3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing |
- Nano Dimension Buys a Chunk of 3D Printing Stalwart Stratasys
- New Technique Reduces Metal 3D Printing Waste
- Bosch and BASF Create World’s First 3D Printed Ceramic Microreactor
- 3DPOD Episode 112: America Makes Executive Director John Wilczynski
- America Makes and Ultimaker Partner to Donate 3D Printers
- 3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: July 17, 2022
| Nano Dimension Buys a Chunk of 3D Printing Stalwart Stratasys Posted: 18 Jul 2022 08:41 AM PDT Nano Dimension (Nasdaq: NNDM) has been on an acquisition spree over the past year, picking up smaller businesses that can strengthen its portfolio. Its most recent buy, however, isn't so small. The U.S.-Israeli electronics 3D printing firm has purchased 12.12% of the outstanding ordinary shares of 3D printing stalwart Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS). With its DragonFly IV 3D printer, Nano Dimension enables customers the ability to produce printed circuit boards (PCBs) with complex geometries. So far, Nano Dimension's revenues have been solid, with the company generating $521 million in 2020 and $607 million in 2021. This has given it the ability to acquire several firms that will make up an increasingly advanced additively manufactured electronics (AME) platform.  Nano Dimensions’ electronics 3D printing process. Image courtesy of Nano Dimension. The purchase of Nanofabrica brings micro additive manufacturing (AM) capabilities to the company, while its acquisition of Deep Cube powers machine learning for improved quality control. Buying Essemtec adds electronics assembly. Most recently, Nano Dimension grabbed Admatec and Formtec, the exact implications of which for AME is still unknown. However, it's possible that these open up the ability to 3D print metal and ceramic parts for PCBs. Moreover, they provide additional revenue streams for Nano Dimension. Now, Nano Dimension has taken out a chunk of Stratasys shares, which could give it a say in the firm's business decisions, allow the two companies to grow one another mutually, and give it more funds going forward. This is particularly important since, as one of the most established original equipment manufacturers (OEM) in the 3D printing space, Stratasys has the largest market share of any AM OEM.  Stratasys sintered parts processed with DyeMansion coloring technology. Image courtesy of Stratasys. Stratasys's market share, however, has also been declining year over year. It has swapped out CEOs regularly since the consumer 3D printing bubble of 2014. Though it had its strongest quarter in Q1 of 2021, it's also been operating at increasing losses since 2019. Meanwhile, Stratasys has made its own purchases, including that of Xaar to power its new polymer sintering technology, as well as Origin and RPS to give it vat photopolymerization technologies. Interestingly, Stratasys also sold MakerBot to Ultimaker, while also investing in the latter company. Altogether, it has one of the widest technology portfolios after 3D Systems, including its material extrusion process and inkjet. Inkjet, in particular, should complement the inkjet process of Nano Dimension's own Dragon Fly IV system, which 3DPrint.com saw in person earlier this year.
Given that, through its 2012 merger with Objet, Stratasys is also partially Israeli, the synergies with Nano Dimension are strong. If the two were to form a single entity, it would create the only major OEM capable of electronics 3D printing. Though this is still an emerging sector, it's obvious that companies ranging from Google to Apple, as well as every major military, is researching electronics 3D printing. So, the prospect of a complete merger would be an enticing one. 3DPrint.com's Matt Kremenetsky suggested that a major 3D printer OEM purchase an AME firm and it's possible that that could play out, though not exactly as envisioned. The post Nano Dimension Buys a Chunk of 3D Printing Stalwart Stratasys appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. |
| New Technique Reduces Metal 3D Printing Waste Posted: 18 Jul 2022 06:30 AM PDT In the process of re-using powder for metal 3D printing, splattered metal, known as powder condensate, must be sieved out and disposed of. Now, the Additive Manufacturing Green Trade Association (AMGTA) has created a report outlining a new method from Sintavia and KBM Advanced Materials for rendering the material safe for transport and recycling. As a result, this waste can be shipped without polluting the ecosystem and then converted into new metal feedstock. Out with the OldAmong its activities, AMGTA researches additive manufacturing (AM) practices to understand and improve its sustainability. Within this purview, 3D printing service bureau Sintavia examined its metal powder bed fusion (PBF) operations to minimize adverse environmental effects, specifically pollution from powder condensate.  Concept Laser metal 3D printer at Sintavia facilities. Image courtesy of Sintavia. First of all, the solidified particles from metal alloy evaporation during the PBF process result in an additional waste stream. In order to keep limit the changes that the material might ignite, Sintavia mixes it with silicon oil and sand, thus passivating it. However, this makes it economically unfeasible to recover the metal powder and renders transportation dangerous. In with the NewFor this reason, Sintavia turned to a resin developed by KBM, which turns waste into a non-hazardous mixture that is easy to transport. The mixture reduces danger during transportation and improves the powder condensate's recyclability. The AMGTA created the passivation report to determine the sustainability levels of metal production and transportation, educating manufacturers on ways to reduce powder condensate pollution. This includes the collection of soot and material waste from passivation for processing. The circular economy shrinks the gap between material mining and product manufacturing. It relies on recycled goods to reduce transportation emissions and ecosystem disruption. Minimizing pollution prevents climate change effects and environmental exploitation. When Will KBM’s Material Hit the Market?The passivation technology currently has a pending patent. The team expects the technology to transition out of the testing phase soon. Sintavia's waste reduction technology may significantly improve manufacturing sustainability. The post New Technique Reduces Metal 3D Printing Waste appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. |
| Bosch and BASF Create World’s First 3D Printed Ceramic Microreactor Posted: 18 Jul 2022 06:00 AM PDT Bosch recently partnered with The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and BASF to create the world’s first technical ceramic 3D printed microreactor. This first-of-its-kind microreactor plans to aid German chemical giant BASF in understanding its chemical reactions with more precision than before, potentially offering insights into chemistry that have yet to be gained. Technical ceramics, also known as advanced or engineered ceramics, have been around since 1902 and are widely used throughout society. Their properties can easily be tuned to a specific application by changing the chemical composition or manufacturing process. These properties include the ability to withstand high temperatures, exhibit high hardness, and display excellent insulation. This makes them very attractive materials to use, and it’s no wonder why many companies are exploiting these benefits.  Cross sectional render of a 3D printed technical ceramic microreactor. (Source: Bosch Advanced Ceramics) For this reason, an ideal application for these materials can be found in microreactors. Traditionally, it has been difficult to machine the small and intricate internal structures a microreactor truly needs. As a result, these devices offer limited control over temperature and the material flow within. Additive manufacturing (AM), therefore, presents a novel solution. By 3D printing a microreactor with complex internal structures, it would be possible to obtain better insights into chemical reactions more quickly.  Image inside a Bosch ceramic 3D printer from Lithoz. (Source: Bosch Advanced Ceramics) Limited by off-the-shelf ceramic microreactors, BASF sought the aid of Bosch’s Advance Ceramics Division and KIT. 3D printing allowed them to build the complex internal structures needed and do it at a size (0.5 mm minimum channel width) that would allow BASF researchers to accurately monitor and control the chemical reactions within. After many trials, the team successfully created a process to manufacture the world’s first 3D-printed technical ceramic microreactor. The first device is now being used by BASF to study its chemical reactions under ideal conditions. So far, the device is working better than BASF expected, and the company already has plans to order 10-20 more from Bosch. If this new microreactor continues to show promise, it could glean valuable new insights that wouldn't be possible with the current technology. We would love to see how this partnership proceeds in the future and just how small channels can be made. If channel size is the limiting factor, then the group could find a way to shrink channel size further while keeping the costs of new microcreactors reasonable. Every lab needs better equipment, and BASF isn’t the only company interested in understanding chemical reactions better. Bosch may have just opened up a whole new market niche for ceramic 3D printing. The post Bosch and BASF Create World's First 3D Printed Ceramic Microreactor appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. |
| 3DPOD Episode 112: America Makes Executive Director John Wilczynski Posted: 18 Jul 2022 05:30 AM PDT John Wilczynski is the Executive Director of America Makes. Established a decade ago, America Makes performs research coordination, workforce training and education, standards development, and more for the additive manufacturing industry. John tells us about the progress that the organization has made and the projects that they are involved in. We get a look at some of the technological challenges that America Makes is trying to solve and others that don’t fit into its purview. We also get to see just how you can bring an industry together. You can learn more about America Makes initiatives and many of its member companies' initiatives too, at the MMX Conference in Youngstown, OH (Aug. 16-18, 2022). The post 3DPOD Episode 112: America Makes Executive Director John Wilczynski appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. |
| America Makes and Ultimaker Partner to Donate 3D Printers Posted: 18 Jul 2022 05:00 AM PDT America Makes and Ultimaker have announced a partnership to donate more than 20 3D printers to communities around the United States, with a particular emphasis on encouraging diversity in the industry. The partnership is especially focused on creating opportunities in 3D printing for young women. To accomplish this, America Makes will donate the Ultimaker printers to middle and high schools, community organizations, and nonprofits. In addition to the equipment donations, America Makes will be performing educational outreach with the recipients, to provide information on how their organizations can receive both in-person and virtual additive manufacturing (AM) training.  Additionally, the press release notes that Ultimaker will provide a software program and training information to those receiving the printers, as well. Finally, it should be noted that in order to be eligible, organizations hoping to receive a printer must complete a partnership agreement with America Makes.  As technology is increasingly able to speak for itself, and AM supply chains form, it becomes clearer all the time, how the final piece of the puzzle is a significant increase in individuals with the technical know-how. Moreover, the industry should of course welcome an influx of labor from any demographic. At the same time, there is the most justification for narrowing the focus in the way American Makes and Ultimaker are, here. In the long run, the industry can't grow without reaching as many school-age individuals as possible, and no one is going to take seriously any industry run by a bunch of middle-aged white guys. And, most importantly of all, endeavors such as this one reinforce exactly what people love about 3D printing: the potential to maximize the possibilities of what human beings can make. Young people seem to innately appreciate this potential more than any other group, and ultimately have the most to offer the industry in terms of imagination. The post America Makes and Ultimaker Partner to Donate 3D Printers appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. |
| 3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: July 17, 2022 Posted: 17 Jul 2022 05:30 AM PDT A range of topics will be covered during webinars and events this week, such as Multi Jet Fusion technology, military policy on additive manufacturing, 3D printed textiles and dental crowns, and more. Read on for all the details! July 19 – 21: The Experience Stratasys Tour Continues
First, the Experience Stratasys tour continues this week on the east coast of the U.S. On Tuesday, July 19th, the tour comes to Stony Creek Brewery in Branford, Connecticut, hosted by CADimensions. On the 20th, it will stop at the TriMech office in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and will then go to the R&D Technologies Office in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
You can register for the Stratasys Experience Tour here. Stay tuned for more dates and locations in the future! July 19 – 21: Forged Tour Part Deux
Also from July 19-21, Markforged continues its global Forged Tour Part Deux across the U.S. and in the United Kingdom. There will be three stops on Tuesday, July 19th, starting in Lake City, Florida at the Tavern Brewery and Irish Pub at 3:30 pm EST with Phillips, then to Gulf Stream Brewery & Pizzeria in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at 4 pm EST with Access Manufacturing Systems, and finally on to Yellowhammer Brewing in Huntsville, Alabama at 5 pm EST with MLC CAD. On the 20th, the tour hits Whalers Brewing Company in South Kingstown, Rhode Island with Access Manufacturing Systems at 4 pm EST. On the 21st, the tour again joins with Phillips, this time at Iron Hand Brewing, LLC in Mobile, Alabama at 4:30 pm EST. In the UK, the tour goes to The Boardroom, Arena Office, Holyrood Place, in Holyrood Close, Poole with the CREAT3D team, from 9:30 am to 4 pm BST on Wednesday the 20th. Finally, on the 21st, the tour will be at the Birmingham headquarters of Mark3D UK Limited from 9:30 am until 3 pm BST.
Stay tuned for more dates and locations in the future! July 19: America Makes Virtual Membership Town Hall
At 11 am EST on the 19th, America Makes is holding a Virtual Membership Town Hall. The hour-long meeting will be focused on the history of the organization, as well as its future.
You can register for the Town Hall here. July 19: HP 3D Printing Briefing
Also on the 19th, HP is hosting a Live 3D Printing Briefing at 12 pm EST. Attendees will learn about how HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology works and its applications, and hear from two customers: James Teuber, the Founder and CEO of RE3DTECH, and Jonathan Diamond, Owner, Central Sound Corp. HP’s 3D Printing Customer Program Manager Carolina Rubio and Application Engineer Wes Kramer will also be speaking.
You can register for the webinar here. July 20: Solving ESD Manufacturing Challenges with 3D Printing
If you’re interested in the intersection of 3D printing and electrostatic discharge, also known as ESD, you’ll want to tune in this webinar by Fortify and Global SMT & Packaging, “Can 3D Printing Solve Your ESD Manufacturing Challenges?” The webinar will be held at 11 am EST on Wednesday, July 20th. The speakers will be Fortify co-founder Randy Erb, who’s also the co-founder of Boston Materials, LLC and an associate professor in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering department at Northeastern University, and Ben MacDonald, Senior Applications Engineer at Fortify.
You can register for the webinar here. July 20: Fortify, Averatek, & America Makes
Speaking of Fortify, it’s co-hosting another webinar on the 20th, but at 2 pm EST, on “Insertion Loss of 3D Printed Selectively Metallized Microstrip Circuits on Low-Loss Dielectric with Varied Surface Roughness.” As part of the America Makes TRX Webinar Series, Colby Hobart of Fortify and Mike Vinson of Averatek will discuss the partnership between the two companies to create a series of microstrip parts in order to study surface roughness effects on insertion loss for low-loss dielectrics, 3D printed using Averatek’s selective metallization with plated copper on the Fortify FLUX CORE Continuous Kinetic Mixing (CKM) printer, from Rogers Corporation’s Radix material. Their results showed that despite a wide variation in surface roughness, there was very little in insertion loss.
You can register for the webinar here. July 20: ASME on Distributed Manufacturing with Metal AM
Also at 2 pm on the 20th, ASME will hold a webinar about how to use advanced metal 3D printing to enable resilient supply chains in “Print, Replace, & Repeat: Distributed Manufacturing with Metal AM.” Attendees will hear about how to scale the AM supply chain, the role industry- and manufacturing-level standardization have on successful part repeatability, the role of post-processing in the wider manufacturing process, how advanced metal AM can reduce part cost and improve lead times, and more. Speakers will be Carlo De Bernardi, Staff Engineer at ConocoPhillips, and Velo3D Technical Sales Engineers SJ Jones and Sid Raje.
You can register for the webinar here. July 20: AM Coalition on Military Policy of AM
The Additive Manufacturing Coalition is holding another webinar this week, this one open to the public, about “AM Defense Policy.” The forum, at 3 pm EST on Wednesday the 20th, will be sponsored by SPEE3D, and the speakers will be Dr. Arun Seraphin, Deputy Director, Emerging Technologies Institute, National Defense Industrial Association; Rachael Andrulonis, Director, Advanced Materials Research Senior Scientist, Wichita State University; and Jim Monroe, Senior Director of Defense & Eastern Region for SPEE3D. You can RSVP for the Zoom forum here. July 21: Meltio’s Wire DED Applications
At 9 am EST on Thursday, July 21st, Meltio is holding a webinar about its “Wire-laser DED Applications.” Attendees will get a brief introduction to Meltio and its product portfolio, and then learn about the how-to and benefits of wire-based processes, technical and business drivers to identify wire-laser applications, and more. There will also be time for Q&A.
You can register for the webinar here. July 21: 3D Textile Printing with Stratasys
We’ve been hearing a lot about 3D printing textiles for fashion since Stratasys launched its J850 TechStyle PolyJet printer, and now you’ll have a chance to learn even more in a webinar at 12 pm EST on the 21st, “Advanced Prototyping and Manufacturing with Stratasys 3D Printing on Textile Technology.” Attendees will learn about the “unlimited possibilities” of 3D printing on textiles in the product development process from Designer Eric Fickas and Soft Goods Specialist Daniel McKewen of Priority Designs, and manufacturing luxury fashion products from Eva Monachini, the R&D Manager of Dyloan.
You can register for the webinar here. July 21: 3D Printing Single Crowns in the Dental Office
Finally, Dr. Daniel Vasquez, DDS, an advanced cosmetic and general dentist in San Diego, will explain how to 3D print a definitive single crown in-office using the SprintRay 3D printing ecosystem and biocompatible, FDA-cleared SprintRay Crown resin by BEGO. The webinar, “3D Printing Single Crowns In-Office,” will take place at 7 pm EST on the 21st, and Dr. Vasquez will also discuss 3D printing for inlays, onlays, and veneers, as well as how restorative 3D printing can increase case acceptance and improve in-office efficiency.
You can register for the webinar here. CE credit will be awarded to those who attend. 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: July 17, 2022 appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing. |
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