Just recently we saw how the USS Essex took to the oceans with their own metal printer for fabricating and repairing components while out to sea. This week, it’s the turn of the US Marines who have been testing their own Factory in a Box concept that will allow accurate metrology and advanced plastic and […]
The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $3 million in funding to two companies aiming to decarbonize manufacturing with robust, 3D printed resin tooling. Resin-manufacturer polySpectra and composite material specialist Fortify, along with National Renewable Energy Laboratory, MPI Systems, RePliForm Inc, and ORNL have been funded to develop direct additive automotive tooling with polySpectra's Cyclic […]
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston’s confirmed that the Royal Air Force (RAF) is working with BAE Systems to develop swarms of 3D printed …
Something, many things, have changed significantly since the last major aerospace show. For better or worse, air traffic, commercial aircraft demand, growth of the commercial space industry, VTOLs and eVTOLs …
3D Systems has entered into a new collaboration with Fleet Space Technologies, which has led to the production of innovative RF patch antennas for use on their Alpha satellite constellation. …
Velo3D, Inc., a leading metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, and Hartech Group, an advanced technology equipment supplier for the U.S. federal government, have partnered to distribute Velo3D's …
Freemelt – whose groundbreaking solutions create new conditions for rapid growth and development in 3D printing – has appointed Daniel Gidlund as its new CEO. Daniel Gidlund comes, most recently, …
Triastek, Inc., a company specializing in 3D printing of pharmaceuticals, entered into a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, a leading global pharmaceutical company, to leverage the advantages of MED …
In today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, Kurtz Ersa is offering a new metal 3D printer, and SLM Solutions reported that a major European automotive OEM purchased two more of its SLM 3D printers. Visitech has acquired Keynote Photonics to form a new division. Additivology is a new web portal to help connect education, training, and workforce development for additive manufacturing. Finally, we’ll take a look at an ultralight, 3D printed electric violin.
Kurtz Ersa Offering Multi-Axis, Multi-Laser Metal 3D Printer
Kurtz Ersa's Flying Ray has a build rate of up to 500 cm³/h
Germany-based Kurtz Ersa, which offers push-button metal 3D printers and electronics manufacturing equipment, has now added the multi-laser, multi-axis Flying Ray AM system to its portfolio. The printer uses laser beam powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) technology, and the standard Flying Ray makes it possible for 3D printing to happen in overlapping work areas, thanks to its eight arms—each with eight lasers and a swivel range of 45°. The company says the new metal printer has applications in the aerospace, automotive, research and education, and medical sectors, and is a good choice for small-batch 3D printing, building components, and tool and mold making as well.
Kurtz Ersa’s Flying Ray is said to offer a path speed up to 1 m/s, a build rate of up to 500 cm³/h, and position accuracy of +/- 25 μm. The system has a modular design, which means customers can specify the number of lasers they want, how strong the lasers should be (between 50-400 W), the desired overlap areas of the swivel arms, and the distance between, as well as number and length of, axes. Right now, the Flying Ray is able to process aluminum, stainless steel, and tool steel.
Major Automotive OEM Buys Two More SLM Solutions Systems
Metal additive manufacturing solutions provider SLM Solutions Group AG announced that a major European automotive OEM has purchased two more of its selective laser melting 3D printers. This brings the brand’s install base to more than ten SLM Solutions systems, including several SLM 280s and quad-laser SLM 500s. Over the next ten years, the global automotive market is expected to reach a volume of around 123 millions units, and much of this growth is driven by the move to EVs, which are a good application for additive manufacturing. SLM Solutions’ 3D printers have been used for automotive applications many times, including by this OEM, which uses its fleet of SLM systems to print a variety of metal parts for serial vehicle production.
“This latest sale is a testament to the quality of our systems and our commitment to making our partners realise their visions. The productivity and reliability of our systems and the innovation and support of our team make us the go-to with the world’s leading automotive OEMs. These are long-lasting relationships forged from trust and close collaboration as much as they are from metal and lasers,” said Sam O’Leary, CEO of SLM Solutions.
Visitech Americas Formed with Acquisition of Keynote Photonics
Visitech AS is a provider of high-end UV exposure subsystems that enable imaging solutions for AM, bioprinting, and direct imaging maskless lithography. The Norwegian company has acquired Texas-based Keynote Photonics, which manufactures industrial projectors and has also developed DLP industrial solutions for customers in 3D scanning metrology and medical solutions, as well as advanced display systems used in DNA analysis and Olympic ceremonies. With the acquisition, the company has announced the formation of Visitech Americas, which will act as a new subsidiary for sales, marketing, product services, and engineering to support the growing AM market in the United States and the Americas. Keynote’s staff and assets will be transitioning to new roles at Visitech Americas over the next several months.
“We are thrilled to become part of the Visitech team after working closely together for several years. The strengths of both organizations will accelerate our customers' efforts to create production-class machines that will transform manufacturing worldwide in the years to come,” stated Keynote Photonics Founder Adam Kunzman. “In addition, proximity to our customers with a full complement of manufacturing, engineering, and logistics disciplines allows us to be nimble to the market's needs.”
Additivology Connects AM Education, Training, Workforce Development
A new web portal called Additivology is a digital network that connects opportunities in education, training, and workforce development in the AM industry. A team of entrepreneurs designed the network, which works to connect students of 3D printing with industry professionals to grow the industry’s knowledge base. It also offers education, training, and workforce opportunities to students, and participating academic institutions can use Additivology to showcase their programs, courses, facilities, and degrees, while experienced professionals can join to continue refining their AM skills for career advancement. You can subscribe to the Additivology web portal for AM students and professionals here.
Additivology spokesperson Jeff Cianciola explained, “We have designed the Additivology portal to fill a void students experienced while identifying and understanding post-secondary educational institutions that offer programs in Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing. We work with schools, as well as students and industry professionals to create connections and opportunities that benefit the industry as a whole.”
The elegant violin’s body was 3D printed using HP’s MJF technology and recyclable nylon material, while the neck is made of maple wood with birch fingerboard, covered with a black carbon fiber finish, and jujube for the tuning pegs and chin rest. There’s also a 1/4″ jack to connect the instrument to an amp, a preamp powered by a 9v battery, an active/passive switch, a headphone output, and a few tone control knobs. The 3D printed Karen Ultralight electric violin retails for about €1,850, comes with a case, shoulder rest, composite bow, rosin and 9V battery, and comes in four colors: Black Piano, Pearl White, Dark Platinum, and Red Copper, seen above.
Velo3D announced that it has entered into a partnership with Hartech Group, whereby the latter will distribute Velo3D machines to US federal government agencies. The partnership will be particularly focused on providing solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD).
Hartech Group, based in Denver, provides advanced technology equipment solely to the U.S. government. Lockheed Martin Space received Velo3D's latest machine, the Sapphire XC, this past April, and Raytheon subsidiary Pratt & Whitney is currently evaluating the Sapphire X's potential for jet engine production. Since Velo3D specializes in additive manufacturing (AM) platforms for two industries most directly reliant on federal contracts — aerospace and space — Hartech's experience makes it an ideal sales partner for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
In a press release, Velo3D's founder and CEO, Benny Buller, said, "It's no secret that the federal government can be slow-moving and difficult to navigate for newcomers, but Hartech's background and capabilities will help us grow our presence with these customers so they can leverage the benefits of advanced [AM]. Director of [AM] at Hartech Group, Gary Bredael, added, "…[W]e know what it takes to not only supply the piece of technology, but also supply everything needed to make the equipment fully operable to the DoD end user."
As Braedel notes, in addition to providing the equipment, Hartech Group handles installation, training, and customer support services on behalf of its partners. Securing this sort of alliance would seem indispensable, for any company hoping to attract increasing amounts of business from the federal government, and especially the DoD, in the near future.
Additionally, it is currently both a more opportune — as well as a more urgent — moment than it ever has been for a company like Velo3D to solidify its long-term integration into the federal procurement process. That is, a brief window currently seems to have opened in which a select number of standalone AM firms will be able to ensure and enhance their future growth paths by forging ties with the forces controlling the US federal budget. This window is being signaled by broader developments such as the Biden administration's AM Forward program, as well as individual use-case projects, like the US Navy's recent successful deployment of Xerox's ElemX aboard the USS Essex.
It is uncertain, of course, exactly how brief the window will be. But the point is that there is an enormous, yet still limited, amount of government funding that will pour into the industry over the next decade: thus, the companies that establish themselves as government suppliers now will likely be the greatest beneficiaries of that funding when all is said and done.
Stock markets have obviously performed quite poorly in general over the last six months or so, and AM has been as bad as just about any other sector. In turn, until markets are less volatile, it will be difficult to utilize stock performance as a truly reliable metric to gauge the outlook for any company. On the other hand, the possibility that markets may finally be starting to hit a nadir does provide an opportunity to pay attention to which stocks are now considered "discounts" by large investors.
Along these lines, it's perhaps worth mentioning that Cathie Wood's ARK Invest purchased an as-yet-undisclosed additional quantity Velo3D two weeks ago. This comes two months after the fund bought 419,575 shares of Velo3D: which made for a total of 10.6 million shares owned by ARK, or a little over five percent, as of May, 2022.
Whether or not Cathie Wood's endorsement is still a plus is up for debate. Nevertheless, if anyone could be expected to outpace any upcoming rebound of the general market (should that eventually happen), it's probably Wood. With that in mind, the momentary ups-and-downs of the market are generally more related to sector performance than they are to the performance of individual companies. Thus, we can view this (along with other recent developments) as a potential sign that the elusive rebound of the market and that of the AM sector will happen within similar timeframes. Among other things, this means it's not unreasonable to think that AM will outperform the next sustained market rally.
Progress in additive manufacturing (AM) for aerospace continues apace, as an increasing number of 3D printed parts are incorporated into increasingly functional roles in aircraft. The latest is a complex component for the Airbus A350 passenger aircraft, which will be 3D printed by its partner Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH.
A German division of the Swiss Leibherr Group, Liebherr Aerospace will be supplying Airbus with a metal 3D printed actuator and valve for the lower cargo door of the A350. The part is an advancement on the company's previous AM work with the aviation giant.
AM collaboration between the two began as far back as 2017, when Leibherr 3D printed a spoiler actuator valve block for the A380. It 2019, the partnership evolved to serial production of 3D printed proximity sensor brackets for the nose landing gear of the Airbus A350 XWB. Those components were clearly important for the functioning of these systems, but Liebherr is saying that the latest is even more complex.
Metal 3D printing at Liebherr-Aerospace. Image courtesy of Liebherr-Aerospace.
Interestingly, Liebherr is also supporting what is said to be a competitor to Airbus, China's state-owned COMAC, for whom it is building the landing gear subsystem. 3D printing has yet to be incorporated into the partnership publicly, but it's worth noting that Liebherr has access and is developing landing gear parts for both companies.
When Airbus envisioned a fully 3D printed aircraft about a decade ago, it was hard to imagine the idea coming to fruition. However, that concept is being realized more and more every day. Just this June, Lufthansa announced that it had certified a load-bearing metal 3D printed part for Airbus's A320 airplane.
The A350 aircraft from Airbus. Image courtesy of Liebherr.
Executive editor Joris Peels has expressed his concern with the implementation of these types of components on flying aircraft. He suggested that, because every printed part is built up layer by layer, variation exists across builds and the parts themselves. This is an issue well-known in the AM industry, yet we're seeing a greater number of 3D printed components in end use applications, including passenger cars and aircraft.
While we can caution their use, we may also begin to wonder if these companies have proprietary methods for validating every item 3D printed. Perhaps, due to their size, corporations like Airbus and GM can CT scan and qualify every 3D printed part for use. Or perhaps they're willing to take the risk of installing critical elements onto passenger vehicles.
Ørsted, Denmark's largest energy company, has now partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Denmark to restore the marine biodiversity of the Kattegat Strait, the body of water between Denmark and Sweden. How? By experimenting with 3D printed reefs.
Humans Disrupt the Food Chain
Over the last three decades, the waters between Denmark and Sweden have seen a dramatic drop in the native cod population with numbers plummeting nearly 90% compared to their population in 1990. While overfishing is mainly to blame for the cod's initial decline, other underlying factors have prevented the fish from returning to healthier levels.
In the cod's absence, their main prey, the green crab, overran the ecosystem and inadvertently destroyed the seagrasses vital to protecting juvenile cod from larger predators. Without the grasses, juvenile cod were easy prey and were not able to grow to maturity. The loss of the cod threatens to disrupt the ecosystem permanently, and the lives of the thousands of people who depend on the strait daily.
WWF Denmark and Ørsted knew they needed a solution. To bring back the cod and restore balance to Kattegat, the partners turned to 3D printed reefs.
3D Printed Reefs
Artificial reefs aren't new and sea creatures are known to latch onto anything that offers them shelter in the ocean. Just look at a pier or a boat next time you're on the cost. It will surely be covered with organisms.
However, the team didn't plan to throw just anything in the ocean and call it a day. No, they wanted to engineer a habitat that would mimic the species' natural shelters, while demonstrating biocompatibility with the local area when the reef began to regenerate.
3D Printed Reefs. (Source: Ørsted)
Together, the two partners designed the tiered structures seen above, and commissioned Italian company D-Shape to print the "reefs." Using a special concrete that incorporates sand from the Kattegat seabed, the structures give the fish an ideal place to hide and nest, improving their chances of surviving against predators. These artificial reefs will complement the existing boulder reefs Ørsted built when designing the Anholt Offshore Wind Farm in 2012-2013, and they hope these twelve new shelters will be the sanctuary the fish need to regenerate the Kattegat cod population, as well as to improve the surrounding ecosystem.
Workers lowering the 3D printed reefs into the Kattegat Strait (Source: Ørsted)
It may take several years to see how effective these 3D printed reefs are at helping to restore the cod population; however, similar past initiatives have proved successful in other parts of the world. So, that could be a good omen for this project, too. While this technology won't combat rising water temperatures or the acidification of oceans, it is helpful for restoration. We are excited to watch the progress of this technology and this project moving forward, and we have our fingers crossed that 3D printing can help make a lasting impact on the Kattegat Strait.
U.S. firm Optisys has joined the Satellite Applications Catapult Co-space facility in Harwell, U.K., part of the U.K.’s 40-site Catapult network meant to accelerate the deployment of new technologies through collaboration between research institutes, governments and businesses. There are Catapults for gene therapy, drug discovery, offshore renewable energy, and other potentially impactful technologies.
3D Printed Satellite Parts
3D printing satellite components represents a potential billion-dollar opportunity, that has been underexposed considerably. In this segment in particular, Optisys and Swissto12 have a great deal of potential. Both firms have found a very particular focus area—3D printing RF components—and it’s shocking that they don’t have more competition. These are the parts that allow satellites to communicate with the ground and everywhere else—a very key area in terms of secrecy and performance. Antennas, phased arrays, synthetic aperture radars, filters, and wave guides are key components, all of which Optisys produces.
Those in RF and military aviation seem somewhat obsessed with size, weight, and power (SWaP). That is: if we install this component or system on a rocket or a plane, how much space will it take up, how much of the total allowable weight will it use, how much will it slow down the plane, how much will it actually do for the plane in relationship to how much it will cost for that vehicle? A radar may be awesome, but how much will it reduce the range of an aircraft?
Antennas, phased arrays, synthetic aperture radars, filters, and wave guides can also benefit from having reduced mass. If we assume that it costs $10,000 per kilo to launch a satellite, one could see how any weight reduction via 3D printing would immediately pay for itself. Moreover, this weight savings can be used to make other parts that last longer or put more payload on the satellite.
Antennas could also be made more conformal or feature fewer parts, which would save money and make them easier to build and integrate. This, in turn, could reduce assembly cost, which is very expensive for satellite components. All parts could be integrated together, further cutting assembly costs and mass.
The Satellite Applications Catapult
The Satellite Applications Catapult is meant to establish a complete ecosystem for building satellites. This includes sourcing parts, construction, launching, in-orbit services, and mission support. The group suggests that the site is being developed to meet the needs of the market, with demonstration support, so that organizations can showcase their new technologies and services within the U.K. itself.
"Our unique capability in a number of RF disciplines allows us to be highly useful to many upcoming space missions Having this location central to the UK Space ecosystem enables us to better support those customers,” said Adam Arnold, Vice President of Optisys UK.
"We're delighted to welcome Optisys to our facilities here in Harwell. Our Co-space is home to a fantastic community of space companies, and is a great example of how collaborative, shared workspaces can benefit organisations both individually and collectively,” stated Nafeesa Dajda, Director of National Capabilities at the Satellite Applications Catapult.
The U.K. lacks the high-tech innovation stimulus structures and research commercialization prowess of Germany, China, and the U.S. It is meant to be a knowledge economy, but doesn’t have the same venture capital (VC) heft, or deep funding for new technologies via national labs, as the U.S. Nor does it have the laser-like focus and national priorities of China. The U.K. has also marooned itself vis a vis European technology funding. A lot of that is up in the air or unlikely to pan out for Britain.
The Catapults are a more sensible idea, given the UK´s self-inflicted isolation. The endeavor is one part “Make Britain Great Again,” another part collaboration, and another part bringing new technologies to market. So, Catapults aren’t really fanciful government projects. Really, they could be pivotal in propelling companies towards commercialization and securing a better place in the technology world for the U.K.
The private space industry looks like an American race, with the only speculation currently focused on which U.S. company will dominate the commercial space sphere. In terms of billions of VC cash, panache, and government investment, the U.S. had the biggest lead and poured in the most cash. It also seems to be building the most infrastructure, giving away the most contracts, providing key regulatory work, and, by far, doing the most marketing. The country also has NASA and a whole bunch of other acronyms with technological needs and edges that are incomparable. I would assume that the James Webb and Hubble telescopes were designed for reading license plates at this point. So, the U.K. and everyone else is playing catch up. And the British method, so far, is to get some of the Americans to set up shop in the U.K.
It is quite a coup for the Catapult to get Optisys to come to Harwell, which has 200 space companies in the region already. This is because the firm is one of the few that has used 3D printing to make reduced mass, highly efficient components that will be needed on everything that flies.
The medical field is, rightly so, a highly regulated one, and you can’t really get momentum for a product until it’s received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Last summer, specialized medtech company Onkos Surgical was cleared by the FDA to market its 3D printed collar implants for musculoskeletal oncology and complex orthopedic limb salvage surgery, and now the company has announced that it has earned the coveted FDA 510(k) clearance for its My3D personalized pelvic reconstruction system, which includes 3D printed implants, models, instruments, and an advanced surgical planning tool.
“This clearance is a major milestone for Onkos Surgical as we continue to leverage our experience and expertise in 3D planning and printing to optimize patient specific solutions for complex orthopaedic conditions. We founded the company with the belief that patients with these challenging conditions deserve solutions designed specifically for them,” Onkos Surgical Co-Founder and CEO Patrick Treacy stated in a press release. “Our My3D platform and Digital Ecosystem enable us not only to provide that personalized solution faster, but also to lay the foundation for future clearances in musculoskeletal personalization.”
Onkos says that because of the FDA clearance, the pelvic reconstruction platform can meet surgical requirements in just six weeks. The company also claims that the My3D system is “the first of its kind” to include not only 3D printed patient-specific implants, models, and instruments, but also access to an advanced tool to use for planning purposes in the face of disease, deformity, trauma, and revisions that couldn’t be fixed by other treatments. The platform is used by surgeons to develop these personalized medical devices for surgeries.
“This offering from Onkos Surgical will greatly advance how I, and my colleagues treat these patients. Patients with these conditions of the pelvis have many clinical challenges. Historically, our implant options are mass produced and may not be best suited for the individuality that each patient requires. With this platform, Onkos has developed a process that allows me to virtually plan the surgery in advance and delivers a patient specific implant and instruments in a matter of weeks. It changes the way I can treat my patients,” said Matthew Seidel, MD, orthopedic surgeon with HonorHealth Orthopedics.
The My3D solution includes 3D printed patient-specific implants, with “unique” features, for acetabular reconstruction, as well as advanced reconstruction of several pelvic regions. The company says these features help with anatomic restoration accuracy, as well as encouraging soft tissue and bone attachment and growth, the latter of which is known as ossification.
My3D also offers access to the Onkos uDesign digital ecosystem, which “enables a personalized planning approach for each patient,” according to the website. Patient images, like CT scans, can be sent through a cloud-based, secure, HIPAA-compliant portal, and segmented by high-quality image processors in order to create 3D models of both hard and soft tissue. Then the surgeon, together with ONKOS technical experts, reviews the models in a virtual planning session to come up with the best pre- and intra-operative surgical solutions and ensure better patient outcomes.
In February of 2023, 3DPrint.com and SmarTech Analysis will once again be holding our Additive Manufacturing Strategies summit in New York City. This event will include keynote presentations and panels focused on nine vertical topics that are critical in the continually-growing world of additive manufacturing, including 3D printing for healthcare. Register now to join us in these important discussions!
You are subscribed to email updates from 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.
Email delivery powered by Google
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States
Dubai is not just a city of luxury and one of the world's centers of financial affairs but is also home to many interesting entrepreneurs… The post Proto21: The prototyping workshop of the 21st century appeared first on Original Prusa 3D Printers.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
3D Systems has announced a new collaboration with Fleet Space Technologies, which has led to the production of innovative RF patch antennas for use on its Alpha satellite constellation.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
3DQue Systems Inc. has announced a new system called AutoPrint3D, which it says is the first plug and play 3D printer automation system that works with any Marlin-based printer.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
CASTOR has released the latest innovation to its parts identification software, the ability to automatically analyse 2D drawings, both technically and economically and to provide recommendations on 3D printing.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Senior Content Producer Sam Davies talks to Alloyed CEO Michale Holmes about producing new materials, industry opportunities and how COVID-19 affected the merger of OxMet Technologies & Betatype.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Hartech Group, an advanced technology equipment supplier to the U.S. federal government, and Velo3D have announced a partnership to distribute Velo3D's technology to government agencies, including the Department of Defense.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
BWT Alpine F1 Team has turned to metal additive manufacturing to push the performance of its car by producing a titanium hydraulic accumulator with complete functionality in a minimised footprint.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Leading 3D printer provider SLM Solutions Group AG, has announced that the Supervisory Board has appointed Charlie Grace as member of the management board and Chief Commercial Officer with effect from July 15 2022.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
The Velo3D end-to-end metal 3D printing solutions has helped engineers produce mission-critical components that perform better, weigh less and feature more complicated geometries than ever before.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Two additively manufactured cargo links were installed on two operational MH-47G aircraft at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in support of an extended flight test program.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Fortify, a provider of 3D printers for advanced photopolymer composites, and polySpectra, a supplier of highly durable photopolymer resins, announced strategic funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
3DEO is including early-stage Design for Additive Manufacturing in its 3D printing technology service, allowing the company to uniquely solve its customers needs at any stage of the production lifecycle.
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now
Just recently we saw how the USS Essex took to the oceans with their own metal printer for fabricating and repairing components while out to sea. This week, it’s the turn of the US Marines who have been testing their own Factory in a Box concept that will allow accurate metrology and advanced plastic and […]
The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $3 million in funding to two companies aiming to decarbonize manufacturing with robust, 3D printed resin tooling. Resin-manufacturer polySpectra and composite material specialist Fortify, along with National Renewable Energy Laboratory, MPI Systems, RePliForm Inc, and ORNL have been funded to develop direct additive automotive tooling with polySpectra's Cyclic […]
Subscribe to the feed version of 3D Printing News: Latest news, research papers and interviews in a feed reader.
