Change Is Additive—Week of 2/17/2017
CHANGE IS ADDITIVE—A 3D Printing News Series by Fathom
Siemens and Additive, Researching Six-Axis 3D Printing, Auto-Focus Lenses, Dental Applications for 3D Printing, Wind Turbine
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?
Six-axis 3D Printer Prints Overhangs without Supports
Student researchers from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) in Switzerland have created a 3D printer with a three-axis build tray, that allows the 3D printer a full six-axis range of motion. The machine, still in the prototype phase, is being tested to 3D print overhangs without the need for support / / Read More / / Watch Video
Arrinera Technology Turns to 3D Printing for Parts for Its Supercar
As we have seen with a number of supercars and race track speedsters, 3D printing is again being used for ultra lightweight components in Arrinera Technologys latest production. OMNI3D is creating air vents, mirror caps and other automotive parts, mostly in ABS-42 / / Read More / / Watch Video
3D Printing is Changing Manufacturing for Siemens with Latest Turbine Test
Siemens have successfully load tested 3D printed gas turbine blades, which is a notable achievement for additively manufactured parts in the energy industry. These 3D printed blades, composed of high performing polycrystalline nickel superalloy, are designed to withstand intense testing conditions within the 13MW Siemens SGT-400 industrial gas turbine, including 13,000 revolutions per minute under up to 1,250 °C while travelling at over 1,600km/h and carrying eleven tons / / Read More
Auto-Focusing 3D Printed Eyewear
Researchers at the University of Utah have used 3D printing to prototype a pair of smart glasses whose liquid lenses can automatically adjust focus. The lenses in these seemingly magical smart glasses are made of glycerin, a viscous and non-toxic polyol compound, contained within flexible membranes that can be moved mechanically.
Using an infrared sensor—the kind that digital cameras use to focus on the subject—the 3D printed glasses can adjust the position of the membrane to help the wearer focus on the object they are looking at. This adjustment takes as little as 14 milliseconds, so wearers can quickly look from one object to another without losing focus / / Read More
Dental Company Straumann Turns to 3D printing
Swiss Dental company Straumann has announced plans to acquire a 3D printing partner. According to CEO Marco Gadola, Straumann is approaching the market in order to ensure their company is a “total solutions” provider, as “more and more dentists are looking at 3D printing in their own offices.” Straumann currently provides implant, restorative and regenerative dentistry / / Read More
Wind Turbine
An almost entirely 3D printable power-generating wind turbine // Download // Watch Video
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Imagery and News Sources: 3Ders.org, 3Dprint.com, 3D Printingindustry.com, Siemens, University of Utah, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Arrinera Technology, OMNI3D, Straumann, Ultimaker
