U.S. Postal Service Honors Roy Lichtenstein’s Pop Art on New Forever Stamps https://ift.tt/BnOkY0S NEW YORK — The U.S. Postal Service today recognized the centennial of American artist Roy Lichtenstein’s birth with the dedication of new stamps in his honor at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Printing via USPS News https://ift.tt/TtLZpn5 April 24, 2023 at 10:40AM
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3D Printing News Unpeeled: CEAD & GKN Test Integrated CFRP Nozzle & Boxing Gloves https://ift.tt/Ld1TjBm Today we’re looking ongoing developments in regional, national and global 3d printing conferences. We also take a look at the Technical University Munich working with GKN and CEAD on an integrated CFPR 3D printing nozzle. Combining material extrusion with tape orientation, deposition and heating the nozzle could be an inexpensive way to make aerospace tooling and end use parts. Hyabusa makes a 3D printed boxing glove with lattice resin components that it claims can outperform other gloves in the market. The post 3D Printing News Unpeeled: CEAD & GKN Test Integrated CFRP Nozzle & Boxing Gloves 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/bKueVsY April 24, 2023 at 09:31AM
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To Space and Back: Rocket Lab to Reuse 3D Printed Rutherford Engine https://ift.tt/wox7VMU For the first time, Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) will launch a pre-flown 3D printed Rutherford engine as part of its Electron reusability program. Previously powering the “There and Back Again” mission launched in May 2022, the engine has undergone extensive qualification and acceptance testing to certify it for re-flight, including multiple full mission duration hot fires where the pre-flown engine performed flawlessly and on par with a new Rutherford engine, says the space firm. With Rocket Lab’s propulsion team now giving the engine the green light for re-flight, it will blast off on an upcoming commercial mission scheduled for lift-off in the third quarter of 2023. While the engine is ready for re-flight now, the Electron rockets scheduled for launch in the second quarter are already built with complete Rutherford powerpack assemblies, so this pre-flown engine will join the production line to be integrated with an in-progress Electron rocket. The engine is one of several recovered Rutherford engines that have collectively been through many successful full-duration hot fires to support testing and R&D efforts for recovery. The engine joins multiple systems re-flown on Electron, including helium press systems. Designed and built by Rocket Lab, the Rutherford engine is the world’s first 3D printed and electric pump-fed orbital rocket engine. 350 Rutherford engines have been launched into space since Rocket Lab’s first Electron (a two-stage, partially reusable small-class rocket) launched in 2017, making it one of the most reliable and frequently flown U.S. orbital rocket engines. According to the company, the Rutherford engine’s production scalability is facilitated by additively manufactured primary components, such as combustion chambers, injectors, pumps, and main propellant valves. These can be printed in 24 hours, drastically reducing production timelines compared with traditional production methods. Peter Beck, the founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, has spoken extensively about the company’s 3D printed Rutherford engines. In several public statements, Beck highlighted the benefits of 3D printing for rocket engine production, including the ability to rapidly iterate designs, reduce manufacturing costs, and improve performance. One of the advantages of the 3D printed Rutherford engine is its capability to produce a higher thrust-to-weight ratio and greater fuel efficiency than traditional engines, which can help to improve the overall performance of Rocket Lab’s rockets, explained Beck. In addition, the New Zealand entrepreneur has emphasized the role of innovation and new technologies in driving the growth and success of the space industry, and he sees 3D printing as a vital part of that trend. Rocket Lab works with several 3D printing companies to produce rocket components, including Carpenter Technology for the metal powders used in its 3D printing processes and EOS to 3D print the engine combustion chamber and nozzle for its Rutherford engine. It also relies on SLM Solutions‘ selective laser melting (SLM) machines to 3D print various small components, including valve bodies, brackets, and fittings, and Renishaw’s direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) platforms to 3D print injectors for the Rutherford. Rocket Lab’s partnerships with these 3D printing companies enable them to access the latest and most advanced 3D printing technologies. Beck has expressed enthusiasm on several occasions about the potential of 3D printing to transform the design and production of rocket engines. During interviews with Forbes and CNBC, he indicated that Rocket Lab would continue to invest in this technology. Rutherford engines are used for the first and second stages of Electron launch vehicles, with nine engines in the first stage and a single vacuum-optimized engine in the second stage. Re-flying this engine is the latest milestone in Rocket Lab’s program to recover hardware and the first stages from six Electron missions, with the latest stage, retrieved on March 24, 2023, following the “The Beat Goes On” mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. Rocket Lab has been iteratively developing and testing two recovery methods in parallel. One is marine recovery, whereby Electron’s first stage returns to Earth under a parachute for a soft ocean splashdown and recovery by boat. Another method is a mid-air recovery, where Electron’s first stage is caught in the air by a specialized helicopter as the stage descends back to Earth under the parachute. Extensive analysis of returned stages shows that Electron withstands an ocean splashdown, and engineers expect future complete stages to pass qualification and acceptance testing for re-flight with minimal refurbishment. As a result, Rocket Lab is moving forward with marine operations as the primary method to recover Electrons for re-flight. This is expected to take the number of Electron missions suitable for recovery from around 50% to between 60% and 70%. In addition, rocket Lab plans to assess the opportunities for flying a complete pre-flown first-stage booster following the launch of the pre-flown Rutherford engine in the third quarter of this year.
As stated by the space industry executive, reusability for small rockets is immensely challenging since they don’t have the fuel margins that larger rockets have to enable propulsive landing. However, despite this significant technical hurdle, Rocket Lab has been tenacious about the reusability program and proven it’s possible to bring home small rockets and run the engines as good as new ones.
From cost reduction to resource conservation, reusability has become an increasingly important concept in the space industry. Traditionally, space missions involved the launch of a single-use rocket. However, technological advancements have made it possible to design and manufacture spacecraft and rockets that can be reused multiple times. Furthermore, considering how space debris is becoming an increasingly significant problem in orbit around Earth, by reusing components and resources, Rocket Lab can help reduce the amount of space debris generated by off-Earth missions, decreasing the environmental impact. Learning to reuse assets today will help future space missions with resource conservation, especially considering how limited resources are in space. As interest in the exploration and commercialization of space increases, reusability is likely to play a significant role in the future of the space ecosystem. The post To Space and Back: Rocket Lab to Reuse 3D Printed Rutherford Engine 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/bKueVsY April 24, 2023 at 08:46AM
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nTopology and EOS Partner on Weight Watchers for Your 3D Printing Files https://ift.tt/zQYKZBi Famously, in 3D printing, when it comes to the design and production of complex geometries, “complexity is free.” I’ve always taken this phrase to mean “3D printing comes with a lot of problems,” while others insist that it means that “we can batch manufacture super complicated shapes for the same prices as we can batch manufacture simple ones.” Additive manufacturing (AM)’s ability to make lots of unique, optimally designed geometries has lead to an explosion in the complexity of AM parts. Highly engineered components can feature a great deal of lattices, internal chambers, special textures, and many architected surfaces. Keeping pace, the resulting files have exploded in size as well. This leads to poor handling on even very fast computers, as well as the usage of a lot of storage space. With color, gradient parts, material mixing, and more we can only imagine how complex and huge the files of the future will be. EOS and nTopology have collaborated on an answer to the huge, unwieldy file problem. The potential solution is called “Implicit Interop.” This may sound like an interagency Taskforce on healthcare fraud, but in reality it is a Weight Watchers program for your files. According to the companies, Interop could reduce file sizes by 99% and load files 60% quicker, leading to files being generated 500 times faster. EOSPRINT 2.14 will feature an Implicit Interop plugin starting in June 2023. In addition to the time saved, Implicit Interop maintains the fidelity and design intent of the original file. This is possible because it skips the mesh creation and rendering steps, which could take minutes, hours, or days depending on how complicated the file is. Instead the team transfers and keeps the data in an implicit modeling file. Now, they want to make these types of files easy to exchange between software programs, hence the Implicit Interop moniker. As an example the duo previously showcased a Siemens Energy heat exchanger, described in just a 1 MB file, making it much quicker to import into EOSPRINT. EOS and nTopology also want to standardize the Implicit File format via the 3MF Consortium.
Now, I worry that this tool will really lead to a huge reduction in spontaneous smoke breaks and idle chitchat between colleagues. I also believe that this will result, in the long run, in knowing significantly less about key matters such as the Minnesota Vikings, the accomplishments of various children, where to holiday in Greece, the relative merits of midsized trucks and Netflix shows. On the other hand, it will be a significant productivity increase for the industry. There are too few people in the sector already and, now, they will work more and wait less. Seriously, though, I love this approach. Implicit Interop could really save our industry many thousands of hours. I also like that they’re trying to standardize this. Maybe becoming the PDF interchange format will finally embed implicit modeling tools in everyone’s workflow. Now, nTop software is seen as cool but difficult, a niche tool that could change everything. Perhaps, via file exchange, the industry can nibble on nTopology slowly and then get drawn into a more implicit world. The post nTopology and EOS Partner on Weight Watchers for Your 3D Printing Files 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/bKueVsY April 24, 2023 at 08:46AM
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New CBAM 25 Composite 3D Printer is 15X Faster than Competition https://ift.tt/RS582vf As hinted at in our recent interview with CEO Steve Hoover, Impossible Objects has announced the launch of its newest 3D printer, the CBAM 25. To be unveiled at RAPID+TCT, the system is said to print “15 times faster than the fastest competition.” Impossibles Objects’ composite based additive manufacturing (CBAM) technology begins with the deposition of a binder ink onto a sheet of reinforcement material, before a thermoplastic powder coats the substrate, adhering only to the ink. This is repeated with each subsequent layer, resulting in a stack of sheets that must then be compressed and sintered in a furnace, with the binder causing the layers to fuse together. Excess material is then removed, leaving the final composite part. From the company, it sounds as though the CBAM 25, the follow-up to the CBAM 2 machine, is not only quicker than other composite 3D printers but also faster than other high-throughput machines. Just read how Robert Swartz, Founder and Chairman of the Board at Impossible Objects, phrased it:
Specifically, the company has compared the speed of its process with selective laser sintering, high-speed sintering, and fused filament fabrication when it comes to the production of a 114 x 28 x 10 mm bell crank. If accurate, Impossible Objects may have, as the firm puts it, “[broken] the 3D printing speed barrier.” It’s important to note, however, that these numbers do not include post-processing times and, in the case, of Impossible Objects, these times may be significant, given the furnace and material removal steps. However, these other processes typically don’t print with the same type of composites, though they do have their own composite materials. Because CBAM combines rolls of carbon fiber sheets with PEEK, essentially the strongest and most heat- and chemical-resistant polymer in the AM world, components made with the process are surely among the toughest in the sector.
The Chicago-area startup has had a tough climb introducing its entirely novel AM technology to the industry. As relayed by Hoover in our interview, it aims to address this issue with a part printing service, which will allow customers to get acquainted with CBAM with the potential of purchasing equipment later on. Now that the CBAM 2025 has been unveiled, with commercial availability slated for early 2024, the offer from Impossible Objects has become that much more attractive. With carbon fiber PEEK parts as alternatives for aluminum, tooling, spares, repairs and end-use components, it’s likely that larger manufacturers who were once considering the use of CBAM will be that much more drawn to the new system. We can easily imagine users in the aerospace, defense, and transportation industries producing large batches of these parts, disrupting the niche carbon fiber 3D printing segment and more. To learn more, visitors of the upcoming RAPID+TCT Show will be able to visit Impossible Objects booth #4024. Images courtesy of Impossible Objects. The post New CBAM 25 Composite 3D Printer is 15X Faster than Competition 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/bKueVsY April 24, 2023 at 07:24AM
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3D Printing IIoT pStartup Handddle Renews Collaboration with French Air and Space Force https://ift.tt/COmNvZM Handddle, a French startup specializing in the development of additive manufacturing (AM) solutions optimized for the industrial internet of things (IIoT), announced that it has renewed a partnership with the French Air and Space Force. In April, 2022, Handddle installed one of its Smart Farm micro-factories at the French Air and Space Force’s National 3D Printing Pole (PNI3D). The Smart Farm is a temperature- and noise-controlled enclosure for 3D printers and post-processing equipment, integrated with Handddle’s proprietary digital workflow software platform, designed to facilitate automated quality control. The Smart Farm is machine agnostic, though the company also has a direct working relationship with 3D printing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), such as Markforged. Via the partnership renewal with the French military, Handddle has installed two additional Smart Farms at PNI3D. As Handddle also notes in the press release, its experience with the French military has given the company invaluable feedback relevant to further evolving both its hardware and software platforms. On that count, Handddle’s ability to successfully deliver results is implied by the French Air and Space Force’s growing interest in the Smart Farm. According to Handddle, the Smart Farm improves repeatability of printed parts by nearly 40 percent. Precisely that consideration is rising to the forefront of concerns for businesses and organizations interested in AM, amidst the industry’s preparation for an impending scale-up over the next decade. Indeed, one of the primary reasons why AM customers outside of the defense sector pay special attention to militaries’ preferred OEMs is because applications for defense require, and thereby also catalyze, rapid standardization. Another main factor driving the broader AM customer base toward the companies favored by militaries can be explained in terms of ruggedization: the tailoring of AM platforms such that they can operate satisfactorily in extreme environments. In that vein, the niche Handddle occupies — making products that make other companies’ products work as well as possible — will be indispensable in the actualization of 3D printing’s potential to become the cornerstone of distributed manufacturing networks. Images courtesy of Handddle The post 3D Printing IIoT pStartup Handddle Renews Collaboration with French Air and Space Force 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/bKueVsY April 24, 2023 at 06:47AM
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3D Printing Webinar & Event Roundup: April 23, 2023 https://ift.tt/Y1skTmy Once again, we’ve got a lot of offerings in this week’s roundup, with Velo3D’s Roadshow making a stop in Denver and TechBlick holding a virtual learning and networking session. There are also going to be webinars on a variety of topics, from automated PolyJet post-processing and MJF for bridges and medical devices to 3D printed molds for silicone parts, 3D printing to improve reconstructive surgery, SDKs for AM workflows, and much more. Read on for all the details! 3D Printing News UnpeeledOur Executive Editor Joris Peels, who’s also the Vice President of Consulting at SmarTech Analysis, offers a news livestream one to two times a week called 3D Printing News Unpeeled at 9:30 am EST. For each episode, Peels gets on LinkedIn Live and tells us, in 20 minutes or less, what he considers to be the top news stories from the 3D printing industry that week, and why they’re important. Some of the stories in his roundup are ones we’ve covered at 3DPrint.com, and some are not, but they are all equally interesting and impactful. April 25: When to Upgrade Your 3D Printer to a Professional OneOn Tuesday, April 25th, at 10 am EST, TriMech will discuss “When To Upgrade Your 3D Printer to a Professional Level System.” Additive Manufacturing Applications Engineer Mario De Lio will explain the differences between a hobbyist 3D printer and industrial-level systems, various use cases and applications to help develop an ROI for a professional 3D printer, why you should consider upgrading your printer, and more.
You can register for the webinar here. April 25: Automated PolyJet Post-ProcessingAlso at 10 am on the 25th, PostProcess Technologies will explain “How It Works: Automated PolyJet Post-Processing.” During the webinar, attendees will get to see a demonstration of the company’s automated PolyJet support removal solutions, running on its proprietary AUTOMAT3D software platform. Plus, there will also be a real-time Q&A session.
You can register for the webinar here. April 25 & 27: SOLIDWORKS CAM & CAMWorks Training SessionsHCLSoftware is holding a free “SOLIDWORKS CAM and CAMWorks webinar series,” offering training so you can work on your basic CAM skills, and learn about some of the more advanced functionalities and features that could help you improve business operations and get more orders. The sessions on “SOLIDWORKS CAM and CAMWorks – Getting Started” will be held on Tuesday the 25th, at 11 am EST for America, 10 am CEST for EMEA, and 9 am IST for APAC. On Thursday the 27th, the sessions on “SOLIDWORKS CAM and CAMWorks – Getting Started with the TechDB” will be held, again at 11 am EST for America, 10 am CEST for EMEA, and 9 am IST for APAC.
Learn more about the webinar training sessions here. April 25: 3D Systems’ Marty on Materials3D Systems will offer a live, interactive webinar at 11 am EST on the 25th on “Understanding the data and importance of testing for production materials” with Marty Johnson from “Marty on Materials.” If you’ve ever wondered what the data in your material datasheets really means and why it matters, this is the webinar for you. Marty will present the company’s most current applications and explain the data behind them, and discuss several related topics, like what a data point in the datasheet table actually represents, how data is compared in long-term stability testing, the conditions of industry standard tests, and more. He will also answer any questions you have.
You can register for the webinar here. April 25: JuggerBot 3D on Production Workflows with Open MaterialsAlso at 11 am on the 25th, JuggerBot 3D is holding a webinar about “Creating A Production Workflow With Open Material 3D Printers.” Attendees will hear from Zac DiVencenzo how the company’s Material Cards can create production workflows in pellet 3D printing, while also maintaining an Open Material platform. They’ll also learn how Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) printing is different from other methods, challenges associated with FGF process development, and more.
You can register for the webinar here. April 25: Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing with Endeavor 3DIn a webinar hosted by Endeavor 3D, attendees can learn about how HP‘s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing is a strong tool for bridge production and medical device development, as well as a great alternative to urethane casting for low-volume production. “Using MJF for Medical Device Development and Bridge Production” will be held at 12 pm EST on Tuesday the 25th, and feature Brian VanHiel of Enginuity Works, talking about multiple customer use cases completed or in progress with Endeavor 3D, the situational differences in determining the break-even point between injection molding tooling costs and MJF 3D printed parts, and more.
You can register for the webinar here. April 26 – 28: MFG Meeting 2023AMT and NTMA are partnering to hold The MFG Meeting 2023, a trademark annual conference coming to the Wild Horse Pass resort in Phoenix, Arizona April 26-28. Speakers will discuss a wide range of topics, from emerging technologies and supply chains to cybersecurity and economic outlooks, and there will be plenty of networking opportunities as well, including a Western-themed dinner reception sponsored by Kennametal.
You can register for The MFG Meeting 2023 here. April 26: Boost Productivity with M2 Series 5GE Additive is holding a webinar at 10 am ET on Wednesday, April 26th about “Boosting Productivity to Scale with the M2 Series 5.” The company has optimized its M2 machine architecture, leading to high reliability, repeatability, and part quality. Halima Iqbal, Project Manager for GE Additive’s DMLM M2 machine, will explain how the printer’s quality and stability have resulted in productivity enhancements, so users can optimize total cost per part with both operator productivity and build rate productivity improvements.
You can register for the webinar here. April 26: Benefit from 3D Printing in Maintenance with SinteritAlso at 10 am EST (4 pm CEST) on the 26th, Sinterit will give a webinar on “How to benefit from 3D printing in maintenance processes?” Two team members will share findings about the role of AM in maintaining production continuity, and why the technology can be a valuable asset for maintenance processes, with its cost savings, flexibility, and customization.
You can register for the webinar here. April 26: 3D Printed Molds for Silicone PartsFormlabs will discuss “Creating Silicone Parts Using 3D Printed Molds” in a webinar on April 26th at 11 am EST. Attendees will see a detailed example of a gravity-filled injection overmold printed with Formlabs Clear Resin in a real-world case study, and learn about choosing the best silicone for your application, best practices for designing critical features of 3D printed molds for silicone casting, tips for silicone-resin compatibility, main differences between prototype and production molding, and more. Plus, there will be a live Q&A session.
You can register for the webinar here. April 26: 3D Printing with PolymersIn another webinar this week with a focus on HP’s MJF technology, RE3DTECH+GoProto presents its latest Office Hours webinar, “3D Printing with Polymers: From Prototype to Production,” at 2 pm EST on the 26th. Attendees will gain valuable insights into 3D printing advancements, how the technology can help them save time and money on projects, and have their questions answered by a panel of industry experts.
You can register for the webinar here. April 27: 3D Printed SL Patterns for Investment CastingStratasys, Materialise, and 3Dnatives are teaming up for this next webinar at 10 am EST on Thursday, April 27th, about “Improving Investment Casting Processes With 3D Printed Stereolithography Patterns.” Investment casting is one of the oldest metal-forming methods still used today, and this webinar will focus on how 3D printed SL patterns can be used to improve the process. Attendees will learn tips on the best design for SL patterns to reduce material costs and weight, how to optimize support structures, whether the process will serve their needs, and more.
You can register for the webinar here. April 27: Materialise on Improving Reconstructive SurgeryAlso at 10 am on the 27th, Materialise is holding its own webinar, “Discover How To Improve Your Reconstructive Surgery.” Attendees will learn how to use PROPLAN CMF, and other software solutions, to optimize treatment and create predictable surgical outcomes, as well as learn the value of AR and VR planning. There will be a demonstration on using PROPLAN CMF for fibula and scapula reconstruction and DCIA, and examples from top medical experts on using preoperative visualization of a patient’s anatomy, and reconstruction simulation, to focus the surgical plan.
You can register for the webinar here. April 27: SDKs for Additive Manufacturing WorkflowsTech Soft 3D and Polygonica are holding a digital workshop on “Leveraging SDKs for Additive Manufacturing Workflows” on the 27th, with time slots for viewers in North America and EMEA. Attendees will learn about the value that engineering-specific SDKs bring to building AM applications, as well as core functionality like model preparation, structural analysis of printed parts, accessing native CAD data from over 30 file formats, and more.
You can learn more about the workshop here. April 27: Thermoforming Molds with 3D Systems & SPEIn its second webinar of the week, sponsored by SPE, 3D Systems will discuss “Large thermoforming molds twice as fast for half the cost” with Duo Form at 2 pm EST on Thursday the 27th. Experts from both companies will explore the integration that made pellet extrusion 3D printing beneficial, discussing specific case studies and ROI examples, best practices that improve AM production and mold performance, and how the technology can enable mold print times up to ten times faster.
You can register for the webinar here. April 27: Velo3D Continues Roadshow in DenverVelo3D began its 2023 “The Proof is in the Printing” global roadshow last month, and continues this week with a stop in Denver, Colorado on April 27th. The tour, which will make stops in other U.S. cities, as well as Europe and Asia/Pacific locations, will show attendees how Velo3D’s fully integrated solution can help achieve better part performance, supply chain flexibility, and repeatability. There will also be real-world examples of customer-printed parts.
You can register for the Denver stop here. After the initial event, please stay at the Hotel Clio for small bites and cocktails. May 18: Material Properties of 3D Printed Plastic PartsHere’s your official save-the-date for an exclusive, free webinar by 3DPrint.com and 3DXTECH! At 2 pm EST on May 18th, we’ll discuss “How Chamber Temperature Can Affect the Material Properties of 3D Printed Plastic Parts.” Our Editor-in-Chief Michael Molitch-Hou, will moderate the presentation and discussion with 3DXTECH CEO Matt Howlett.
You can register for this exclusive webinar here. Do you have news to share about any future webinars or virtual and live events? Please let us know! The post 3D Printing Webinar & Event Roundup: April 23, 2023 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/306LuF4 April 23, 2023 at 08:11AM
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3D Printing News Briefs, April 22, 2023: Sustainability, Coastal Erosion, & More https://ift.tt/mpUwOdI RadTech has launched a new UV+EB sustainability website…this story kicks off today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, followed by metal 3D printing news, as Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing acquired a Sapphire XC from Velo3D, Virtual Foundry’s H13 Tool Steel Filamet is now available, and Farsoon’s 3D printed tantalum interspinal fusion cage has been NMPA-certified. Moving on, BOFA Americas will be showcasing its AM filtration and atmosphere management technology at RAPID. Finally, researchers in Australia are combatting coastal erosion with 3D printed lattice structures. RadTech Launches New UV+EB Sustainability WebsiteNonprofit trade association RadTech, The Association for UV+EB Technology, is dedicated to advancing UV (ultraviolet) and EB (electron beam) technologies, which are used in a multitude of applications, such as electronics, packaging, and 3D printing. The association acts as an international forum, as well as a source of information for those involved in using UV+EB technologies, and has just launched a new sustainability website that will focus on RadTech’s commitment to sustainability. This new site will provide information on several topics, such as updates on the organization’s sustainability research and projects, the UV+EB industry’s commitment to sustainability, articles and videos on related topics, and resources for members to use in their own sustainability efforts.
KAM Acquires Velo3D’s Sapphire XC Large-Format Metal 3D PrinterIn order to expand its 3D printing capabilities, Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing (KAM) has acquired a large-format metal Sapphire XC printer from Velo3D, and joined the Velo3D Contract Manufacturer Network. The printer is KAM’s first purchase from Velo3D, and is calibrated to print a nickel-based superalloy—commonly used in the space, aviation, defense, and energy applications in which KAM specializes—that offers both corrosion resistance and oxidation at high temperatures. The Sapphire XC can print parts up to 600 mm in diameter by 550 mm in height and can be easily upgraded to the larger Sapphire XC 1MZ; this choice of printer makes sense, then, as KAM purchased it in order to print much larger, high-quality parts for its customers.
FFF 3D Printable H13 Tool Steel Filamet AvailableThe Virtual Foundry creates a special type of metal filament, called Filamet, by mixing a binder with metal powder and extruding the mixture into a spool of filament. Its latest offering is H13 Tool Steel, used for high-strength and wear-resistant parts and available in 0.5 kg and 1 kg units, with 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm diameters. The material can be used on FFF 3D printers that accept any brand of filament, such as Raise3D, Creality, Prusa, and gMax. No Filawarmer is needed, though a 0.6 mm hardened steel nozzle is needed, and the suggested printing temperature is 215°C, with a suggested flow rate of 135%, though both of these can be adjusted as necessary. The Virtual Foundry would like to thank Partner Innovator Drew Turner for “preparing an initial debind and sinter schedule for Tool Steel H13 Filamet!”
3D Printed Tantalum Interspinal Fusion Cage NMPA-CertifiedChinese medical 3D printing solutions provider Huaxiang Group announced that its tantalum interspinal fusion cage, 3D printed on a Farsoon Technologies metal powder bed fusion (PBF) system, has received category 3 medical device clearance from NMPA (National Medical Products Administration), and that it’s actually China’s first NMPA-certified tantalum orthopedic implant made with metal PBF 3D printing. Tantalum is great for medical implants, due to its stable chemical properties, excellent biological inertness and compatibility, and abrasion resistance, but it’s also difficult to process, because of high density (16.6 g/cm3), an extremely high melting point (over 3,000°C), and elastic modulus (185.7 GPa). But with application development of orthopedic products like joint prosthetics, femoral head repair, and cranial implants with this material, which encourages bone and vascular tissue growth and reduces stress, the market has continued to push to innovate its manufacturability. Farsoon and the Huaxiang Group have many joint achievements in AM medical applications, including over 14,000 customized surgical guide cases by the end of January 2023. In this case, the Farsoon-3D printed tantalum porous interspinal fusion cage solutions developed by Huaxiang have several unique advantages, starting with reduced cost and part lead time and improved efficiency with an optimized manufacturing workflow. These 3D printed implants have excellent load-bearing capability, fatigue resistance, and stability, reduced stress-shielding, and can be fully customized and produced according to specific patients and their conditions. Its trabecular micro structure can achieve a high porosity of 68-78% to promote bone tissue and vessel fusion, and the elastic modulus is comparable to human trabecular and canellus bone. To see this 3D printed tantalum porous interspinal fusion cage product for yourself, visit Farsoon at Booth #2224 at the upcoming RAPID + TCT in Chicago. BOFA Americas Showcasing Filtration Technology & More at RAPID 2023Speaking of RAPID, BOFA Americas will be taking advantage of the show floor in Chicago May 2-4 to showcase its 3D printing filtration and atmosphere management technology. The industrial filtration leader, which was launched as BOFA International in 1987 and acquired by US-based Donaldson Company, Inc. in 2018, will be exhibiting a wide range of products at McCormick Place, including its AM 400, which uses patented technology for safe onsite exchange of filters that remove harmful gases and particulate from metal AM processes, and 3D PrintPRO HT, which filters out high-temperature gases and particulates and adds airflow innovations to help maintain optimal conditions. Additionally, BOFA Americas will showcase its AD Oracle SA iQ for large-scale 3D printing methods, like binder jetting and SLM, and the 3DPrintPRO 2 for small-format, open 3D printers; 3DPrintPRO 3 for enclosed or partially enclosed printers; and 3DPrintPRO 4, which supports FFF, SLA, DLP, and material jetting processes.
Researchers Combatting Coastal Erosion with 3D PrintingA team of scientists from Deakin University in Australia are fighting against coastal erosion, and supporting the growth of wetland species, using 3D printed biodegradable lattice structures. The researchers, from the university’s Blue Carbon Lab, are working in Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay, planting mangrove seeds into lattice frames that are 3D printed out of potato starch from industrial waste. If the structures are successful, they could help serve as flood defenses, as well as support biodiversity and protect coastlines from erosion. The researchers will be examining the different factors that promote regeneration, like water conditions, soil type, and root systems, while citizen scientists will track the growth and survival rates of the seeds. These lattices have less of an environmental impact than restoration projects that use concrete or plastic structures, as they decompose in less than ten years, and during their lifespan they encourage soil accumulation, slow the flow of water, and help mangroves establish roots, particularly in areas already prone to erosion.
The post 3D Printing News Briefs, April 22, 2023: Sustainability, Coastal Erosion, & 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/306LuF4 April 22, 2023 at 08:47AM U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors to Meet May 9 https://ift.tt/SpZymsn WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors will meet May 9, 2023, in open session at Postal Service headquarters, 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC. The public is welcome to observe the meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET in the Benjamin Franklin Room on the 11th floor. The Board is expected to discuss the following items: Printing via USPS News https://ift.tt/0kIvif5 April 21, 2023 at 06:09PM USPS Reports Consistent Performance Across All Mail Categories https://ift.tt/zm7uH6G WASHINGTON — The United States Postal Service reported new delivery performance metrics for the second week of the third quarter for fiscal year 2023 showing consistent or improved delivery performance across all mail categories. The average time for the Postal Service to deliver a mailpiece or package across the nation improved to 2.5 days. Printing via USPS News https://ift.tt/0kIvif5 April 21, 2023 at 11:03AM |
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