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3D Printing For Footwear and Podiatry https://ift.tt/2R1gDef Association (AAFA), Americans buy more shoes than any other country in the world. In 2013, your average American bought 7.5 pairs of shoes. Your average American woman will spend over $20,000 on shoes in her lifetime, buying around 268 pairs, a fifth of which will never be worn (rolls eyes.) It’s no surprise then that global footwear is estimated to be a $370 billion industry. Since most of your waking hours is spent on your feet, it only makes sense that you should invest in quality footwear to improve your quality of life. If only you could find a company that could make you the perfect pair of shoes that are made for your two unique feet. The idea of using 3D printing to create custom shoes isn’t that novel. It kind of makes sense considering that few people have feet that match some pre-defined size and shape. There are companies that allow you to create a custom pair of shoes based on appearance, but not on size. That would require some measurement method that could include:
The lead time that’s required for this to happen wouldn’t accommodate the sort of impulse shopping that results in ownership of 268 pairs of shoes. Still, there could be a market for people who have “special feet” for which they have a hard time finding shoes that accommodate them – like Shaq, who wears a U.S. size 23. Let’s look at some companies out there using 3D printing for footwear and podiatry applications. 3D Printing Shoes for RunnersExpensive running shoes might be a waste of money for your average weekend warrior who runs half marathons for charity, but that doesn’t stop people from around the world from spending more than $63 billion on athletic footwear. Runners in particular, are the type of people who might pony up the big bucks for a custom pair of shoes that they think might help them shave a few minutes off their PB. That’s what Adidas is hoping anyways, as they seem to be targeting runners with their Futurecraft 4D offering: The company behind that 3D printing technology, Carbon 3D, was featured in our recent article titled Trio of 3D Printing Startups Join Unicorn Club. The shoes are not available yet, but you can sign up to be notified when they are. We have no idea how they plan to measure you or the extent to which they’ll be customized for your unique size. Other large footwear companies working on 3D printing footwear include Reebok (working with BASF), Ecco (with Dassault Systèmes’ FashionLab), and Nike (with Prodways everyone says, but Prodways suspiciously removed Nike’s name from this 2017 press release, so maybe not.) 3D Printed Sandals and InsolesRemember the problem we discussed earlier about how to measure your feet? This next startup figured out a unique way to solve it. Founded in 2014, Canadian startup Wiivv has taken in $7.5 million in funding so far to develop their custom sandal and insole offering. (When you have to tell people how to pronounce your company’s name – it’s pronounced weave – you didn’t do a good job picking your company’s name.) Download the app, take some pictures of your feet, and ten days later you’ll be boring all your mates talking about how comfy your new sandals are: All Wiivv products are 3D printed on-demand in their factory in San Diego, so no waste. Help save the planet and feel good while doing it. The marketing slogans practically write themselves. A pair of men’s custom fit sandals will set you back $129. Wiivv is also doing some co-branding with giant footwear brand Dr Scholls. (Maybe a possible acquisition by SSL International down the road?) 3D Printed Insoles for Everyone ElseAcross the pond we go, to visit our next startup which has taken in an undisclosed amount of funding to also offer 3D printed insoles. French startup Scientifeet has developed an entire system around creating soles for your shoes using their own proprietary measuring device, PodoClic, and is said to deliver your custom soles within 5 days. Here’s the process in a nutshell: This offering seems more targeted towards podiatrists as opposed to the direct-to-consumer approach that Wiivv is taking. Rumor has it that both companies used the same marketing agency which excels in coming up with hard-to-pronounce names. 3D Printed Insoles for EveryoneStaying across the pond, we come to our next startup which is located in a country that shares a border with France, and consequently 39% of her people speak French. Founded in 2014, Phits insoles has taken in an undisclosed amount of funding to develop 3D printed insoles alongside another Belgium 3D printing company, Materialise. The process starts when you visit one of the many authorized dealers around the globe who will use pressure plates to determine your gait. A 3D printer will then transform the design into ultralight insoles. Finally, the 3D printed insoles will be finished using a shock-absorbing comfort layer. Most shoes can accommodate Phits insoles, and it’s quite impressive to see how many dealers they have spanning the globe already. 3D Printing for OrthopedicsUsing 3D printing for orthopedics is becoming so popular now that someone actually wrote a paper on the topic – Additive manufacturing applications in orthopaedics: A review. Since reading academic papers will bore you to tears, just read about our next startup instead. Founded in 2015, New Joisey startup Additive Orthopaedics (the word orthopedics is actually spelled two ways) has taken in an undisclosed amount of funding to develop “3D printed orthopedic devices specifically for the extremities.” We chatted with one of their investors who told us that they now have Note that General Electric – a company that we’ve discussed before in the context of 3D printing – is also playing in this space as well. A possible suitor for a future acquisition? 3D Printing for PodiatryAs if there weren’t enough boring medical terms already, we’re going to introduce you to two new words to add to your lexicon; orthotics and orthoses. Both those terms refer to custom external devices that a doctor prescribes so that you 3D Printed Shoes While You ShopThese days, startups need to have CrunchBase profiles or else we can’t tell when they were founded or how much funding they’ve taken in. Unless you’re our next startup, RESA Wearables, which has recently emerged from stealth mode with kiosks that will 3D print shoes while you shop. “We are able to make custom orthotics that would cost $500-800 down under $300” says the company, which apparently has kiosks popping up in Cosco stores now. If you’re wondering about the name, “resa” is a Swedish word meaning “to travel or rise”. Here’s what their kiosk will look like: The company’s proprietary scanning system captures every detail of your feet in three dimensions. Insoles are designed specifically for one individual based on activity level, medical need and foot structure. Custom insoles are then 3D-printed with a high-quality thermoplastic in about an hour. ConclusionsBack in the days of 3D printing hype, people speculated that everything would be available from neighborhood 3D printing shops that would produce anything on demand. Then everyone realized that you could get the Chinese to make anything you want for much cheaper. Fast forward to today and we see niche areas – like footwear and podiatry – where 3D printing is making good headway. This notion that companies need to try and predict how many sizes of shoes they need to produce for a population is a moving target, and it does make more sense to just build shoes on demand. Then again, when you have a population that buys shoes and never wears them, maybe footwear companies should stick with the spray-and-pray approach for the sheep and offer the custom 3d printed footwear to people who are willing to pay for quality. Piece by Nanalyze. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 26, 2018 at 12:28PM
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Copywriting Mistakes that Affect Your Reputation https://ift.tt/2Q8AN4R So, you’ve got your business website up and running. Sweet. What about content? Do you produce enough content? You do? Good! In this situation, it’s very easy to think that you’re the only one in control of your online destiny. One blog post, one social media post, a beautiful landing page, and your online business seems to be ready for some serious conversion rates. But, do you realize that you can be both your best friend and worst enemy? Well, just Google yourself or your business and see. You may find many people with the same name and a similar name of their business. Who’s them? I’m glad you asked! “Them” are various copywriting mistakes made by you or other people writing on behalf of you or your business. We’re all humans, and mistakes happen. Many people made a mistake by thinking that “copywriting mistakes” are only those related to grammar, punctuation, word selection, etc. The reality is much more complicated, though. Let me explain the essence of copywriting to you really quick, so you know what I’m talking about here.
So, copywriting mistakes are essentially ineffective or improper use of written content to persuade the readers. Their potential for damage is quite daunting because if you don’t avoid them, your business’ reputation may suffer. We don’t want that – let’s introduce you to four copywriting mistakes, so you avoid committing them and have control over your content.
1. Trying to save moneyMany online businesses – especially startups and small ones – have limited marketing budgets, so they cut on everything they possibly can to save money. While redirecting money to be used for other business-related purposes may sound like a good idea, it can be dangerous to your reputation. If you have some experience in online business, you know that cheap doesn’t always mean quality. In fact, it can mean quite the opposite. Good copywriters are well aware of their money-making abilities, so won’t work for cheap. The ones you want for your business charge high rates, but they can dramatically increase your chance of achieving your goals. Let me give you some specifics. The following are the fees for top 75 copywriting projects involving expert copywriters, according to the recent American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) report.
Believe me, you’d be much better off without copywriters that charge low rates. Why? Because if you have any background in writing for the web, you’ll do a better job than them, because you care about your business. Simple.
2. Publishing sloppy, poorly-proofread contentThis is a classic mistake that many brands still make. No matter how experienced you are, typos happen and failing to proofread your content thoroughly before publishing will inevitably result in some serious damage to your business. For example, anyone who sees a typo in your marketing content will think that you don’t care enough about them because you didn’t want to spend ten more minutes to proofread your text. This also means that you don’t care about your readers. If you did, you wouldn’t have committed a silly typo. To avoid that, proofread your content ruthlessly and multiple times before publishing it. In addition to human proofreading, you should also consider online proofreading tools and services. The list below has some of the good ones.
See also: 13 Tools that Will Help You Proofread Your Copy and Improve Conversion Rates
3. Using jargonIn many cases, product developers who try to promote their own creations use professional language that the readers might not be familiar with. In other words, they use a lot of jargon when talking about specific features or components of the product (especially software products). As a result, people without a background in that area will not understand everything about that product. This, of course, means that using jargon alienates readers. This is exactly the opposite of your main goal of making them interested in your product. Here are the tips to avoid jargon in your texts:
4. Writing bad headlinesThe headline is the first thing that your readers see, so making a good first impression is critical for persuading them to read further. Moreover, there’s evidence suggesting that 60 percent of online media consumers read nothing more than a headline. Given that so-so headlines fail to engage readers, they increase the probability of your content being overlooked or ignored. For example, take a look at this screenshot from the Huffington Post website. Can you even tell what that article is about?
Here are more examples of ineffective headlines with explanations.
And here’s how to write effective headlines:
Let’s now see some examples of headlines that follow these tips.
The first example clearly identifies the benefits for the readers (plus, it gives examples that worked previously) as well as describes what they’re going to discover in the article.
This example clearly defines the target reader – copywriters – and challenges them to test their skills in something they do on a regular basis (email copywriting).
The Bottom LineAny copywriter can write content, but it takes a certain set of skills and knowledge to create content that will persuade readers to take action. The main reason for such a difference is the copywriter’s ability to avoid mistakes that damage reputation. If you develop this skill, you’ll reduce the chance of producing ineffective content and increase the chance of eliminating copywriting fails. Hope these tips will be useful for you to avoid copywriting mistakes and ensuring that your content is actionable, useful, and interesting for your target readers. Happy copywriting!
Author: Pat Fredshaw
The post Copywriting Mistakes that Affect Your Reputation appeared first on GetResponse Blog - Online Marketing Tips. Printing via GetResponse Blog – Online Marketing Tips https://ift.tt/1Qs2QKR September 26, 2018 at 10:38AM
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3D Printing Studied as a Way to Produce Tooling for Injection Molding https://ift.tt/2DEv5Gq Injection molding is one of the more traditional manufacturing technologies that 3D printing is striving to replace – at least in some applications. 3D printing will likely never fully replace it, but will rather be used alongside it as a complementary technology. Already 3D printing has shown its value to injection molding as a cheaper, faster way to create tooling, for example. In a thesis entitled “Tooling for Injection Molding Using Laser-Powder Bed Fusion,” a University of Louisville student named Mohith Ram Buxani takes a closer look at using 3D printing to create tooling for injection molding. The injection molding industry has always suffered from high costs and long lead times for tool making. 3D printing is an alternative method of creating tooling, saving time and money.
Buxani’s research group 3D printed multiple tools for injection molding using a variety of materials and machines that achieved good mechanical properties. The study focuses on evaluating L-PBF fabricated molds using experiments and simulations examining several categories: post-machining, part design, material design and conformal cooling channels. The first part of the study uses injection molding experiments and computer aided simulations to understand the effects of single-sided L-PBF fabricated mold cavities on injection molded part quality and molding material composition. The next part of the study uses experiments and simulations to evaluate L-PBF fabricated core-and-cavity tooling with conformal cooling channels. In the first part of the study, a mold cavity was selected in the form of an elliptical-shaped keychain. 17-4 PH stainless steel was used to 3D print the mold. Trials were run with the a version of the mold as printed, as well as one that had been machined, using both physical injection molding processes and computer simulations. The injection molded parts were greatly improved using the machined mold. The experiments also concluded that parts with thin walls tend to cool more quickly and achieve better part quality in terms of sink marks and warpage. The location of sink marks and warpage could be accurately predicted in computer-aided simulations, but their magnitude was not well described. Another conclusion was that 3D printed molds can help identify improvements in part design, material composition of polymers, and simulation methods more quickly than traditionally manufactured molds. In the second set of experiments, conformal cooling channels were 3D printed into the tools.
Additive manufacturing enables the production of mold inserts with conformal cooling channels, which are cooling passage holes that follow the part’s geometry, cooling the part in a much more uniform manner. The research team 3D printed two cavity-side molds with conformal cooling channels at different depths: 8 mm and 4 mm. These molds were evaluated using experiments and mold-filling simulations. The simulations indicated that the conformal cooling channel design influenced the surface temperature distribution of the part. However, simulations indicated no alleviation by conformal cooling channels in the center temperature of the thickest region. There was not a significant difference in part quality or cooling with the incorporation of conformal cooling channels for these particular mold designs; additional designs need to be tested. Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.
Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 26, 2018 at 04:19AM
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3D Printing News Briefs: September 27, 2018 https://ift.tt/2OaQQSu We’re starting with some news from the ongoing TCT Show in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, and then moving on to webcasts and YouTube videos, finishing with an update on the upcoming Viaggio a Shamballa event by WASP. At the TCT Show, AMFG has unveiled its new Supplier Integration Network. An applications engineer from Fisher Unitech conducted a webcast about using Lean Six Sigma Manufacturing to optimize additive manufacturing, a Technical University of Denmark professor talked about the possibilities of topology optimization for 3D printing, and a Boeing engineer discussed 3D printing in the aeronautics industry. Finally, we’re getting ever closer to the date that WASP will publicly present its Crane construction 3D printer, and the village it’s building, in Massa Lombarda, Italy. AMFG Introducing Supplier Integration Network at TCT Show At the TCT Show, which continues in Birmingham through this Thursday, AM automation software provider AMFG is unveiling the newest feature in its software platform: the Supplier Integration Network, which lets manufacturers coordinate their AM supply chain network and automate production. With the Supplier Integration Network, manufacturers can outsource production or post-processing to their suppliers, and suppliers and service bureaus can use it to give OEMs easier access to their services. The company believes that this latest feature will make its portfolio more attractive to manufacturers looking to invest in 3D printing.
To see this new automation platform for yourself, visit AMFG at Stand J42 at the TCT Show. Fisher Unitech Webcast: Optimizing Additive with Lean Six Sigma Manufacturing 3D printer and 3D product development software provider Fisher Unitech, a distributor of MakerBot and Nano Dimension 3D printers, is on a mission to advance manufacturing in America by supporting, delivering, and training customers on the best software and manufacturing solutions. Recently, Gerald Matarazzo, a 3D Printing Application Engineer with the company, as well as a Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, recorded a webcast all about using the Lean Six Sigma methodology to optimize additive manufacturing. During the webcast, Matarazzo introduces viewers to some Lean Six Sigma best practices, tips, tools, and tricks to help 3D printing companies stop getting hung up on costly delays.
Watch the 30-minute webcast below to learn more: VIDEO Topology Optimization Possibilities for 3D Printing In a new YouTube video posted by Simuleon, a reseller of Dassault Systèmes SIMULIA products, you can see an interview with Ole Sigmund, a professor at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the keynote speaker at Dassault’s Additive Manufacturing Symposium, which opened this year’s popular Science in the Age of Experience event. Sigmund is one of the inventors of topology optimization, a mathematical approach that optimizes material layout within a given design space. It allows designers to take advantage of the geometrical freedoms possible through 3D printing. In the video, Sigmund discusses the possibilities of topology optimization, and infill technologies, for additive manufacturing.
VIDEO 3D Printing in the Aeronautics Industry At this summer’s EAA Oshkosh AirVenture aviation event in Wisconsin, Boeing structures researcher Bernardo Malfitano delivered an hour-long talk about the use of 3D printing in the aeronautics industry. Understanding Airplanes recently published the YouTube video of the talk, along with the presentation slides. The Boeing researcher’s talk discussed the history of aviation companies using common 3D printing methods like SLA and FFF, how the the technology is currently used in the aerospace industry, and the ongoing research that will introduce even more applications in the future, such as surface smoothing and fatigue testing. The presentation also shows dozens of 3D printed parts that are currently in use on aircraft by companies and organizations like Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and NASA.
You can watch the whole presentation in the video below: VIDEO Viaggio a Shamballa Event by WASP Coming Soon The versatile Italian company WASP, or the World’s Advanced Saving Project, has spent the last two years developing a new large-scale construction 3D printer called the Crane, a modular system consisting of multiple print bodies that’s evolved from the BigDelta 12M. In less than two weeks, WASP will be presenting the Crane to the public in Massa Lombarda, which is where the village of Shamballa is being 3D printed. On October 6th and 7th, a program will be held surrounding the introduction of the WASP Crane 3D printer and the Gaia Module 3D printed earth house. The conference “A call to save the world” will open the event, focusing on future 3D printing construction developments and proposing themes for reflection on both design strategy and the technology’s potential in architecture.
Check out the complete program here. VIDEO Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 26, 2018 at 03:18AM
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High-Speed Cameras Used to Monitor 3D Printing Process https://ift.tt/2NB0rm5 3D printing, particulalry laser-powder bed fusion or L-PBF, requires a great deal of monitoring to avoid defects and flaws in the final parts. In a thesis entitled “Process Monitoring for Temporal-Spatial Modeling of Laser Powder Bed Fusion,” a student named Animek Shaurya studies the use of high-speed video cameras for in-situ monitoring of the 3D printing process of nickel alloy 625 to detect meltpool, splatter, and over melting regions to improve the quality of the print.
Another objective of the research is to study meltpool locations and the types being generated during over melting, normal melting and under melting. There are two main types of meltpool: Type One, in which the meltpool area being processed is still within the heat-affected zone of the previous hatch scanning (or track processing); and Type Two, in which the meltpool area being processed is no longer affected by the heat from laser scanning of the previous track or hatch. For the study, an EOS Direct Metal Laser Sintering Machine was used to 3D print nickel cubes. Experiments were designed to establish It was shown that over melting occurs more frequently in the processing of Type One tracks than in Type Two tracks.
Spattering happens more in Type One tracks than in Type Two as well, the video evidence concluded.
Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.
Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 25, 2018 at 03:30PM
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Optimizing the 3D Printing of Natural Materials on a Large Scale https://ift.tt/2IfulGy Many people are concerned about the effects of additive manufacturing on the environment, and are making efforts to find ways to 3D print more sustainably. This often involves finding new materials that are more environmentally friendly than, for example, plastic. In a paper entitled “Control of Process Settings for Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing with Sustainable Natural Composites,” a group of researchers describe an additive manufacturing system they developed for 3D printing large-scale objects using natural biocomposite materials. According to the researchers, composites made from natural materials with good mechanical properties have been limited in use so far as they are often mixed with plastics or hazardous solvents, and for the most part their use has only been demonstrated on a smaller scale. Because most natural biocomposite materials are water-based, they present their own set of challenges because when they dry and harden, the removal of moisture results in changes in structure and dimension. In the study, the researchers used a cellulose-chitin material that is both recyclable and compostable. In its dry state, its mechanical properties are similar to that of Rigid Polyurethane Foam. In its wet state, it is pliable and exhibits thixotropy, meaning that it is viscous while in a static state but flows under pressure from an extruder. As it dries, it shrinks anisotropically.
The system consisted of three main components: a six-axis articulated industrial robot, a precision material dispenser and a material pump system. Two cameras were used to capture the top and side views of the filaments, allowing the researchers to measure the dimensions of the material. They used mathematical models to “uncover the possible dimensions of a filament that can be obtained within operating boundaries of our system,” and to optimize the machine parameters. To test the models, the researchers 3D printed three replicates of filaments with different machine settings. The width and height of the filaments in both wet and dry states were measured along with their tensile strengths upon drying. Overall, the results affirmed the accuracy of the researchers’ models.
The researchers’ experiments allowed them to develop “the fundamental knowledge pertaining the interplay between the material and the extrusion process, relating controllable parameters to geometric and physical properties of individual filaments.” They identified the lateral overlap settings that fuse filaments together with strength greater than individual filaments, and “mitigated cross-sectional tapering of walls and showed linear scalability of shrinkage models in 3D space which can be used to preset toolpaths and allow for accurate prints.” Over the course of the study, the researchers successfully 3D printed a vertical single wall tubular structure of 0.25m height, a 1.2m long wind turbine blade and a 5m tall structure composed of multiple ruled-surface segments. More work is required, they state, to understand complex layer compression and bucking phenomena in single and multi-walled structures, and to explore the behavior of free-form designs and internal structural lattice patterns.
Authors of the paper include Yadunund Vijay, Naresh D. Sanandiya, Stylianos Dritsas and Javier G. Fernandez. Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the comments below.
Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 25, 2018 at 01:57PM
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Finite Element Modeling Used to Study How Defects Can Effect Porosity in 3D Printed Lattice Structures https://ift.tt/2xCia2A For applications that require lightweight structures able to maintain stiffness and strength, 3D printed lattice structureare often used. The complex forms are simple to 3D print, and their mechanical properties – mostly influenced by relative density – can generally be predicted with a simplified model for open cell foams. An important application is making 3D printed bone replacement implants for the medical field, as lattice structures can be designed with target pore size and porosity, and their Young’s Modulus can be tailored to match native bone and facilitate ingrowth. A previous study on how porosity can influence the mechanical properties of solid 3D printed titanium alloy Ti6Al4V found that small pores did not have much of an effect, but larger ones with about 5% volume fraction could cause a major loss of these properties. So the potential exists that small pores could be harmless, but it’s not been determined without a doubt yet. To analyze the deformation and stress distributions in lattice structures, and to interpret failure mechanisms, one can use finite element modeling (FEM), which is a practical way to evaluate designs without spending too much time and money making prototype structures. A team of researchers from Stellenbosch University and Central University of Technology used a simplified FEM method to investigate how isolated laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) defects could effect maximum local stress concentrations with compressive loading. They explained their research in a paper titled “Numerical and Experimental Study of the Effect of Artificial Porosity in a Lattice Structure Manufactured By Laser Powder Bed Fusion.”
The researchers added a spherical defect into a 3D printed lattice structure’s single strut, and measured the maximum stresses at the adjacent strut and the edge of the defect. For comparison, a square defect rotated by 45° relative to loading direction was also introduced to the structure.
Autodesk Fusion 360 was used to design regular rectangular lattices, and FEM was performed in a new voxel-based static load simulation in Volume Graphics VGStudioMax 3.0. LPBF technology was used to 3D print 12 samples of lattice cubes on an EOS M 280 3D printer: four without artificial pores, four with 0.5 mm spherical pores, and four with cubic pores of about the same diameter. The researchers positioned the artificial defects inside the horizontal struts of the lattice structures, and carried out compression tests in that direction.
An example of this type of simulation, using a spherical pore with 0.45 mm diameter, is shown in the figure to the left. When the pore size is larger than the strut, which simulates a failed strut that’s not carrying a load, the stress on the adjacent one increases. This means that smaller pores can result in lower stresses. However, it’s important to note that real defects produced by LPBF 3D printing are typically elongated, or even irregular, and not rounded or spherical like the test defects used in this study. Irregular defects can sometimes include sharp edges that act like stress concentrators, which is why the researchers also introduced a cube-shaped defect. Compression tests were carried out on all 12 samples, all of which were shown to contain unintentional porosity. But despite pore size, they did not influence the yield force, which shows that even large pores don’t influence the lattice structure’s yield strength for the given surface roughness.
Co-authors of the paper are Anton Du Plessis, Ina Yadroitsava, Dean-Paul Kouprianoff, and Igor Yadroitsev. Discuss this research and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the comments below. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 25, 2018 at 01:57PM Researchers Use 3D Printing-Guided Method to Create Thermoresponsive Nanohybrid Scaffolds https://ift.tt/2Dsuho8 3D printed medical implants are typically stiffer and stronger than the surrounding tissue, and while they don’t always adapt well to biological and physical stimuli, that stiffness is important. The biological processes of our bodies are naturally dynamic, and many researchers are working to ensure that 3D printed implants are of the highest quality and will work well within the human body. Living tissues constantly remodel in response to changes. In particular, changes in cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness are important to many pathological and physiological processes, like migration, cell motility, and stem cell differentiation. But scientists don’t quite understand the biomechanical factors that are instrumental in soft tissue development and maintenance. That’s why we hear so often about tissue engineering – combining cells with scaffolds, 3D printed or otherwise, to fabricate a self-sustaining tissue replacement. In a new paper, titled “Stiffness memory nanohybrid scaffolds generated by indirect 3D printing for biologically responsive soft implants,” a collaborative team of researchers from University College London, Brunel University London, and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust developed thermoresponsive poly(urea-urethane) (PUU) nanohybrid scaffolds, with stiffness memory, using a 3D printing-guided, thermally induced phase separation (3D-TIPS) method.
While the controlled elastic modulus of several responsive polymeric materials for tissue engineering have been used as a model for studying stiffness effects in cell cultures, their combined elasticity and molecular structural change coupling effect does not have a wide range of tuneable stiffness. But block-copolymers, like polyurethane (PU) elastomers, have many tuneable properties without having to change their molecular structure – the method of self-assembly just needs to be switched up. When used in long-term implantable cardiovascular devices, PUU has previously demonstrated excellent biocompatability, biostability, compliance, and fatigue resistance, and some PUs even have shape memory. By using materials that are responsive to stimuli, it’s possible to print dynamic 3D structures that can transform their shapes or behavior – like stiffness.
The team used AutoCAD 2014 to design 3D printable polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) preforms for the manufacturing and characterization of PUU-POSS scaffolds, before exporting the STL files into Slic3r software, “where they were sliced into an array of consecutive 200μm layers” for versatile, cost-effective 3D-TIPS indirect printing.
The team used its 3D-TIPS indirect printing technique to manufacture a body temperature-responsive, bespoke tissue scaffold out of a PUU-POSS nanohybrid elastomer solution, which was confined inside a scalable, 3D printed, interconnected PVA preform network. The team produced 3D scaffolds with uniform, identical macroscopic dimensions and polymer content, but variable cellular and biomechanical properties, by thermally controlling PUU solution coagulation and micro-phase separation of polymer chains within the network.
No matter what the initial stiffness was at various thermal process conditions, the PUU-POSS scaffolds made with the team’s 3D-TIPS method would ‘remember’ to relax into their hyperelastic rubber phase once they’d reached the melting temperature of the soft segments.
Co-authors of the paper are Linxiao wu, Jatinder Virdee, Elizabeth Maughan, Arnold Darbyshire, Gavin Jell, Marilena Loizidou, Mark Emberton, Peter Butler, Ashley Howkins, Alan Reynolds, Ian W. Boyd, Martin Birchall, and Wenhui Song. Discuss this research and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the comments below. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 25, 2018 at 01:54PM
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The Ultimate Influencer Outreach Email Strategy https://ift.tt/2OMTjQ5 Are you working with influencers? Influencer marketing is rated as the fastest-growing online customer-acquisition channel, surpassing organic search and email marketing as a whole. Influencers are an extension of your sales team, showing the world what you have to offer and why your customers should purchase from you. Often, these influencers are using your products or services in real life, giving customers a glimpse into what life looks like with you in it. Better than an ad campaign is a living, breathing, example of what your product can do. Even if you’re ready to take advantage of influencer marketing, it might seem difficult to understand. However, all you need is an inbox and a killer influencer outreach strategy to get started. Outreach is where it all begins, reaching out to potential influencers through email to grab their attention and get them on board with your brand.
Why influencer outreach in the first place?Influencer outreach is the act of reaching out to potential influencers in your niche, garnering their interest in your brand and capturing their attention. It’s human nature to trust a personal recommendation over an ad, so influencers can help build trust for your brand through honesty and proof. Is it worth it? The ROI speaks for itself. For every dollar you spend on influencer marketing, you’ll average a $23 ROI, compared to $2.15 for average banner ads and $4.30 for the best banner ads. However, influencer marketing is also critical to remaining competitive. A whopping 59% of marketers are planning to increase their influencer marketing budgets over the next 12 months. It’s safe to say it’s time to get on board. But influencer marketing doesn’t exist without the outreach first. Let’s jump in.
It all starts here – finding your influencersIf you’re ready to start finding influencers for your brand, there are various methods you can try to see what fits your needs best. Some of these methods include:
A quick search on Google should bring you some websites to start scouring for influencers you might want to reach out to. Or, use social media to search for influencers, especially on Instagram. For a quick start, websites such as TapInfluence and Tribe work to connect you with influencers in your niche quickly. But, you’ll need to spend some money up front. Having trouble finding direct email addresses for your influencers? Voila Norbert is an excellent tool for verifying email addresses for influencers and finding the ones you’re missing once you compile a good list.
Step 1: Perfect the pitchMost marketers understand that personalization in marketing emails is critical. However, personalization is just as important when reaching out to influencers. Each individual is unique. Fifty-eight percent of individuals say that personalization is an important factor in determining purchase intention. The same goes for influencer buy-in. To get a jump-start on writing the perfect email, keep these email marketing basics in mind:
Step 2: Follow upA solid first email is a great start, but it isn’t the end. In fact, 70% of unanswered email chains stop after email one, but as many as 80% of deals require at least five touches before closing. A follow-up email is critical to your success, especially when influencers receive multiple emails a day. It helps you stand out from the crowd, showing that you mean business. The perfect follow-up email has five parts to consider:
A good email outreach tool will have built-in automatic follow-up scheduling and more to ensure you never miss a follow-up. Just remember, don’t bombard influencers with emails that just take up space. Although it might take several follow-up emails to seal the deal, continue adding value to their inbox each and every time.
Step 3: Monitor your resultsJust like any other marketing campaign, it’s important to monitor clicks, open rates, and more to assess the health of your cold emails to influencers. These insights help you make changes and capitalize on trends such as subject lines that work best and calls-to-action that just don’t work at all. The easiest way to track your results is using a tool that monitors your click-throughs and other aspects of the email for you. Built-in charts and stats make it easy to scroll through and view a complete history, including sent emails and replies you’ve received.
Influencer marketing is here to stay and is rapidly growing each day. You can get started right now by creating a list of influencers, sending the perfect pitch, and scheduling your follow-ups for the days ahead.
The post The Ultimate Influencer Outreach Email Strategy appeared first on GetResponse Blog - Online Marketing Tips. Printing via GetResponse Blog – Online Marketing Tips https://ift.tt/1Qs2QKR September 25, 2018 at 10:02AM Shapeways Teams Up With Stratasys to Offer Full-Color Multi-Material 3D Printing to Customers9/25/2018
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Shapeways Teams Up With Stratasys to Offer Full-Color, Multi-Material 3D Printing to Customers https://ift.tt/2pybU7t People and organizations all around the globe use Shapeways, the largest 3D printing service and marketplace in the world, to build up business by creating 3D printed products. The company, which has 3D printed more than 10 million products, offers over 40 materials and finishes. Its latest customer is Biologic Models, a company that turns x-ray crystallography data into detailed, 3D printed protein models millions of times larger than the actual protein. Today at the 2018 TCT Show in Birmingham, Shapeways announced a new agreement with global 3D printing leader Stratasys – the two are partnering up to make full-color, multi-material 3D printing more accessible to creators, designers, and companies like Biologic Models, which will be one of the first Shapeways customers to enjoy unprecedented access to the Stratasys J750 3D printer. One of the only full-color, multi-material 3D printers in the world, the Stratasys J750 is what the new manufacturing services are based around.
Shapeways and Stratasys are working together to bring the potential that the J750 3D printer offers to a much wider market. Now, customers that wouldn’t ordinarily have access to the full-color, multi-material capabilities of the J750 due to economics, lack of expertise, or barriers-to-access will be able to take advantage of the system, and use it make realistic prototypes with more streamlined design-to-prototype workflows. Not only will using the PolyJet-driven Stratasys J750 allow customers to lower their time to revenue, but it will also help decrease time-to-market as well. The 3D printer provides over 500,000 color combinations, with transparent to opaque color gradients, accurate color-matching, and advanced, textured clear material that can create extremely fine and delicate details.
The Stratasys J750 can consistently and reliably fabricate parts that feel, look, and operate just like fully finished products, and gets rid of any lengthy assembly, painting, or post-processing requirements, which helps decrease production cycles. It’s perfect for Shapeways and its workflow – the platform can help design 3D printable objects that take full advantage of the 3D printer’s capabilities, along with running the systems at scale and providing ready-to-sell products. This is perfect for Biologic Models, which uses its multi-colored protein data models to explain the subtle interactions of proteins and molecules. The company, founded by award-winning medical animator and 3D designer Casey Steffen in 2008, visualizes the unique properties of the molecules with 3D printed models that are millions of times larger than their actual size, which are then used by educators and scientists as helpful visual aids to explain the various properties of specific proteins, and their subtle interactions with molecules. The 3D printed, multi-colored models, which the company pairs with augmented reality apps and 3D medical animations, also help in explaining the nature of disease and health that occurs on the molecular landscape.
Beta customers for the new agreement between Stratasys and Shapeways will be able to access this service before the year is out. A full launch should occur sometime in 2019. To learn more, visit Shapeways & Stratasys at the TCT Show this week in Hall 3, Stand H36. Discuss this new agreement and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 25, 2018 at 05:21AM |
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