3D Printing News
A note of caution to our viewers: many of these products are only available for pre-ordering and have yet to be manufactured. Others are only hopes/dreams. Hyperbole is the language of choice, so be careful!
From China we learn of a spiral soft robotic arm that is based on the nose of an elephant and the tentacle of an octopus. The new robot is said to successfully handle fragile objects like eggs, catch a rapidly-moving tennis ball, and accurately return a ping pong ball. The scientists used reverse engineering in their development efforts. The system, called SpiRobs, had a 95% success rate at reeling, extending, winding and grasping.

Advanced Intelligent Manufacturing Laboratory at Northwestern University is concentrating on quality control in additive manufacturing. Led by Ping Guo, the team uses intelligent metrology and solid-state powder production along with multi-modal imaging and computer vision to enhance affordability. precesion, and scalability. A new method employs varying light angles to capture reflections in minute detail, highlighting not only geometric flaws but tiny texture disturbances. The process is adaptable to both desktop computers and massive room-wide machinery. The aluminum powders produced with ultrasonic vibration are uniform, need less high-energy inputs, and reduce material waste.

A group called BIG, based in Copenhagen, New York, and London, is composed of roughly 450 researchers, inventors, designers, architects, urbanists, and landscape professionals. They have combined 3D printing with mycellium additives to create a structure that does not need scaffolding and is rapidly erected using modular components. The group was also awarded a contract to build a "flagship" factory for the sparkling water company San Pellegrino. Their design goal was to do away with the concept of back and front, creating a "seamless" continuity between environment, production, and function. The middle of the new campus will feature displays of the various rock strata included in the natural formation of the spring water, an artistic re-creation of the journey that the water takes from the snowy mountains to the lower springs.

The Aether concept car was designed by students at Savannah College of Art and Design. The vehicle includes modular interiors and exteriors that combine technology, ecology, and distinctive aesthetics. Tools included HP's Multi Jet Fusion process, Rhino's 3D Grasshopper, and a flexible material made by BASF. The primary outer panels were 3D printed with UV-treated acrylic gel with wall thicknesses of roughly 5 mm for strength and efficiency. Inspired by the Porsche 917 and the Ferrrari 312 F1, the model has an open top and music selected by an AI companion based on the driving style of the car's operator.

The intestines of a shark have inspired pipes that flow in one direction only. Inside the pipes are a valve-free twisted coil helix, meant to prevent impurities from backing into the system. Typical water pipes are rigid with valves that wear out, while shark intestines are not, so these new pipes are made of a soft material.

NASA has revealed its designs for 3D printed homes on the moon. The Artemis II crewed mission plans to land on the moon's south pole next year. A "Moon Tycoon" robot excavator will mine as much as 10 metric tons of lunar regolith, a surface moon rock, to build the homes. After harvesting the regolith, a 3D printing process will use the fragments to construct living quarters for the astronauts. A class III method will eventually use 3D printing on Mars to build habitations there. Should these plans be successful, other projects include roads, towers, launch pads and shelters.

Among the new technologies announced at SXSW (a conference of film and interactive media held annually in Austin, Texas) is a multistory robotic construction system using a new low-carbon material. The digital catalog for the conference featured more than 60 architectural designs for homes and habitations using AI and 3D printing. Viewers are invited to look at our AI designed multi-storied homes for comparison.

The Riyadh Metro has begun operating its driverless trains. The trains use an advanced signalling system that controls the speed and the opening and closing of the trains' doors. The trains currently drive 109 miles through Saudi Arabia's capital city. The train network will eventually hold 3.6 million daily passengers at 85 metro stations. The all-electric trains will include 3 classes, ergonomic seating, LED lighting, air conditioning, and a passenger information system.

One note of caution: many companies are using high-tech and confusing language to disguise the fact that plastics are part of their product or their process, especially in the food industry. Buyer beware. Demand an easy-to-understand explanation before you eat or buy.

We review many hundreds of articles each month, culling the most significant for you. We also welcome suggestions from our viewers for products and processes that we may have missed.

c.Corinne Whitaker 2024