3D Printing News Briefs: May 23, 2017

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We’re talking about a new product, 3D printer resellers, grants and awards, a company acquisition, and a VIP visitor for Oak Ridge National Laboratory in this week’s first edition of 3D Printing News Briefs. Xaar introduces its new 1003 AMx printhead, while ZMorph signs four new 3D printer resellers in South America and Europe. The Arconic Foundation has awarded grants to six higher learning institutions in order to improve advanced manufacturing education, and Arfona wins big at a startup competition. Bre Pettis acquires a new company, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory gets a visit from the Secretary of Energy.

Xaar Announces New 1003 AMx Printhead

The Xaar 1003 AMx

Industrial inkjet technology leader Xaar has announced the launch of its new Xaar 1003 AMx printhead. The Xaar 1003 AMx offers precise, controlled small drop (6-42 pL) functional fluid deposition, thanks to a combination of consistent drop volume, extremely accurate drop placement, high frequency jetting, and the capability of variable drop size. It’s well-suited for applications that need precise patterns, management of substrate surface characteristics, and tight coating thickness regulations, like advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, PCB, and flat panel display. The Xaar 1003 AMx has a series of unique external and internal coatings that enable the printhead to jet out a range of reactive and corrosive functional fluids. It fits right in with the rest of the Xaar 1003 printheads, due to its TF technology and Hybrid Side-Shooter architecture.

Xaar’s Senior Product Manager, Simon Kirk, said, “The innovative, advanced manufacturing specific enhancements of the Xaar 1003 AMx printhead allow the controlled deposition and management of functional fluids like never before. We continue to expand our advanced manufacturing range of printheads to encourage new partnerships and create new markets as part of the inkjet revolution.”

The Xaar 1003 AMx will be showcased for the first time at booth #309 at this week’s Display Week Exhibition in Los Angeles, along with the Xaar 1003 AMp and the Xaar 1201.

ZMorph Signs Four New Resellers for Multitool 3D Printer

3D printer manufacturer ZMorph has signed new partnership deals with four companies in Europe and South America. The companies will join ZMorph’s global chain of over 50 authorized 3D printer resellers, introducing the multitool ZMorph 2.0 SX 3D printer to one of the fastest growing markets in South America, and increasing ZMorph’s overall European availability.

Universo 3D will introduce the ZMorph 2.0 SX to the quickly expanding Colombian market. The company aims to make easy access to 3D printing technology a reality for artists, engineers, and scientists, and also to support education and health projects, both of which are good applications for the ZMorph printer’s wide range of multitool abilities. Two of ZMorph’s new European resellers, Denmark-based 3D Print Scandinavia and British company CDG Replik8, are leading 3D printing service providers in their respective countries, and 3K Engineering is working to improve education and production standards in the Czech Republic.

Arconic Foundation Awards Six $100,000 Grants to Improve Advanced Manufacturing Education

As part of its Advanced Manufacturing Education Grant Program, the Arconic Foundation, the independently endowed arm of Arconic Inc. that supports programs which help prepare the 21st century advanced manufacturing and engineering workforce, has awarded $100,000 grants to six academic and training institutions in Europe and the United States. The grants will be used at the six institutions to improve and expand advanced manufacturing education around the world. The grant recipients are:

Esra Ozer, Arconic Foundation President, said, “Investing in education is crucial to the health of economies around the world; it improves our communities, empowers individuals economically, and enhances the competitiveness of businesses and industry. Through partnerships with academic institutions like Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee, we help ensure that the next generation is prepared and excited for careers in advanced manufacturing.”

Arfona Wins Startup Competition at Annual Festival

3D dental printing startup Arfona, founded in 2016 and headquartered in the tech community of Brooklyn, New York, was just named the winner of the 2017 Propelify Startup Competition, held at the annual Propelify Innovation Festival, known as the “SXSW of the Northeast.” Applications were received from over 120 companies, and Arfona was one of only four finalists selected to pitch to festival attendees and judges onstage. Arfona received a $10,000 cash prize; $25,000 in business credits from competition sponsors Techstars, Google, Samsung NEXT, and Staples; press opportunities; and the chance to meet with executives from Samsung and Staples. Arfona’s goal is to use its process for 3D printing partial dentures to make affordable tooth replacement possible for the masses, and has partnered with some of the top dental materials manufacturers, like Valplast, to use its r.Pod Desktop 3D Printer to manufacture popular products for half the cost and in one-third the amount of time.

“We are thrilled not only for the win but for the opportunity to make oral health issues front and center in the tech and investor communities,” said Arfona founder and CEO Justin Marks. “More than 178 million Americans are missing at least one of their natural teeth and many patients go untreated because the process is either too expensive or too unpleasant. We’re proud to be working on a solution to this problem and to be recognized by the startup community for our achievements.”

Bre Pettis Acquires California Toolmaker Other Machine Co.

Bre Pettis, the co-founder and former CEO of MakerBot who left MakerBot and parent company Stratasys in 2015 and has since been pursuing other creative ventures and open Bre & Co., has made an acquisition of his own. Pettis acquired Berkeley, California-based Other Machine Co., which makes rapid prototyping tools for electrical and mechanical design engineers and educators. The goal of the company, which is one of the leaders of the digital desktop manufacturing movement, is to make in-house prototyping accessible to all mechanical part and PCB designers. Compared to other CNC machines, Other Machine Co.’s flagship Othermill Pro makes it easier, less expensive, and more reliable to manufacture prototypes. Its quiet use makes it a perfect fit for the office or classroom, and it can make molds, engrave and carve complex 3D shapes in multiple materials, and mill circuit boards.

Pettis said, “I’m thrilled to have acquired Other Machine Co. The Othermill Pro is an amazing milling machine that is so accurate that electrical engineers can mill circuit boards with 6 mil traces and develop circuit boards faster than a circuit board service. I’m excited to be back in the arena supporting innovators.”

Other Machine Co. CEO Dr. Danielle Applestone will stay in Berkeley and continue to lead the company’s daily operations.

US Secretary of Energy Visits Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Earlier this week, US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry joined Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander on a visit to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Knoxville. While there, Secretary Perry had the opportunity to get up close and personal with the future of advanced technology, stopping by the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility to check out ORNL’s 3D printers; he also drove ORNL’s 3D printed excavator and a 3D printed electric car, which was made in a little over 24 hours. Secretary Perry enjoyed his visit, and said that it “gave him hope that the greatest days in America are ahead.”

Secretary Perry said, “Men and women who work here do not have to worry if they are making a difference.”

He emphasized that the research being conducted at ORNL is a high priority, and said that Congress is committed to the national labs of the US, and their vision. Senator Alexander said that he’s sure that by continuing to work with Secretary Perry, they’ll be able to come up with an appropriations that continues to propel ORNL forward.

Discuss these stories in the News Briefs forum at 3DPB.com.

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