How is 3D printing beating brain cancer? What happened to New Matter? A behind the scenes look at Black Panther and more of the latest 3D printing news from Harvard University, the Yas Marina Circuit, LUNAR, Carbon, Mimaki and Xometry.
3D printing applications from the awesome to the unusual
GravityB 3D is a studio based in Calgary. An extension of the Back in the Pack dog daycare center, at GravityB pets are turned into 3D printed miniatures – any dog lovers dream. The models are printed in full color from a sandstone material, and start at a price of $150.
The Toyota GT86 that won the TRD 86 Cup at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, last week, reportedly raced the finish line thanks to 3D printed parts. The parts were made by Immensa Technology Labs, “the first privately owned company specializing in the development and advancement of 3D printing in the United Arab Emirates.”
From behind the wheel of the GT86, driver Mohammed Abdulghaffar Hussain comments, “My racing team is committed to adopting the latest technologies and working with disruptive companies like Immensa to drive innovation,”
“We are pleased to have set a new benchmark by using 3D printed parts in a racing car for the first time here in the region as far as I am aware.”
A graphene-PLA fiber developed and 3D printed at Clemson University has brought researchers one step closer to creating a new green energy source. The paper supporting the research, titled “A Wireless Triboelectric Nanogenerator“, can be read online in Advanced Energy Materials journal.
Just two days to go until Marvel’s Black Panther makes it to cinema screens across the U.S. and we have a 3D printing related teaser for all impatient fans. The stunning shoulder piece worn by Queen Ramonda, stepmother to T’Challa (aka Black Panther), was made on a large-format 3D printer. As 3D printing took place at a service in Belgium, it’s rumored that the intricate outfit was made by Materialise though full details are as yet elusive.
3D printing’s impact on medicine
The Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genoa, Italy, has become the first research center in the world to 3D print a 1:1 scale model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). A semipermeable membrane, the BBB separates blood flow from brain fluid, and will be integral to further development of therapies for conditions such as Alzheimers, and brain cancer.
International design firm LUNAR is the latest company to be the subject of a case study published by Carbon. Using the company’s proprietary CLIP-enabled Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology, LUNAR has redesigned an intraosseous medical drill device. Lucas Menanix, an engineer at LUNAR comments, “We spend so much time designing for the prototyping process and then we have to do it again for the manufacturing process…”
“With Carbon, it is possible to design, iterate, and manufacture on the same means of production.”
Medical device manufacturer Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH (EIT), the company behind 3D printed Cellular Titanium implants, has received a CE mark for its fully 3D printed adjustable interbody fusion cage. The device has since undergone its very first spine operations in Germany.
Souped-up software
Generative design is an indispensable tool for engineers working in 3D printing. At SOLIDWORKS World 2018 Desktop Metal revealed plans for its own generative design software Live Parts which is currently underdevelopment.
Just before the announcement Xiang ‘Anthony’ Chen, a researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, published a Medium post about the generative design platform developed by him and associates at the university. Named Forté, the program is a User-Driven Generative Design program, and it is currently available as opensource files on github.
Cloud-based VR creation platform STYLY has integrated Google Poly API into its system, upgrading its digital library with thousands of 3D models.
PrintSYSt, the developer of an AI algorithm that asses whether a part can be 3D printed or not, has signed a partnership agreement with Youngstown State University, Ohio. In the terms of the agreement, PrintSYSt’s algorithm will be integrated into the Youngstown Business Incubator’s website, and direct 3D printing projects to the university’s Center for Innovation in Additive Manufacturing.
New 3D printer materials
Shark scales have inspired the creation of a new aerodynamic material for making planes, wind turbines, drones and cars. The 3D printing enabled research has been published online in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. It is co-authored by August G. Domel, Mehdi Saadat, James C. Weaver, Hossein Haj-Hariri, Katia Bertoldi and George V. Lauder of Harvard University.
Polish Industrial 3D printer materials and hardware manufacturer OMNI3D, has released a new, carbon-fiber reinforced filament. Krzysztof Kardach, Principal 3D Printing Technologist at OMNI3D, comments, “CF-PA-12 is a polyamide 12 (PA 12) based composite, reinforced with carbon fibers. It has exceptional durability as well as high stiffness and tensile strength. The last feature is especially worth noting, because carbon fiber has over 2.5 times more strength than the popular ABS-42.”
Kwambio, an on-demand design company headquartered in New York, now offers an eye-catch opaque glass material as part of its online 3D printing service.
Xometry, Mimaki and New Matter 3D printing business
Mimaki has installed it’s first 3D printer in the Americas. The photorealistic 3DUJ-553 system has been bought by Las Vegas digital imaging company Pictographics, that also acquired a Massivit 3D printer in December last year.
Another member of Xometry’s Manufacturing Partner Network has earned $1 million in revenue for on-demand manufacturing. The news makes metal and plastic machining specialist PT&R, Inc. the second member in 12 months to reach the million dollar milestone.
In a recent blog post MOD-t 3D printer provider New Matter has announced that it will cease opeartions on 28 February 2018. 3D Printing Industry contacted the founder for further comment on the event, but they are yet to respond to question about financial instability.
Let us know what you think are the most important applications of 3D printing. Make your nominations for the 3D Printing Industry Awards 2018 now.
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Featured image shows the Sliced logo over a dog and its 3D printed “Coppy”. Original photo via GravityB 3D
