Change Is Additive—Week of 5/12/2017
CHANGE IS ADDITIVE—A 3D Printing News Series by Fathom
Generatively Designed Airplane Components, Stratasys Continuous Build, VR Design Software, 3D Printing Footwear Reaches Chinese Market, VR with HTC Vive
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 & GE
“Tested” host Adam Savage and “Innovation Nation” correspondent Alie Ward visited GE Powers advanced manufacturing facility to scout the ways additive technologies are being used in different stages of the product development cycle. From the design stage, to prototyping, to testing and finally production, GE uses 3D printing throughout manufacturing. Documented in the video is a new gas turbine component that will eventually be used in homes around the world // Watch Video
Seymourpowell VR Software for Automotive Design
London-based studio Seymourpowell is demoing virtual-reality software for automotive design allows people in various locations around the world to work together in real time and could be a glimpse at the near future of collaborative design. Seymourpowell believes that by increasing efficiency and collaboration, the software will help to shorten the time it takes to bring a new car from napkin sketch to showroom floor / / Watch Video
Stratasys Unveils Continuous Build 3D Demonstrator
The Continuous Build Demonstrator is a scalable FDM solution that allows for ongoing and uninterrupted additive production. Fathom, an early adopter of the system, has already been using this technology to raise the break-even point between 3D printing and injection molding. It’s a modular unit composed of multiple FDM-based 3D printer “cells,” each working simultaneously and controlled by a central, cloud-based architecture. Each cell can produce a different print job, enabling mass customization with very little operator intervention—the 3D printers each automatically eject finished parts and begin 3D printing new ones in a continuous stream / / Read More / / Watch Video
Autodesk’s Generatively Designed Airplane Seat
Aerospace manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve efficiency and generative design allows them to do just that. Designers at Autodesk have created an ultra-light airplane seat frame that reduces total seat weight by approximately 56%–saving airlines many thousands of dollars in fuel, per seat, per year // Read More
Boeing Research Center Develops Hybrid 3D Printing Process
The Design and Prototyping Group of the Boeings Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has developed what it believes to be a game-changing hybrid 3D printing process. THREAD allows electrical, optical and structural elements to be introduced throughout an additively manufactured component during the build process. A patent-pending technology, THREAD enables the manufacturing of components with in-built, continuous connectivity and additional functionality passing through the X, Y and Z axes.
China’s First Foray into 3D Printed Sneakers
Peak Sport, a large Chinese apparel and footwear manufacturer, announced its first commercially available 3D printed consumer sneaker. Peak has made inroads with 3D printing for the NBA market, signing shoe contracts and supplying players such as Tony Parker, Dwight Howard and Matthew Dellavedova with customized footwear. But the new model, the Future, marks Peaks first effort to scale up 3D printing production. The shoes retail for around $188.
HTC Vive Software
New collaborative software from Vive and MakeVR allow users to collaboratively create in real time. You can also learn more about the business edition version that is scheduled to launch at the end of Q2—meant for designers and engineers in a professional setting / / Download / / Business Edition
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Imagery and News Sources: 3Ders.org, 3Dprint.com, 3D Printingindustry.com, Autodesk, Peak Sport, HTC, MakeVR, Stratasys, Fathom, Boeing, GE, Seymourpowell, Tested, Innovation Nation
