MINNEAPOLIS—A mechanical spider, a back-support device, and a walking cane were among the winners of Stratasys Ltd.’s 10th annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge.
AMES, IA—The Critical Materials Institute here has a installed a 3D printer to facilitate research on alternatives to rare-earth elements and other critical materials for clean energy.
By redesigning multipart components, such as fuel nozzles, ducting and valves, into one-piece components, engineers can reduce weight, simplify assembly and cut costs.
Pencil-shaped, the Bloodhound SSC supersonic car aims to rewrite history in the summer of 2015. At that time, the car will attempt to reach a land speed of 1,000 mph—easily exceeding the world land speed record of 763 mph, set by its predecessor Thrust SSC on Oct. 15, 1997.
NOVI, MI—Airbus Group Innovation and EOS recently conducted a test that pitted rapid investment casting against direct metal laser sintering. Engineers examined an Airbus A320 nacelle hinge bracket, focusing on its overall lifecycle. The testing will serve as the basis for an ongoing cradle-to-grave study into other aerospace parts and production processes.
BOLTON, UK—Empire Cycles and Renishaw, a manufacturer of additive manufacturing technology, have created a lightweight, titanium bicycle frame through 3D printing.
For the past year, the European Space Agency, in conjunction with London-based architectural firm Foster+Partners, has been performing tests to see if a Moon base can be 3D printed with local soil, rather than traditional thermoplastic. They call the soil "regolith."
NISKAYUNA, NY—Siemens company is developing the 3D technology at its research facility here and will use it to produce fuel nozzles and other engine parts starting in 2016.
BOULDER, CO—Researchers at the University of Colorado have successfully incorporated “shape memory” polymer fibers into the composite materials used in traditional 3D printing, which results in the production of an object fixed in one shape that can later be changed to take on a new shape.
