Quick Answer: What is Fused Deposition (FD) 3D Printing? Fused Deposition (FD) 3D printing, also known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), is the most accessible and widely used 3D printing technology today. It works by melting thermoplastic filament and extruding it layer by layer to build three-dimensional objects. FD 3D printers are ideal for beginners, … Read more

In the recently published ‘An Ultrasensitive 3D Printed Tactile Sensor for Soft Robotics,’ Australian researchers Saeb Mousavi, David Howard, Chun Wang, and Shuying Wu create a new method for production of piezo-resistive tactile sensors for soft robotics, using FDM 3D printing with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and a polylactic acid-graphene (PLA-G) composite. Fabrication of tactile sensors … Read more

CRP Technology has introduced the latest in its line of specialty polymers for selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing. Windform FR2 is the most recent material from the company’s TOP-LINE series of composites for SLS. FR2 is a flame-retardant (hence the “FR”), halogen-free nylon powder reinforced with glass fiber, giving it electrically insulating properties. Demonstrating … Read more

Formlabs is expanding its portfolio of 3D printing resins. The latest is Tough 1500, a stiff and pliable polymer that can bend and return to its former shape. Formlabs is targeting the material at engineers, product designers and manufacturers who need pliable parts. In response to customer feedback, Formlabs developed Tough 1500 Resin as a … Read more

Researchers Ei Cho and Thanh Tran, of Vietnamese-German University, explore the continually expanding science of 3D printing materials and how they are affected by material properties. In this study, the authors experiment with poly-lactic acid (PLA), outlining their findings in the recently published ‘Investigation on Influence of Infill Pattern and Layer Thickness on Mechanical Strength … Read more

Quick Answer: What is the 3DXTECH Gearbox HT2? The 3DXTECH Gearbox HT2 is a professional-grade high-temperature 3D printer designed for aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. Key specifications include: Build Volume: 18″ x 18″ x 32″ (457 x 457 x 813 mm) Extruder Temperature: Up to 500°C Heated Chamber: Up to 250°C Extruders: Dual extrusion system … Read more

To conclude our series on the transformation of the maker movement, we’re going full circle to the place that inspired this series in the first place: Make: Community (previously known as Maker Media). As previously conveyed in our last two installments (part 5 and part 6), the maker movement is clearly not dead, and neither … Read more

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh explore the ever-expanding world of benefits via 3D printing, detailing their work in the recently published ‘Additive Manufacturing: Opportunities and Challenges for Functional Magnetic Materials.’ While the manufacturing realm is undoubtedly undergoing a transformation, there are still numerous challenges to be overcome regarding 3D printers, 3D printing software, and … Read more

German researchers focus in on 3D printing materials for the medical field, outlining their findings in the recently published ‘Parameters Influencing the Outcome of Additive Manufacturing of Tiny Medical Devices Based on PEEK.’ As thermoplastics continue to rise in popularity for a variety of applications, PEEK is at the top of the list for many … Read more

Brazilian researchers seek an environmentally friendly method not only for 3D printing but to put discarded plastic to use in dosimetry, a method for measuring radiation therapy. Outlining their findings in the recently published ‘Reuse of 3D printed materials for dosimetry purposes,’ the authors focus on ABS and PLA. Material (PLA) prepared for the application … Read more

3D printing startup Copper3D, based in Chile and the US, uses nano-copper additives, and adds antimicrobial properties to polymers like PLA and TPU to create antibacterial 3D printed objects. Last year, Copper3D partnered with NASA to study microbial risks in outer space, but now the startup is working on an important project that’s a little … Read more

Professor Andre Simpson at the University of Toronto is the director of the school’s Environmental NMR Center, dedicated to environmental research. This research uses an analytical tool that is called NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectrometer, which is similar to how an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) works for medical diagnostics. Andre Simpson via University of Toronto … Read more

Researchers from Iran and the UK are taking on central topics in digital fabrication, delving deeper into parameters, properties, and composites, with their findings outlined in the recently published ‘The Synergic Effects of FDM 3D Printing Parameters on Mechanical Behaviors of Bronze Poly Lactic Acid Composites.’ The authors use optimization in this study to find … Read more

German chemical giant BASF has steadily been saturating the 3D printing industry with its presence. The latest partnership established by the world’s largest chemical company is with machine tool manufacturer Cincinnati Incorporated (CI). The two inked a distribution deal in which CI will supply ABS, carbon fiber PET and recycled PET materials from BASF 3D … Read more

It’s 2020, and additive manufacturing has finally emerged as a mature technology for production in a growing number of sectors. In the last decade, it made a full run of the technological Hype Cycle but has finally arrived at the Plateau of Productivity. Pankl Racing Systems showcases a replicable custom fixturing system with Formlabs technology … Read more

So far in our series on 3D printing carbon fiber and other reinforcement materials, we’ve discussed much about the present state of the technology, including large-scale composite deposition and some of the most recent startup developments. What we have yet to cover is the state of the research around 3D printing carbon fiber, which will ultimately … Read more

A material’s ability to resist degradation, erosion, or impregnation from contact with liquids, solids, or vapors of a different nature, like chemical solvents, acids, and bases, is known as chemical resistance, and it’s pretty important to achieving successful parts. When you’re choosing the materials you want to use for 3D printed end-use applications, especially for … Read more

Now that we’ve covered the roots and present state of carbon fiber 3D printing, including current research, we should take a look at where carbon fiber goes to die—or, to put it less morbidly, where it goes at the end of its lifecycle. The carbon fiber market is currently booming, with a great deal of … Read more

Researchers from Japan and the US are filling us in on some of the latest trends in digital fabrication and materials, highlighted in the recently published ‘Review – Recent Progresses in 4D Printing of Gel Materials.’ Ascending from the miracles of 3D printing, 4D printing offers a new level of fascination as materials adapt to … Read more

As 3D printing continues to offer a host of benefits in the manufacturing of components like antennas, researchers Shaker Alkaraki and Yue Gao explore new applications, outlining their findings in the recently published ‘mm-Wave Low Cost MIMO Antennas with Beam Switching Capabilities Fabricated Using 3D Printing for 5G Communication Systems.’ One of the greatest advantages … Read more

Researchers are studying the use of new materials for greater strength in 3D printing, outlining their findings in the recently published ‘Zeolite-templated 3D printed carbon nanotube networks with enhanced mechanical properties.’ Greater knowledge in this area is especially critical for applications like aerospace and defense where high load-bearing architectures are often required, leading the authors … Read more

Given the global shift to renewable energy, fossil fuel companies are looking for new ways to maintain their livelihoods. In a 2018 investor report, ExxonMobil admitted to a decline in demand for gas and aims to replace those profits with petrochemicals, expecting a 30 percent increase in demand by 2025. The International Energy Agency (IEA) … Read more

While our ecosystem is collapsing, we are at the very least fortunate to witness the rise of a potentially more sustainable form of manufacturing coinciding with the rise of potentially more sustainable materials. In the next few articles, we will cover both the new materials that are emerging for use with 3D printing, as well … Read more

Researchers from Slovakia are delving further into the uses of PLA in bioprinting, releasing their findings in the recently published, ‘3D printed Polylactid Acid based porous scaffold for bone tissue engineering: an in vitro study.’ The team created samples in the form of PLA scaffolds, assessing for both cytotoxicity and biocompatibility, with the ultimate goal … Read more