Education

3D printing news Sliced: United Nations, Mini, Rocket Lab, Sciaky and more

Today Sliced, our regular 3D printing news digest, features the latest educational innovations from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, I-Form, the Advanced Forming Research Centre, the Beijing Institute of Technology and more.

From industry, we see how cutting edge 3D printing applications are underway at MINI, Rocket Labs and Kleos Space. There is also an update on the drones getting the attention of the United States Army.

Read on for this and other news including the U.N.’s perspective on additive and recent developments in 3D printed food.

Cooking up new ideas

A series of educational partnerships are boosting 3D printing innovation this week.

The National Institute of Technology, Trichy (NIT-T) in India is to become the site of a Siemens Centre of Excellence, complete with automation, robotics and additive manufacturing hardware.

Ireland’s newly opened I-Form Advanced Manufacturing Research Center for 3D printing and digital technologies has confirmed the Waterford Institute of Technology in South-East Ireland as a partner.

The Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, has enhanced its additive manufacturing capabilities in a CAD-for-CAM software supply partnership with Open Mind Technologies.

Research from Beijing Institute of Technology discusses the potential of 3D printed chiral metamaterials. The results of the study are available to read online in Scientific Reports journal. The paper is co-authored by Wenwang Wu, Dexing Qi, Haitao Liao, Guian Qian, Luchao Geng, Yinghao Niu & Jun Liang.

A school in Canning Town, London, is 3D printing dinners to encourage more students to get involved in STEM-related subjects.

And, in an extension of 3D printing’s culinary flair, Elzelinde van Doleweerd, a graduate of Eindhoven University of Technology (TUe) has partnered with Beijing’s 3D Food Company in an inventive way to make use of waste produce.

3D printed food by Elzelinde van Doleweerd. Photo via Elzelinde van Doleweerd/
3D printed food by Elzelinde van Doleweerd. Photo via Elzelinde van Doleweerd

3D printing in the wider manufacturing industry 

As the 3D printing industry awaits the main event of the second half of the year, formnext 2018, a number of relevant cross-industry shows are taking place throughout October.

From from October 9th to October 11th advanced manufacturing service provider CRP USA is showcasing the potential of Windform 3D printing materials for aerospace at Satellite Innovation 2018 in California.

And, across the same dates in Düsseldorf, SLM Solutions will be exhibiting additive manufacturing’s capabilities at the ALUMINIUM world trade fair.

In addition, 3D printed drones from sport utility aircraft company AXIX GP feature at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference this week in Washington DC.

Taking off in automotive and aerospace

3D Printing Industry Awards 2018 nominee Mini has launched a limited edition Cooper S GT Edition that incorporates 3D printed accents. Making use of the company’s MINI Yours Customised facility the car is available in a limited run of 150 cars.

Made using flexible 3D printed materials Avicrobot, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, has launched a rehabilitative robot to help people walk again.

And U.S. aerospace company Rocket Lab, after successfully reaching orbit with its 3D printed rocket engine in January 2018, has signed a contract with Luxembourgian satellite company Kleos Space. With Rocket Lab, Kleos Space aims to launch Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites on scouting missions for defense.

Hot fire testing of Rocket's Lab Rutherford engine. Photo via Rocket Lab
Hot fire testing of Rocket’s Lab 3D printed Rutherford engine. Photo via Rocket Lab

3D printing on the U.N. agenda

The United Nations recently published the World Economic and Social Survey 2018 focusing on technology’s ability to meet the organization’s goals for the next 12 years. In response the report Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretary-General, said:

“frontier technologies — from DNA sequencing to 3D-printing, from renewable energy technologies to biodegradable plastics, from machine learning to artificial intelligence — present immense potential for the 2030 agenda.”

In other business news, Canadian 3D scanner provider Creaform has opened a new 3,000 square-foot premises in California. Jarrod Schmidt, National Sales Manager for Creaform USA, comments, “California is a global hub for technological innovation,”

“Our new location offers great customer outreach opportunities for our team across the United States, while complementing our corporate headquarters eastern presence.”

And finally, Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM) company Sciaky has confirmed a machine order by additive manufacturing supplier Burloak Technologies.

Sciaky EBAM 110 system
A Sciaky EBAM 110 system as ordered by Burloak Technologies. Photo via Sciaky.

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Featured image shows Sliced logo over a photo of Rocket Lab’s successful launch of the Electron. Original photo via Rocket Lab