Now that the laser wars in the powder bed fusion (PBF) space have, for the most part, moved to China, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) there are in fierce competition. EPlus3D has upped the ante significantly with the release of the EP-M2050, which features up to 64 lasers, making it the most-lasered PBF system yet unveiled. With a build chamber of 2058mm by 2058mm wide and 1100mm tall, the EP-M2050 is available in several laser configurations: a six by six array of 36 lasers and galvanometers, seven by seven with 49 lasers, or eight by eight with 64 lasers. This enables a throughput o ..read more

Inkbit, the Massachusetts-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of multi-material, AI-integrated 3D printers, has closed a $19 million financing round. Ingersoll Rand, a US giant in the industrial equipment sector, led the round, alongside a range of venture funds and companies. Inkbit has added two new board members thanks to the investment: Jason Weber, the VP of Engineering, Compressor Systems and Services at Ingersoll, and Henry Ford III, director at Ford Motor Company and a Ford Foundation trustee. Inkbit’s Vision-Controlled Jetting (VCJ) technology, designed to enable manufacturers ..read more

Now that additive manufacturing (AM) has demonstrated itself as a production technology, the scale up for the industry may be found in bridge production. As evidenced during COVID-19, 3D printing as a stopgap measure can act as a gateway into adoption of AM for end-use production for many companies. One company keenly aware of this space is Endeavor3D, whose latest white paper, “Accelerating the Path to Mass Production through an Additive Bridge Production Strategy,” offers an in-depth exploration of this crucial transition phase known as ‘bridge production’. The white paper presents a compell ..read more

Just published in Nature, a paper by a Seoul National University team looks at, ¨3D printing with a 3D printed digital material filament for programming functional gradients.¨ Sang-Joon Ahn, Howon Lee, Kyo-Jin Cho show how they extrude and print filament to mix gradients of properties. By using the 3D printer itself to blend the filament they can then print it again to dial in more properties. By doing this in two different steps their ¨blended FDM¨ approach can change mechanical strength, conductivity and other properties. A team of fellowship students working with Titan Dynamics looked at i ..read more

Over the years, many designers have tried to create 3D printed polymer furniture. Early pioneers like Janne Kytannen, Materialise’s MGX, and Joris Laarman have led the way with 3D printed conference tables, chairs, and Dirk van der Kooij’s work using robot arms, showcasing substantial innovation. Since 2020, the design firm Model No. has been using recycled plastic to print furniture. Various types of printers have been employed, from desktop machines where parts are glued together, to robot arms and medium format 3D printers. Model No. is now using three 3D Systems EXT Titan Pellet Printers t ..read more

Two German corporations, plastics manufacturer GRAFE GmbH and Tailorlux, a company specializing in making “optical fingerprints” for a variety of product classes, are collaborating on a new line of additive manufacturing (AM) filaments optimized for machine-readability. Tailorlux manufactures a “security pigment” called TailorSafe, as well as a handheld scanner, the Tailor-Scan 4, capable of detecting parts containing the pigment. The underlying electronics tech can also be incorporated into 3D printers for in-situ verification. According to GRAFE, the company considers medical devices, specif ..read more

Protolabs (NYSE: PRLB) has kicked off 2024 with a mild boost in revenue, revealing how the Minnesotta-based company manages to adapt and thrive even in uncertain market conditions. While the company offers a range of services, the 3D printing operations are the ones that hold particular interest here. Despite the technology’s ongoing advances, 3D printing revenue has not changed much year-over-year. This level of performance suggests that while steady, 3D printing has not seen significant expansion. It’s somewhat surprising, given the technological progress and potential in the sector, but it ..read more

This April, the Technical University of Munich hosted the inauguration of Europe’s first JEOL E-beam metal additive manufacturing machine, the JAM-5200EBM. The event featured a series of expert talks from JEOL’s management and industry experts, who provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of the electron beam metal printing process. Notable contributions came from Prof. Dr. Peter Mayr and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Zäh from TUM, along with Christophe Tisserand from Tekna, each delivering insights into the development and implications of additive manufacturing. The conference culminated wi ..read more

In a world where every thrill of the game plays out before our eyes, Toulouse startup Touch2See steps forward as a pioneer of innovation, offering a tactile solution for the visually impaired. Their groundbreaking interactive tablet allows them to experience games through touch and sound, bringing the excitement of sports to life in a whole new dimension. At the core of this device, the team uses 3D printing to ensure precision engineering and customization for a unique user experience. By integrating ultra-fast analysis of sports data, artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G technology, Touch2Se ..read more

French laser powder bed fusion firm AddUp plans to use its Service Department to accelerate adoption. Recently, AddUp has shipped machines to Zeda, introduced its machines to Japan, and appointed a new CEO. The company consistently progresses towards developing more user-friendly machines. Now, with its LevelUp service offering, it will be easier to obtain maintenance and accelerate adoption. “We are excited to introduce our new Service Department, LevelUp, designed to elevate the additive manufacturing experience for our valued clients. We believe that our engagement in excellence, coupled w ..read more