3D Printing

Huntsman has outlined details of a new range of additive manufacturing materials that it has developed, which are set to address emerging needs in the 3D printing industry. Huntsman’s IROPRINT additive manufacturing platform contains three different kinds of urethane-based materials (resins, powders and filaments).

The latest version of the MakerBot 3D printer – the MakerBot Method is now being shipped by distributor RS Components. It has been designed to bridge the gap between industrial and desktop 3D printing.

One of the fastest-growing developments in the world of technology has been that of 3D printing. It is the process of depositing successive layers of material (e.g. plastic, metal, wax) in a 3D printer, to create a physical object envisioned from a digital model. 3D printing technology has already been heavily adopted in industries like aerospace, automotive and industrial goods. 

UK manufacturer of desktop 3D printers, Kora 3D, has expanded its product range with the launch of two first-to-market innovations. Kora 3D’s Formula 3D bed adhesive is a specially formulated multi-polymer mix which secures the first layer of a 3D print to the 3D printer’s build plate during the printing process and ensures it can be easily removed once the process is complete.

The potential uses for 3D printing were widely misunderstood when it first appeared on the scene. Tech pundits and futurologists joined forces to proclaim that 3D print would usher in a consumer revolution, as individuals took control of the means of production for themselves. But the benefits of 3D printing are now actually reshaping the manufacturing sector, rather than making it redundant.

The speed of 3D print development over the past few years has frustrated and excited in equal measure. No one would deny the compelling vision presented by a technology that offers the chance to essentially manufacture on demand or the prototyping opportunities enabled by low cost desktop 3D printers. By Paul Croft, Director of 3DGBIRE and Ultimaker, and Founder of the CREATE Education project.

The precision engineering company, Reliance Precision, is working with the University of Huddersfield to develop intricate, high-strength components for the aerospace industry and medical implants among others. A £2 million-plus research collaboration between University of Huddersfield scientists and a leading specialist engineering firm will add a whole new dimension to 3D printing. 

Specialist in desktop 3D printing, Ultimaker, announced at TCT ASIA the launch of Ultimaker Cloud. Ultimaker Cloud is a future ready platform that supports the professional 3D printing workflow. The first cloud services that are offered are remote 3D printing, unlimited access to the Marketplace, Marketplace ratings, and the possibility to backup user settings for remote access. 

An innovative prototype of a 3D printed wall has been presented by IAAC and WASP. Designed and engineered by IAAC and realised by Crane WASP within the Open Thesis Fabrication research (OTF), a programme of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) focused on additive manufacturing in the field of construction.

Supplier of high performance sensor solutions, ams, has introduced the AS6500, a new high-resolution time-to-digital converter (TDC) featuring CMOS inputs and compact packaging for use in space- and cost-constrained applications. TDCs from ams can measure time intervals as short as five nanoseconds with 10ps precision.