3D Printing Industry’s most recent slice of 3D printing news features: the Light Rider 3D printed motorcycle; Robo 3D scaling up production of 3D printers; Polaroid launching 3D pen across Europe; Shining 3D entering a new distribution partnership; Sintavia LLC producing additively manufactured parts in F357 aluminum and Concept Laser winning five awards for contribution to additive manufacturing.
Robo 3D R2 3D printers to be made in Taiwan
Taiwanese Foxconn Technology Group are to manufacture R2 3D printers for California-based Robo 3D (ASX: RBO). The production run is expected to reach a rate of 10,000 units per year, with the first shipments to customers arriving within Q1 of 2017.
The Robo 3D R2 was kick-started in 2016 after a successful crowdfunding campaign. It became publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in December 2016.
Polaroid 3D pen to hit UK in February
After a preview at CES 2016, Polaroid have announced that their 3D pen will be available throughout Europe in select Currys PC World stores for £29.99/€39.99.
The Polaroid Play 3D pen comes packages with a specially designed Trace App that helps users to stencil their own photographs and pre-made images in 3D.
Shining 3D to distribute in 20 countries
3D printing educators and distributors PrintLab, headquartered in Lancashire, UK, have signed a strategic agreement with Chinese 3D scanning manufacturers Shining 3D.
PrintLab are to sell the EinScan series of 3D scanners to worldwide partners in 20 countries including Australia and South Africa.
PrintLab were founded on the basis of helping schools, universities and businesses to expand their potential through 3D printing. The addition of Einscan 3D scanners to their product range will especially enhance projects in the arts and engineering, by providing a tool to encourage a different method of 3D design.
3D printed motorcycle best of 2016
According to CNN Style the Light Rider motorcycle, made by German engineering company Airbus APWorks, is one of ‘Raw, edgy and super-naked’ top motorcycles of 2016. The Light Rider is 3D printed in APWorks’ aluminium-based Scalmalloy metal powder material. It weighs just 35 kg and operates using electric.
Nineteen other motorcycles complete CNN’s shortlist, including the futuristic BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100, and the UK’s Triumph custom Bonneville Bobbers.
Sintavia AM in F357 Aluminum
2017 is shaping up to be the year of metal 3D printing. Sintavia of Davie, Florida has announced development of, “full end-to-end parameters for producing additively manufactured parts in F357 aluminum, as well as other Al-Si alloys.” Doug Hedges, Sintavia’s President and COO said,
We are seeing an increased demand for additively manufactured Al-Si parts from both the aerospace and automotive industries. With Sintavia’s comprehensive manufacturing capabilities, we have developed processes to make F357 aluminum specimens and quickly test them to demonstrate they meet or exceed these industries’ strict validation parameters.
Congratulations to Concept Laser and founder Frank Herzog
Frank Herzog, the developer of Concept Laser’s registered LaserCUSING system, and the German company he founded have won five international awards for pioneering growth and innovation to the additive manufacturing industry. The awards include:
- “Best Pioneer in the Manufacturing and 3D Printing Industry 2016” from European Business magazine.
- “Best CEO in the Additive Manufacturing Industry” from European CEO magazine.
- “Growth Champions 2017” for Concept Laser from Germany’s Focus magazine.
- The “Bavarian Innovation Award 2016”
- And the “Materialica Design + Technology Award 2016” at the tradeshow of the same name in Munich.
Featured image shows the Sliced logo over detail on the 3D printed Light Rider. Original photo via: lightrider.apworks.de
Nominations for the 1st Annual 3D Printing Industry awards are now open.
