3D Printing News ICYMI: Graphene 3D launches HIPS filament, AstroReality releasing printed AR moon, more

Jun 12, 2017 | By Benedict

It’s only the beginning of the week, but we’ve already compiled a handful of shorter 3D printing stories for you to devour. Graphene 3D has a new 3D printing filament out, 3DX Industries has positive financial news, and could a change at the top at GE affect the company’s additive plans?

Graphene 3D Lab releases Graphene-HIPS 3D printing filament

Graphene 3D Lab, a graphene composites specialist and renowned 3D printing materials provider, has introduced a new filament for FDM 3D printers. Graphene-HIPS is described as a “distinctly engineered and innovative semi-flexible FDM 3D printing material reinforced with graphene and designed for high performance 3D printing.” Graphene 3D also claims that the material exhibits outstanding interlayer adhesion, toughness, and impact resistance.

According to Graphene 3D, the new Graphene-HIPS 3D printing material is well suited for printing precise functional components for engineering applications. Since the material is both temperature and weather resistant, it is also an ideal material for outdoor projects.

“We are excited to expand our collection of cutting-edge graphene-enhanced 3D printing materials” said Elena Polyakova, Co-CEO of Graphene 3D. “The 3D components from this filament possess superb mechanical strength and are wear-resistant. Competitively priced, this new material is perfect not only for experts but also for students and hobbyist working on projects where performance cannot be compromised.”

Graphene-HIPS is available in 1.75 mm diameter, at $29.99 per 400 g spool.

3DX Industries reduces debt, returns stock to treasury

3DX Industries, a metal 3D printing company based in Seattle, Washington, announced last week that its CEO Roger Janssen has successfully negotiated the return of three million shares of 3DX stock for return to treasury. The company had issued five million shares to settle certain aged debt earlier this year. 60% of those shares have now been returned to the treasury.

“We believe our current share price is highly undervalued and we are working diligently to bring awareness of 3DX to the investment community,” Janssen said. “Our third party debtors agreed and are returning these shares to assist the company with its efforts to bring new growth capital. Management will remain diligent in its efforts to secure a financing to expand operations but will not be entering into any type of toxic financing arrangements that would negatively affect the company.”

3DX management is continuing to work towards updating its financial reporting obligations and expects to file updated reports in the coming weeks to bring the company fully current on the OTC Markets.

Earlier this year, 3DX worked on a custom-made 3D printed motorcycle, built to break the 250 mph world record.

John Flannery to succeed Jeff Immelt as General Electric CEO

GE announced today that John Flannery, current President and CEO of GE Healthcare, has been named CEO of GE by the GE Board of Directors effective August 1, 2017 and Chairman and CEO effective January 1, 2018.

More than just the creator of a 3D printed fuel nozzle, GE is now a major player in additive manufacturing following its high-profile acquisition of Arcam and Concept Laser last year. You only have to look at some of the mouthwatering 3D printing gear inside its manufacturing facilities to recognize that GE has a big role to play in the future of AM.

Today’s announcement could have important consequences for both GE Additive, GE’s 3D printing division, and other 3D printing operations throughout the GE family. Although the switch-up has purportedly been in the works since 2011, the move will nonetheless have some 3D printing enthusiasts wondering whether new CEO Flannery will steer GE closer toward or further away from 3D printing. Flannery acknowledged Immelt’s role in growing GE’s presence in additive manufacturing, but fell short of describing his own intentions regarding 3D printing technology.

“Today’s announcement is the greatest honor of my career,” Flannery said. “I am privileged to have spent the last 16 years at the company working for Jeff [Immelt], one of the greatest business leaders of our time. He has transformed the GE portfolio, globalized the company, and created a vision for the GE of the future by positioning the company to lead in digital and additive manufacturing.”

Flannery added that his focus over the next few months would be on “listening to investors, customers, and employees to determine the next steps for GE.”

Immelt will remain Chairman of the Board through his retirement from GE on December 31, 2017. As part of the reshuffle, current CFO Jeff Bornstein has been promoted to Vice Chair of GE.

Smart lunar model uses 3D printing, augmented reality to bring you closer to the Moon

Here’s some exciting news for 3D printing lunatics. On July 11, an Indiegogo campaign will be launched for the AstroReality Lunar Model, a 1/28,969,000 scale high definition 3D printed model of the Moon that you can hold in your hands. Supposedly built with “the most accurate 3D printing technology available in the market,” the 3D printed Moon is modeled with “0.006 millimeters per pixel precise renderings of the moon's surface based on data captured by NASA’s Lunar Orbiter science team.”

This 3D printed lunar model pays an extraordinary attention to detail. The Moon features a high-resolution topography, where each topographic feature—each crater—is “perfected by hand” before being finished with hand-applied colors and a safe, protective coating.

It’s also much more than a physical model. Using the AstroReality app, users can turn the 3D printed moon into an augmented reality experience, learning facts, simulating Moon missions, and embarking on “personalized lunar adventures” from the home or classroom.

Quantum Technologies, the company behind the AstroReality model, says the 3D printed Moon is the “world’s first lunar smart model.”

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