Coronavirus postpones AMUG 2020 – 3D Printing Industry continues to support AM

Responding to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by Coronavirus, the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) has taken the decision to postpone the AMUG Conference. The 2020 AMUG Expo was scheduled to take place at the Hilton Chicago Hotel from March 22 – 26, 2020. However, with the Illinois Governor issuing a […]

AMUG Conference 2020 preview: who to see at the upcoming conference

Later this month, the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) will return for the 2020 edition of the annual meeting. Now in its 32nd year, the event has established itself as a highlight on the AM calendar; it is a meeting point for experts and leaders from across the AM world to provide and share valuable insights […]

3D Printing News Briefs: February 28, 2020

In today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, AMUG has announced the recipients of its two scholarships, Ultimaker is marking a milestone with a new online marketplace and new Cura features, and a company has created a revolutionary 3D printed helmet to help children with flat head syndrome.

AMUG Announces Scholarship Recipients

The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) just announced the two recipients of its annual scholarships, who will now be recognized at the AMUG Conference in Chicago next month. The Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarship is awarded to one college student with a passion for AM, and this year it went to Katherine (Kate) Schneidau, who is pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Louisville. Chris Kaminsky, the Lakeshore Fab Lab manager at Muskegon Community College, received the Randy Stevens Scholarship, which is awarded to one educator who emphasizes or focuses on AM. Schneidau learned about SL, DLP, FFF, SLS, DMLM, and other methods of 3D printing through her engineering co-op, and taught others how to use the equipment, in addition to developing new process parameters for plastic and metal materials. Kaminsky makes 3D printing and design accessible to others by co-founding the MI3D organization, and is also a guest speaker about the technology.

“I’m so excited to announce that Ms. Schneidau and Mr. Kaminsky have accepted the scholarships and will attend AMUG 2020,” said Brett Charlton, chair of the AMUG Scholarship Committee. “Once again, the pool of applicants was strong, and their experiences were vast. I’m certainly in awe—the experiences of our 2020 applicants in AM are astonishing, and it bodes well for AM’s future! The talent pool made it a challenge to select the right individuals, but both of our recipients are amazing and truly deserving of this honor.”

Ultimaker Introduces Marketplace and New Cura Features

To celebrate its milestone of preparing 2,000,000 print jobs per week through Cura slicing software, Ultimaker launched a new online Marketplace, along with the release of Ultimaker Cura 4.5 and its additional features. Cura now has over 600,000 active users a month, and at the end of 2019, it was preparing twice as many print jobs per week as it had in 2018. Ultimaker Marketplace gives users access to plugins for standard software platforms, while the latest software release connects the Marketplace to Cura with new cloud functionality, which associates the plugins and optimized printing profiles directly with the user.

“Ultimaker Cura is continuously powered by its open source community and dedicated in-house software team. We see our user database is rapidly expanding every day with new students, makers and professional users. Where one user is more eager to manually tweak and test every setting available, others want to fully integrate 3D printing into existing workflows,” said Ultimaker’s CTO Dick Moerkens. “I am proud of our open approach and agile development strategy, which allows us to fully streamline and simplify the 3D printing workflow now and in the future.”

3D Printed TiMband Air Helmet

UK company Technology in Motion specializes in plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) solutions for babies and children – namely, remolding helmets that are 3D printed so they’re more lightweight and comfortable. According to research, orthotic helmet treatment is the best way to treat severe head shape deformity, and the customizable TiMbandAir helmet (also known as the Talee in EU countries) is made with patent-pending bio-responsive technology for a better, more breathable fit – allowing the head to correct as it grows over four to six months. It has a unique three shell construction: the inner layer is a soft easy-clean liner to minimize sweating, while the mid-layer is important for shock absorption and offers flexible, gentle pressure, and the outer layer holds shape, gives strength, and provides protection. Thanks to 3D printing, these shells are also thinner than in other similar helmets, and the helmet features a breathable design to promote ventilation. Technology in Motion takes a photographic 3D scan of the baby’s head, and 3D printing, provided by partners at Invent Medical, ensures a custom fit. In 2018, the company received the prestigious Red Dot: Best of the Best design award for its recently launched TiMbandAir helmet, available in Technology in Motion clinics across the UK.

“We are extremely proud of the TiMbandAir helmet. We have had an amazing response so far, with almost 50% of parents opting for the TiMbandAir since its launch,” said Steve Mottram MBAPO, Managing Director of Technology in Motion. “We understand the distress, uncertainty and confusion parents undergo and we are excited to offer parents an improved form of flat head syndrome treatment for the future.

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3D Printing News Briefs: July 6, 2019

In this installment of 3D Printing News Briefs, we’re sharing some business news with you, along with a case study about a 3D printer farm. First up, AMUG just installed its new board for 2019-2020. Then, Print Parts Inc. has launched its new additive manufacturing website. Finally, BCN3D is showing the world how it produces parts assembled on its 3D printers at the company’s Print Farm.

AMUG Installs New Board Members

The 2019-2020 AMUG Board. Front row (L to R): Leslie Frost, Gary Rabinovitz, Jamie Cone, and Todd Grimm. Back row (L to R): Andrew Allshorn, Vince Anewenter, Tom Sorovetz, Carl Dekker, and Paul Bates.

The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) has installed its nine-member board for 2019-2020. The new board, made up of appointed and elected positions, will build and oversee the next AMUG Conference, as well as develop an organizational structure to support the continued growth of the annual 5-day event, which will next be held in Chicago from March 22-26, 2020. Each member of the board serves as an AMUG officer, and the industry professionals were elected during this year’s AMUG Conference. Carl Dekker of Met-L-Flo has replaced Paul Bates of UL as the new AMUG President; Bates has now taken on the role of Past President.

“I am excited to be AMUG’s 2020 president,” said Dekker. “We have an excellent and experienced team leading us on the path to the next event. The recent growth of AMUG has been astounding! This brings many challenges, which I am pleased to say the new AMUG Board is being very proactive in addressing.

Additional board members are:

  • Vice President: Jamie Cone, BD
  • Vice President: Andrew Allshorn, At 3D-Squared
  • Event Manager: Tom Sorovetz, FCA
  • Secretary: Leslie Frost, GE Additive
  • Chairman: Gary Rabinovitz, Reebok
  • Treasurer: Vince Anewenter, Milwaukee School of Engineering
  • AM Industry Advisor: Todd Grimm, T. A. Grimm & Associates

New Additive Service Website Launched

There’s a new additive manufacturing service in town for when you need on-demand, 3D printed performance and production-grade parts: New York-based Print Parts Inc. recently launched its new PrintParts.com website. The company’s mission is to help its customers achieve on-demand printed parts at an affordable costs, and it is also one of the first AM services that offers composite parts made on Markforged 3D printers. Clients can order flexible quantities – from 1 to 1 million – at competitive prices, 3D printed out of materials like carbon fiber, Kevlar, Nylon, and Onyx. The company helps its customers navigate the entire process from start to finish, including consulting, industrial design services, and even technology-specific feedback. PrintParts.com is celebrating its launch by offering a 25% discount on part orders during its first month of operation. In addition, the first 100 customers will receive a special gift package, including stickers, a branded operator’s apron, and a PrintParts t-shirt.

“Print Parts. That’s what we do,” explained company founder Robert Haleluk. “Our team creates functional prototypes, high quality concepts, and performance parts to help customers take on mission critical projects with confidence. We love what we do and put passion into every part we print.”

Video & Case Study: Producing Parts at the BCN3D Print Farm

Desktop 3D printer manufacturer BCN3D Technologies, based in Barcelona, uses its breakthrough IDEX (Independent Dual Extruder) technology at the BCN3D Print Farm to double its 3D printer production capacity. At the Farm, 63 printers are working 24/7 to manufacture 10,000 pieces per month. In a recent case study, the company explains how it produces 47 plastic Sigma and Sigmax pieces, which are assembled by its printers at the Print Farm.

“We think it will have a huge impact for those companies and users wanting to produce small series,” Marc Felis, the BCN3D Marketing Manager, told 3DPrint.com about the video the company produced about its Print Farm and IDEX technology.

IDEX allows BCN3D printers to control both toolheads independently, which makes it possible to double the production capacity for pieces like the Vertical Bowden, which holds the 3D printer’s Teflon tube in place and made with PET-G material at the BCN3D Print Farm. Customers who use IDEX technology can also cut labor, machinery, and maintenance costs in half, as well as decreasing printer downtime. Additionally, the technology is very clean, because it prevents molten plastic from dripping into printed pieces. To see how your company could speed up the production workflow while keeping costs reasonable, check out the video below:

Discuss these stories and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

The post 3D Printing News Briefs: July 6, 2019 appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

3D Printing News Briefs: June 25, 2019

Recently, HP released its sustainable impact report for 2018, which is the first item we’ll tell you about in our 3D Printing News Briefs. Then it’s on to more good news – the 3D Factory Incubator in Barcelona is reporting a very positive first 100 days in business, while AMUG has named the winners from its Technical Competition. We’ll close with some metal 3D printing – Nanoscribe published a fly-over video that illustrates the design freedom of nano- and microscale 3D printing, and Laser Lines is now a UK reseller for Xact Metal.

HP Releases 2018 Sustainable Impact Report

HP recycling bottle shred: Through its recycling programs, HP is transforming how we design, deliver, recover, repair, and reuse our products and solutions for a circular future.

HP has released its Sustainable Impact Report for 2018, which talks about the company’s latest advancements in achieving more sustainable impact across its business, as well as the communities it serves, in order to create a better green future. Its sustainability programs drove over $900 million in new revenue last year, and the report shows how HP is using 3D printing to drive a sustainable industrial revolution, such as reducing the amount of materials it uses and expanding its recycling program. The report also states new commitments the company set for itself in order to drive a low-carbon, circular economy.

“Companies have critically important roles to play in solving societal challenges, and we continue to reinvent HP to meet the needs of our changing world. This isn’t a nice to do, it’s a business imperative,” explained Dion Weisler, the President and CEO of HP Inc. “Brands that lead with purpose and stand for more than the products they sell will create the most value for customers, shareholders and society as a whole. Together with our partners, we will build on our progress and find innovative new ways to turn the challenges of today into the opportunities of tomorrow.”

To learn more about HP’s efforts to reduce the carbon footprint, such as investing in an initiative to keep post-consumer plastic from entering our waterways and the recycling program it started with new partner SmileDirectClub, visit the company’s dedicated Sustainable Impact website.

Successful First 100 Days at 3D Factory Incubator

On February 11th, 2019, 3D Factory Incubator – the first European incubator of 3D printing – was officially inaugurated in Barcelona. It’s now been over 100 days since the launch, and things are going very well. In that time period, the incubator is reporting a total of 15,000 3D printed pieces, and 20 incubated companies, and still has room for more interested projects, though all its private spaces are now occupied. The original goal is to incubate 100 companies in 5 years, and it seems as if 3D Factory Incubator is well on its way.

Located in the Zona Franca Industrial Estate, the unique initiative is led by El Consorci de Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) and the Fundación LEITAT, and has received an investment of €3 million. The goal of the incubator is promote the growth of 3D printing initiatives, and there are a wide variety of companies hosted there, including consumer goods, a logistics company, healthcare companies, design initiatives, and mobility.

AMUG Technical Competition Winners Announced

(top) Erika Berg’s digitally printed helmet liner components and Riddell’s SpeedFlex Precision Diamond Helmet; (left) Maddie Frank’s cello, and (right) Bill Braune’s Master Chief reproduction.

At the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) Conference in April, 17 entries were on display to compete for the gold in the annual Technical Competition of excellence in additive manufacturing. The winners have finally been announced, and it seems like the panel of judges had a hard time deciding – they were unable to break the tie in the Advanced Finishing category. Maddie Frank of the University of Wisconsin, with her 3D printed electric cello, and Bill Braune of Met-L-Flo, with his 30 inch-tall model of “The Master Chief” Halo video game character, are co-winners in this category for their attention to detail and “exceptional execution,” while Erika Berg of Carbon won the Advanced Applications category with her digitally printed helmet liner for Riddell’s SpeedFlex Precision Diamond Helmet.

“The 17 entries in the Technical Competition were amazing in their beauty, innovation, and practicality,” said Mark Barfoot, AMUG past president and coordinator of the Technical Competition. “Our panel of judges deliberated at length to make the final decision.”

The winners each received a commemorative award, as well as complimentary admission to next year’s AMUG Conference.

Nanoscribe Shows off Design Freedom in Fly-Over Video

The versatility sample impressively illustrates the capabilities of Photonic Professional systems in 3D Microfabrication.

German company Nanoscribe, which manufactures and supplies high-resolution 3D printers for the nanoscale and microscale, is showing the world how its systems can up many opportunities in 3D microfabrication, with a new fly-over video, which truly highlights the design freedom it can offer when making 3D microparts with submicron features. The video shows actual scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of extreme filigree structures that were 3D printed on its Photonic Professional GT2.

From a variety of angles, you can see diverse geometries, which show off just how versatile Nanoscribe’s high-resolution 3D printing can be – all 18 of the objects and structures were printed in just over an hour. The company’s microfabrication technology makes it possible to create designs, like undercuts and curved shapes, and customizable topographies that would have been extremely difficult to do otherwise. To streamline the microfabrication process for its customers, Nanoscribe offers ready-to-use Solution Sets for its Photonic Professional GT2 printers, which, according to the company, “are based on the most suitable combination of precision optics, a broad range of materials and sophisticated software recipes for specific applications and scales.”

Xact Metal Names Laser Lines New UK Reseller

Pennsylvaniastartup Xact Metal welcomes Laser Lines – a total solutions provider of 3D printers and laser equipment – as a UK reseller for its metal 3D printers. These machines, which offer extremely compact footprints, are meant for customers in high-performance industries that require high-throughput and print speed, such as medical and aerospace. Laser Lines will immediately begin distributing the Xact Metal XM200C and XM200S systems, as well as the XM300C model once it becomes available next year.

“We are delighted to be the chosen UK supplier for Xact Metal, whose metal printing systems are establishing new levels of price and performance. Making quality metal printing accessible requires innovation. Xact Metal’s printing technology is built on the patent-pending Xact Core – a high speed gantry system platform where light, simple mirrors move quickly and consistently above the powder-bed on an X-Y axis. It’s another step change for our industry and opens a whole range of exciting opportunities,” stated Mark Tyrtania, the Sales Director at Laser Lines.

Discuss these and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

Carbon, University of Wisconsin and Met-L-Flo win AMUG Technical Competition

The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) has named its Technical Competition winners for 2019. Created in 2014, this competition provides entrants with a forum to showcase unique 3D printing applications and finishing capabilities. It is judged by a panel of five AMUG DINOs (Distinguished Innovator Operators) and has been announced in an exhibition at the AMUG […]

First look at the new Stratasys V650 SLA 3D printer from AMUG 2019

Stratasys, the inventor of FDM 3D printing technology, has made its entry into SLA for the first time. In the second of two product launches from the company at this year’s Additive Manufacturing User’s Group (AMUG) Conference, the V650 Flex was unveiled in Chicago this morning. Reporting live from the conference all week, 3D Printing […]

3D Printing Industry News Sliced: AMUG, Protolabs, Essentium, Renishaw and more

In this week’s edition of the 3D Printing Industry News digest Sliced, 3D printing forays into the world of food art; drone deliveries; white-collar boxing and art sculptures. We also cover the latest advancements and updates from the likes of Protolabs, GE Aviation and Renishaw. There are also updates regarding exhibitions and speakers for the […]

RPS brings 3D printing hardware and support expertise to AMUG for the first time

For the first time, UK industrial 3D printer OEM and support provider RPS will be exhibiting at the 2019 Additive Manufacturing User’s Group (AMUG) Conference in Chicago. Already a well established company within 3D printing RPS, as part of the parallel AMUGexpo on March 31 and April 1 2019, is seeking to deepen its connections […]

3D Printing News Sliced: 3D Systems, Digital Metal, XJet, Makerbot

In this edition of the 3D Printing Industry news digest Sliced we see upcycled, 3D printed food; 3D printed improvements to the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber; upgraded cobots; custom fit footwear and more. Read on to learn more from the likes of 3D Systems, Digital Metal, XJet, Aleph Objects and Makerbot. Soaring higher  Two Netherlands-based […]