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3D Printing News Unpeeled: Sea Drones, MIT Heart Model and Wayland Additive https://ift.tt/FEb6Oog UAE based Al Seer Marine unveils the Hydra a 3D Printed USV that is destined to be a technology testbed for an ISR vessel. Autonomous 3D printed USV craft are set to fundamentally revolutionize naval warfare and the UAE´s 5 meter long 350 Kilo 3D printed Hydra will be a part of that. UK based Wayland Additive wants to make 10 electron beam machines in 2023 and 24 next year. Ebeam is experiencing a renaissance and Wayland along with Freemelt, JEOL and others is driving it. MIT released a flexible individualized heart model that can be used for planning, research and training. The post 3D Printing News Unpeeled: Sea Drones, MIT Heart Model and Wayland Additive appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/c39GJCg February 23, 2023 at 09:49AM
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Tulips Blossom on New Forever Stamps https://ift.tt/AYEqKbC The U.S. Postal Service celebrates spring and Americans’ love for tulips with the issuance of Tulip Blossoms Forever stamps. Printing via USPS News https://ift.tt/wVE79KA February 23, 2023 at 09:11AM
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Norsk 3D Prints Titanium Parts for Semiconductor Market https://ift.tt/XdWfCrH Norsk Titanium, a metal additive manufacturing (AM) company based in Norway, announced that the company has made its first commercial delivery of parts for the semiconductor market. Using its patented directed energy deposition (DED) platform, Norsk is printing 80-kilogram (about 176 pounds) near-net-shape preforms — used for semiconductor wafer production — out of Ti64. Norsk worked with Dutch partner Hittech Group to develop the preform, which, according to Norsk, is used in ASML’s lithography system. ASML, also based in the Netherlands, has been one of the world’s most frequently discussed companies in the context of the chip shortages over the last few years. Specifically, ASML is most well-known for producing the world’s only extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photolithography machines. Also according to Norsk, its successful development of the 3D printed preform has allowed it to take market-share from “a legacy forged plate producer.” The company says that its preform saves 140 kg (308 pounds) of raw materials, or 64 percent, when compared to preforms produced with conventional manufacturing. Although the first preforms were finished at Norsk’s R&D center in Norway, routine production of the product will take place at its AM facility in upstate Platsburgh, NY. Notably, when the site was originally announced, in 2016, it was touted as “the world’s first” industrial-scale 3D printing facility for the aerospace sector, which has historically been the main constituent of Norsk’s customer base. Early in 2021, for instance, the company delivered 3D printed titanium components to Boeing, for use in the 787 Dreamliner. It would be virtually impossible in one post, to unpack all of the macro trends that have been seamlessly woven together by this single project (in addition to the already-mentioned chip shortages). Nevertheless, to start with some of the most obvious trends, there are reshoring and the awfully-named “friendshoring”, of which this is, interestingly, a case of both. It is friendshoring because the product was developed and produced in the NATO member-state of Norway, and reshoring because the commercial manufacturing will take place in the US. Further, it is an example of building up American manufacturing capacity in a critical sector. The dire situation of the American manufacturing labor pool — a situation that it’s hard to believe is truly news to anyone — has recently been in the news again, as it is a variable that is apparently making it quite difficult for the Biden administration to deliver on its “Buy American” initiatives. Finally, it is an example of the crossover between manufacturing for the transportation sector and tech. Along with all other sectors related to heavy industry manufacturing, the inflow of newly laid-off tech workers to transport will be one of the major labor themes of 2023. Resultantly, companies like Norsk could be in the best position to fight the constraints of a labor market that still shows little sign that it will loosen any time soon. Images courtesy of Norsk Titanium The post Norsk 3D Prints Titanium Parts for Semiconductor Market appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/c39GJCg February 23, 2023 at 08:39AM
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A Big Move for Space 3D Printing: Vast Acquires Launcher https://ift.tt/KLAupez In an unexpected move, space habitat pioneer Vast has acquired Launcher, a California-headquartered small launch vehicle manufacturer, for an undisclosed amount. Launcher’s experience developing high-performance rocket engines by partnering with additive manufacturing giants like Velo3D and AMCM is a powerful asset to Vast’s high-stakes mission that aims to develop low-cost, artificial-gravity space stations so that people can live and work in space for long periods of time without the permanent side effects of zero-gravity. While steadily making progress toward its ambitious goal, Vast has partnered with a global array of customers, including companies from the commercial sector and U.S. and international governments and organizations, for its advanced in-space products. Launcher is the company’s first acquisition, and although the financial terms were not made public, the deal will catapult Launcher Founder and CEO Max Haot to Vast’s leadership as president, with a combined team of over 120 employees who will jointly occupy the recently announced 115,000 square-foot Vast headquarters in Long Beach later this year. Vast says it is building a 100-meter-long artificial-gravity space station that can house more than 40 people in orbit. While steadily making progress toward this goal, Vast will be partnering with a global array of customers, including from the commercial sector and U.S. and international governments and organizations, for its advanced in-space products. Living in Zero-GIn the last decade, after growing and selling Livestream to Vimeo, then Mevo to Logitech, Haot started Launcher to make space exploration accessible. The internet entrepreneur and space enthusiast announced news of the acquisition on his LinkedIn account, claiming, “we are going next level.”
During a 2019 interview with Haot, 3DPrint.com found out that Launcher originally set out to capitalize on the demand for small satellites by building a rocket to send the smaller payloads to orbit. At the time, Haot said he wanted to “contribute to space exploration in general” by building “a long-lasting aerospace company.” Formed in March 2017, Launcher was initially based out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York before moving into a 24,000-square-foot building in Hawthorne, California, a few blocks from the headquarters of SpaceX. Although the new headquarters are big enough to support the development of its first 65-foot-tall rocket, the startup’s focus has been on building and testing its E-2 rocket engine, which was made using AMCM’s specialized M4K printer and Velo3D’s Sapphire metal AM system. Notably, the Launcher acquisition provides Vast with an established set of talent to accelerate in-house advanced manufacturing and development capabilities as well as spacecraft technologies. In addition, with Launcher’s Orbiter space tug and hosted payload platform, Vast plans to reach orbit this year to develop and test its on-orbit space station components and subsystems. Vast will continue the Orbiter space tug and hosted payload products as well as its staged combustion rocket engine E-2 and will focus on liquid rocket engine products instead of developing its own launch vehicle. Orbiter will continue to support current and future payload customers. A vast universeWhen tech visionary Jed McCaleb decided to take Vast out of stealth mode in 2022, his idea was well received. Renowned for projects such as Stellar, the Astera Institute, Ripple, and eDonkey2000, McCaleb’s new ventures into outer space could be considered the next step in the evolution of space habitation. If successful, the company would become a pioneering force in the revolutionary space economy that has recently started. Knowing that prolonged exposure to zero gravity results in harmful side effects such as muscle atrophy, bone loss, and even brain damage, ideas like artificial gravity living quarters sound too good to be true. To achieve this, Vast has assembled a team of engineers to create a large spinning structure that could create a gravity-like pull thanks to the centrifugal force.
With plans to expand from 40 employees to 700 by the end of 2027 and developing a scaled demo module to be launched in the next few years, Vast joins an impressive list of companies in Long Beach, including Rocket Lab and Relativity Space, as well tapping into local resources and jobs, and with Launcher’s background using additive manufacturing we hope to hear more about what it plans to achieve with the technology. The post A Big Move for Space 3D Printing: Vast Acquires Launcher appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/c39GJCg February 23, 2023 at 08:39AM
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3D Printing News Briefs, February 23, 2023: 3D Printed Seafood, Buildings, & More https://ift.tt/GTlxzgo In 3D Printing News Briefs today, Artec 3D has opened a new production facility for optoelectronics in Luxembourg, while Axial3D opened a new medical 3D printer center of excellence. Mycorena and Revo Foods received €1.5 million to 3D print mycoprotein to replace seafood, and the first 3D printed building in South Africa has been launched. Finally, 3D printed samples by Orion Additive Manufacturing are on their way to the moon. Artec 3D Opens Optoelectronics Production Facility in LuxembourgProfessional 3D hardware and software manufacturer Artec 3D recently opened a new high-tech production facility for optoelectronics in Luxembourg, welcoming honored guests Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Minister of Economy Franz Fayot to the inauguration of the site. The facility features a 300m² clean zone with an ISO7 cleanliness classification and customized temperature, pressure, and humidity control, decentralized air systems, and data intelligence software that provides real time insight into the status of the cleanroom, all of which ensure a high standard of production and the highest levels of precision and safety. At the new facility, Artec 3D will manufacture and assemble its award-winning 3D scanners, used for many industries and applications, including by the Luxembourg Defense Directorate to scan forensic evidence to document possible war crimes in Ukraine.
Axial3D Opens Medical 3D Printing Center of Excellence in BelfastSpeaking of new facilities, Irish 3D printing and AI-powered medical segmentation company Axial3D announced the grand opening of a new medical 3D Printing Center of Excellence in Belfast. The facility will increase access to the company’s realistic 3D printed anatomical models for even more hospitals, medical research companies, and medical device manufacturers. Axial3D’s cloud-based segmentation service easily turns 2D medical images into accurate, patient-specific 3D models, which are then 3D printed using Stratasys technology for use in simulation, device testing, pre-surgical planning, and more. At the new Center of Excellence, Axial3D will also be able to produce and provide models that mimic human bone and tissue.
Mycorena & Revo Foods Receive €1.5 Million GrantMoving on, several months ago Revo Foods and Mycorena announced that they were partnering to 3D print mycoprotein to replace seafood. This partnership has now led to a €1.5 million grant for their work from EU funding program Eurostars; the Austrian Research Promotion Agency; and Swedish innovation agency Vinnova. Mycoprotein was chosen largely because of its soft, fibrous texture, which works for the texture and taste of traditional seafood, and while fiber 3D printing is often tricky, Mycorena’s proprietary process makes it easier. According to the Good Food Institute APAC, alternative seafood producers raised over $175 million in 2021, which was up 50% from 2020, so it’s clear that the demand for vegan seafood is high. The grant will support research into scaling their mycoprotein technology, and Paulo Teixeira, Chief Innovation Officer at Mycorena, said the recognition emphasizes the value of their technology, which is an important part of developing a sustainable food system.
“First” 3D Printed Building in South AfricaSouth Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation and the University of Johannesburg are partnering to launch the country’s “first” 3D printed building. Last year, the Mampeule Foundation, another project partner, donated R5 million to the university’s School of Engineering and the Built Environment (SMaCT), which was established in 2021 to lead research pertaining to sustainable alternative modern and cost-efficient construction technologies. The foundation works to uplift and equip SA youth with the aptitude to help the country become a leader in applying “4IR technologies” as a way to address socioeconomic issues. Rali Mampeule, the founding Chairperson of the foundation and CEO of the SA Housing and Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF), says he’s experienced the high cost of construction materials, and construction itself, through SAHIF, and that these expenses make it almost impossible for low- and middle-income people to afford their own accommodations. That’s why it’s so important to invest in R&D and new technology, like concrete 3D printing, that can enable alternative, less expensive, and viable construction methods. Other project partners were cement supplier AfriSam and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements.
Orion AM’s 3D Printed Samples Heading for the MoonThe European Space Agency (ESA) announced that the first European technology to make contact with the surface of the moon will include several 3D printed samples by Berlin startup Orion Additive Manufacturing. Two years ago, the startup began working with the ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) on this project that’s bringing what are supposedly the first 3D printed parts to land on the moon. The samples were 3D printed out of conductive PEEK, using Orion AM’s proprietary process, and are mounted on the wheels of the Rashid rover for the Emirates Lunar Mission’s “Material Adhesion and Abrasion Detection” experiment, which is testing how resistant different materials are to the lunar environment. Dr. Ugo Lafont, Space Materials Engineer at ESA, chose Orion AM to print the PEEK samples for the mission, as the startup is “particularly adept at 3D printing in PEEK,” and he’s not wrong—the material, when undergoing internal testing at ESA-ESTEC, resulted in mechanical properties up to 87% higher than those achieved with a non-PEEK optimized AM technology.
The mission is expected to make first contact with the surface of the moon in April of 2023. The post 3D Printing News Briefs, February 23, 2023: 3D Printed Seafood, Buildings, & More appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/c39GJCg February 23, 2023 at 08:39AM
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Creality Launches Next Big Thing: the Large-scale CR-M4 3D Printer https://ift.tt/AMQSh6n Creality, a global pioneer in 3D printing, has released its new fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer, the CR-M4, with a starting price of just $1099 . Featuring a massive 450 x 450 x 470mm build volume, dual Y-axis linear rails, and a user-friendly printing process, the CR-M4 is a great product for print farms and prosumers for making large-scale models in a single run. Massive build volume with professional-grade stabilityThe CR-M4, a 3D printing beast, boasts an immense build volume of 450 x 450 x 470mm. It’s a real workhorse for creating big models with less or no post-processing, as well as batch-printing, in one go. It’s time for users to max out their creativity and let their ideas run wild. Many users worry about the quality of large models. When printing a large model, print failures may occur due to wobbling. The CR-M4 solves this issue effectively. With a dual Z-axis and two support rods, the CR-M4 forms a rigid triangle to stabilize the top frame. The dual Z-axis curbs gantry sagging and Z-wobbling, with each Z-axis driven by a standalone motor for clean movement. All of these ensure the quality of tall models from bottom to top. Precise and reliable dual Y-axis linear railsIn addition to the rigid triangle frame, the CR-M4 is also equipped with dual Y-axis linear rails to ensure print quality. The dual Y-axis linear rails are CNC’d from high-quality bearing steel, thus significantly improving the accuracy of Y-axis motion and ability to withstand wears, backlashes, and heavy load. It’s driven by a powerful, high-precision stepper motor, providing more precise and smooth motion. Test results from the Creality Lab demonstrated that the stepper motor can print steadily, non-stop for 720 hours (30 days). Start a print farm with multi-printer controlTo provide a better printing experience, the CR-M4 is able to print via USB drive, USB-C cable, RJ45 cable, and WiFi. With a LAN connection, users can print from any PC on the LAN via Creality Print. Through access to the Internet, users can print and monitor remotely from the Creality Cloud App or Web. When multiple CR-M4 printers are connected to the Internet, it is easy to start a 3D print farm for mass production. The printers produce the same model on a single command from Creality Print or Creality Cloud Web. Given that each CR-M4 can print 20 parts in one go, a farm of 25 printers can crank out thousands of parts each week. More creativity with 300°C high-temp printingThe CR-M4’s high-temp printing is made possible with Creality’s self-developed, all-metal “Sprite” direct extruder. The “Sprite” features dual gears with a 1:3.5 gear ratio, delivering a powerful and uniform 80N extrusion force. It is particularly capable for printing with flexible filaments like TPU. With an upgraded nozzle and 50W heater cartridge, the high-flow hotend can fully melt high-temperature filaments at 300°C for smooth feeding. Users can swap the standard 0.4mm nozzle with a 0.6mm or 0.8mm nozzle for their needs. The superb all-rounded printhead gives users the liberty to print with PLA, PA (nylon), heat-resistant ABS, PLA-Wood, PLA-CF, flexible TPU, and PETG. When it starts to print, a standalone 4020 fan forces strong air to cool the freshly printed section, allowing the model to solidify faster with less drooping or warping. High-performance build platform with 25-point auto-levelingThe CR-M4 features fully-automatic leveling with CR Touch by probing 25 points, and a Z offset at 0.05mm accuracy to quickly calibrate the distance between the nozzle and the build surface, enabling users to easily print high-quality first layer. The CR-M4 also includes a four-layered build platform. The PC coating provides strong adhesion, while the bendable spring steel sheet makes it easy to remove large models without deformation after long-term use. The magnetic base and two pins allow for quick snap-on. Test results from the Creality Lab show that the 470x470mm aluminum alloy heatbed will heat up to 60°C within 160 seconds. Safe, steady, and efficientThe CR-M4 is equipped with an 800W industrial control power supply to ensure safe and steady printing. The power supply is adaptive to 100V-240V worldwide, delivering next-level efficiency with little thermal runaway. It can filter voltage fluctuations and electromagnetic interference, and prevent the printer from short-circuiting, overload, overvoltage and overheating. User-friendly featuresA 4.3-inch color screen for the CR-M4 features simple and responsive touch control, supporting model preview and temperature PID tuning. It times out after five minutes without activity. Moreover, users can enable an energy-saving Sleep Mode. With a silent mainboard, the noise from the CR-M4 is controlled at 50 decibels within a one-meter distance, equivalent to the sound of speaking indoors. To avoid wire entanglement, the CR-M4 has a cable chain for filaments. There are also dual spool holders for users to prepare filaments easier. Official Website: https://www.creality.com/products/cr-m4-3d-printer US:https://store.creality.com/products/cr-m4-3d-printer EU:https://store.creality.com/eu/products/cr-m4-3d-printer UK:https://store.creality.com/uk/products/cr-m4-3d-printerDE:https://store.creality.com/de/products/cr-m4-3d-drucker Specifications
About CrealityFounded in Shenzhen in 2014, Creality is a global pioneer in the 3D printing industry that focuses on the research, design and production of consumer and professional-grade 3D printers and 3D printing accessories. As a user-centric company, Creality has expanded its footprint across more than 192 countries and regions, with products favored by more than 1.6 million users worldwide. They have introduced 3D printing to homes, schools, workshops, factories, and academic institutions, thus driving digitalization in manufacturing, education, healthcare, architecture and beyond. “Create reality and achieve dreams” is deeply rooted in Creality’s philosophy. Committed to becoming a 3D printing evangelist, Creality continues gravitating to cutting-edge technology and bringing a premium experience for individual users and businesses. For more information: www.creality.com. The post Creality Launches Next Big Thing: the Large-scale CR-M4 3D Printer appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/c39GJCg February 23, 2023 at 08:39AM
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Projekt 26 Presents ‘Projekt Mkt’ 3 Day Pop-Up https://ift.tt/ZXwCSk5 The UK’s biggest Vintage Poster Market is returning to Peckham from Friday 28th through to Sunday 30th April 2023 with 1000s of original vintage posters and prints, from just £10! The lovingly curated event was started by Harriet Williams and Sylwia Newman of Projekt 26 in May 2021, and takes place at The Copeland Gallery in Peckham, London SE15. This will be the fifth outing of Projekt Mkt which is now a twice yearly event. There is no better place to shop for affordable and sustainable art. The 3 day pop-up is an opportunity to bring your walls to life with a soulful and sustainable art medium, providing the chance for art and culture lovers to shop from leading independent vintage poster traders under one roof. In Spring 2023 there will be ten vintage poster dealers – each with their own distinct specialism and collection – and a bespoke framer. Dealers confirmed so far include; Projekt 26, Orson and Welles, Twentieth Century Prints, Chaleureuse, Cool Walls, Room 12A, Travel on Paper, Kiki Werth, Poptique, and FRMD framers. Visitors can browse and shop thousands of original mid-century prints and posters – starting from just £10 for bargain hunters to rare and collectible investment pieces. There will be iconic pop, rock, and film classics alongside Soviet era Communist posters, quirky French factory health & safety posters, art exhibition posters, and the bold wry wit of the Polish School of Posters, as well as many more curated vintage finds. All posters are authentic originals, which gives them a unique character and appeal. Digital printing just can’t compete with the charming imperfection of offset lithography on beautiful matte paper, with its rich vibrant colours. Even the posters’ flaws have their own appeal for the stories they tell! Entry is £2, accompanied under 16s go free, four-legged friends are welcome. Friday 28 Apr – 2-8pm, Saturday 29 Apr – 10-6pm, Sunday 30 Apr – 10-5pm. Copeland Gallery, Unit 91, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, London SE15 3SN Tickets available here or on the door. Printing via People of Print https://ift.tt/3GMQge9 February 23, 2023 at 08:08AM
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Foilco Gains B Corporation Certification https://ift.tt/OvTW9xo Foilco, manufacturer and supplier of the world’s widest range of stamping foil shades and finishes to the print industry, has been certified as a B Corporation, further validating its exceptional sustainability and social credentials. Certified B Corporations, like Foilco, work to promote social and environmental change through positive business practices. B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. Certified B Corporations are leaders in the global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Foilco’s mission is to create and develop a sustainable and quality service for its customers. By gaining this highly regarded B Corp certification, they are seen to be truly walking the walk by putting sustainability firmly at the heart of their business. B Corps strive for both profit and purpose and promote positive change in their industries and communities. Foilco joins the 5000+ Certified B Corporations in more than 70 countries and over 150 industries. “We are on a mission to establish the end-to-end environmental credentials of foil as a decorative finish. That doesn’t stop at simply proving the product’s sustainability. It’s about the way we do business and runs through the entire fabric of our organisation from research and development right through to manufacture, delivery and the collection and reuse of the used material,” says Paul Hornby, Foilco’s Managing Director. He continues; “There is far too much greenwashing by companies at present and so we wanted to validate our environmental claims through this B Corp certification. It’s a badge of honour for both Foilco and the foil stamping industry, demonstrating that foil has a bright future in helping make the packaging industry a leader in sustainable innovation and design.” It’s not easy to become a Certified B Corporation. The Foilco team underwent an intense certification process, led by the certifying organisation B Lab, to demonstrate that they meet the highest social and environmental performance standards. Foilco’s Environmental & Sustainability Officer, Rose Happer explains; “Our ISO 14001 certification, alongside being the first foil company in the world to join the Zero Foil 2 Landfill Scheme, stood us in good stead during the evaluation process. But it’s as much about people as it is about the planet and so, we also needed to demonstrate our social credentials and the ways in which we look after and value our people.” Paul concludes; “It is within our interests to do what is right for the print and packaging industry, but it is our mission to do what is best for our people and the planet.” Printing via People of Print https://ift.tt/3GMQge9 February 23, 2023 at 04:37AM
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Dansk AM Hub Looks at Sustainable 3D Printing https://ift.tt/GfJHQLr It is no secret that we’re fans of Dansk AM Hub, the Danish national 3D printing body. The organization has a rather cost-effective way of marshaling the resources of a small but wealthy country to speed up its understanding of additive manufacturing (AM) and allow it to punch above its weight in the 3D printing world. Now the group has released a handy guide dedicated to understanding how 3D printing can be implemented for ecological reasons, Sustainable Manufacturing of the Future: The Role of Additive Manufacturing. Rarely have I seen as much disinformation being spread so widely and blithely than in “sustainable” 3D printing applications. A lot of users seem neither to care nor know what they are talking about, believing that some use cases or technologies are green without having access to the data. At the same time, they almost intrinsically believe that additive is better for the environment without understanding why or how. Most everyone seems to believe that PLA is green, without knowing that its production requires over seven liters of water per kilo of material, it usually isn’t compostable and may not degrade for decades or more, and it is difficult to recycle. We desperately need new information on the sustainability of 3D printing. So, this publication from Dansk AM Hub is most welcome. As befits a publication made in a Northern European country, it discusses concepts like climate change and the energy transition. It tells us that increased energy efficiency will solve about half of the equation climate change issue, saying, ¨Meeting climate targets will also require tackling the remaining 45% of emissions associated with making products and embedded in the four key industrial materials; cement, steel, plastic, and aluminium.¨ The recipe for partially accomplishing this is to:
The report is replete with examples. Eyewear company Monoqool, for example, transitioned to making eyeglass frames on demand with 3D printing. This speeds up their go-to-market and makes the company more flexible. Working with the service Prototal Damvig is more expensive than conventional manufacturing, but reductions in stock and a reduction of material waste from 85% to 2% is something for the firm to be happy with. Another firm, Tons, produces fitness gear through on-demand manufacturing of compostable 3D printing materials. The company wants to move its manufacturing sites close to future customers. Nordic Metals converts scrap materials into feedstock for powder bed fusion, with a CO2 footprint claimed to be 61% lower than conventional powders. The company also repairs tools as a service and touts an improved lifespan of 30 to 50 percent as an advantage. This is probably why Swedish engineering giant Sandvik is so happy with 3D printing, as well. I like this example a lot since sustainability is often looked in terms of embodied energy, virgin materials and more. Rarely do we look at sustainability in terms of making things last longer. The paper also goes on to look at Dutch firm Signify which prints lamps using polycarbonate and claims a 47% lower CO2 footprint than conventionally manufactured lamps. Furthermore, a 35% CO2 reduction comes from more efficient shipping due to lower weight. Overall l, the paper is a great intro to sustainability, showcasing a rough framework with which explore sustainability. It also contains a number of clear examples demonstrating the advantages of being sustainable. The post Dansk AM Hub Looks at Sustainable 3D Printing appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/P5lwcNB February 22, 2023 at 09:24AM
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AMS 2023: CEOs Show No Mercy for the Past, Discuss Opportunities for 3D Printing Industry https://ift.tt/OQEb21B What has additive manufacturing (AM) taught us in the last decade? Will supply chains become more digital? Can the software revolution create intelligent AM machines? These are just a few questions that were answered during the last panel of this year’s Additive Manufacturing Strategies (AMS) event in New York. During the special presentation of “The Future of AM” executive panel, four CEOs shared insights and discussed the industry’s highlights. Ivan Madera, Glynn Fletcher, Richard Garrity, and Mohsen Seifi from Morf3D, EOS, Stratasys (NASDAQ: SSYS), and ASTM International, respectively, participated in what felt like the perfect farewell to a week packed with more than 120 speakers, hundreds of attendees, and sponsors. In an auditorium filled with 3D printing enthusiasts, Stifel Managing Director Stephen Butkow moderated a discussion where the special guests found time to talk about the latest advances, challenges, and opportunities in 3D printing. Heating the conversationFletcher, who serves as the president of EOS North America, discussed various issues but insisted that to look forward, the industry needs to reflect on the last ten years. With a rich background in CNC machining, Fletcher described how he switched from the subtractive manufacturing sector to the blue ocean of additive manufacturing in 2011 with plenty of hope. However, today, he says he feels disappointed in this industry’s progress over the last eight years. However, he pointed out, “We are now looking at a tipping point where we can rely on some really exciting things to happen.” Furthermore, Fletcher believes the industry’s future lies in commercialization, making the technology accessible to a broader audience. While Fletcher saw the glass half empty, Seifi, Vice President of Global Advanced Manufacturing Programs at ASTM, thinks quite the opposite about the industry’s past: “I think we came a long way over the past 40 years. This industry has evolved quite a bit, and there were several turning points that happened during this period.” In the past, interest in additive came from three key sectors, medical, aerospace, and defense, but today “almost every industry is looking at AM,” points out Seifi. Even when looking at the technology, the hardware segment usually saw the most progress. However, with the recent explosion of AI and ML, leveraging software tools to advance the technology will be crucial to AM, highlights Seifi. Three drivers are moving the industry to be part of the broader “manufacturing sector,” says Seifi. These are: accepting that AM is becoming a manufacturing route for many companies, industry maturity thanks to a wider number of standards available, and trusting the technology. Biggest challengesLike Seifi, Madera believes adoption and maturity will drive the technology forward. As founder and CEO of end-to-end AM solutions provider Morf3D, Madera has witnessed plenty of growth in the last few years, including a majority ownership acquisition by Japanese giant Nikon and a fivefold customer increase in just one year. But even though the volume of AM production is increasing, Madera stated that the “maturity of the customer level is really low.”
Following this panel’s line of thought, it appears the industry is moving towards broader commercialization, as well as more standardization and having a greater role in the manufacturing industry as a whole, with many more businesses seeking AM technology to realize their vision. However, one of the broadest hurdles to work around is moving beyond the “low volume, high mix type applications,” considered Garrity. Instead, pushing for more significant quantities and even more applications are among the biggest challenges, according to Stratasys’ Chief Industrial Business Officer.
Fletcher agreed, stating that the AM industry has gone “from wow to now.” The executive said that the only thing stopping this industry from fulfilling its potential is “our inability to execute. We need to be good at execution in the future, doing it in a way that allows us to give cost-effective, compelling value propositions to our customers.” Seifi also believes there are many challenges from the cost and economic perspective, but added more issues that the industry needs to work through, including few job candidates due to a skills gap and supplier qualifications, especially when dealing with major OEMs relying on contract manufacturers. As the panel drew to an end, Butkow, who has over 15 years of investment banking experience covering such technologies as 3D printing, summarized the finance side of 3D printing, stating that as AM production technologies become more broadly accepted, it will be easier to get financing, but “right now the industry is not at a place where you see a big pool of capital.” The Additive Manufacturing Strategies (AMS) event will return February 6-8, 2024, for its seventh edition as the only 3D printing summit in New York City. The post AMS 2023: CEOs Show No Mercy for the Past, Discuss Opportunities for 3D Printing Industry appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://ift.tt/D4s516E February 22, 2023 at 08:08AM |
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