3D Printing News Briefs: December 5, 2017

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We’re starting with some new materials, products, and partnerships in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs – GKN and Ultimaker are both introducing new materials, and SprintRay has announced a distribution agreement with Patterson Dental. TechShop will be reopening some of its locations under a new name, while Renaissance Services is launching a 3D printing division. UL is introducing an AM facility safety management certification, and the co-founder of Rocket Crafters Inc. has been awarded a US patent. Finally, Katje’s Magic Candy 3D printers are coming to a theme park near you…if you live in the Middle East, that is.

GKN Introduces New Titanium AM Powder

The advanced materials division of GKN Additive, called GKN Hoeganaes Specialty Metal Powders, is making an addition to its AncorAM 3D metal printing powder portfolio with its new AncorTi Beta 21S, a high strength beta titanium alloy. Beta 21S is metastable and heat treatable, and was designed to improve creep and oxidation resistance. It also has enhanced stability and strength under high temperatures, making it perfect for manufacturing parts in the medical, marine, chemical, and aerospace fields.

AncorTi Beta 21S is available in particle sizes that are optimized for SLM and EBM 3D printers.

Ultimaker Launches New Support Material and Print Core

3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker is introducing its own new material, along with a new product: Ultimaker Breakaway support material, and a new 0.25 mm print core, offered in type AA only. Breakaway is a hassle-free support material for multi-extrusion 3D printing, and has been optimized for the company’s ABS, PLA, Nylon, CPE, and CPE+ materials. It can be quickly and easily removed, and offers your models a smooth surface finish, with no post-processing required. The print core, which has been optimized for use with Ultimaker’s ABS, PLA, Nylon, CPE, and PP materials, can be used to print thin-walled, highly detailed objects on the Ultimaker 3, such as tolerance fit parts like nuts and bolts.

“Before we start developing something new at Ultimaker, whether this is hardware, software, material or new services, we make sure there is a true desire for it. We learn everyday by analyzing the way our products are used and the questions we receive through our online platforms,” said Paul Heiden, Senior Vice President Product Management, Ultimaker. “So, even though our PVA material is still a great solution for prints with intricate geometries and internal cavities that need support, we found that our users were also in need of a support material that takes less time to remove. With Ultimaker Breakaway they can seriously speed up post processing and use their newly printed objects right away. We also followed up on the desire for highly detailed prints by developing a print core with a smaller nozzle size.”

Both products are now available for purchase on the company’s website.

Distribution Agreement Between SprintRay and Patterson Dental

MoonRay S 3D printer

Los Angeles-based SprintRay has announced a distribution agreement with Patterson Dental, a business unit of Patterson Companies. Patterson Dental will distribute its entire range of 3D printing solutions, including its advanced resins, accessories, and high-resolution desktop 3D printers, to dental practitioners across the US and Canada; this includes the company’s next-generation MoonRay S DLP 3D printer, which was an Innovation Awards Honoree at CES 2017. The new distribution agreement took effect at the beginning of last month, with all of Patterson Dental’s US and Canadian customers receiving immediate benefits.

“Digital dentistry demands a modern 3D printing solution to provide doctors and patients with the very best experience possible. That is why we are so excited to be working with Patterson Dental. The company has a proven track record for bringing the most innovative and influential technologies to the dental market,” said SprintRay CEO Amir Mansouri.

SprintRay will continue to provide customers with direct technical support.

Asset Acquisition Allows TechShop to Reopen

Only hours before open-access makerspace TechShop planned to declare Chapter 7 bankruptcy last month and close all 10 US locations, CEO Dan Woods received a Hail Mary when he was approached by Dan Rasure, who owns Minneapolis-based BHL Services Inc. with Bill Lloyd, with an interest in acquiring the company. In a letter to TechShop partners that Woods forwarded to Make Magazine this week, he states that TechShop, Inc. has reached a third party agreement with Rasure and Lloyd, who will acquire all company assets and form a new entity, called TechShop 2.0, LLC, which plans to re-open as many original TechShop locations and rehire as many employees as it can, as soon as possible.

“Announcing the closure of TechShop was the most difficult thing I’ve had to do in my career. When the opportunity for a different path forward presented itself, we did whatever humanly possible to work with Dan Rasure and make TechShop 2.0 a reality,” Woods wrote.

Stay tuned to the TechShop website for more details in the coming days, and get a glimpse into the new owners’ plans here.

Renaissance Services Launches 3D Printing Division

Ohio-based enterprise systems integrator Renaissance Systems Inc., which works with aerospace and defense companies, announced that it has established a new 3D printing division, called PERFECT-3D. The division performs 3D printing jobs with a variety of materials, but specializes in 3D printed ceramic components and process aids, like molds, filters, and cores, for foundries that produce investment castings for the defense and aerospace sector. The new division represents the company’s commitment to current and prospective customers, and has already received several contracts from military agencies looking to use 3D printing technology to lower lead time and costs for projects.

“For many of these castings there is scant technical data and the tooling no longer exists. New tooling typically costs six-figures and takes months to produce,” Morris explained. “We pursue a concept of ‘CAD as tooling’ to produce a ceramic mold using our own patent pending process.  We then work with the foundry to produce a casting just like the original, filling a critical cost and lead time gap.  We recently used our capability, working with a production foundry, to go from CAD model to a finished legacy engine gearbox casting in 26 days. This is a marked contrast from the two year lead times that we regularly hear about from the military sustainment community.”

New Certification for Additive Manufacturing Facility Safety Management

UL just published a new additive manufacturing certification outline: UL 3400, the Outline of Investigation for Additive Manufacturing Facility Safety Management, which be used to evaluate and certify any AM facility that uses powder as the first form of feedstock material for 3D printed parts. The new outline considers the three main layers regarding AM safety – equipment, material, and the facility; another important part of the program is the training of the AM facility staff. All AM facilities that work to comply with, and meet, the UL 3400 requirements will be given a a UL Additive Manufacturing Facility Certificate.

Norman Lowe, UL AM Global Program Manager, said, “As an Outline of Investigation, UL 3400 helps enable the industry to move faster and be nimble in addressing the need for facility safety guidance. UL 3400 and the certification have been developed with the global market in mind. It’s also structured in a modular manner so it can be easily adapted for regional code and safety requirements.”

US Patent Awarded to Rocket Crafters Inc. Co-Founder

Ronald Jones, Co-Founder and Chief Technologist at Rocket Crafters, Inc. (RCI), was granted a US patent for his novel method of using high-energy nanoscale aluminum particles mixed with thermoplastic to safely make feedstock and 3D print rocket fuel. RCI is developing the first mass-producible orbital launch vehicle in the world, the Intrepid-1, which is powered by rocket engines based off the company’s patented hybrid rocket technology, which Jones’ patent builds off of. His patent, which will increase RCI’s licensed technology portfolio, covers the design of 3D printing high-performance fuel grains for hybrid rocket engines, resulting in a powerful, but mechanically simple, rocket engine that’s immune to accidental detonation.

“This patent protects RCI’s unique ability to build safe, reliable and affordable rocket engines that also deliver competitive performance. It adds to our growing portfolio of licensed patents and patents pending.  Enabling RCI to protect this unique capability,” said Sid Gutierrez, RCI’s CEO and President.

Magic Candy 3D Printers Coming to Abu Dhabi Theme Park

Magic Candy Factory Christmas tree baubles [Image: Magic Candy Factory]

Everyone’s favorite candy 3D printer, Katje’s Magic Candy Factory, will be coming to a theme park in the Middle East, set to open in 2018. Several candy 3D printers will be installed at the Abu Dhabi theme park, which is currently being built.

“There will be an official launch in the New Year but I can’t give away too many details right now. What I can say is we will have multiple 3D candy printers in different parts of the park with various themes,” Melissa Stover, Managing Director of Magic Candy Factory, told Confectionery News. “It is the first time a customized 3D printer has been available in a theme park where customers can design their own candy, watch it being printed and then take it away with them.”

The award-winning company is also getting into the holiday spirit by announcing a partnership with high-end UK chain John Lewis – Magic Candy Factory 3D printers will be launched across multiple John Lewis department stores this month, complete with a festive new flavor, so customers can make custom candy creations, like edible ornaments and greeting cards. Over the next six months, the company is also planning to expand, and will be sending Magic Candy Factory 3D printers in Singapore, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, Italy, and the US.

Discuss these stories, and other 3D printing topics, at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below. 

 

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