3D Printing News Briefs: January 8, 2020

It’s the first 3D Printing News Briefs of 2020! To celebrate, we’ll start with some predictions for the industry made by three Ultimaker executives. Continuing on, Dassault Systèmes has the results from a research survey, and is also launching a Sustainability Challenge. Finally, 3D printing was used to quickly create a custom orthotic for a child in need.

Ultimaker Executives Make 2020 Predictions

Jabil is one of the many large businesses in the US who have adopted 3D printing. Credit: Jabil

As more manufacturers around the world continue to adopt 3D printing and experience positive impacts, three executives from desktop 3D printing leader Ultimaker have shared their predictions for the industry in the coming year. CEO Jos Burger said that as the market continues to mature, the companies that embrace 3D printer hardware, software offerings, cloud options, and material partnerships are the ones who will see successful long-term growth.

Jamie Howard, the President of Ultimaker America, believes that companies, like its customer Gerhard Schubert GmbH, will embrace the digital warehouse, as well as local manufacturing through digital distribution, as 3D printing can quickly produce customized parts on-demand. Finally, Ultimaker’s Director of Global Research and Analytics, Rohit Jhamb, said that the company’s inaugural 3D Printing Sentiment Index states that 65% of businesses in the world are unaware of 3D printing, or have not adopted it. So he predicts that global awareness of the technology will increase, which will then lead to further adoption.

Dassault Systèmes & CITE Research Release Survey Results

Software company Dassault Systèmes conducted a survey, in partnership with independent market research firm CITE Research, of 3,000 citizens that represent key demographics of adults in the US, France, and China. The results show that younger consumers are leading the charge for using personalization to improve services and products, personal safety, and quality of life, and that they will definitely pay, and share their own data, to get it without having to wait. Specific findings show that consumers will pay 25.3% more on average for personalization, but expect savings in return, but that data privacy is a concern for 96% of the survey respondents. More than 50% of these consumers define personalization as products and services they customize before purchasing, are selected from a list of options, and that are created based on personal data.

“Consumers want experiences with personalization as the differentiator, especially among younger consumers,” explained Florence Verzelen, the Executive Vice President, Industry Solutions, Marketing and Global Affairs, at Dassault. “The solution for manufacturers to capitalize on this trend is to collect, analyze and transform data while addressing concerns for data privacy. Our 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables them to do just that. Using the platform, companies can innovate, design, create and manufacture hyper-personalized products in the most sustainable way.”

Dassault Systèmes Launches Sustainability Challenge

In more news from Dassault, the company has launched the Sustainability Challenge, as a call to students around the world to rethink the use of plastics in a more sustainable way through the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The company developed the contest in collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in order to, as a press release states, “further the innovation of a circular economy for plastics” by giving students a platform to use 3D digital technology and use their design and engineering skills.

Participating teams will have access to 3DEXPERIENCE in order to develop a project in one of three different areas: re-engineer and streamline a product’s shape so it uses less plastic; build or optimize a physical and social network to increase the rate of repair, product recycling rates, and secondary use; and design a concept to transform a disposable product into one that’s reusable, lasts longer, or is easier to disassemble for recycling and repairs. Student teams can submit Sustainability Challenge projects until February 10, 2020, and projects will be evaluated on criteria such as effectiveness, creativity, and use of 3D printing. The first place team will have the opportunity to present their project at Monaco Ocean Week to an audience full of experts.

3D Printed Custom Orthotic for Child in Need

California-based 3D printing services provider Dinsmore Inc. recently used Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology to fast-track the 3D printing of a custom orthotic for five-year-old Imre Patterson, whose femoral discrepancy at birth caused one leg to be shorter than the other. The family was connected with Dinsmore through a friend, and they began designing a lightweight 3D printed alternative to his conventionally manufactured foam boot, so that he could continue on with his active lifestyle.

DLS technology was used because it could 3D print a latticed midsole out of an elastomeric polyurethane material. Deckers Brands provided the TEVA and UGG shoes, which were scanned by SEMA Garage in order to fit all the components together and design a CAD model for the midsoles. Carbon Production Development Engineer Jason Lopes helped design the lattice structure for 3D printing, which can be modified later to keep up with Imre as he grows.

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