In today’s edition of Sliced, we explore: Louis Vuitton’s pop-up shop, U.S universities getting involved with 3D printing, Dassault Systèmes acquiring a software company, an Australian company bringing augmented reality to children’s education, an Optomec printer in Texas, Nano Dimensions contributing to Defense, and a special Star Wars bonus.
Louis Vuitton 3D printed store
Louis Vuitton recently became the first business in the world to install a 3D printed point-of-sale display with their pop-up shop in Westfield Sydney. Using Australian 3D printing bureau OMUS and their Massivit 1800 3D printer, the luxury fashion brand were able to receive a large metallic dome structure consisting of 48 different sections. Assembled in three days, the shop gave OMUS two weeks in total to complete the request and in order to do so the bureau collaborated with another Sydney company, Composite Images. The Massivit machine consumed around 900 kilograms of Massivit Dimengel UV-curable material in completing the project. OMUS director, Robert Grosso, explained the benefit of using 3D printing for such a project:
I think what this ‘bleeding-edge’ exercise has proven is that oversize 3D printing can interpret and deliver a designer’s visions in a way that no other fabrication method can.
Dassault Systèmes sign agreement to acquire Next Limit Dynamics
Dassault Systèmes have signed a definitive share purchase agreement to complete the acquisition of simulation software company Next Limit Dynamics. The Spanish software company are a developer of advanced 3D engineering solutions used in the aerospace, defense, transportation and mobility industries among others. Bernard Charlès, Vice Chairman & CEO at Dassault Systèmes, explained the motive behind the acquisition:
Next Limit Dynamics is a young, dynamic company whose highly experienced research and development team and forward-looking CFD method, integrated in a multiphysics, multiscale 3DEXPERIENCE platform, are transformational to the innovation process.
The technology developed by Spanish company Next Level Dynamics is used to predict performance of complex and intricate 3D designs, which is particularly important in additive manufacturing products. Dassault believes such technology has a number of uses including an improvement in automotive fuel economy by assessing the fluid flow of a design.
Lemonade Stand bring Augmented reality education to kids
In Australia – Lemonade Stand, the holiday program considered a business school for kids – is now incorporating Augmented Reality (AR) into their teaching. The company behind Lemonade Stand, ‘education & innovation consultants’ Collective Campus, have partnered with Plattar a new augmented reality platform to allow the youngsters to view and manipulate creations in AR. The program will give children new opportunities in the hope of improving career prospects in the future. In addition to Augmented reality, the kids will be given an education in Computer Aided Design.
University of Nebraska and University of Texas get involved with 3D printing
Optomec have announced that the University of Nebraska have ordered one of their new LENS 3D Metal Hybrid Controlled Atmosphere Systems. Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Michael P. Sealy, Ph.D. explained the need for the printer and how it is different to competitors:
This is the first Powder Fed Directed Energy Deposition system that is both hybrid and has a controlled atmosphere chamber, which is exactly what we need to maximise our industry research and enable us to work with reactive materials. As an early adopter of this unique new system, we gain 3D printing capabilities matched nowhere else in the world,
While elsewhere in the U.S, The University of Texas partnered with Watershed – an initiative to create businesses out of biomedical developments – in order to give engineering students valuable experience with advanced manufacturing techniques. The class was taken by 24 senior mechanical engineering students and they learnt from Watershed engineers and medical doctors. In order to complete the class, the participants were required to complete final projects in the form of orthopaedic designs. The Orthopedic Medical Device Design course enabled the students to engage with 3D printing in addition to traditional manufacturing techniques as part of their learning.
Nano Dimension deliver printer to Defense company
Israeli company, Nano Dimension have announced the delivery of a DragonFly 2020 3D Printer to ‘One of [the] top 10 largest defense companies in the world.’ Not disclosing the name of the company, they did reveal that the printer will be based in the U.S. This will be the fifth Dragonfly 2020 to be delivered to a big-industry company this year, having already delivered one to Israeli defense. Nano Dimension are delivering the printers as part of a beta programme in which they will receive valuable feedback and generate funds.
Bonus 3D Star Wars model
Star Wars fans can celebrate the release of Rogue One by 3D printing their own X-Wing or Tie Fighter. The model below was designed on Sketchup and printed by a student at Hartford High School in Vermont. The .stl files by Sketup SetUp can be found here (X-Wing) and here (Tie Fighter).
Featured image shows the Sliced logo over the Setup Setup model of a Star Wars X-Wing. Image via: 3Dwarehouse.sketchup
