3D Printing News Briefs runs the gamut today from materials and software to business. First, DSM is announcing a new food-safe 3D printing material, and MakerOS has a new software release. Evolve Additive is welcoming a new member to its board of directors. Finally, Print Parts announced that it has delivered over one million 3D printed nasal swabs to be used in COVID-19 test kits.
DSM Introduces New Food-Safe Polypropylene Powder
Science-based company Royal DSM has released its newest AM powder material: Arnilene® AM6002 (P). The polypropylene has food contact approval in Europe and a good balance of properties, which should make it useful for making slides, sprockets, dosing blocks, and conveyor belt guides in the nutrition or food and beverage industries, and also end-use parts, interiors, and dashboard components in the automotive sector. This hydrophobic material is easy to process, with strong chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties, and even though it’s meant for powder bed fusion (PBF) 3D printing, it can also be run on existing selective laser sintering (SLS) platforms.
“We are pleased to further extend material choices for 3D printing with this engineering-grade Arnilene® AM6002 (P) powder,” said Geoff Gardner, the Innovations Director Additive Manufacturing at DSM. “This sustainable material is the type of material that manufacturers across many industries are looking for as they move from traditional manufacturing to additive manufacturing, saving production time and cost, as well as maintaining supply chain performance stability year-round.”
MakerOS New Software Release
“MakerOS has really streamlined our project management for our 3D services. The biggest benefit we have seen is the ability to have all communication, CAD/reference files, and invoices accessible in one easy to use online portal,” stated MakerOS user John Kray, Founder and CEO of Hydra Research in Portland, Oregon. “This is miles better than having all this information scattered through multiple email threads with our clients.”
LEGO Group COO Named to Evolve Board of Directors
“Carsten is a wonderful additional to our board, his background in additive manufacturing technology and supply chain management as well as his experience with high-quality ABS plastic parts brings years of expertise to our board,” said Steve Chillscyzn, the CEO of Evolve Additive Solutions.
Print Parts Delivers Over One Million 3D Printed Nasal Swabs
“We are proud that we were able to quickly scale from our core business of production parts for industrial clients to producing NP swabs for NYC during this crisis. Additive Manufacturing has been given a chance to prove its value by rapidly adapting and providing on-demand production to serve as a solution for an unexpected supply chain disruption,” stated Robert Haleluk, the Founder and CEO of Print Parts.
“The response to COVID-19 has been a truly collaborative effort and we thank our partners for accomplishing in a few weeks what would have taken many months using conventional methods. NYCEDC did an amazing job pulling together a group of innovative companies to make these test kits and our own NP swab operation was made possible by a network of overflow partners, logistics and sterilization providers, and equipment vendors who mobilized to support our efforts.”