ultimaker 2

3DPOD Episode 37: Jos Burger, Ultimaker CEO

I met Jos Burger when I was working for Shapeways years ago. He’s astute, very bright and a natural leader who later worked at Ultimaker while I was there as…

How Do 3D Printed Molds Stack Against Traditional Sand Casting Molds?

Aluminum alloys feature low density, as well as good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, which is why casting them is an oft-used manufacturing technique. But, defects in molded parts is…

3D Printed Models for Training & Planning of Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery

A small gland (about the size of a small bean) located at the base of the skull, the pituitary secretes hormones and regulates the other major organs. Also known as…

Testing the Strength of Hollow, 3D-Printed PLA Spheres

Researchers from Romania have studied the mechanical properties of parts fabricated from polylactic acid, releasing the details of their recent study in ‘Mechanical Behavior of 3D Printed PLA Hollow Spherical…

Australian Researchers Compare Nose Bolus Made with Traditional Wax Method and 3D Printing

Boluses are used often to protect the body from radiotherapy targeted at specific areas, and 3D printing can help streamline their production. Four Australian researchers published a paper, titled “Comparison…

University of Cape Town: Feasibility in Design for Affordable 3D Printed Horn Antennas

Ming Gao has prepared a thesis, ‘Design and feasibility evaluation of low-cost 3D printing of Horn Antennas’, for the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town. Focusing…

How does PLA Color Influence Mechanical Properties in FDM 3D Printing?

All kinds of research has been conducted regarding the mechanical properties of 3D printing materials, such as how they are effected by things like infill density, build orientation, temperature, and…

3D Printed Magnetic Blocks Connect Like Magic

Whether you have kids or enjoy building sets with a variety of different intricate block selections, chances are you have not yet experienced 3D printed magnetic blocks. Created by the…

University of Nottingham: 3D Printed PG/PLA Composites for Repairing Fractures

In ‘Mechanical properties and in vitro degradation behavior of additively manufactured phosphate glass particles/fibers reinforced polyactide,’ authors Lizhe He, Jiahui Zhong, Chenkai Zhu, and Xiaoling Liu explore a new level…

French Researchers Develop Algorithm to Generate Interior Ribbed Support Vaults for 3D Printed Hollow Objects

In 3D printing, every layer of material must be supported by the layer below it in order to form a solid object; when it comes to FFF 3D printing, material…

Research Duo Uses Simulation and PLA to Make Lightweight 3D Printed Antenna Prototype

While most 3D printed antennas are made with metal, two researchers from Turkey’s Yasar University recently completed a study about using PLA material to make a 3D printed conical corrugated horn…

Comparing Desktop 3D Printing and Injection Molding PLA Samples

Comparisons are constantly being made between 3D printing and injection molding. Manufacturers of 3D printers and 3D printing materials strive to achieve the finish and detail that injection molding is…

Nervous System Explores 3D Printing to Create Form in Pre-Stretched Fabric

If you haven’t heard of the design group Nervous System, you should take a few minutes to look at the work they have been producing over the past ten years….

Million Waves Project Supplies 3D Printed Prosthetics While Keeping Plastic Out of the Oceans

An estimated 28 billion pounds of plastic trash is dumped into the oceans every year. Considering how little most plastic actually weighs, that’s an even more staggering number. Another estimate…

3D Printed Braille Puzzle Helps the Visually Impaired to Learn Words

Learning to read Braille increases the likelihood of a visually impaired person’s finding employment or pursuing higher education by more than three times. Unfortunately, many resources for learning Braille are…

Researchers Inspired by Origami to Develop 3D Printing Alternative to Building Lattice Structures

3D printing technology is often combined with the principles of origami to fabricate things like face masks, robots, and self-folding electronics. Notably, researchers at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in…

3D Printing Used to Create Supercapacitor Wristband for a Wearable Charge

It’s safe to say that a lot of people these days rely on their smartphones for all sorts of reasons – from communication to scheduling, and everything in between (sometimes…

The R&D Tax Aspects of 3D Printing Anatomical Models

Hospitals are beginning to integrate 3D printing technologies into their operations to better prepare surgeons for high-risk procedures. Practice makes perfect, but when it comes to healthcare, no two surgeries…

DK and MatterHackers Host Sweepstakes to Promote 3D Printing Projects Book

3D printing is a growing field and it’s growing faster than most people imagine. According to a 2015 study by Wohlers Report, the 3D printing industry is expected to generate…

Soft Robotics: 3D Printable Synthetic Soft Muscle is 3X Stronger Than Natural Muscle

According to 3D printing guru Hod Lipson, who’s founded four companies, developed an innovative food 3D printer, co-authored two books and over 200 papers, and spoken at multiple industry events, robots…

Ultimaker Enhances the Ultimaker 3 and 2+ 3D Printers with Several New Products

It’s been less than a year since Ultimaker introduced the new Ultimaker 3, the latest version of their ultra-popular desktop 3D printer series. The [easyazon_link identifier=”B01M66TXYD” locale=”US” tag=”3dprint09-20″]Ultimaker 3[/easyazon_link] hasn’t…

MUN MED 3D Organizing Hand-A-Thon to Build 3D Printed Hands for Children in Zimbabwe

Seven percent of the population of Zimbabwe has some form of disability, which amounts to 900,000 people. That’s according to Bo Simango, a Zimbabwe native who now works with an…

3D Hubs: 3D Printing Trends Q2 Report Reveals Much Has Changed, Yet Much Has Stayed the Same

It’s that time again! 3D Hubs has released their latest quarterly trends report, the second of 2017, and while quite a bit has changed since the Q1 report was released…

Inside Proto BuildBar: We Make the Makers

I am a proud, lifelong resident of southwest Ohio – I grew up roughly 15 minutes south of Dayton, which is known as the Gem City and is the sixth-largest…