3D Printing News ICYMI: new EnvisionTEC accessory, Aether plotting new bioprinting inks, more

Jun 8, 2017 | By Benedict

It’s election day in the UK, and Comey is giving an earth-shattering statement about President Trump’s behind-the-scenes conduct. But when the world gets busy, 3D printing gets busier. Here are some of today’s shorter stories, featuring EnvisionTEC, Aether, and the U.S. Marines.

EnvisionTEC unveils cost-saving material tray for desktop 3D printers

EnvisionTEC, a global manufacturer of desktop and full-production 3D printers and materials, today announced a “cost-saving, disposable material tray” for its premium desktop 3D printers. The announcement was made at JCK Las Vegas, the jewelry industry’s premier trade show.

The M-Type tray, developed and tested at EnvisionTEC’s R&D facility in Gladbeck, Germany, will be offered as an optional replacement for EnvisionTEC’s current Pre-Stretched Assembly (PSA) tray system in the Micro and Vida lines of 3D printers. The tray features optical glass coated in a film that is similar to a Mylar-type film and allows for “easy separation of each exposure layer during the 3D printing build.” The outer perimeter of the tray is made of a flexible silicone.

“This new material tray system makes using EnvisionTEC desktop 3D printers even easier and more affordable,” said EnvisionTEC CEO Al Siblani. “Our company has offered a similar tray for years on our original desktop models, such as the Aureus and Apollo, as well as some Perfactory models. And although the PSA still has benefits for many applications, we decided to bring this cost-saving approach to our Micro and Vida lines, too.”

The new M-Type tray will be available in North America this summer, with its cost expected to vary between regions.

Aether to develop ‘revolutionary’ bio-inks with new Science Director Karen Dubbin

San Francisco bioprinting startup Aether is developing a brand new line of bio-inks, spearheaded by Aether’s newest employee, Science Director Karen Dubbin. The company says it hopes to keep the bio-inks as affordable as possible.

Dubbin, who has attended MIT and Stanford and will receive her PhD from Stanford at the end of this summer, will join Aether full-time this fall as the company’s Science Director. Aether says that, until then, she will work with the bioprinting company as a consultant to build the foundation for its upcoming bio-ink research and bio-ink product launch.

“I’m very excited to join the team at Aether,” Dubbin said. “I believe Aether’s bioprinting technology can make a substantial positive impact on medical research, and I’m looking forward to contributing to this thrilling field.”

Aether describes its Aether 1 bioprinter as “the most advanced 3D bioprinter in the world,” adding that the combination of this technology with the skill set of Karen Dubbin will put the company “in a stronger position than any company on Earth to dominate the bio-ink market and give society the massive benefits of the bioprinting revolution.”

German companies OR Laser, Heraeus to collaborate on metal 3D printing materials

OR Laser, a laser technology company based in Germany, has announced a collaboration with Heraeus, a Germany-based, family-owned technology company with specific expertise in materials development. The two companies will develop powdered metal materials for additive manufacturing applications using OR Laser’s Orlas Creator metal 3D printer.

According to OR Laser, the Orlas Creator metal 3D printer—launched at Formnext 2016 last November—offers a “new paradigm for the high quality, economic 3D printing of metal products and parts.” It does this using a powder bed process that utilizes a “high quality laser and a proprietary recoater blade that promises speeds up to 30% faster than comparable systems.”

The new collaboration between OR Laser and Heraeus will involve Heraeus obtaining an Orlas Creator system, which the company will use to develop powdered materials. The aim is to “qualify Heraeus powdered materials for the Orlas Creator and subsequently develop specific 3D printing parameters and guidelines for its powders.”

OR Laser says the 3D printing collaboration will allow it to provide better value to its wide-ranging client base.

Marines seek Congress funding for rapid prototyping equipment

A Marine Corps combat development officer has claimed that the Marine Corps is shifting small amounts of money from existing accounts in order to fund rapid prototyping of potentially groundbreaking technologies. It is also seeking extra funding from Congress in order to develop these technologies and acquire the 3D printing equipment needed to make them.

“What we really need is money in the S&T [science and technology] area,” Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, the deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration, said on Tuesday, adding that any funding supplied by Congress should be free of attachment to specific programs.

Walsh claimed that the need for investment in technologies like 3D printers is greater than ever following 15 years of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We risked modernization to ensure the combat readiness of deploying Marines,” he said. “While our focus was elsewhere, our potential enemies modernized, reducing the technological advantages American forces once took for granted.”

Walsh also stressed the importance of investing in new vehicles, including electric-powered and amphibious means of transport.

U.S. Marines carried out a number of additive manufacturing tests last year.

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