We’re covering 3D printing education, business, international events and conferences, and a couple of Kickstarter campaigns in today’s edition of 3D Printing News Briefs. Penn State is now offering master’s degrees in 3D printing, while Structo has announced a distribution partnership with 4Qube Solutions. We’ve got highlights from recent manufacturing technology industry event MTA 2017, the International Conference on Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing announced an “Industrial Realities of Manufacturing Day” for this summer, and Mimaki USA will preview its new UV-cure inkjet 3D printer prototype at ITA 2017. In addition, both GeckoTek and Makertech 3D are launching Kickstarter campaigns.
Penn State Now Offering 3D Printing Master’s Degree
Tim Simpson, the Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design and Manufacturing, co-director of the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D), and the new degree program director, said, “We are excited to launch the first multidisciplinary graduate-level program in additive manufacturing and design in the country, and in the world as far as we can tell. It has been great working with all five departments to establish this program based on coursework and hands-on labs that we have been offering for nearly five years now.”
Coursework will be integrated across multiple departments and two colleges, and all students enrolled in either the online or residential program are required to spend time working on-site at the university, including in its additive manufacturing laboratory, CIMP-3D, and the Materials Characterization Laboratory (MCL) in the Millennium Sciences Complex. Students will work with both metallic and polymer additive manufacturing systems, and learn to grow as manufacturing leaders, while developing innovative solutions and maintaining high ethical standards.
Structo Announces Distribution Partnership with 4Qube Solutions
Dhruv Sahgal, Head of Business Development and Sales at Structo, said, “With more than 30 years of experience and a team of dedicated technicians, we believe 4Qube Solutions’ expertise and approach are a natural fit for Structo’s growth plans in the US. The US market is extremely important for us and we need to invest in the right partners and the right people in order to provide the highest quality of support. Alongside 4Qube, we are investing in a facility in Los Angeles where we can continue our R&D efforts and stay close to our partners and customers.”
4Qube Solutions will expand the reach of Structo’s MSLA-equipped OrthoForm 3D printer in the US, and provide fast response times to technical queries, quality customer service, and after-sales support to regional customers. 4Qube Solutions will be exhibiting at the upcoming American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Session in San Diego next week, and will be offering visitors a hands-on experience with the OrthoForm.
Highlights from Asia’s MTA 2017 Industry Event
Mr. William Lim, Project Director for manufacturing events at UBM SES, which organized MTA 2017, said, “We have gathered global industry experts and brands in one place at MTA to showcase a full spectrum of products, solutions and technologies, from precision engineering capabilities serving high-value sectors, to advanced technologies that empower smart manufacturing.”
A big draw at the event was robotics: Epson launched its new N2 robots, featured the world’s first patented compact folding arm technology, while Nachi exhibited its best-selling table top robot, along with its range of robotic arms. Another area of focus at MTA 2017 was 3D printing, and people who visited the show floor exhibits, attended interactive seminars, and went on technology tours were able to see the many different concepts and industrial applications for the technology, across multiple industries. Exhibitors included SLM Solutions, Renishaw, EOS, Siemens, and BeAM, among several others.
“Manufacturing Technology Asia 2017 was a good platform for us to connect with new and existing customers. Our booth on-site enabled us to showcase our new Digital Enterprise Suite, providing attendees with the visual representation of the whole product portfolio, including the Siemens ZerOne.DesIgn Manufacturing Design Consultancy and MindSphere, our cloud-based, open internet-of-things operating systems,” said Raimund Klein, Executive Vice President, Country Lead for Digital Factory (DF) and Process Industries and Drives (PD) divisions, Siemens. “We are excited to bring forward the discussions and look forward to forging new partnerships in Singapore and the overall Southeast Asia region.”
“Industrial Realities of Manufacturing Day” Held Before International Conference on Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing
Louise Jones, Knowledge Transfer Manager – Additive Manufacturing at the Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Network, said, “We are committed to helping businesses get the most out of creativity, ideas and the latest discoveries, and addressing the realities and pitfalls of technologies is an important piece of this process. We were drawn to the conference’s honest approach to additive technologies as well as its wide range of expert speakers representing innovators in industry, academia and business. This event fits perfectly with our aims as an organisation – to embrace ideas and technologies to strengthen the UK economy and improve people’s lives.”
Several AM experts and practitioners will be speaking at the pre-conference session, including Phil Reeves of Stratasys Expert Services and Sophie Jones from Added Scientific. The speakers will talk about lessons learned and the challenges they’ve faced while using AM technologies. An afternoon session will offer insights and information on the UK’s National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing.
Mimaki USA Debuting 3D Printer Prototype at International Sign Expo
Mimaki’s 3D printer has over 10 million possible color combinations, thanks to its full-color UV-cure method, and offers unique, water-soluble support material that saves time on finishing a product, and allows for fine detail. It offers high quality, precise 3D printing, and the printer also utilizes clear inks, which can be jetted independently or combined with colored ink to make translucent objects.
University of Bristol Student Launching Kickstarter Campaign for Proforge 3D Printer
“I’ve spent the past 4 years involved with 3D printing and the Proforge has gone through 4 prototypes and several prototypes of its motion system for the best solution,” Ali told 3DPrint.com.
The Proforge can also be upgraded to have a full enclosure, and its expandable features include a plotter, a laser engraver, and a light CNC mill. It offers a resolution of up to 50 micron layers, and is compatible with multiple materials, including PETG, ABS, and exotics. Ali is making a maximum of 150 Proforge 3D printers for the campaign, to cut back on “over subscription” clogging, and to ensure that the people who pledged can receive their 3D printers on time. The early bird price is just £279, and the campaign is already approaching its funding goal with 26 days left.
GeckoTek Funding New Product Launch Through Second Kickstarter Campaign
GeckoTek CEO Brad Ruff said, “We received an amazing response to our original Build Plates, but there are so many different 3D printers out there that we couldn’t make a different size to fit each one. To solve this problem, EZ Stick is made from a durable high-temperature polymer film that you can easily trim with scissors to fit your build platform.”
The EZ Stick Build Surface can be cut with scissors to fit on any 3D printer currently on the market, and its durable coating allows for up to 200 uses before needing a replacement. Its high-temperature, pressure-sensitive adhesive backing allows it to peel and stick to the 3D printer easily, without using any binder clips, and it offers a bubble-free application, thanks to its thick polymer film. The Hot version is for 3D printers with heated beds, which is an ideal choice for engineers and designers, and the Cold version is perfect for educators who prefer a non-heated 3D printer for safety purposes.
What do you think of some of this week’s announcements? Let us know your thoughts in the News Briefs forum at 3DPB.com.
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