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Top 10 steel producers: Innovations, challenges, and future directions

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If you’re the kind of person who thinks steel is beautiful, you probably need to get a life. Or at least get out more.

But the thing about steel is that it’s always so shiny. So strong as well. If it’s stainless steel, like your average sink, you could use it for the rest of your life and it will look as shiny and as beautiful as the day it was made, provided you clean it of course.

Scientifically or technically speaking, even stainless steel does rust. But that’s boffins for you – always looking to spoil the party with useless facts. To the average person, with an average sink, stainless steel stays as good as new forever. [Read more…] about Top 10 steel producers: Innovations, challenges, and future directions

Predictions on 3D printing: What does 2025 hold for additive manufacturing?

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Despite the tremendous success of 3D printing – also known as additive manufacturing (AM) – across many industrial sectors, the technology is still, in some ways, in its early days.

Here, a number of senior executives at 3D Systems – whose founder Chuck Hull is credited with inventing 3D printing – share their thoughts on what 2025 holds for additive manufacturing. [Read more…] about Predictions on 3D printing: What does 2025 hold for additive manufacturing?

Nikon sells its 1,000th 3D printer to Bosch

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Nikon SLM Solutions says that the 1000th system it has produced, an NXG XII 600, has now been acquired – by Bosch. (SLM stands for “selective laser melting”, a technique for 3D printing or additive manufacturing.)

German industrial giant Bosch will utilize the milestone NXG XII 600 to “elevate the production” of critical parts for powertrain technology, hydrogen, and electric drive applications at its 3D-Printing Manufacturing and Processing Center in Nuremberg, Germany.

This center specializes in additive manufacturing (AM) for both prototyping and serial production, harnessing the power of Nikon SLM’s technology to meet growing production demands. [Read more…] about Nikon sells its 1,000th 3D printer to Bosch

Caracol unveils large-format robotic 3D printer

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Caracol, a developer of large-format metal additive manufacturing systems, is introducing Vipra AM, which it describes as “a revolutionary technology that transforms how large-scale metal parts are produced”.

The company says its new robotic platform will be unveiled at Formnext (booth C101, Hall 12.1), and “stands out as a powerful tool designed to meet these and more of their evolving needs”.

Vipra AM is a robotic large scale direct energy deposition platform that leverages wire arc additive manufacturing processes, seamlessly developed into a hardware, software, and automation proprietary turnkey system. [Read more…] about Caracol unveils large-format robotic 3D printer

How automation and AI ‘enrich’ online print industry

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Robotics, automation and artificial intelligence are “enriching the online print industry”, according to industry association Initiative Online Print.

The IOP welcomed three new members (see below) to its ranks at its Autumn conference, where robotics, automation and artificial intelligence were the main subjects of conversation and debate.

Thematically, everything at the IOP Autumn conference revolved around the topics of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence. [Read more…] about How automation and AI ‘enrich’ online print industry

Benefits of Using Sculpteo 3D Printing

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In a world where innovation drives progress, 3D printing has emerged as a game-changing technology. Sculpteo is reshaping industries from aerospace and healthcare, to fashion and automotive.

Among the many service providers, Sculpteo is a pioneer. They offer a wide array of cutting-edge solutions to individuals and businesses alike.

We’ll explore the multitude of benefits it brings to the table. These benefits range from rapid prototyping and cost-efficiency to customization and sustainability. [Read more…] about Benefits of Using Sculpteo 3D Printing

Generative design: nTopology blazing a trail through 3D printing world

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One of the most impressive features of the nTopology design application is that it requires substantially less computing power. According to the company’s – and its partners’ – calculations, file sizes can be 99 percent smaller compared with traditional 3D design software. 

Traditional, long-established software for 3D design tends to be very memory-hungry and can seriously stress out processors. nTop, on the other hand, can provide the same functionality if used on a laptop as traditional 3D design applications would if run on a supercomputer – because nTop was specifically designed for today’s 3D printing and design requirements.

The way nTop does this is difficult to explain for a non-technical journalist, but essentially, the nTop software does away with such things as extrusion, which is a fundamental concept and requirement in traditional 3D design applications. [Read more…] about Generative design: nTopology blazing a trail through 3D printing world

nTopology claims it can reduce 3D design file sizes by 99 percent

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nTopology, the developer of generative design software for engineering, and EOS, an industrial 3D printing company, are developing a new “Implicit Interop” capability, solving what they see as “a major bottleneck in the additive manufacturing workflow”.

The companies say they are achieving this by allowing the transfer of the most complex designs in megabyte-sized files, thereby quickening the time to manufacturing.

Previewed at the Formnext industry event a few months ago, the technology advancement was said to be “eagerly received” by nTopology partners and customers. [Read more…] about nTopology claims it can reduce 3D design file sizes by 99 percent

Stilride and Adaxis partner to fuse robotics, 3D printing and ‘industrial origami’ into manufacturing

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Stilride, the Swedish startup known for its origami-inspired approach to electromobility design and manufacturing – is joining forces with French-Swedish robotics company Adaxis to introduce 3D printing capabilities to its suite of sustainable manufacturing tech.

Stilride’s technology, called Stilfold, involves the use of robotic arms to fold steel over curves to form light and strong new structures, using minimal component parts.

The technology is currently being used to build the chassis of a sustainable steel electric motorbike called the Sport Utility Scooter One (Sus1, pictured below) which is built using 70 percent fewer components than traditional plastic models. [Read more…] about Stilride and Adaxis partner to fuse robotics, 3D printing and ‘industrial origami’ into manufacturing

New 3D Printer That Creates Custom Prescription Drugs Developed by University College London

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University College London (UCL) have developed an exciting new 3D printing technique: “volumetric 3D printing” that lets the pharmaceutical industry customize drugs – including shape, size, dosage, and release – according to each patient’s individual needs.

In turn, medical professionals may eventually be able to use 3D printing to “print” prescription drugs for patients in-office in the future. Not only does 3D printing promise to improve personalized medicine, but it’s also set to drastically cut cost and waste in the process. [Read more…] about New 3D Printer That Creates Custom Prescription Drugs Developed by University College London