#4 A breath of summer lull
Pawel Slusarczyk
AM-Writer.com | 3D Printing Historian | Straight Edge Analyst | AM Industry Insider
After three quite intense weeks, the anticipated stagnation has arrived. The silly season has finally manifested in all its glory, and honestly, everyone could use a moment of calm. Especially since there’s so much happening outside the world of 3D printing…
The totally crazy and mind-boggling chaos of the U.S. elections. The start of the Olympic Games in Paris – a "surprising" opening ceremony, preceded by unprecedented news of thefts from various teams. All of this is topped off with the usual array of local, national, political, celebrity, and societal scandals.
Honestly, in light of what’s happening in the "real world," the situation in our little bubble of Additive Manufacturing seems like an oasis of tranquility.
A Hobbit village during the War of the Ring.
It may be modest and a bit lacking – but it’s relatively predictable. And in today’s times, that seems to be of the greatest value.
So much for the introduction. And now, without further ado...
I wrote an article on Medium that you might like…
But before I get to that, a few words of commentary regarding another piece that appeared last week on 3DPrint.com : "The Deadliest of all Dead Ends in the 3D Printing Industry."
It turned out that my article struck a chord with many people and evoked a lot of emotions. The vast majority of comments were positive – many of you reached out to me personally, leading to some very interesting connections.
Over the weekend, a bit of controversy did arise, but it was quickly and positively resolved.
In general, I am very pleased with all the comments and I greatly appreciate them. Thank you very, very much. The thing is, I wrote it somewhat "off the cuff," without much deep thought or analysis.
As I already mentioned to Michael Molitch-Hou , the editor-in-chief of 3DPrint.com, maybe this analysis of the 3D printing industry is already a permanent part of me? A fragment of my DNA?
Well, anyway – that's just how it turned out…
So over the weekend, I rode the wave and, in exactly the same way, spontaneously wrote another piece: "You’ve been sold short to a scam." The article has been available on Medium since Saturday, and by Sunday evening, excerpts were already on LinkedIn. The link is below…
I invite you to read and comment. I wonder if we think alike...?
So for now, I invite you to read:
? 3 articles on Medium
? TOP 7 news of the week
? TOP 7 historic events in the 3D print world.
#7. SPEE3D enters the Africa
The Nigerian company RusselSmith has announced the purchase of the WarpSPEE3D 3D printer and the establishment of a strategic partnership with the Australian SPEE3D . RusselSmith will also become a regional partner and reseller of SPEE3D products, responsible for implementation, training, sales, and customer support in industries such as oil and gas, defense, and commercial sectors.
Why is this important at all? Isn’t it just another distribution agreement between companies?
Well, yes, but first - RusselSmith is a very serious company, and second - entering the African market is a highly underrated yet very significant achievement. For some reason, companies worldwide keep competing for the same customers in the same markets, completely overlooking new, vastly promising regions.
Nigeria has one of the most dynamic energy sectors in the region, including the oil and gas industry. However, this industry faces challenges related to maintaining equipment on aging assets due to supply chain issues and difficulties in procuring replacement parts, causing significant operational delays. SPEE3D and RusselSmith aim to fill the gap between needed and available parts by manufacturing them locally, allowing companies to improve their operations and reduce costs.
So well done and keep going!
Read full story: www.spee3d.com
#6. Aurora Labs successfully tests 3D printed gas turbine in aircraft engine
Another Australian company, Aurora Labs (A3D:ASX) , has announced the validation of its proprietary 200-class micro gas turbine, 3D-printed using their technology. The turbine successfully completed its first flight, achieving a thrust of 22 kg.
In the aforementioned article on 3DPrint.com, I criticized 3D printing companies for wasting time showcasing "amazing 3D prints" instead of focusing on real innovations. Aurora Labs is a company doing exactly what I said I wanted to see happening. This is not just ordinary 3D printing of parts – it is an independent, fully functional application where 3D printing has made a real difference.
The production used metal 3D printing technology, which allowed for the creation of a turbine that is not only lightweight but also optimized for performance and efficiency. The integration of an electronic control unit and a brushless fuel pump ensured excellent fuel efficiency and combustion temperature, setting a new standard in micro gas turbine design.
With a thrust exceeding 20 kg, the turbine is perfectly suited for various applications – from industrial machinery to unmanned aerial systems.
Read full story: www.auroralabs3d.com
#5. Pratt & Whitney introduces 3D printed parts for F-35 engine
This time, it's not an implementation but only an announcement of an upcoming implementation. However, it's by a very reputable company in the field of highly significant applications. It also demonstrates a specific direction for the development of the Additive Manufacturing industry in the area of metal 3D printing.
Pratt & Whitney has announced plans to introduce 3D printed parts into its F135 engine, which powers the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This innovation is part of broader efforts to reduce production costs and accelerate manufacturing processes, making the company's products more attractive for programs aimed at mass-producing affordable drones.
Beyond the F135 engine, Pratt & Whitney plans to use additive technology in simpler engines, such as the TJ150, with a focus on programs like the USAF's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The company has been working on fully manufacturing this engine using additive techniques, which has reduced the number of engine parts from 50 to fewer than five.
A new configuration of the TJ150, which includes additively manufactured rotating parts, will begin testing in 2025, followed by altitude and flight testing. Pratt & Whitney is in discussions with customers about the engine and underlying additive technology for platforms like the CCA. Domestic and international demand could lead to thousands of orders for platforms like CCA drones and associated propulsion systems.
Read full story: www.breakingdefense.com
领英推荐
#4. Ursa Major Opens New Research and Development Center
Ursa Major - American company specializing in rocket propulsion, is opening a new research and development center in Youngstown, Ohio, to advance additive manufacturing technology and material development for liquid and solid fuel rocket engines. The center is valued at $14.5 million.
The new R&D center will be an expanded part of the company's headquarters, where Ursa Major already 3D prints equipment for propulsion systems. Now, it will extend its research and development activities to meet the rapidly growing portfolio of development contracts from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Read full story: www.ursamajor.com
And I am writing about this for two reasons:
#3. Kings 3D announced start of construction of new 25-acre manufacturing facility in Zhejiang, China
深圳市金石三维打印科技有限公司 held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new manufacturing facility in Pinghu, Zhejiang, China. The new factory aims to achieve an annual production of 1,000 3D printers and 5,000 tons of 3D printing materials, as well as provide customized 3D printing services.
Kings 3D is one of China's leading 3D printing companies, specializing in the production of large-format industrial-grade 3D printers, primarily photopolymer (SLA & DLP), but also polymer (SLS and FGF) and metal (SLM). The new factory is set to cost 500 million RMB (~70 million USD). The investment covers an area of 25 acres with a total building area of approximately 34,000 square meters. Upon completion, it will be an integrated smart manufacturing platform encompassing 3D printing equipment, 3D printing materials, and 3D printing services.
This new investment in Pinghu represents the third major initiative by Kings 3D in the region, following Zhejiang Kingzhao Intelligent Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and Zhejiang Kings Zhicheng New Materials Co., Ltd.
China has been sending quite clear signals to the 3D printing industry for some time now that it has serious aspirations to become the undisputed leader in this field. An investment of this type—assuming the stated amounts are accurate and not propaganda—can only command respect. It is unthinkable in Europe (at least not now, as EU countries' economies struggle with the regulations imposed by the Green Deal), and I am not sure if it could be realized in the USA…?
Apart of the one Ursa Major is making, right...?
Read the full story: www.kings3dprinter.com
#2. Rosotics reveals the truth behind the Halo project and announces cooperation with Siemens
Rosotics , the Arizona-based American startup, has quickly captured the attention of the additive manufacturing industry. This success is due to their innovative platform, Halo, which produces metal parts by melting metals using three electromagnetic printheads installed on proprietary multi-axis gimbals. But that’s not all...
First, Christian LaRosa osa – founder and CEO of Rosotics – revealed that since 2020, his company has been developing the 'R2' spacecraft and its carrier, a 5-meter mothership to be launched on a SpaceX Starship. R2 will be tasked with building heavy infrastructure in orbit, and its services will be available to smaller providers.
One could argue that the innovative Halo was created partially for the needs of a much larger project. However, this is beneficial for the AM industry.
It turns out that Rosotics is not slowing down and has just announced another news – a collaboration with 西门子 for the development of the “Next Generation Super-Heavyweight Platform” in Naval Manufacturing.
The companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and bring a “next generation, super-heavyweight class” platform that promises to revolutionize naval manufacturing and adjacent industries. It will be supported by Siemens' industry-leading architecture – Sinumerik One, known for its unparalleled precision and efficiency. The platform will be intelligent in nature and based on the Mjolnir 3D print architecture currently deployed on Rosotics’ commercial platform Halo.
Unfortunately, at this moment, we don’t know much more beyond these exciting announcements…
Rosotics describes the platform as “the most challenging production effort ever yet attempted in naval engineering, which is supposed to expand metal additive manufacturing to scales thought previously unattainable, setting entirely new standards for the industry.” The company even claims that the result of this collaboration will be a “significant milestone for all realms of manufacturing and will be (...) as profound as the first time steel was produced.”
So, for now, that’s all. As I have heard many different promises in the area of additive manufacturing, I can only keep my fingers crossed and eagerly await the results of this fascinating collaboration.
The fact is that despite a short career in the AM industry (in terms of public career), Rosotics has captured everyone’s attention.
Read the full story: www.3dprintingjournal.substack.com
#1. Bambu Lab confirmed that a new, large-format 3D printer will be released this year
Beloved by everyone, Bambu Lab has confirmed the long-circulating rumors that it is working on a new, large 3D printer, which is likely to hit the market later this year (Formnext?). The information was confirmed by All3DP , a German portal dedicated to amateur and desktop 3D printing.
Despite its relatively short presence in the market, Bambu Lab has three different lines of 3D printers:
The common feature of all these printers is a build volume not exceeding 25 cm in the XYZ axes. This is set to change with the new 3D printer, which is expected to debut at the end of this year.
During the Rapid + TCT conference, an editor from All3DP spoke with Bambu Lab co-founder Huaiyu Liu, who confirmed rumors of a "bigger" Bambu Lab 3D printer in the works. The new device is expected to be not only larger but also better:
Everybody’s asking for a bigger printer, so we had to work on it. We know that people have a higher expectation, so we won’t just make a bigger one; we want to bring more innovation to our next model.
The 3D printer will feature a closed build chamber. It is not yet known whether it will be aimed at individual users or targeted at business and industrial customers. In the latter case, this will have a significant impact on the price.
Read the full story: www.all3dp.com
Summary of the most important events in the history of the 3D printing industry published last week:
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