3D Printing News Briefs: January 22, 2020

In today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, we’ve got a 2019 recap, a new 3D printing conference, a new 3D printer, and a 3D printed medicine story. Prusa is sharing how last year went for the company, and GoPrint3D just launched an event brand, which will hold its first conference this month. Rapid Shape is introducing a new 3D printer series for the jewelry industry. Finally, researchers at the University of Belgrade are using a Sintratec Kit to 3D print pharmaceuticals.

Prusa’s 2019 Recap

We’re almost a month into 2020, and Prusa Research has issued an official recap of its 2019, along with plans for this year. Last year, the company introduced two new 3D printers, three printer upgrades, launched its redesigned community hub, traveled to nearly 40 events, and made so many changes to its slicing app that it’s been completely redesigned and renamed as PrusaSlicer 2.1.

“Let’s take a look at some numbers first – because they are, frankly speaking, amazing: in 2019, we sold over 60.000 Original Prusa MK3S and 8.000 MINIs, 180.000 spools of Prusament. Yes, you read that right: 180k! Stack them all up and the tower would be over 12 km tall,” Josef Průša wrote in a blog post.

“Our software and hardware developers were pretty busy the whole year as well! We started shipping updated 3D printers – MK3S and MK2.5S (along with upgrades to existing printers), plus our very first SLA machine, the Original Prusa SL1 along with the Curing and Washing Machine (CW1). We also released the updated Multi Material Upgrade 2S, because we received a tremendous amount of feedback on the MMU2, thus MMU2S was born – improved and more reliable.”

Průša goes on to explain some of the issues the company is addressing with its new Original Prusa MINI, such as a damaged MINDA mesh bed leveling sensor due to improper shipping box handling, and stated that the MKx series is “still our top priority,” with several new firmware releases coming this year. The company also gained over 10% market share, and is working to release the new Prusa XL.

To learn more about the history of Prusa Research, check out the video below:

GoPrint3D’s Event Brand Hosting First Conference

UK company GoPrint3D, launched in 2012 as part of Express Group Ltd, has launched a new event brand called Additive Live, and the first event is coming up soon! Hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University’s central Additive Manufacturing lab PrintCity, the inaugural Additive Live conference is supported by HP and will focus on the use of AM in higher education. Topics will include generative design, color 3D printing, how to set up AM labs inside universities, and a preview of HP’s university-level 3D printing curriculum. There will also be a tour of PrintCity’s facilities.

“The idea behind Additive Live is to help delegates learn about the latest AM technologies and best practices, whilst helping them improve their 3D printing skills and develop their professional network. Our first event in Manchester will be tailored towards Universities and Colleges,” said David Whitehouse, Marketing Manager, GoPrint3D.

Additive Live in Manchester will take place on Tuesday, January 28th, and registration is free.

Rapid Shape Launches Jewelry 3D Printer Series

German 3D printer manufacturer Rapid Shape has launched a new generation 3D printer for the jewelry industry. Its S+ series provides customers with efficient solutions that achieve high-quality results and repeatable processes. The new Studio-Line S20+ and S30+ are perfect partners for jewelry manufacturers and casting shops, while the S90+ standalone and the Heavy-Duty Line’s cabinet are great for “continuous industrial use” at top automation and speed, and Rapid Shape’s RS wash and RS cure allow for easy cleaning and curing of 3D printed parts. The new models were just presented for the first time at the International Show T.Gold in Italy.

“The new jewellery 3D printers start exactly where the user needs them: we respond to the needs of the industry. Those who want to achieve optimum printing results can do so with the S20+ and S30+ in fine, regular or large versions,” stated Andreas Schultheiss, Managing Director of Rapid Shape. “Our printers are ideally suited for detailed, filigree and precise surfaces with little post-processing. We also have a new solution for large-scale production: with our automated part separation module (ASM, patent pending) we are taking another step towards full automation.”

3D Printing Pharmaceuticals with the Sintratec Kit

The University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Pharmacy houses the “Pharm3D” lab, the only one of its kind of Serbia where pharmacists research the 3D printing of pharmaceuticals. The scientists use an FDM 3D printer and an SLA system for this work, but became interested in SLS technology because it uses powder materials. So they invested in a Sintratec Kit, and are continuing to investigate, as Sintratec states, “the applicability of various known pharmaceutical excipients with these additive technologies.” However, some excipients, like lactose, can’t be printed on their own into a stable tablet with SLS, which is why Marijana Madzarevic, a third-year PhD student in Pharmaceutical Technology at the university, and the rest of her team are researching a variety of different initiators to help the solidification process.

“We want to investigate a variety of safe, pharmaceutical grade substances that help in the solidification of commonly available constituents of tablets and to easily form a tablet with target drug release (fast, slow, pulse), depending on the needs of the patients,” Madzarevic said.

“We are proud that we can show the students 3D printing technologies in actuality and not just talk about it.

“Together we can reshape the future of pharmacy!”

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