Sliced in today’s 3D printing news digest: EnvisionTEC, ITRI, Materialise, Ricoh, Concept Laser, Autodesk, GE, Cooksongold, BMC Gioielli, EOS, ProPhotonix, Mazak, 3DCeram, 3D Matters, Model Solution and a gender-fluid Instructable from designer Robb Godshaw.
Model Solution to offer 24 hour support with new North American HQ
Adding to its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, product development solutions provider Model Solution has opened a North American HQ in California’s Silicon Valley. With rapid prototyping services and customer support, the new facility allows the company to provide round-the-clock support to its customers, strengthening its market position on an international scale.
ProPhotonix 3D printer laser module provisions hits 50k
LED and laser OEM ProPhotonix (AIM: PPIX) has announced the successful delivery of over 50,000 light modules for use in 3D printers and scanners. The modules have found particular proliferation inside UV operated SLA 3D printers, for which the company have ensured long life and repeatability of light quality.
Jeremy Lane, Managing Director of ProPhotonix Limited UK, comments,
ProPhotonix’ manufacturing expertise and the flexible design of its product along with our many years of experience with laser diode technology has allowed it to react quickly to this rapidly developing market. We are pleased to have reached this milestone of laser module sales.
Italian jewelers partner with Cooksongold and EOS for precious metal 3D printing
BMC Gioielli, a jewelry maker based in Valenza, Italy, has entered into a partnership with materials supplier Cooksongold. The collaboration between the companies is to leverage capabilities of the EOS PRECIOUS M 080 direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) system for metals such as gold and silver.
Carlo Massavelli, CEO and Chairman of BMC, comments,
We are always looking to incorporate the latest technology and production possibilities. Direct Precious Metal 3D printing with the M 080 system provides us with another tool and production method which will ensure we can continue to push the boundaries of jewel and watch creation.
Autodesk releases spring roadmap update
Award winning 3D software developer Autodesk has released an update to its roadmap based on lessons learned throughout 2016. The strategy pulls focus to three key goals in quality control, functionality, and connectivity. This includes improvements to error identification within a 3D model, offline operability enhanced compatibility of CAD files, and specific features for sheet metal modeling.
The full roadmap can be viewed in further detail here.
Ricoh signs distribution agreement with EnvisionTEC
Electronics company Ricoh, headquartered in Tokyo, is to enter into an agreement with 3D printer manufacturers EnvisionTEC. Commencing later in 2017, the contract will see Ricoh providing EnvisionTEC 3D printers, materials, training and support to customers across Japan.
A demonstration of the company’s patented DLP 3D printer technology will also be exhibited by Ricoh at the 28th Design Engineering & Manufacturing Solutions Expo in Tokyo June 21 – 23.
The Rider of Unlingen rises from the ground using Concept Laser technology
Concept Laser’s Mlab cusing powder-bed fusion technology has been used to replicate a bronze relic uncovered from a Celtic burial site in Germany. Believed to be almost 2,800 years old, the Rider of Unlingen is an incredibly rare find, representing one of the oldest depictions of horse riding north of the Alps.
With the replica, Concept Laser opens up the research possible with such an object. Nicole Ebinger-Rist, head conservator at the Baden-Württemberg State Office for the Preservation of Monuments, comments,
It’s simply overwhelming. 3D printing is a wild technology. Every archeological find has it’s own magic, especially when they are as unique as the “Rider of Unlingen.” When you’re holding a reproduction which resembles the original one-to-one, it’s a very special thing, and very important for further research. Whole new possibilities are being opened up to curators, conservators and scientists.
Concept Laser’s M2 Cusing machines are also to be equipped with GE’s Predix technology, allowing customers to remotely monitor machines. A similar productivity initiative has also recently been launched by 3D Systems, incoporating PTC’s ThingWorx platform into its 3D printers.
Poland’s FIBERLABs launch new high performance 3D printer filament
FIBERLAB’s Fiberology filament range has a new addition in Fiberflex 40D. In addition to flexibility, the material is capable of resisting temperature fluctuations from -40 °C up to 70°C.
ITRI unveils Materialise-powered large scale metal 3D printing platform
Taiwan’s government-funded Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has developed an in-house laser metal deposition (LMD) machine capable of making components up to 50cm³. The metal 3D printer uses software developed by Materialise. 3D Printing Industry recently spoke with Materialise CEO Fried van Craen, you can read the full interview here.
According to ITRI general director Tsau Fang-hei, the platform reduces thermal deformation caused in other processes by up to 30%.
3D printed ceramics partnership to distribute products in the UK
3DCeram is bringing its Ceramaker line of 3D printer products to the UK market through a partnership with 3D Matters Ltd. Richard Gaignon, Co-Director of 3DCeram, comments,
This partnership between 3DCeram and 3D Matters is a new step forward for our company. We are committed to exporting our skills to new markets, providing much-needed expertise to companies across the Channel. And by pooling our talent, we can reinforce our engineering methods, production processes, maintenance and support capabilities for maximum impact on the industry.
Mazak debuts hybrid AM machine as industry 4.0 solution
The VARIAXIS j-600AM wire-arc based additive manufacturing machine from Mazak has made its first European appearance at EMO 2017 in Hannover. The Japanese company have introduced the machine as one of its range of solutions designed with the cyber-physical industry 4.0 in mind.
The machine operates on 5-axis, and combines traditional CNC milling with 3D metal printing technology from a wire feedstock.
Laser additive manufacturing of a tire mold on the VARIAXIS j-600AM. Clip via MazakEurope on YouTube.
3D printed sign challenges the “absurd” tradition of bathroom signs
Robb Godshaw is a Carnegie Mellon graduate and former artist-in-residence at Autodesk’s Pier 9, home to the Project Escher 5 head 3D printer. In his latest 3D printing project on Instructable, Godshaw has created a sign that changes between the typical male and female graphics found on bathroom doors.
Sharing his reasoning behind the sign, Godshaw explains,
In the USA, recent transphobic legislation has tried to delegitimize the basic need of trans folk to use a bathroom. Many progressive institutions have thankfully responded by systematically de-gendering their toilet facilities. Here is a sign that might help in such an effort. My sign acknowledges the absurdity of the traditional signs, which fail to recognize that:
- There more than two genders
- That women can wear pants, and men can wear dresses.
- That gender is not related disposal of excrement
Transformation of the Gender Fluid Sign. Clip via Robb Godshaw on YouTube
For the latest 3D printing news sign up to our free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Featured image: Sliced logo over the bronze Rider of Unlingen replicated through the powder bed-based laser melting of metal. Original image via: Concept Laser
