A full-sized bike frame like this one made number three on the IMTS list of 10 coolest parts at AMUG.

When Jake Ervin of IMTS scoured the event for the 10 coolest parts to highlight in this video, nine of them were built with either Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) or PolyJet — both Stratasys technologies.

We get why Ervin is nuts about these 3D printed models. They represent a crazy variety of 3D printed part properties: a rubberlike human aorta, a full-sized 3D printed bike frame prototype that TREK designers really ride, and a metal steering wheel manufactured from a 3D printed mold, to name a few.

Check out the video for the best parts AMUG had to offer. And thanks, Jake!

For SelectTech, UAS test flight damage is a learning experience

The Stratasys white paper entitled “Additive Manufacturing Trends in Aerospace: Leading the Way” provides an overview on how nine leading aerospace companies are using AM in a wide spectrum of applications. The first of four excerpts from this paper explains how SelectTech Geospatial — which built the first 3D-printed unmanned aerial system (UAS) to take off and land on its gear — uses AM to build prototypes.

For SelectTech, AM offers the flexibility to iterate. It uses AM in a trial-and-error approach that avoids lengthy delays for analysis and simulation. Its process is simple, direct and efficient: Design, print, assemble, fly, learn and repeat. According to Frank Beafore, engineering director for SelectTech, “[There were] no failures; each attempt gave us information,” he said. “3D printing is an enabler.”

View or download the complete “Additive Manufacturing Trends in Aerospace: Leading the Way” white paper.

“The dental market requires the highest standard in precision and appearance of 3D printed stone models,” said Avi Cohen, director of global dental at Stratasys. “The introduction of VeroDentPlus MED690 is part of our continuing commitment to setting that standard.”

The VeroDentPlus MED690 is optimized for printing models for crowns, bridges, implants, and orthodontic appliances. The modeling data can be obtained from any intra-oral, impression, or plaster scanner and then 3D printed with fine 16-micron layers on the Stratasys Objet EdenV line of 3D Printers.

As you can see in the images below, by providing high accuracy and precision together with a high-opacity and dental stone appearance, VeroDentPlus MED690 enables outstanding visualization of details in the 3D printed dental models.

Stratasys VeroDentPlus MED690 dental material provides the winning combination of accuracy, precision, durability, and economic production!

Included in this delegation were representatives from Stratasys; Jonathan Jaglom, General Manager of Stratasys APJ and Gal Barak, Vice President Solutions Group to present 3D printing benefits and the company’s innovations to Chinese government and industry leaders. Stratasys already works with many Chinese customers including SAIC.

In this picture we see Stratasys’ Jonathan Jaglom together with Prime Minister Netanyahu presenting a traditional Chinese dragon 3D printed on the Objet30 Pro 3D Printer to the Vice-chairman of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council  (SASAC). The dragon was created using Stratasys rigid blue material.

Jonathan Jaglom was interviewed by the Global Times TV channel for their “Innovation, Inspiration and Enlightenment” program, where Jonathan explained the value of 3D printing and additive manufacturing in today’s economies.

In this short video case study, we meet the owners of a successful family business, Armac Martin, based in Birmingham in the UK. They’ve been making brass, steel and aluminum fixtures for years and recently acquired a Stratasys Objet24 Desktop 3D Printer.

What’s remarkable about this case study is that the team at Armac Martin are using the desktop 3D printer for both rapid prototyping and end use manufacturing purposes! Making the most of the smooth surfaces and excellent part quality of PolyJet materials, the company is able to accurately and quickly design and prototype unique draw-pulls and fixtures that help their customers make the right choice for their kitchens, bedrooms and bathroom fixtures. Those prototypes, once approved by the customer, are then sent to final manufacturing with the result that the customer is never surprised by the finished end-result.

Sand-casted end product manufactured in brass

The second use for their 3D printer is for creating sand-casted parts. First they create a ‘pattern’ using the 3D printer (this is basically a reproduction of the item they wish to manufacture in metal). From this they create mold cavities by compacting sand around the pattern. Once the cavity is ready, the molten metal is poured in, and when cool, you have a final part that assumes the same exact shape as your initial 3D printed pattern. The use of the 3D printer makes the process faster, more efficient and highly repeatable for unique parts. All in all, the desktop 3D printer is a great return on investment for this very successful niche company!