Additive Manufacturing Media

Do you know what a “feature tree” is? DI Labs' Threedom uses this model for mass customization via 3D printing. Basically, the feature tree lays out which variables can be changed, and constraints on how much they can deviate from a base design. Take the company's key fobs in picture 1 for example: ?? After deconstructing a fob and validating all of its constraints, the team found that any possible design outcome would still need to accommodate the circuit board, RFID chip and physical key itself while maintaining proper tolerances. ?? In the end, the basic fob design and all of its customized branches offer a possible 10,000 “child” designs. Stephanie Hendrixson has even more to share about DI Labs' approach to mass customization via 3D printing. Check out the story in the comments. ???????? (Hendrixson also explains the pictured aeroponics system and DI Labs' machine roster, including postprocessing systems.)

A perk of integrating lattice into part design is lightweighting?? . A downside is the amount of computational power generative design requires??. This can be a barrier and make lattice designs inaccessible to manufacturers who think they could benefit from them and 3D printing. A company in Cincinnati, Ohio, might have a solution to this. Vixiv spent a year testing lattice design and then feeding the data into an AI to make it a lattice expert. ?? With the AI, generative design is no longer needed. The AI seemingly knows the answers to design and lightweighting problems, and offers multiple solutions with consequences and tradeoffs. ?? That sounds helpful for a user. But what’s even more helpful for Vixiv is that the AI knows where it’s lacking confidence and tells the team which types of lattice to test next, so it can continue to learn and update its solution repertoire. ?? Peter Zelinski tells more about this software at the story in the comments. ???????? In article: Aaron Chow, Michael Van Dorselaer, Zachary Beller, Zhenyu Dai, Massimo Vancheri, HP Additive Manufacturing (AM) Solutions - 3D Printing, Xact Metal

Tantalum — have you worked with it? Primarily used in electronics and high-temperature devices (think aircraft engines), tantalum also has a history in surgical devices (think staples, dental implants and joint replacements). And, it's well-suited for additive manufacturing. Two companies recognized this and recently developed a closed-loop supply chain for tantalum used in 3D printed implants. Those companies? Croom Medical?and?Global Advanced Metals. Get the full story of their collaboration in the comments ???????? Also in article: Shane Keaveney Colibrium Additive - a GE Aerospace company

Next week Ben Arnold (AMUG ??) and Tali Rosman join us for a webinar that will be of interest to those using metal additive manufacturing (and those on the brink of adoption). Sign up to hear them present on: ? How the investment in metal AM has increased dramatically in the last 4 years and is expected to increase even more ? Research on investments in new materials has increased as more research centers are leveraging the key advantages of additive ? MoldJet technology by Tritone Technologies ? How higher density parts translate directly to more consistent output Get details and register here: https://lnkd.in/gXFhtZaR

The value of 3D printing for oil and gas isn't necessarily complex geometries. It's LEAD TIME. ?? Apt to move things along even more is the relatively new (published 2023) American Petroleum Institute Standard 20T. This standard covers “Additively Manufactured Polymer-Based Components for Use in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries” and creates a framework for bringing polymer 3D printed parts into oil and gas applications. With this standard + 3D printing, we will likely see?POLYMER COMPOSITE?finding greater use in oil and gas components, replacing what might formerly have been metal parts. AM's Peter Zelinski learned more about this on a recent visit at Roboze in Houston, Texas. Read his takeaways ( ?? and watch a video about oil and gas parts made of PEEK) at the link in the comments????????

One of the challenges with 3D printing mold tooling has been in the materials space. Materials like maraging steel can make viable injection molds, but they are prone to corrosion. Stephanie Hendrixson reports on a solution to this at the Xact Metal booth at Plastics Technology Expo (PTXPO) in Rosemont, Illinois. Also mentioned in video: Uddeholm Zero Tolerance (Steve Michon) #PTXPO

These pictures are from our visit at Alquist 3D in Greeley, Colorado. This startup seemingly wants to expand the construction workforce, bolster housing options and availability and reduce carbon emissions — all via 3D printing and a specialized geopolymer material. Stephanie Hendrixson tells the company's story (and shares its 3 pillars for achieving these goals) at the link in the comments ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? Pictured Image 1 - Brent Imhoff, product manager, seen here overseeing the SynDaver Apogee 3D printer used for form work, is working on a curriculum with Aims Community College that will prepare students for work in construction 3D printing with courses in general 3D printing, robotics, materials, design and coding. Image 2 - Mya Rodriguez-Salas, field supervisor and former Alquist 3D intern, and?Marco Hernández Ruiz, printer operator, prepare for a test print at Alquist's headquarters. Image 3 - Ryan Hasler, operations manager, points out how a test wall was used to prove out and refine printing parameters (the quality gets better the higher the layer) in conversation with Chris Vaughn, PMP, senior program manager, and AM's Stephanie Hendrixson.

AM team members are making the drive today. We've been metal heavy (heavy metal?) in our reporting the past year. Let's see what's happening in polymer and moldmaking at Plastics Technology Expo (PTXPO)!

You don’t have to answer this out loud, but how many of you have spent (wasted?) time trying to fix individual issues with your current product solution only to find that starting from scratch and RETHINKING THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM your product addresses was the most effective approach? ? That’s what the Domin team did when creating their 3D printed servo valves — sort of. ? The “sort of” is because Domin didn’t have its own existing “conventionally made” servo valve to rethink. Rather, at its founding the company set out to determine the optimal application that should be manufactured with metal 3D printing. ? Their answer? Hydraulic servo valves. ? And Domin’s results in reimagining them for 3D printing? We go into detail on today’s episode of The Cool Parts Show, but here is a summary: ? Smaller valves ? Faster valves ? More efficient valves (see the flexible spool at the 6:15 mark) ? Optimized postprocessing workflow ? See these 3D printed servo valves — including their interior — on #TheCoolPartsShow. A link to the episode is in the comments ???????? In episode: Marcus Pont, Renishaw, EOS