Change Is Additive—Week of 5/19/2017
CHANGE IS ADDITIVE—A 3D Printing News Series by Fathom
Massive 3D Printed Rocket Engine, Desktop Metal System Overview, 3D Printed Tactile Sensors, German Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing Ovaries for Mice, Windmill Download
With so many weekly developments in a fast-changing industry like additive manufacturing, the headlines can really stack up. To cut through the clutter of 3D printing news, check out these staff picks of the week. What do you think is the most impactful development?
Desktop Metal Studio System Overview
Designed as an end-to-end solution, the Desktop Metal team has created an office-friendly 3D printer for building complex metal parts in-house. The Studio System is significantly less expensive than comparable laser-based equipment and much easier to use // Watch Video
3D Printed Stretchable Tactile Sensors
Researchers have developed 3D printed sensory devices that have the potential to give robots abilities to sense and feel environments in a more delicate manner // Read More / / Watch Video
Successful Testing, 3D Printed Rocket Engine—30,000 Lbf Thrust
Aerojet Rocketdyne, a California-based rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer, has successfully tested a 30,000 lbf thrust-class Bantam liquid-fueled rocket that was manufactured using 3D printing technology. The tests marked a 500% increase in thrust levels from the 3D printed Baby Bantam engine that the company tested in June 2014. The Bantam engine, which was designed, manufactured and tested all within just seven months, is built for a thrust level of 30,000 lbf, making it suitable for the small launch vehicle and low-cost upper stage markets. By using additive manufacturing to make the rocket, Aerojet Rocketdyne was not only able to speed up the production process, but was also able to radically simplify the rocket’s overall construction / / Read More
German Ministry of Education Launches Metal 3D Printing Project with KUKA Industries
The German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and KUKA Industries are working on large format metal 3D printing with a number of manufacturing and institutional partners. The project focuses on the laser metal deposition (LMD) method of 3D printing in which powdered metal is fed into a melt pool created by laser beams. KUKA robotic arms have found a number of uses across critical manufacturing industries as they are reconfigurable for a number of applications, including part inspection using mounted 3D scanners and assembly / / Read More
3D Printed Ovaries Restore Fertility in Mice
Researchers have embedded synthetic 3D printed ovaries in infertile mice and successfully regenerated their fertility, according to a recent study from the Lyon-Sud Hospital Center in France. The replacement ovaries, 3D printed from a gelatin derivative material, were created with overlapping layers on a microscopic scale, with the complete prosthetic measuring just 15 mm by 15 mm. The study is being hailed as a potential landmark development / / Read More
Vertical Windmill
This large windmill turbine is fully 3D-printable and available on Thingiverse / / Download
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Imagery and News Sources: 3Ders.org, 3Dprint.com, 3D Printingindustry.com, Desktop Metal, University of Minnesota, Aerojet Rocketdyne, German Ministry of Education, KUKA, Lyon-Sud Hospital Center, Science Mag, NBC, Thingiverse
