3D Printing

3D Printing News Sliced: Otterbox, Sigma Labs, Jaguar and giant LEGO

Today’s Sliced 3D printing news digest features the latest breakthroughs and stories from makers, education, business, design.

Highlighted companies include: Otterbox, 3D Hubs, Aleph Objects, Prusa Research, Matt Denton, LEGO, MindKits, Hack My Van, PrintLab, Fisher Unitech, Cimquest Inc., Sigma Labs, BeAM Machines, Renishaw, Listemann, Classic Motor Cars, Jaguar, Nanjing city China and the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center.

Makers – Otterbox, soluble supports and extra-large Lego

Premium cellphone case developer OtterBox has released a CAD file of its iPhone/iPad uniVERSE Case System with a built-in rail mount.

The configurable design has been produced in collaboration with Aleph Objects, makers of the Lulzbot line of 3D printers, and service bureau 3D Hubs.

Interestingly, the case has been created to encourage creatives to 3D print their own accessories, which is in a similar vein to a recent design challenge for Indiegogo’s Mokacam action camera, and the mounting range of attachments available for GoPro devices.

Get creative with an Otterbox CAD file. Photo via Otterbox
Get creative with an Otterbox CAD file. Photo via Otterbox

RepRap 3D printer developer Prusa Research has released a software update making it easier to 3D print water-soluble supports.

And YouTube Maker/Creator of the Mantis Robot Matt Denton and his 8-year-old nephew Ruben, go head to head in a challenge to build a regular and supersized, 3D printed LEGO car.

Mantis Hacks E7 – Giant LEGO Build [kit 1972] Clip via Matt Denton on YouTube

Education – 3D printing’s got wheels

MindKits, a reseller of Ultimaker 3D printers in New Zealand, won first prize in 2017’s Mercedes-Benz “Hack My Van” competition with a pitch for a mobile 3D printer workshop deliverable to schools.

The winning team. Mercedes Benz Hack My Van 2017. Photo via SmartCompany
The winning team. Mercedes Benz Hack My Van 2017. Photo via SmartCompany

UK education initiative PrintLab has also released an affordable 3D Printing Starter Package for Education complete with actionable lesson plans and guidebook.

Nick Mayor, Business Development Manager at PrintLab, explains, “This is not just a bundle, it’s an educator’s journey,”

“[The package is] coupled with a 160 page teacher handbook that leads teachers through training, activities, knowledge, confidence building and gives them a comprehensive set of tools in order to teach 3D Printing efficiently and effectively.”

A treasure trove of 3D printing activities and tools. Photo via PrintLab
A treasure trove of 3D printing activities and tools. Photo via PrintLab

Business – North America, Taiwan, and Germany

American 3D printing reseller and training provider Fisher Unitech has signed a deal to take over Cimquest Inc. Stratasys distribution in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

Digital-CAN Tech has become the non-exclusive sales agent of Sigma Labs metal 3D printing services and materials in Taiwan.

Planetary Gears 3D printed using PrintRite3D inspection software. Features the motto "Quality Beyond Inspection" Photo via @Sigmalabsinc on Twitter
Planetary Gears 3D printed using PrintRite3D inspection software. Features the motto “Quality Beyond Inspection” Photo via @Sigmalabsinc on Twitter

BeAM Machines are hosting a Open House for its new 20,000 square foot facility in Cincinnati from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on August 31, 2017. In a tour of the facility visitors will be shown a live demonstration of the firm’s 5 axis Magic 2.0 machine.

And metal 3D printer specialist Renishaw, has announced that it will be presenting the product of a 6-year collaboration with aviation & aerospace service provider Listemann at formnext 2017.

iQtemp, a solution-oriented service for conformal temperature control will be demonstrated in Frankfurt 14 – 17 November 2017.

Design – bridges, buildings and cars

Nanjing city in China has received the country’s, and potentially world’s, first 3D printed bridge railings made from layered cement.

Reports state that the railings are capable of withstanding 60 MPa of force, matching the strength of other reinforced concrete structures.

A bridge too far? Nanjing's 3D printed bridge photos via jiangsu.sina
A bridge too far? Nanjing’s 3D printed bridge photos via jiangsu.sina

Classic Motor Cars, an auto shop based in UK county of Shropshire, has used 3D printing to help perform the 6,725 hour “full nut and bolt restoration” of a Pininfarina produced XK120 SE, one of the rarest Jaguar models ever made.

The one of a kind Jaguar XK120 SE restored to its former glory. Photo via Classic Motor Cars, UK
The one of a kind Jaguar XK120 SE restored to its former glory. Photo via Classic Motor Cars, UK

Bonus breakthroughs – hearts for children in China

According to Xinhua and CCTV, the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center has introduced specialist 3D printing facilities for children undergoing heart operations. The center is providing the philanthropic care in collaboration with Materialise NV.

Ma Wenming, grandfather to a child who has benefited from the program, says, “Our children have the world’s latest 3D printing technology. We are so lucky. Moreover the fees including transportation, accommodation, diagnosis and treatment were all free. We are really grateful.”

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Featured image: Extra-large 3D printed LEGO wheels by Matt Denton. Photo via Mantis Robot on Instagram.