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3D Printing News Briefs, August 30, 2020: Roboze, BCN3D & CREA3D, 3D Systems, ASTM International

We’re covering 3D printing business stories in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, including investments, partnerships, industry executives, and annual reports. Federico Faggin, who invented the microprocessor, is investing in Roboze, and BCN3D is partnering with CREA3D. 3D Systems has named its new CFO. Finally, ASTM International’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence has released its second annual report.

Microprocessor Inventor Invests in Roboze

(Image courtesy of The Federico and Elvia Faggin Foundation)

Italian-American 3D printer manufacturer Roboze has announced that physicist Federico Faggin, the inventor of the microprocessor and co-inventor of both the touchpad and touchscreen, is investing in the company, which designs and produces industrial 3D printers for the production of functional thermoplastic and carbon fiber reinforced parts. Additionally, the prolific inventor will be joining the company’s Advisory Board as a technological consultant. Born in Italy but a naturalized US citizen, Faggin has helped shape modern computer science and won multiple international awards for his efforts, including the United States of America’s National Medal of Technology and Innovation. As a member of the Roboze Advisory Board, he will help the company as it works to increase the development of additive manufacturing solutions.

“A few years ago I met Alessio Lorusso and I recognized in him an exceptional foresight and remarkable creative and organizational skills. With great enthusiasm, I therefore accepted his offer to be part of the ROBOZE Advisory Board,” Eng. Faggin said. “I am proud to see an Italian company that knows how to compete in the global economy with cutting-edge products in such a demanding sector and I am pleased to make my experience available so that ROBOZE can grow as it deserves.”

BCN3D and CREA3D Announce Distribution Partnership

Speaking of Italy, Barcelona-based BCN3D Technologies has announced a distribution agreement with Italian 3D printer distributor CREA3D in order to increase growth in Italy’s 3D printing market. CREA3D has been providing professional 3D printing solutions through both B2B and B2C channels since 2013, and has created a strong online and offline presence for itself. Now, professionals in Italy will benefit from CREA’s distribution of BCN3D’s 3D printer portfolio, made up of the desktop BCN3D Sigma and Sigmax and the professional BCN3D Epsilon system, all of which offer a higher volume of printing per piece due to the company’s Independent Dual Extruder (IDEX) technology.

“We are pleased to cooperate with CREA3D, an alliance which will support us in increasing the sales in the Italian market, where there is a high potential for the IDEX system and the distinctive duplication, mirror and multi material printing modes,” BCN3D’s CEO Xavier Martínez Faneca said. “Their considerable experience in additive manufacturing, combined with a top-quality technical know-how makes CREA3D the right fit to help us grow and serve Italian customers in the best possible way.”

3D Systems Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

3D Systems has announced that Jagtar Narula, the current SVP of Corporate Strategy and Business Development for Blackbaud Corporation, will be joining the company as its Executive Vice President and CFO. Beginning September 14th, Narula, who has nearly 30 years of progressive financial, business leadership, and investment strategy experience under his belt, will report to Dr. Jeffrey Graves, the company’s President and CEO. He will lead the Finance organization for 3D Systems, which includes all investor relations, finance operations, and capital deployment for growth and margin expansion.

“I am excited to have a leader of Jagtar’s experience join our team at such an important time for our company. Jagtar’s experience in leading technology companies with complex transformations and large-scale efficiency improvements will be invaluable as we transition to our new focus, align our organization and cost structure to our current revenues, and position ourselves for sustained growth and profitability in the years ahead,” stated Dr. Graves. “I want to add a special note of thanks to Wayne Pensky for serving as our Interim CFO, allowing us to move quickly to restructure the business and prepare for an exciting future ahead. Wayne will support Jagtar to ensure a smooth transition in Finance leadership for the company.”

ASTM International’s AM CoE Issues Second Annual Report

ASTM International’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE), which was launched in 2018, has just debuted its second annual report. In addition to offering a look at future plans, the report also includes many of the AM CoE’s accomplishments over the past year, such as the creation of an international conference, in-kind investments, new additive manufacturing staff, the new AM guide for supporting COVID-19 supply chains, a technical workshop series, the development of certificate courses, and more.

“Together, the AM CoE and its partners supported the advancement of AM technology through investments in new R&D projects, existing infrastructures, development of new educational offerings/partnerships, expansion of the AM team, and the growth of the center’s global footprint. The hard work and dedication of the center’s team are highlighted in this comprehensive report,” said Mohsen Seifi, PhD, ASTM International’s Director of Global Additive Manufacturing Programs.

Seifi also said that the AM CoE has “emphasized its commitment” to speeding up usage and capabilities of evolving technologies, like additive manufacturing, and empowering innovation in manufacturing.

The post 3D Printing News Briefs, August 30, 2020: Roboze, BCN3D & CREA3D, 3D Systems, ASTM International appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

For a Personalized Look, Try a 3D Printed Pompillon Bow Tie

There’s something fantastically dapper about a bow tie, and a 3D printed version definitely takes this fashionable look the extra mile. Ties and bow ties, along with ascots and scarves, were born from the cravat, and can quickly elevate an outfit. But using 3D printing to make these fashion-forward accessories means that you can easily play with the shape and texture of the tie for a more unique aesthetic.

Pompillon, a clothing brand based in Italy and Germany, was founded in 2017, based on an idea from bow tie collector and aerospace engineer Luca Pompa, also the founder of the brand. That idea, of course, was to use 3D printing to make more creative, customizable bow ties. The name Pompillon is a playful merger between the surname Pompa and ‘papillon,’ which the website explains is “the French name of the beloved bow tie.”

“The vast assortment of colors of bow ties and combinable ribbons wants to encourage everyone’s imagination to the maximum, to personalize his style with a small accessory with attention to every detail,” the Pompillon Facebook page states. “Moreover, the various editions will allow collecting them in all its lines.”

3D printed Pompillon bow ties merge classic shapes with creativity, experimentation, and technology; add in attention to detail and a wide range of ribbons and tie colors, and the sky is the limit when it comes to personalizing your style. The Pompillon tie takes the typical bow tie silhouette, reduces it down to the most essential lines, and reinterprets the accessory with 3D printing.

The brand uses another Italian original to fabricate its bow ties – Sharebot 3D printers. Pompillon bow ties are 3D printed using a hexagon infill shape. Several of these six-sided polygons, all with sides of equal length, are joined together to make the bow tie and optimize “structural packing to the maximum.”

3D printed Pompillon bow ties are perfect for classic, everyday style, and for more formal occasions as well. The brand’s ideal clientele are those who appreciate a personalized and colorful look, as they enjoy dressing in a refined way, without being boring.

The bow ties are 3D printed out of plant-based, biodegradable PLA material from renewable resources, which keeps them lightweight. In the future, Pompillon will make special editions of its bow ties out of carbon fiber, marble powder, and even wood.

Pompillon has two versions of its bow tie – the filled Gentlemen and the open Rebel. When you combine the two, it makes the Unique model. The brand also offers a Gala Edition bow tie, which appear to only come in black and white for more sophisticated evenings, à la James Bond. These 3D printed bow ties are completely customizable with a variety of colors, clips, and ribbon, so you have a lot of choices to play around with in making your own unique accessory.

You can visit the brand’s online shop page to see what’s available. Two of the looks I really like are the Pompillon Dark Rebel, which is a red ribbon and black bow tie combination for just €24.90, and the Pompillon Unique White Snow & Blue Ocean, also at a price of €24.90. A 3D printed Gala Edition bow tie will set you back just €26.90, and several of the Pompillon Gentlemen ties, including my favorite in the limited edition Nature Green color, only cost €19.90.

They even look good on dogs!

“Have fun using them in bulk or combined with our other Pompillon. Make it unique and customizable for every look and mood,” the shop page says.

“Take a picture wearing it and post it on social media. If you send it to info@pompillon.it, it will be published and advertised on our social networks! plus you will have the chance to win a free one…be Lucky!”

Would you wear a 3D printed Pompillon bow tie? Let us know! Discuss this story and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the Facebook comments below.

The post For a Personalized Look, Try a 3D Printed Pompillon Bow Tie appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

Italy: Studying Properties & Geometry of Scaffold-Like Structures for Tissue Engineering

Italian authors Claudia Pagano, Lara Rebaioli, Francesco Baldi, and Irene Fassi explore the unique details of creating scaffold-like structures in the recently published ‘Mechanical behavior of scaffold-like structures: Research of relationships between properties and geometry.’ In this study, the focus is on scaffold geometry and stability, and how mechanical properties are affected.

Scaffolds today are used in a wide range of tissue regeneration and engineering applications, serving as porous structures based on networks promoting the growth of human tissue. The researchers realized for this study that it was critical to confirm the relationship between stiffness and strength and the size of samples in ‘polymeric parts’ structured like scaffolds. PLA ‘scaffold-like samples’ were printed and tested for tensile strength, slicing the 3D models in Simplify3D using a Sharebot NG 3D printer. Samples were printed to include ten replicates for each height of 6, 12, 18, and 24mm.

a) Model of the structure geometry b) specimen examples

Each of the specimens was evaluated regarding density, porosity, and mass.

Picture of the compression test set-up

Loading curves for each specimen demonstrated:

First region (R1) – load increases linearly
Second region (R2) – characterized by abrupt reduction of slope
Third region (R3) – just beyond the knee

“By analogy with the behavior of cellular materials, and by considering the compression direction and the specific 3D structure, it is likely that: in the linear elastic region R1, the load is mostly borne by the material in the filament junctions of the adjacent layers; at the knee (R2), the plastic collapse of the structure occurs, based on localized yielding phenomena of the constituent polymer; in R3, the porous structure undergoes a progressive accumulation of plastic deformation and the filaments crash together, resulting in an evident distortion of the specimen.”

a) relative stiffness b) relative strength

The authors also note that because of the polymer strength offering more influence, ‘with respect to stiffness,’ that element should be taken into account when selecting material to build a structure; in fact—and of course this makes sense in any construction project—a comprehensive knowledge is critical to the success of any design and consequent structure that is created later.

“In case the mechanical behavior of a typical scaffold structure could be described by referring to properties intrinsic to the system (independent on the geometry/size) the structure could be treated as an effective ‘3D material,’ and the scaffold design could be easily produced and its performance predicted,” concluded the researchers.

“Several parallelepiped-shaped specimens with different sizes have been fabricated and their mechanical stiffness and strength measured by compression tests. The results have showed that the porosity degree controls the stiffness and strength of the 3D structure. Only the strength, taken as the stress at failure, is intrinsic to the examined structure (thus behaving as a ‘3D material’ concerning the mechanical strength), whereas for the stiffness, a specimen size dependence has been observed. The polymer properties have a stronger influence on the 3D structure strength rather than on its elastic response.”

The successful fabrication of scaffolds is becoming more important to research today—and to patient-specific treatment in areas such as bone replacement, mesh reinforcements, and classic tissue engineering.

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 / Images: ‘Mechanical behavior of scaffold-like structures: Research of relationships between properties and geometry’]

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3ntr Unveils the Spectral 30 at Formnext: 4 Nozzles, 500° C

3ntr is a dynamic presence at Formnext this year in Frankfurt, Germany (running from November 19-22), introducing the new Spectral 30 3D printer, produced via the Clean Sky project–a European research program centered around the development of technology that reduces CO₂, gas emissions and aircraft noise levels (with research contributions from Rescoll and Airbus).

While high-performance 3D printers are in great demand, the quality of materials must match too. With super polymers like PEEK, Ultem, and PEKK, offering an additive production system with 3D printing capability and automated calibration.

The Spectral 30 also offers:

Interfacing with production and quality control systems
Quick nozzle changes
Combining of different polymers depending on projects
Repeatability of parts production
Each of the 4 nozzles can go to 500° C
Build platform temperature of 300° C
Chamber Temperature of 250° C
High power liquid cooling
Extrusion flow control system
A touchscreen
Build volume: 300 x 300 x 300 mm
Positioning accuracy (XYZ): +/- 0.005 mm
Brushless AC motors on XYZ axes

The Spectral 30 features four nozzles, with automated plate leveling and 4 Vento dryers, meant to dry and protect polymers during the printing process, ensuring that mechanical properties are not degraded.

In their recent press release, the 3ntr team explains that its focus point was to begin a new family of machines capable of high performance—but also one that can exceed expectations within the industry regarding the quality of hardware.

“Thanks to research and feedback obtained from Airbus, Rescoll and several key customers, we have developed Spectral 30, the industrial 3D printer for high performance and low-cost polymers or incidence. With Spectral 30 operators have precise control of the machine and the freedom to innovate in design and design materials for any type of production, while always giving the security of the final result,” said Davide Ardizzoia, CEO of 3ntr.

3ntr has been engaged in the development of production solutions for over six decades. Their secret is communication—as they listen to, understand, and respect their customer needs—as well as continued efforts in progressive research and analysis. Regarding 3D printing, the 3ntr team creates 3D printers that offer accuracy, precision, and reliability.

Will you be attending Formnext this year? If so, check out the 3ntr presentation on November 19th at 11 a.m. in Hall 12.1, stand G99.

3ntr is a division of Jdeal Form. As an experienced manufacturer of industrial FFF 3D printers, 3ntr evolved from production needs in lingerie components. Debuted at the 2013 Maker Faire in Rome, 3ntr products are now in use by industrial corporations with digital fabrication needs from all over the world—to include companies like Momodesign, Crocs, Airbus, and more.

The Italy-based company continues to make headlines, with hardware, software, new prices and performance levels, and more. 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 / Images: 3ntr press release]

The post 3ntr Unveils the Spectral 30 at Formnext: 4 Nozzles, 500° C appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

Italy: Experimenting with Coffee in 3D Printed Collectors for Better Solar Absorption

3D printing can be performed in countless ways; in fact, the choices are as infinite as the ability to innovate using this technology with an expanding force of hardware, software, and materials. Many different types of objects can be made that were not previously possible also, along with allowing for self-sustainability in creating items in the lab that can further a variety of studies. This was the case during a recent examination of thermal-physical properties by Italian researchers, explained in their recently published paper, ‘Coffee-based colloids for direct solar absorption.’

The researchers used 3D printing to create ‘collectors’ for their experiments for solar absorption, seeking an alternative to the usual carbon-based nanocolloids. To avoid the disadvantages of carbon—including cytotoxicity and harm to the environment—the authors leaned toward a much more natural mixture of:

Arabica coffee
Distilled water
Glycerol
Copper sulphate

The study revolved around the creation of a better surface absorber overall, functioning via sunlight and its energy being passed to a carrier fluid. That carrier must possess suitable thermal and optical properties, however. Because coffee is so dark, it is more conducive to soaking up sunlight, and resulting heat—harkening back to previous studies with black India ink. That research was encouraging, and in considering it, the authors have combined their experiments to try and include nanocolloids—but without the toxicity.

“Different nanoparticle types have been investigated, such as single- and multi-walled nanotubes, graphite, nano-horns, or carbon powder in water. However, the increasing use of carbon nanoparticles may lead to major environmental concerns and biological risks, because of their (cyto)toxicity. In this sense, biocompatible (nano)colloids may represent a more sustainable and safe-by-design alternative to carbon-based nanosuspensions,” stated the researchers.

Synthesis of the coffee-based colloids. (a) Coffee pot moka used for the coffee preparation (top-left); size distributions of the suspended coffee particles (top-right); Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of the coffee particles (bottom). (b) Colloids with different G30 concentration (from right to left): pure G30 fluid (56.17 g/l of suspended particles); G30w10 fluid (10% dilution); G30w1 fluid (1% dilution in water); pure water.

Coffee is much more complex than you may imagine (which may be the secret to the magic it bestows upon so many of us each morning), and available in a wide range of different compositions. For this experiment, the researchers used a stovetop aluminum coffee maker, with 100 cm³ maximum capacity, a 35 cm³ capacity filter, and a topper pot. Proposed colloids were then explored regarding extinction coefficient and stored energy fraction, while photo-thermal performance was compared with a selective surface absorber using the customized, 3D printed solar collectors. Three different flow rates were examined during the experiment.

Optical properties of the coffee-based colloids (1%, 10% and 100% dilutions in water). (a) Comparison of the spectral extinction coefficient of the coffee-based colloids at different dilutions and a 0.05 g/l suspension of carbon nanohorns in water27. The G30 preparation (100% dilution) is coffee with 2 ppm of copper sulphate and 30% wt. glycerol; G30w1, G30w10 are respectively 1% and 10% volume fractions of G30 in distilled water. (b) Stored energy fraction (EF) as a function of the path length for the three considered coffee-based colloids. Solid lines correspond to the energy fraction obtained with Planck’s black body distribution, while dashed lines that obtained with the AM1.5 standard spectrum. The curves for a 0.05 g/l suspension of carbon nanohorns in water27 are also reported for comparison.

“Experimental tests are carried out in the same conditions for direct and indirect absorption, and the efficiency of the collectors compared,” stated the researchers in their paper.

Regarding the performance of the 3D printed collectors, the researchers explained that a balance between absorption and reflection at the bottom of the channel was critical. Thermal conductivity was promoted via ‘tuning’ of the geometry channel.

“Field tests, in good agreement with numerical models, have demonstrated that these fluids can provide similar performance to the traditional indirect absorption based on selective surfaces,” concluded the researchers.

“These results may pave the way to a new, unconventional family of biocompatible, environmentally sustainable and inexpensive colloids for solar applications, for example suited for vapor formation, seawater desalination, domestic hot water production, or sustainable solar cooling.

As further advances are made in technology today, the options for materials in 3D printing continue to grow; however, this is not without concern for what types of energy we are using, along with how we are impacting the environment. Studies regarding materials and emissions, toxicity, and various methods for recycling continue to emerge also, along with different ways to harness solar energy in the actual exercise of 3D printing. Find out more about colloids and solar absorption here. 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.

Set-up for the solar absorption tests. (a) Flow chart of the solar collectors design and manufacturing: from CAD model, to 3D-printed collector, to final assembly. During field tests, the performance of the direct solar absorber is compared with that of the traditional flat-plate collector. (b) Scheme of the experimental set-up used for testing the efficiency of the coffee-based colloids for the direct solar thermal energy absorption. Solid lines represent hydraulic pipes for the colloidal flow; dashed lines electric wires for data acquisition.

[Source / Images: Coffee-based colloids for direct solar absorption]

Italy: WASP Engineers Make A Model Tiny Home Partially Out of 3D Printed Waste

Rice husks were used to insulate the walls of the Gaia model home.

We’ve have been following WASP for years, along with keeping tabs on progress at the village of Shamballa, a small and extremely progressive Italian community featuring homes fabricated with impressive, large-scale 3D printers. If you want a glimpse into what can be expected, look at Gaia, a model with an outer shell and beams constructed from organic material like soil and agricultural waste. The home measures 30 square meters (just over 320 square feet) and is on site at Massa Lombardo, at Shamballa, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

Gaia was 3D-printed using natural materials in Italy.

Although 3D printing has been a tremendous boon to myriad industries manufacturing parts and prototypes created from an ever-expanding range of plastics and metals, many users have delved deep into the study of material sciences—and ways to use the technology that are environmentally friendly. The 3D printing materials for Gaia were created from a biodegradable recipe of mud at the Shamballa site, plus waste from rice farming like straw and husks used for their natural insulating qualities.

“Gaia is the result of a limited and optimized use of agricultural resources, which through technology have been converted into a complex building with a minimal environmental footprint,” the WASP development team explained in a recent interview.

“If the building isn’t maintained, it will turn back into soil,” said WASP regarding the small home.

The Crane WASP printer at work in Italy.

The technique and resourcefulness used in this project demonstrate the potential for diversified materials usage in 3D printing and construction overall; in fact, waste materials from a widely produced commodity like rice can be turned into insulation so effective that it may reduce or eliminate the use of other heating methods during the colder months in Italy.

“It is possible to conceive a future scenario in which one hectare of cultivated paddy field can become 100 square-meters of built environment,” WASP said.

Empty pockets are created within the walls allowing for ventilation and efficiency overall. Husks were also used in the roofing materials for further warmth and protection. The most intrinsic benefits of 3D printing in construction are on display with this model home that cost less than a thousand pounds to make and was completed in only ten days. And while the benefit of ‘making less waste’ is highly touted, here the team is using waste; also, the WASP team believes numerous other natural waste materials could become useful in construction around the world.

The use of natural materials like rice waste was integral in the production of Gaia.

“Gaia is a highly performing structure in terms of energy, with almost no environmental impact,” said the WASP development team.

3D printing in construction is a topic that gets builders, developers, and consumers at every level excited because of the true potential it has for changing nearly every process of the building and even selling process; in fact, in some cases, building a home via 3D printing may become an inexpensive DIY process leading not only to opportunities to anyone with the wherewithal to assemble a small construction, but also continuing to add to options for developing countries and areas in need of housing during disaster relief. Builders today have already used 3D printing for off-the-grid smart homes, tiny homes, pods, and other protective structures, even including bus stop shelters. Find out more about WASP and their ongoing 3D printing projects here.

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 / Video and Images: Dezeen]

Caracol Factory Using Roboze Technology and Materials to Deliver Finished 3D Printed Parts

Italian 3D printer manufacturer Roboze, which expanded into the United Arab Emirates and opened a new headquarters in Bari in the last few months, is well known for its 3D printers’ abilities to print with high-performance materials.

In this same vein, the company is pleased to announced that Caracol Factory, a department of Italian production service Caracol Studio that offers manufacturing and prototyping, has chosen Roboze and its 3D printing solutions to help it respond to the ever-growing demand for 3D printed, finished parts made out of high-performance materials for more extreme applications.

In a press release, Paolo Cassis, a designer at and the co-founder of Caracol Studio, said the company selected Roboze due to its “indepth knowledge of the treatment of highly performing polymers and technopolymers.”

“Among all 3D printing technologies, Roboze was the only one to rely on for the realization of such unique components,” Cassis said.

The two companies have already completed one part for a project that needed a material with high mechanical performance – a custom flange.

The decision was made to use Carbon PA – carbon fiber reinforced polyamide – for the specific soft material-handling application. By using this material, Caracol Factory was able to save on costs, and provide its customer with a fully functioning, more lightweight 3D printed piece, created specifically for its necessary non-standard processing, with an attractive and contemporary design.

Caracol Studio digitally designed the flange for the application, which included a pneumatic gripping system and a 6-axis robotic system. In order to fulfill its customer’s needs, the component was manufactured on the Roboze One 3D printer, which offers freedom of mechanical properties and design and helps lower both cost and production time.

Jacopo Gervasini, Co-founder and the CEO of Caracol, said, “We have partnered with Roboze for the supply of 3D printers because it is the only one that allows you to work the most sophisticated engineering plastics. This, together with the extraordinary mechanical solidity that characterizes the printer, offer our customers the only valid solution capable of guaranteeing repeatability and complete reliability in the manufacturing of large batches of functional components for the industry.”

According to the release, 3D printing was the only existing manufacturing method was able to complete this component and make it as lightweight as possible. More specifically, the Roboze One was an ideal choice for this particular application, as it was able to use the required material and realize the design of the flange “based on the forces involved.”

The functioning 3D printed flange is now lighter, and able to increase the customer’s overall productivity, as well as the 6-axis robot’s processing speed. This is only the latest example of how 3D printing can be used to design and manufacture custom components for many applications, extreme or not, and replace more conventional, expensive manufacturing methods and obsolete, unsustainable materials.

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

[Images provided by Roboze]

3D Printing and CNC Machining Platform Weerg Announces New Headquarters

There are many 3D printing platforms available online, but not as many that offer both 3D printing and CNC machining. One site that does is the new platform Weerg, which offers both additive and subtractive manufacturing services to customers. All a client needs to do is upload their 3D file to the site, and Weerg will provide an instant quote and then 3D print or CNC machine it and deliver it within five days. The company is based in Marghera, Italy, near Venice, but delivers worldwide, and will soon be relocating to a new facility in Gardigiano.

“We chose a building that could respond to our sudden needs for business expansion and therefore space dedicated to production systems,” said Weerg’s Matteo Rigamonti. “It is a former knitwear factory of about 27,000 square meters, which we will occupy initially 5,000 square meters, in addition to other 3,000 square meters already optioned. A choice that allows us to envisage future expansions of the machine park without requiring further transfers.”

Interior of an empty warehouse

Weerg offers CNC machining services with 5-axis continuous Hermle milling machines and Mazak Integrex multitasking lathes, as well as Hitachi tools and Hypermill Open Mind CAM software. In terms of 3D printing, the company utilizes the HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200. Weerg possesses six of the Jet Fusion 3D printers, the largest installation in southern Europe. When the new facility is opened, the latest installations of Hermle machines will be carried out, consisting of two batteries of five Hermle machines each, fully automated with anthropomorphic robots.

Weerg prides itself on the simplicity of its site and processes. The production process is almost fully automated, facilitated by unique evaluation and management software that was developed by the company’s R&D department. The software directs the machinery, which was selected according to parameters of efficiency, productivity, quality and automation.

“One of our mottos is ‘Set and forget’: clearly we address our customers to whom we want to offer a purchasing experience that is absolutely new in the world of mechanics: the estimate in a few seconds and the certainty of the delivery date, which can be chosen from 3 to 10 days,” continued Rigamonti. “But not only that, because this slogan also tells the story of our organization, where all the steps are managed through advanced software that drastically reduces manual intervention by operators and therefore procedures relegated to craftsmanship that does not belong to us.”

Weerg has the Trusted Shops certification, a stamp of quality for e-commerce in Europe. The company intends to conquer the markets throughout the continent, expanding outward from its Venetian origins. Its customers come from a wide range of industries: automotive, boats, mechanics, aerospace, and a variety of industrial automation sectors. Every day the site sees more than 15,000 requests for quotes, which are processed within seconds thanks to the company’s software.

Currently Weerg does not offer design services, just production, but that may follow as the company expands. Weerg’s materials selection is growing, and it promises competitive prices thanks to the efficient, modern equipment and round-the-clock production it utilizes.

Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.

[Images courtesy of Weerg]