Wisconsin: Zero Barrier Labs is Trying to Make Metal 3D Printing 17 Times Cheaper http://bit.ly/2IBcRHy While many companies are keenly interested in the advances 3D printing is encouraging today—along with additive manufacturing processes making use of a variety of different metal powders to create strong, durable, yet lightweight parts—start-up costs can be cost-prohibitive. The team at Wisconsin’s Zero Barrier aims to help others learn more about 3D printing, along with bridging the gap in challenges for others to actually make use of the technology. Currently, they have plans to open a factory in Madison, WI, where others can send in their 3D designs for printing and then pick them up after a swift turnaround time. They also hope to commercialize their own metal 3D printers subsequently. The startup, founded two years ago, is comprised of a team of engineering students from UW-Madison who met through the university Hyperloop Team. Fast forward to the present moment, and they have created a metal 3D printer meant to streamline the fabrication process further—and especially for other designers and companies who would like to farm out the work.
Not only does Zero Barrier allow Wolfenden, an already experienced mechanical engineer, to keep his hands in a wide range of different projects pertaining to 3D printing with metal, he also enjoys being able to offer services to others that would be unaffordable if they had to buy all the hardware and software on their own; in fact, he reports asking one company for a price to 3D print a 1kg object, and receiving a quote of $2,600 (which they apparently found expensive and we wouldn’t necessarily depending on the object!). The new start-up, currently funded by Wolfenden and friends and family, will offer 3D metal printing services which they project will be 60 times faster and 17 times cheaper than existing technologies. The Zero Barrier 3D printer builds objects out of inexpensive metal powder that contains light curable polymers that are hardened by UV light. The inexpensive metal powder may point to them using MIM powders for their builds. Their technology is not binder jet or SLM/DMLS powder bed fusion nor is it the FDM/FFF polymer filaments with metal inside but another way of printing metal. We’re not sure how it works exactly but looking at the prototype the assumption is that either the system works with UV curable silver or other metal photopolymers/UV inks cured through a DLP projector that can be turned into a green state model which is then sintered. Solid Ground Curing by Cubital was a technology that could print metal and ceramics in the nineties, check out this mid-1990’s video below. You can also 3D print metal parts using stereolithography and this 1997 paper details how this can be done. A resin with photoinitiators for “photocurability, dispersants to maintain low viscosities at high solids loadings and the sinterable ceramic or metal powder” is turned into an SLA object which is then cured. Then the “photopolymer binder is removed by thermal decomposition and the part is sintered to impart high density and give the desired metal or ceramic properties.” A 2008 paper by Bartolo and Gaspar describes recipes and methods for using stereolithography to make metal parts. We’re not sure if it is this technology and UV curable inks and resins have come a long way over the last 25 years. The team will have issues with part deformation and warping during the build as well as further problems with sintering however and will get variable results at different wall thicknesses, geometries, and part sizes if this is the path that they chose. Light-based metal printing solutions are also being attempted by Photocentric and BASF is working on trying to make metal and ceramic UV curables as well. 3D Systems also has the venerable multi-step Keltool process in place and this 3D Systems patent details a more direct curable paste method. There is also a MIM industry that is injection molding polymer/metal combos as well and they have yet to fully control the sintering stuff either. One can also go directly from the photopolymer to lost wax casting as well which is being done for millions of 3D printed dental and jewelry models, this process usually requires manual finishing and a strong manual labor component but it remains to be seen how Zero Barrier Labs’ technology will outperform this, VIDEO
While they currently have a workshop at the UW-Madison Makerspace at the Engineering Building, Wolfenden and his team of three other engineers plan to refine their 3D printer further and move into a facility of their own in Madison. Their company is also currently a finalist in the Governor’s Business Plan Competition, a contest that encourages technologically-based startups.
3D printing in metal is no longer the wave of the future, but is a manufacturing many businesses—from smaller to those leading in industry—are relying on to provide parts that can be easily customized and then printed in low volume or mass production, whether they are making history with voluminous 3D printed gear wheels for automated processes, more efficient heat exchangers, or satellite antennas. Find out more about Zero Barrier and their plans for 3D printing with metal here. 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: The Cap Times] Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com April 22, 2019 at 02:24PM
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Tel Aviv University: Researchers 3D Print Cardiac Patches & Cellularized Hearts http://bit.ly/2DqvKZy Researchers at Tel Aviv University continue to try to meet the ongoing challenges in cardiac tissue engineering. In ‘3D Printing of Personalized Thick and Perfusable Cardiac Patches and Hearts,’ authors Nadav Noor, Assaf Shapira, Reuven Edri, Idan Gal, Lior Wertheim, and Tal Dvir outline the steps they took to match technology with tissue. Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of patients in the US, and organ donor and transplantation processes can still mean a long wait for those suffering from heart failure. Here, the authors demonstrate the need for alternative ways to treat the infarcted (usually referring to clogging of one of more arteries) heart. And while tissue engineering has pointed the way to freeing many patients from terrible physical suffering and organ donor waiting lists, creating the necessary scaffolds with true biocompatibility has presented obstacles. The authors have created an engineered cardiac patch meant to be transplanted directly onto the patient’s heart, integrating into the ‘host,’ with excess biomaterials degrading over time. This leaves the cardiac patch, full of live, healthy tissue, regenerating a previously defective heart. Because there is always the threat of rejection when implanting anything into the body though, the authors emphasize the need for appropriate materials:
The researchers were able to create patient-specific cardiac patches in their recent study, extracting fatty tissue from cardiac patients—and then separating cellular and a-cellular materials.
In using the patient-specific hydrogel as bioink, the researchers were able to create patches, but ultimately, they were also able to 3D print comprehensive tissue structures that include whole hearts. The authors used two different models in their study, with one serving as proof-of-concept, with pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)‐derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) and endothelial cells (ECs). The other model relied on:
One bioink, laden with cardiac cells, printed parenchymal tissue, while the other extruded cells for forming blood vessels. The researchers were successful in 3D printing the patient-specific cardiac patches but found when a higher degree of complexity was necessary for fabrication of organs or other tissues, the hydrogels were not strong enough. They created a new process for organs and more complex tissues where they could print in a free-form manner and cure structures at varying temperatures; they were able to overcome previous challenges and 3D print accurate, personalized structures. This study carries substantial weight, considering the researchers were able to create cellularized hearts with ‘natural architectures.’ This furthers the potential for cardiac transplants after heart failure, along with encouraging the process for drug screening. The authors point out that more long-terms studies and research with animal models are necessary.
Without good heart health, it is very difficult to survive. Responsible for transporting nutrients, oxygen, and more to cells populating the human body, the heart also removes waste like carbon dioxide and more. 3D printing is assisting scientists and doctors in researching and treating a variety of different diseases and conditions, whether they are using 3D printed metamaterials for fabricating heart valves, creating better cardiac catheters, or experimenting with new types of phantoms. 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: 3D Printing of Personalized Thick and Perfusable Cardiac Patches and Hearts] Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com April 22, 2019 at 02:12PM
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nScrypt and Sciperio Secure US Patent for Scalable Hybrid 3D Printing System http://bit.ly/2VYhZIU Florida manufacturer nScrypt develops high-precision micro-dispensing and direct digital manufacturing equipment and solutions for a range of industries. Just a few months ago, its research and development think tank Sciperio, which specializes in cross-disciplinary solutions, was awarded a second phase contract from the US Air Force for its 3D printed conformal phased array antennas project. Now we’ve learned that together, nScrypt and Sciperio have secured a patent for large-scale precision manufacturing. nScrypt is actually a spin-out company from Sciperio, which created technology that nScrypt commercialized under the Mesoscopic Integrated Conformal Electronics (MICE) program with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Their new U.S. Patent No. 10,162,339 B2 for “Automated manufacturing using modular structures and real-time feedback for precision control,” which has 15 dependent and 3 independent claims, is for a scalable machine and process that will combine additive and traditional manufacturing processes for the fabrication of large, highly precise parts. nScrypt’s CEO Dr. Ken Church is the lead inventor, and his co-inventors are Engineering Manager and R&D lead Paul Deffenbaugh; Electrical Engineer Josh Goldfarb; Charles (Mike) Newton, who heads up nScrypt’s Cyberfacturing Center; and Mechanical Designer Michael Owens.
The patent, which was filed by Sciperio in April of 2016, is officially effective as of December 25, 2018, with the adjusted expiration date set as May 12, 2036. Both the hybrid machine, and its new process, use either modular girders or a rigid frame, together with three motion systems controlled by a computer and coordinated by numerous sensors that offer continuous, closed-loop feedback in real time that allow for very small XYZ manufacturing adjustments. The system can be scaled from the smallest fraction of a meter up to hundreds of meters, thanks to the standard girders that make up the frame; this enables the manufacturing of precise, large parts at nanometer resolution.
One of the motion control systems is in charge of how and when the gantry moves, while the second is in control of the movement of the part currently being built. The last motion control system runs an additional gantry, which holds either the traditional or the additive manufacturing tool head, depending on what’s being built. This second gantry actually rides on the first gantry, while a system controller uses data collected by the sensors to coordinate the multiple motion systems in real time. What’s interesting is that if these systems move out of place, they are able to adjust themselves back into the proper position.
As for the elements that make up the machine itself, the motion sensors can be any mechanisms that are moved in the XYZ axes by computers, like ball screw drives, belt drives, and linear motor drives. The sensors can be acoustic, laser, optical, RF, or semi-conductive, while the tool heads for the machine can be for conventional manufacturing tasks like polishing, milling, and cutting, or 3D printing material extruders and micro-dispensing. Discuss this story 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 April 22, 2019 at 01:19PM Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing in India – Challenges & Solutions http://bit.ly/2URl1Cr The world has always viewed India as a mystical, enigmatic land through stereotypes of snake charmers, cows on roads, abject poverty and what not. While some of it might have been true decades ago, the picture on the ground is rapidly changing. With respect to Additive Manufacturing (AM) however, much of the mystery remains. Apart from the one or two minor updates we keep reading about, there isn’t anything big or glamorous coming out of India. Let us take a look at what might be going on behind the curtains and the reason behind this lack of updates. Primarily, one of the most significant factors for this “dead zone” of activity as such, is because the rate of adoption of (any) technology is a bit slow in India. If you were to refer to Everett Rogers’ ‘Diffusion of Innovation’ curve, you would find India on one of the highest points of the ‘Late Majority’ section. Many people are working towards eliminating this inertia by conducting 3D Printing workshops and classes for school/college students. People exposed to technology at an early age are usually much better at utilizing it fully. As AM is pretty much in its nascent stage (as far as manufacturing technologies go), there still is enough time for India not just to catch up, but lead the world by focusing on developing the next generation of leaders. The other reason is a governmental push, or the lack thereof. The current government has taken some commendable steps in pushing for manufacturing with projects such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project ‘Make in India’, and the country has seen significant improvements in its ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rankings. However, bureaucratic procedures are still a big obstacle to faster adoption & implementation. There are a few incentives such as R&D tax rebates (up to nearly 100% if used for ‘x’ number of years); however, the tax man is waiting right around the corner with a heavy club, dare you make a single mistake. Obviously, this needs to be eased up by reducing the red tape and creating an enabling tax system, rather than a punishing one. Another commendable measure is the capping of prices in the medical sector for generic drugs and items such as cardiac stents, along with Ayushman Bharat (aka ModiCare), a healthcare scheme for over 100 million poor & vulnerable families. However, no medical insurance for AM implants/tools/guides, etc. means doctors are unwilling to transfer the high costs to the patients, most of whom were unable to afford even regular practices. The hope is that schemes such as Ayushman Bharat will in the future cover this technology as well. One fact which is well known about India is that it is a price sensitive market. Higher pricing structures for machines/materials in India makes the entry point more expensive than others. Speaking from a service bureau point of view, when you have systems from companies which are close looped, you are forced to price your services at a premium. Although the offering might be unique to the market, because the price is higher than the next best offering, customers would prefer the second option and try to achieve the desired result with manual post processing. This might seem complicated & expensive, but what the reader should take note of, is that manual labour is very cheap in India, as it is in most Asian countries. While the prices might be justifiable in Western countries due to lack of cheap human resources, keeping the same prices will not work in India. Moving on to people who are already in the industry or are on the verge of entering – the novelty, agility, and flexibility of the technology has left people wondering where this fits in their company/system. A lot of people try to use the technology as a solution for all their problems, only to discover that a square peg does not fit into a round hole. It is then back to the drawing board for them. Additionally, a sudden rise of experts all around has confused the fence-sitters as each new person they speak to has strong but different opinions of their own. India’s most prominent companies have taken note of AM and have started doing their own research into this sector. However, most of them are only doing a reconnaissance for now and are not keen on starting anything immediately. As the world’s largest democracy faces its general elections, everyone is waiting for the dust to settle before making any big announcements. Among the people who have entered as service bureaus or have the technology in their R&D departments, some have had the rather unfortunate experience of dealing with systems they do not understand, leading them to purchase expensive printers, which later on turn out to be utterly useless or costly for them. They slowly stop using these services, leading to a decline in the promulgation of the technology. Some have also had the misfortune of doing business with someone who is more interested in selling his machine/material, than catering to the actual needs of the client. This leads the client to believe that there is something wrong with the technology and that the whole thing is a sham. Another somewhat contrasting point is that there is a dearth of skilled labour. While manpower is readily available, getting experienced designers, engineers, etc. is a challenge. Alternatively, there is an excellent opportunity for educational organizations to start their business in India, offering training on designing, coding, machine operation/optimization, etc. An initiative by the Govt. of India for this problem is “Skill India” which aims to train over 400 million people in India in different skills by 2022. This workforce can then also be hired by Western countries which would help them reduce their costs.
And lastly, for a technology like AM to work in its full capacity, an ecosystem needs to be developed, which currently has not yet been nurtured. The ecosystem exists, but is fragmented and needs to be brought together. To summarize, advancements are being carried out in AM in India, although they are not always published. Aerospace, automotive, medical, dental, tooling, will be the key sectors changing the manufacturing scenario here and the next 5 years are the most crucial for the growth of AM in India. A strong support system from the big players in the Indian corporate team and the government will ensure India, which has lost out on the previous industrial revolutions, will move from the ‘late adopters’ to the ‘leaders’ category within the next decade. Sumedh Habbu is a technophile and a budding writer. He is a passionate believer of Additive Manufacturing and an active member in the Indian AM industry. His views are his own. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com April 22, 2019 at 08:42AM
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Civil Engineering Applications: Researchers 3D Print Packaging for Fiber Optic Sensors http://bit.ly/2ITpM70 In a bustling world full of ever-expanding technology, there is much going on behind the scenes, in the air, and underground, that we don’t even think about. Fiber optics are a great example of this, delivering information, entertainment, monitoring systems, and much more. Researchers from the UK and India are interested in how 3D printing can further the performance of fiber optics, outlining their findings in ‘Encapsulation of Fiber Optic Sensors in 3D Printed Packages for Use in Civil Engineering Applications: A Preliminary Study.’ Authored by Richard Scott, Miodrag Vidakovic, Sanjay Chikermane, Brett McKinley, Tong Sun, Pradipta Banerji, and Kenneth Grattan, their recently published paper gives us further insight into the progression of fiber optic technology in relation to the ongoing need for being able to install sensors in materials like concrete—a material which poses challenges (for rigorous sensor installation) due to its high alkalinity. Sensor installations today can be complex and cost-prohibitive (in some cases, one sensor may cost as much as $300), leaving the industry wide open for alternatives—and motivating the authors to develop packaging for fiber sensors that is not only exponentially more affordable but also sturdy and reliable. They went into this research project seeking to create packaging with the following features:
Before designing their new product, the researchers examined the current benefits of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors, which have been very popular among civil engineers. They discovered that current issues with FBGs are one, that they are extremely delicate—and two, they must be ‘encapsulated’ in packaging that can ward off not only environmental rigors, but also heavy usage. The researchers used SolidWorks for 3D design of the new sensor packages, and then 3D printed them on a Formlabs 1+ 3D printer. What makes these devices even more unique and attractive for industrial applications is that they can be highly customized, in comparison to traditional materials.
In-field testing of the packaged sensors was positive, although sensitivity of packaged FBG-based sensors was deemed significantly lower that that of those left bare. The authors found this encouraging still as it means that their 3D printed packaged sensors could be used for ‘all but the most sensitive of measurements desired.’ During their research, however, the authors did realize that rather than using materials like resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or ceramic could prove more suitable for sensor packing, although the affordability and ease in production offered by 3D printing (out of standard resin) are hard to beat. Width of the packaging was slightly problematic too, leaving the researchers to consider how to reduce thickness. Ultimately, they were happy with the results of their research, although waiting to test their products further in more realistic civil engineering applications. The sensors used have been ‘effectively packaged (encapsulated)’ with the chosen materials, are affordable, and effective, leaving the researchers to conclude:
Decades ago, 3D printing was created by an engineer, for engineers. And while infinite numbers of and other types of users can benefit from the technology, this is an extremely useful tool for creating prototypes and functional devices in fields like civil engineering where so many new structural applications are evolving, with exciting strides being made in residential home construction, different types of infrastructure like bridges, and even road paving. [Source / Images: Encapsulation of Fiber Optic Sensors in 3D Printed Packages for Use in Civil Engineering Applications: A Preliminary Study] Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com April 22, 2019 at 08:15AM
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China: Researchers Test Short Carbon Fiber/PEEK Composites in FDM 3D Printing http://bit.ly/2GqvqLf Chinese researchers are investigating the power of short carbon fibers combined with PEEK, in relation to FDM 3D printing, a method popular with users due to its power, affordability, and speed. Outlining their findings in Flexural Properties and Fracture Behavior of CF/PEEK in Orthogonal Building Orientation by FDM: Microstructure and Mechanism, authors Qiushi Li, Wei Zhao, Yongxiang Li, Weiwei Yang, and Gong Wang test this composite for possible use in a growing number of industrial applications. PEEK is finding emerging uses in industrial FDM 3D printing, and is known to produce parts with good strength and heat resistance that go on to offer high performance for applications like aerospace and the medical field. Layer adhesion, however, is a common problem in 3D printing, and FDM with PEEK is no exception. The researchers point out that rapid crystallization is another problem leading to poor integrity in prints. While the use of PEEK offers great benefit, it is not able to stand up to the quality of conventional injection molding techniques, leaving researchers to experiment with a variety of ways to bolster its strength and performance. Carbon is becoming widely used for industrial 3D printing purposes due to its enormous ability to enhance mechanical properties and strength overall; still, however, in the past there have been issues with increased porosity and layer adhesion. The authors examined a way to combine short composite carbon fibers and PEEK with greater success, printing it within the orthogonal building orientation, and continuing to compare it to the quality of parts made through injection molding. The samples were created on a Funmat HT FDM 3D printer, a machine specifically created for high-temperature FDM 3D printing. Models were designed in Catia V5, and imported via INTAMSUITE. The authors reported that all samples were fabricated with the same printing parameters in both horizontal and vertical orthogonal orientations. Filament was also made into pellets and then subjected to injection conditions for comparison. The results showed that composites tested through both 3D printing and injection molding had ‘similar high strength and toughness.’
With the addition of SCFs to the PEEK material, the researchers noted increased porosity, and four fracture modes were noted in bending tests with large strain.
The vast new world of materials emerging offers countless combinations of different plastics and metals and more, opening the potential for so many applications within so many different fields. Today we see composites like those made from clay, injectable hydrogels, different types of electrical composites, and so much more. Also, find out more about CF/PEEK here. 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: Flexural Properties and Fracture Behavior of CF/PEEK in Orthogonal Building Orientation by FDM: Microstructure and Mechanism] Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com April 22, 2019 at 08:03AM Biodiscoveries: CELLINK is bioprinting its way into the future http://bit.ly/2UPtO7U Back in 2015, Erik Gatenholm realized there was no place to purchase bioink for 3D bioprinting. So, blown away by this gap in the market, he quickly worked with co-founder Hector Martinez to create a universal bioink that anyone working with bioprinting could use. It was quite a high stakes bet, and at the beginning they set up a webshop to see if they got any bites. It only took 24 hours for the first sale. With more orders quickly coming in, they realized the enormous potential of the product they developed, and CELLINK was born, becoming the first company to commercialize a universal bioink for bioprinting of human tissues and organs. In the United States alone, every 10 minutes another person is added to the growing waiting list for organ transplants, most of them (60%) in need of a kidney, and with over 130,000 organs transplanted every year worldwide, is no wonder how demand certainly outweighs supply almost everywhere. In some countries the wait can take years, making 3D printing of organs one of the most sought after technologies out there. Bioprinting in the future could allow patients and doctors to reduce waiting times, increase compatibility and decrease immunological failure. For this to happen medical researchers will need to design organs using modeling software, and then print them with biomaterials such as polymers and hydrogels, in addition to the patient’s own cells. Although currently focused on growing cartilage and skin cells suitable for testing drugs and cosmetics, the Swedish company founded in Gothenburg in 2016, hopes to progress the technology far enough to create replacement organs for transplant in humans in the next 15 years.
Their unique bioink is a biomaterial innovation that allows human cells to grow and thrive as they would in circumstances close to their natural environment. The startup has already managed to print human skin and is also working on producing liver tissues, as well as the beta cells that produce the insulin we need to survive. In 2018 it began printing tumors to combat cancer as part of a research project that doesn’t endanger human lives, and just a few weeks ago, it teamed up with Volumetric to develop Lumen X, a digital light processing bioprinter, designed to enhance inventions in creating more substantial vascular structures. Skin care products, topological drugs and medical treatments are all in need of enhanced testing procedures that can increase the transability from in vitro testing to in vivo usage of products. With tissue engineering and 3D bioprinting more representative in vitro models can be constructed, limiting the use of testing in animals. Actually, academic labs and companies worldwide are trying to bioengineer all kinds of sophisticated creations for regenerative medicine, drug testing, screening, and tissue engineering. So it’s no wonder CELLINK has their research team focused on creating the next generation of bioinks. Their top selling product is making bioprinting much easier than it used to be some 10 years ago, with 30 different types of bioink available, with prices that go from 99 to 900 dollars. So, what makes one bioink more expensive than the other? It’s all about the components. Collagen and laminin are more expensive to produce than gelatin, raising the price of the end-product. According to CELLINK, scientists mix their live cells into the company’s bioink, a kind of gel designed to allow cells to survive and multiply. The ink is then loaded into a 3D printer by the customer, which forms the desired shape layer by layer as the gel solidifies. By the time the lights inside CELLINK’s box turn green, researchers have an object that acts like human tissue, and can then apply their drug and see how the living cells inside respond.
Creating the raw material for bioprinting processes is no easy task. Cellink has been focusing on process-compatible soft biomaterials loaded with living cells to create its bioinks since September 2015. The process of bioprinting requires a delivery medium for cells which can be deposited into designed shapes acquired from computer-aided design (CAD) models, which can be generated using 3D medical images obtained through MRIs or CT scans. Some important features of an ideal bioink material are bioprintability, high mechanical integrity and stability, insolubility in cell culture medium, biodegradability at a rate appropriate to the regenerating tissue, non-toxicity and non-immunogenicity, and the ability to promote cell adhesion. Some bioink types, like hydorgels, are not always suitable as construction materials which is why CELLINK is working on a study to provide an upgraded version of the current CELLINK BONE bioink by incorporating collagen and hydroxyapatite. The bioink currently offered does not get close to the real stiffness of the natural bone tissue, but finely resembles its chemical composition. The advantage of such a soft material is to be able to incorporate cells and, during the bioprinting process, to locate them at a precise position throughout the scaffold. This is still for research use only and might take a few years until it is compatible for human use. Since its start the technology firm has grown to become one of the big competitors in the industry. CELLINK had only been in existence for ten months before they decided to pursue their IPO in November of 2016, listing on Nasdaq First North after a 1070% oversubscribed IPO, which means that demand for their shares was ten times what they expected. Since then, shares have risen over 400%, giving the company a present-day market cap of around $257 million. CELLINK’s affordable printers have already been bought by customers in 25 countries around the world, mostly universities, like Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and MIT, and some private customers, including Shiseido, Roche, Merck, Johnson and Johnson, and Toyota But it’s not just about bioprinting it’s way into the future of medicine, CELLINK is also working with other disruptive technologies, such as machine learning. CELLINK told 3DPrint.com that “they want to empower our users with better tools to simplify the bioprinting learning process and broaden its adoption”. One example of this is by developing algorithms that analyse printed structures and based on the results can recommend printing parameters to the users. Using this tool in the development, has helped them speed up the bioink development process. They have just launched a new product: CELLCYTE X, a live cell imaging microscope with live monitoring and analysis of cells in the cloud. Traditionally cell studies have involved manual labor and relied on analysis of the images from an expert, but using deep learning models they are automating this process to provide better and more reliable analysis to their users. The system relies on the latest in serverless system architecture to provide the most scalable, reliable and most intuitive system on the market. What do you think, will CELLINK continue its upward trajectory? Will it become superseded by other larger firms or get passed by newer start ups? Find out more through our series of articles exploring bioprinting, Biodiscoveries. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com April 22, 2019 at 04:57AM 3D Printing News Briefs: April 21, 2019 http://bit.ly/2Gymg0v We’re beginning with an aerospace 3D printing story in 3D Printing News Briefs today, then moving on to news about some upcoming industry events and finishing with a little business. Launcher tested its 3D printed rocket engine on an important date in history. DuPont will be introducing new semi-crystalline 3D printing products at RAPID + TCT, and Nanofabrica has offered to 3D print micro parts at no cost for interested companies attending the annual euspen conference. Ira Green Inc. used Rize technology to transform its production process, GOM is now part of the Zeiss Group, and the Ivaldi Group received its ISO 9001:2015 certification. Launcher Tests 3D Printed Rocket Engine New York startup Launcher, which uses EOS technology to create 3D printed components for metal rocket engines, has completed many firing tests with these parts over the last year and a half. Recently, on the anniversary of the date the first human left Earth to go into space, the startup announced the results of the latest test. Launcher’s founder and CEO Max Haot posted on his LinkedIn account that the E-1 copper bi-metal rocket engine, which was 3D printed on the EOS M290, broke the startup’s combustion pressure record at 625 psi, mr 2.5. It will be interesting to see how the engine performs on its next test. DuPont to Introduce New Semi-Crystalline Materials At next month’s RAPID + TCT in Detroit, DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers (T&AP), a DowDuPont Specialty Products Division business, will be launching an expansion to its 3D printing portfolio: advanced, high-performance semi-crystalline materials, which will give customers more manufacturing agility and open new opportunities to lower costs while increasing production. Jennifer L. Thompson, Ph.D., R&D programs manager for DuPont T&AP, will be presenting a technical paper about the materials during the event as part of the Material Development and Characterization session. During her presentation at 10:15 am on May 23rd, Thompson will discuss alternative 3D printing methods, like pellet extrusion modeling, in addition to highlighting new engineering materials and talking about tailored material testing programs. Thompson and other DuPont employees will be at DuPont T&AP’s booth #552 at RAPID to answer questions about the company’s 3D printing materials. Nanofabrica Offers Free 3D Printing Services for euspen Attendees Last month, Israeli 3D printing startup Nanofabrica announced the commercial launch of its micro resolution 3D printing platform. In order to show off the system’s abilities to potential customers, Nanofabrica has made an enticing offer to attendees at next month’s euspen conference and exhibition in Spain: the startup will print parts for interested companies at no charge. Then, the parts printed on the new micro AM platform will be presented to them at the event, which focuses on the latest technological developments that are growing innovation at the micron and sub-micron levels.
Rize 3D Printing Transformed Company’s Production Process Rhode Island-based IRA Green Inc. (IGI), a full-service manufacturer and distributor of unique uniform items earned and worn by military personnel around the world, recently turned to RIZE and its 3D printing capabilities in order to manufacture small fixtures for its tool shop. The company’s products are in high demand, but lead times were growing longer due to bottlenecks and 8 hours of work for each $300 fixture. Precision is also important for these parts, which is why IGI decided to turn to the RIZE ONE hybrid 3D printer. According to a new case study, IGI’s design team uses the printer every day to manufacture accurate fixtures in just 50 minutes for $2.00 a part. Using the RIZE ONE, which has the unique capability of adding ink markings to parts for verification, the company has been able to standardize its nails and molds, which helped lead to an ROI in less than five months.
ZEISS Group Acquires GOM In an effort to expand its industrial metrology and quality assurance portfolio, the ZEISS Group, a technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics fields, has acquired GOM, which provides hardware and software for automated 3D coordinate measuring technology. By combining GOM’s optical 3D measuring technology with its own products, ZEISS could expand market access, and create new opportunities, for its Industrial Quality & Research segment. Once the transaction is complete, which should happen soon, GOM will become part of this ZEISS segment, while the legal form of its companies in Germany and elsewhere will stay the same. The financial details of the transaction will not be discussed publicly.
Ivaldi Group Awarded ISO 9001:2015 Certification California startup Ivaldi Group, which uses 3D printing and metal fabrication solutions to provide in-port parts on-demand services for the maritime, mining, offshore, and construction industries has become ISO 9001:2015 certified in less than ten months. This standard, which is certifies quality managements systems that focus on customer satisfaction, continuous improvement, and active involvement of employees and management in a process-based approach, is the first step in the certification process that’s required to certify specific products. This proves Ivaldi’s commitment to constantly improving itself.
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 April 21, 2019 at 09:12AM Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machine Tool Company Commercializes New Metal 3D Printer http://bit.ly/2DnX1Mm A new metal 3D printer developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machine Tool Co., Ltd.– a group company of the Japanese industrial firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. ( MHI) – has just been commercialized. Recently, the first commercial unit of the LAMDA 200 system, developed through a research project between the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization ( NEDO) and the Technology Research Association for Future Additive Manufacturing ( TRAFAM), was delivered to the Industrial Research Center of Shiga Prefecturein Ritto. The commercial metal system uses a proprietary Directed Energy Deposition (DED) method – metal powder is fed continuously by nozzles to the laser fusing point. By altering the composition of the materials, the LAMDA 200 is able to laminate metals with precision and at high speeds. A few years ago, TRAFAM began utilizing MHI Machine Tool’s accumulated laser and positioning control technologies in order to develop a next-generation prototype metal DED 3D printer. This unit was finished in the fall of 2017, at which point the organization began an advertising campaign that targeted full-scale marketing. Now, the commercial entry model of this metal DED 3D printer has been officially launched. The commercial LAMDA 200 3D printer is dedicated to fabricating small part prototypes. The system uses laser beams, which are emitted through dual nozzles, to pass through metal powder and cause fusion at the focal point. The movement of the two nozzles causes the printer’s progressive additive manufacturing. According to MHI, the 3D printer’s molding speed is over ten times faster when extracting a formed object than powder bed fusion printing is, which helps suppress metal powder waste. MHI Machine Tool and the Industrial Research Center of Shiga Prefecture will work together to create metal additive manufacturing innovations. Just this month, the Centre established on its grounds an Advanced Monozukuri Prototype Development Center, which is where the new LAMDA 200 metal DED 3D printer will be installed. Here, it will be used to support new product and technology development of companies working in the traditional Japanese concept of craftsmanship known as monozukuri. Together, the Centre and MHI Machine Tool will work to increase proposal-based sales routes, as well as gain further recognition of the commercial LAMDA 200 in the manufacturing industry and develop new user applications.
Inevitably, maintenance issues and complaints about quality management of metal materials regarding the new DED metal 3D printing system will come up as the LAMDA 200 is increasingly adopted. That’s why MHI Machine Tool is also working to create feedback monitoring capability that will monitor and stabilize the system’s status automatically, in addition to a shielding function that will be needed when manufacturing titanium alloys and other metals that will be used in aviation applications. What do you think? Discuss this story 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 April 20, 2019 at 02:54AM New stamps spotlight the natural beauty of America’s rivers http://bit.ly/2Zmvy7b The U.S. Postal Service issues Wild and Scenic Rivers, stamps that pay tribute to the exceptional streams that run freely through America’s natural landscapes. This pane honors the rivers’ beauty with a dozen Forever stamps, each showcasing a different segment of the Wild and Scenic River System. Printing via USPS News http://bit.ly/2hH9aDC April 19, 2019 at 11:07AM |
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