Change Is Additive—Week of 6/17/16
CHANGE IS ADDITIVE—A 3D Printing News Series by Fathom
3D Printing Human Organ Structures in Zero G, The First 3D Print on the ISS, 3D Printing the Worlds Smallest Lattice Structure, Neri Oxman, Upcycling Fishing Nets and Ocean Waste with 3D Printed Sneakers, 3D Printable Typeface
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?
3D Printing Human Organ Structures in Zero G
Three tech companies, Techshot, nScrypt and Bioficial Organs, have teamed up to develop a 3D bioprinter capable of manufacturing human organs and tissues in orbit. A June 14 test of the consortium’s prototype resulted in the first successful printing of cardiac and vascular structures in zero gravity with adult human stem cells.
A version designed for the International Space Station (ISS), capable of printing thicker, more complex tissues is expected to follow in 2018 / / Read More // Watch Video
Assembly vs. Growth—Design at Intersection of Tech & Biology
Prof. Neri Oxman, Head of the Mediated Matter research group at the MIT Media Lab has explored the differences between traditional methods of construction versus that used by organic processes in nature // Read More // Watch Video
Space Station Creates Its First 3D Printed Part
The first commercial 3D printer aboard the International Space Station is up and running, creating a wrench with a fastening clip.
The 3D printer, known as the Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF), is the result of a NASA-funded project to test 3D printing in space and its future applications
Creating Worlds Smallest Man-Made Lattice Structure Using 3D Printing
The world’s smallest man-made lattice structure has been constructed using 3D printing technologies. A team of scientists from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany used a laser lithography system to create the structure, then shrunk the lattice through pyrolysis.
The scientists found that the 3D printed lattices were ultra-strong, with strengths of up to 1GPa with a density significantly lower than the density of water (1,000kg/m³) // Read More
Ocean Waste & 3D Printing Sneakers for World Oceans Day
Parley for the Oceans combined salvaged toxic ocean waste with Adidas’s 3D printed Futurecraft 3D midsole to create 50 pairs of Ocean Plastic shoes in honor of World Oceans Day / / Read More
Designer Creates 3D Printed Hermit Crab Shells Hermit Crab Shells Inspired by the World’s Architectural Wonders
Artist and designer Aki Inomata has fused her love of architecture with 3D printing technology to create a set of crystalline shelters for hermit crabs. Inomata 3D scanned unoccupied shells abandoned by the hermit crabs to gain insight into their interior shape, then combined the designs with architectural shapes, including New York City buildings, French apartments, casinos and even delicate flowers // See More
3D Printable Typeface
This 3D printed typeface, available on Thingiverse, uses 1mm wall thickness and is available for download // Read More
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Imagery and News Sources: 3Ders.org, 3Dprint.com, Wall Street Journal, Keech 3D, Groupon, Nixa, Arup, prescription, Vimeo, Youtube, Snapchat, Seene, KIST, Feetz, DSW, DesignLibero, Libero Rutilo, Robot Bike Gizmag, Dezeen, DesignMilk.
