3D Printers

3D printing news Sliced MIT, Kratzer, Rocket Lab, Nanoscribe, Relativity Space and Horizon Zero Dawn

Read on for an update on all the latest 3D printing news in design, research, applications and business news including Relativity Space’s test firing and detailed models from Horizon Zero Dawn.

Also featured in this edition of Sliced: the University of California San Diego, Oxford Performance Materials, the 2nd World 3D Printing Olympiad, Fan Bingbing, Kitronik, America’s top young scientist, Kratzer, Factory, Rocket Lab, MIT, Horizon 2020, PHYTEC, Nanoscribe, Materialise and Theorem Solutions.

Spare parts and animation liftoff

Kratzer has become the latest in a string of parts manufacturers to use Stratasys FDM 3D printing to optimize its production lines. Using a Forstus 450mc 3D printer, the company says it has saved around 90% on production lead times compared to traditional methods.

UK animation studio Factory, known for work on the beloved Clangers reboot, is to open a “Creative Engine” workshop in Manchester equipped with a bank of 3D printers and other fabrication tools. Phil Chalk, MD of Factory, comments, “The technology we use is at the very forefront, and combined with the traditional artisan production techniques, we have all bases covered for any show we work on, allowing us full creative freedom.”

Rocket Lab has delayed the launch of its Electron rocket, which is powered by a 3D printed Rutherford engine, for a second time due to a failed take off today.

Meanwhile, fellow Californian rocket makers Relativity Space have showed an ignition to full thrust test of the Aeon SN005 3D printed engine (watch below).

Innovation in their skin

MIT researchers have 3D printed a “living tattoo” capable of lighting up with the power of bacteria. A paper supporting the study has been published online in the journal Advanced Materials journal. It is co-authored by Xinyue Liu, Hyunwoo Yuk, Shaoting Lin, German Alberto Parada, Tzu-Chieh Tang, Eléonore Tham, Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, Timothy K. Lu and Xuanhe Zhao.

Spanish infrastructural and environmental conglomerate Acciona will be leading a new EU-funded Horizon 2020 project on materials. Named Project Mastro (Intelligent bulk MAterials for Smart TRansport industries) research will be conducted in collaboration with the University of Alicante, and nanomaterial producer Applynano Solutions. Acciona previously contributed its efforts to the development of Spain’s first 3D printed bridge, made using technology developed at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) .

An 11 year old girl has been named “America’s top young scientist” for her 3D printed invention that can detected lead levels in water.

11-year-old Gitanjali Rao has been named "America’s top young scientist” for her 3D printed Teethys device. Photo by Andy King/Discovery Education
11-year-old Gitanjali Rao has been named “America’s top young scientist” for her 3D printed Teethys device. Photo by Andy King/Discovery Education

And Somerset Community College, Kentucky, is offering a Digital Printing Technology – 3D Printing course.

Good news for doctors

University of California San Diego engineers have used 3D printing to prototype a smartphone case that can be used to monitor the blood of diabetics. Patrick Mercier, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the university explains, “Integrating blood glucose sensing into a smartphone would eliminate the need for patients to carry a separate device,”

“An added benefit is the ability to autonomously store, process and send blood glucose readings from the phone to a care provider or cloud service.”

Oxford Performance Materials (OPM) has released the results of an independent study into the antibacterial properties of 3D printed PEKK against conventional PEEK objects. The full paper, co-authored by Northeastern University’s Mian Wang and Thomas J Webster, and Garima Bhardwa from Wenzhou Medical University, can be viewed online here in the International Journal of Nanomedicine.

3D inspiration

3D artist Théo Domon, a fan of the Horizon Zero Dawn action role-play videogames, has paid homage to the latest release in the franchise with an army of 3D printed machines. Each model took between 10 and 50 hours to model, and further 10 – 70 hours to print.

A 70 hour Deathbridnger from Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds, modeled, 3D printed and painted by Théo Domon. Photo by Théo Domon
A 70 hour Deathbridnger from Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds, modeled, 3D printed and painted by Théo Domon. Photo by Théo Domon

A 15-year old student won an award in the World 3D Printing Olympiad for his 3D printed humanoid robot. In the second year of the competition, Dubai STEM initiative ATLAB awarded the grade 10 student Sharjah a trophy for his innovative use of the technology to make a scaleable, educational and cost-effective aid.

Chinese actress Fan Bingbing rocked iQiYi Scream Night in Beijing wearing a 3D printed dress by legendary fashion designer Iris Van Herpen. On the night, an “All-star Carnival” run by the popular video hosting website, Bingbing won the 2017 Annual Filmmaker Award.

Actress Fan Bingbing wears Iris Van Herpen at iQiYi Scream Night. Photo via Fan Bingbing on Facebook.
Actress Fan Bingbing wears Iris Van Herpen at iQiYi Scream Night. Photo via Fan Bingbing on Facebook.

To celebrate the festive season, electronic kit resource provider Kitronik has released a 12 Days of Christmas advent calendar challenging makers with a number of number 3D printing, microbit and LED projects.

Deals making a difference in medicine, electronics and PLM

Following participation in the DragonFly 2020 beta testing program, PCB manufacturer PHYTEC has bought two machines from Nano Dimension. The original DragonFly 2020 3D printer is now joined by the updated Pro model, and PHYTEC is to become the Isreali company’s first German reseller of the machine.

Custom medical device design company Everyyoung BioDimension, a company founded by members of China Medical University and the Aurora Group, is to help Materialise bring its Mimics Care Suite to customers across Taiwan.

Nano, micro and meso scale 3D printing specialist is Nanoscribe is celebrating a decade in the industry. The secret, according to Dr. Michael Thiel, CSO and co-founder of Nanoscribe, is “a tight connection between science and industry,” including work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. Co-founder Prof. Dr. Georg von Freymann adds, “Almost every week I hear about a new application, whether in the life sciences, micro-robotics, or metamaterials,”

“Three spinoffs have already been created based on the use of the novel possibilities that Nanoscribe’s technology offers.”

10 Years of Nanoscribe: The co-founders of Nanoscribe Dr. Michael Thiel (CSO) and Martin Hermatschweiler (CEO) manage the operational business of Nanoscribe (left to right). Photo via Nanoscribe
10 Years of Nanoscribe: The co-founders of Nanoscribe Dr. Michael Thiel (CSO) and Martin Hermatschweiler (CEO) manage the operational business of Nanoscribe (left to right). Photo via Nanoscribe

Theorem Solutions has released its 3D PDF format to aid users of product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions like 3DEXPERIENCE, CATIA V5, Creo, and Siemens NX. With the format, anybody with Adobe Reader acces can now “view and mark up 3D data, eliminating the need to install specialist viewing software” improving communication of CAD data through the production process.

Nominations for the second annual 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open. Make your selections now.

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Featured image shows the Sliced logo over a microscopic 3D print of the Brandenburg Gate. Original image via Nanoscribe GmbH