Last
week Gardner Publishing, launched “Additive Manufacturing,” a
quarterly supplement to Modern Machine Shop and its sister
publication, MoldMaking Technology. A surprising move, since
these publications are aimed at CNC and mold-making facility
leaders.
By recalling hockey legend Wayne Gretsky’s secret to success,
Senior Editor, Peter Zelinski explains why
Gardner launched the publication. Gretsky said his secret was
to skate where the puck is going, not where it’s been. It involves
“seeing...
Researchers at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and
Stratasys Inc. have developed what may be the first heat
exchanger made by additive manufacturing (or 3D printing). Additive
manufacturing can economically produce complex geometries so it has
the potential to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of heat
exchangers in applications where plastic materials can be used.
In the UMD design, room air heated to 120oC flows
through the gaps between rectangular webbed tube plates and...
For
many companies, the design process begins with the previous version
of the product and proceeds with a series of step-by-step
improvements. This approach may make sense when you are limited by
conventional manufacturing methods such as injection molding and
CNC machining. With direct digital manufacturing, on the other
hand, the sky is the limit. So grab a pencil and a clean sheet of
paper and let your imagination run free. Did you previously build a
housing from four components so you could...
SAP,
a Norwegian company that makes parts for marine environments (like
oil-drilling facilities in the North Sea), bought a Fused
Deposition Modeling System to save time and money in prototyping.
To SAP's surprise, its prototypes were strong and attractive enough
to become end-use products.
SAP's move to direct digital manufacturing (DDM) grew out of
necessity. An extensive redesign of a driller-operator chair
involved many intricate parts and was running up against a tight
deadline. So SAP...
The Department of Defense STARBASE
youth program recently placed a large order – roughly $1 million –
with Stratasys for another batch of 3D printers. DOD STARBASE
locations nationwide now have more than 100 Dimension and uPrint 3D
printers being used as classroom technology. 3D printing or
rapid prototyping with FDM technoloogy helps the
program raise kids’ interest in science, technology, engineering
and mathematics (STEM) subjects and careers.
"If
at first you DO succeed, try try again" is an important rule to
keep in mind when designing a part for direct digital
manufacturing. A key advantage of direct digital manufacturing is
that it allows you to easily and inexpensively build prototypes
using the same manufacturing technology that will be used to
produce the finished parts. So you can easily build and test a
range of alternatives. Try something wild – who knows, maybe it
will work. If it doesn't, you don’t lose a thing. If it does...
BusinessWeek.com
profiled 3D printing this week on its
CEO Tech Guide section, and
in it, a group of articles and multimedia explores the 3D
printing process (also known as additive manufacturing) from
several viewpoints. It’s compelling information that
discusses the technology's uses, ranging from NASA creating
spare parts in space to scientists creating human organs in the lab
to children creating toys. There are no limits to how people will
create
A new
mindset has made Acist Medical Systems more agile than ever. A
medical-device manufacturer with a clinical presence in more than
40 countries, Acist specializes in contrast injection systems. Its
devices let caregivers in cardiology and radiology infuse dye into
the vascular system so doctors can better see patients’
anatomies.
Creating end-use parts on Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
systems has improved Acist’s processes in several ways. Because
it’s engaged in direct digital...
“We
get rid of waste. We only print the things that people actually
want,” says Autodesk Labs vice president Brian Mathews in part of
Bloomberg Businessweek’s
CEO Guide to 3D Printing. The collection of articles, photos
and multimedia aims to clue the corner office in to what engineers
have known for years: 3D printing is revolutionary.
Alongside content on aerospace and bioprinting, Mathews’
video focuses on the future of finished consumer goods.
Though cost-ineffective with old-fashioned...
Don't
forget to submit your design for Dimension's eighth annual
Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge. The deadline of Feb. 2
is just 3 weeks away. Students can submit an innovative new product
design, a redesign of an existing product, or an original work of
art or architecture. Dimension 3D Printing will award nine student
winners either $2,500 or $1,000 scholarships in the categories of
Middle School and High School Engineering, College Engineering, and
Art & Architecture. If you win first...
When
designing a part for direct digital manufacturing, keep one
important rule in mind: forget all the rules! Direct digital
manufacturing or DDM frees design engineers from worry about design
constraints that come with traditional manufacturing processes.
Additive manufacturing can build any geometry regardless of
complexity without adding difficulty or cost. For example, you
don’t have to worry about draft angles or parting lines for
injection molding a part. And you don’t need to consider...
Start the new off right when you check out all the
great information at any of industry events noted here. We
frequently post links to events, shows and conferences centered on
rapid prototyping technology, digital manufacturing, 3D printing
and more, so check back often for the latest offerings.
ULTEM
9085 and polyphenylsulfone (PPSF / PPSU) are two super materials
that stretch the limits of FDM by handling demanding applications
that are beyond the limits of conventional materials. ULTEM 9085
has the highest tensile and flexural strength of any FDM material
and also satisfies flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) standards. Sales
of ULTEM 9085 are growing faster than any other FDM material.
PPSF/PPSU has the highest heat resistance and chemical
resistance of any FDM material and also has the...
Forward-looking
news and information blog Big
Think is out to clear up a misconception about 3D
printing: that it’s only good for prototypes. Big Think editors
point out that, in aerospace alone, thousands of 3D printed
components are already in the skies as end-use parts on military
and commercial aircraft.
I can’t resist noting that many of these end-use parts come from
Stratasys Fused Depostion Modeling (FDM) systems, which work with
ULTEM 9085, a lightweight thermoplastic with great strength,...
At year-end there are always a ton
of “Top 10” and “Best of” lists. At Stratasys, we’ve compiled our
“Best of 2011 Webinars” list too. Whether you’re looking for
inspiration to maximize your existing additive manufacturing
equipment or justification to present your case for securing a
rapid prototyping system, grab a cup of coffee and spend a few
minutes with a few of Stratasys’ webinars
from 2011. We'd love to hear what other webinars you might like
to see -- leave your comments below.
At
Evektor s.r.o, headquartered at the international airport in
Kunovice, Czech Republic, size is no longer an issue when it comes
to producing prototypes for lightweight aircraft, automotive and
consumer components.
When outsourcing proved too time consuming and the costs to
produce large components such as airplane dashboard covers started
to soar, Evektor turned to Stratasys and its Fortus 900mc system --
a 3D production system which utilizes fused deposition modeling.
This in-house solution...
Polycarbonate
(PC) is one of the most widely used thermoplastics in
industry. As manufacturers look to 3D printing (additive
manufacturing) to produce functional prototypes and production
parts, it’s only natural that PC materials should be one of
their top choices. Parts made from this
material have the advantage of duplicating the
properties of injection-molded PC parts.
Stratasys offers three PC formulations. Basic PC has
excellent mechanical and thermal properties that make it
suitable for...
There’s no disputing that lifelong ventriloquist Jeff Dunham has
found success with a few jokes and a cast of dolls. He stars in
Comedy Central’s highest-rated series in history, and
concert-industry magazine Pollstar named him the
top-grossing comedy act in the world in 2009 and 2010.
With an empire to uphold, Dunham is under pressure to
continually refresh his act. A new BioChannel
documentary shows one way he rises to that challenge: a
Dimension 3D Printer, which Dunham used to create his...
Until our economy turns around, will you
hunker down or invest in technology?
When the economy started to tank, Matt Hlavin, CEO of Thogus
Products, a 61-year-old manufacturing company rooted in injection
molding and heavily dependent on the automotive industry, chose not
to await economic recovery, but to invest in Fused Deposition
Modeling (FDM) technology and diversify. His decision has paid off
in spades.
With FDM in place, Thogus shifted to small-volume molding and
now competes with high-cost...
From
the early days of FDM technology, ABS has been the most
popular material choice. Today, there is a wider range of FDM
materials, and ABS itself has evolved to a number of formulations,
each tougher than the original material and offering advantages for
specific applications. ABS-M30 (aka ABSplus) is up to 40 percent
stronger than standard ABS material and is an ideal material for
conceptual prototyping, design verification, and direct digital
manufacturing. ABSM30i is even stronger than...
Last
week Gardner Publishing, launched “Additive Manufacturing,” a
quarterly supplement to Modern Machine Shop and its sister
publication, MoldMaking Technology. A surprising move, since
these publications are aimed at CNC and mold-making facility
leaders.
Researchers at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) and
Stratasys Inc. have developed what may be the first heat
exchanger made by additive manufacturing (or 3D printing). Additive
manufacturing can economically produce complex geometries so it has
the potential to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of heat
exchangers in applications where plastic materials can be used.
For
many companies, the design process begins with the previous version
of the product and proceeds with a series of step-by-step
improvements. This approach may make sense when you are limited by
conventional manufacturing methods such as injection molding and
CNC machining. With direct digital manufacturing, on the other
hand, the sky is the limit. So grab a pencil and a clean sheet of
paper and let your imagination run free. Did you previously build a
housing from four components so you could...
SAP,
a Norwegian company that makes parts for marine environments (like
oil-drilling facilities in the North Sea), bought a Fused
Deposition Modeling System to save time and money in prototyping.
To SAP's surprise, its prototypes were strong and attractive enough
to become end-use products.
BusinessWeek.com
profiled 3D printing this week on its 
“We
get rid of waste. We only print the things that people actually
want,” says Autodesk Labs vice president Brian Mathews in part of
Bloomberg Businessweek’s 
Don't
forget to submit your design for Dimension's eighth annual 
ULTEM
9085 and polyphenylsulfone (PPSF / PPSU) are two super materials
that stretch the limits of FDM by handling demanding applications
that are beyond the limits of conventional materials. ULTEM 9085
has the highest tensile and flexural strength of any FDM material
and also satisfies flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) standards. Sales
of ULTEM 9085 are growing faster than any other FDM material.
PPSF/PPSU has the highest heat resistance and chemical
resistance of any FDM material and also has the...
Forward-looking
news and information blog 
At
Evektor s.r.o, headquartered at the international airport in
Kunovice, Czech Republic, size is no longer an issue when it comes
to producing prototypes for lightweight aircraft, automotive and
consumer components.
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