The wireless charging system. The charging laser and guard lasers are normally invisible to the human eye, but red beams have been inserted in place of the guard beams for demonstration purposes.

As Dr. Evil, and cats everywhere, have conclusively proven, everything is cooler with a laser. What’s definitely not cool is hauling around tangled charging cords or, in my household at least, losing the charging cord or the box more often than James Bond escapes a sticky situation after the villain has explained every detail of her/his vile plan. A team of engineers at the University of Washington may just have solved both my loss of accessories and my lack of cool factor with the development of a laser system that can wirelessly charge smartphones from across the room.

The invention, detailed in a paper in the Proceedings of the Association for Computing Machinery on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable & Ubiquitous Technologies (IMWUT), allows a laser beam that is emitted to be picked up by a 3D printed power cell attached to the back of the cell phone. This device, which works with invisible laser beams, can charge the phone as quickly as a standard issue USB charger. Also designed into the device is a way of dissipating any excess heat generated by the laser and an automatic shutoff which prevents any damage being done to objects, people, or animals which might accidentally cross the path of the laser beam. This is particularly important as the laser beam itself is invisible to the naked eye. As team member Shyam Gollakota, Associate Professor in the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, explained:

“Safety was our focus in designing this system. We have designed, constructed and tested this laser-based charging system with a rapid-response safety mechanism, which ensures that the laser emitter will terminate the charging beam before a person comes into the path of the laser. The guard beams are able to act faster than our quickest motions because those beams are reflected back to the emitter at the speed of light. As a result, when the guard beam is interrupted by the movement of a person, the emitter detects this within a fraction of a second and deploys a shutter to block the charging beam before the person can come in contact with it.”

The University of Washington engineers behind the wireless charging system for mobile devices.
Standing (left-to-right): Vikram Iyer, Shyam Gollakota, Elyas Bayati.
Seated (left-to-right): Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, Arka Majumdar.

These guard beams are harmless beams that are transmitted surrounding the actual charging beam and their presence is measured by a series of 3D printed retroreflectors, meaning that before the person actually interrupts the laser beam, the guard beams have been disrupted and sent the shut off signal to the laser’s source. This feature could actually make the laser charger even safer than the regular plug in charger, based solely on the number of times I personally trip over the cord and send my device flying across the room which causes me to nearly have a fatal heart attack – also causing my children to expand their vocabulary in a colorful way.

Illuminated in red is one of the 3-D printed retroreflectors, which reflects the low-power guard beams to diodes on the laser emitter. Interruption of the guard beams triggers a safety system which blocks the charging beam.

The beam produced by the laser charges the phone through contact with a 3D printed power cell attached to the back of the smartphone, delivering 2W of power to a 15-square-inch area from a distance of up to 14 feet. Placing the phone anywhere within that 15-inch range will allow power to be delivered. The laser emitting device detects the specific location of the phone using a series of ‘chirps’ emitted by the phone as a result of a program installed by the engineers. It is also possible to modify the charger to expand the beam’s radius to an area of nearly 40 square inches and to broadcast the beam at a distance of 40 feet.

The system has been designed to function in both commercial and residential settings, after intense safety testing, says paper co-author and team leader Arka Majumdar, Assistant Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering:

“In addition to the safety mechanism that quickly terminates the charging beam, our platform includes a heatsink to dissipate excess heat generated by the charging beam. These features give our wireless charging system the robust safety standards needed to apply it to a variety of commercial and home settings.”

The UW team’s prototype heatsink assembly, which can be attached to the back of a smartphone, consists of a photovoltaic cell (silver square, top) attached to a thermoelectric generator (in white). The generator is mounted on top of an aluminum heatsink. The entire assembly is only 8mm thick and 40mm wide.

This could be especially useful in households with multiple devices, particularly those who have disagreements about iPhone vs. Android and therefore cannot share USB cords. Instead of an unsightly mass of cords, users could simply place their phones on a table. The laser emitter might be best placed on the ceiling so as to minimize the risk of walking through the beam and continually shutting the device off.

And while there is clearly potential for a James Bond villain to attempt to modify the device in order to give themselves enough time to explain the entirety of their plot for world domination/unspeakable evil, I’m sure the research team is clever enough to prevent that moment should it ever arrive. In the meantime, in my humble opinion, it would be a better world if we had fewer cords in it.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts; join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Images: Mark Stone/University of Washington]

The ExOne Company, which provides 3D printed products to industrial customers and manufactures the M-Flex metal production 3D printer platform, has long had its eye on materials, partnering with Jenny Wu to 3D print an interlocking steel necklace and adding a stainless steel alloy to its offerings.

This week the company has announced that it is working with SGL Group, a leading manufacturer of products and materials made from carbon, to use its binder jet printing technology to 3D print carbon and graphite components. The two companies are bringing these components to the market under the CARBOPRINT brand name.

ExOne’s binder jetting inkjet nozzles.

The initial material development study has been completed for CARBOPRINT, and after an early introduction to a larger application specialist audience at January’s Berlin Waste Management and Energy Conference, it’s now available to customers.

“ExOne has formed a unique collaborative relationship with SGL Group who has developed a material that is ideally suited for our binder jetting technology. Each party brings their expertise: SGL Group offers extensive knowledge on raw material and powder preparation, as well as versatile technologies for post-processing carbon components. As the leading supplier for industrial binder jetting technology, ExOne contributes its competencies in 3D printing,” said Rick Lucas, ExOne’s CTO.

“This technology enables not only the production of small prototypes, but also efficient serial production and fast development of customer-specific solutions.”

SGL’s extensive carbon expertise is combined with ExOne’s 3D printing technology to make the CARBOPRINT family, which can be put to use in rapid and economic production of prototypes and small series batches for industries that deal with high-temperature and mechanical applications, like chemicals, glass, and metal.

While we may groan when we hear the words post-processing, the carbon body is porous right after printing, so post-processing methods like silicon or metal infiltration and polymer impregnation are very important when completing these components. This allows the varying material properties to adjust to their specific application.

There are a total of four CARBOPRINT materials, each with various unique material properties:

• CARBOPRINT C – carbon and graphite, low density and open porosity
• CARBOPRINT M – metal carbon composites, good electrical and thermal conductivity
• CARBOPRINT P – polymer carbon composites, accelerated development and good gliding
• CARBOPRINT Si – ceramic carbon composites, high hardness and temperature resistance

Most conventional carbon components are made through traditional subtractive machining processes. But there are many benefits to 3D printing this material, such as the possibility of intelligent functions, like heating and thermal management, and manufacturing components will be imbued with the specific properties of graphite and carbon, like mechanical strength, low weight, electrical and thermal conductivity, and low thermal expansion. In addition, 3D printing components with binder jetting technology allows users to manufacture large industrial components, and create complex designs at no extra cost.

The two companies will be starting CARBOPRINT component development and production with selected customers. Thanks to carbon’s basic properties, like electrical and thermal conductivity and high chemical stability, the first trial components 3D printed by SGL and ExOne, such as siliconized 3D printed carbon pump components and heat exchangers for distillation columns, are currently being developed for testing in the high-tech fields of environmental technology and chemical apparatus construction.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com, or tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

[Images via SGL Group]

As we carry on with our busy lives each day, it is all too easy to step on an ant or a bee, or to swat one out of our line of vision — and just keep on moving without a thought. You may get a big surprise if you step on one barefoot or for some reason attract the dreaded sting, but otherwise you may not put much thought into the complexities of their miniature lives, or the systems they create. The degree to which bees are important to our ecosystem is staggering though; and in fact, the peril to their populations around the world has motivated researchers to continue studying them in greater detail, along with giving us ongoing information about why we should not only appreciate bees but encourage their propagation.

Michael Candy, an artist from Brisbane, Australia, is striving to do his part for bees in creating 3D printed robotic flowers for pollination. This is not the first combination we’ve seen between 3D printing and bees, having previously followed innovations such as 3D printed honeycomb and even collaborative art with bees; however, the Synthetic Pollenizer is highly unique and could prove to be important to the survival of bees.

Candy’s Synthetic Pollenizer is so effective, it is actually safer for bees than other plants and flowers. These flowers of the future hold both pollen and nectar, and Candy made them to be placed outside in the midst of normal greenery, drawing bees.

VIDEO

Candy used the rapeseed species as inspiration, and each of the 3D printed flowers within his innovative system has an artificial stamen. He used a special device to trap actual pollen from a bee hive—collecting the fluid as it fell from bees’ hind legs.

“Bees are a vital part of our ecosystem, I feel that everyone needs to take the time and get to know these hard workers that keep our plants and crops pollinated,” Candy recently told Dezeen.

“It is common knowledge that bee population is suffering worldwide due to pesticides, climate change and Varroa mites – for these problems we can find solutions.”

Success with the project has not happened overnight by any means though, as bees are not that easy to fool. Candy had to work for several years to get bees to land on his creations, as they have a strong sense of color and form in relation to plant life. To attract bees, he created an intricate system, thrusting nectar upward via motors and tubes.

“Bees are easily the most utilitarian pollinators used in industrial agriculture and they are suffering from a variety of environmental problems,” said Candy. “Perhaps in a future where designer crops are no longer able to produce pollen yet still receive it – then the Synthetic Pollenizer could rehabilitate the reproductive cycle of these genetically modified crops.”

Check out a live stream for the Synthetic Pollenizer here.

Discuss this article and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Source/Images:

]

Soft robotics has turned the idea of robots only being made of hard, rigid parts on its tail, and pairing the technology with 3D printing has led to some remarkable innovations, including soft hydrogel robots that are nearly invisible and the world’s first autonomous soft robot. This last was developed by researchers at Harvard University, from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and the John A. Paulson School for Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).

Now, researchers from both SEAS and Wyss have developed a novel 3D printing method that gives soft robots sensing capabilities.

[Image: Ryan L. Truby, Harvard University]

These researchers have built other soft robots that can swim through liquid, crawl, grasp delicate objects, and help a heart keep beating, but this is the first one that can sense and respond to its surroundings.

Ryan L. Truby, a recent PhD graduate at SEAS, said, “Our research represents a foundational advance in soft robotics. Our manufacturing platform enables complex sensing motifs to be easily integrated into soft robotic systems.”

The team was inspired by the sensory capabilities of human bodies, and developed a platform to create soft robots that contain embedded sensors within actuators, which allow the robot to actually sense touch, movement, pressure, and temperature.

The researchers published a paper on their work, titled “Soft Somatosensitive Actuators via Embedded 3D Printing,” in the journal Advanced Materials; co-authors include Truby; former postdoctoral fellow at SEAS Michael Wehner; Abigail K. Grosskopf; Daniel M. Vogt; Sebastien G. M. Uzel; Robert J. Wood, the Charles River Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences at SEAS; and Jennifer A. Lewis, the Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at SEAS and Core Faculty Member of the Wyss Institute.

The abstract reads, “Humans possess manual dexterity, motor skills, and other physical abilities that rely on feedback provided by the somatosensory system. Herein, a method is reported for creating soft somatosensitive actuators (SSAs) via embedded 3D printing, which are innervated with multiple conductive features that simultaneously enable haptic, proprioceptive, and thermoceptive sensing. This novel manufacturing approach enables the seamless integration of multiple ionically conductive and fluidic features within elastomeric matrices to produce SSAs with the desired bioinspired sensing and actuation capabilities. Each printed sensor is composed of an ionically conductive gel that exhibits both long-term stability and hysteresis-free performance. As an exemplar, multiple SSAs are combined into a soft robotic gripper that provides proprioceptive and haptic feedback via embedded curvature, inflation, and contact sensors, including deep and fine touch contact sensors.”

Soft somatosensory actuators. (a) After all features are printed within the second mold layer and before adding the third mold layer, (b) excess actuator matrix material is removed. (c) The anterior matrix material is added, and the contact sensor is printed. (d-f) Photographs of the SSA
removed from the mold assembly after matrix material curing. (d) Top-down and (e) end-on
views highlight the internal features of the SSAs. (f) A close-up of the contact sensor’s distal meander.

The team’s work was partially supported by the National Science Foundation through Harvard MRSEC and the Wyss Institute.

It’s been difficult in the past to integrate sensors within soft robots, mainly because sensors are rigid. But the Harvard researchers created a liquid-based, 3D printable, organic ionic conductive ink, which can actually be 3D printed inside the soft elastomer matrices that make up the majority of soft robots.

Free displacement of an SSA alternating between inflated and deflated states held for 20s. The inflation pressure is increased by 14 kPa increments to 152 kPa after each deflation to 0 kPa.

“To date, most integrated sensor/actuator systems used in soft robotics have been quite rudimentary. By directly printing ionic liquid sensors within these soft systems, we open new avenues to device design and fabrication that will ultimately allow true closed loop control of soft robots,” explained Wehner, now an assistant professor at UC Santa Cruz.

The team used a technique known as embedded 3D printing (EMB3D printing) to make the device. Embedded 3D printing is able to seamlessly integrate several materials and features in one soft body at a high rate of speed.

Lewis said, “This work represents the latest example of the enabling capabilities afforded by embedded 3D printing – a technique pioneered by our lab.”

The team 3D printed a soft robotic gripper, made up of three soft actuators (fingers), to see how well their sensors worked, testing the gripper’s ability to sense things like contact, curvature, inflation pressure, and temperature. Several contact sensors were embedded, so the gripper was able to sense both deep and light touches.

SSA characterization.

“The function and design flexibility of this method is unparalleled. This new ink combined with our embedded 3D printing process allows us to combine both soft sensing and actuation in one integrated soft robotic system,” said Truby.

The team’s innovative platform makes it easy to integrate sensors into soft actuating systems, which is, according to the paper, “a necessary step toward closed-loop feedback control of soft robots, machines, and haptic devices.”

Wood, also a Core Faculty Member of the Wyss Institute, explained, “Soft robotics are typically limited by conventional molding techniques that constrain geometry choices, or, in the case of commercial 3D printing, material selection that hampers design choices. The techniques developed in the Lewis Lab have the opportunity to revolutionize how robots are created — moving away from sequential processes and creating complex and monolithic robots with embedded sensors and actuators.”

Next steps for the researcher team include using machine learning to train their soft robotic grippers to grasp objects that have different temperatures, surface textures, sizes, and shapes.

Thanks to 3D design and 3D printing around the world, ‘one size fits all’ no longer has to be a label. Whether you are a designer or an engineer, or a patient waiting for a new surgery or medical device, 3D printing technology allows for self-sustainability, affordability, and speed in the creation of an infinite list of objects and devices—so many of which have not even been dreamed up yet.

Being able to create new innovations to our own preferences, as needed, does indeed give the human race an enormous new advantage in so many industries. This is especially important in the medical field. With a focus on being patient-specific, doctor, researchers, and manufacturers are able to create parts and products with an intent on strengthening the quality of life for patients everywhere—and in some cases, saving their lives altogether.

Companies like Stoke Med, recently launched by Stoke Ventures, are involved in helping medical professionals to offer extremely specialized care to their patients via 3D printed models. In working with doctors and surgeons in the orthopedic, maxillofacial, oncology, and cardiac fields, they allow for progressive analysis and treatment of the patient.

Example of a detailed and smooth patient specific 3D printed model, used for orthopedic surgery. [Image: Stoke Med]

3D printed medical models offer an incredible range of benefits to doctors, students, and patients; for example, if a patient has a

, a conventional CT scan can be converted to 3D and patient-specific model can be made. The model aids in:

• Diagnosing the patient
• Educating the patient and their family regarding the condition and impending surgery
• Training medical students
• Working as a practice sample for surgeons in days leading up to the procedure
• Guiding surgeons in the operating room

With 3D printed models such as theoe now available from Stoke Med, surgeons can make better decisions about surgeries, as well as performing them more quickly and accurately due to guidance in the operating room. This leads to affordability in medical care, along with a reduction in the need for other types of scans such as X-Rays or MRIs. For medical professionals using Stoke Med 3D models, the process begins as they upload the CT data to the Stoke Med quote page. The CT data is processed, a 3D file is created, and then a high-quality, patient-specific model can be made.

Example of a detailed and smooth patient specific 3D printed model, used for maxillofacial surgery. [Image: Stoke Med]

Overall, the use of such models will lead to better—and more individualized—care for patients, many of whom are suffering from serious conditions. Some of the surgical procedures may be completely new too, and with a 3D printed model to study, the surgeon can go into the operating room fully prepared.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts; join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

Global chemical company BASF, headquartered in Germany, knows that setting up partnerships with other innovative companies is key to getting ahead in the 3D printing industry.

In November, BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH, a subsidiary of BASF New Business GmbH dedicated to additive manufacturing, announced that it was entering into a strategic alliance with German technology startup BigRep for developing industrial 3D printing solutions, including 3D printers and materials. As BigRep alluded to in our recent conversation, the two companies have now closed on their strategic partnership agreement.

Volker Hammes, Managing Director of BASF 3D Printing Solutions, said, “With the combined skills of the two companies, this forward-looking partnership will allow our customers to accelerate the development of industrial applications.”

BigRep is one of the top providers in the world for large-format 3D printing technology for industrial applications, and its cooperation with BASF further solidifies its continued dedication to finding innovative solutions for engineering and manufacturing.

Now that the agreement has been finalized, BASF will become a BigRep preferred material and application development partner, and BASF Venture Capital, another BASF New Business subsidiary, will be investing in the startup to strengthen industrial 3D printing. BASF, which has the chemical industry’s most extensive portfolio of materials to be developed for 3D printing, will also be contributing its vast knowledge of materials and their industrial applications to the partnership.

“We aim to offer our customers the most innovative 3D printing solutions with BigRep printers. BASF’s expertise will help us to achieve the next level. BASF is a strong partner with access to global markets. Together, we can help our customers meet their challenges by providing innovative 3D printing production technologies,” said René Gurka, CEO of BigRep.

Metal parts made with BASF Ultrafuse 316LX stainless steel filament by FFF.

BASF has long been focused on further developing 3D printing materials, and with the launch of its wide range of industrial additive manufacturing solutions, including metal and plastic filaments and photopolymers, will be expanding into the 3D printing market in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

The company’s latest solutions allow for the production of complex parts and individual designs, which speeds up development cycles and makes manufacturing more flexible, while at the same time lowering the cost for small-scale production. At this week’s TCT Asia in Shanghai, BASF will be showcasing its new range of industrial 3D printing materials, which includes two new plastic filaments used to print stiff, strong parts: carbon fiber-filled polyethylene terephthalate (Innofil3D PET CF) and polyamide (Innofil3D PAHT CF).

BASF will also introduce its new family of Ultrasint PA6 (polyamide 6) materials for powder bed fusion, which can develop tough functional parts and includes variants for mineral-filled and flame retardent, and its photo-resin photopolymers for DLP and SLA 3D printing systems, ranging from a resin for parts with high temperature resistance and materials similar to PP and ABS. Finally, BASF will showcase its new metal filaments – an Ultrafuse stainless steel material, which allows FFF users to produce 100% metal parts.

You can see these new materials for yourself at the company’s booth N70 in Hall N1 at TCT Asia, which runs March 1-3 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.

“Using 3D printing to produce individually shaped plastic and metal parts has now moved beyond design prototyping and is now becoming a widespread option for functional prototyping in Asia Pacific,” said Michael Tang, Senior Business Development Manager for 3D Printing, BASF Asia Pacific. “For this reason, Asia Pacific is predicted to be the fastest-growing region in the global 3D printing market. With our new offerings of 3D printing materials for open systems, we aim to meet the rising demand for 3D printing technology and to support the growth of key industries in Asia Pacific, including automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods.”

VIDEO

BASF has also established two 3D printing labs to develop and test industrial solutions for its customers – one at its 3D Printing Application Technology Center in Heidelberg, Germany, and the other at the BASF Innovation Campus Shanghai, China.

Staying in the APAC region, BASF and leading industrial 3D printing solutions provider Farsoon have signed a strategic agreement in order to provide customers in China with a new PA-based 3D printing material solution, as well as make 3D printing mass production possible.

This partnership builds on the previous collaboration between the two companies to advance high temperature 3D printing solutions, including the newly launched BASF Ultrasint PA6 X043 Black.

“This new breakthrough in 3D printing materials makes direct manufacturing possible, which further accelerates the industrialization of 3D printing in China,” said Dr. Xu Xiao Shu, Founder and Chairman of Farsoon. “In the future, Farsoon will continue to work closely with BASF to help customers enhance their equipment and material performance, while reducing production costs. We aim to offer customers a true additive manufacturing solution.”

Rear-view mirror housing made from BASF Ultrasint PA6 X043 with Farsoon HT403P.

High-performance Ultrasint PA6 X043 Black can help manufacturers print components with optimized shapes that are lighter weight and can hold up well under tough environments, making it a good choice for industries like consumer, automotive, and aerospace. The material is strong and competitively priced, with high heat distortion temperature and good recyclability.

“BASF is dedicated to developing high performance 3D printing materials like the Ultrasint PA6 series,” Tang explained. “We provide an open platform by working with our partners, such as Farsoon, to develop competitive 3D printing material solutions to realize future customer needs for mass production.”

Customers can really increase their productivity when the material is combined with Farsoon’s new HT1001P, HT252P, ST252P, and HT403P continuous additive manufacturing solutions (CAMS). The CAMS technology, along with BASF’s Ultrasint PA6 X043 Black material and the largest polymer powder bed system in the world – made by CAMS – will all be on display at TCT Asia this week.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com, or tell us your thoughts in the comments below.

[Images: BASF]

According to the Financial Times, Americans spent $19 billion on gym memberships and $33 bilion on sports equipment in 2016. Regular exercise reduces stress, decreases the risk for cardiovascular disease and improves overall health. Gyms are a convenient way to stay fit and provide long-term health benefits. The advent of new technologies is changing the fitness industry. Various research has been conducted to find new ways to manufacture their sports products. Additive manufacturing has provided another opportunity for gym equipment. Fitness gear and apparel are fast growing printer enterprises. Businesses with designers, engineers and technicians who are involved with 3D printing fitness gear may be eligible for an R&D Tax Credit.

The Research & Development Tax Credit

Enacted in 1981, the now permanent Federal Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit allows a credit that typically ranges from 4%-7% of eligible spending for new and improved products and processes. Qualified research must meet the following four criteria:

• Must be technological in nature
• Must be a component of the taxpayer’s business
• Must represent R&D in the experimental sense and generally includes all such costs related to the development or improvement of a product or process
• Must eliminate uncertainty through a process of experimentation that considers one or more alternatives

Eligible costs include US employee wages, cost of supplies consumed in the R&D process, cost of pre-production testing, U.S. contract research expenses, and certain costs associated with developing a patent.

On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed the PATH Act, making the R&D Tax Credit permanent. Beginning in 2016, the R&D credit can be used to offset Alternative Minimum tax for companies with revenue below $50MM and for the first time, pre-profitable and pre-revenue startup businesses can obtain up to $250,000 per year in payroll taxes and cash rebates.

Kettle Bells and Dumbbells

Kettle bell training has multiple benefits. It combines the benefits of muscle toning, cardio respiratory training, fat loss, and muscular endurance to improve strength, flexibility, and increase lean muscle. Those who live a healthy and active lifestyle tend to adopt lifting kettle bells in their exercise routines. Kettle bells are made of iron and come in varying weights. Most of the gear you see at the gym can be 3D printed. This file celebrates kettle bells, which allow you to work out your quads, glutes, abs and shoulders by doing squats with them. They are great for resistance training and will allow you to build strength.

Dumbbells provide a balanced workout as the user is able to control the movements on each hand. A common exercise is a bicep curl which targets your biceps and forearms. Many Zumba, barre and pilates classes use dumbbells to alternate the muscle group being used. A class that may have been aerobic now turns into resistance training allowing the user to experience a full body workout. Resistance training maintains flexibility and improves balance, mobility, and sense of wellbeing. If your dumbbell star nuts have loosened up, you can measure the spiral direction and the screw size to 3D print your very own. You can also print a dumbbell holder to store your weights when they are not in use.

Fitness Equipment

The fitness world is expanding as individuals are looking to take fitness with them wherever they go. Once an activity only done at gyms, people are looking to be active on-the-go as well. Since technology surrounds us almost every minute of the day, why not have more 3D printed materials? For instance, many people who travel to work by bike find it a hassle to constantly break to reach into their pocket for their phone. How about printing your own smart phone mount for any bike? You can search for such at MyMiniFactory where you can select the mold color, and then once it is printed it can be placed on the handlebar of your commuting bicycle. It is also shock absorbing so no need to worry about losing or damaging your phone if you try to jump that curb with your road tires.

Foam roller

Foam rolling is common for most athletes and those who are involved in physical activity. It can help work out the knots in your muscles and help sculpt your abs even more. Commonly referred to as Self Myofascial Release, it is an affordable way to give oneself a deep tissue massage. Foam rollers have proven to increase blood flow, circulation, and flexibility, and decrease muscle tension and stress. Rollingfwd has engineered a full length foam roller that vibrates, prototyped with 3D printers. Physical therapists have determined that vibration therapy is similar to high tech soft massage tools that will help people maintain their bodies, whether it is after surgery or just after a morning jog. The vibrating foam roller will increase the speed at which the body will grow muscle and build bone.

You can also use a foam roller for other parts of the body. Lactic acid is built up in the muscles during exercise as a result of increased energy needs. After a long workout, your body develops scar tissue and lactic acid settles in the muscles. To speed up healing and recovery by moving the lactic acid, athletes roll out their muscles.

Old School Boom Box

Many aerobic fitness instructors use boom boxes for their classes. Instructors look for pure acoustics since any bluetooth device can be connected and there are ports for microphones to play the music loud and clear from a studio to a large gym. The device is called Boomy the Boom Box from AdaBox whose file can be downloaded and 3D printed.

Gloves

3D printing is also opening up doors for those suffering from injuries. The leader in wheelchair athletics, University of Illinois and the Jones family, worked on designing 3D printed gloves used in training for the Rio Paralympics.

A student attending Illinois State University, Arielle Rausin, customized her racing gloves by using a 3D printer. In elite wheelchair racing, equipment is essential and wheelchairs are usually designed to fit the user’s body. In professional wheelchair racing, the racer wears gloves with a strike pad which is used to hit the rim of the wheel in a forward motion. Rausin was able to scan the glove and 3D print her own for a cheaper price and lighter weight. In fact, during the Rio Olympic Games nine US Paralympics athletes used her gloves to propel themselves, returning to their home country with medals.

Jump rope

Skipping rope increases stamina, agility, and good health. Do you remember Double Dutch or jumping rope with school kids during recess? Any movement where one is using their arms and legs simultaneously builds neurotransmitters making your brain sharper. Train to jump rope again by printing your jump rope on Thingiverse. Choose your color preference and the length of your desired use and then print.

Under Armour

Under Armour helped design the US Olympic suits for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics using more breathable and aerodynamic fabrics for skaters. The suits, designed with computer modeling software, have three layers with polyurethane on the outside. The white material is called H1 and was developed at Under Armour. It has been tested in wind tunnels to obtain the best combination of flow, comfort, movement and speed and has been proven to have top performing materials. Testing in wind tunnels has allowed the company to 3D print sections of the suits that have air-resistance protrusions. The high-tech apparel provides easier energy flow for the Olympians.

Under Armour explores various technologies to produce products that increase athletes’ performance.

Conclusion

3D printing is transforming the fitness and sports industry.  With the increase of interest in healthier lifestyles, people have flocked to gyms. Social media streams exercise tips and how-to videos for those who choose to work out from their home instead of going to a gym. Gym equipment designers are increasingly using additive manufacturing to improve the workout experience for users. Businesses involved in 3D printing fitness equipment may be eligible for R&D Tax Credits.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.

Charles Goulding and Alize Margulis of R&D Tax Savers discuss 3D printed fitness equipment. 

One of the most predictable questions an adult will ask a child in making conversation is what they want to be when they grow up. Kids come up with such a variety of surprising answers—some inspirational, some comical, and some are extremely ambitious. Apparently though, many of us begin pondering what we are going to do ‘for the rest of our lives’ at a very early age. School plays a big part in our interests too. Students may have a favorite teacher who inspires them, or they may attend a series of classes that they enjoy and even become passionate about.

The key is to provide young people with as many tools as possible, opening their minds before they are given impressions from so many others, often negative, regarding more challenging subjects like math and science. With a push toward offering more incentives to explore a STEM curriculum, schools in the UK such as Hanwell Fields Community School strive to motivate their students as fully as possible, and companies like Laser Lines are helping them achieve their goals.

With the gift of a MakerBot 3D printer from Oxfordshire-headquartered Laser Lines, everyone involved at Hanwell Fields will be exposed to the benefits of 3D design and 3D printing. Students can design their own 3D objects, refine them as needed, and fabricate them on site. As we have seen in following many different 3D printing efforts in schools, the enthusiasm is contagious for both teachers and students. STEM learning is being encouraged with such studies too, with lessons and problem-solving within the 3D realm reaching into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Year five students will be using the MakerBot first in class, creating ‘Spy Technology’ in their schoolwork.

“This is a real opportunity for our pupils to design items, use their maths and science knowledge in new ways and see their imagination come to life through prototyping models,” said Headteacher Harry Paget-Wall Collins. “I want to thank Laser Lines for this kind donation and we look forward to sharing with them all the exciting new work that our pupils are now able to create.”

MakerBots are in use around the world in industrial settings, design firms, households, and over 5,000 classrooms today. The desktop 3D printers’ size and easy setup make them an especially good fit for student labs, along with impressive reliability and support, as MakerBot itself continues to focus on education.

“The Makerbot model we gave to Hanwell Fields Community School is the perfect way to introduce children to the concepts of 3D printing,” says Dan Curtis from the Design Engineering Group at Laser Lines. “It is easy to use and can produce a vast array of parts quickly and cheaply. There is a large community of people online to help you get started.”

Curtis also touches on the scarcity of engineering graduates emerging today, with the problem beginning in elementary and middle-school years. So many of the careers that can arise out of a love for STEM learning are also still male-dominated, so younger female students are being encouraged to participate in such studies around the world, along with looking up to older students who can mentor them, joining clubs, and more.

“We know that there is a 20,000 annual shortfall of engineering graduates in this country, and experts are mostly agreed that the problem begins in the early years. 3D printing is a great way to get children interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects early in their lives,” continues Curtis. “Hopefully some of the students in this class will go on to become product engineers of the future.”

Find out more about Laser Lines and their services and solutions here, along with checking out MakerBot to see their expansive product lineup and news.

What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts; join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.

[Source/Images:

]

Moving into metal marks a major move in additive manufacturing, as more companies come to recognize the power of positioning metal offers. The latest to announce such a move is industry stalwart Stratasys which, like HP before it, has so far announced an upcoming announcement: metal will be coming.

RAPID + TCT, the major 3D printing event on the North American calendar, represents the platform of choice for Stratasys’ full introduction. Last year at the show, the company announced an extension of its partnership with Desktop Metal, as it has already been well aware of the demand among its customer base for metal additive manufacturing technologies.

“This is a good thing for our customers, for channels to bring to market. It’s an evolution of our relationship; now is the time to announce as they unveil their products. We’re very early in that, as we work with partners. We’ll see that evolve over time. We have work to do, to introduce the right customers to the right technology. We’re now at the beginning of introducing this technology which is very compelling, as we strengthen our channel and the options and choices our customers have,” Stratasys’ Director of North American Sales Enablement, Roger Kelesoglu, told me at last year’s RAPID of the company’s work with Desktop Metal.

Again this year, metal will feature significantly in the RAPID + TCT schedule, and Stratasys’ announcement will fit smoothly into this agenda of innovation.

Stratasys’ booth at RAPID 2017

This year, the big metal announcement from Stratasys will revolve around its own, internally developed metal additive manufacturing platform. Targeted at short-run production, the new system was, according to the company, designed over the past several years “to become a viable manufacturing technology to displace conventional methods for short-run manufacturing.” Aluminum will be the first material targeted for the new platform, as the company looks to common metallurgical needs, noting that the system will allow for “an economically competitive cost-per-part and throughput, with easy to implement post-processing and high part quality.”

“We are extremely excited to announce our development of this new additive manufacturing platform, targeting short-run production applications for a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, defense, machining, and metal foundries. We believe that this platform will meaningfully expand our addressable markets for the long term and provide our customers with an effective means to realize the values of additive manufacturing for powder metallurgy applications,” said Stratasys CEO Ilan Levin.

Automotive component for Skorpion seen at formnext 2017

Stratasys, which already works deeply within several of these industries, will bring its new technology to bear, offering new solutions set to “directly address the needs of customers whose requirements include the production of pilot-series parts, small batch manufacturing during product ramp up and end-of-life, and customized, lightweight, and complex parts.”

The new system, yet to be named publicly, will feature Stratasys’ proprietary jetting technology. Jetting technologies have become an increasingly popular choice for new metal announcements. For its part, Stratasys notes that it is working to overcome “material limitations of currently available metal-based additive manufacturing systems.” Powder bed metal 3D printing, likely the most familiar technology for these materials, has the benefit of significant years of R&D behind it to develop systems already fairly established on the market, including for end-use parts. Jetting technologies offer an intriguing platform for metals, particularly in terms of scalability and the potential to bring costs down.

“Following a period of incubation over the last several years, we are excited to share details of our technology roadmap, which we believe will deliver the promise of additive manufacturing to short-run metal part production. As a pioneer and leader in the additive manufacturing industry, Stratasys is increasing its investments in the development of innovative technologies and application knowledge to drive adoption through deeper customer engagement,” said Levin.

We’ll learn more about Stratasys’ metal announcement in April, as the company introduces its technology at RAPID + TCT; the company will be at booth #1104. We’ll be on-site in Fort Worth, Texas, all that week.

2018 is already seeing Stratasys work to ramp up its offerings and investment; the metal 3D printer was not the company’s first new technology introduction, with the Objet260 Dental 3D Printer, based on triple-jetting PolyJet technology, among a slew of dental-focused announcements emerging last week. The company has also broadened partnerships in the medical arena, and brought in additional technologies including HP’s Multi Jet Fusion into its portfolio of offerings. FDM and PolyJet technologies will also see “further advancements” in 2018 along with metals, as Stratasys keeps its focus on a longer-term roadmap.

Stratasys’ multi-material J750 3D printer at formnext 2017

“We still see by unit sales that we are the leader, but it’s getting hard. We look where our unique advantages are, and try to focus there,” Andreas Langfeld, VP of Sales, Stratasys, told me at formnext 2017.

While we had been speaking at the time about the latest software capabilities, Langfeld also touched on broader perspectives, noting, “In the end, it’s the materials that really make the difference; a printer is only an output device. If you don’t have the right materials, you can’t have the applications.”

In addition to its enticing pre-announcement announcement, today Stratasys has also released its Q4 and full-year 2017 financial results. The company notes Q4 revenues up 2% compared to the same period last year, at $179.3 million versus last year’s $175.3 million. Fiscal 2017 revenues were $668.4 million, down from $672.5 million in fiscal 2016; gross profits were $322.8 millon compared to last year’s $317.3 million. Revenue guidance for 2018 is $670-$700 million.

“Our fourth quarter results reflect the momentum that we built throughout the year, which we attribute to the positive market reaction to several new product introductions, including our F123 Series launched in February, 2017 and the more recently commercialized H2000 and J700 Dental Solutions, as well as investments in specific go-to-market initiatives for our target verticals of aerospace, automotive, and healthcare. Our improved profitability and healthy cash generation in the quarter demonstrates the success of our alignment of resources to support our strategic roadmap,” said Levin.

Full results are available here.

[Image: Stratasys]

[Photos: Sarah Goehrke]

We’re taking care of business first today in 3D Printing News Briefs, then moving on to education and a virtual 5k to support a worldwide 3D printed prosthetics volunteer network. Hyperlocal on-demand services marketplace Jugnoo has launched an online 3D printing store in India, and CalRAM has been acquired by Carpenter Technology. For the second year running, metal additive manufacturing company LPW Technology is among the 100 top-performing SME UK exporters, and Women in 3D Printing has introduced a new job board. Finally, ATLAB’s robotic teaching assistants are being used to help autistic students in the UAE, and Doctor Who fans have the chance to benefit e-NABLE by participating in a virtual 5k.

Jugnoo Launches Online 3D Printing Store

Hyperlocal on-demand services startup Jugnoo is partnering with South Korean company GEM Platform to launch a new online 3D printing store, called Printo. Jugnoo, which got its start through its large network of auto-rickshaws, is GEM Platform’s exclusive Indian 3D printer reseller, and customers can use the Jugnoo app to order a customized 3D printed product or prototype from Printo, which will then be delivered by Jugnoo as quickly as possible. With Printo, the company will now be able to cater to sectors such as automotive, electronics, medical, and education, and plans to add different merchants from multiple cities to the platform.

“We also plan on expanding our services by educating kids on 3D printing technology, hardware & software, designing, linking and other basic details,” said Samar Singla, Founder and CEO of Jugnoo. “We are empowering tomorrow’s creators by integrating technology in their disciplines. For instance, inculcating 3D printing into the existing curriculum of Robotics could also be a good platform in shaping kids future.”

Carpenter Technology Acquires CalRAM

In order to strengthen its capabilities as a 3D printing solutions provider, Carpenter Technology, a top producer and distributor of premium specialty alloys, has acquired powder bed fusion additive manufacturing technologies leader CalRAM, which is based in California.

“This strategic acquisition builds upon our existing additive manufacturing capabilities and provides direct entry into the rapidly expanding part production segment of the additive manufacturing value chain. The addition of CalRAM brings industry leading technology and processes coupled with a talented team and is a strong complement to Carpenter’s deep technical experience in producing highly engineered metal powders and wire for additive manufacturing applications, including mission-critical applications such as jet-engine fuel nozzles, rocket-thrust chambers, and orthopedic implants,” said Tony Thene, Carpenter’s President and CEO.

“CalRAM’s proven expertise and strong customer relationships will accelerate and enhance our capabilities and will further strengthen our ability to be the preferred provider of end-to-end next generation additive manufacturing solutions.

“As additive manufacturing continues to evolve into more advanced components with increasing complexity, our customers are seeking partners who can not only produce parts, but also possess metallurgical expertise to help determine the best materials and processes to fit their needs in demanding applications. Our unique combined capabilities will not only allow us to deliver the best solution for the customer, but also allow us to be a leader in the advancement of the evolution of the additive manufacturing industry.”

LPW Technology Ranks Again in Top UK Export League

Based out of the UK, LPW Technology sees high demand from around the world for its end-to-end hardware and software 3D printing solutions, and its high-quality metal 3D printing powders. Now, for the second year in a row, the company has made it into the Sunday Times Lloyds SME Export Track 100, which ranks the private small and medium-sized (SME) companies in the UK with the fastest-growing international sales. In addition, LPW, which boasted a 30% increase in export sales over the last 12 months, is the only metal 3D printing company to make it on the list.

“LPW is manufacturing for a global market. We differentiate our offering through technical understanding of metal powders for Additive Manufacturing, consistency in our materials and excellent customer service, and this has ensured our overseas customer base has expanded year on year,” said Dr. Phil Carroll, LPW’s CEO. “We’re very pleased to be included among the 100 top-performing SME UK exporters.”

More good news for LPW – the company will soon move its headquarters into a new £20 million purpose-built factory of the future near Liverpool, so that it can continue to serve the rapidly growing metal AM market. Its US subsidiary, LPW Technology Inc., has also relocated to a larger facility in Pennsylvania.

Women in 3D Printing Introduces New Job Board

If you’re searching for a job in the additive manufacturing field, look no farther than online platform Women in 3D Printing, which has just introduced a brand new job board. The organization was founded in 2014 by Sculpteo Business Development Director Nora Touré.

Currently, the new job board has three full-time openings listed, all in California – first, Sculpteo is looking for a 3D Printing Technician to operate, manage, and maintain the most advanced 3D printers in the factory. FATHOM is looking to add to its marketing team with a Graphic Design and Communications Specialist who can continue developing the company’s brand, as well as an Account Manager to bring new partner Nano Dimension‘s innovative PCB technology to the market. Stay tuned for further AM job openings on the new Women in 3D Printing job board.

ATLAB’s Robotic Teaching Assistants Help Autistic Students in the UAE

Interacting with one of ATLAB’s robotic teaching assistants.

Technology-based learning solutions company ATLAB, which has put on the World 3D Printing Olympiad since 2016, is using robots to help children with autism in the UAE learn better and faster. The first edition of ATLAB Teach Assist, originally introduced during Global Education Supplies and Solutions (GESS) Dubai 2017, was deployed at a school in Sharjah last year. It performed so well during the pilot project that ATLAB Teach Assist 2.0, complete with advanced software upgrades, facial recognition, and the ability to teach coding, is now interacting with autistic children at the Umm Al Quwain Autism Centre, thanks to an initiative by the UAE Ministry of Community Development.

“Robotic teaching assistants are changing the way the kids are taught. It enables children to be more interactive when compared to a human teacher. It is even more true with an autistic child,” said Nilesh Korgaonkar, General Manager, ATLAB.

“The Teach Assist now allows teachers to customise their lesson plans. Additional sensors allow it to distinguish humans in a more intelligent manner, and the face recognition software has received a significant boost compared to the previous version.”

Doctor Who Virtual 5k Will Benefit e-NABLE

Calling all runners – why not use your next workout to do some good? The Whovian Running Club is for Doctor Who fans who like to run, and the 501(c)(3) Random Tuesday organization that founded it has raised over $1.9 million since 2014, donating 70 cents of every dollar – from shirt sales to registration fees – to its charity partners. Now, it’s donating the profits of its upcoming virtual 5k to help support worldwide 3D printed prosthetics volunteer network e-NABLE.

Jen Owen, founding member of e-NABLE, wrote in an e-NABLE blog post, “Put on your running shoes, your dancing tights, your treadmill shredding 80’s headband, your ‘Flashdance’ legwarmers, your cycling socks, your hiking boots, and your swim floaties and get ready to move your body, exercise and #upgradeyourself while also helping to raise money for some of our e-NABLE Chapters who are most in need of materials and support to create free 3D printed hands and arms for the kids and adults who are on long wait lists in their countries!”

The Handles virtual 5k is in honor of the Doctor’s longest-serving companion, and can be completed any time and anywhere you want. You’ll earn a cool Handles medal, which will be mailed to you when registration closes in March, while supporting a worthy organization at the same time. The proceeds raised from the event will help provide necessary materials and supplies to create more 3D printed e-NABLE devices in under-funded areas like Sierra Leone and India, support the global e-NABLE community, and create a Summer Camp experience for kids who need a 3D printed device and want to be paired with a designer. Join our Editor-in-Chief and several hundred other registered runners and Whovians around the world in the #Handles5k.

Discuss these and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.