We’ll kick things off in 3D Printing News Briefs with business, and then move on to critical spare parts for the battleground, an analysis of 3D printed vs. wood molds, and structural composite connectors for aircraft. Then it’s news about concrete 3D printing, new 3D printers, and more. Continue reading to learn more!
PRECISE Trading LLC is now an official Meltio partner in the GCC region
Meltio, a manufacturer of laser metal deposition technologies, announced that PRECISE Trading LLC would be its official sales partner in the Gulf Cooperation Council metal AM market. PRECISE is the founding member of the Dubai 3D Printing Strategic Alliance, and will play an important role in distribution and support of Meltio’s metal AM solutions in the GCC’s Arab states. Meltio’s process is built around affordable welding wire as a metal feedstock, and PRECISE will work to build a supportive ecosystem for it in the GCC region by driving business opportunities and partnerships with academia, technology centers, industry, tooling machine companies, and more.
“We are thrilled to be working with companies like PRECISE as their expertise as well as customer-centric approach are exactly what we are looking for when incorporating partners in the Meltio partner ecosystem,” stated Francisco González, Sales Manager for EMEA at Meltio. “Together, we will be able to cater to the ever-growing needs of the GCC market for, and ease the adoption of metal additive manufacturing.”
3DM Seeking Strategic Partners to Advance SLS 3D Printing
3DM SLS printers – Addressing additive manufacturing high volume production applications.
3DM Digital Manufacturing is an Israeli SLS 3D printer startup that develops laser heads and systems to meet mass production requirements. The startup wants to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with industry experts and business partners who share the same goal of advancing AM. It is actively looking for strategic partners that need SLS technology in high-volume production. 3DM’s machines are customizable, and it’s said to be the only company to create quantum cascade lasers with specialized capabilities for 3D printing, enabling the creation of lasers at wavelengths that are the most efficient for melting a variety of different plastics. 3DM’s new partnerships will allow it to tailor existing products to meet its high-volume production needs.
“3DM has the right technology and building blocks to make additive manufacturing a preferred option for high volume production. If we have the expertise and backing of additional strategic partners, our company will produce transformation for every supply chain in the world,” said 3DM’s CEO Ido Eylon. “3DM already leverages the most promising technologies today and we continuously push the envelope of possibility. We’re breaking down barriers and that is an exciting journey, I think any partner would like to be part of.”
Ukraine Received 3D-printers from the U.S. in order to manufacture battlefield spare parts
The container-size WarpSPEE3D 3D metal printer, also known as the XSPEE3D is able to be deployed anywhere.
William A. LaPlante (Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment) announced in a translated article that Ukraine received industrial-scale 3-D printers to manufacture critical spare parts for equipment. LaPlante said each printer is about “the size of a truck,” and his assessment is pretty accurate—through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the U.S. Department of Defense supplied seven massive SPEE3D printers to Ukraine, which will probably be deployed near the frontlines. A SPEE3D Team traveled to Poland to train over a dozen Ukrainian Soldiers to produce metal parts using the WarpSPEE3D Printer. These will be used to rapidly make what the military calls “parts of consequence,” which are always in demand and include hinges, connectors, levers, and brackets for more than 40 different armored platforms and aging military equipment systems on the battlefield. The soldiers spent 12 hours each day for 15 consecutive days learning about everything from engineering design and metallurgy, to how to use the printers.
“There’s a big difference when you’re training someone for preparedness versus training someone when the war drums are banging. This is the first time I’ve been involved in additive manufacturing training when the students’ lives were literally at risk,” said Chris Harris, Spee3D’s Vice President of Defense.
ORNL completes analysis of 3D printed vs. wood molds
ORNL’s 3D printed polymer composite mold was used to produce precast concrete parts for a New York City building. Researchers carried out a techo-economic analysis which highlights the benefits of wood molds. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. Credit: Gate Precast and the Department of Energy
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have completed a lifecycle analysis, comparing 3D-printed molds to conventional wood ones for precast concrete. Precast concrete is typically used in the construction of buildings. It is made by pouring material inside a mold that can be reused. The molds used to make these are made of wood and require specialized skills. The researchers discovered that 3D-printing the molds from fiber-reinforced plastic composites was more economical than using wood molds. The researchers found that optimizing mold designs for additive reduced carbon emissions and energy consumption. Future studies will assess the recycling effect of this change.
“We developed a techno-economic model that compared costs associated with each method, evaluating materials, equipment, energy and labor. 3D printing can make complex molds faster, and the composites can be recycled, leading to more economical molds when used many times for precast concrete parts,” said Kristina Armstrong, ORNL R&D Associate Staff.
Dufour Aerospace selects 9T Labs to be its structural composite connectors supplier
L-R: Jasmine Kent (CTO Dufour Aerospace), Andy Lee (Lead Engineer Stress Dufour Aerospace), Giovanni Cavolina (CCO 9T Labs), Simon Bendrey (Head of Design Dufour Aerospace), Hannes Schütte (Sales Manager 9T Labs), Matteo Arnoldi (Technical Program Manager 9T Labs)
Dufour Aerospace announces a partnership with 9T Labs, which designs and develops aircraft for passenger and patient transport, logistics, and public safety. The Swiss Composites Manufacturing Technology company will provide 3D printed structural connectors such as hinges and brackets for the uncrewed tilt wing aircraft Aero2. This is Dufour Aerospace’s first product, designed to transport critical cargo, like medical supplies, up to 40 kilograms in medium to long range distances. This will allow the company to reduce the weight by replacing some structural metal parts with thermoplastic composite 3D printed ones.
“The importance of the smaller parts of an aircraft is often underestimated when it comes to contributing to weight,” explained Says Simon Bendrey, Head of Design of Dufour Aerospace. “With 9T Labs, we have found a partner who is supporting us in exactly this critical area with surprisingly lightweight composite structural parts, without us having to make compromises in terms of durability and strength.”
The 3D-printed Bicycle Bridges next to the renovated N243
In the Netherlands, many changes have been made to the Schermerhornerweg (N243), Middenweg and Noordervaart. These include planting trees, replacing intersections by roundabouts and adding bridges. The renovated N243 between Alkmaar & Koggenland, which features three 3D printed bike bridges, was inaugurated last month. This road is safer for cyclists. The bridges are designed by Witteveen+Bos. They were 3D printed at the Eindhoven Saint-Gobain Weber factory. Due to the freedom in design, the railings feature text paying tribute to Schermer and Beemster. The bridges were also made with less material, which meant less CO2 and waste, since no formwork was necessary.
“3D concrete printing aligns with a sustainable future, where more and more circular building practices are being adopted,” said Bert Swart, project manager for N243 at the Province of North Holland.
Ackerstein Industries signs cooperation agreement with CyBe Construction
Photo credit: SHUKA COHEN
Ackerstein Industries of Israel, which is a leader of concrete products used in infrastructure, environmental development and industrialized building, has taken a step forward and entered the 3D concrete printing field. In order to make this possible, Ackerstein Industries signed a collaboration agreement with Dutch CyBe Construction – one of the very first companies specializing in 3D printing of concrete. By combining a special concrete mixture to a robotic arm 3D printer, it’s possible to quickly produce and move a 3D printed concrete product, and the technology is considered more energy efficient and environmentally friendly as well. Ackerstein is now able to create, manufacture, and market 3D printed products in its new product lines for street furniture, retaining wall, and other uses.
“We are happy to enter the innovative field of 3D concrete printing. This is a revolution in the production of a variety of products for the construction and home design industries, including buildings, street furniture, coverings, and many other products,” said Ehud Danoch, the CEO of Ackerstein Industries. “This innovative technology fits in with Ackerstein’s innovation tradition that has been practiced for almost 100 years and with Ackerstein’s environmental vision, which advocates the use of a minimum of raw materials while maintaining the highest quality. Throughout the world, this technology is used by the leading companies in the field of construction and environmental design, and I am sure that this move will put Israel at the forefront of concrete printing.”
IBEX 2023: Massive 10000-G introduced to the maritime market
At the recent IBEX 2023 Marine Technology Tradeshow in Tampa, Florida, industrial 3D printer provider Massivit 3D Printing Technologies (TASE: MSVT) introduced its Massivit 10000-G system to the maritime sector for the first time. The massive AM system, based on the company’s Cast In Motion, makes it possible to achieve custom manufacturing for composite materials through direct, high-speed printing of industrial complex molds, jigs, fixtures, end parts, prototypes, and master tools. The Massivit 10000-G combines its predecessor’s range of large-scale tooling applications with several manufacturing and prototyping applications for boatbuilding—including interior fittings, radar masts, stern extensions, and hydrofoils—enabled by its built-in Gel Dispensing Printing (GDP) and hydrophobic, thermoset Dimengel materials. This printer can help marine manufacturers overcome production bottlenecks and reduce waste material from machining. It also helps to lower labor costs up to 90%.
“Following Massivit’s success winning the IBEX Innovation Award in 2022 for the Massivit 10000, we continue to develop and bring to market new products and capabilities in our commitment to solving real-world manufacturing challenges,” said Massivit’s CEO Erez Zimerman. “We’re thrilled to introduce the trailblazing 10000-G that sets a new standard for automated, custom manufacturing and has already been hailed by customers as a game changer that is ‘5 years ahead of the market’.”
Flashforge Introduces New Adventurer 5M Pro 3D Printer
The latest addition to the Flashforge Adventurer lineup is the new Adventurer 5M Pro, a good choice for beginners as it’s said to make 3D printing easier and faster with a pre-assembled nozzle, automatic leveling system, and out-of-the-box design. This system marks the company’s entrance into rapid printing, with a nozzle capable of a 32mm³/s flow rate, maximum speed of 600 mm/s, and maximum acceleration of 20000 mm/s². Flashforge’s online shop is now offering the Adventurer 5M Pro at a special introductory rate of $599. The desktop Adventurer, its sister product, also recently launched, comes with the same price. 5MPriced at $399 But with the same machine dimensions as the Adventurer 5M Pro.
This printer is safer to use with its enclosed chamber, dual air filters that block 99% particles and volatile organic compound (VOC). The printer offers remote monitoring in real time and alerts the user when the filament runs out. After printing, the power is shut off automatically. The Adventurer 5M Pro can also heat up to 200℃ in 35 seconds, and features a vibration compensation mechanism, which helps ensure crisper, cleaner prints. It also has a Core XY frame with an all metal frame to ensure precision and rigidity. A dual air-duct system is used for cooling.
Mayku Debuts New Custom Mode for Multiplier Pressure Former
Mayku is a technology company based in London that wants to localize production with its benchtop press forming. They have introduced a Multiplier Pressure Former, which has been enhanced to provide injection molding-quality parts and to scale up the production of 3D printed components from custom batching into serial production. Designers and engineers can now quickly capture sub-micron details for highly accurate isotropic prototypes and end-use parts, like protective covers and optical parts, and the machine’s new custom mode enables them to create and store profiles for any compatible thermoformable material, as well as have more control over the Multiplier’s heat and pressure capacities. The new reducing-plate accessory simplifies material testing and sourcing, increases the thickness range, and allows access to thermoplastics that are hard to print, such as polypropylene and UHMW. Mayku Multiplier with enhanced functionality is available from a network of global partners. Existing customers can also update their firmware via an over-the air update.
“At Mayku, we believe in making mass production accessible and are proud to say that the Multiplier Pressure Former is helping our customers achieve this. It, quite literally, brings engineers and designers closer to the parts they create by combining the accuracy, repeatability, and detail of heavy manufacturing floor machinery with the convenience, speed, and adaptability of 3D printing,” said Benjamin Redford, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Mayku.
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