3D Printing: The Stories We Missed This Week — July 9, 2016

Another week, another collection of important 3D printing news that we just didn’t have the chance to cover yet. With breaking news ranging from here on Earth to the orbit of Jupiter, here’s another fruitful edition of “The Stories We Missed This Week.” NASA and Lockheed Martin helped put the world’s first interplanetary spacecraft equipped with 3D printed components into the orbit of Jupiter.  Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures their own medical products using their proprietary ZipDose 3D printing technology platform, has just secured a $30 million debt financing agreement with Hercules Capital, Inc. The metal-based 3D printing provider Sigma Labs has recently announced that the aerospace and defense supplier Woodward, Inc. (WWD) will be added to their Early Adopter Program. The 3D printing platform MyMiniFactory is partnering with Barclays Eagle Labs to provide high-quality 3D printable content more accessible to the general public. Materialise will have two 3D printed objects on display in an exhibit in the BELvue Museum, which serves to celebrate Belgian accomplishments in history, design, and innovation. Lastly, as the political race in the United States continues to heat up, an Ohio-based startup called Freshmade 3D has designed life-sized 3D printed bobbleheads of the two presumptive presidential nominees, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The First Interplanetary Spacecraft with 3D Printed Components Reaches Jupiter’s Orbit

Earlier this week, hundreds of people gathered at the Littleton-based Lockheed Martin facility to view NASA’s broadcast of Juno, the first interplanetary spacecraft equipped with 3D printed components, as it successfully made it into the orbit of Jupiter. While constructing the spacecraft, Lockheed Martin utilized 3D printing technology to create the titanium brackets that hold Juno’s electronic components in place. By implementing additive manufacturing into the construction of their spacecraft, the engineering team was able to create these components in a faster and more affordable way. Not only was Juno the first interplanetary spacecraft equipped with 3D printed components, it’s also the furthest flying solar-powered spacecraft so far. During its two 53 1/2 day orbits, Juno will be looking at four main areas to help learn about this gas giant, including the planet’s origin, interior, atmosphere and magnetic field.

Aprecia Pharmaceuticals Secures Up To $30 Million From Hercules Capital

Earlier this week, Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing fast melt formulations of high dose pharmaceuticals, has secured a $30 million debt financing agreement with Hercules Capital. Aprecia produces a bulk of their products using their proprietary ZipDose technology platform, which utilizes 3D printing to manufacture fast melt pharmaceutical products. The funding agreement with Hercules Capital will initially provide Aprecia with $20 million, which will be used to purchase additional manufacturing equipment, as well developing their ZipDose technology, which works by binding multiple layers of powder blend using an aqueous fluid to produce a porous, water-soluble matrix that disintegrates with a sip of liquid. Under specific terms of the agreement, Aprecia will be given an option to draw an additional $10 million from Hercules Capital, seeing that they’re able to achieve the certain performance milestones that are set in the deal.

Sigma Labs Announces the Addition of Woodward, Inc To Their Early Adopter Program

Sigma Labs, the leading developer of advanced, in-process quality inspection systems for metal-based 3D printing technology, has just announced that a new company will be climbing aboard their Early Adopter Program (EAP). Earlier this week, it was revealed that the aerospace and defense supplier Woodward, Inc. would be immediately joining the Sigma Labs program. Launched last year, Sigma Labs’ EAP allows their customers to participate in an evaluation and trial of their latest software and engineering services. By joining the EAP, Woodward will obtain a non-exclusive license for the entire PrintRite3D software suite, which includes INSPECT, CONTOUR, and ANALYTICS, all for one price. Membership in the program will also come with preferred rates for future Sigma Labs products, giving Woodward the opportunity to efficiently implement their software into their manufacturing facility from now into the future. In addition, the aerospace and defense company will install the full suite of Sigma Labs’ applications into their new EOS M290 3D printing system, which is being purchased for Woodward’s Aircraft Turbine Control Systems Division, located in Zeeland, Michigan.

“We’re very pleased to announce this latest participant in the Company’s Early Adopter Program, which is helping to rapidly expand our presence worldwide,” said Mark Cola, President and CEO of Sigma Labs. “Woodward is a global leader in the A&D industry which posted revenue of over $2 billion in its last fiscal year, so it is an honor to have them as a customer. This is a great opportunity to work with another aerospace provider to showcase the benefits of our PrintRite3D technology for advanced AM monitoring of precision aircraft component production.”

MyMiniFactory To Bring 3D Printable Content To Barclays Eagle Labs Maker Spaces

The 3D printing marketplace MyMiniFactory will collaborate with Barclays Eagle Labs, which are maker spaces scattered across the United Kingdom, providing high-quality 3D printable content to the public. These Barclays Eagle Labs provide local communities with adequate tools and emerging technologies that drive innovation, creativity, and business growth. The labs are equipped with both 3D printing and laser-cutting technology, and also include incubators and co-working spaces. MyMiniFactory has ensured that each 3D file is infallibly printable, thanks to software checking, model repair, and community test-printing as well. By giving the public better access to 3D printers and 3D models, Barclays and MyMiniFactory hope to showcase the importance of this technology, effectively helping its widespread adoption throughout the UK.

“The MyMiniFactory team works hard to offer the best 3D printable content and execute on our vision of being the reference platform for browsing, discovering and downloading high quality 3D printable objects from the best designers. I look forward to collaborating with the Digital Eagles community on this initiative,” said Romain Kidd, the CEO of MyMiniFactory.

Materialse To Showcase Two 3D Printed Objects at BELvue Museum Exhibit

Designer Elvis Pompilio wearing the “Spirograph”

Starting on July 21, Belgian National Day, the BELvue Museum will be opening a permanent exhibit dedicated to Belgian accomplishments in history, design, and innovation throughout two centuries. Among the many artifacts in this exhibit, which range from the motorcycle of King Albert II to a football signed by the Red Devils, will be two 3D printed objects produced by the Belgium-based 3D printing company Materialise. The first 3D printed object, which was created in collaboration with the University of Leuven, is called “The Brain of Vesalius,” a multi-color object created with PolyJet 3D printing technology. The 3D print pays homage to the 16th century physician Andreas Vesalius and includes a yellow and green colored interior, as well as a clear material to represent the surrounding gray matter. The second displayed object will be a 3D printed hat designed by Elvis Pompilio, called the “Spirograph.” Using laser sintering technology, Pompilio created the geometrically astonishing hat for .MGX, which is a 3D printed collection from Materialise.

Life-Sized 3D Printed Bobbleheads of Presidential Candidates Created For Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber

The state of Ohio is getting prepped for the 2016 election in quite a unique way, by 3D printing life-sized bobbleheads modeled after the two presumptive nominees from the Democratic and Republican parties. Headed by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, the Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton bobbleheads were designed by the Youngstown startup Freshmade 3D, and constructed with the help of Humtown Products and Youngstown State University. The Chamber plans to showcase the Trump bobblehead at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, while the 3D printed Clinton bobblehead will join Trump at the first presidential debate in Dayton, Ohio. The 3D printed project will represent the major industry drivers of the Mahoning Valley, which are primarily focused on metals, aluminum, and 3D printing technology. The bobbleheads themselves are being built as part of the Chamber’s Victory for the Valley campaign, which will showcase the Mahoning Valley to site selectors, national political dignitaries, and journalists from all around the world. What was your favorite topic here? Discuss further in the Week’s 3D Printing News forum over at 3DPB.com.