Change Is Additive—Week of 6/30/2017
CHANGE IS ADDITIVE—A 3D Printing News Series by Fathom
Michelin 3D Prints Tires, 3D Printing in Aerospace Manufacturing, Navy Decentralizes Its Additive Network, Non-Planar 3D Printing
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?
Additive Manufacturing with Non-Planar Layers
In this video, learn how a team from USCs Center for Advanced Manufacturing at the Viterbi School of Engineering are developing multi-dimensional 3D printing that builds in non-planar layers // Watch Video
3D Printing Aircraft Components
3D printing is being used to make more parts for new commercial airplanes than ever before—watch a Stratasys 3D printer create a component for an airplane fuselage / / Watch Video
Additive Manufacturing in Action
General Electric signed 3D printing collaborations last week with Swiss industrial heavyweight Oerlikon and French aeronautical company Lauak and claimed earlier this month that the company is working on a massive 3D printer for jet engine parts. The system is being described as the worlds largest laser-powder additive machine, capable of producing parts that are one meter in diameter / / Watch Video

Michelins 3D Printed Concept Tires Require No Air
Michelin unveiled its 3D printed Visionary Concept tire, which, unlike traditional air-pressurized tires, has no need to be inflated. Instead, the Visionary Concept tire uses a generative design, based on patterns found in nature, such as coral and the air sacs in human lungs. This design is intended to diminish the risk of a blowout or flats due to punctures / / Read More

Manufacturers Report Diverse Benefits of Additive Manufacturing
Many of the world’s largest industrial organizations have invested heavily in additive manufacturing technologies. When businesses were asked if they use any element of additive manufacturing or 3D printing, more than two-thirds (69%) said yes and the range of benefits they derived from it is impressive. The flexibility additive now brings was highest rated benefit at 54%, followed by reductions in production, cycle time and costs at 46%. Improvements in accuracy (38%), increased output (30%) and improved quality (23%) all point to the power of additive to improve manufacturing performance / / Read More

US Navy to Use Blockchain in Controlling 3D Printers
The U.S Department of the Navy has revealed plans to use a blockchain decentralized network to control its 3D printers. The U.S Navy is increasing its implementation of 3D printing and recently produced its first 3D printed aircraft part. Lieutenant Commander Jon McCarter revealed that the Navy will begin a trial run using the blockchain strategy this summer before issuing a report in September on the proof-of-concept By having a distributed network in this way the Navy can “both securely share data between additive manufacturing sites, as well as help secure the digital thread of design and production” / / Read More

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Imagery and News Sources: USC CAM Viterbi School of Engineering, GE, Stratasys, CNBC International, Michelin, The Manufacturer, 3D Printing Industry, United States Department of the Navy, SolidProfessor