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MELD Introduces Latest Solid-State Metal 3D Printer, the L3 https://ift.tt/33d4qvp Virginia-based company MELD Manufacturing Corporation, a subsidiary of Aeroprobe Corporation, came bursting onto the 3D printing scene in 2018, when it won the RAPID Innovation Award just a month after its formal launch. MELD was formed as a way to continue work on Friction Stir Additive Manufacturing (AFS-D), the novel technology that Aeroprobe and the Edison Welding Institute developed together that can print functionally gradient metal components using only pressure and friction—not lasers—to heat the materials. The company’s first printer, offering what the website calls “extreme material flexibility,” was the B8, followed by the K2, designed to fabricate and repair large parts, and now it’s introducing another system to its range of metal 3D printers, the new L3 MELD. Combining the features and aesthetics of the larger MELD K2 printer (82 cubic foot build volume) with a lower cost and smaller size, but bigger than the MELD B8 (3 cubic foot build volume), the L3 model has a 14.2 cubic feet (45 x 23 x 23 in) build model, and a 51 x 23 in table for fixturing parts.
MELD’s patented, award-winning AM technology does not actually melt the material when it’s repairing, coating, joining, or 3D printing metals and metal matrix composites. It’s a solid-state process, so the printers just heat the materials up so they deform enough to be shaped, without worrying about hot-cracking or porosity issues. The MELD process uses less energy than melt-based ones, but the company says it’s able to print high-quality, full-density parts with low residual stress, and no post-processing techniques, like sintering or hot isostatic pressing (HIP), or sintering, are needed once the part is off the build plate.
Quote request Are you looking to buy a 3D printer or 3D scanner? We're here to help. Get free expert advice and quotes from trusted suppliers in your area. Powered by Aniwaa MELD boasts an open-air, or open-atmosphere, process, which means no pricey vacuum systems or small powder beds: the method is not sensitive to the condition of the material’s surface or the operating environment, which means a scalable process and simpler requirements for safety equipment, usability, material, and operating costs. Combined, these features make all of MELD’s 3D printers easier to use in real-world manufacturing situations, and the machines can also produce bigger parts at a higher rate of speed in a wide variety of metal materials, from titanium and aluminum to steel, copper, and nickel-based super alloys.
MELD’s new L3 system has a lower price than the the larger K2, which makes it an even more enticing choice for customers looking to grow their metal 3D printing portfolio. The MELD L3 printer is the third product that the company, which is owned entirely by women, has introduced to the market in the three years since it’s opened the doors, so I’m excited to see what they do next. (Source/Images: MELD Manufacturing Corporation) Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 29, 2020 at 08:31AM
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Vans X MoMA https://ift.tt/2GgD6U2 Vans and MoMA have collaborated to launch a range of special edition footwear and apparel that celebrates the museum’s collection and works by prominent artists. The two-part series debuts with Salvador Dalí, Vasily Kandinsky and Claude Monet, launching worldwide on September 30th 2020, to be followed by a second artist release this November. Each product was designed with careful consideration and a deep appreciation of the art, translated on Vans Classic styles. “MoMA is excited to finally reveal the Vans collaboration as they, too, have a rich legacy of supporting artistic expression,” states Robin Sayetta, Associate Director of Licensing and Partnerships at MoMA. “We pursue a limited number of product collaborations and our goal is always to engage a broader audience with modern art. We are thrilled to reach art lovers around the world through Vans’ global network.” Inspired by the subconscious, dreams and the imagination, Salvador Dalí’s surrealist works blend the real and the invented. One of his best-known paintings, The Persistence of. Memory 1931, has been interpreted on to the medial and lateral panels of the Vans Old Skool Twist. The construction of the footwear model has been twisted to go beyond the perception of reality and is finished with a gum sole and distorted foxing stripe which can also be found on Vans long sleeve and pullover apparel styles. Kandinsky, a pioneer of abstract art, believed that both colour and form evoked their own power and emotion independently from images and objects. Using a print he made while teaching at the German Bauhaus school of art and design, Orange 1923, Vans’ Classic Slip-On celebrates this investigation into abstract forms and signs, meticulously covering the canvas uppers and is additionally translated across a short sleeve tee, crewneck and snapback hat. Rounding out the artist series is Claude Monet, the driving force of the impressionist movement who documented the ever-changing French countryside throughout his plein air landscape work, made from observing nature. The collaboration between Vans and MoMA showcases Water Lilies 1914-1926, works made in Monet’s later years at his home in Giverny, atop the Vans’ Authentic along with a hat, fleece and backpack style. The initial release also includes a 10-piece assortment of MoMA branded footwear, apparel and accessories. Showcasing a colourful interpretation of Vans’ iconic checkerboard with bright, bold colours, it also takes direct inspiration from the Museum’s newly expanded and re-imagined identity. The collection features Vans and MoMA logos across the latest ComfyCush Old Skool and Era silhouettes. The assortment is complemented by Vans and MoMA branded apparel and accessories including long and short sleeve tees for adults and kids, as well as a lightweight cinch backpack. To spark creative expression and engage children with art, the expansive Vans and MoMA collaboration also offers an exclusive childrens range. The product line focuses on colour and interactivity. Vans worked with MoMA educators to develop a Classic Slip-On with hook-and-loop shapes, which allows kids to customise their shoes and provides a hands-on creative experience. The Old Skool style offers a unique opportunity to educate children about colour theory and colour mixing through the creaton of a strong distinction between primary and secondary colours in its aesthetic. The Vans and MoMA Old Skool and Old Skool V include a special hang tag affixed with a genuine colour wheel, offering the opportunity to educate children about colour theory. Grab yours online from 30/09/2020 at Vans.com and store.moma.org, as well as select retails store locations.
Printing via People of Print https://ift.tt/2DhgcW7 September 29, 2020 at 08:17AM US Navy Seahawk Helicopters to 3D Print Parts for New Comms Gear https://ift.tt/3ie4Hm7 As part of a communications upgrade package that will be installed on more than 200 Navy aircraft, a team of structural and avionics engineers has turned to 3D printing technology to design and produce prototypes for two omnidirectional antenna mounts. Using additive instead of more traditional manufacturing methods provided the quickest and most cost-effective path to mass production, allowing the team to meet the tight deadlines delivered by the program office. Since entering service in February 2002, the more than 200 MH-60S Seahawk Block 3 aircraft served as multi-mission combat support maritime helicopters, used by the U.S. Navy to carry out missions such as combat search and rescue, special warfare support, and airborne defensive electronic countermeasures. Since the fleet’s inventory is slated to receive new Full Motion Video (FMV) systems, which will expand the aircraft’s operational capabilities, the engineers with the H-60 Fleet Support Team (FST) at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)’s In-Service Support Center at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) developed an innovative solution to support and secure the modification of the aircraft. As part of the full modification package, the team worked in conjunction with the Additive Manufacturing team at NAVAIR headquarters in Patuxent River, Maryland, to design and produce the prototypes that are currently in the early stages of evaluation. Validation and verification are standard aspects of any modification and must be completed before an airframe change can be released.
While the third antenna mount and equipment rack will be manufactured through more traditional methods, the two remaining antennas provided the development team with an opportunity to think outside the box and explore additive manufacturing (AM) options, reported NAVAIR. Although the engineers explored alternative options, including a traditional composite layup, the lead time and cost to develop a mold and mass-produce the antenna mounts was considered too time-consuming and costly when compared to 3D printing. As part of the innovative team behind the 3D printed antenna mounts, Chad King, an avionics engineer with the H-60 FST, said they began considering AM as an option after a site visit from the FMV developer, a defense contractor. At the time, the company conducted a survey of a nonoperational MH-60 the team has parked in their facility and provided them with potential locations for the mounts and other components. The results of the survey led the team to seriously consider the use of AM technology. Structures engineers Stokes and Robert Poe designed the integration plan, creating the drawing, and contracting the manufacturing of the antenna mounts and equipment rack, while avionics engineers Lauren Swan and Chad King worked to maintain the project’s technical directive and installation data packages. After developing the basic design for the mounts and completing the modeling and design, the team then passed that information along to the Additive Manufacturing researchers at NAVAIR who developed the technical data package. This package delineates the requirements and direction needed to 3D print the mounts. Stokes said the team is currently conducting a preliminary fit check of all aspects of the FMV modification, structures, and avionics, to ensure proper fit and procedures are in place.
Specifically, NAVAIR explained that the team will complete the fit check and will incorporate any necessary changes into the technical directive, installation data package, and design drawings. The NAVAIR Additive Manufacturing team will then create three more copies of each 3D printed mount, using the technical data provided by the H-60 FST team, and send those parts to FRCE for finishing. Once those steps are complete, the mounts will move into the next phase of testing, which is the validation on a fleet aircraft at the test squadron at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
The U.S. military has been using 3D printing manufacturing to enhance a wide range of different applications, from creating components to maintain fleets, to supporting troops in the field. Earlier in 2020, the U.S. Army turned to “digital-twin” technology from Wichita State University to resolve challenges and boost efficiencies for its enduring fleet of Black Hawk helicopters, using 3D printing to reproduce parts that are no longer readily available. The Army also recently published guidance aims for using AM to strike a balance between safety, improvements to readiness, and escalating costs. Last year, the director of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Philip Perconti said that the Army wants to be at the forefront of this advancement in technology. The expert described AM at a pivotal stage in development, and that the Army is basing strategic investments in agile manufacturing and material processing programs to leverage breakthroughs for rapid prototyping and development. To resolve challenges and boost aging fleets of aircraft, ships, and vehicles, the Army is continually adopting advanced technology, like 3D printing, that can upgrade equipment and reduce purchases of new ones. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 29, 2020 at 08:01AM
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3D Predict’s AI-Driven Software to Make 3D Printed Aligners in US https://ift.tt/3kXYPPq Instead of metal braces, clear aligners, also known as invisible aligners, are becoming increasingly popular for straightening out pearly whites. According to NewMouth, some of the most popular brands of clear dental aligners include byte, Candid, Invisalign, and SmileDirectClub, and these last two both have something else in common as well: they use 3D technology in their workflows. The hardware for these produce clear dental aligners comes from a number of companies in the AM industry, including Prodways, EnvisionTEC, Structo, and Formlabs. In the broader spectrum, Sam Wainwright, the Dental Product Manager for Formlabs, said at AMS 2020 in February that 36% of dental labs in the US use 3D printing technology, and we’re seeing AM dental applications, including aligners, continue to evolve. Founded in 2014 by Marina Domracheva, MD, medical technology company 3D Predict makes innovative dental aligners that are driven by artificial intelligence (AI) software, which it refers to as “one-of-a-kind” in a press release sent to 3DPrint.com.
Five million patients across the US begin orthodontic treatment each year, making it an almost $2 billion market, and of that large number, roughly four million are not cut and dry cases, but moderate or complicated ones. So it’s a pretty booming business, to say the least.
3D Predict received FDA clearance for its AI-driven dental aligners in February, and is now launching the product at its new US headquarters in New York. These aligners differ from braces and other aligners because the company completes a Deep CBCT® Analysis of both the bone and root; 3D Predict does not use roots taken from an anatomical library. The patented, proprietary software then creates extremely precise 3D models of the whole smile, including the crowns, and these models are used to design patient-specific dental aligners, which the company states are able to prevent “anatomically impossible” tooth movements. This results in a 30% treatment time decrease, and 50% fewer teeth alignment corrections, allowing orthodontists to “increase their margin and save time for new patients” using far more effective aligners. The software fuses data on the whole tooth, and the information is sent to the orthodontist, so they can have a clearer idea about any possible issues, like root collision, that could come up during treatment. A color map of the 3D model shows the distance from the root to the bone, and allows orthodontists to see just how the roots will move while they’re being treated with the aligners, so that they can come up with a safe, predictable plan that will mean patients will have to come back at least five less times for corrections.
Once the treatment plan is in place, the aligners are then 3D printed out of a BPA-free, crack-resistant, transparent plastic. 3D Predict’s 3D printed dental aligners can treat a number of different cases, such as an under bite and crowding.
(Source/Images: 3D Predict) Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 29, 2020 at 07:32AM Apply to ORNL’s Prestigious Innovation Crossroads Program https://ift.tt/3cK0fKK Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a prestigious institution on the cutting edge of energy and advanced manufacturing research. ORNL has just announced the latest iteration of their Innovation Crossroads Program, which selects up to seven researchers who wish to be entrepreneurs each year. Innovation Crossroads was created to speed up the development of manufacturing technologies. It was created specifically to take a technology from the lab into production. It is funded by ORNL, the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The program is for research and researchers, “whose early-stage innovations are presently too challenging or technically uncertain to pursue in a venture capital-financed startup.” Their startups get incubated at ORNL for two years, while they get a stipend. The mission of the TVA is to “to improve the navigability and to provide for the flood control of the Tennessee River.” So good luck with that. Actually it is “to make life better for the people of the Tennessee Valley through the integrated management of the region’s resources.” The TVA is now an $11 billion revenue energy provider so anything that improves that in the broadest sense would apply as well. The Department of Energy’s mission is “ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.” Which should be doable if you’re doing some of the heavy lifting in 3D printing. ORNL is on the very frontier of the imagined and the possible. The lab has unparalleled access to machines and research equipment, a $1.4 billion budget, and 1,100 scientists and engineers. Additionally, they have things like the High Flux Isotope Reactor and the spallation nuclear source. At your current office, an accident means that coffee stains your pants, at Oak Ridge, accidents could create superheroes. Some of the world’s best minds are at ORNL solving some of the world’s toughest problems. One of the lab’s focus areas is Advanced Manufacturing and, within that, 3D printing takes a prominent place. It shows. Over the past few years, ORNL has worked on lignin as a 3D printing material. partnered with Lincoln Electric on a welding/3D printing technology that can make parts at a speed “in excess of 100 pounds per hour”, is developing a 3D printed nuclear reactor core, 3D printed fake fish, created a neutron component print technology, made an aluminum carbon capture device, worked on a large scale thermoset print technology, developed AI-powered software for powder bed systems . ORNL commercialized big area additive manufacturing (BAAM), a large scale composite print technology. They also found out how to use BAAM for precast concrete molds and have produced crack-free IN718, MarM-247, and IN738 on EBM equipment. The lab has also developed a data analytics framework to certify 3D print processes not parts for production. And this—I can not stress this enough—is just the stuff they’re telling the public about. ORNL boasts the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, which is working on developing six or more new 3D printing technologies at the moment and has a completely amazing setup of 3D printing and ancillary equipment in a 10,000 square meter building. You can take the virtual tour here. And you should. At Crossroads, you are provided with:
The ORNL team has a particular interest in additive manufacturing and previously Crossroads has funded, amongst others, Ascend Manufacturing, Actinic and TCPoly. Matt Smith’s TCPoly now makes “ice9 Thermally Conductive Filament, the world’s highest thermal conductivity 3D printing plastic that can conduct heat 50 times higher than traditional plastics.” This could be used to make polymer heat sinks or mold tooling. Dr. Justin Nussbaum was also in Crossroads with his startup Ascend Manufacturing’s LAPS process that is a closed-loop sintering process that illuminates the entire build at once. The process is not only fast but they claim that it is also produces “highly identical and defect free” parts. A third 3D printing company aided by Crossroads is Joe Fortenbaugh’s Actinic. This company wants to commercialize innovative thermally cured thermosets to expand the types of materials that can be made with SLA and other light curing technologies. Among the materials that they want to make available is polyimide (Kapton). This material has a continuous service temperature of 232C, is inherently flame resistant, has good chemical resistance, and is very strong. What’s more he does this for composites and cures them from the inside out through localized heat. You can see a video by Joe here or check out other updates by the entrepreneurs here. The Innovation Crossroads Program is an insanely advantageous opportunity and I urge you to apply. Eligibility criteria are:
You may initially not be too excited to move to Knoxville, where ORNL is located, but SmarTech’s Scott Dunham lives there and he assures us that it is delightful with a lively bar, social scene and lots of nature to explore. The process consists of you applying, a phone interview and an in-person interview. You will have to submit a resume, abstract, a “tell us about yourself”, and a two pager on the technology, what its impact is for the DOE and TVA, Why you wish to apply and “what most attacts you to Innovation Crossroads.” As a part of this process you will be subjected to the “The Heilmeier Catechism.” This is a set of questions, particularly beloved of the acronym set. The Heilmeier question set proposed by US engineer George Heilmeier is actually a fantastic way to boil down, strip to its bare bones and evaluate any new technology or idea.
It’s a great framework. Furthermore, you will be judged on the following criteria:
I really think that this is a fantastic opportunity for those of you working on fundamentally interesting things. Learn more about Innovation Crossroads and apply here. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 29, 2020 at 07:02AM
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Improve Efficiency In Your Fabrication or 3D Printing Service https://ift.tt/3cH4h6D Efficiency. In manufacturing, we talk about improving it any chance we get. Without it, we may not survive as a business. We also like to explore how to be more productive and it sounds like it’s the same thing, but productivity is a subset of efficiency. Knowing the difference can make an enormous impact on your 3D printing or CNC service. Manufacturing ProductivityA simple definition of productivity is the ratio of output to input in production (again, this falls under efficiency). How much time does it take to produce that model or widget? If you produce 100 units in a week and you can boost your production rate to 200 the next week, you have increased and improved your productivity, from a manufacturing perspective. You might reach any of these unit gains through purchasing automated equipment to produce goods with less effort, by adding more skilled workers, or by improving logistics. When the line moves faster and is more productive, you have increased your efficiency. But let’s not put the proverbial efficiency cart before the productive horse. Finding The Money to Invest and Increase Production RateThe answer to how to find more money to improve your manufacturing processes starts with better sales. Not more sales, better sales. To cut to the point, that’s how you first get to greater efficiency — better sales is part of any efficient operation. You want to spend more time on production and less time managing the data that slows down your sales process. Better Sales is Less Work and More CommunicationIn 2014, I founded a company in Detroit to service the automotive, aerospace, and medical industries and helped them rapidly prototype new technologies. I was 3D printing parts for people and after printing hundreds of projects, two things stood out for me that would ultimately influence me to start MakerOS:
Six years later, I have found those two points are still mostly true. Clients have a hard time conceptualizing how their products are made (that’s why they are hiring you!) which makes it difficult to share progress throughout development. The MakerOS Autoquoter helps with this by giving clients a contextual flow based on the intended application of their part. In combination with the Client Portal, the quoting tool allows them to see into the 3D printing process. At the same time, it automates your quoting process for 3D printing/AM and CNC machining, freeing you up to keep things moving and on time for their project deliverable. Before starting a project ask yourself: what is your client expecting to see along the way? How can you help them “see” and understand the process? You can do this by communicating various steps in the job process, and the MakerOS Client Portal provides complete transparency, with details they expect and appreciate. In my mind, this area of “client expectation” is categorized as “Better Sales” because if I communicate with understandable detail to my customer, they are happier, more satisfied, and likely to return as a loyal customer. In summary,
MakerOS Places Client Communication at the Center of Any Efficient and Productive Fabrication BusinessOur mission at MakerOS is to automate quotes, track orders, provide job status and process updates so that you can remain focused on doing what you do best: printing parts and getting them out the door to customers. Learn more and get started with a free 30-day trial to understand our value. See how much more you can get done with a real-time dashboard built for engineering and fabrication teams. About the Author:Mike Moceri has deep experience in manufacturing, design, and software. In 2013, he co-founded the world’s first 3D printing retail service bureau in Chicago. In 2014 he founded Manulith, a 3D printing and product design agency, where his clientele included Fortune 500 companies within the aerospace, automotive, and medical industries. Mike is also a mentor at Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator, a mentor at WeWork Labs in NYC, and formerly a mentor at TechTown Detroit. He’s previously been featured on MSN, Make Magazine, NBC, and the Encyclopedia Britannica. D-Business Magazine called him the “Face of 3D printing.” Mike is currently the founder and CEO of MakerOS, an all-in-one collaboration platform for additive manufacturing services to efficiently work with clients throughout the entire lifecycle of a project. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 29, 2020 at 06:34AM
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Aspect Biosystems to Deliver Two Bioprinters to Researchers via New Grant Program https://ift.tt/3kYzmFt Pioneering microfluidic bioprinting company Aspect Biosystems launched a new grant program for research labs, enhancing the use of 3D bioprinting technology. The Vancouver-based biotechnology firm will choose two winners that will receive an RX1 bioprinter at no cost for six months.
The grant program will also provide the winners with virtual instructions and training, ongoing support from the Aspect Biosystems team, and a starter kit that includes three printheads, biomaterials, crosslinkers, and buffer. The company will accept applications through October 16, 2020, and to qualify, labs must be conducting research at a university or non-profit research institute for the duration of the project and excludes all research proposals that involve clinical trial uses or any other use in humans. In order to be considered for the award, applicants have to describe their current research focus; a six-month project plan, including milestones; a summary of the resources available to support the project (such as consumable purchases and researchers involved), and a description of how bioprinting will be incorporated into their long-term research aims. The Program Selection Committee will be looking at three factors to choose the winners. Mainly, whether the research project has scientific merit both in the research objectives and experimental design; the novelty of the research plan or “cool factor”, and the feasibility to achieve the research objectives. Winners will be notified on November 16, 2020, and for six months they will be able to use the RX1 bioprinter, a system that relies on microfluidics to allow for seamless cell and material patterning. Engineered to be compatible with a wide range of biomaterials, the bioprinter can help scientists create complex, functional tissue for research purposes. Since the product’s release in 2019, Aspect Biosystems has been working to strategically partner up with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, in addition to academic researchers like the ones at Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine (MERLN) at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, in order to develop commercially and physiologically relevant tissues. The company then uses these tissues to help speed up the discovery and development of new therapies and drugs. Private funding for scientific research will likely become more important as research capacity continues to grow and critical development challenges demand funding to purchase machines, systems, and more. Research drives innovation worldwide, translating valuable knowledge and developments to an increasingly changing society. For example, according to experts in the US, government funding for academic research remains limited, and competition for grants is very high. Especially as funding rates have been dragging pretty low for several years. In 2019, the US continued to fall further behind world leaders in funding for university research. To reverse this course, experts believe that if the government doesn’t increase support by billions of dollars per year and provide stronger incentives for businesses to increase their investments, research will continue to slide. Canada, for example, witnessed several years of scientific research slowing down, with federal science funding cuts, resulting in shuttering labs, slow innovation, and researchers having to give away their equipment. However, a reversal in Canada’s 2019 budget may have provided a momentary boost to basic science and research, but not enough for science projects to thrive. Clearly, research labs worldwide need help from privately held companies, and programs like Aspect Biosystems’ new grant, that could aid in reversing these trends. As a spinoff out of the University of British Columbia (UBC), Aspect Biosystems made waves when they announced in 2013 that the company was ready to use live human cells to create and build living human tissue. The founders, a group of university researchers, went on to create their own 3D bioprinting technology in which cells are combined and suspended in a liquid form hydrogel to create functional living human tissue models. Initially launching with 10 employees, the company now has over 50 and has raised more than $25.5 million in funding. Aspect Biosystems is building an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals from all over the world, to advance tissue programs both internally and through its commercial partners, and they want research labs to experience their revolutionary technologies for strategic applications in the life sciences. Research labs interested in filling out an application for the RX1 bioprinter grant program should do so here. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 28, 2020 at 09:01AM
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Interview with Sanjana Narayanan on Promoting 3D Printing and AM via Youth Webinar Series https://ift.tt/2GgQLuh In this interview, Sanjana Narayanan, Student Ambassador for Women in 3D Printing, explains the significance and role of the Youth Webinar series in the development and contributions to 3D printing. You have a passion in 3D Printing and AM and have developed a Youth Webinar Series to promote the technology. Can you take us through the Webinar series concept on what exactly it’s all about and its intended scope? The Women in 3D Printing Youth Webinar series is meant to introduce students to the wide applicability of 3D technology to various industries and inspire them to learn about additive manufacturing. Many students believe that 3D printing and design is restricted to engineering disciplines, but, in reality, the technology is being used in many other fields, such as culinary sciences, medicine, and visual arts. Each segment of the webinar focuses on a woman who has successfully applied 3D printing technology to a specific industry. It highlights their journey into additive manufacturing and their accomplishments. Our goal is to use these role models’ stories to inspire students of all ages and help them learn about the opportunities that they can pursue in additive manufacturing. What strengths have you drawn from the Youth Webinar Series that could be of interest to our audience wishing to pursue 3D printing? These webinars have given me opportunities to meet such inspiring women from around the world. Each guest has offered valuable insight into their unique experiences and their vision for the future of 3D printing. Perhaps the most valuable part of each webinar is the presenter’s advice to students looking to involve themselves in this technology. Every guest has been very supportive of this initiative, and many have identified the need to incorporate 3D printing into mainstream school curricula. In fact, some of these women have reached out to schools and offered to teach additive manufacturing courses, while others have developed their own educational material for kids. As an Ambassador with Women In 3D Printing, how has the organization made use of the webinar series? As of now, the Youth Webinar Series is the main student-focused content offered by Women in 3D Printing. These webinars are featured on the organization’s website and YouTube channel. This initiative has spearheaded the youth wing of Women in 3D Printing, and we are continuously developing more content to help students and educators. How do you see or view the impact of the Youth Webinar Series in promoting 3D printing in developing nations, especially in Africa? I’ve had the opportunity to speak with some accomplished women from Africa, all of who have worked on exciting and innovative 3D printing projects. A common trend that these women and women from other countries have mentioned is that students only have access to 3D technology in college, and most 3D printers are mainly available to engineering students. Through the Youth Webinar Series, I hope that we can reach companies and educators in developing nations and potentially work with them to make this technology more accessible to younger students. We cannot talk about 3D printing without mentioning the COVID-19 pandemic. Are there any initiatives or solutions that have derived from the webinar series in combating COVID-19? Though I have not specifically addressed the COVID-19 pandemic in these webinars, I am aware that many additive manufacturing companies have offered their resources to healthcare workers in need of personal protective equipment and nasopharyngeal swabs. In fact, some students with access to 3D printers have also started printing face shields for essential workers. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 28, 2020 at 08:31AM
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Interview with Sanjana Narayanan on Promoting 3D Printing and AM via Youth Webinar Series https://ift.tt/2GgQLuh In this interview, Sanjana Narayanan, Student Ambassador for Women in 3D Printing, explains the significance and role of the Youth Webinar series in the development and contributions to 3D printing. You have a passion in 3D Printing and AM and have developed a Youth Webinar Series to promote the technology. Can you take us through the Webinar series concept on what exactly it’s all about and its intended scope? The Women in 3D Printing Youth Webinar series is meant to introduce students to the wide applicability of 3D technology to various industries and inspire them to learn about additive manufacturing. Many students believe that 3D printing and design is restricted to engineering disciplines, but, in reality, the technology is being used in many other fields, such as culinary sciences, medicine, and visual arts. Each segment of the webinar focuses on a woman who has successfully applied 3D printing technology to a specific industry. It highlights their journey into additive manufacturing and their accomplishments. Our goal is to use these role models’ stories to inspire students of all ages and help them learn about the opportunities that they can pursue in additive manufacturing. What strengths have you drawn from the Youth Webinar Series that could be of interest to our audience wishing to pursue 3D printing? These webinars have given me opportunities to meet such inspiring women from around the world. Each guest has offered valuable insight into their unique experiences and their vision for the future of 3D printing. Perhaps the most valuable part of each webinar is the presenter’s advice to students looking to involve themselves in this technology. Every guest has been very supportive of this initiative, and many have identified the need to incorporate 3D printing into mainstream school curricula. In fact, some of these women have reached out to schools and offered to teach additive manufacturing courses, while others have developed their own educational material for kids. As an Ambassador with Women In 3D Printing, how has the organization made use of the webinar series? As of now, the Youth Webinar Series is the main student-focused content offered by Women in 3D Printing. These webinars are featured on the organization’s website and YouTube channel. This initiative has spearheaded the youth wing of Women in 3D Printing, and we are continuously developing more content to help students and educators. How do you see or view the impact of the Youth Webinar Series in promoting 3D printing in developing nations, especially in Africa? I’ve had the opportunity to speak with some accomplished women from Africa, all of who have worked on exciting and innovative 3D printing projects. A common trend that these women and women from other countries have mentioned is that students only have access to 3D technology in college, and most 3D printers are mainly available to engineering students. Through the Youth Webinar Series, I hope that we can reach companies and educators in developing nations and potentially work with them to make this technology more accessible to younger students. We cannot talk about 3D printing without mentioning the COVID-19 pandemic. Are there any initiatives or solutions that have derived from the webinar series in combating COVID-19? Though I have not specifically addressed the COVID-19 pandemic in these webinars, I am aware that many additive manufacturing companies have offered their resources to healthcare workers in need of personal protective equipment and nasopharyngeal swabs. In fact, some students with access to 3D printers have also started printing face shields for essential workers. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 28, 2020 at 08:31AM
https://ift.tt/36cj9Zc
Materialise Invests in Ditto’s 3D Printed Eyewear Technology Platform https://ift.tt/30hsXNT Just as the use of 3D printing to mass manufacture hearing aids brought about changes to the entire industry, it looks like the same could be in the cards someday soon for eyewear. Advanced digital fabrication technologies, like 3D printing, have made it possible to create custom eyeglasses that any visually challenged person would be happy to wear, even children. But on top of that, 3D printing means you can cost-effectively mass produce glasses, and not just the boring ones normally cluttering up the inventory area. It’s possible to be even more customer-focused by using digital manufacturing to create individualized products. That’s what 3D printing solutions provider Materialise is hoping to advance by working with Ditto, a California-based developer of virtual eyewear trial and recommendation. Materialise, which already has plenty of experience with custom 3D printed eyewear, announced that it has made a strategic investment in Ditto.
Ditto works with eye care professionals, eyewear brands, and retailers around the world to develop personalized shopping experiences for customers looking for their next pair of glasses. Its mission is to make eyewear more personal for the wearer, and and more accessible for everyone who needs it.
When pairing augmented reality visualization and artificial intelligence-based personalization with 3D printing, like Ditto does, the manufacturing of eyeglasses can really become an end-to-end platform. For its eCommerce, in-store, and omnichannel options, Ditto claims to capture a precise map of the customer’s face by quickly scanning it. Then, the customer has to watch the scanning animation, and provide information about their face shape, measurements, and prescription, before they get to see some of the platform’s recommended frame shapes through Ditto’s virtual try-on technology. Customers are treated to 180° views of the frames on their face, and, if they’re in-store, they can try on (sanitized) pairs of glasses as well. You can also send images of you wearing the virtual glasses to friends and family, so you can get a second opinion. Then, the glasses can be purchased online, or saved as favorites, in which case the customer would then try them on in-store. Make your selection, and a pair of new, custom eyeglasses are 3D printed just for you. It sounds like a simple, painless process to me, and it’s especially helpful, during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, that it can all be done virtually.
On top of the investment, Materialise will also be collaborating directly with Ditto in order to expand the eyewear industry’s digital transformation, and support more updated and personalized shopping experiences. Printing via 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing https://3dprint.com September 28, 2020 at 08:01AM |
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