3D Printing News Roundup: DSM, Toyota Motorsport, Aurora Labs, Worley Parsons, Ultimaker, XJet and more

Nov 7, 2017 | By David

Here's another 3D printing news round-up, to keep you up to speed with all the latest developments. Stories this time include a partnership between Polar 3D and Makers Empire, the release of an update to Ultimaker's 3D printing management software, and more besides.

1. Polar 3D and Makers Empire join forces

Polar 3D has announced the acquisition of a significant stake in Makers Empire, a technology education company based in Australia. Polar 3D has a fast growing platform for 3D printing maker education, Polar Cloud, and it currently has members in over 95 countries, with networked 3D printers from over 60 countries. This new deal will enable the platform to expand even further, adding Makers Empire students and educators to the increasingly connected online 3D printing community.

Makers Empire has an extensive library of curricula and lesson plans for 3D printing students at all levels. It will now be included as part of the GE Additive Education program, extending its reach and giving it access to the remote 3D printing network that Polar 3D provides. Polar 3D also recently acquired another educational company, STEAMtrax, from 3D Systems last year.

2. Aurora Labs, WorleyParsons establish Additive Manufacturing Solution Centre

A deal has been struck between innovative Australian 3D printing company Aurora Labs and Worley Parsons, another Australian company based in Sydney. The deal will enable Aurora Labs to further distribute its 3D printing technology across different sectors and industries.

Aurora Labs specializes in metal 3D printing solutions and materials, as well as providing a digital 3D design service for companies wanting to make use of its AM technology. A new Additive Manufacturing Solution Centre is to be built as part of the deal with Worley Parsons, which will also service the global mining, oil and gas industries. Any parts created in the Centre will be added to an online designs catalogue that Aurora is developing, giving other manufacturers immediate access.

“The Solution Centre plans to introduce 3D printing to major infrastructure, mining and resource companies with a competitive advantage over the general market through expert use of key technologies,” said David Budge, Aurora’s managing director and interim chairman.

3. DSM signs deal with 3D printing experts Toyota Motorsport GmbH

DSM, a global science company with a particular focus on materials, has entered into a partnership with the Toyota Motors’ subsidiary, Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG). TMG is a high performance development, testing and manufacturing company with a major presence in the motorsports world, and 3D printing technology is one of its key areas of expertise.

Under the non-exclusive agreement, DSM will have the opportunity to act as TMG’s preferred material and product provider. TMG will develop and pilot new engineering solutions using DSM high performance materials and products for potential application in the automotive industry. TMG will also test and evaluate DSM products and act as a test user for defined projects.

“DSM thermoplastics like Stanyl, ForTii and Akulon already have an important place in automotive, especially under the hood”, said Golnar Motahari Pour, President of DSM Dyneema. “but we are also moving quickly into thermoset composites. Last year, for example, we introduced Dyneema Carbon, which we believe represents a leap in the evolution of carbon. Dyneema, the world’s strongest fiber, significantly improves the performance of pure carbon composites and makes further lightweighting and durability possible.”

4. Ultimaker releases Cura Connect, for improved 3D printing efficiency

Ultimaker, one of the big names in the consumer 3D printing world, has today announced the launch of a new product intended to improve the efficiency of the 3D printing process for its customers. Cura Connect is an add-on for Ultimaker’s 3D printing management software solution Ultimaker Cura, with enhanced networking capabilities ideal for offices or small businesses.

Cura Connect is especially useful for organizations that use the Ultimaker 3 for prototyping and small-scale production and need an overview of pending print jobs in one intuitive interface. Cura Connect's networking capabilities allow users to select and group printers, queue jobs, monitor prints, and strategically schedule maintenance operations. Notifications alert users whenever a printer needs attention. Additionally, the software auto-recognizes which printers have Ultimaker materials and configures accordingly.

Cura Connect is now available for free through a firmware update.

5. XJet 3D printing system installed at citim

XJet announced today the first global installation of its XJet Carmel 1400 additive manufacturing system at citim. citim is a part of the Oerlikon Group, a technology giant based in Switzerland, and it is a leading international service provider of additively manufactured parts.

Founded in 2005, XJet is known in the industry for its pioneering NanoParticle Jetting (NPJ) 3D printing technology. This process enables the production of complex ceramic or metal parts with the ease and versatility that one associates with inkjet printing, due to the use of separate nano-particle “inks” or fluids for the build and support material.

Oerlikon’s AM part production site in Barleben, Germany, will now begin field testing with the XJet Carmel 1400 , which has a build volume of 1,400 square centimetres. Initially, the AM system is configured to manufacture ceramic parts (ceramic zirconia). At a later stage, the system could also be used to manufacture metal components that require fine details.

6. Six million dollar grant awarded for research on bone infections, making use of 3D printing

The National Institutes of Health have awarded a major new grant to researchers in the Center for Musculoskeletal Research at the University of Rochester Medical Center, to continue their crucial work on bone infection. The group intends to create a new multidisciplinary research program devoted to studying bone infections, and 3D printing technology will feature as part of its research.

Edward Schwarz, Ph.D., Burton Professor of Orthopaedics and director of the CMSR, has been the top NIH-funded orthopaedic researcher in the nation three years running. His previous work has demonstrated for the first time how the S.aureus bacteria can travel through tiny pores in membranes inside bones to re-establish infections after initially being dealt with.

Schwarz, along with Hani A. Awad, Ph.D., professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedics in the CMSR, will now be investigating exactly how S. aureus gets into bone and developing new treatments that target those mechanisms. Microbiologists Steven Gill, Ph.D., and Paul Dunman, Ph.D., from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, will help the team develop new antibiotics to inhibit bone infection, which will be 3D printed into spacers that replace infected joint implants.

"Death following surgical site infection is not random," said Schwarz. "By studying patient immune responses to this bacteria, we might be able to predict who will be fine and who will need extra medical attention."

7. Largest-ever 3D printed American flag to be unveiled

The American flag has been 3D printed before, but never this big! Soon we will get a glimpse at the biggest 3D printed American flag, when it is unveiled as part of a Veteran’s Day preview event. The flag is currently being made by a California-based 3D printer manufacturing firm.The completed 3D Printed flag will measure more than 117 sq. ft. (13 ft. long by 9 feet wide) and was created with more than 88 pounds of PLA Filament. It is being printed by more than 20 3D printers working 24 hours a day, for more than 2500 hours in total.

"It's such an honor to be able to create a new version of the American Flag just in time for Veteran's Day this year," explains Matthieu Regnier, Co-founder and CEO of Dagoma USA, the American branch of a French 3D printer manufacturing company. "Not only will the largest 3D printed American Flag honor those who have served our country, but it is also a symbol of American ingenuity and innovation," he adds.

The unveiling is due to take place at the grand opening celebration of the Dagoma 3D printing plant in Goleta, on November 10.

Posted in 3D Printer Company

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