FORMBOT large 3d printer

The engineers team at Columbia University has managed to create a synthetic muscle that can operate without actuators, compressed air, or pressure regulators. While most robotics require lots of smaller parts and ancillary equipment to function, this one operates on its own. The components of the hand itself are actually softer than any previous iteration of such a project. This allows it to have a delicate touch whilst being able to lift many 1000 times its own weight. The purpose of this is not only to produce strong robotics but to also allow for machines to conduct operations that require the handling of fragile materials such as medical equipment. “This is a big piece of the puzzle and, like biology, the new actuator can be shaped and reshaped a thousand ways. We’ve overcome one of the final barriers to making life-like robots,” said Hod Lipson, lead researcher on the project. 3D Printed Robotics We’ve previously reported on many stories about prosthetics and mimetic arms

With so many companies signing up for a future in  3D printing ,  it’s no surprise Apple is taking interest as well.  While the company has not revealed whether it plans to go into production any time soon, they have an approved patent now making it much more likely. What’s more, they are showing interest in color printing systems. The name of the patent is “Method and apparatus for three-dimensional printing of colored objects”. The illustration of the printer itself shows what one would expect of an FFF printer but with a color nozzle as well. The patent also includes a number of ways that the color printer could operate. One of these ways was illustrated a flowchart that shows that the machine would add colors after the printing the object. It uses a “non-transitory program storage device” that reads the object file, automatically applies colors and sends it to the printer. Another version has an active color nozzle working alongside the print process. A third proposal outlines

Researchers at Austrlia’s CSIRO are looking into the possibilities of how printed food can help feed patients with dysphagia. Dysphagia is a disease is the inability to swallow foods or liquids. This disease often presents itself in senior citizens and inhibits nutrition. Dr Aarti Tobin believes that food printing can enable health technicians to help improve the quality of countless lives. Disorders like dysphagia can cause dehydration, malnutrition and death. Dysphagia can manifest itself in patients for many varying reasons. Common causes of eating problems are reduced muscle control, a stroke, neurological dysfunction and even losing teeth. These sorts conditions often mean that food should be ingestible without much need for chewing. That’s where food printing comes in. The food in question needs to be soft, so doctors often use puree to feed certain patients. Food printers are adept at turning puree and similar substances into nutritious meals. Printing Food For the Sick

Metal  3D printing   has always been lauded for its industrial applications. One of its most promising uses is in aeronautical engineering. While many companies are jumping onboard the 3D printing train, nowhere is there more buzz than in aviation. That’s where Boeing comes in. The company has struck a landmark deal in the production of their new airplanes. Boeing has announced that their new 787 aircraft will utilize parts made from titanium alloys. The company allied with Norsk Titanium to 3D print these parts. As a result, Boeing will shave their costs down by about $2 – $3 million per unit. Both companies still have one hurdle however. They are, as of yet, still expecting approval from the Federal Aviation Authority. Norsk will initially 3D print the parts in Norway. Eventually, they hope to set up various production facilities in New York. Under current procedures, titanium accounts for $17 million costs of a $265 million airliner. The cost per unit savings will be a major bo

While  3D printing   is still in an adoption stage, its potential influence is massive. Many technologists have stated that it will inevitably play a dominant role in our lives. Nowhere is this clearer than food printing. Food printing takes all the usual benefits of 3D printing (less manpower, efficiency etc.) and applies it to the culinary arts. It also allows for users to get creative with intricate food designs. Unfortunately, one of the major hurdles for the adoption of food printers has been the price. Consumer adoption just isn’t a viable option at prices ranging in the multi-1000 dollar range. Especially when it comes to a product with a niche function that isn’t an absolute necessity. Food printing has suffered a slowdown because of this. Many companies have recently put their food printing departments on hold (most prominently 3D Systems). However, restaurants have found uses for this industrious technology. Many restaurants can afford it and then use it as a selling po

In recent years, film studios all over the world have been hiking up the prices on their visual effects. This is true of large and small scale films. Accordingly, more and more new technology crops up for the sole purpose of embellishing our entertainment. Artists, directors and creative designers have been seeing the potential of  3D printing and many have employed it in both subtle and overt ways. Additive manufacturing will become increasingly prominent in film and TV as time goes on. This is only natural because speed, complexity of design and manpower are contributing factors for any business. This applies to film productions as well. Many movies have been leveraging the benefits of 3D printing already. Here are some of the most exciting ways 3D printing helps film productions. Animation Models The animation industry has a history of utilizing models for all sorts of purposes. Therefore, it’s no surprise that 3D printing provides new avenues for studios to explore. One of t

To say that 3D printing will improve our lives, is to state the obvious. There is little doubt against that line of argument. What most people struggle with, however, is in understanding how it can alter the lives of people in some notable day-to-day sense. As most people have abstract ideas about how the industry will benefit society, they don’t see the immediate advantages it can provide them. This makes it difficult to explain why investing in the proliferation of 3D printing technology is a must. The purpose of this article is to illustrate one of the most tangible examples of its direct effect on our lives in the form of advancements in medicine. Different waves of technological improvement have led to parallel advancements in the health services. Sometimes it comes from industries that no one would think of linking to health. Various breakthroughs by NASA’s space programs led to unforeseen discoveries that eventually dovetailed into the world of medical technology, most notably

Every day more and more Universities are showing an enduring interest in  3D printing .  Even though most universities do not have a full course on 3D printing, they are investing in labs. 3D printing can be a part of many different studies. For example, members of the biotech community are making fascinating innovations in bio-printing. Another great field for a career in 3D printing is Industrial Design. Architecture is making use of additive manufacturing technologies in multiple ways. From printing maquettes to printing houses. And last but not least, various types of engineering are making great strides in additive manufacturing. I would also add that many fields will continue to implement 3D printing as a part of their standard apparatus. This will be a natural progression as the technology gains more and more prominence. Why Bother with Universities? A hands-on experience in a state of the art lab can be invaluable. While many enterprising individuals have made great prin

3 D printing ,  while still on the rise, has not yet fulfilled its market potential. As an industry it is bifurcating into 2 distinct areas: Industrial and Desktop printers. This division in directions has led to there being parallel industries with their own distinct advantages and growth rates. Let’s take a closer look at the recent developments in industrial and desktop printing industries. Industrial Printing 93% of organizations that responded to a survey about their experiences with 3D printing have concluded that they consider it to a competitive advantage (Columbus, 2016). Additionally, 3 quarter of these organizations have confirmed that they plan to invest further resources into 3D printing. The main concerns of the organizations that have adopted the technology are that of accelerating their production speeds. The second concern listed is the ability to offer customized products. Plastics are the most common materials being used for 3D printing

Appliance production giant Siemens has moved forward on its plans for  3D printing machine . The well-known company has developed a component manufacturing platform that connects users around the world. The project is spearheaded by their Product Lifecycle Management business division. Siemens has aimed the platform at various professionals within the industrial 3D printing sphere, with the express purpose of creating an ecosystem to accelerate the usage of industrial 3D printing. “Siemens is one of the only companies addressing the diverse needs of all additive manufacturing market participants – from designers and engineers, to manufacturers, 3D printing machine OEMs, material vendors and software providers – with a comprehensive set of seamless technology solutions for distributed industrial additive manufacturing and co-innovation,” said Tony Hemmelgarn, President and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens PLM Software. “Today’s announcement builds on that leadership with a platform aime

While scientists have always derived inspiration from the animal kingdom, 3D printing is taking it to the next level. Through the use of a special hydrogel, researchers have just developed artificial eel organs that produce electricity. As a result, they have tapped into a potential battery that converts salt and water into power. This could allow a source of electricity that is compatible with bio-technology. The research is a joint-project between University of Fribourg’s Adolphe Merkle Institute, the University of California San Diego, and the University of Michigan. The team decided to reverse-engineer the process by which eels produce electric shocks. “The eel polarizes and depolarizes thousands of cells instantaneously to put out these high voltages,” said Max Shtein, a Michigan U associate professor and co-author of the study. “It’s a fascinating system to look at from an engineering perspective—its performance metrics, its fundamental building blocks and how to use them.”