For this week’s first edition of 3D Printing News Briefs, EOS is introducing its latest 3D printer at IMTS this week, while CRP Technology’s Windform RL 3D printing material is a finalist for the upcoming TCT Awards. The first product line of 3D printed eyewear in the UAE just launched, researchers at the University of Southern California are using a robot arm for non-planar 3D printing, and the BAAM system at ORNL is 3D printing construction molds. The 3Doodler Start STEM Series just introduced a tutorial for making a mechanical bird, which makes us wonder just how useful 3D printing pens are. Finally, a maker posted a YouTube video of a project that illustrates a truly practical application for 3D printing. Will we all sit up and take note?
EOS Introduces New 3D Printer at IMTS
“With its modular set-up and its scalable and flexible concept, the new system line clearly focuses on the high customer demands for AM production,” said Dr. Tobias Abeln, the company’s CTO. “It sets a clear focus on productivity, and lowest costs-per-part and was developed for automation and (software) integration in current and future factories. The EOS M 300 series is the only 3D printing solution for digital industrial production and specifically meets the demanding requirements in a production environment. It offers industrial-grade and integrated data, powder and part flow and can be easily incorporated into production facilities. We bring this technology into smart factories.”
Visit the EOS booth #432007 in the West Hall at IMTS this week to see the EOS M 300-4, and the company’s other products, for yourself.
Windform RL Material Shortlisted for TCT Awards
“We are very pleased to have been selected for the TCT Materials Award – Polymers 2018. It is a very important recognition for the work carried out by our CRP Technology’s R&D Department. Moreover, it is a privilege to be listed in such important category along with such important 3D printing companies,” said CRP Technology’s CTO Franco Cevolini. “We created Windform RL to provide completed and tailored end-to-end service to meet all customers’ needs. Choosing Windform RL, customers will benefit from higher quality guaranteed by the experience and reliability of Windform and CRP Group brands.”
The TCT Awards 2018 will be held on the evening of Wednesday, September 26th at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
Immensa Technology Labs Launches First 3D Printed Eyewear Line in the UAE
“We are delighted and proud to be introducing the first 3D-printed eyewear to Dubai, set to revolutionise the regional optical market,” said Bassel Kabak, the Founder and Managing Director at Monogram Eyewear. “Conceived and created at Immensa, these frames are in line with the ‘Dubai 3D Printing Strategy’ and will offer a sustainable and innovative approach to the age-old industry.”
The 3D printed frames, which will range in price between AED1,300 and AED1,650, will come in four colors and 15 pre-set designs.
Robotic Arm for Non-Planar 3D Printing
This month, some of the same researchers, with USC Viterbi’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM), are still working with non-planar 3D printing, and posted a video on YouTube showing a Yaskawa Motoman GP12 robot arm, complete with an FDM extruder with a 1 mm nozzle diameter, completing some non-planar 3D printing. Once the specific part was designed, simulation of the tool path for each layer was completed. The part was 3D printed, with 4 mm thickness, in 102 minutes using PLA material.
3D Printing Construction Molds at ORNL
But concrete facades aren’t the only molds ORNL researchers are working on. The BAAM is also being used to 3D print a construction mold for the Xplora 34′ power catamaran out of carbon reinforced polymer feedstock – a perfect example of using 3D printing to create large tooling.
Just How Useful are 3D Printing Pens?
Often, the things I see people make with 3D printing pens are toys and other small objects, jewelry, and art, which, while awesome, are maybe not the most useful items. But, in terms of something like this 3Doodler mechanical bird project, kids can learn how to make working models of real mechanisms they might encounter in the real world. So while maybe the specific objects one can make with a 3D printing pen aren’t particularly useful, the lessons they teach kids certainly are.
Practical 3D Printing Application – Replicating Broken Parts
“So that whole process since I started recording has taken about 36 minutes, so roughly, you know, less than an hour to hopefully at least fix something like this to completely design and model and print this.”
Once installed on his co-worker’s popcorn maker, the 3D printed replacement part worked perfectly. So for everyone out there interested in purchasing a home 3D printer, but can’t quite justify the cost if all you think you’ll use it for is to make Pokemon prints, this is the most practical use of desktop 3D printing I’ve seen in a long time.
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