Leading technical service corporation, TÜV SÜD, is addressing the implementation of industrial 3D printing with standards and digital solutions at the 2nd TÜV SÜD Additive Manufacturing Conference. Set to take place in Munich from February 6-7th, TÜV SÜD aims to explore and discuss industrial readiness. Up for discussion at the event are topics including how […]
3YOURMIND challenges physical warehouses with introduction of Digital AM Inventory
German 3D printing software developer 3YOURMIND has launched its Digital AM Inventory module to centralize 3D files and production data. This extension of the 3YOURMIND workflow software aims to simplify production, and create a cost-efficient alternative to physical warehouse storage of parts. The Digital AM Inventory Since 2014, 3YOURMIND has been developing digitized additive manufacturing processes […]
What to see in 3D printing at TCT Show 2019
A leading 3D printing event, TCT Show 2019 is set to host 300 exhibitors and over 10,000 visitors from 60 countries in Birmingham this September. Of course, the likes of Stratasys, ExOne and HP will be among the event’s exhibitors, as well as Oxford University spin-off OxMet Technologies and New York-based software company nTopology. 3D Printing Industry will be reporting […]
Women in 3D Printing events coming this July
Women in 3D Printing, the California-based organization supporting gender diversification of the global additive manufacturing sector, is bringing communities together through a slew of events this month. Now encompassing 18 chapters across four continents, the summer schedule starts with events in Canada, Germany, South Africa, Australia, and Kansas. In the most recent update, the organization has also […]
3D Printing News Briefs: March 16, 2019
We’re starting with 3D software and medical 3D printing in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, and then moving on to stories about some cool 3D printed projects. Sinterit has updated the software for its SLS 3D printers, and Deutsche Bahn is increasing efficiency with software solutions by 3YOURMIND. Medical 3D printing is on the rise in Sri Lanka. A designer whose work we’ve previously covered used Carbon technology to 3D print a unique pair of heeled shoes, and an Indian company used 3D printing to reduce the production time for a 6 ft superhero.
Sinterit Releases New Software Update
Desktop SLS 3D printer manufacturer Sinterit just released a new update for its Studio software, which all Lisa and Lisa Pro 3D printer users will now be able to access for a better consumer experience. The update gives these users a lot of positive changes, including more detailed and precise 3D printing with its PA11 Onyx and TPU Flexa materials and optimized slicing, which makes it easier and faster to manipulate models, while also using less RAM.
Sinterit has also made it possible to stream video via WiFi from its 3D printers’ cameras, so users can keep an eye on their prints remotely. In addition, the 3D printers now have an easier step-by-step guide on the screen to make the startup procedure smoother, and a new “About” button on the menu is helpful for optimized model preparation inside Sinterit Studio.
Deutsche Bahn Using 3YOURMIND Software Solutions
German railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) has been working hard over the last five years to continue developing its 3D printing division. Now, DB has joined industrial 3D printing software solutions provider 3YOURMIND in a strategic partnership in order to increase the efficiency of its 3D printing processes, and also determine possible 3D printing applications from around its company in order to assemble a digital spare parts warehouse. The Berlin-based company’s software platforms allow customers to exploit 3D printing potential with digital workflows, and 3YOURMIND supports DB’s ambition to expand its own additive manufacturing reach.
3YOURMIND’s software will give DB employees access to a simple digital interface so they’re able to quickly submit new ideas for 3D printable parts based on applications they encounter every day. Then, the platform provides an analysis and identifies uses cases with the highest production potential, before DB experts shine a spotlight on the employees and choose the best projects to send into production.
Medical 3D Printing in Sri Lanka
According to Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, the Health Minister for the South Asian island of Sri Lanka, 3D printing for health applications will now be available for the first time in the country beginning this month at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Minister Senaratne made this announcement in Colombo – the country’s largest city – at the 26th Annual Scientific sessions of the College of Medical Administrators, stating that doctors can provide more personalized care by using modern technology like 3D printing.
In conjunction with this announcement, RCS2 Technologies, the country’s sole 3D printer manufacturer with its Thrimána line, will be working with the country’s Ministry of Health to start up a 3D printed prosthetic manufacturing project.
3D Printed Generative Heels
Talented designer Masaharu Ono, currently working for Japan’s DiGITAL ARTISAN.inc, is well-known for his creative 3D printed projects in both the fashion and technology worlds. Now he’s back in the fashion world with a 3D printed pair of high heels that you’ve got to see to believe. On the artisanal project “Generative Heel – Formless” for DiGITAL ARTISAN, Ono worked with casting company Castem, chemical manufacturer JSR, and 3D printing company Carbon to create the sky-high heels.
“This is concept model for mass customization, but I just getting ready, I will sell it as soon as possible,” Ono told 3DPrint.com.
3D Printed Window Spiderman
An Indian manufacturing company by the name of STPL3D received an unusual order from a traditional fine arts manufacturer: an extremely detailed, 6-foot Spiderman sculpture for the opening of a new entertainment store. Typically, a project like this would take closer to two months, but STPL3D’s given deadline was just one week away. Using 3D printing, the company was able to complete it in just four days, which helped lower the cost and weight of the sculpture as well. Digital sculpting was used to modify an open source file to better fit the client’s needs.
“Our production team wanted to take full advantage of our array of 15 FDM machines so we could finish the project before the timeline, so we divided the 6 ft* 4 ft sculpture into 20 parts, then our post-processing team assembled the spiderman in 6-7 hours with plastic welding and glue to bring it in real shape that was required by the client,” Hardik Prajapati of STPL3D told 3DPrint.com.
“Post processing is always fun and all about teamwork. Our artistic and post-processing team played a major role in finishing the project that had matched our client’s expectation.”
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Deutsche Bahn extends partnership with 3YOURMIND to develop digital spare parts warehouse
German railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) has extended its collaboration with Berlin-based 3D printing software developer 3YOURMIND. Sourcing 3D printing ideas from its employees, in this partnership DB plans to build a ‘digital spare parts warehouse’ using the 3YOURMIND digital workflow. DB has already been implementing additive manufacturing as part of its vision to improve vehicle maintenance. […]
Deutsche Bahn Realizes Serious Potential for 3D Printing in Maintaining & Creating Train Parts
Planes, trains, and automobiles come to mind in terms of 3D printing today, and the technology is being put to very serious use for global infrastructure and transportation. Additive manufacturing can change the face of how repairs and maintenance are made on trains, which throughout the years can be enormously extensive—and expensive.
Bringing all the benefits of 3D printing on board, however, changes a lot of processes. The bottom line is affected substantially as parts can be made so much easier—and in many cases better, stronger, and lighter in weight. Turnaround in production time is affected exponentially, labor is decreased, and many parts can be made on-side, on-demand.
There are many critical details to consider with trains though, beginning with safety. These are machines with a vast amount of moving parts that must be maintained with excellence, for decades. Dealing with schedules, inventory, passengers, cargo, and the actual running of trains all over the world is an enormous endeavor—but managing the mechanics is a world unto itself.
Some train parts may be as old as trains themselves, and when one tiny component falls out of order, it may not be easy to find at all. Having just one piece made can be extraordinarily expensive by traditional methods; with 3D printing though, the process is seamless via scanning, creating a file, and choosing a material for rapid fabrication.
Stefanie Brickwede
“When we buy trains we get the service level agreement for delivery of spare parts for around 15 years,” says Stefanie Brickwede, head of additive manufacturing at Deutsche Bahn and managing director of Mobility goes Additive. “After that time, we look for the parts on the world market and we cannot get them.”
In hopes to overcome challenges in finding parts, they have created their own AM network, Mobility goes Additive, allowing for partnerships with numerous other businesses and organizations.
“We just celebrated the second birthday of our network which has grown from nine members to 19,” says Brickwede. “From those figures you can get a sense of how important our subject is and the number of companies who want to focus on industrial use cases for printing spare parts.”
Brickwede says that 3D printing has advanced just in the past couple of years in relevance to the train industry, although Deutsche Bahn mainly uses the technology right now for maintenance of parts.
“Nowadays they ask what kind of parts we can produce, what the use cases are and the economic effect,” Brickwede says. “The knowledge and expertise concerning additive manufacturing has grown rapidly.”
One of the most recent parts 3D printed for maintenance issues was a tube fixture for display lights on the electronic information system. From beginning to end (with delivery of the part), it took a month to create and install the tube fixture, which was a staggering 80 percent less expensive via 3D printing. Currently, they are also 3D printing the following:
- Coffee makers
- Coat hooks
- Steering wheel covers
- Headrest frames
- Braille signposts
“We have a very broad range of use cases and very nice examples of parts increasing comfort too,” says Brickwede. “We also use a lot of different materials. Two thirds of the parts we produce are made from plastic, the rest from metal. We have different polymers, and metals including aluminum steel and more recently titanium.”
3D printing in the rail sector has changed dramatically in the past two years (Photo credit: Deutsche Bahn AG; Kai Michael Neuhold).
You may have noticed that 3D printing seems to be finding a niche nearly everywhere today, from the operating room to outer space! The ability to create new parts as well as finding newer and easier ways to replace those that have become obsolete are hard to find is now being enjoyed by so many other industries too; for example, luxury automobile companies like Porsche use 3D printing to rebuild very old motors, and BMW refurbishes an old car from Elvis’ collection. Military organizations are also beginning to use 3D printing more often for maintaining munitions and even making a variety of parts on naval ships while out to sea.
What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.
[Source: 3D printing in the railway sector with Deutsche Bahn]
Stratasys to 3D print spare parts on demand for Angel Trains
Angel Trains, a British rolling stock operator company (ROSCO), has partnered with Stratasys and ESG Rail, a Derby-based engineering consultant, to 3D print replacement parts for trains. Technical Director of Angel Trains, Mark Hicks, said, “We are proud to be driving this innovation with ESG Rail and Stratasys and hope that this solution will help to […]