This edition of our 3D printing news digest Sliced poses and answers the following questions: Ever wanted to Pokémon cosplay with your dog? What materials will be used to 3D print the aircraft of the future? What new 3D printing medical applications will come out of Mitsui Chemicals’ latest investment?
All this and more from Materialise, Hexcel, Thingiverse, SolidWorks and Additive Industries. Plus – watch Rick Perry wrestle with a dog-bone.
3D printed Pokémon masks and a model of the Antwerp City Hall
As part of an exhibition highlighting the biggest urban development projects in Antwerp, Belgium, Materialise has 3D printed a large scale model of Antwerp City Hall using their Mammoth Stereolithography 3D printers. The 3D printed city hall is 1.7 meters wide.
A Thingiverse user, Aolesin, has created a 3D printable Cubone mask for Pokémon loving dog owners. Get the model here.
Vacuum safety and a matte PLA filament
Ruwac, a manufacturer of industrial vacuum systems, is releasing the NA26 immersion separation vacuum. Additive manufacturing spaces using explosive or impact sensitive materials may produce dust residue near ignition sources, running the risk of explosions. The NA26 safely collects explosive or hot media particles entering the vacuum by immediately submerging them in a turbulent liquid bath.
ColorFabb have released a new 3D printing filament, PLA Semi-Matte Black. The new filament reduces the glossy appearance of 3D prints with PLA. It does this whilst containing no fibers, which allows designers and engineers to use the printing settings and temperatures they are accustomed to with most PLA filaments.
The latest partnerships and acquisitions
High-performance materials companies, Hexcel and Arkema are partnering to develop carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic tapes for the aircraft of the future. A joint research and development laboratory will be opened in France.
TriMech, a reseller of SolidWorks CAD software and Stratasys 3D printers, is partnering with CNC software developer CAMWorks. The partnership aims to provide TriMech clients with support and machining capabilities to better integrate design and manufacturing processes.
B9Creations, has received a minority investment from Mitsui Chemicals, a subsidiary of the Mitsui Group. B9Creations will leverage Mitsui’s extensive networks in healthcare materials with the goal of developing new 3D printing applications.
Metal 3D printer company SLM Solutions’ current Chief Technology Officer, Henner Schöneborn, will not be continuing his role after his term ends on June 30th. Schöneborn says the decision was “amicably made, swayed by personal reasons.” The new CTO will start August 1st, and will be named soon.
3D printed prosthesis manufacturer Create Orthotics & Prosthetics, has named Cecilia Schaffer as their new CEO and Chair of the Board of Managers. Former CEO Jeff Erenstone will assume the role of Chief Technology Officer. Erenstone said “we know Cissi has the skills and expertise to take us to the next level and beyond. This will allow me to fully embrace my role as Chief Technology Officer.”
FIT America, part of the German FIT Additive Manufacturing Group, has announced Bruce Colter as its Vice President. Colter said “We need to instill confidence in our customers’ minds that AM will provide immediate benefits and a path to Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) benefits. In coming days, I will be presenting what I call our ‘Moore’s Law for AM’ which is an approach to successful AM implementation”
Additive Industries is set to move their headquarters to a new factory close to their current site, by April 2nd. The new location will consolidate their headquarters with their Test Operations and Development and System Assembly branches, currently spread over two facilities in Eindhoven.
3D printing system supplier Laser Lines has purchased a second Stratasys Fortus 450mc to address high demand for 3D printing of Nylon 12CF material in jigs, fixtures and small batch production of end use parts. Nylon 12CF is known for its tensile strength and durability.
Matsuura, a provider of manufacturing equipment, is now an authorised reseller of the HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing range.
Yesterday, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry hosted a question and answer session at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. As Secretary of Energy, Perry oversees the running of Berkeley lab, as well as the 16 other national laboratories under the DOE.
During the session Perry said “One of the things that I enjoy as much about this job as anything, is going and telling the uninitiated about what’s happening at the national labs in this country. Your engagement in the future of the sciences, in innovation and knowledge, is invaluable.”
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Featured image shows Materialise’s model of Antwerp City hall. Photo via Materialise.
