Sunday, June 5, 2022

3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing

3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing


3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: June 5, 2022

Posted: 05 Jun 2022 05:30 AM PDT

Last week was a bit of a reprieve, and we’re back in business now with a full schedule of 3D printing webinars and events! Topics include automation, polymer 3D printing for end-use applications, how to reduce the costs of SLS printing, liquid metal jetting, some big trade fairs around the world, and much more. Read on for all the details!

June 6 – 8: 3DEXEPERIENCE FORUM

First up, Dassault Systèmes North America is holding its 3DEXPERIENCE FORUM 2022 this week at the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida. The annual thought leadership event welcomes thought leaders and senior executives from many industries who are looking to transform their business with digital technology and a platform approach. The complimentary event begins on Monday, June 6th, with an evening welcome reception, and continues on the 7th with a plenary session in the morning and separate breakout tracks on Sustainability, Global Supply Chain Network, and the Virtual Twin. After a keynote presentation in the afternoon, a networking reception will be held that night, and the event will conclude with adjunct meetings on the 8th.

“Hear real-world stories and insights around key technology trends including sustainable innovation, manufacturing and supply chain operations, modeling and simulation, digital health, model-based engineering and more.”

You can register for the forum here.

June 6 – 9: Automate Trade Show

From June 6-9, at the Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, the Automate trade show will be held in-person. The largest automation showcase in North America, this free event will feature fascinating keynote speakers and panelists, a startup competition, multiple tracks covering topics from AI & Smart Automation and Autonomous & Mobile Robots to Automation Applications & Innovations, a networking party, and plenty of AM industry exhibitors to visit and talk to, including HP, Creaform, GoProto Inc., and more.

“It's the best place to discover powerful solutions—from innovations in AI and robotics to tried-and-true workhorse technologies—that will solve your unique challenges and propel you forward.”

You can register for the Automate trade show here.

June 6, 8, & 9: The Experience Stratasys Tour Continues

Stratasys continues its Experience Tour this week out west. On Monday, June 6th, AdvancedTek will host the Mobile Showroom at NDSU in Fargo, North Dakota. The show goes east to Minnesota on the 8th, with AdvancedTek hosting again at Anoka Technical College in Anoka. Finally, CATI will host on the 9th at the Topgolf in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

"Our mobile showroom offers a local, convenient way for you to talk with 3D printing experts and see the latest 3D printers, materials and solutions from Stratasys. Learn about additive manufacturing services from Stratasys Direct and discover how your organization can benefit from 3D printing applications."

You can register for the Stratasys Experience Tour here. Stay tuned for more dates and locations in the future!

June 7 – 8: AM for Defense, Aerospace and Space

The Institute for Defense and Government Advancement (IDGA) is holding its first Additive Manufacturing for Defense, Aerospace and Space Summit in Orlando this week, June 7-8, carrying the event over from its sister organization’s successful European conference in Hamburg this winter. There will be keynote sessions from senior defense leaders, panel discussions by AM supply chain experts, and several discussion groups so attendees can talk about what they’ve learned about the increasing use of 3D printing across the aerospace, space and defense industrial base. Topics will include key challenges, integrating new processes and materials, solutions for scaling up manufacturing, and more.

This senior and expert-led Summit will highlight the ongoing efforts to empower knowledge sharing and collaboration with those across the US military, government agencies such as NASA, prime contractors and leading space companies, tier 1 and tier 2 manufacturers, AM industry vendors and cybersecurity professionals. Ultimately, we plan to help build and clarify effective roadmaps for incorporating additive manufacturing and 3D printing processes into the supply chain, and to explore challenges and best practices for integration, certification and standardization.”

You can register for the summit here.

June 7 – 8: SIMULIA Great Lakes Regional Users Meeting

Dassault Systèmes is holding its first in-person SIMULIA Great Lakes Regional Users Meeting (RUM) in over two years in Plymouth, Michigan on June 8. First, on Tuesday the 7th, three free training classes about Abaqus will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Then, on Wednesday, attendees can reconnect, hear presentations from 30 customers, Dassault executives, and partners, learn about the latest in simulation technologies and best practices from top SIMULIA experts and customers, like Ford, Hyundai, and Mercury Marine, and more.

“This longstanding tradition is your opportunity to join SIMULIA experts to share experiences, receive feedback from your peers and be inspired by expert users and the SIMULIA team. Attendance for this year's RUM will be limited because of the pandemic.”

You can register for the SIMULIA Great Lakes RUM here, but don’t delay, because registration closes at noon on Monday the 6th, and walk-ins will not be accommodated due to limited space.

June 7 – 9: Smart Manufacturing Experience

The Smart Manufacturing Experience by SME, AMT, CESMII, and AMI is back in-person, from June 7-9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. Keynotes will be presented from speakers at Arconic, NASA, and Raytheon Technologies, and there will be plenty of interesting panel discussions, such as Smart Manufacturing Interoperability and Attracting and Training the Next Generation Manufacturing Workforce. The Smart Manufacturing Experience also includes Knowledge Bars, networking opportunities, Smart Zone Theater presentations, a Technology Hub, workshops, an exhibit hall, and more.

“At Smart Manufacturing Experience, you'll be able to explore new products, chat with experts about the technologies needed and how best to implement them, and hear from other manufacturers about how they have increased productivity, decreased costs and developed new products using these transformative technologies. This is a great opportunity for any size organization to explore the latest technologies and make valuable connections.”

You can register for the event here.

June 7: Polymer 3D Printing for End-Use Parts

At 5:30 am EST on Tuesday, June 7th, Indian 3D printer manufacturer Divide By Zero Technologies is holding a webinar on polymer 3D printing for end-use applications. It will include a live demonstration of the Aion500MK2 3D printer, and attendees will learn about possible high-strength materials, such as carbon fiber, polycarbonate, and Nylon, that can be 3D printed to replace polymer parts for end-use and tooling applications, as well as functional prototypes.

“Join us for our live session to witness, Aion500MK2  with Advanced  Auto Switch over mechanism, liquid-cooled head that will help develop new products 5X faster and save 80% of time and cost on tooling & end-use applications.”

You can register for the webinar here.

June 7: Reducing SLS Costs with Sinterit

To learn about reducing the costs of SLS 3D printing, tune in to the Sinterit webinar at 10 am EST on the 7th. Hosted by Sinterit CMO Jarek Pieniazek and Application Engineer Jakub Malec, with guest speaker Marius Haefele, Product Manager Services at BASF Forward AM, attendees will learn about the advantages of SLS 3D printing, such as Sinterit’s flexible Lisa X and cost-saving NILS 480, and how to reduce the costs of 3D printing, including optimizing fusion space. There will also be a live Q&A session at the end.

“In 3D printing, the cost per part matters. Whether you are a service provider or you use the SLS 3D printer internally, the costs are important for your business and projects.

“This is why we want to give you some ideas on how you can optimize SLS 3D printing costs.

You can register for the webinar here.

June 7: AM Coalition on Military Applications

The Additive Manufacturing Coalition will hold a webinar at 3 pm EST on the 7th about the “Military Applications of AM: Innovations Changing the Battlefield.” Sponsored by Craitor, which is working to revolutionize the DoD supply chain by making a rugged, expeditionary, high-temperature 3D printer, the speakers during the Zoom forum will be Dr. Chase Cox, the Vice President of MELD Manufacturing, and Craitor’s COO Daniel Valdes. There will be also a speaker from DMG Mori.

“The AM Coalition will be highlighting two cutting edge AM projects ongoing with the U.S. Military – 1) Meld will demonstrate their very large format printer they are creating for TACOM and 2) Craitor will be discussing their rugged portable printer being adapted for use in the field.”

You can RSVP for the webinar here.

June 8 – 9: TCT 3Sixty

The UK’s definitive, most influential 3D printing event, TCT 3Sixty, is taking place this week at the NEC in Birmingham, June 8-9. Meant for design, engineering, and manufacturing professionals who are looking to evaluate, adopt, or optimize 3D printing for their business, the free event focuses on real-world applications and targeted intelligence and promises more than 60 speakers and 150 exhibitors, including 3D Systems, Markforged, EOS, INTAMSYS, Materialise, and more. The TCT Awards will be held the first night of the event, and there will also be a Knowledge Bar, live product demonstrations, the Connect Lounge, presentations, TCT Inspired Minds powered by CREATE Education, and much more.

“The event goes beyond simply raising awareness and adoption of additive manufacturing and 3D printing. We have designed an event that ensures attendees develop a 360-degree understanding of the potential of these amazing technologies to help increase utilisation at all stages of the design, engineering and manufacturing process.”

You can register for TCT 3Sixty here.

June 8 – 9: Med-Tech Innovation Expo

Also from June 8-9 at the NEC in Birmingham, Med-Tech Innovation Expo, the UK and Ireland's top event for medical device design and manufacturing technology, is taking place in Hall 10. Designers, engineers, manufacturers, and innovators from the medical and healthcare sectors are invited to discuss new ideas and learn about emerging technologies and innovative products and services. More than 100 exhibitors will be showcasing at the event, with over 40 international exhibitors from places like Thailand, China, Monaco, South Korea, Sweden, the US, Pakistan, Italy, and more. The event will feature a Start-Up Zone, the Health-Tech Stage, product demonstrations and launches, interesting speakers, the Medilink UK Healthcare Business Awards, and more.

“We're thrilled there is a growing international flavour to the event, with speakers and exhibitors attending from around the globe. It underlines the growing importance of Med-Tech Innovation Expo on the world stage, and we look forward to another successful edition in Birmingham,” Duncan Wood, the CEO of the event organizer Rapid New Group, said in a press release.

“There is so much to see and learn from at the show this year. With the breadth of innovation and insights on offer, we know that everyone will leave the show armed with new concepts, ideas and solutions to help them design and manufacture ever more innovative patient solutions.”

You can register for the expo here.

June 8 & 9: Massivit 3D Open House in Las Vegas

Massivit 3D is holding an open house event in Las Vegas this week to showcase its large-scale 3D printing. The open house, from 10 am to 3 pm on June 8th and 9th, will be held at FORTÉ SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS, one of the company’s customers, and attendees will learn why FORTÉ decided to integrate Massivit 3D’s large-scale 3D printing into its production flow. In addition to this customer story, the Massivit 3D team will present the Massivit 10000 Additive Tooling System, discuss its production workflow, and have live demonstrations of the Massivit 1800, with its massive build volume and Gel Dispensing technology that can directly print large molds, prototypes, and end-use parts.

“Join us for this face-to-face event to see how large, complex parts can be printed within a matter of hours, instead of days! You'll see:

  • An astounding build volume: 57" x 44" x 70"

  • A range of 3D printed parts, prototypes, and molds

  • How to directly print molds for composite materials

You can register for one of the open houses here.

June 8: Desktop Metal & the Shop System

At 2 pm EST on the 8th, Desktop Metal is holding a webinar on “Metal 3D Printing for Service Bureaus and Machine Shops,” and how its Shop System makes it possible to produce tens of thousands of customer parts, so your business can keep up with growing customer demands for metal 3D printed end-use parts in a fast, cost-effective way. Desktop Metal’s featured presenter, Technical Marketing Engineer Soniya Patel, will explain how 3D printing can enable cost-effective production of metal parts and reduce the need for tooling, discuss applications and customer case studies, and more.

“Mass production metal 3D printing solutions offer service bureaus and machine shops an opportunity to service a broader set of customers with an expanded array of applications, ranging from one-offs to batch (or even mass) production of metal parts. Benefits such as assembly consolidation and geometric freedom allows service bureaus to extend the benefits of metal 3D printing to their customers.”

You can register for the webinar here.

June 8: Liquid Metal Jetting with America Makes

Also on the 8th at 2 pm EST, America Makes is holding a TRX webinar on “Emerging Technologies | Liquid Metal Jetting.” Tim Schniepp, the Director of Application Engineering and Business Development for Xerox, will discuss how the company’s ElemX system, and its liquid metal jetting (LMJ) technology works. He’ll be joined by several Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers currently using the ElemX, who will discuss how they’re pushing the limits of its “droplet-on-demand” process, and attendees will also learn about the current applications for 3D printed aluminum alloys, how ElemX LMJ works, development plans for future capabilities, and more.

“Compatible with wire feedstock, the ElemX is a much safer and simpler option when it comes to metal 3D printing—no hazardous metal powders and no special facility requirements. LMJ is a revolutionary new technology that it is extremely well-suited to distributed manufacturing models, forward deployment, or the manufacturing floor.”

You can register for the webinar here.

June 8: Dental 3D Printing Basics

Dr. Sully Sullivan, DDS, a fourth-generation dentist from Nashville, will discuss the basics of 3D printing in the dental office with SprintRay in its webinar at 6 pm EST on Wednesday the 8th. Dr. Sullivan will demonstrate SprintRay’s 3D printing workflows for in-office production of dental appliances and how they can be implemented to save money and time, and improve patient care. Attendees who attend the full webinar will get an overview of the SprintRay scan-to-print workflow, review current options for design and materials, and receive CE Credit as well.

“3D printing is transforming the dental practice, creating efficient workflows and drastically improving patient care. The SprintRay 3D printing ecosystem creates a frictionless workflow from scan to print, allowing dental professionals to deliver quality dental appliances at a fraction of the cost.”

You can register for the webinar here.

June 9 – 11: MECSPE 2022

The 20th edition of MECSPE, the international reference fair for the manufacturing industry, will be held at BolognaFiere in Italy from June 9-11. Attendees of the B2B exhibition can discover new market trends, preview the latest manufacturing innovations, create new contracts and consolidate existing ones, and visit exhibitors from 13 different sectors, including Automation and Robotics, Logistics, Machines and Tools, Quality & Control, and Additive Manufacturing. Some of the companies from the AM industry that will be exhibiting at MECSPE this year include Materialise, Photocentric, and Markforged, and the exhibition will also feature a Digital Factory, Competence Centers, the 4th edition of the Solution Award, and more.

“Visiting MECSPE means getting in touch with leaders of the sector that here present their news and products: more than 1960 companies have already taken part as exhibitors in the trade fair of the last edition.”

You can register for your free ticket to MECSPE 2022 here.

June 9: Stratasys & PepsiCo Partnership

PepsiCo worked with Stratasys to remove bottlenecks from its bottle packaging design workflow with the use of 3D printing. You can learn more about this in a Stratasys webinar at 12 pm EST on the 9th about “Reinventing the Packaging Design Workflow with 3D Printing.” PepsiCo speakers Christopher Gregory and Max Rodriguez will discuss how the company’s Structural Packaging Design and R&D teams used Stratasys 3D printing to reinvent their workflow for packaging design.

“Historically, designers and engineers spend a significant amount of time translating sketches into prototypes to land the best design for consumers, while ensuring the new designs also conform rigorous technical constraints. Learn how PepsiCo leverages a new workflow from early concept, to a realistic CMF model in-house, to a blow molded prototype that can be tested on the production line in a short period of time.”

You can register for the webinar here.

June 9: HP on AM Innovation in the EV Ecosystem

At 1 pm EST on Thursday, June 9th, HP will hold a webinar about “Innovation in the Electric Vehicle Ecosystem with Polymer Additive Manufacturing.” Scott Dunham, the Executive Vice President of Research for SmarTech Analysis, will moderate a discussion between HP Solutions Architect Aaron DeLong and 3D Application Engineer Wes Kramer, who will discuss how 3D printing can speed up product cycles in electric vehicles, post-processing options for improving surface quality and part functionality, and more.

“Major automakers are focusing on electric vehicle (EV) production as they incorporate selling only zero-emission vehicles in their future plans. In parallel, EVs have grown in popularity with recent research predicting explosive global growth in EV demand. This panel brings together deep automotive industry and polymer additive manufacturing expertise.”

You can register for the webinar here.

June 10 – 12: Innovative Housing Showcase

Finally, from June 10-12, the Innovative Housing Showcase, funded by the National Association of Home Builders and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This free event will be attended by government officials, policymakers, members of the media, and housing industry representatives, and is also open to the public. The three-day event will feature new building technologies and solutions that are making housing more affordable and resilient, and to represent additive construction, Black Buffalo 3D will be showcasing its own innovative 3D construction printing solutions.

“The Showcase will include exhibitor demonstrations, entrepreneurs and leaders in the housing industry. There will be more than a dozen exhibits, including full-sized prototype homes, displaying innovative building technologies that address affordability, resilience, and the future of housing.”

Do you have news to share about any future webinars or virtual and live events? Please let us know!

The post 3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: June 5, 2022 appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

In-Space Carbon Fiber 3D Printing Tech on the Horizon for Anisoprint and Nanoracks

Posted: 04 Jun 2022 06:30 AM PDT

A new deal between carbon fiber 3D printing startup Anisoprint and Nanoracks––the company behind the world's first free-flying commercial space station set to open in 2027––could help draft the first roadmap for deploying 3D printing in space. According to the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Anisoprint, together with Nanoracks' Space Outpost Europe program, will aim to develop a zero-gravity composite manufacturing system.

For the task, the duo will work towards demonstrating and validating Anisoprint's continuous fiber coextrusion (CFC) 3D printing technology capacities in orbit. The brand's proprietary science-based version of continuous fiber 3D printing, called CFC, uses two inputs, one for reinforcement fiber and one for feeding thermoplastic, and one output, to create optimized structures made out of composite materials.

Examples of applications created with Anisoprint technology. Examples of applications created with Anisoprint technology. Image courtesy of Anisoprint.

As part of the deal, Nanoracks will also strengthen Anisoprint's role as a space technology developer and help it become part of the low Earth orbit (LEO) and lunar economy.

Private space companies are striving to build infrastructure in space. As a new decade of in-space infrastructure has begun, companies like Nanoracks want to ensure they have the technologies that will serve this purpose. But creating a vibrant LEO economy needs to build on the work done to date by the International Space Station (ISS), and Nanoracks has been providing a wide range of services to the orbiting station since 2009, including over 1,300 research payloads and small satellites.

Since the company is also engaged in developing orbital infrastructure, it says it will soon own and operate its own commercial space stations, including the highly anticipated crewed commercial orbital platform Starlab and several outposts (which will be repurposed space junk turned into agile, autonomous space platforms). But opening the doors to new commercial ventures never before seen in space means Nanoracks needs to partner with other innovative companies to lead the way in this new race to space. For example, with Anisoprint, Nanoracks has the opportunity to tap into microgravity manufacturing.

"We are at the stage of formation of LEO and lunar economy. There has been explosive growth in international commercial space activity. I am confident that we will achieve our goals and contribute a value chain to the off-Earth economy," said Dmitrii Prokopiuk, Head of Space Development at Anisoprint in a LinkedIn post. "Our cooperation with Nanorack Space Outpost Europe will give a strong impetus to the further development of our project to transfer 3D printing technology from Earth to space for in-orbit servicing and manufacturing (IOSM) and further to the Moon to use for in-situ resources utilization (ISRU)."

Just two months before signing the deal with Nanoracks, Anisoprint was one of five startups selected for the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC) 's first global Startup Support Programme (SSP) and began their pre-incubation in April 2022. Targeting terrestrial and space applications, the SSP, managed jointly with the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to support early-stage startups in the space resources sector, develop their business models, attract their first customers, and secure their first investments.

The pre-incubation phase, which lasts three months, allowed Anisoprint to validate technical concepts for developing CFC 3D printing technology to build tools, components, repair parts, and structural elements made of composite materials in conditions of weightlessness and low gravity.

Since Anisoprint was selected for pre-incubation in ESRIC's SSP to adjust continuous fiber 3D printing technology for microgravity conditions, the team has made great strides toward expanding the resources network. Moreover, the new deal is described by Prokopiuk as the next step, deploying the technology to orbit together with Nanoracks Space Outpost Europe to demonstrate and validate how it functions.

Rendering of Nanoracks' outpost program. Nanoracks' outpost program. Image courtesy of Nanoracks.

The Luxembourg hardware OEM says it supports the development, extraction, and use of space resources. In fact, within the private space industry, many businesses are working out the logistical elements of in-space manufacturing, and 3D printing is slated to be the key to solving numerous current challenges.

Considering that the supply of spare parts and components from Earth is expensive and time-consuming, there is a need for in-space manufacturing technologies. Even though creating the manufacturing facilities and materials that will speed up space exploration will not be easy, several promising technologies boost interest in the on-site production of parts and components.

According to Anisoprint and Nanoracks, 3D printing would minimize delivery costs and shape limitations while reducing the number of delivery missions. Furthermore, Anisoprint states that its patented CFC technology creates zero waste which is environmentally efficient and does not increase the amount of space debris. In addition, it is a form of fully automated manufacturing that does not require manual labor.

Starlab, the planned LEO (Low Earth Orbit) space station designed by Nanoracks for commercial space activities. Starlab the planned LEO (Low Earth Orbit) space station designed by Nanoracks for commercial space activities. Image courtesy of Nanoracks.

Veronica La Regina, Director of Business Development at Nanoracks Europe points out that "with our plans to develop orbit stations and other space facilities to serve the market needs at the best, it is getting more and more crucial, the role of these innovative in-orbit manufacturing machines. We are looking forward to experiencing the CFC 3D-printing capabilities in our portfolio."

Anisoprint says it is eager to start working on the R&D team roadmap for the endeavor and that Luxembourg provides vital support to devise unique, innovative solutions that satisfy the needs of the space sector and secure the future orbital economy.

The post In-Space Carbon Fiber 3D Printing Tech on the Horizon for Anisoprint and Nanoracks appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

3D Printing News Briefs, June 4, 2022: Rebranding, Software, Construction, & More

Posted: 04 Jun 2022 05:30 AM PDT

Business first in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, as The Spaghetti Detective has rebranded and Formlabs sharpens its focus on global expansion. On to software next, as a 3D printing algorithm developed several years ago made its debut at RAPID. Photocentric launched a new LCD screen-based 3D printer. Finally, a new 6,000 industrial robot developed at Cornell University could lead to more efficient, sustainable construction.

The Spaghetti Detective Rebrands to Obico

Open source smart AI software The Spaghetti Detective, which detects and stops failed prints automatically, recently went through a rebranding and is now called Obico. Why the name change? The platform has introduced several new features, such as OctoPrint Tunneling and a mobile app for remote monitoring and controlling your 3D printer, and as it expanded, the name just didn’t quite cover everything it had to offer. But the name Obico isn’t all that’s new—the platform’s open source offerings have also expanded with a public API, support for plugins, and also support for the Klipper ecosystem, not just OctoPrint. The Pro Pricing has remained the same, with the exception of removing the Shop Plan, and you can check out the blog post for other relevant changes.

“We have done the plumbing work to make moving to Obico as smooth as possible for you. All your current settings in your The Spaghetti Detective account have been migrated to Obico.”

Formlabs Appoints New APAC General Manager

In an effort to continue its expansion around the world, Formlabs announced that it’s grown its global leadership team, and stepped up its commitment to the Asia Pacific AM market, by appointing Michael Agam as the new APAC General Manager. Most recently the president of South Asia at Stratasys and the former CEO of New Hope Data and MNC Solutions, Agam has over 15 years of experience in international business leadership and working with companies and technology leaders in the APAC region. Now he will play an important part in establishing and growing the company’s business there, as Formlabs continues to scale in the global market and deliver mass production and customization via 3D printing, which is expected to grow quickly over the next five years in the region.

“Formlabs is focused on global expansion to deliver mass production and customization, reduce supply chain disruption, and enable new methods of invention through 3D printing,” said Luke Winston, Formlabs Chief Business Officer. “Asia-Pacific presents a significant opportunity for Formlabs and Michael's appointment to our leadership team is an important next step. He has both a proven track record and key experience in Asia-Pacific that will be critical to successfully establishing the company in the region.”

Launch of Ulendo Software for Speeding up 3D Printing

Chinedum Okwudire and students in his lab at the University of Michigan demonstrated an early version of the FBS software in 2017. Image credit: Evan Dougherty, Michigan Engineering

In 2017, the Smart and Sustainable Automation Research Lab (S2A Lab) at the University of Michigan College of Engineering developed a filtered b-spline (FBS) software algorithm that could double the speed of 3D printing by telling the system how to compensate for vibrations. A Kickstarter campaign for the solution ran in 2020, and while it was ultimately unsuccessful at funding the software, dubbed Ulendo by its spinoff company of the same name, last year it received a $250,000 NSF research grant. The product was officially launched at the recent RAPID + TCT Conference in Detroit and is now available on the market. FBS refers to the mathematical function the team used to translate machine commands from the typical expectation to ones that would compensate for vibrations in desktop 3D printers—allowing the systems to double their speed without consuming too much energy or sacrificing accuracy, and lowering the cost per 3D printed part as well.

“If you want to reduce vibration in a moving object, most times you can do that by slowing down. But as 3D printing is already very slow, that solution creates another problem. Our solution allows you to print fast without sacrificing quality,” explained Chinedum Okwudire, Ulendo’s founder and an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan.

“Say you want a 3D printer to travel straight, but due to vibration, the motion travels upward. The FBS algorithm tricks the machine by telling it to follow a path downward, and when it tries to follow that path, it travels straight.”

Photocentric Launches Liquid Crystal Magna v.2 3D Printer

Specialist resin and LCD printer manufacturer Photocentric, which invented LCD 3D printing, has launched the latest version of its Liquid Crystal (LC) Magna system, the reengineered LC Magna v.2. The company says the versatile printer is rugged and more efficient, and offers much faster print speeds, so it’s good for on-demand, small batch, or full production applications. The LC Magna v.2 is said to deliver accurate end-use parts at scale, and offers a new hydrophobic platform, designed to reduce waste and improve productivity even further. Each one comes pre-calibrated to ensure a speedy installation, and the system is supported by a range of high-performance resins and post-processing units for an excellent value proposition.

“Magna is the jewel in the crown of Photocentric, and we're thrilled to launch this new model which builds on the solid foundations of its predecessor. The product development team has maintained everything that has made the LC Magna so popular with our customers – including its impressive build volume – whilst adding a range of features that have boosted print speeds, further improved reliability and substantially increased processing power,” stated Sally Tipping, Sales Director, Photocentric. “We are tremendously excited about the possibilities of the new Magna and can't wait to see what our customers do with it.”

Cornell’s Industrial Robot 3D Printing Powering Greener Construction

The Bovay Civil Infrastructure Laboratory Complex has a new tenant: a roughly 6,000-pound industrial robot capable of 3D printing large-scale structures that could make construction more sustainable.

Finally, Cornell University received a 6,000 lb. IRB 6650S Industrial Robot system this year, which can be used to 3D print large-scale structures more sustainably by getting rid of waste. The Bovay Civil Infrastructure Laboratory has been training users to use the versatile robotic arm system, and several medium-size test prints, like planters and benches, have been successfully completed. The robot is currently 3D printing with mortar, as anything larger could damage the pump system, but Sriramya Nair, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and her team plan to build an extruder head that can print steel fiber-reinforced concrete, so the lab can 3D print and test full bridge components. Nair, who plans to incorporate the 3D printing system into her “Sustainability and Automation: The Future of Construction Industry” class this fall, also hopes her team can develop its own mixture as well and reduce the carbon footprint. Regardless, the robotic 3D printer saves times and wastes a lot less material.

“Any time you pour cast-concrete, like for a sidewalk, you have to set up all the molds. It takes labor, materials, you have to stake it all down. All of that stuff takes a lot of time. Every change you make to a concrete structure, you have to modify the mold or get a new mold and spend labor doing that,” explained James Strait, manager of tech services for the Bovay Lab. “That is a lot more difficult than going to a computer program and saying, ‘You want this rounded?’ Click. A couple of hours and you're done.”

The post 3D Printing News Briefs, June 4, 2022: Rebranding, Software, Construction, & More appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

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