resource Planning or “ERP” is a process to help companies manage and integrate important parts of their business. There are many options on the market right now, so which is the right choice for you? DELMIAWORKS has been around for 30 years and is the best choice for manufacturing companies.”

You can register for the webinar here.

HP Hosts Virtual Tour

At 1 pm EST on the 4th, HP will be hosting a virtual tour of its 3D Printing Demo Center. Attendees will get to see HP’s entire end-to-end 3D printing process, all the way from file preparation to post-processing the completed parts during the virtual tour, which means they’ll have a chance the see HP Jet Fusion 5200 3D printer live and in action.

“Join us on this session to learn about HP Multi Jet Fusion Technology and how the HP 3D Printing End-to-End Process works, from file preparation to post processing.”

You can register for the virtual tour here.

Transitioning from AutoCAD to DraftSight?

The last webinar on Thursday, February 4th will be hosted by AutoCAD expert and Technology Evangelist Lynn Allen, titled “Can DraftSight REALLY replace AutoCAD?” and beginning at 2 pm EST. From the perspective of an AutoCAD user, Allen and the DraftSight team will explore the 2D and 3D CAD solution, and discuss APIs, constraints, file compatibility, product and licensing options, and more.

“From installation and exploring the familiar user interface to using key commands and features, Lynn will demonstrate how easy the transition to DraftSight can be. Join the webinar and see how you can maintain the same level of productivity for a fraction of the price with DraftSight!”

You can register for the webinar here.

GE Healthcare Using Simulation for Product Optimization

The final webinar in this week’s roundup is an on-demand option about GE Healthcare‘s use of simulation during the pandemic, hosted by Dassault Systèmes and titled “Learn How GE Healthcare Uses FEA/CFD to Optimize Products During COVID-19.” We all know by now that COVID-19 has brought about a lot of challenging situations for engineers, including the team at the GE Healthcare Anesthesia and Respiratory Care (ARC) Group; perhaps even more so, as the Group’s duties are directly tied to the frontlines of healthcare. For product development during the pandemic, the engineering team relies a lot on integrated simulation tools.

“Watch this discussion with GE engineers to learn how simulation solutions were critical to optimizing products and increasing production to meet growing customer demands during the pandemic. GE engineers will also discuss how virtual prototyping with FEA/CFD, including 3DEXPERIENCE WORKS Simulation and SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation, fits into their design process and eliminates the need for multiple physical prototypes; speeding product development and cutting costs.”

You can check out this on-demand webinar for yourself here.

Do you have news to share about any future webinars or virtual events? Please let us know!

We’re starting with a little business news in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, as Azul 3D welcomes a new member to its advisory board and yet another industry event has been postponed due to health and safety concerns. Moving on, 3DP4M has been established as a charity by the Jordanian government. ProGlove has achieved serial production runs of a new product in collaboration with DyeMansion and FORMRISE, and cytena has officially launched its single-cell dispensing system.

Azul 3D Welcomes Zhenan Bao to Advisory Board

3D printing company Azul 3D, which develops printers based on High Area Rapid Printing (HARP) technology, announced that Zhenan Bao, an entrepreneur and world-renowned expert in stretchable electronics, has joined its advisory board. A professor of chemical engineering at Stanford University, Bao works to develop flexible, stretchable devices that can interface with skin and could be used in the robotics field, as well as for prosthetics. She is also chairperson of the university’s chemical and engineering department, as well as a co-founder and member of the Board of Directors for Silicon Valley tech startups C3 Nano and PyrAmes. Last year, Azul 3D added two important members to its board of directors, raised $12.5 million in a seed financing round, and formed an exclusive development collaboration with DuPont Electronics & Imaging, and it seems like 2021 will be just as busy.

“Last year brought many successes, all of which validated the capabilities of our record-breaking high-area rapid printing (HARP) technology. I am encouraged that we have so much support from veterans from the 3D-printing industry and electronics experts, who recognize HARP’s unique potential to transform manufacturing,” said Azul 3D’s Co-Founder and board chair Chad Mirkin. “We look forward to another strong year of growth in 2021.”

TCT 3Sixty Postponed Again

Rapid News Group already had to reschedule TCT 3Sixty once, and now it’s had to do it again, announcing that the new dates for the UK’s flagship event for 3D printing intelligence are now September 28-30, 2021, instead of in June 2021. This will allow the community to (hopefully) plan ahead, and give the worldwide COVID-19 vaccine programs the proper amount of time to have the maximum effect so that all attendees will be safe and secure. The event will still feature live stream feeds that offer interactive, 360° insights, as well as an extensive conference program delivered on multiple stages, a community platform, networking events, and interactive features as well. TCT 3Sixty will be held in Hall 3 of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, alongside the Interplas plastics show and Med-Tech Innovation Expo, two other industrial events put on by Rapid News Group.

“I don’t believe anyone thought that our first reschedule would require an adjustment, but the latest information in the UK means the right thing to do is to reschedule the event to enable a further 13 weeks of vaccinations to take place ahead of the event,” said Duncan Wood, the CEO of Rapid News Group.

“On current deployment projections this has the potential to have a huge impact on attendee’s ability to visit and of course the subsequent ability for our community to come together for education, insight, networking and to do business. As an organiser we recognise these connections are what makes live events work and this adjustment means we can be sure of creating more of these connections for the community whilst safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all attendees.”

3DP4ME Continued Growth in 2020

California not-for-profit organization 3DP4ME, which operates in the Middle East, was formed to help people in developing areas get better access to hearing aids by using 3D printing to make them. According to 3DP4ME, only 1 out of 50 people in the developing world who need a hearing aid actually have one, and its mission is to use 3D printing and facilitate access for those who need it. In an email sent to 3DPrint.com, we learned that the organization has continued to grow over the last year, starting with official approval from the Jordanian government as a charity this summer after six years. With its official registration in hand, 3DP4ME signed a lease on a new office space last month, and is also working to set up its hearing express pilot, with a long-term goal of providing 12,000 3D printed hearing aids to those in need; thanks to a donation from Ultimaker BV and its sales partner Raidy, 3DP4ME will soon receive a new Ultimaker S5 Pro 3D printer on which to begin R&D efforts.

“We are so excited about the possibilities for 2021, building on the interest and momentum, to being able to work with those in need and start making a real impact,” 3DP4ME’s Founder and CEO Jason Szolomayer wrote in the email.

ProGlove Using DyeMansion & FORMRISE Technologies

Startup ProGlove, which manufactures wearable barcode scanners used by companies like Audi, Bosch, and Lufthansa Technik, collaborated with AM service provider FORMRISE and post-processing firm DyeMansion to achieve serial production runs for its new MARK Display product. ProGlove originally used FDM 3D printing to make prototypes of the MARK Display, which presents information like storage and product numbers to the user while scanning occurs, but eventually switched to selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. While the startup appreciated the design freedom and reduced number of components it had with 3D printing the barcode scanner’s casing, there were issues with finishing and part coloring, which DyeMansion has helped it solve through the use of its Print-to-Product workflow. ProGlove says the post-processing takes just three hours, and is now using the process to 3D print and finish barcode scanners at volumes up to 10,000 pieces.

“With the Print-to-Product workflow we saw the development to have competitive parts and to really use SLS for serial production. We have superior surfaces with PolyS­hot Surfacing. That was proven when we approached customers with injection moulded parts, and they said they liked the PolyShot surface even better,” said Konstantin Brunnbauer, VP of Production at ProGlove.

“We have reproducible proces­ses, and every part looks the same. We have a perfect co­louring throughout the surface and these processes enable us to compete with traditional manufacturing technolo­gies like injection moulding. For the end user, the customer, there is no difference. And for us as a manufacturer, the reliable processes give us the freedom to develop and enhance steadily.”

cytena Launches UP.SIGHT Single-Cell Dispenser

Swedish bioprinting manufacturer CELLINK and its subsidiary cytena GmbH have officially launched their rapid, all-in-one imager and single-cell dispenser, UP.SIGHT. The system, which offers a double assurance of clonality and no need for image stitching, is said to increase the efficiency in cell line development workflows, thanks to cytena’s patented, rapid single-cell dispensing technology and high-quality imaging system. According to CELLINK, biologics are used to develop eight out of the top ten best-selling drugs in the world, and developing cell lines is a major part of that. The UP.SIGHT system is certified to help laboratories triumph over their cell line development issues and work faster and smarter, as it can ensure precise cell isolation and monoclonality.

“The UP.SIGHT represents a significant improvement in single-cell dispensing and the cell line development workflow. Until now, the pharmaceutical industry has used a costly, time-consuming and wasteful process when isolating single cells for research purposes,” explained CELLINK’s CEO Erik Gatenholm. “Compared to existing single-cell dispensers, the UP.SIGHT is faster, more efficient and does it all in one device, while they require multiple devices. The UP.SIGHT is an example of the CELLINK Group’s commitment to bio-convergence and finding synergies in biology and engineering to create truly innovative technologies.”

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors will meet in open session on Feb. 9, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. ET. The Board is expected to discuss the following items:

1. Call to Order and Remarks of the Chairman 
2. Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board
3. Remarks of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board (incoming)
4. Remarks of the Postmaster General and CEO
5. Approval of Minutes
6. Committee Reports
7. Quarterly Financial Report
8. Quarterly Service Performance Report
9. Approval of Tentative Agendas for May Meetings
10. Adjournment

The public is welcome to listen to a live audio webcast of the meeting (no in-person attendance) at http://about.usps.com/who/leadership/board-governors/briefings/welcome.htm. Three hours after the conclusion of the open session meeting, a recorded audio file will be available for listening. In compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the audio webcast will be open-captioned.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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A novel, fast-setting ceramic-based bioink could allow surgeons in the future to 3D print bone with living cells to repair damaged bone tissue. Scientists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia, used a LulzBot Mini desktop 3D printer and customized bioink to fabricate complex bone-like structures at room temperature without the need for harsh processing conditions that require invasive chemicals, radiation, or postprocessing steps. The new biofabrication strategy can create bone mimicking constructs for bone tissue regeneration. Eventually, the process could generate custom bone microenvironments for disease modeling, multicellular delivery, in vivo bone repair, and even allow integration with sensitive biomolecules and drugs for controlled release.

Inspired by the bone process where living organisms produce minerals, the scientists developed a new technique, dubbed ceramic omnidirectional bioprinting in cell-suspensions (COBICS), enabling them to print bone-mimicking constructs that harden in minutes when placed in water. In a paper published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials, the authors describe how they developed a special calcium phosphate bioink in a microgel matrix with living cells. The study demonstrated that mineralized constructs could be deposited within a high density of stem cells, directing the cellular organization, and inducing osteogenesis in vitro.

While the idea of 3D printing bone-mimicking structures is not new, this is the first time such material can be created at room temperature – complete with living cells – and without harsh chemicals or radiation. Senior study author Iman Roohani, a researcher at UNSW’s School of Chemistry and leader of the Biomaterials Design and Tissue Engineering Lab at UNSW, explained that this is a unique technology to produce structures that closely mimic bone tissue. “It could be used in clinical applications where there is a large demand for in situ repair of bone defects such as those caused by trauma, cancer, or where a big chunk of tissue is resected,” he specified.

Examples of computer-generated 3D models (top) and corresponding 3D printed bone-like structures (bottom) through COBICS technique. Image courtesy of University of New South Wales (UNSW).

The breakthrough technology was co-developed by Roohani and Associate Professor at UNSW’s School of Chemistry, Kristopher Kilian. He described the process as a significant advance on current state-of-the-art technology. Until now, making a piece of bone-like material to repair a patient’s bone tissue involves first going into a laboratory to fabricate the structures using high-temperature furnaces and toxic chemicals, emphasized the study co-author. The resulting dry material is then brought into a clinical setting or a laboratory, where it is profusely washed before living cells are added to it.

Bone defects resulting from injury or disease usually need surgical procedures. Conventional treatment options include shortening the bone, using a metal external frame to help create new bone and bone grafts. Bone defect repair is one of the most common regenerative procedures, with more than two million bone grafts performed worldwide annually. However, these proven procedures are associated with variable clinical outcomes of postsurgical morbidity, especially at the donor site, and increased surgical costs. The field of regenerative medicine could hold immense potential to overcome these limitations by repairing bone with live 3D printed tissue. Although still a nascent sector, relevant advances in the past years have improved cell understanding, bioink development, and bioprinting processes to guide the technology into the future.

According to Kilian, no technologies can directly extrude the bioink into an area with cells, like a cavity in a patient’s bone. He suggested that surgeons could “go directly into the bone with this technique,” where there are cells, blood vessels, and fat, and “print a bone-like structure that already contains living cells.”

The study originated after co-authors Thomas Molley, and Stephanie Nemec attended a Regenerative Biomaterials & Therapeutics Group workshop at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) led by Professor of Biomedical Engineering and inventor of the FRESH technique, Adam Feinberg. The researchers ended up taking home printers from CMU in Pennsylvania. Kilian pondered on a Twitter post: “We were stabilizing microgels for cell culture, which begged the question: Can microgel baths support ceramic filaments?.”

The team got to work, demonstrating they could print complex bone-mimetic architectures. This allowed the printed ceramic to be harvested like FRESH or integrated with a suspension of chemically crosslinked microgels and live cells, went on Kilian. The authors claim that when the ink is combined with a collagenous substance containing living cells, it enables in-situ fabrication of bone-like tissues. This process may be suitable for bone tissue engineering applications, disease modeling, drug screening, and in-situ reconstruction or replacement of bone and osteochondral defects directly in the clinic, using patients’ cells in real-time.

Researcher and study Co-author Sara Romanazzo prepares to use a LulzBot Mini to 3D print a piece of bone using the COBICS technique. Image courtesy of University of New South Wales (UNSW).

“The ink takes advantage of a setting mechanism through the local nano crystallization of its components in aqueous environments, converting the inorganic ink to mechanically interlocked bone apatite nanocrystals,” said Roohani. “In other words, it forms a structure that is chemically similar to bone-building blocks. The ink is formulated in such a way that the conversion is quick, non-toxic in a biological environment, and it only initiates when ink is exposed to the body fluids, providing an ample working time for the end-user, for example, surgeons.”

The new bone 3D printing process could open up a whole new way of treating and repairing bone tissue, so the study has already caught the attention of interested surgeons and medical technology manufacturers. Kilian hopes that one day, a patient needing a bone graft can walk into a clinic where their bone’s anatomical structure is imaged, translated to a 3D printer, and directly printed into the cavity with his or her cells. Next up, the duo will be performing in vivo tests in animal models to see if the living cells in the bone-like constructs continue to grow after being implanted in existing bone tissue and invite dentists, orthopedic surgeons, bone scientists, and research institutes to explore the potential of their COBICS technique to create synthetic bone matrices in situ.

Burloak Technologies Inc. has become the first company to achieve Boeing’s BAC 5673 specification for the 3D printing of aluminum AlSi10Mg components. This marks a substantial gain for the service bureau, as it continues to grow in the additive manufacturing (AM) space.

“This approval marks the completion of a qualification process that included a rigorous evaluation of Burloak’s capabilities by Boeing. We would like to thank Boeing’s additive manufacturing team for its collaborative approach,” stated Peter Adams, Burloak’s Founder and Chief Innovation Officer. “Together, we developed a well-defined specification that has demonstrated robust, repeatable processes to produce flight components using additive manufacturing.”

Burloak offers design, engineer, CNC, 3D printing services and more. While Burloak was established in 2005 in Ontario, it was acquired by an even older company in 2017. Established in 1855 as a hardware and metals import/export business in Toronto, Samuel, Son & Co. is now the largest family-owned metals processor and distributor in North America. With the acquisition of Burloak, Samuel expanded its status in metal production with AM with the goal of delivering 3D printing solutions globally.

Parts 3D printed by Burloak. Image courtesy of Burloak Technologies.

With a new 40,000-square-foot 3D printing facility and a wide range of AM capabilities, Burloak and Samuel are certainly moving up in the industry. Most recently, Burloak began working on 3D printing parts for satellites. Burloak became one of the founding members of the GE Additive Manufacturing Partner Network alongside Carpenter Technology Corporation. Samuel, meanwhile, partnered with announced in 2017, a strategic alliance with Carpenter for end-to-end 3D printing supply chain solutions.

Among its unique offerings, Burloak offers topology optimization, finite element analysis moldflow, and AM build simulation, poising it for such advanced applications as the type that giant manufacturers like Boeing are likely after.

“Achieving this qualification further validates Burloak’s position as a global leader in the additive manufacturing space, and clearly demonstrates our ability to commercialize this transformational technology,” said Colin Osborne, Samuel’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This milestone also signals the increasing importance of additive manufacturing within aerospace and represents a step forward on the path to a greener future for aviation.”

Now that it has achieved the BAC 5673 specification, Burloak Technologies is working with Boeing to see it put to use, which means 3D printing components for Boeing aircraft. What the exact form of that will take is yet to be determined.

Boeing has been hit extremely hard by the economic downturn that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. It posted a whopping $11.9 billion in losses for 2020 and laid off a total of 30,000 workers last year. Directing attention to its innovative 3D printing partnerships may, then, do the aerospace giant some PR good—especially given the memories of failed jet engines in everyone’s minds.

The Additive Manufacturing Coalition hosted a live forum with Congresswoman Haley Stevens to discuss what the industry can expect from the 117th Congress, which convened for the first time in Washington D.C. on January 3, 2021. The Michigan Democratic Representative is currently focusing on a recovery scheme for the manufacturing industry and looking forward to champion initiatives that will help the 3D printing sector succeed—particularly as it pertains to the overwhelming demand for human capital and advanced technologies.

“The future is obviously here, and we were thrown the curve ball of curve balls last year—ending up in a very unprecedented dynamic with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and extra pressure being placed on our manufacturing sector, and the new technologies of proliferation, productivity, and connectivity. We have seen a great emphasis over the last decade on the capabilities of additive manufacturing, 3D printing and what this means to ‘make it in America’,” described Stevens.

During the forum, Stevens said she believed additive manufacturing (AM) would be a high priority for this new Congress. The support for manufacturers will be tied into the next stage of the country’s growth trajectory. Furthermore, House members, particularly from the Great Lakes region and aerospace-intensive manufacturing states like Texas and Oklahoma, will be very interested in the AM community. “I think there will be a House and Senate engagement as it pertains to unlocking R&D capabilities,” explained Stevens.

Congresswoman Haley Stevens during the first day of her second term in office. Image courtesy of Haley Stevens via Facebook.

In November 2020, the Detroit native was reelected in Michigan’s 11th congressional district, a suburban community with a rich manufacturing sector. During her first term, Stevens was assigned to the House Committee on Education and Labor and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, where she also served as Chairwoman of the Research & Technology Subcommittee (a role she hopes to retain during her second term in office). Stevens was billed as supporting manufacturing on these committees, standing up for workers’ rights, and seeking to increase investment in critical research and development.

Working on U.S. manufacturing policy is being framed as one of the congresswoman’s top priorities. During the hour-long live event, it was clear that advanced manufacturing initiatives hit home for Stevens, who previously worked on the Obama administration’s advanced manufacturing and economic growth initiatives to create advanced manufacturing job opportunities located around southeastern Michigan.

Even more so, one-third of Michigan’s manufacturing jobs are concentrated in counties inside or adjacent to the 11th District, so any legislative project to help revitalize advanced manufacturing innovation would likely be celebrated. In her district, Stevens has a program called Manufacturing Mondays. She visits small companies, suppliers, makers, and training centers to see what companies are working on and the challenges they are facing. After visiting over 80 businesses and spending hours on shop floors with 3D printers, Stevens understands why local burgeoning sectors – like automotive, aerospace, and defense – are tied to the technology.

Rep. Haley Stevens visiting KCS Advanced Machining Services in Livonia, Michigan to learn about their aerospace work on a new generation of NASA spacesuits. Image courtesy of Haley Stevens via Facebook.

“The question is, what is our moonshot over the next 50 years?” pondered Stevens during her presentation. “It absolutely centers on our manufacturing and making capabilities, as well as the inspiring moment of make-and-buy in America, while still remaining connected to global supply chains and international markets that are demanding our products, innovation, talents, and capabilities.”

The priorities of the new Congress will be tied to the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, with negotiations for another economic relief package, which could include more resources to detect new strains of the virus and more funding for manufacturing and distributing the vaccines. According to Stevens, there is recognition of some interesting labor dynamics, including a fair number of people out of work and a recession skills gap, which needs to be addressed. But as the COVID-19 recovery phase moves along, the representative indicated that efforts from the AM sector – which gained so much prominence during the first months of the pandemic – will remain a congressional topic of discussion.

“When we evaluate the last year (2020), it’s a story of manufacturing, it’s a story of our capabilities to make and rise above the situation and to solve supply chain disruptions – which I know many of you were a part of,” outlined Stevens. “The suppliers along with our OES stepped up to supply PPE’s or to produce respirators and ventilators, and the manufacturing of vaccines.”

General Motors workers in Michigan produce face shields with 3D printing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Image courtesy of Jeffrey Sauger for General Motors.

During the pandemic, manufacturers across the country stepped up to meet the industrial needs of essential workers, doctors, and nurses to keep them safe. Moreover, Stevens emphasized how Michigan’s manufacturing workforce showcased its capabilities by producing essential and potentially lifesaving equipment. Over 600 Michigan companies joined the fight against COVID-19, with automotive suppliers like Ford and GM producing tens of thousands of ventilators, distilleries making hand sanitizers, and other companies generating millions of masks and gowns. The efforts have paid off. In June, Michigan was one of three states “on track to contain COVID-19.”

Now, Stevens thinks it’s time to encourage existing and future members of the workforce to pursue manufacturing as a career. Excited to see Joe Biden’s campaign pledge seem to become a reality after the President signed the Buy American executive order less than a week after Inauguration Day, Congresswoman Stevens said she plans to partner with the administration on this initiative. Expected to force the federal government to buy more goods produced in the U.S. to revive domestic manufacturing, Buy American utilizes the government’s purchasing power to unleash and continue to unlock the procurement of “buying from American manufacturers,” increasing the domestic content requirement, moving to an inner agency approach to address the accountability and the use of waivers for domestic preference laws. As a nod to the AM industry, Stevens said she knows “many of you are waiting to get on that preferred vendor list.” The legislator could become an important ally to the 3D printing industry during her next two years in office.

While we often discuss the many rules and regulations involved with 3D printing for the aviation industry, make no mistake: things are just as exacting when it comes to 3D printing for maritime applications, as well. French Naval Group, which specializes in naval defense and marine renewable energy, was the first to 3D print a full-scale propeller blade demonstrator for military use, and has now announced the creation of a next-generation 3D printed propeller that will power the French Navy’s Tripartite minehunter FS Andromède (M643) ship. Naval Group, which designed the metal propeller, manufactured it using wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology, which has been utilized in the past to print other propellers.

“The assembly of this 3D-printed propeller shows great promise for the future,” stated Eric Balufin, Director of the Naval Group site of Brest. “This new technology will enable us to considerably reduce technical constraints, and therefore allow for new manufacturing solutions for complex geometrical shapes which cannot be produced through conventional processes. It will also enable us to greatly reduce production time and consequently in-service support.”

Spanning 2.5 meters, the propeller weighs a whopping 1 metric ton, featuring five 220 kg 3D printed blades. WAAM, which is a better AM technique for large-scale applications, uses a robotic arm to melt metal wire that’s been heated up by an electric arc. The robots and other manufacturing tools for the work were supplied by the French subsidiary of the Yaskawa Group in Japan.

As previously mentioned, there are pretty intense standards and requirements to be met with maritime 3D printing, such as corrosion, fatigue, and shock resistance, due to the difficult conditions ships constantly find themselves in. The Naval Group worked with Bureau Véritas to ensure that all of the certification, testing, and inspection requirements were met, so that the Fleet Support Services (FSS) and the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) would authorize a trial of the 3D printed blades on an actual Navy ship.

“Obtaining military naval quality requires rigorous development. Nearly three years of R&D – carried out by the Technical and Innovation Department in cooperation with the Ecole Centrale de Nantes within the framework of the LabCom Joint Laboratory of Maritime Technology – went into the development of the deposition process of metal wire fusion. Today, we witness a world first,” Emmanuel Chol, Director of the Naval Group’s Nantes-Indret site, said. “It is the largest metal 3D-printed thruster ever to have been manufactured and the first propeller resulting from this technology, embarked on board a military ship and manufactured for use beyond just sea trials.”

The 3D printed blades were successfully certified, and the propeller was transferred from the manufacturing site of Nantes-Indret to Brest this fall. The assembly was then sent to the submarine base, where it was mounted onto the intermediate propeller shaft of the French Navy ship Andromède in November. The ship is one of ten Tripartite mine hunters built in the 1980s for the French Navy, and eight of these, including the Andromède, won’t be retired for another ten years. So it’s imperative that the propeller and its 3D printed blades work properly.

Successful sea trials of the tripartite minehunter ship with its new propeller occurred in December, so the Andromède can now get back to work, along with its 3D printed propeller.

But Naval Group isn’t stopping there: it’s begun a new development phase with the purpose of revamping the design of other ships through the use of 3D printing, such as thrusters. The technology can offer increased part productivity, reduced weight, acoustic discretion, better thrust efficiency, and so much more.

France’s Naval Group announced it had 3D printed the world’s first propeller for use on an operational mine hunter of the French navy.

One of the largest makerspaces in the United States is building Boston’s most inclusive, vibrant hub for artistic expression, learning, manufacturing, and creative entrepreneurship. As part of a new long-term partnership with Harvard University, the local non-profit collaborative, Artisan’s Asylum, will move its facilities to the Lower Allston neighborhood in September 2021. Since its foundation in 2010, the member-supported fabrication hub has been continuously introducing 3D printing classes, events and promoting advanced technology’s use to its members, churning out startups, and nurturing talented entrepreneurs.

After a decade of sharing skills and ideas, envisioning projects, and building a network of entrepreneurial ventures in Sommerville, Massachusetts, Artisan’s will settle in at Harvard space in Allston. The plan is to transform a warehouse at 55 Antwerp St. into a vibrant community center, reported The Harvard Gazette. Another project is planned at 176 Lincoln St., currently under development by Berkeley Investments. Both sites are part of Harvard University’s Allston campus, home to Harvard Business School, graduate student residences, and athletic facilities.

Harvard University’s plan for its Allston campus, across the Charles River. Image courtesy of The Plan for Harvard in Allston Executive Summary/Harvard University.

Since 2006, just six years after purchasing the land from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA), Harvard has been planning and building an expansion of its Allston campus, with completed projects that include the Harvard Innovation Labs, Life Lab, and ArtLab. The new partnership will allow Artisan’s to expand its space and continue to grow operations.

“Harvard is thrilled to welcome the Artisan’s Asylum and its cutting-edge, innovative maker space to the neighborhood. Their plans for the Allston space represent an exciting opportunity to strengthen the region’s creative economy and support community-wide creativity and collaboration,” said Harvard Executive Vice President Katie Lapp. “Artisan’s is a vital community resource that complements and widens our shared goals of nurturing creativity, collaboration, and economic impact.”

Artisan’s Asylum members working on a project at the Somerville, Massachusetts, location. Image courtesy of Artisan’s Asylum.

“An inclusive refuge for makers and creatives,” that is Artisan’s promise. Everyday makers, hackers, engineers, artists, artisans, entrepreneurs, and creatives go to Artisan’s Sommerville facility to use the fabrication equipment, professional design and modeling software, educational and training opportunities, and shop, studio, and storage spaces. The Mission? Making creativity a way of life. Artisan’s inspires people to learn new skills, pass those skills to others, and encourage the growth of an inclusive creative community that is always searching for new members. Best of all, spaces like Artisan’s provide access to tools, education, and resources needed to make a living out of creative inspiration.

The relocation plan from Sommerville to Allston’s 52,500 square feet space means Artisan’s is looking to invest $4.7 million in the design, build-out, and finishing of its new home. It will include the base build (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural work), finishes to the space (shop walls, studios, and amenities), and operating costs associated with the move. However, thanks to early support from key partners, like Berkeley Investments, and individual donors, Artisan’s has already secured nearly $4 million and is only $715,000 away from its fundraising goal. At this rate, the new site’s base build will be complete by May 2021, and just two months later, the move can begin.

“Harvard is committed to ensuring that the arts remain central to the University’s campus in Allston,” ensured Marika Reuling, Managing Director of Harvard’s Allston Initiatives team. “One of the University’s top priorities remains continuing to engage in efforts to support the region’s robust artist community and to [continue] to bring a diverse mix of uses in the neighborhood. Through its ongoing support of local artists through programs such as the Allston-Brighton Winter Market, the Western Avenue Arts Walk, and Zone 3’s Pop-Up! Artist Shop, and more recently announced Window Shopping experience, the University is working steadfastly to ensure that the arts continue to thrive throughout the region.”

Artisan’s Asylum instructors teach members to 3D Print on the hub’s entry-level printers Flashforge and Taz. Image courtesy of Artisan’s Asylum.

Since its inception, Artisan’s Asylum has generated meaningful community impact in Somerville and throughout the Boston region by providing a home for restless makers. It is credited with attracting the Greentech incubator Greentown Labs to Somerville and contributing substantially to the local creative economy’s value, contributing more than $70 million in business activity.

As the result of an original collaboration between robotics engineer Gui Cavalcanti and costume designer Jenn Martinez, the dynamic hub has successively helped launch 25 startups responsible for creating over 150 jobs during the last ten years. Artisan’s saw the birth of the world’s first 3D pen, the 3Doodler; GeoOrbital, the self-powered electric wheel, and MegaBots, a startup that recreates giant robots from science fiction. Overall, members have already raised $4 million on Kickstarter campaigns for various small businesses.

Artisan’s Digital Fabrication and Design Lab currently have 3D printers from MarkForged, FlashForge, and Ultimaker. Members can also attend 3D printing classes, such as Rebecca Knepple’s “Tool Training: 3D Printers” or the more advanced “3D print Optimization” course. However, the new, larger shared workshop will offer up to 120 studios for creativity, making, and entrepreneurship of all kinds; a multipurpose community space, more classroom areas, and much more. Since the launch of the “maker” movement in 2005, these spaces have benefitted local economies by helping the skill base grow and encouraging hands-on learning. Hubs like Artisan’s create unique opportunities to enlighten minds, so we can expect this new expansion to attract more participants to the space.