Using an Easter Egg to play with architectural concepts of structure, light, and shadow
Fourfoursixsix, an acclaimed international architecture practice; EOS, a leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems; and Ogle Models, makers of exquisite, cutting-edge models; are delighted to support the world’s biggest egg hunt this Easter. These companies have worked together to create a laser-sintered egg that is intricate in structure, yet contemporary and sculptural. The... Read More
Paramount Industries promotes high temperature laser sintering
More government agencies and manufacturers are sourcing laser sintering for direct part production. In contrast to traditional manufacturing methods, laser sintering can deliver plastic parts with highly complex geometries with impressive strength-to-weight ratios. In many cases, hundreds of parts can be directly manufactured from 3D CAD digital models long before tooling is available... Read More
3D printing’s stellar, amazing year
What a year 3D printing technology had in 2011! This approximately 25 year-old industry is enjoying a second round of “good buzz” thanks in large part to what have been labeled personal sized, hobby, or Maker units and the media fascination surrounding them. The BfB™ 3000 3D printer from 3D Systems in partnership with MADE IN SPACE in a zero gravity test flight While MakerBots,... Read More
If you draw it, will it “print”?
The processes involved in Additive manufacturing (AM), including 3D printing, stereolithography, polyjet, and fused filament fabrication, all promise design freedom. This technology has not replaced traditional manufacturing yet. So, many parts will still need the usual manufacturing processes to make in quantity. Understanding the nuances and needs of each type of AM machine will... Read More
Renishaw demonstrates AM capabilities
Renishaw, a global company with core skills in measurement, motion control, spectroscopy and precision machining, also happens to offer additive manufacturing technologies, although the additive technologies are available primarily in Europe. These technologies encompass Selective laser melting, Vacuum casting and Injection moulding technologies. The SLM250 Selective Laser Melting... Read More
3D printing—without supports
Many additive manufacturing processes (AM) and 3D printing designs require the use of support structures during part build. Either the geometry cannot stand on its, own or the material needs support during curing. But support structures frequently restrict the geometry you can use, involve extra material (costs), and extra labor to remove. They are necessary, but not especially... Read More
Register for Additive Manufacturing Users Group conference
The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) announced that online registration is now available for its 2012 conference, which will be held in Costa Mesa, California, from April 22 – 26, 2012. The users group conference, now in its 24th year, is open to owners and operators of all additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. Gary Rabinovitz, AMUG president, stated, “This will... Read More
Tips on selecting the right rapid prototyping machine
With more than 40 additive manufacturing systems to choose from, from 3D printers to sophisticated SLA/SLS, and FDM systems, how do you narrow that down to a reasonable number without reading every brochure on every system? The Make Parts Fast selector tool was created to help you narrow your choices. Once you’ve selected two or three machines, you may wish to consult the manufacturer... Read More
A Multitude of Materials for Additive Manufacturing
Hundreds of materials are available for additive manufacturing systems. Each offers different capabilities to meet your form, fit, and function needs. For the most part, each vendor of an AM machine offers materials that function best with that machine. There are good technical reasons for such proprietary arrangements—it ensures that parts will deliver the features claimed by... Read More
Selective Laser Sintering
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology can truly be called an additive manufacturing technology. Long used to build prototype parts early in the design cycle, increasingly it is used in limited-run manufacturing to produce end-use parts. It was developed and patented by Dr. Carl Deckard at the University of Texas in the mid-1980s under sponsorship of DARPA and patented in 1989. SLS... Read More
Now that the open source concept has migrated from software to hardware, it's the right time for a hackable robot that can make "
Here I'm 3D printing a chess piece. This is the second chess piece I've been printing. Here it is in a picture:http://reprap.erik
Dr Adrian Bowyer of the RepRap project http://reprap.org shows us around his lab at Bath University.
From CAD to prototype
RedEye, a business unit of Stratasys, unveiled the world's first full scale custom motorcycle, created entirely from using rapid proto
