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Mduffy,
JEFFTX says ''NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT''...but historically speaking...when someone tells me that....that's when I really start worrying !!! lol.
glta!
HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH E.O.S.- Notice PROCESS MONITORING in paragraph 3.
With the EOS M 400-4, EOS Introduces its Biggest and Fastest System for Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
AUGUST 31, 2016
The new system shatters the boundaries of manufacturing with regards to productivity, industrialization and part quality
Novi, August 30, 2016 – EOS, the global technology and quality leader for high-end Additive Manufacturing (AM) solutions, introduces its highly innovative system for Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) at the IMTS show in Chicago (Sept. 12-17). Designed for industrial applications, the ultra-fast, quad-laser system expands the EOS DMLS offering by building on established EOS technology, yet taking it to the next level in terms of productivity, part quality and scalability to meet manufacturing requirements.
Andreas Graichen, Group Manager, Finspang Additive Manufacturing Centre of Competence, Siemens Power Generation Services states: “We chose the EOS M400-4 system to bring our AM activities to the next level: from a small scale, single laser unit to a larger scale, multiple laser unit. By using a wider building platform, with the higher productivity it provides, and pairing it with a new handling system, new thinking in gas turbine design can be brought into the industrial workshop.” And he adds: “The Additive Manufacturing technology provides us with the speed and efficiencies needed to progress in the energy industry’s fast-moving digital environment. And as such makes Siemens a unique player in the field of highly efficient power generation technologies.”
Dr. Adrian Keppler, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at EOS ads: “Following our strategy to establish the Additive Manufacturing technology for production in all industries we have developed this pioneering DMLS system. The EOS M 400-4 is a perfect addition to our industrial systems portfolio. It shatters the boundaries of manufacturing as it meets the most demanding requirements of our industry partners in terms of efficiency, scalability, usability and process monitoring.” And he continues: “As the system offers a modular platform designed for industrial 3D Printing, it can easily be integrated into existing production environments and the customer set of future innovations.”
EOS M 400--4 (Photo courtesy of EOS)
EOS M 400–4 (Photo courtesy of EOS)
Building on the trusted EOS metal AM benchmark
The EOS M 400-4 expands the high-performance offerings of DMLS systems. It offers a large building volume of 400 x 400 x 400 mm and is equipped with four 400 Watt lasers operating independently in 250 x 250 mm squares each including an overlap of 50 mm. The exceptional beam and power stability ensures highest DMLS part quality. The system builds on the well-established and validated process of the EOS M 290 technology. It takes innovation to the next production level as it quadruples productivity. As such it is the perfect choice for those Additive Manufacturing applications that need an up to four times faster production of metal parts.
New EOS ClearFlow process gas management system
As part of the EOS M 400-4 system, the patented EOS ClearFlow process gas management technology ensures optimal and consistent processing conditions. It distributes the process gas in an intelligent way to avoid interference of the lasers with side products of the melting process. In addition, the integrated industrial-grade, recirculating filter system with its long filter lifetime significantly reduces operating times and expenses.
Intuitive software, improved usability, EOSTATE Monitoring Suite
Usability and workflow on the EOS M 400-4 have been designed to meet demanding production requirements. The intuitive software offers workflow flexibility and efficiency. The system is easily operated via a touch screen and a task-based graphical user-interface. The extensive EOSTATE Monitoring Suite ensures compliance with the requirements of industrial production: it enables monitoring of the powder bed, of a variety of parameters as well as the laser power. Data Preparation and calculation is separated from the building process: the file prepared at desk is transmitted via the network. The system focusses entirely on building parts.
Material and process portfolio
Initially, the materials EOS NickelAlloy HX as well as EOS MaragingSteel MS1 will be available for the EOS M 400-4 and more materials and processes will follow soon. Parameters can be modified to meet individual application requirements using the EOS ParameterEditor.
To learn more, visit us at the IMTS show in Chicago, USA: September 12-17, booth N-79.
About EOS
EOS is the world’s leading technology and quality leader for high-end solutions in the area of additive manufacturing (AM). The company, which was founded in 1989, is a pioneer and global leader in the area of direct metal laser sintering, and also a provider of a leading polymer technology. For these industrial 3D printing processes, EOS offers a modular solutions portfolio that consists of systems, software, materials, as well as technical and AM consulting services. EOS is the partner of choice for industrial AM-based production, and provides long-term solutions for industry. Customers using these solutions are able to take advantage of light-weight structures, cost reductions based on functional integration, product customization and accelerated product development and production. www.eos.info
Contact:
EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems
Claudia Jordan
Public Relations Specialist
Phone: +49 (0)89 893 36 2134
E-Mail: claudia.jordan@eos.info
Generic Industry News: BOEING AIRCRAFT
ORNL — 3D Printed Tool for Building Aircraft Achieves Guinness World Records Title
AUGUST 30, 2016
by ORNL
OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Aug. 29, 2016 – A 3D printed trim-and-drill tool, developed by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory to be evaluated at The Boeing Company, has received the title of largest solid 3D printed item by Guinness World Records.
ORNL printed the lower cost trim tool in only 30 hours using carbon fiber and ABS thermoplastic composite materials, which will be tested in building the Boeing 777X passenger jet. At 17.5 feet long, 5.5 feet wide and 1.5 feet tall, the 3D printed structure is comparable in length to a large sport utility vehicle and weighs approximately 1,650 pounds.
A 3D printed trim tool developed by ORNL and Boeing to be used in building Boeing’s 777X passenger jet has received the title of largest solid 3D printed item by Guinness World Records. (Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy)
A 3D printed trim tool developed by ORNL and Boeing to be used in building Boeing’s 777X passenger jet has received the title of largest solid 3D printed item by Guinness World Records. (Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy)
“The existing, more expensive metallic tooling option we currently use comes from a supplier and typically takes three months to manufacture using conventional techniques,” said Leo Christodoulou, Boeing’s director of structures and materials. “Additively manufactured tools, such as the 777X wing trim tool, will save energy, time, labor and production cost and are part of our overall strategy to apply 3D printing technology in key production areas.”
Guinness World Records judge Michael Empric awarded the title of Largest solid 3D printed item to ORNL Laboratory Director Thom Mason, Leo Christodoulou from The Boeing Company, ORNL’s Vlastimil Kunc and Mike Matlack from Boeing. (Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy)
Guinness World Records judge Michael Empric awarded the title of Largest solid 3D printed item to ORNL Laboratory Director Thom Mason, Leo Christodoulou from The Boeing Company, ORNL’s Vlastimil Kunc and Mike Matlack from Boeing. (Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy)
During an awards ceremony held at DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL, where the component was 3D printed on the lab’s Big Area Additive Manufacturing machine, Guinness World Records judge Michael Empric measured the trim tool, proved it exceeded the required minimum of 0.3 cubic meters, or approximately 10.6 cubic feet, and announced the new record title.
“The recognition by Guinness World Records draws attention to the advances we’re making in large-scale additive manufacturing composites research,” said Vlastimil Kunc, leader of ORNL’s polymer materials development team. “Using 3D printing, we could design the tool with less material and without compromising its function.”
Official measurement of the 3D printed trim tool co-developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and The Boeing Company exceeded the required minimum size to achieve the Guinness World Records title of largest solid 3D printed item. (Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy)
Official measurement of the 3D printed trim tool co-developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and The Boeing Company exceeded the required minimum size to achieve the Guinness World Records title of largest solid 3D printed item. (Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy)
After ORNL completes verification testing, Boeing plans to use the additively manufactured trim-and-drill tool in the company’s new production facility in St. Louis and provide information back to ORNL on the tool’s performance. The tool will be used to secure the jet’s composite wing skin for drilling and machining before assembly.
Production of the 777X is scheduled to begin in 2017 and first delivery is targeted for 2020.
The project is supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Advanced Manufacturing Office. AMO supports applied research, development and demonstration of new materials and processes for energy efficiency in manufacturing as well as platform technologies for the manufacturing of clean energy products. AMO also provides support for ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, a public-private partnership to engage industry with national labs. For more information, visit ORNL’s Innovations in Manufacturing website.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE’s Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit http://science.energy.gov/.
Source: ORNL
All this volatility is nothing more than game playing in OTC Penny Land.
Until we uplist 'GOD WILLING' it'll be a lot more of the same until a major contract announcement.
It's funny that some people on this board almost strategically predict what's going to happen and then it happens. Makes you wonder who's behind the big drop to the 2.00's. HEY I PREDICT WE'LL HIT THE 2.OO'S TODAY and then it happens. I'm sure his buddies at his stock firm are trying hard to bring it down and convince others to sell..so they can run in and snatch up the shares.
Doesn't fool me. All the longs just need to step away from their computer, stop reading all this crap and just stay long!
There you go TRAIN,
10,000 Shares traded before my coffee got warm !
Industry News Norsk Titanium: Below is another DOT CONNECTOR by KANYA...followed by the Norsk article today:
Norsk Titanium AMAZE initiative
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151203005840/en/
>> The overarching goal of AMAZE is to rapidly produce large defect-free, additively-manufactured components, <<
... just remember our dot ALCOA: Norsk Titanium and Alcoa Launch Joint 3D-Printing Technology and Industrial Cooperation Program ...
Industry News today:
Norsk Titanium to Build World’s First Industrial-Scale Aerospace Additive Manufacturing Plant in New York
AUGUST 23, 2016
State Releases First Funds for Signature Economic Development Project for Initial Lot of 20 Norsk Titanium MERKE IV™ Rapid Plasma Deposition™ Machines to Launch Aerospace Factory of the Future
Farnborough, UK – July 11, 2016 – Norsk Titanium AS, the world’s pioneering supplier of aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components announced today the State of New York, in partnership with SUNY Polytechnic Institute, has placed an order for an initial lot of 20 of Norsk Titanium’s patented MERKE IV™ Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (“RPD™”) machines. The order is in accordance with an approved state budget allocation to facilitate Norsk Titanium’s US subsidiary building and operating the world’s first industrial-scale metal additive manufacturing plant in New York with the following details:
Plattsburgh, New York selected as the location for the world’s first Rapid Plasma Deposition™ factory
Facility to be operational by the end of 2017
The first 20 MERKE IV™ RPD™ machines establish a baseline production level of 400 metric tons per year of aerospace-grade, structural titanium components
The New York program envisions a capacity ramp-up to a total of 40 MERKE IV™ RPD™ machines capable of up to 800 metric tons per year, which will be consumed to meet increasing demand from the aviation industry
New York State investment advances Norsk Titanium’s production of the first 20 machines
New York has released an additional $4.0 million in planning funds for the Norsk Titanium US industrial-scale Plattsburgh factory
“We are proud to be a part of the unwavering vision and leadership of Governor Cuomo and are moving forward in support of his efforts to revitalize upstate New York with jobs, technology and community pride,” said Norsk Titanium Chairman of the Board John Andersen, Jr. “Our researchers have spent ten years pioneering the Rapid Plasma Deposition™ process that is now ready to cut millions of dollars in cost from the world’s premier commercial and military aircraft, and with the foresight displayed in other sectors, the State of New York is the ideal place to launch this manufacturing revolution.”
“Today marks the beginning of a new era in the way aircraft, marine vessels, automobiles, spacecraft and many industrial products are designed and built,” said Norsk Titanium President & Chief Executive Officer Warren M. Boley, Jr. “Not only are we creating jobs, huge economic impact and great visibility for the wider Plattsburgh community, we are also making history by kicking off a new phase of on-demand, near-net-shape manufacturing that sets a new benchmark of efficiency and customer responsiveness.”
“This unparalleled investment by Governor Andrew Cuomo in the North Country’s aerospace sector brings together a leading-edge global company in Norsk Titanium with an established high-tech aviation ecosystem in the region and the state, a perfect match that will create good paying advanced manufacturing jobs in Plattsburgh while advancing New York’s leadership in this dynamic and growing industry,” said SUNY Polytechnic Institute Vice President Christopher Walsh. “SUNY Poly is proud to partner with Norsk Titanium to bring this revolutionary technology to market and to continue to drive cutting edge research in all of the state’s nanotechnology-enabled industries.”
Under the terms of the deal, Norsk Titanium US will provide additional investment into the Plattsburgh operation that is expected to bring the total program commitment to the $1 billion dollar level over the initial 10-year period of operations. A $125 million New York investment in the Norsk Titanium US Plattsburgh factory was approved in the 2016-2017 State budget and first highlighted by Governor Cuomo on April 1, 2016 during the North County Highlights budget address in Albany.
Norsk Titanium US is also partnering with the North County Chamber of Commerce in Plattsburgh to support and promote the successful launch and growth of Norsk’s industrial-scale factory including workforce training, economic development and STEM outreach including specific educational programs for SUNY Plattsburgh, local community colleges and other schools in the region.
Norsk Titanium’s proprietary RPD™ process works by feeding titanium wire into a set of plasma torches protected by a cool argon environment that has made it possible to replace legacy forged parts, which take months and even years to develop and produce, with precision, additive manufactured components. The company has signed numerous contracts with the top echelon of aerospace manufacturers and tier-1 suppliers interested in leveraging RPD™ to cut cost and lead time from airframe and engine programs.
Norsk Titanium RPD™ components have equivalent strength to forgings, but are delivered inexpensively and efficiently, with unprecedented part cost and design-to-market speeds.
Norsk Titanium had a major presence at the Farnborough International Airshow July 11-15, 2016 in Hall 4, Booth A114, where it exhibited a full-scale mock-up of the company’s patented MERKE IV™ Rapid Plasma Deposition™ machine that has been qualified at the world’s top echelon of aircraft manufacturers to produce structural titanium components.
About Norsk Titanium AS
Norsk Titanium AS is the world’s pioneering supplier of aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components. The company is distinguished in the aviation industry by its patented Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (RPD™) process that transforms titanium wire into complex components suitable for structural and safety-critical applications. The Norsk Titanium research and development team is committed to replacing today’s inefficient manufacturing processes with a precision wire deposition technology embodying substantial savings for aerospace, defense, and commercial applications. www.norsktitanium.com
Source: Norsk Titanium AS
It seems to me that the SGLB Managment and Insiders would not continue to RAMP UP and hire more employees in the past two months if they saw the ''WRITING ON THE WALL'' that Printrite was not needed. On the contrary, they are PRIVY to information that we aren't and I find it highly unlikely this would happen if it was DOOMSDAY for SGLB. Doesn't make a lick of sense !
ALL SIGNS POINT TO ''ALL SYSTEMS GO'' PREPARE FOR LIFTOFF!
That's a little NASA talk since my dad was an engineer for NASA during the apollo and space shuttle missions !
GLTA!
Hi Ho Silver !
That makes sense to me. Also, SGLB'S work seems to be so secretive we can't discuss it. And because we can't discuss it, it APPEARS there's never any news and the PPS almost always struggles without little or No news. One day all that will change. The question is WHEN. And when it does change "Katy Bar The Door''.
You young ones have probably never heard that expression before!
GLTA!
Silver,
I have to admit I've been on the fence, but every time I read through your posts, I get excited that our very best is yet to come.
Thanks for that my friend !
GLTA!
If I could use a baseball analogy: Everyone who bought stocks in the past two to four years were hoping and believing we'd hit a GRAND SLAM.
Unfortunately, the longer this keeps up and our expenses skyrocket with little revenue...we're afraid of more dilution which we don't want or need.
Now..we're hoping the company can at least hit a triple or double just so we can make a little bit of money.
We have all forgotten about the GRAND SLAM and now...it appears
our BIG PROFITS may turn out to be in the thousands or...TENS OF THOUSANDS instead of MILLIONS!
I'm hanging on..but must admit, it's by a thread.
You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. VERY DISAPPOINTED in the apparent direction we're going. This is crunch time and we're going backwards. Considering taking my losses in the coming weeks.
This was on our SGLB Facebook recently if you haven't already seen it. Let's all vote if we can:
Additive Industries ?@TeamAdditive Jul 25
Do you think that we deserve an Innovation Award? Please vote for us: https://innovation-awards.nl/concept/metalfab1/ … #AIA16 #MetalFAB1
Oh I get it RFB,
That's why it's important for you to pump us up on other boards and tear us down on this one.
Let's all be reasonable men here. We are about to achieve greatness so try to keep that in your BIG PICTURE !
Thanks TedJ
I noticed that our one board poster continually discusses the PPS and discusses the ask/bid and whatever else....but FAILS to respond to your very informative response to our future revenue streams!!! Doesn't surprise me. Great things ahead.
GLTA!
Report Today on the near future of Metal AM Industry:
Notice the word TREMENDOUSLY in the 3rd paragraph.
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Metal Additive Manufacturing Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2016-2020)" report to their offering.
The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global metal additive manufacturing market by value, by volume, etc. The report also gives an insight of the global additive manufacturing market. The key opportunities in the market are also assessed in the report and it also outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry.
The global metal additive manufacturing market increased at a significant CAGR during the years 2014-2015 and projections are made that the market would rise in the next four years i.e. 2016-2020 tremendously. The global metal additive market is expected to increase due to increase in the global luxury market; an increase in the global dental market; an increase in the market for hip and knee implants and also because of increase in automotive industry sales.
The metal additive manufacturing market faces some challenges also such as, greater manufacturing cost than conventional methods; material selection and standard development.
The competition in the global metal additive manufacturing market is dominated by the four big players: Arcam Group; 3D Systems Corporation; EOS and Concept Laser Gmbh, who are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Market Analysis
4. Market Dynamics
5. Competitive Landscape
6. Company Profiles
Companies Mentioned:
3D Systems
Arcam
Concept Laser
EOS
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/skn7v7/global_metal
View source version on businesswire.com:
Yes, let's hope for the best. Things seem to be getting pretty interesting and we're LONG OVERDUE!
I certainly hope everyone is getting their questions lined up and ready to go: Lots to talk about.
A little help from someone please: What day in August and what time is the conference call ? Also, the 1-800 phone number if it has been posted ?
Thanks in advance !
Should be a very interesting call this time around.
GLTA!
THIS entire EOS article focuses on quality assurance. Folks around the world are starting to take note that it's not just about printing a metal part , but how QUALITY ASSURANCE plays the very important role about verifying that it will pass stringent government tests:
EOS Acts as World Leader in Additive Manufacturing & Quality Assurance Practices
by Bridget Butler Millsaps | Jul 29, 2016 | 3D Printers, 3D Printing, 3D Printing Materials |
EOS In a marketplace suddenly ripe with 3D technology of nearly every sort you can imagine, we hear of 3D printers that are lightning fast, offering a host of features we hadn’t even considered last year, alternative materials meaning that you can make anything you want, and all at prices that are continually being driven down by fierce competition—meaning all that accessibility and affordability we’ve been hearing so much about is actually here. But one thing you may notice you rarely hear discussion of is quality assurance. It may be less exciting to talk about and market—but having a dedicated QA team is what sets the pros apart from the amateurs in an industry highly driven by customer demand and expectation for quality.
Today, if something goes wrong with a product and complaints begin to pile up, it’s no longer just between the manufacturer and the rather unhappy customer. With online access readily available, customers are able to post their dissatisfactions and blast their opinions in every forum that will have them. So, while keeping the image perfect is a consideration for any company, what’s more important is that those purchasing products have the quality promised. And no one can be sure of that unless they test. And test again. The result offers as much as assurance as possible that clients will be thrilled with what they receive, and will keep coming back.
EOS, headquartered in Krailling, Germany, is continually in the spotlight, from discussions regarding their expertise in metal 3D printing and offering up new materials to announcing dynamic partnerships. Well-known, well-respected, and well-recognized for their talents as a whole, EOS is undeniably a leader in the additive manufacturing industry. Recently, they shared with us some of the processes that go into quality assurance at their centers of operation in regards to plastics and their high-end additive manufacturing solutions.
EOS image 1Not surprisingly, this global leader acts as a role model for the industry in QA, which is one of their top priorities. Their system includes all materials and processes that are relevant to AM and affect components being produced. With nearly 80 different AM systems in place regarding research and development, quality assurance, and application and training, EOS teams work with both plastics and metal. There are also 20 other systems being used at headquarters in the US, Singapore, and China.
“By coordinating and controlling all relevant variables, EOS ensures the best possible component characteristics. In this way, we address a key concern of our growing industrial customer base, which uses our technology for the series production of plastic components with consistent component quality,” said Torsten Schlichtholz, Director Global Quality Management at EOS.
There is, of course, a strong focus on materials as they are the product in essence. Evonik Industries has been a main partner for many years too, manufacturing plastic Polyamide 12, which is of frequent use.
“With its multi-dimensional quality management system, EOS works with its partners to ensure that each material batch has the same reliable and uniform consistency,” said Schlichtholz. “In the supply chain, quality assurance already starts with the manufacture of the preliminary product for the EOS laser sintering material. The manufacturing process with all qualification steps is continuously documented and verifiable to the point when the EOS material is delivered to our customers.”
Evonik begins QA before materials such as Polyamide 12 even arrive at EOS, and then the process continues to the end of the line, leaving little chance for error.
“Based on our special manufacturing method and almost 50 years of experience in powder technologies, we are able to create a very suitable basic product for laser sintering materials,” said Thomas Große-Puppendahl, Manager of the Engineered Products line at Evonik. “Our quality management system, which is ISO 9001:2008 certified, comprises all relevant inspections of polymer and powder indicators, such as free-flowing properties, powder density, melt and cooling behavior and process suitability tests.”
Performed at KVS GmbH, a part of EOS, the refining process aims at finding ‘the best possible process suitability’ and occurs after EOS equipment has received the acceptance test certificate and additional incoming goods inspection. For 19 years, working with laser sintering plastic materials, EOS has been involved in development, manufacturing, qualification, and quality assurance—also operating a certified QM system according to ISO 9001:2008.
“Defined quality assurance activities are carried out during and after the finishing process,” states EOS in a recent press release. “If all criteria are met, a test report is prepared pursuant to ISO 10204 – with additional fire testing for fire-resistant materials.”
Specimen and tie bars are also produced at EOS, based on a reference build job, with their characteristics profile assessed using acceptance criteria. And in a completely thorough process, customers do not receive products until they have indeed passed both of the tests. A report is attached to the product delivery, showing how they are relevant to the client, and allowing for them to have ‘comprehensive documentation’ for their own quality assurance and management systems.
p110_contentbild
FORMIGA P 110 [Source: EOS]
While so many companies today are just starting out in the 3D printing industry, EOS has been using their certified AM system since 1998. For their laser sintering technology, this applies to:
Development
Manufacturing
Distribution and servicing of systems
Materials and solutions for additive manufacturing
Systems are also put through rigorous QA procedures, including inspections and corresponding documentation.
“These checks are performed in accordance with the currently valid international standards,” states EOS.
Pointing out that their build process is another crucial way that they achieve consistent quality, EOS sees this as a result of over 20 years in experience with developing and improving ‘process products.’ With standardized parameter sets being constructed during development, customers are promised ‘robust build processes,’ all of which offers them what they expect: high-quality parts.
EOS explains that while the parameters most frequently used are developed, their teams always perform three build jobs and three laser sintering systems with three powder batches. In doing so, customers again are ensured of consistent part quality all around.
gripperAnd while explanations of what they do to keep their clients happy are interesting enough, the proof is seen as we explore a couple of case studies:
Anubis 3D was able to create a more powerful but lightweight vacuum gripper for an equipment supplier to the food industry. By using EOS systems, this Ontario-based company was able to make the tool quickly—in just one week—with four times the power. Due to the elimination of so many parts, assembly is simple—and the freedom of design allows for greater production processes. This applied specifically for an end-of-arm tool allowing robots to pick up wrapped crackers and put them in boxes. And while initially the weight of the arms was an issue for functionality, with EOS systems, the team was able to make the tool extremely light.
“What seemed to be almost impossible turned out to be quite easy by relying on additive manufacturing,” states their outlined case study.
The grippers were delivered to Langen Group and then installed on the robots in their plant.
How-3D-printed-devices-saved-three-babies-lives-at-Mott-1024x576
In another case study that we reported on also from the University of Michigan, EOS offered both their expertise and technology as doctors were creating 3D printed tracheal splints to help young children suffering from tracheobronchomalasia (TBM).
EOS_Presse_CaseStudy_Medical__UniversityOfMichigan_Trachea_Content
3D printed trachial splint
Dr. Glenn Green, a pediatric otolaryngologist, and his surgical team from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Ann Arbor, joined with Dr. Scott Hollister, professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan for this project.
“It’s now pretty automatic to generate an individualized splint design and print it; the whole process only takes about two days now instead of three to five,” explains Dr. Hollister.
There were some challenges, however, in the initial process, overcome with the use of EOS technology in the form of the Formiga P 100 system.
“Additive Manufacturing is one of the few methods I know that allows us to actually fabricate these complex designs,” says Dr. Hollister.
They were able to make highly functioning splint-supported tracheas via 3D printing, allowing for successful surgeries and a better quality of life for patients.
“I see a time soon, probably within the next five years, when many hospitals and medical centers will print their own devices specifically for their own patients, and not need to get them off-the-shelf,” says Dr. Hollister.
Surgery in progress to insert the 3D printed tracheal splint.
Surgery in progress to insert the 3D printed tracheal splint.
Without additive manufacturing, so many innovations would still not be possible. And while it’s compelling enough to hear of all the methods that go into QA for a company such as EOS, being able to learn more about what clients are actually doing with their technology—changing lives, for instance—is inspiring on a further level. Knowing that children are being given the chance to lead a more normal life is worth the creation of such an amazing technology just in itself. Discuss further in the EOS QA Procedures in 3D Printing forum over at 3DPB.com.
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Tagged with: 3D printed gripper • 3D printed tracheal splint • 3D printing quality assurance • additive manufacturing systems • Anubis 3D • eos • evonik • germany • metal 3d printing • QA practices in 3D printing • University of Michigan
I noticed this in an article today: Are they referring to our quality assurance measures ?
EOS system: reliable compliance to production standards
Since 1998, EOS GmbH has had a certified AM system according to ISO 9001:2008 for the development, manufacture, distribution and servicing of systems, materials and solutions for Additive Manufacturing using laser sintering technology. Besides the materials, the EOS additive manufacturing systems form another important pillar for reproducible and exacting component quality.
*** The systems are also subjected to numerous quality assurance measures, which are inspected and documented in line with the EOS machine acceptance process, during which the defined reference build jobs are prepared and subsequently checked for a number of authoritative criteria, such as mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy. These checks are performed in accordance with the currently valid international standards.
JeffTX
''HO-HUM''....IS NOT WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU MENTION THE INITIALS R.F.B.
I have been on an extended vacation. It's good to be back. It doesn't appear much has changed on this board.
STILL LONG AND STRONG !!!
GLTA
Don't know who's counseling Mark Cola, but I view the R/S as a complete BOONDOGGLE. In southern terms, someone has their head up their ass. This has done nothing for the stock and I don't see the reverse split bringing in any new cash at all.
AT this rate, we'll be lucky to make it to the 4th quarter with any cash. Starting to look like more DILUTION is in our stock future.
It's SAD Really. They're starting to push me into the RFB, ALANHILL, AND GOLD MIND CAMP. Thanks for that MARK !
THE BIG TOPIC of the day: BREXIT-
More quotes of what to expect in the coming weeks, months:
HOW WILL WE (SGLB) BE AFFECTED ?????????????
"Depending on how you measure it, the EU as a whole ranges from the first to the third largest economy in the world. And in terms of trade, the bloc easily topped the U.S. and China in both imports and exports.
So a slowdown there would mean a global slowdown. One that could last months — if not years.
Yeah, it does sound hyperbolic, but there are actually a couple arguments for why a British exit may hurt the rest of the globe."
While most of us remain optimistic about this stock, I don't think anyone has mentioned this TINY LITTLE POLITICAL issue called BREXIT!
The world markets are in turmoil tonight and this is just scratching the surface. The bigger questions we should be asking on this board Friday is how chaotic will world markets be and how much of a slowdown will this have on 3D stocks and the future of all business as we know it !
Good luck to all . We're going to need it in the coming days, weeks and months.
DOW FUTURES CURRENTLY DOWN MORE THAN 700 POINTS AT 11:40 CENTRAL TIME.
Nice Connection to Trumpf. Thanks for the information.
It's things like that keep reminding me not to sell my shares like some others recently.
In short, it's like the race between the turtle and the Hare.
The race is not always won by the swift...so patient and steady as she goes !!!
Good luck longs!
Industry News- TRUMPF.
Anyone care to update me on any possible connection between SIGMA LABS to TRUMPF, OR do we even have one?
thanks:
« Previous
TRUMPF – 3D Printing: Printing Metal Parts Quickly and Flexibly
JUNE 21, 2016
FARMINGTON, Conn., June 20, 2016 – TRUMPF has expanded its technology and product range in additive manufacturing and will introduce these new options to the North American market at IMTS. With the new TruPrint 1000, the latest solution in laser metal fusion (LMF), and developments in laser metal deposition (LMD), a technology TRUMPF established fifteen years ago and has continuously improved upon ever since, TRUMPF is the world’s only manufacturer to have all the pertinent laser technologies for industrial 3D printing. TRUMPF offers customers the complete package – the laser beam source, machine, powder, services and application consulting – from a single source.
TruPrint: 3D printer with new LMF technology
The new TruPrint 1000 uses a laser and metallic powder to build any desired component, based on data supplied directly by a CAD program. LMF systems create the component, layer by layer, from metal powders with grain sizes as small as 20 micron. This technology is ideal for parts that are complex in their geometry, such as those with internal channels and hollow spaces, and for manufacturing individual parts or short production runs economically. The compact model appeals to both novices and those experienced in additive manufacturing technology. It can generate parts that are a maximum of 100mm in diameter and 100mm in height. The user interface with touch screen control steps the operator intuitively through the individual phases of the process. All the components, including the laser, optics, process enclosure, filter unit and control cabinet, are integrated into the compact housing of the TruPrint 1000.
TRUMPF TruPrint 1000 (Photo courtesy of TRUMPF)
TRUMPF TruPrint 1000 (Photo courtesy of TRUMPF)
The supply cylinder, construction chamber and the overflow receiver are all aligned inside the enclosure. The supply cylinder contains the stainless steel, aluminum or any weldable material in powdered form. During the build, a layer of metal powder is applied to a substrate plate and then a 200W laser is used to fuse the cross section of the geometry to the plate. After the exposure the plate is lowered and the next layer of powder is applied. This procedure is repeated until the part is finished. The entire process takes place inside the enclosure, blanketed by protective gas, and at an oxygen content of 0.1 percent for maximum part quality.
TRUMPF Laser Metal Fusion (Photo courtesy of TRUMPF)
TRUMPF Laser Metal Fusion (Photo courtesy of TRUMPF)
A new LMD package: applying great volumes at high deposition rates
TRUMPF has also continued to optimize its LMD technology. This solution is ideal for adding volume and structures/ features to existing parts. In LMD systems, the laser forms a melt pool on the surface of a component and fuses the powder – applied simultaneously and coaxially –to create the desired shape.
TRUMPF Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) Photo courtesy of TRUMPF
TRUMPF Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) Photo courtesy of TRUMPF
Applying multiple layers enables the user to expand the form in any direction. With the ability to add material at rates as great as 500 cubic centimeters per hour, this process can be more economical than conventional manufacture. In addition, complex structures can be added to existing parts allowing for the design of communized base structures that have features and strength added where needed. Based on the specifics of the application, fabricators can choose either the large TruLaser Cell 7040 or the more compact TruLaser Cell 3000 with the new LMD package.
The TruPrint 1000 and the TruLaser Cell 3000 with the LMD package will be on display in TRUMPF booth N-6223 at IMTS in Chicago, IL from September 12-17, 2016.
TRUMPF
Booth N-6223
IMTS
Chicago, IL, USA
12-17 September, 2016
About TRUMPF
TRUMPF is the world market and technology leader in fabricating machinery and industrial lasers for flexible sheet metal processing. Products manufactured with the company’s technology can be found in almost every sector of industry. TRUMPF Inc. is the largest subsidiary of the TRUMPF Group and is dedicated to serving the U.S., Canadian and Mexican markets. Additional company information is available at: www.us.trumpf.com
Source: TRUMPF
A little G.E. News Nugget today:
All The 3D Print That’s Fit to Pitt: New Additive Technology Center Opens Near Steel Town
JUNE 20, 2016
Apr 29, 2016 by Tomas Kellner | GE Reports
GE’s new Center for Additive Technology Advancement (CATA) looks like a futuristic set for a Stanley Kubrick movie. Everything seems to be white: the walls, the gleaming floors, even the noise from rows of laser-powered 3D printers near the entrance, quietly making everything from jet engine blades to oil valves.
Located by a new highway exit just minutes from the Pittsburgh airport, the center, which opened in April, is so new even Uber drivers require human navigation. But the center is no mirage.
Few cities embody the boom-and-bust cycle of American industry more than Pittsburgh. Today there are no steel mills left, but the city is rising again, in part because it focused on science, research and education. Carnegie Mellon University is the place to study robotics, Google and Tesla Motors opened offices here and the world’s most sustainable building is located at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. “We’ve tapped into America’s best-kept secret,” says Jennifer Cipolla, who runs CATA.
3D printing reduces waste and allows engineers manufacture objects with complex internal geometries that would be otherwise very difficult or expensive to achieve, such as this fuel nozzle. Images credit: GE Reports/Chris New
3D printing reduces waste and allows engineers manufacture objects with complex internal geometries that would be otherwise very difficult or expensive to achieve, such as this fuel nozzle. Images credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Additive technologies like 3D printing are the latest twist on manufacturing. “Normally when you want to produce a part, you start with a big piece of metal and machine it down,” Cipolla says. “But you also create a lot of waste. Additive allows you to grow something from the ground up from a bed of metal powder, sand or other material. There’s hardly any waste because you can reclaim pretty much everything. It also allows you to create much more complex internal geometries that would be otherwise very difficult or expensive to achieve, creating parts with improved performance.”
GE Aviation, for example, is already printing parts for jet engines, and GE Oil & Gas is using printers to make valves. The idea behind CATA, which is funded by each of the various GE businesses, is to bring additive into the mainstream for all of them. “Our mission is to ensure additive technology becomes a standard part of the tool kit for each business,” Cipolla says. “By having a shared facility, they can share the cost burden and we can advance the technology across the entire company much more rapidly than if they were to invest individually.”
3D printers at CATA can use as many as four polymers at once (including one for the support structure), allowing designers to produce samples like this foot. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
3D printers at CATA can use as many as four polymers at once (including one for the support structure), allowing designers to produce samples like this foot. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Cipolla says there are a number of factors that are not yet well-understood in additive. Even though the machines can print very sophisticated fuel nozzles, for instance, “most additive machines are still not production-ready,” she says. “But GE is at the forefront of innovation in this area, pushing the boundaries and driving their industrialization.”
That’s why CATA also has an “industrialization lab,” where GE businesses can bring their 3D designs and figure out how to speed up the process from lab- to full-scale production. Cipolla and her team will help them optimize the design and simulate what actual production would look like.
CATA’s DMLM 3D printers can make parts from cobalt chrome alloys, the high temperature alloy Inconel and stainless steel. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
CATA’s DMLM 3D printers can make parts from cobalt chrome alloys, the high temperature alloy Inconel and stainless steel. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
GE invested nearly $40 million in CATA, which will employ 50 workers. The facility has several direct metal laser melting (DMLM) machines, which can print parts in metal alloys. The company is planning to add $10 million worth of machines this year, including a $2 million DMLM printer with four lasers that can print four different parts at the same time and a laser hot-wire machine that can quickly and precisely restore worn-out parts.
Each DMLM machine breaks down a CAD design file layer by layer and uses the laser to fuse one fine layer on metal powder after another in the right design pattern. Each layer is between 20 to 80 microns thick and there are as many as 1,250 layers per inch — each less than the thickness of a human hair. The laser power ranges from 400 watts to 1 kilowatt, enough to burn a hole in a wall. “It’s exactly like welding, but on a microscopic scale,” says Brian Adkins, additive manufacturing engineer in charge of the machines.
“We are making the Jell-O mold for the jelly,” says Dave Miller, the engineer working with the sand binder jetting machine. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
“We are making the Jell-O mold for the jelly,” says Dave Miller, the engineer working with the sand binder jetting machine. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
While DMLM machines can be used for mass production, the sand binder jetting machine is a great tool for rapid prototyping. Instead of a laser, it uses a chemical binder to print casting molds from layers of fine sand, each 280 microns thick, infused with an activator. When the two chemicals mix, they start an exothermic reaction that hardens the sand into the desired shape. “We are making the Jell-O mold for the jelly,” says Dave Miller, the engineer working with the machine. “The sand mold gets stronger as it ages. It’s like concrete.”
Miller can print one complex mold in a day and have the casting back from the foundry the next day. “This is a huge breakthrough for rapid prototyping,” Miller says. “You’d normally spend many thousands of dollars and many weeks to achieve the same results. With this 3D printer you are cutting down costs and also your lead time.”
PolyJet machines machines harden polymer layers with UV light. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
PolyJet machines machines harden polymer layers with UV light. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The final group of printers creates products from polymers. After printing a layer from a liquid resin, the machine zaps it with UV light, which hardens it. The machine can print from four different polymers at the same time, including one used for support material. The polymers can be used in combination, resulting in material with different qualities and colors. “There’s a cookbook that allows us to juggle the ingredients,” says Ed Rowley, the engineer presiding over the machines. “It allows us to create everything from elastomers to rigid plastic.”
The machines have applications from prototyping to tooling. Last week Rowley was printing an LED chandelier designed by the GE energy startup Current. It’s currently displayed in the lobby of the CATA facility.
GE Reports visited CATA last week. Take a look.
DMLM laser printers can be working on dozens of components at the same time. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
DMLM laser printers can be working on dozens of components at the same time. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Brian Adkins programs the machine from a touch-screen. The green bar below his finger tells him long until the print is finished. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Brian Adkins programs the machine from a touch-screen. The green bar below his finger tells him long until the print is finished. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
A finished 3D-printed sample for attendees of CATA opening on Tuesday. They included Congressman Tim Murphy, Pennsylvania Secretary of Community and Economic Development Dennis Davin, and GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. The gears inside the part can rotate. It would be virtually impossible without a 3D printer. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
A finished 3D-printed sample for attendees of CATA opening on Tuesday. They included Congressman Tim Murphy, Pennsylvania Secretary of Community and Economic Development Dennis Davin, and GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt. The gears inside the part can rotate. It would be virtually impossible without a 3D printer. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
After printing, engineers place metal parts inside a pair of curing ovens filled with argon or nitrogen. “It’s like going into a sauna,” says quality leader Michelle Merwin. “The printed part heats up and relaxes. You can cut it off the support plate like butter.” Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
After printing, engineers place metal parts inside a pair of curing ovens filled with argon or nitrogen. “It’s like going into a sauna,” says quality leader Michelle Merwin. “The printed part heats up and relaxes. You can cut it off the support plate like butter.” Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
A worker is checking the temperature of components leaving the oven. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
A worker is checking the temperature of components leaving the oven. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
CATA workers are using electric discharge machines to separate printed parts from the support plate. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
CATA workers are using electric discharge machines to separate printed parts from the support plate. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The finished product. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The finished product. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Brian Adkins is vacuuming a DMLM machine to salvage unused metal powder and prevent cross-contamination. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Brian Adkins is vacuuming a DMLM machine to salvage unused metal powder and prevent cross-contamination. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
DMLM machines print parts on a support structure. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
DMLM machines print parts on a support structure. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
After vacuuming, the powder flows into sieves for recycling. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
After vacuuming, the powder flows into sieves for recycling. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Brian Adkins wearing a protective suits is getting ready to vacuum. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Brian Adkins wearing a protective suits is getting ready to vacuum. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The sand binder jetting machine is a great tool for rapid prototyping. Instead of a laser, it uses a chemical binder to print casting molds from layers of fine sand, each 280 microns thick, infused with an activator. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The sand binder jetting machine is a great tool for rapid prototyping. Instead of a laser, it uses a chemical binder to print casting molds from layers of fine sand, each 280 microns thick, infused with an activator. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
An engineer is removing unused sand. The printed mold is the green part. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
An engineer is removing unused sand. The printed mold is the green part. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The machine can print one complex mold in a day and have the casting back from the foundry the next day. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The machine can print one complex mold in a day and have the casting back from the foundry the next day. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The machine’s high-tech sandbox that holds the mold is 1.8 meters long, 1 meter wide and 0.7 meters deep. “You’d normally spend many thousands of dollars and many weeks to achieve the same results,” says GE’s Dave Miller. “With this 3D printer you are cutting down costs and also your lead time.”
The machine’s high-tech sandbox that holds the mold is 1.8 meters long, 1 meter wide and 0.7 meters deep. “You’d normally spend many thousands of dollars and many weeks to achieve the same results,” says GE’s Dave Miller. “With this 3D printer you are cutting down costs and also your lead time.”
Ed Rowley is printing plastic components for an LED chandelier designed by the GE startup Current. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Ed Rowley is printing plastic components for an LED chandelier designed by the GE startup Current. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The chandelier (in white) is surrounded by support material (brown) that needs can be stripped of with just hands. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
The chandelier (in white) is surrounded by support material (brown) that needs can be stripped of with just hands. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Rowley is holding the finished product in front of a polymer 3D printer. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Rowley is holding the finished product in front of a polymer 3D printer. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
PolyJet printers can print from as many as four polymers at once. Their combination can produce soft as well as hard parts and hundreds of different colors. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
PolyJet printers can print from as many as four polymers at once. Their combination can produce soft as well as hard parts and hundreds of different colors. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
A gift printed on a PolyJet machine. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
A gift printed on a PolyJet machine. Image credit: GE Reports/Chris New
Source: GE Reports – To read the article on GE Report’s website, press here.
HEY SGLB MANAGEMENT TEAM:
TIME TO TAKE NOTE !
I have been on this board for almost three years, and KANYA has been your biggest cheerleader to date. But when I read than KANYA has just about had it with SGLB'S management team, IT SHOULD SERVE AS A WAKE UP CALL TO YOU AND THE MANAGEMENT TEAM. INVESTORS ARE CLOSELY MONITORING YOUR LOUSY P.R. SKILLS AND REFUSAL TO ANSWER THE MOST SIMPLE QUESTIONS THAT WE DESERVE AN ANSWER TO AS INVESTORS.
Yes, we all want success and nobody wants to bash management , but when I start reading KANYA'S NEGATIVE POSTS, It's time to RE-EVALUATE HOW YOUR RUNNING THAT BUSINESS.
Many of us are "ON THE FENCE'' right now, so I would take heed before we start heading for the exits.
Just my two cents worth.
GLTA!
Our Big Brother GE out with some news today; OR Is GE still our Big Brother?? Hadn't seen a connection with SIGMA lately.
GE Oil & Gas to Use Robotics and 3D Printing in Futuristic Talamona Plant
JUNE 10, 2016
By GE Newsroom
Cutting-edge 3D printing technology to be utilized to print metal parts and materials
New advanced manufacturing techniques will use robotics to optimize plant and accelerate cycle times
Talamona, ITALY 26 May 2016 – Today marks the inauguration of two new high-tech component production lines at the GE Oil & Gas plant in Talamona, Italy. A new nozzle production line is the first completely automated line for GE Oil & Gas, and a new additive manufacturing line will use laser technology to 3D print end burners for gas turbine combustion chambers. These new advanced manufacturing lines establishes this site as a centre of excellence for the oil and gas industry.
The official unveiling of the upgraded turbine and compressor components manufacturing facility is the result of a EUR 10 million, two years’ investment to establish the plant as one of its most cutting production centres. Previous investments in 2013 increased the plant’s production capacity.
The new nozzle production line is the first completely automated line in a GE Oil & Gas plant. It utilizes two anthropomorphic robots capable of employing 10 different technologies, including electrical discharge machining, measurement and laser beam welding. With this new line, GE Oil & Gas will be able to produce components in Talamona that it previously purchased from third-party suppliers
GE Oil & Gas is pioneering the industry’s foray into additive manufacturing which offers increased speed and accuracy in component production. The technology, also utilized heavily in the aviation, medical and design industries, represents the next frontier for energy manufacturing. After extensive validation of additive during prototyping of the NovaLT16 gas turbine, GE decided to move the technology into full production, leveraging the design enhancement capabilities, cycle time reduction and improved product quality. The site is also managed with state-of-the-art software with the capacity not only to schedule activities, but also to support maintenance activity that is no longer simply “preventative” but “predictive.”
“The use of automated production and new techniques like additive manufacturing allow us to develop parts and products more efficiently, precisely and cost-effectively, accelerating the speed at which we can bring product to market. Our investment in these technologies at this site reflects our ongoing commitment to combine cutting edge technology and new manufacturing processes to lower cost and accelerate the innovation, speed and performance of industrial products.” said Davide Marrani, General Manager Manufacturing for business Turbomachinery Solutions at GE Oil & Gas. “Our commitment to ongoing research and innovation is key to meet our clients’ ever-changing needs.”
GE has been investing and growing its work in additive manufacturing across R&D sites spanning Bangalore (India), Niskayuna (Japan), Michigan (United States), Shanghai (China) and Munich (Germany). The applications for that work span the entire GE footprint, including the use of cobalt-chromium alloys for jet engines that were originally used for joint replacements and dental implants. Talamona coming online brings years of automation and 3D printing development and investment to fruition.
GE Oil & Gas opened an additive lab in Florence, Italy in 2013 with the installation of the first Direct Metal Laser Melting (DMLM) machine. Since then, the Laboratory has grown its capabilities thanks to the addition of two further machines for the development of Turbomachinery components and special alloys. Collaborations with GE Aviation and GE Global Research Centre have significantly accelerated the development of the technology within GE.
“The opportunities for the application of additive manufacturing and 3D printing in the oil and gas industry are only just starting to be explored, and it will require an ongoing rethink of component design and production approach,” said Massimiliano Cecconi, GE Oil & Gas Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Executive. “GE Oil & Gas is fostering the development of this technology to produce complex components for gas turbines, while cutting costs, boosting performance and reducing emissions.”
The new production lines are already working and will be fully operational by the start of 2017.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the “GE Store,” through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
About GE Oil & Gas
GE Oil & Gas is inventing the next industrial era in the oil and gas sector. In our labs and factories, and in the field, we constantly push the boundaries of technology to solve today’s toughest operational & commercial challenges. We have the skills, knowledge and technical expertise to bring together the physical and digital worlds to fuel the future.
Follow GE Oil & Gas on Twitter @GE_OilandGas
For More Information:
Barbara Del Sala
GE Oil & Gas
+39 055 458 6980
+39 342 5635184
barbara.delsala@ge.com
Today News on Norsk Titanium and BELOW THAT IS a post on SIGMA LABS investor board post about an indirect connection with that company. (( that's all I could do today on such a slow news day..sorry make that a slow news YEAR ! ))
Norsk Titanium Announces $10 Million Investment from Harbert European Growth Capital Fund
JUNE 9, 2016
Financing to Strengthen Worldwide Operations
OSLO, Norway- May 26, 2016 -(BUSINESS WIRE)–Norsk Titanium AS, the world’s pioneering supplier of aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components, today announced it has closed a $10 million growth debt facility with Harbert European Growth Capital Fund I (HEGCF) as part of the company’s current aerospace production financing round.
The funds will be used to further strengthen Norsk Titanium’s leadership team and operations worldwide in support of aerospace qualification and production orders for precision structural components produced by the company’s patented Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (RPD™) technology. The investment was led by Fahad Khan at HEGCF. Details of the investment were not released.
“Norsk Titanium is strategically expanding, and the addition of growth debt allows us to diversify our financing structure while pursuing a variety of complementary opportunities, both within the aerospace and defense sector and beyond,” said Bart van Aalst, Chief Financial Officer of Norsk Titanium. “Forward-looking investors are critical to rapidly expanding organizations that strive to remain independent, and Harbert’s pragmatic and entrepreneurial approach makes them an ideal partner to a company like Norsk Titanium,” concluded Van Aalst.
“We chose to invest in Norsk Titanium because their Rapid Plasma Deposition™ 3D technology is heralded as one of the most disruptive processes in additive manufacturing, and their strong management team makes it a real game-changer in a sector so often bereft of true innovation,” said Johan Kampe, Senior Managing Director at Harbert Management Corporation. “The growth potential of this company is beyond any doubt, and we are very pleased to be part of its future and hope to bring our close relationships within the technology sector to the fore.”
Norsk Titanium will be putting its RPD™ technology on display at the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow, allowing a global audience to witness unprecedented manufacturing efficiencies from the company’s MERKE IV™ line of production machines.
About Norsk Titanium AS
Norsk Titanium AS is the world’s pioneering supplier of aerospace-grade, additive manufactured, structural titanium components. The company is distinguished in the aviation industry by its patented Rapid Plasma Deposition™ (RPD™) process that transforms titanium wire into complex components suitable for structural and safety-critical applications. The Norsk Titanium research and development team is committed to displacing the inefficient forging process with a precision wire deposition technology embodying substantial savings for aerospace, defense, and commercial applications. www.norsktitanium.com
About Harbert European Growth Capital Fund I, L.P.
Harbert European Growth Capital Fund I, LP finances high-growth and innovative European companies, both private and publicly traded, and is actively seeking investment opportunities. Additional information about HEGCF can be found at www.harbert.net/investment-strategies/private-capital/european-growth-capital/. HMC, an alternative asset management firm with approximately $4.3 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2016, is a corner sponsor of the fund along with a number of institutional investors. HMC is a privately owned firm formed in 1993 to sponsor alternative asset investment funds. Additional information about HMC and HEGCF can be found at www.harbert.net.
Contacts
Norsk Titanium AS
Chip Yates, +1-949-735-9463
VP of Marketing
media@norsktitanium.com
(((((((((( THIS IS THE PREVIOUS POST ))))))))))
Norsk Titanium AMAZE initiative
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151203005840/en/
>> The overarching goal of AMAZE is to rapidly produce large defect-free, additively-manufactured components, <<
... just remember our dot ALCOA: Norsk Titanium and Alcoa Launch Joint 3D-Printing Technology and Industrial Cooperation Program ...
Industry News:
Lawrence Livermore Discovery a ‘Big Step Forward’ for Metal 3-D Printing Process
JUNE 2, 2016
By Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have taken a major step toward answering a question plaguing a common metal 3-D printing technique: What interactions can lead to the porosity found in parts produced by laser powder-bed fusion processes?
In a paper published in the May 20 edition of the journal Acta Materialia online (link is external), LLNL researcher Ibo Matthews and his team discovered that gas flow, due to evaporation when the laser irradiates the metal powder, is the driving force that clears away powder near the laser’s path during a build. This “denudation” phenomenon reduces the amount of powder available when the laser makes its next pass, causing tiny gaps and defects in the finished part.
Ibo Matthews, Gabe Guss and Phil Depond examine an additively manufactured (AM) set of metal test cubes using a newly acquired laser-based powder bed fusion R&D platform from the Fraunhofer Institute (Aachen, Germany). Lawrence Livermore's research in micro-scale laser-material interactions and material response dynamics has led to a better understanding of the powder bed fusion process for metals, paving the way toward improvements in AM part performance. Photo by Julie Russell/LLNL
Ibo Matthews, Gabe Guss and Phil Depond examine an additively manufactured (AM) set of metal test cubes using a newly acquired laser-based powder bed fusion R&D platform from the Fraunhofer Institute (Aachen, Germany). Lawrence Livermore’s research in micro-scale laser-material interactions and material response dynamics has led to a better understanding of the powder bed fusion process for metals, paving the way toward improvements in AM part performance. Photo by Julie Russell/LLNL
“During this process you get to temperatures that are near or at the boiling point of the metal, so you have a strong vapor flux emitted from the melt pool,” Matthews explained. “Prior to this study, there wasn’t an understanding of what effect this flux of metal vapor had on the powder bed.”
Using a custom-built microscope setup, a vacuum chamber and an ultra high-speed camera (provided by the Lab’s High Explosives Applications Facility), Matthews’ team observed the ejection of metal powder away from the laser during the melting process, and, through computer simulation and fluid dynamics principles, built models to help explain the particles’ movement.
“(Matthews) has discovered a phenomenon that we didn’t know was present in metal powder-bed additive manufacturing, and this is an effect that has important implications for part quality and build speed,” said Chris Spadaccini, director of Additive Manufacturing Initiatives for the Lab. “It is also something we now know we will have to capture with our models, so new physics is being added to the simulation codes.”
Wayne King, director of the Accelerated Certification of Additively Manufactured Metals project at LLNL, called the findings a “big step forward” for the process.
“It’s one of those things that nobody really had a clue about why it happened,” King said. “What this (research) does is bring us closer to an understanding of the process, which will eventually lead to a reduction in defects of parts. The (updated) models should help us optimize the process and give us the best chance at getting the best part.”
Matthews said the next steps are to investigate how porosity develops in real-time and, using the new information, explore both advanced diagnostics and modifications to the process for improving build quality.
“Now having the physics better understood, we can simulate the process more accurately and make enhancements to our manufacturing efforts,” Matthews said. “In the end, we want to be able to use simulation to build the confidence that we’re making parts with little or no defects.”
The Laboratory Directed Research and Development program funded the research.
Contact
Jeremy Thomas
thomas244@llnl.gov (link sends e-mail)
Our partner 3DSIM was a finalist for an award at RAPID:
RAPID Exhibitor Innovation Award
The RAPID Innovation Award, sponsored by Stratasys, recognizes new products or services exhibited at RAPID and judged to have the greatest potential impact on the industry. With a record number of 27 entries this year, the finalists were 3DSIM, Additive Industries, Essentium Materials and HP Inc. All four companies brought forth inventive, significant technological advancements.
The overall winner was Essentium, which introduced a new and innovative method for welding thermoplastic interfaces of 3D-printed parts using the extreme heating response of nanoparticles. Essentium tackled the issue of strength in the z-direction inherent to additive manufacturing
Thanks 3DTDMAN. I just kind of skimmed through that long article quickly.
HEY DESARCMO: This information below is an old article , But
We are joined at the hip with 3DSIM. So, a mention for them is a mention for SGLB.
(( 3D printing is one technology that is on an undeniably accelerated course. As we find ourselves wowed by an endlessly mind-blowing parade of innovations that seem to outdo themselves one after the other, and day by day, from the creative sectors like fashion and art, to very serious breakthroughs in science and manufacturing, we are witnessing a constant evolution. One part of that is a significant trend toward 3D printing with metal, and working to refine both processes and quality therein.
A recent and very complementary partnership that has just been inked between Sigma Labs, Inc. and 3DSIM is a perfect example of that. Sigma Labs is looking to 3DSIM to assist as they put even further exercises in place for development, exercises in testing, and certification.
oneSigma Labs is known for their QA solutions, based on their In-Process Quality Assurance software developed specifically for AM clients as they seek superior rapid qualification and excellence in parts and components. They are responsible for developing and engineering quality inspection systems for commercial firms around the world involved in metal 3D printing, as well as a range of other technologies related to advanced manufacturing. ))
A long read, but a good read. (( 3DSIM MENTIONED ))
How Do We Move from Metal Rapid Prototyping to Metal Additive Manufacturing?
Michael Molitch-Hou posted on May 31, 2016 | Comment | 492 views
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There are many factors that will play into the ultimate shift of 3D printing as a technology for rapid prototyping to one of end-part manufacturing, but the one area of additive manufacturing (AM) that may stand in the way of mass adoption of 3D printing within the larger manufacturing supply chain is that of metal AM.
Metal AM has the ability to produce intricate, streamlined components with physical properties that can sometimes exceed those of parts manufactured by traditional means. Consequently, the technology has the potential to completely shift the way that we fabricate critical components. With it, we can create lightweight objects with unique geometries capable of decreasing material waste and energy consumption.
The paragon example now used to demonstrate the power that metal 3D printing can bring to manufacturers is the 3D-printed fuel nozzle for the LEAP jet engine, developed through a joint venture between GE and Snecma called CFM International. By redesigning the nozzle for AM, CFM was able to consolidate 18 different components into a single part. Moreover, the redesign has been estimated to reduce fuel costs and, therefore, CO2 emissions by 15 percent. Though the first LEAP engines are only just now being delivered to their first customer, they have already become GE Aviation’s best selling engine, with more than 6,000 confirmed orders from 20 countries, valued at more than $78 billion (U.S. list price). If this same potential can be achieved by redesigning legacy parts or creating entirely new designs for metal 3D printing, it’s possible to bring entirely new levels of innovation across industries.
CFM International’s 3D-printed fuel nozzle reduces part count from 18 to just one. (Image courtesy of GE.)
CFM International’s 3D-printed fuel nozzle reduces part count from 18 to just one. (Image courtesy of GE.)
If that’s the case, then why doesn’t every manufacturer go out and purchase a metal 3D printer? ENGINEERING.com spoke with a number of specialists in the field to determine what it is that is holding back metal 3D printing. More importantly, these experts are all working on overcoming these obstacles in their own ways, potentially speeding up the widespread adoption of metal AM worldwide.
Predictability and Repeatability of Metal 3D Printing
Before printing can even begin, the engineer or designer usually has to craft the CAD model specifically for the AM process that will be utilized. For instance, with powder bed processes, support structures must be incorporated into the design in order to prevent residual stress caused by the build up of subsequent layers from warping the end part. Therefore, the object must be oriented in a particular way within the print bed to minimize the number of supports and stress, which may severely limit the design options.
Preparing a model for printing may see several iterations of an object printed at various orientations before the part comes out of the machine within design specifications. In the case that a design needs to be shifted over to a different machine type, this may have to be performed all over again, given changes in size, energy type and more. This trial-and-error approach means wasted time, material and money. For this reason, 3DSIM, a spinoff from the University of Louisville, is currently beta testing software to allow for a simulation approach over a purely empirical approach to preparing objects for printing.
After roughly eight years of research, Brent Stucker, co-founder and CEO of 3DSIM, has begun commercializing physics-based simulation technology for metal 3D printing. At the moment, this commercialization comes in the form of two programs, exaSIM and FLEX. While exaSIM is directed more towards machine operators and generating a print preview for the optimal placement of support structures, FLEX is for the research and development of new materials or parts for metal 3D printing.
Both programs, however, rely on the same advanced mathematics and physical principles, which 3DSIM suggests would require 5.7 x 1018 years to solve on a 16-teraflop computer without their software. Chris Robinson, director of application engineering at 3DSIM, elaborated on how these programs operate, saying, “We input material parameters for a particular material. We go in and calculate a temperature prediction for what’s happening as the laser interacts with the powder at every scan vector at every layer of the part. Then, we can go in and calculate shrinkage, distortion, stress, microstructure, porosity, surface roughness and other calculations.” Robinson further explained that calculations are based off of the chemical makeup of a powder, at what point the material solidifies, how much laser energy it absorbs, how much it reflects, and in which direction the energy is reflected.
This information can then be used with exaSIM to generate the optimal orientation and support structures for a print to minimize errors. With FLEX, new material chemistries can be simulated, rather than created in small batches and tested in the physical world on actual machines. Validating parts is made that much easier as well, as they can be simulated before being manufactured.
Metal 3D Printing Data
3DSIM is tackling the issue of material properties in terms of the physical environment of the print chamber, but what if you don’t even know what material to choose? Or what machine to print something on? According to Zach Simkin, co-president of Senvol alongside Annie Wang, the lack of data regarding AM may prevent traditional manufacturers from adopting 3D printing in their operations.
As Simkin elaborated, “Organizations don’t have a full understanding of how materials are going to perform. They don’t have a full understanding of repeatability. There’s a lot of variability from machine to machine, from operator to operator.” Generating that data, then, is part of a larger barrier to understanding the diverse variables involved in AM.
Simkin and Wang started Senvol as a means of providing this data, establishing the Senvol Database with over 1,300 different machines and materials for AM that can be searched by a wide variety of parameters. Through a new partnership with material intelligence company Granta Design, users of Granta software can now match Senvol’s material data for 3D printing to Granta’s material data.
AM materials from the Senvol Database plotted with CES Selector. (Image courtesy of Granta.)
AM materials from the Senvol Database plotted with CES Selector. (Image courtesy of Granta.)
About the partnership, Simkin said, “The data that does exist in additive has sat in a vacuum to date. You can look at additive data, but it’s hard to compare to non-additive data, which is what it really comes down to because additive is really just one tool in the tool shed to produce parts. For the first time ever, through our partnership with Granta, engineers can start to compare additive data to material data from conventional processes to figure out where additive stacks up and where there might be advantages or disadvantages to using it for manufacturing.”
Metal 3D Printing Is Labor-Intensive
Metal AM is far from an automated process. The advanced training that machine operators may receive to handle such complicated equipment may be seen as an advantage when it comes to education and expanding human knowledge. However, the labor required to manage those machines could be holding some manufacturers back from adopting metal AM as a mass-production technology.
Concept Laser’s AM Factory of Tomorrow consists of different modules for printing a part and removing the part. (Image courtesy of Concept Laser.)
Concept Laser’s AM Factory of Tomorrow consists of different modules for printing a part and removing the part. (Image courtesy of Concept Laser.)
At the “formnext powered by TCT” show in October 2015, Concept Laser unveiled its plans for what it calls the AM Factory of Tomorrow, a modular platform for automating metal 3D printing as much as possible. In addition to the module that performs the actual printing, the company is developing a station for automatically loading metal powders into the print area and a station for removing the print from the bed and retrieving unused powder. These systems will go into production at the end of 2016, with delivery anticipated in early 2017.
A more extensive AM Factory of Tomorrow would see multiple areas set up, with powder carried either manually or robotically from storage to build job preparation stations and then to 3D printers and finally to part removal and post-processing stations. (Image courtesy of Concept Laser.)
A more extensive AM Factory of Tomorrow would see multiple areas set up, with powder carried either manually or robotically from storage to build job preparation stations and then to 3D printers and finally to part removal and post-processing stations. (Image courtesy of Concept Laser.)
This is only the beginning for the AM Factory of Tomorrow, however. To create a fully automated 3D printing factory, part manufacturers would conceivably store all of their powders in a specialized environment in their facility and make use of a robotic assistant that would automatically carry the powder from this area to the printing room, delivering the material to the powder handling machine.
Additionally, multiple 3D printers, powder handling stations and part removal modules would be lined up in such a way that excess powder might be delivered, through interior channels connecting all of these modules, to another machine for 3D printing. Other robotic assistants would also carry finished parts to post-processing stations, consisting of milling machines that would clean up the part. Concept Laser is currently working on introducing post-processing capabilities into a dedicated module next year.
Daniel Hund, head of marketing for Concept Laser, described the inspiration for this technology, “This technology came from prototyping. This means that you have standalone machines. There was no need for mass production in the beginning … It’s not really designed for mass production because it’s very time consuming. So, the first step was to get it faster, so we added more lasers to produce parts more quickly. The problem is, the part is made more quickly, but you still have to perform all of this manual labor. We then approached it from another perspective to perform all of these steps automatically.” Hund added, “We’re not thinking of the process itself, but the whole environment.”
Post-Print Quality of Metal 3D-Printed Parts
When metal AM parts are displayed at exhibitions and trade shows, passersby may wonder at the beautiful components and their complex shapes and moving parts. What may not be immediately evident is that these objects have gone through significant post-processing before they’ve hit the showroom floor.
A 3D-printed drill bit for the oil and energy market, produced by the DMP 320 3D printer from 3D Systems. (Image courtesy of the author.)
A 3D-printed drill bit for the oil and energy market, produced by the DMP 320 3D printer from 3D Systems. (Image courtesy of the author.)
Depending on the 3D printing method, metal 3D-printed parts are heat treated to relieve stresses and then cut off of a print platform and closely refined with a CNC machine, which cuts away the rough surface finish and clears away channels. Additional actions like electro-polishing or tumbling might be implemented to further improve the overall finish of the component.
Though companies like Matsuura and Sodick have introduced CNC capabilities into metal 3D printing systems to combine the benefits of both technologies and, ideally, streamline post-processing, a new firm out of Israel called XJet has developed a platform that may eliminate many of these additional steps altogether.
Rather than use a laser beam to fuse metal powders, XJet’s novel technology relies on jetting nanoparticle inks and a support material to build up metal parts layer by layer. A heating element passes over each layer of a print, bonding the metal together, and once a print is complete, the object is placed into a conventional furnace for final sintering. At this point, the support material is entirely removed.
NPJ is capable of 3D printing metal parts with layer thicknesses as fine as 1 micron. (Image courtesy of the author.)
NPJ is capable of 3D printing metal parts with layer thicknesses as fine as 1 micron. (Image courtesy of the author.)
Avi Cohen, markets development manager for XJet, explained in a recent interview with ENGINEERING.com that, because this support material burns out completely, part designers are not limited in the geometry of their designs. The aforementioned issues of orienting a part and placing proper support structures are no longer relevant. In turn, XJet’s NanoParticle Jetting (NPJ) process can produce moving metal parts in a single print. The fine resolution of the technology, due to the submicron size of the metal particles involved, also eliminates the need for further refinement of an object after printing.
In turn, Cohen believes it can achieve what metal 3D printer manufacturers are really after when addressing the problem of post-processing: the mechanical properties of a part. As Cohen elaborated, “The most important thing is the mechanical properties. We are in AM, in production. Not prototyping. Every metal part needs to be a metal part. You should get what you ordered. Is it repeatable? Is it reliable? Is it predictable? Is it acceptable? All of these things need to be addressed. Once you are able to provide a machine with predictable results, you will be able to produce parts with the desired mechanical properties.”
The company will begin taking orders for their machines at the beginning of 2017, and if the technology lives up to its promises, NPJ will likely produce metal parts with the finest resolution and surface finish in the industry.
Safety and Certification of Metal 3D Printing
The NPJ process may be capable of bypassing many of the post-processing steps required by other metal 3D printing technologies. Cohen, however, was also quick to highlight the safety issues associated with metal AM, which he sees as one of the barriers to widespread adoption.
With powder bed processes, machine operators are required to deal with reactive metal powders that can start fires or cause irritation to the skin, lungs or gastrointestinal system. For this reason, they wear gloves and respirators or handle the material through a sealed chamber. XJet believes their technology to be safer, as the nanoparticle ink is stored in cartridges so that a machine operator never has to handle reactive powders.
Albeit, not every part manufacturer will be purchasing a system from XJet. To ensure that manufacturers, operators and facilities meet certain standards, the oldest company in the safety and certification game has entered the 3D printing space. Established in 1894, UL has made its logo synonymous with the safety certification of just about every modern piece of technology. In addition to providing testing, certification and consultations, UL also trains professionals on the safe use of AM equipment through the UL Additive Manufacturing Competency Center (AMCC) in Louisville, Ky.
Paul Bates, general manager of UL AMCC Services, described how they’ve carried over their track record of training and certification to the world of AM, saying, “One of the key aspects of certifying products is the question of who made it? And did they know what they were doing? When it comes to a part that is made through a welding process, the welder of that part will have a welding certification. And that’s something that follows that product through its manufacturing process.” Bates explained that, as UL establishes its presence in the 3D printing industry, they are applying a similar approach to AM. The operator of the equipment will be certified, having proven their skill and consistency in running a machine. That way, it will be possible to trace and track the quality of 3D-printed parts.
Bates added that, given the relative newness of AM, not many individuals have been formally trained in the use of the technology in a way that is trackable or certified, which may make it more difficult to implement widespread adoption. For that reason, the company provides training programs at the UL AMCC in the United States and at the Global Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Singapore.
As far as the machines are concerned, Bates said that they are sometimes certified, but that certification might be applied to a facility running the machines instead. As he explained, “In some cases, we have a service where we do facility assessment, where someone is developing a center and they may not have had one before and we ensure that they meet all of the local codes and requirements, particularly when they are very unique, as is the case with AM. We can come in and validate the facility, make sure it’s set up properly and that safety procedures are in place. We can then put a UL note on that facility so that when it’s time to launch a program there, they know that the facility is safe, that it’s good for the operator, it’s good for the products that are produced there, and it’s a safe environment. We really are focused on safety—not just for the finished parts, but for the people doing the work.”
Cost of Metal 3D Printers
The most obvious obstacle to the widespread adoption of metal 3D printing is cost. Every industrial metal 3D printer costs upwards of $100,000, and the materials with which they print are more expensive than metals typically used in manufacturing, due to the fact that they are often atomized into a fine dust with, ideally, spherical dimensions. Unless a business has the cash to invest in a technology that may be completely new to them, train or hire staff to operate the machines and set up the infrastructure to support these systems, they may be hesitant to jump into metal AM.
Metal 3D printer manufacturers are well aware of the cost factor associated with their technology. In order to accelerate the adoption of metal 3D printing, they’re taking various steps to make metal AM systems more attractive to invest in.
Britain’s Renishaw has developed a very straightforward approach to introducing their printers to businesses, yet it is one that seems less prevalent in the industry. Peter Kootstra, a service and support engineer for Renishaw, explained that the company leverages its worldwide Additive Manufacturing Solution Centres, which feature machines in-house.
As Kootstra said, “Companies can come to us, spend time with an applications engineer, look at a part and maybe redesign it specifically for AM. We can then let them rent some time on a machine. They can prove out the process, find some use out of metal AM and ultimately see the value in it. From there, it’s a lot easier to make a case for that initial investment.” The hands-on experience will provide evidence for how a new method for manufacturing a part might save money over the long run.
Concept Laser may still be developing its modules for the AM Factory of Tomorrow, but Additive Industries, a newcomer to the space, has already developed beta units for its highly automated MetalFAB1 3D printer and aims to deliver series production units at the end of the year. The company is attempting to make the upfront investment in metal AM more attractive by increasing the productivity of their machines.
Every step of the process, from introducing the powder to printing, cleaning and heat treating the part and finally removing it from the print bed has all been automated through individual modules. More than that, while all of this post-processing is taking place, a new print task can be initiated. Additive Industries CEO Daan Kersten suggested that the most expensive parts of the system, the lasers and the optical components, operate continuously, ensuring optimal productivity.
All of this combined allows for the system to pay for itself more quickly. As Kersten explained, “If you look at what total cost means, it’s material, which is hard to decrease because the material is part of the design, and we can bring it down somewhat if we broaden the material specifications. Labor is important. We’ve eliminated that totally. The machine hourly rate is determined by the productivity. If you look at the cost price per part with our machine, it is substantially lower than our competitors’ machines. That is how we contribute to the further expansion of this technology in manufacturing.”
These are just some of the obstacles to the widespread adoption of metal 3D printing. It’s obvious from these interviews, though, that those obstacles may not last for long. By this time next year, it may not be likely that we will have automated 3D printing robots that are safe and produce perfect parts straight out of the print bed. However, five years from now is another story altogether.
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A big SALUTE to all our U.S.Veterans, especially those who left it all on the battlefield and made the ultimate sacrifice for our FREEDOM. Remember, FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE.
Have a nice and safe Memorial Day Weekend!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
GO SGLB !
I know you never want to prostitute the product, but my goodness!
It seems to me that we could lure one company that knows they need us...to go ahead and committ to a one or two million dollar deal right now for work that we'll eventually do for them down the road.
I am not a business GURU, but it seems that they could sign some kind of contract now to put some money in the bank!
A little reaction from someone...good or bad?
GLTA!
Has Cola or Witty released anything at all from the RAPID conference. Any new partnerships? anything we could hang our hat on?
Would be nice to know something positive happened in Orlando than just a side trip to DISNEYWORLD after the conference was over!
GLTA!
THAT'S some funny stuff guys ! I could handle paying my money ..going on a wild ride..even puking if they gave me lots of money for my stock when I got off the ride.
What's not very good..is paying thousands for the ride..puking and then getting off the ride only for the carnival worker telling you that they took upwards of 10 to 50 thousand dollars out of your account while you were ending your roller coaster ride!
The DAY FOR WHAT, R.F.B.? The day for a contract announcement, the day they find HOFFA? The day we uplist? what ? what? what?
I hope you read "INVESTORS HUB" Chris Witty. That last message doesn't bode too well for a Public Relations guy who is supposed to be friendly, professional and courteous to the people who are PAYING HIS SALARY.
Have a great weekend everyone.