3D Printed Self-Healing Material Can Fix Sole of Shoe In Two Hours https://ift.tt/2BRrrFT The potential uses for unique self-healing materialsare numerous, varying from fixing cell phone screensand other electronicsto repairing cartilageand other biomedical applications. Now, a team of student and faculty researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi School of Engineeringhave created 3D printable, self-healing rubber materials that could be used to fix cracked toys, electronics, soft robotics, tires, and even the sole of your shoe. To make this material, the researchers use a 3D printing method that employs photopolymerization, which solidifies a liquid resin into a desired geometry or shape using light. The researchers further explain their work in a paper, titled “Additive manufacturing of seal-healing elastomers,” which was recently published in the journal Nature.
In making their material self-healing, the team had to do some in-depth research into its chemistry. You can achieve photopolymerization through a reaction with the thiols chemical group, which can transform into disulfides with the addition of an oxidizer. Objects made with this second group of chemicals are able to reform themselves if they break, so the researchers just needed to figure out the correct ratio.
The team can 3D print a 17.5 mm square out of the material in just five seconds flat, and whole objects can be fabricated in about 20 minutes. For the purposes of their study, which was funded by both the National Science Foundation and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program, the team tested out this capability on several products, including an electronic sensor, a soft robot, and a shoe pad. Once these 3D printed items had been cut in half, they completely healed themselves two hours later at 60°C, with the exception of the electronics, which took four hours to heal because of the electricity-transmitting carbon. By increasing the temperature, the repairs will take place even faster, and the objects will still retain not only their function but also their strength.
This self-healing material could help lower the manufacturing time, and increase durability and longevity, for many products in all sorts of industries. The researchers are now focusing on making self-healing materials along a range of stiffnesses, from soft rubber to rigid plastics, which could one day be used to repair composite materials, body armor, and vehicle parts. Co-authors of the paper are Yu, USC Viterbi students An Xin and Haixu Du, University of Connecticut Assistant Professor Ying Li, and Wang. VIDEO Discuss this research and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below. [Source/Images: USC Viterbi] Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 25, 2019 at 01:45AM
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Manchester Metropolitan University School of Art: Researcher Tests 3D Printed Knitted Textile Structures https://ift.tt/2T5NX87 Designer Mark Beecroft of the Manchester Metropolitan University School of Art has been exploring the potential of 3D printing in industrial knitting in his recently published paper, ‘Digital interlooping: 3D printing of weft-knitted textile-based tubular structures using selective laser sintering of nylon powder.’ The technology of 3D printing is perfectly suited to this type of textiles manufacturing, and specifically, using selective laser sintering (SLS) in the fabrication of tubular forms of varying sizes. The use of 3D printing is also appropriate for the production of apparel as the technology has lent so much already to the bold realm of fashion, from dresses to bathing suits to shoes. With the accompaniment of CAD-based programs, knitting manufacturers can easily create interloping structures that loop and extend with the proper elasticity.
While previous research into 3D printing knitting structures has been performed, it mainly pertained to non-continuous, linked geometries. Here, Beecroft examines the use of 3D printing continuous fiber type geometries and testing resulting structures that are both single- and double-face. Evaluation of each structure includes checking how well they handle being compressed and extended, along with total flexibility. SLS with nylon has historically been known as an excellent combination, resulting in:
Some SLS printers (but not the one used in the experiment) can also handle polyurethane plastics (TPU) well—notably exemplified in 3D fashions by Iris van Herpen and Julia Koerner. The knit structures studied by Beecroft were 3D printed on an EOS Formiga P110, with Nylon PA12 as the selected material, requiring no extra supports apart from loose powder, and offering the required stability and strength. Manual compression of tubes was used in testing in evaluations:
The structures showed good recovery after compression, along with the proper flexibility (We would be curious to see how long this property will last). Beecroft was encouraged by the study, stating that it shows the potential for 3D printed tubular knit structures.
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. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 24, 2019 at 02:00AM Benefits and Limitations of 3D Printing Chocolate https://ift.tt/2tBU3Pc Whenever we say chocolate, we immediately start wanting to eat some. Chocolate has been around for quite a long time, in fact, it is said it has been around since 350 B.C. as cacao beverages or chocolate drinks. And when we thought that the chocolate industry reached its peak, the 3D printing era made sure to take chocolate to a whole new level. Additive manufacturing has reached many food markets so it is no surprise that 3D printing made its impact on the chocolate industry. Companies such as Hershey, Nestlé, Mars Inc., and Mondelez International had been experimenting with 3D printed chocolate for the last few years, and 3D printing brings creativeness and innovation to the industry. It is clear that taste is not enough to attract chocolatiers, and that design is now becoming an important aspect in the industry. In order to seduce customers, 3D models can be turned into an edible chocolate creations. So, how does it work? The majority of chocolate 3D printers work with CAD files, just like as a normal 3D printer. Instead of a filament, the chocolate 3D printers use a syringe, which is loaded and then it keeps the chocolate at temperature as it prints. The extruder head moves around and lays down the melted chocolate with the shape desired in layers. The chocolate eventually cools and becomes solid. The syringe loading system is food-safe, clean, efficient, and keeps the chocolate fresh. If the operating temperatures are followed, the chocolate shouldn’t dry up in the syringe at all. Why is it harder to print? It is easier to print plastic than to print chocolate. Chocolate has very different melting and cooling properties than plastic, thus melted chocolate can’t harden as fast. This could lead to 3D printed chocolate losing its shape due to the temperature and gravity. The type of chocolate is also important. Whether it’s milk, dark or white chocolate, they all have different viscosities, for it is recommended to use a high-quality and machine-tempered chocolate like Belgian dark chocolate. If not then one has to temper the chocolate on the device. In some cases people have added significant amounts of pectin to try to make 3D printing easier as well. Since chocolate can’t be rolled into a hard filament because the texture is too soft, the melted chocolate is stored in a cartridge and extruded with a syringe. Belgian chocolate has mostly shown better printing results compared to other types of chocolate since it has higher levels of cocoa solids. Which are the limitations of 3D printing chocolate? Chocolate 3D printers haven’t been around for very long, so the chocolate industry has yet to expand and learn what more could be done with 3D printers. Chocolate 3D printers aren’t suitable for mass production but it is perfect for those who want to try them out, customize chocolate, or just design new shapes. The main problem with chocolate 3D printers is the temperature. The process can be time-consuming and this is due to temperature complications. The chocolate has to be heated enough to melt and at the same time it must be cool and dry enough to maintain its shape. And the main benefits? Apart from being chocolate and us being able to eat it, chocolate 3D printers let us customize shapes and forms perhaps making individual bonbons or topical sweets for events. 3D printing, in general, is already about ultra-personalization. Anyone can enjoy complex 3D designs that would be impossible to do it with our own hands. Sculpting and molding is a bit limited and chocolate 3D printers help us expand our ideas. It is always recommended to use models that aren’t too large, that have areas of fine detail, or unsupported overhand or angles that are too steep. In the said case, the model will have to be edited. To print complex models, reduce the printing speed so the chocolate has more time to dry and harden and the next layer can be built. The chocolate industry has yet to expand in the world of 3D printing. The temperature, time, and process are the three main issues that must be solved in order to make the production more efficient. In the meantime, we can still enjoy chocolate with traditional or new and 3D printed designs. Maybe it’s time I get myself a chocolate 3D printer! Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 23, 2019 at 12:36AM 3D Printing News Briefs: February 22, 2019 https://ift.tt/2NlgssV We’ve got some exciting dental news to share first in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs – Stratasys just announced its new full-color dental 3D printer at LMT Lab Day. Moving on, Farsoon has been busy developing an advanced pure copper laser sintering process, and Aether is working with Procter & Gamble on a joint development project. DyeMansion has announced a new UK distributor for its products, and three researchers address the challenges of adopting additive manufacturing in a new book about best practices in the AM industry. Stratasys Introduces Full-Color Dental 3D Printer This week at LMT Lab Day Chicago, the largest dental laboratory event in the US, Stratasys has introduced its new full-color, multi-material J720 Dental 3D printer which lets you have 500,000 color combinations for making very high resolution, patient-specific models. Its large build tray can print six materials at the same time, and it’s backed by GrabCAD Print software.
See the new J720 Dental 3D printer at LMT Lab Day Chicago today and tomorrow at Stratasys Booth A9. It’s expected to be available for purchase this May. Farsoon 3D Printing Pure Copper Two years ago, after Farsoon Technologies had introduced its metal laser sintering system, the company’s application team began working with industrial partners to develop an advanced 3D printing process that could additively produce components made of pure copper. Copper is a soft, ductile metal with both high electrical and thermal conductivity, and it’s often used in industries like shipbuilding, electronics, automotive, and aerospace. But most additive copper is based on alloys, and not the pure metal itself, which is hard for lasers to regularly and continuously melt and can cause problems like thermal cracking and interface failure. That’s why Farsoon’s work is important – all of its metal laser sintering systems can successfully create cost-effective, high-quality pure copper parts. The company’s process and unique parametric design is able to meet custom needs of customers, and to date, it’s launched 13 process parameters for metal powder sintering, including pure copper. Some of the parts that have come out of Farsoon’s recent collaborations include a pure copper heat exchanger, which featured a 0.5 mm wall thickness, complex spiral geometry and was printed in a single piece. Farsoon is open for additional partners seeking to further develop the 3D printing of pure copper and other specialized materials. Aether and Procter & Gamble Begin Joint Development Project San Francisco 3D bioprinting startup Aether has entered into a two-year joint development agreement with Procter & Gamble (P&G) in order to develop 3D printing and artificial intelligence technologies. The two will use the multi-material, multi-tool Aether 1 3D printer as a technology creation platform, and will create several hardware and software capabilities that hope to automate and improve P&G’s product research applications and develop a next-generation Aether 3D printer. An interconnected network of computer vision and AI algorithms aims to increase automation for multi-tool and multi-material 3D printing, while high-performance cameras will enable new robotics capabilities. Aether is also working on additional software that will help P&G automate and speed up image processing.
DyeMansion Names New UK Distributor 3D print finishing systems distributor DyeMansion, headquartered in Munich, announced that Cheshire-based 3D printing services supplier Europac3D will be the UK distributor for its range of machines. Per the agreement, Europac3D will now offer all of the AM finishing systems in DyeMansion’s Print-to-Product workflow, which includes its Powershot C powder blasting system, DM60 industrial coloring system, and the PowerShot S, which delivers homogeneous surface quality to 3D printed, powder-based plastics. Because of this, Europac3D is one step closer to achieving its mission of being a one-stop shop for 3D printing, scanning, and post-processing services. “DyeMansion’s post-production systems are worldclass and add the all important finish to additive manufacturing,” said John Beckett, the Managing Director of Europac3D. “Their systems are perfect for companies or 3D print bureaus that have multiple SLS or HP 3D printers and allow us to extend our offer by providing market leading additive manufacturing finishing systems for 3D-printed polymer parts.” New 3D Printing ‘Best Practices’ Book We could go on and on about the many benefits offered by 3D printing (and we do), but there are still industry executives who remain unconvinced when it comes to adopting the technology. But a new book, titled “Additive Manufacturing Change Management: Best Practices” and released today, is here to provide some guidance for those still holding back. The book, which addresses some of the challenges of adopting 3D printing, was published by CRC Press as part of its Continuous Improvement Series and written by Dr. Elizabeth A. Cudney, an associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, along with Divergent 3D’s VP of Additive Manufacturing Michael Kenworthy and Dr. David M. Dietrich, who is an Additive Manufacturing Engineering Design Fellow for Honeywell Aerospace and Dr. Cudney’s former doctoral student.
In the 17-chapter book, the authors present what Dr. Cudney refers to as a ‘road map’ for business leaders looking to adopt 3D printing. The eBook format costs $52.16, but if you want that shiny new hardcover version, it will set you back $191.25. Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 22, 2019 at 02:15PM
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Army Research Groups Explore 3D Printing for Soldiers In the Field https://ift.tt/2Xj50mf The United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey serves as the main R&D group for the U.S. Army armament and munitions systems. There, personnel continue to specialize in material property innovation, along with developing advanced technology. It makes perfect sense that they would branch out into additive manufacturing processes and further study of materials that would fit in with needs for the military. Currently, ARDEC houses 25 3D printers of varying types. Matthew Brauer, scientist for the Advanced Materials Branch of ARDEC, states that currently they are using everything from compact desktop machines in the $500 range to industrial size additive manufacturing equipment that costs over $500,000. The goal is for such processes to be available to soldiers in the field when they need to make parts right way, either as replacements or for general maintenance. The hardware has to be reliable, streamlined and user-friendly, as well as safe and durable for what can be rigorous conditions. Any 3D printers used by the military must also comply with performance requirements, along with rigid regulations for storing and disposing of waste materials—and this can vary by country. The Rize hybrid augmented deposition process offers multiple benefits to not only ARDEC but also the Advanced Materials & Technology Branch within ARDEC. Printing is performed through extrusion of thermoplastics and the jetting of inks.
James Zunino, Materials Engineer at ARDEC, also adds that less post-processing is highly desirable in areas where there simply isn’t enough water for exercises like post-processing in 3D printing. On-demand parts and tools are produced affordably and quickly on the Rize One 3D printer. More importantly though, the parts are strong and durable for fabrication of parts like wheels for robotics and parts for military vehicles. The Rize case study offers the example of Humvee window knobs and handles that can break easily, making entering and exiting difficult. With the Rize One, engineers at ARDEC were able to make new handles, and at rapid speed—with the parts ready for immediate installation, saving hours of time from previous processes.
ARDEC is also using the Rize One for creating many specialized tools needed in the field, like special apparatus for opening 55-gallon drums, as well as other basic items like wrenches, created with modeling programs like SolidWorks. Weapons can also be repaired and maintained, along with the creation of parts as ARDEC engineers download files, customize them, and 3D print. Nearly all divisions of the military, from the Army to the Marines to the Navy—along with famed aerospace organizations such as NASA—have been enjoying the benefits of 3D printing for decades, and they continue to use progressive technology to improve mission-critical applications for soldiers who are often in remote locations. 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: Rize Case Study sent to 3DPrint.com] Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 22, 2019 at 02:06PM Virtual Events Provide Unique Opportunities for Global Engagement https://ift.tt/2Nj3vzZ Techstars to host live AMA event to answer questions about their 2019 investment focus on additive manufacturing and sustainable tech. On February 27, 2019, Techstars and Stanley Black & Decker will host a live AMA (Ask me Anything) to provide a platform for startups and industry experts to ask questions about their upcoming accelerator. Applications are currently open for the 2019 STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator. Scheduled to start in July 2019, the accepted companies receive up to $120,000.00 in funding, access to over $1M in additional resources, access to world-class mentors including executives, founders, investors and technical experts, and life-long membership in the Techstars network. While Techstars posts their FAQs right on their website, they understand that founders will often want to ask questions directly to program leadership. “The AMA provides an opportunity for people from around the world to ask questions directly to me, and to leadership from Stanley Black and Decker including Marty Guay, Vice President of Business Development and Peter Bates, Vice President of Packaging” – said Claudia Reuter, Managing Director of the STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator. The stats on Techstars companies are pretty well-known. With over 1600 investments, and exits including Amazon’s recent$1B acquisition of Pillpack and the IPO of SendGrid and its subsequent $3B acquisition by Twilio, accepted companies will find themselves in good company. Looking more closely at the ten companies who recently completed the 2018 STANLEY + Techstars Program provides another view of the potential for accepted companies. Of the 10 companies, most are in the process of finalizing additional capital and expanding their businesses, and 4 of them have already received follow on investment directly from the STANLEY Ventures team. Industry giants like Stanley Black & Decker have recognized that startups with solutions in additive manufacturing or sustainable tech have the potential to transform the industry and the world. The AMA is a chance for those looking to make an impact to learn more.
Credit: Techstars. / Techstars Logo for the STANLEY+ Techstars Accelerator Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 22, 2019 at 08:15AM Better than a Digital Twin, The Need for the Digital Triplet https://ift.tt/2U2sEl0 The Digital Twin is a concept that is being established by the Enterprise CAD software crowd as well as people working in industrial automation. Heard among many a chin-chin with white wine and a smile; the digital twin could refer to just how well this term pairs with a higher “share of stomach” of manufacturer spending. Or it could very well relate to just how well this concept goes down with the Industrie 4.0 crowd along with with a reinheitsgebot beer and dreams of renewed German precision manufacturing hegemony. The digital twin as a concept refers to the idea that in a digital manufacturing world mass customization coupled with software will mean that each and every single product in a company’s inventory will have a (perhaps) unique file encompassing all of the settings and necessary production information for that one part. A million unique hearing aids will all have accessible trackable digital twins that specify when and how they were created. One can easily see how as a storage company this would make one salivate. For a manufacturer, as agile Chinese companies nip as one’s Achilles heels a renewed push into integration and complication with a side order of software could be just what staves off the competition and keeps everyone A6’s and A8’s for a while. Integration, software integration and plugging one’s product into the aorta of a firm sound very compelling. Once your process or machine is wrapped around the main artery along with ERP and PLM, they’re never going to rip any of that out. We have cured the patient forever; he need only keep taking our insulin. Forever revenue, annual maintenance fees, and a more high tech product, what’s not to like? What’s more, rather than make a device and sell it once we can write code and sell it lots of times. Perhaps this is a path for our stodgy firm to get a better multiple as well. For manufacturers afraid of a future that they don’t understand, a vague, fluffy wave of a safety net sounds compelling as well. Track all of the products? Track all parts? Analyze all of the parts. Compliance on everything all of the time. Would you say no? After CRM, PLM, and ERP the digital twin could be the next multi-billion dollar dream of total control through software. For governments, the digital twin represents all of their dreams in one, and it seems like a future surefire innovation subsidy darling. Mittel GmbH, a family firm founded in 1810, the largest manufacturer of specialized hand tools for ski lifts in WestElbe Ostfalen, has implemented the digital twin to produce custom tools more efficiently using digital manufacturing in Germany. Perhaps in this century, European subsidies will produce mountains of code instead of butter. Perhaps you can feel a slight skepticism on my part towards the digital twin. Just a smidgen maybe. Having worked in software, I’ve never seen it as a refuge for altruists. Historically much of software’s labor-saving potential has seemed to be absorbed by the vendor rather than have been created for the benefit of the client. I do however believe in digital manufacturing, and that 3D printing is quickly becoming a viable mass manufacturing technology for millions of highly detailed end-use parts. For that to happen, something like the digital twin has to exist. I had high hopes for something a bit more elegant, robust and open: a stuff DNA or sDNA where all of a files ingredients, parameters of the design, rights, and attributions are included in all 3D printing files themselves in an open format. I still think that this is a much better idea, but the digital twin with its fluffy enterprise software husk and the meaty, dense interior is a veritable beef wellington of profits compared to the ceviche thin earning potential of adding sDNA to all of the things in a universally accessible and free format. They will PowerPoint this into our heads, and it will become what we need to want. Assuming then that the digital twin will, therefore, become commonplace I’ve been giving the concept some thought. I believe I’ve come up a much improved (and far more profitable!) addition to the idea. Enter: the Digital Triplet. During production, each individual part will need one record of its precise making, and this will exist for the life of the product, available for tracking, querying, and analysis. We should keep this virtual sibling for reference, warranty, process optimization, and simulation. But, what could make it even more valuable? If a third sibling were added: a digital version of the product which entails everything that has happened to it throughout its lifetime. By implementing a “separation of concerns” between the recipe of what we thought we made and how the actual thing has been treated and has performed. Through doing this, we can compare what we thought we wanted to make and what we actually obtained. The third sibling would also be editable and expandable by notes from installers, customers, maintenance personnel and can be updated with new information on new replacement parts, telemetry, and IoT as well as other sensor data. Through this way we can after a year compare all of the versions of a product made on a single day with their deployed versions and actually find out how our products are doing in the wild. By having a digital triplet we can truly have the product, its digital copy and a file of its actual use in the wild as three separate things which can all be analyzed and tracked. Interoperability of environments, systems, software, parts, and people can all be compared and continually updated. A manufacturer can not only see how well its parts have performed but also how well those serviced by Hans did. Manufacturers can track how well products do in certain countries and begin to develop more intelligent hypotheses on product life, maintenance cycles, and real-world performance. Complex systems suffer from concurrent interaction and feedback loops from various real-world forces as well as layers of interacting systems. By logging and tracking all of these in the log triplet, the effects of different firmwares, software updates and versions on part performance and interaction can be gaged. As more firms adopt iterative versions of product development and more agile engineering methods we will have many more interactions of many different parts upon each other. With 3D printing, especially files, slicing and toolpath generation will have effects on part strength and longevity. With only the digital twin one could tell that a part was made on a particular day with a specific machine. But, you wouldn’t be able to understand what has happened to the part. The digital twin is just the product and its birth but what is its biography? What has happened to it over time? Perhaps if we learn that all of the parts that fail five years later were installed on days which were humid and rainy, then we can begin to understand the effect that life in the real world has had on that particular thing. With the complexities of additive thrown in it is through this process that we can finally begin to understand not just how unique things are made but how they live their lives as products in the real world. https://ift.tt/2NnfE74 Images Creative Commons Attribution: Joel Cooper, Thomas and Phil Dolby. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 22, 2019 at 08:09AM 3DPrint.com & SmarTech to Join Inside 3D Printing in Seoul as Co-Producers https://ift.tt/2GWSEKK The global trend of ‘digitization’, ‘convergence’ and ‘democratization’ has had a profound impact on every industry and sector from the most innovative to those regarded as the most conservative. One of these trends is additive manufacturing, called 3D printing. 3D printing creates unprecedented added value for industries such as manufacturing, medical, dental, aerospace, automobile, molding and tooling, architecture, jewelry and fashion. This ranges from the mass production of prototypes, complex aerospace parts to small batch production of discontinued automotive parts, personalized prosthetic limbs, and orthodontics. It is always best to have an opportunity to explore the latest additive manufacturing trends and technology in one place at a time. Inside 3D Printing, the world’s most prestigious 3D printing event, returns to Seoul, Korea on June 26-28th, 2019 and showcases the newest products, technologies, and materials in 3D printing, 3D scanning, CAD/CAM/CAE, metrology and inspection technologies. Inside 3D printing started in New York in 2013, and travels around 8 major cities including Sydney, Dusseldorf, Mumbai, Seoul and Sao Paulo. It is the sixth time this year in Seoul, and it is held jointly with 3DR Holdings and KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition Center) in Korea. In particular, 3DPRINT.COM, and SmarTech Markets Publishing, a global market research organization were confirmed to join Inside 3D Printing in Seoul as co-producers. This collaboration among key industry players will enhance the quality and branding of the event. In 2018, over 10,000 attendees from 27 countries as well as 85 exhibitors and sponsors participated Inside 3D Printing in Seoul. The conference is part of a three-day event that includes an international conference in 4 tracks and a dedicated trade show in addition to various networking opportunities. Over 100 exhibitors including HP, EOS, German RepRap, XYZ Printing as well as Korean major players as Hanil Protech, Carima, Trotec Korea, Prototech and Hephzibah will join this year’s event. Not only top brand’s 3D printers and scanners but a variety of AM applications including affordable desktop metal 3d printer, hybrid 3D machinery with CNC engraving, large-sized industrial 3d printer and CAD/CAM/CAE software will be showcased onsite this year.
If interested in sponsorship opportunities or conference registration for the forthcoming Seoul event, please contact Inside 3D Printing Secretariat (Inside3dprinting@kintex.com) or visit our website for more details. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 22, 2019 at 01:27AM
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Latin America Just Got Its First Stratasys J750 3D Printer https://ift.tt/2SWEWit The 3D printing community in Argentina has recently pushed forth into new horizons with the acquisition of the first Stratasys J750 in Latin America.The state-of-the-art model arrived in December of last year at one of the top engineering universities in Argentina and will aid researchers in medicine and industry related endeavours. The machine is part of an ongoing effort at the country’s top engineering university, the Technological Institute of Buenos Aires (ITBA), to incorporate 3D printing to its programme. Students, faculty and staff now have access to eight 3D printers in a facility that is open every day. Officially inaugurated in 2009, the University’s Digital Manufacturing Laboratory promises to place ITBA in a privileged position in the use of this technology throughout Latin America. The Stratasys J750 PolyJet 3D printer is designed to carry out surgical simulations, medical preparations, surgical guides and development of final products for industrial use. Both faculty and students have access to the lab’s additive manufacturing equipment housed at the university’s main building in the City of Buenos Aires which also includes two Fortus 250mc, a Fortus 450mc, an Objet Alaris30, a CNC machine and two desktop printers.
According to Leporati, in the future they hope to build bone parts, prostheses that will be inserted inside the body, and surgical simulations.
It took 10 years for the Lab to get to where it is now, but with 3D printing becoming more popular and prevalent in industry and medical procedures, having access to this technology is important. The use of the lab and its facilities are currently being integrated into the Engineering and Industrial Design programmes. The laboratory will support joint research, materials development, testing of 3D printing technologies and new processes. Two applications that will be worth highlighting in the Lab’s future are impressions of pre-surgical models and 3D bioprinting. The development of realistic simulators for surgery, will allow the doctors to know exactly what they will encounter during a procedure, increasing safety and reducing costs, as well as facilitating the development of manual medical skills for students of medicine or professionals who are starting out in their careers, and it will also rule out the use of corpses and real tissue. The University is focused on fostering new product development and innovation with business and industry while providing sophisticated parts for customer companies that are interested in the learning opportunities that this technology brings. Working closely with some of the most interesting R&D departments in industry -such as steel tube manufacturer giant Techint– to develop the design of the prototypes that they want.
The Lab has a wealth of new opportunities.
3D printing in Argentina is getting a bigger thrust from the academic community. While quite a few companies are starting to develop this type of equipment for industrial and commercial use, the machines are mostly aimed at making prototypes and not at manufacturing high-end products. In the future, they will play a more important role in production processes and in the manufacturing of small parts. Still, Argentina is one step behind compared to the rest of the world and the Latin American region, especially when measured against Brazil or Chile. The expansion of this type of technology is hindered by regulations, a lack of investment in technology and an economic recession. Additionally, we cannot forget that the certifications, costs, requirements and training in 3D printing make implementations slower in Argentina. Local universities and other academic institutions are becoming quite prolific in 3D printing (especially in the health sector) but this success still cannot be replicated within the entrepreneurial community. This creates lag in 3D printing adoption. Furthermore, a lot of different rules exist at the local, state and federal level. In Argentina, rules and rates are subject to frequent adjustments and legislative changes, especially during periods of economic stress, making the production and development of these printers quite a risky endeavor. All of this makes “made in Argentina” printers very rare indeed. It seems for now that importing the world’s best is the best way forward for 3D printing in Argentina. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 22, 2019 at 01:06AM Philippines: Department of Science and Technology Opens Additive Manufacturing Facility https://ift.tt/2EpWCdn 3D printing continues to take hold in the Philippines, and government officials from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are embracing technology with the unveiling of the first Manufacturing Centre (AMCen) in the Philippines, where they plan to develop not only in hardware, but also related processes, and 3D printing materials. Philippine officials are following the Industry 4.0 model, working to develop 3D printing and additive manufacturing processes within their country to include:
AMCen will feature two separate research facilities:
Researchers will be testing further AM processes with a variety of materials too like ceramics, polymers, nanomaterials, and combinations thereof. They plan to harness advantages of 3D printing like overall affordability, speed in production, and less waste of materials.
While the Philippines is already innovating in many industries with 3D printing, they plan to strengthen and expand efforts further at the facility, along with reaching out to academia within the country and enhancing research and development too. Dr Rigoberto Advincula, Balik Scientist and Case Western Reserve University Professor, is slated to lead the new 3D printing center, along with researchers coming together from both the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) and the Metals Industry Research and Development Centre (MIRDC). Research and development efforts will strive to improve in quality and performance of the products created through 3D printing and additive manufacturing, along with enhancing strategies in manufacturing for the Philippines. Innovators from the Philippines have been in the news previously for some epic 3D printing ventures, from bioprinting to create wind pipe scaffoldingsfor transplant patients to the construction of the world’s first 3D printed hotel, with additional plans for a large volume of homes to be fabricated by similar methods. Other large additive manufacturing facilities have been opening in the US and all over the globe during the past few years as industry giants and smaller companies alike discover the benefits of 3D printing in nearly every field. 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: OpenGov Asia; Republic of the Philippines] Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com February 22, 2019 at 12:30AM |
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