BASF subsidiary Forward AM extends 3D printing partnership with Prismlab

Global chemical production company BASF’s 3D printing arm Forward AM, has reached an agreement to strengthen its partnership with 3D printing process and hardware provider Prismlab. The deal, signed at Prismlab’s Shanghai base, will see some of its 3D printing photopolymer products integrated into Forward AM’s Ultracur3D photopolymer portfolio. Closer cooperation with Prismlab not only […]

Sustainable 3D printed footbridge to be built in Rotterdam using DSM thermoplastics

Global nutritional science firm and materials producer DSM is working with Netherlands-based engineering consultancy firm Royal HaskoningDHV and the City of Rotterdam, to 3D print a footbridge from recyclable source materials.  Set to be installed in the green heart of Rotterdam’s bustling Kralingse Bos park district, the bridge will be the first to utilize fiber-reinforced […]

DSM acquires part of Clariant’s 3D printing materials portfolio 

Global nutritional science firm and material producer DSM has taken over a portion of specialty chemical company Clariant’s additive manufacturing (AM) materials business.  Clariant has deemed its 3D printing materials division to no longer be in line with its strategic vision, and agreed to cede control over a selection of its filament and pellet materials, […]

3DHEALS 2020 Virtual Medical Summit: 3D-Printed Materials in Healthcare

There were a multitude of sessions and sub-sessions to follow at 3DHEALS 2020 (running from June 5-6), with over 70 speakers and four workshops, covering many topics on complex design, and patient-specific treatment. Here at 3DPrint.com, we have covered many stories on materials, as researchers and manufacturers delve into their uses in other major applications too like automotive, aerospace, construction, and so much more.

At the “Material Science in Healthcare 3D Printing” session, medical applications were discussed in detail by Balaji Prahbu (Director of Strategic Marketing for Medical Device Solutions/Evonik Industries), Steve Kranz (Lab Manager and Senior Scientist at Origin), Sean Dsilva (Medical Marketing Segment Head for 3D Printing Henkel) Adhesive Technologies Division), and Mike Vasquez (Founder and CEO, 3Degrees). Topics covered included the importance of bioresorbable materials, biocompatible materials, those used to create devices and tools during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as workflow systems designed by materials engineers.

Balaji Prahbu opened the presentation with statistics on osteoporosis, a condition that causes millions of fractures in patients around the world. Currently, Evonik uses a variety of polymers to create materials and implants that assist in treating and healing and reconstructing human bone. While some materials dissolve in the body over time, other types of materials created by Evonik can also be used permanently.

The Germany-based company is also developing other new powders and filaments for patient-specific implants that can be produced in just a few hours and completely suited to the individual needs of patients—evidence of some of the greatest benefits in using 3D printing technology.

Sean Dsilva offered information regarding Henkel’s biocompatible materials, explaining more too about the keys to developing high-quality, high-performance UV resins—all tied together with effective workflow processes. The $20 billion company specializes in adhesives technology, including that for the medical field. Currently, Henkel offers four different levels of biocompatible materials:

Henkel’s materials can be used for an extremely diverse number of applications, from auditory devices like hearing aids, to prosthetics such as orthotics, bionics, and more. 3D-printed models can also be created, offering a host of benefits like better diagnostics, treatment, and education for patients and their families. Not only that, 3D-printed medical models allow for better training of medical students and allow surgeons to prepare for delicate procedures too.Henkel’s materials are also used to fabricate other industrial components like jigs, fractures, and devices.

Steve Kranz definitely offered some of the most interesting information regarding materials, and Origin’s recent transformation from software developer and 3D printer manufacturer to a ‘swab factory’ in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The San Francisco-headquartered company began manufacturing a variety of different 3D-printed swabs for testing purposes, as well as originally designing shields and other personal protection equipment, to include adapting snorkels to be transformed into N-95-style face masks.

Kranz began by explaining, however, that while Origin has—previous to the COVID-19 pandemic—been centered around software and hardware endeavors, they do not develop materials; instead, they rely on experts like Henkel, BASF, DSM and others.

“When COVID-19 hit, things changed for us. It was a lot different, so we had to adapt to survive,” explained Kranz. “We transformed ourselves from a platform that allowed other people to do 3D printing to becoming a factory, to printing parts ourselves.”

While the Origin team did initially begin creating other types of COVID-19 devices, Kranz stated that they quickly realized they could offer the most important contribution by 3D printing nasopharyngeal swabs. They began collaborating with nTopology, drafting a flexible, effective design.

While the two companies were able to work together in creating the actual swab, there were numerous obstacles. Some supplies were difficult to attain, such as isopropyl alcohol, gloves, and paper products. They were also challenged in scaling up with more inventory and other resources, dealing with waste, and hiring additional staff to work a lot of long, and “sometimes crazy” hours.

“That’s been Origin’s journey for the past couple of months. It has been very intense, challenging, strange at some times, but also really rewarding and I feel like we have learned a lot. We’ve kind of put ourselves right in the fire in terms of testing out our own production, our own capabilities, and we have learned a lot that is going to help improve our own printers in the future,” said Kranz.

Mike Vasquez opened by explaining that, as a materials engineer, he realizes that additive manufacturing is “fundamentally driven by materials, but it is complicated.” This is due to a lack of accessibility in many cases, an “opaque and often confusing” supply landscape, and limited standards. Material properties may be an issue as well, as they often do not match up with what users are expecting or needing for specific projects.

Because there can be so many challenges—and so much data—involved with creating a 3D-printed part, the 3Degrees team developed the TRACE process for 3D printing workflow management. In creating TRACE, they spoke with over 50 additive manufacturing users, auditors, manufacturers, and standards organizations. The workflow management tool, complete with comprehensive analytics is meant to be customized for different projects.

During the fabrication of 3D-printed medical devices, TRACE can be used to keep track of variables like data inputs, specifications for materials and machine processes, post-processing, and inspections.

Although originally set for ‘the heart of San Francisco’ as a venue, this year’s 3DHEALS Global Healthcare 3D printing conference became a virtual—and inspiring—event. Focusing on the continued impacts to the field of medicine, rather than cancel the annual event due to the COVID-19 restrictions, founder and CEO, Dr. Jenny Chen, committed to an online format, and along with seeing every speaker conform to the changes, she was even able to able 25 percent more in programming.

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: 3DHeals 2020 – from the ‘Material Science in Healthcare 3D Printing’ session)

The post 3DHEALS 2020 Virtual Medical Summit: 3D-Printed Materials in Healthcare appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

3D Printing Industry Review of the Year May 2019

In May 2019, the 3D printing industry was mainly focused on the RAPID + TCT conference, one of the biggest 3D printing events of the year. The month saw various high profile releases in 3D hardware and software, from the likes of Siemens, Aurora Labs, Origin, and Essentium. News in 3D printing was also dominated […]

Origin Teams with Henkel for Aerospace-Grade 3D Printing Resin

Ahead of Formnext 2019, 3D printing startup Origin has announced a new partnership with German chemical company Henkel, which has resulted in a new resin designed to meet aerospace fire safety standards.

Origin, as you may remember from our interview with its CEO, has developed a novel DLP technology dubbed programmable photopolymerization (P³) that doesn’t rely on oxygen passively or actively to make the 3D printing process work. This opens up the process to a broader portfolio of resins beyond acrylates and epoxies typically used with DLP and SLA technologies.

Parts printed by Orign’s technology using Henkel’s new resin.

This includes a new chemistry developed to meet UL’s 94V-0 fire safety standard and the ability to withstand 12 and 60 second vertical burn tests adhered to in the aerospace industry. While thermoplastic 3D printing has relied on varieties of PEEK, PEKK and PAEK to meet aerospace requirements, photopolymers are a different matter, with comparatively few thermosets developed that can withstand those rigid criteria.

For this reason, Henkel joined forces with Origin, who boast an open materials strategy in order to more quickly and more flexibly expand the variety of resins that are compatible with P³. Henkel, too, has an open materials approach, hoping to work directly with 3D printer companies to create new chemistries. HP has deployed a similar model for the same reasons. This stands in stark contrast with companies like 3D Systems and Formlabs, which develop materials in-house, thus limiting the variety available to customers, but increasing material-based revenue for the manufacturers.

Of this open materials philosophy, Origin CEO Chris Prucha said, “Since its inception, we have been committed to an open materials approach. We were able to specifically program the Origin One to meet the environmental conditions needed to cure the material in a way that activates Henkel’s innovative chemistry, creating 3D printed parts that set a new standard for fire resistance. It’s a perfect example of how open collaboration between technology providers and materials companies should work, and we’re excited about the opportunities it creates for our clients and their end users.”

Three Origin One 3D printers connected.

Origin has already begun shipping its Origin One 3D printers to customers and aims to enable mass additive production through the use of modular hardware and, later one, the introduction of automated solutions. P³ technology is billed by the company to maintain tight controls over light, temperature and other environmental variables, with prints optimized automatically in real-time. The extent to which this will impact the 3D printing industry and larger world of manufacturing remains to be seen, but it is an exciting technology nonetheless.

If you’ll be attending, Henkel will be exhibiting the new material at Formnext in Frankfurt, hall 12.1, booth C41

The post Origin Teams with Henkel for Aerospace-Grade 3D Printing Resin appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

Origin begins shipment of Origin One 3D printers

Origin, a California-based 3D printer provider, has announced that its Origin One system is now shipping to customers. Due to reported strong demand for the system, the company has moved into a larger office space in San Francisco, and made a new leadership appointment as well. Furthermore, Origin has revealed that two 3D printing service bureaus, Avid […]

Origin to Begin Shipping New Industrial 3D Printer, the Origin One

Today Origin will begin shipping their new Origin One, an industrial 3D printer which the San Francisco-headquartered company claims is already in high demand internationally. In fact, the developer of open platforms for additive mass production has already doubled their installed base.

Currently, Origin is working with customers in the US, Ireland, Germany, and Denmark, engaged in the following applications:

  • Footwear
  • Automotive
  • Contract manufacturing
  • Government

“Shipping our first production printer, Origin One, is a huge milestone for the company,” said Chris Prucha, co-founder, and CEO of Origin. “The tremendous customer growth and demand we’ve seen for the printer, as well as the positive reception from our open material network, is extremely gratifying and proof that we’ve created a platform that our customers need.”

In their recent press release to 3DPrint.com, Origin also announces that they are adding Avid and Interpro to their service bureau customer roster. They have had other major news too, aside from moving into a much larger space and adding a lab, as Jeffrey Lee has come on board as their chief operating officer, previously at DCM as a venture partner, and founder of Cost Cooperative, a member-based buying group for small businesses.

“I’ve worked with this team for almost two years, and I’ve never been so convinced that Origin is poised to finally bring additive to mass manufacturing,” said Jeffrey Lee, COO, Origin. “I’m excited to join the team and help Origin realize this vision.”

Origin will also offer Origin One parts to many of their customers through their new service bureau, passing on the benefits of 3D printing to their client base as they are able to get the components they need without having to invest in all the hardware, software, and materials—although that may be something they decide to do later as additive manufacturing continues to take hold for so many applications around the world.

“We’re thrilled to expand our additive capabilities and offer Origin’s P3 technology to customers,” said Doug Collins, Owner of Avid Product Development. “Origin’s throughput, material selection, and part quality will help us serve many more production applications today and in the future.

“We’re excited to offer Origin’s P3 technology to our wide range of customers in the automotive, aerospace and medical industries,” said Dan Straka, General Manager of InterPro. “Origin One will enable us to produce end-use parts with excellent surface quality and dimensional accuracy. Plus, the parts will be made of production-grade materials from the Origin Open Material Network.”

The company has also continued to refine their offerings, making significant improvements to Origin One with software, increasing:

  • Useable build area
  • Print speed
  • Chemistry capabilities
  • Surface quality

“Equipped with a true 4k lithography engine and a native resolution of 50μm, Origin One has the highest resolution and most flexible polymer process available in additive manufacturing today,” said Prucha.

The company was founded in 2015 and is led by alumni from Google and Apple. Investors include Floodgate, DCM, Mandra Capital, Haystack, Stanford University, and Joe Montana. 

Origin has continually been moving forward with new projects to include the development of new materials, forays into areas like footwear, and ongoing hardware development. 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: Origin]

The post Origin to Begin Shipping New Industrial 3D Printer, the Origin One appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

RadTech opens support to startups and students working in UV+EB 3D printing

UV+EB photopolymer chemistry nonprofit RadTech has opened its call for applications to the RadLaunch 2020 technology accelerator program. Created to help a new generation of photopolymer technologies reach commercialization, submissions are open to anyone, students, startups and innovators, with ideas serving the cutting edge of this modality. If successful, applicants stand to win a monetary […]