We’re still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it seems like there’s at least a small light at the end of the tunnel as businesses and services begin to open their doors once again. This is also a pretty important time for hospitals right now, since they are starting to perform surgical procedures again. Obviously, the crisis has created a pretty big surgery backlog, which is why Fast Radius and Axial3D are teaming up to create better 3D-printed anatomical models for surgical planning.
3D printed anatomical heart model. (Image credit: Materialise)
By using 3D technologies in surgical planning, clinicians can enjoy a higher standard of medical imaging, which enables them to have more insight into the unique anatomical details of different patients. Before they’re anywhere close to the operating room, the surgeons can hold 3D-printed anatomical models in their own two hands and take a much closer look at what they’ll be dealing with. Not only does this allow them to better define, and even practice, surgeries ahead of time, but patients can also handle the models in order to gain a better understanding of what’s going on in their bodies.
“The partnership between Fast Radius and Axial3D comes at a critical time for healthcare institutions. We are now able to support surgeons and hospitals in the US minimize the impact of COVID 19 as they endeavor to return elective surgery capacity,” explained Roger Johnston, the CEO at Axial3D.
Belfast-based healthcare technology firm Axial3D is focused on the global adoption of 3D printing in the healthcare industry, and its patient-specific 3D-printed medical models are award-winning. By partnering with Chicago-headquartered digital manufacturing solutions provider Fast Radius, clinicians all across North America will be able to make much more precise surgical plans than what 2D imaging can offer, according to the partners.
(Image credit: Axial3D)
Together, the two companies have developed what they consider a high-volume, high-quality DICOM-to-print service that will allow hospitals and surgeons in Canada, Mexico, and the United States to fabricate patient-specific 3D anatomical models, at high speeds, with an accuracy of micro-millimeters. They’ll use patient 2D scans to create the models, and once they’re 3D printed, they will be shipped to the hospitals within a minimum of 48 hours. How’s that for service?
“Our mission at Fast Radius is to help companies make new things possible that advance the human condition. Partnering with Axial3D to make these surgical models will have a great impact on patient care. It’s work we’re proud to do,” said Lou Rassey, the CEO at Fast Radius.
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Fast Radius, a Chicago-based digital manufacturing service provider, and Axial3D, a UK-based medical technology firm, have announced a new ‘DICOM-to-print’ service for surgeons and hospitals across North America. The partnership between the two firms is intended to provide clinicians across the United States, Canada, and Mexico access to improved surgical planning with micro-millimeter accurate, patient-specific […]
axial3D, a medical manufacturing service provider headquartered in Northern Ireland, is providing Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with an on-site 3D printing lab. Housed at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, one of six potential beneficiaries of the facility, the lab will be used to produced patient-specific models for pre-surgical planning. According to Andrew Bowey, a spinal surgeon at Newcastle […]
We’re talking about business, training, and events on today’s 3D Printing News Briefs. The first European 3D printing incubator will soon be inaugurated in Barcelona, and 3devo is launching training workshops about desktop filament extrusion. nScrypt’s Director of 3D Printing and a surgeon from Belfast will be presenting at upcoming events, and Arburg will display a complete turnkey system at an Italian trade fair. Finally, because we celebrate all accomplishments in our industry, we’re sharing some good news about a Xometry employee.
3D Factory Incubator Inauguration
This coming Monday, February 11th, the inauguration of the first European incubator of 3D printing – 3D Factory Incubator – will take place in Barcelona. The Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Pedro Duque, will chair the inauguration’s opening act. This High-Tech Business Incubator, a project led by Fundación LEITAT and El Consorci de Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), is working to promote the adoption of 3D printing by creating a space to incubate related SMEs and micro-SMEs.
The 600 sqm incubator space is located at CZFB’s headquarters, and will include training areas, offices, meeting rooms, laboratories, and co-working zones, in addition to a variety of services. The inauguration will begin promptly at 11 am.
3devo Launching Training Workshops
Dutch technology company 3devo, which creates desktop-based material development and recycling solutions such as SHR3D IT, is launching a series of hands-on training workshops all about desktop filament extrusion for professionals, which will be branded as DevoTraining. The workshops will be held at 3devo’s Utrecht headquarters, and participants can choose one of three programs: a basic, 4-hour module for €499, a 1-day intermediate workshop for €899, and a 2-day advanced level course for €1549.
“The demand for unique 3d printing materials is ever-growing, which requires new knowledge on how to process it,” said Tim Wesselink, the CEO of 3devo. “With DevoTraining, we offer the answers to those innovators who seek to take matters into their own hands. Giving them complete guidance to create and customize their own filament – on demand.”
DevoTraining will be officially released next Tuesday, February 12th.
nScrypt Discussing 3D Printed Munitions and Other DoD Applications
“Our FiT platform is ideal for DoD’s 3D printing applications because it does next generation Direct Digital Manufacturing, which means no retooling to build a product or to change from printing one product to another. Just change the CAD file. Our FiT’s pick and place tool head adds actives to the prints, making them electrically functional if needed. We just delivered a Factory in a Tool to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal. It has one full meter of travel in the XY plane,” Holmes said.
“nScrypt’s goal is to disrupt how manufacturing happens. Munitions printed on-demand, where and when they are needed; a ruggedized 3D printer for use in forward deployed locations; and printed electronics, like conformal Active Phased Array Antennas for improved performance at lower cost, are a few of the examples of capabilities currently being transitioned from nScrypt to the DoD and the global manufacturing industrial base.”
SXSW 3D Printing Presentation About 3D Printed Kidney Model
SXSW 2019 begins next month in Texas, and in addition to the many other innovations on display at the event, Dr. Tim Brown, Consultant Transplant Surgeon at Belfast City Hospital, will share his experience of using 3D printing to successfully perform a first of its kind, life-saving operation during a presentation titled “Tumours, Transplants and Technology: AI for Life.” His patient needed a life-saving kidney donation, and while her father was willing to donate, his kidney had a tumor on it. Together with UK medical 3D printing company axial3D and Digital Catapult, Dr. Brown used a 3D printed kidney model to safely complete the transplant surgery and save his patient’s life.
“As the cyst was buried deep within the renal cortex and therefore invisible on the back bench, a replica 3D model was used for preoperative planning and intra-operative localization of the lesion,” explained Dr. Brown. “It’s difficult to underestimate how valuable this strategy was in terms of preoperative planning and achieving successful clearance of the lesion.”
axial3D won the Healthcare Application Award at the 2018 TCT Awards for creating the 3D printed model, and the company’s CEO Daniel Crawford and Operations Manager Cathy Coomber will join Dr. Brown for a panel discussion at SXSW, along with Nigel McAlpine, Immersive Technology Lead at Digital Catapult. The session will take place at SXSW on March 12th, at the JW Marriott Salon FG.
Arburg Exhibiting at MECSPE 2019
Arburg Allrounder Freeformer
At next month’s MECSPE 2019 trade fair in Italy, German machine construction company Arburg will be focusing on 3D printing, automation, and digitalization. The company will be displaying a complex turnkey system, built around a Freeformer 200-3X industrial AM system and a hydraulic Allrounder 370 S; both the Freeformer and Allrounder are networked live with the company’s ALS host computer system. In addition to displaying the system at the trade fair, Arburg will also have experts presenting their outlook on the digital future of plastics processing at Stand F49 in Hall 6.
“MECSPE 2019 is the most important trade fair for the manufacturing industry in Italy and, with its focus on Industry 4.0 and automation, it is an ideal match for Arburg. We are not only a machine manufacturer and expert in injection moulding, but we also have our own MES, our own controllers, automation technology and the Freeformer for industrial additive manufacturing as part of our product portfolio,” said Raffaele Abbruzzetti, the new Managing Director of Arburg Srl. “With more than 30 years of experience in networked and flexibly automated production, we offer our customers everything they need in the era of digitalisation to increase their added value, production efficiency and process reliability – from the smart machine to the smart factory and smart services. We will present examples of all of this at MECSPE.”
Xometry Employee Wins Game Show
This last News Brief has nothing to do with 3D printing itself, but rather an unrelated, but still incredible, accomplishment from one of the industry’s own. On Thursday, January 24th, employees from on-demand manufacturing and 3D printing service provider Xometry gathered to watch one of their colleagues – marketer Aaron Lichtig – compete, and eventually win big, on the popular Jeopardy! game show that night.
Lichtig started off at a steady pace, competing against returning champion and astrophysicist Rachel Paterno-Mahler and sales manager Nancy Rohlen, and was leading the pack with a final score of $12,400 by the end of the Double Jeopardy round. He squared off against Rohlen during Final Jeopardy with the clue, “He was the first U.K. prime minister born after Elizabeth II became queen.” While both correctly guessed the answer as Tony Blair, Lichtig’s steep lead made him the winner that night. Congratulations from your friends at 3DPrint.com!
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University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland, has entered into a 3D printing alliance with UK based medical technology firm axial3D. Focusing on quality control, the hospital is to introduce the axial3Dassure platform to its in-house 3D Print Lab. Through its application, axial3D promises to help to cut production times and maximize the efficiency of the facility’s 3D printed anatomical […]
The award-winning, Belfast-based medical 3D printing and healthcare technology firm axial3D is focused on helping the global healthcare industry adopt 3D printing by using its patient-specific medical models to improve surgical outcomes, assist patients and doctors in better understanding ailments and treatments, and facilitate pre-operative planning.
“3D printed models have been shown to help surgeons complete complex life-saving surgeries that would be otherwise impossible,” axial3D’s Ryan Kyle told 3DPrint.com. “University Hospital Basel’s new collaboration with axial3D will help to deliver high-quality 3D printed models much quicker than before.”
The hospital, which has about 7,000 people on staff, is northwest Switzerland’s biggest healthcare facility. Its 3D Print Lab uses patient image data to fabricate realistic anatomical models, and other objects, using a variety of different materials and 3D printing methods. Now it will be using axial3D’s new cloud-based platform, axial3Dassure, to support its 3D printing program.
[Image: University Hospital Basel]
By using axial3Dassure, USB will optimize its 3D Print Lab in order to provide a greater level of performance and patient care. The software, which has an end to end workflow, provides features like processing and quality management, so that hospitals and medical centers can meet their expanding business needs through its powerful analytics. The new axial3Dassure platform will also help support collaboration within the hospital’s 3D Print Lab with such features as email notifications and task-driven workflows.
Daniel Crawford, axial3D
“We are very excited to be working with the team at University Hospital Basel. They are a leading force in medical 3D printing, not just in Europe, but globally, and this alliance will ensure the expertise they have developed can support our company’s growth by informing the ongoing development of axial3D’s software solutions,” said axial3D’s CEO and Founder Daniel Crawford. “With a growing requirement for 3D printing within healthcare, a centralized management platform is necessary for any 3D print lab, which plans to scale and grow in the coming years. University Hospital Basel has taken strides in its commitment to improving outcomes for patients through technology advances in the form of this collaboration.
“Our software will help the hospital gain insight into the statistics and figures usually hidden within data, ultimately allowing them to measure clinical impact and value 3D printing is having for patients. The workflow management capability will allow the hospital to speed up the creation, processing, and delivery of 3D printed models, while ensuring auditability, reliability and standardization.”
By using axial3Dassure software, USB will be able to increase efficiency and improve compliance and productivity. The hospital’s 3D Print Lab, which includes over 20 desktop and industrial 3D printers, will now be better equipped to manage communication, quality control, tracking, and workflow management.
In addition, USB will benefit from the company’s orthopaedic auto-segmentation software module, which is embedded within the axial3Dassure platform. This module will help lower the amount of time that is typically required during pre-production of 3D printing orthopaedic models.
Finally, by partnering with axial3D, USB will be able to speed up the creation, processing, and delivery of its 3D printed surgical guides.
“Our initial focus for the use of 3D printed surgical guides was within the Department of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery where 3D printing has now become routine,” explained Philipp Brantner, Senior Physician of Radiology and the Co-Director of the 3D Print Lab at University Hospital Basel. “Having access to onsite printing has revolutionized how we treat those patients, some who arrive with life-threatening injuries that require immediate action. The functionality that we now get provided will allow us to speed up production and treat patients more effectively and efficiently.”
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In this edition of 3D printing news digest – Sliced, we have news about the launch of a 3D printed rocket, a 3D printer for construction, atomized metals for additive manufacturing and much more. Read on to know more about Hamilton Labs, PyroGenesis, axial3D, and Rocket Lab. Taking AM around the world Additive Industries, a […]
In this edition of our 3D printing news digest – Sliced, we tell you about the latest trends in 3D printing. We have news from the medical and entertainment sectors, new materials and business opportunities. Read on to know more about Nano Dimensions, Local Motors, AMUG, Doctors Without Border, and Fabrisonic. Promoting 3D printing Nano […]
Today’s 3D Printing News Briefs are short and sweet, but still full of important news that’s not to be missed. First, UK-based medical technology firm axial3D is partnering with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare in order to enhance patient outcomes with 3D printing. Sawing machine manufacturer Kasto has announced that it is supporting the NextGenAM project for industrial 3D printing automation. Finally, Hobs 3D has purchased Canon UK’s 3D printing business.
axial3D Partnering with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare
Daniel Crawford, axial3D
Private, not-for-profit community healthcare system Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) is teaming up with UK medical technology firm axial3D to make 3D printed medical models to ensure better patient outcomes in the neurosurgical services. The strategic partnership will use 3D printing to achieve a “transformative approach to pre-surgical care,” according to axial3D, which can now call TMH its only neuroscience industry partner in the US. TMH will also work with other international partners to collate data on the use of 3D printing in neurosurgery, complete case studies and research, and eventually expand to other surgical specialties.
“Our 3D printed models are used extensively by leading surgical centers across Europe and as we continue to develop our presence in the United States, we are excited about the clinical and research potential of this partnership with TMH. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare offers a leading neurosurgery program and by utilizing 3D printing, it is expanding its already high standards and providing a better experience for its patients and clinical team,” said Daniel Crawford, the Founder and CEO of axial3D.
Kasto Joins NextGenAm Project
The KASTOwin amc bandsaw
Last year, the NextGenAM collaborative project was launched by Premium AEROTEC, EOS, and Daimler AG. NextGenAM is dedicated to developing and implementing next generation industrial 3D printing technology in order to cut costs and optimize workflows, and now sawing machine manufacturer Kasto has announced that it is supporting the project. The overall project aim is to develop a complete system to produce aluminum components for both the aerospace and automotive industries, and Kasto can definitely offer some assistance with this.
The automatic, fully enclosed KASTOwin amc sawing technology was specifically designed to separate 3D printed components from the build platform by inverting them and sawing horizontally, so they fall into a container below. Its cutting range is 400 x 400 mm, with an infinitely adjustable electromechanical servo motor blade feed and an optional extraction system. The other NextGenAM project partners were impressed with the saw’s ability to efficiently perform component separation, and one is now being used at the Technology Centre in Varel (TZV), where its automated pilot plant for industrial 3D printing, post-processing, and quality assurance was recently commissioned.
Canon UK’s 3D Printing Business Purchased by Hobs 3D
Three years ago, Canon Europe announced a distribution agreement with 3D Systems to market, support, and sell the company’s 3D printers in the UK and Ireland – marking its official entrance into the UK 3D printing scene. Canon UK has now been reselling professional 3D printers and offering service support and consumables to many clients across the UK for the last few years. But this week, Hobs 3D, which provide 3D printing bureau services, has announced that it has purchased the assets relating to Canon UK’s 3D printing business.
“Canon remains committed to pursuing all the growth opportunities we have within our Industrial & Production Solutions business. To ensure that each of our customers receives the best experience for managing their 3D printing operation going forward, we chose to work with leading company Hobs 3D,” said Dominic Fahy, the Head of AEC and Manufacturing for Canon UK. “We are happy that our customers are in excellent hands given the company’s long relationship with Canon and proven ability to deliver a high standard of service. We look forward to a continued strong partnership with Hobs 3D.”
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This year’s TCT Show, held in Birmingham as usual, ended earlier this week, and yielded many announcements about new 3D printing materials, software, and of course, 3D printers and their associated hardware. Additionally, the annual TCT Awards was held for the second time during a gala dinner at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Wednesday. British actor and presenter Robert Llewellyn hosted the nearly 300 guests at the awards, which celebrates, according to TCT Group owner Rapid News Publications Ltd, “the people, technology and collaborations behind the best in design-to-manufacturing innovation.”
There were 14 competitive award categories, and the TCT Awards recognized the partners in many collaborative projects, in addition to the designers, technology providers, and engineers. Three more 3D printing industry leaders were also inducted into the TCT Hall of Fame in honor of “their contribution to the industry and to the growth in technology adoption.”
“Once again it was a privilege to share an evening with so many truly exceptional people,” said Duncan Wood, Chief Executive of Rapid News. “All of the winners are to be congratulated for their successes, and of course in particular the Hall of Fame inductees need a special mention, their innovation, entrepreneurship and commitment has played a huge part in the development and success of the industry.
“I must also thank our sponsors 3ecruit, as well as our supporting partner, Innovate UK for their endorsement of the event and of course our judges. The TCT Awards night is fast becoming THE night of the year for the industry and we are looking forward to the 2019 edition already!”
The first of the new TCT Hall of Fame inductees is Dr. Carl Deckard, who invented and developed Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D printing technology while based at the University of Texas. Together with his former professor Joe Beaman, Dr. Deckard co-founded DTM Corporation, which was later purchased by 3D Systems, to commercialize SLS 3D printing.
The second 2018 inductee into the TCT Hall of Fame is application specialist and process pioneer Greg Morris. In 1994 he founded Morris Technologies, a specialist AM services provider, which was purchased by GE Aviation in 2012, along with sister company Rapid Quality Manufacturing. His work in developing metal 3D printing applications and processes has increased their adoption in the aerospace and medical sectors, and he distributes his knowledge through his involvement in the speaking circuit.
Professor Emanuel ‘Ely’ Sachs, who invented binder jet printing at MIT in 1989, is this year’s final TCT Hall of Fame Inductee. Professor Sachs, who is on the leadership team of Desktop Metal and still teaches at MIT, actually coined the phrase ‘3D printing’ at that time, and binder jetting technology is a building block for much of the market’s current technology.
As for the rest of the TCT Awards, Project MELT, with its tech lead listed as BEEVERYCREATIVE, won this year’s Aerospace Application Award, while the winner of the Automotive Application Award was the BMW i8 roadster SLM bracket by tech lead SLM Solutions.
Vitamix nozzle at RAPID 2018 [Image: Sarah Saunders for 3DPrint.com]
Axial3D won the Healthcare Application Award for the use of its pre-op planning model aids in a world-first surgery at Belfast City Hospital, and Trinckle 3D won the Industrial Product Application Award for its mass customization of copper inductors. The Materials Award – Non Polymer went to SABIC for its EXL AMHI240F 3D printing filament, and NanoSteel took the Materials Award – Polymers for its BLDRmetal L-40 steel 3D printing material.
3D Systems was the winner of the Metrology Award for its Aircraft Damage Assessment for Easyjet, and Steros GPA Innovate S.L. won the Post-Processing Award for its DLyte: Metal DryLyte Electropolishing. Materialise won the Software Award for its e-Stage Metal, and this year’s Rising Star Award was given to HiETA Technologies Ltd.
To learn more about the winning projects and companies, and see the Highly Commended projects, visit the TCT Awards website.
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