This week in 3D printing we’ve got:  

3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced the sale of its “non-core software businesses,” sending the stock soaring to over twice its previous value. The company sold its Cimatron and GibbsCAM software businesses to a subsidiary of ST Acquisition Co. for cash proceeds of about $64 million. The company was able to use a portion of the proceeds from the sale to pay off $21 million in debt, making 3D Systems debt free. It also ended its at-the-market (ATM) equity program, which means that it does not need to sell stock and dilute existing shareholders. 

The Leading 3D printer manufacturer EOS has announced its ongoing support for the Texas Rocket Engineering Lab (TREL) at the University of Texas. Now, EOS is providing the resources TREL needs to continue its operations, which includes the 3D printing of advanced aerospace components for a student design challenge. EOS is offering to help 3D print mission critical parts to the Halcyon rocket, being developed by TREL. 

Meanwhile, in medical, a team of doctors at Galilee Medical Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery recently performed a repair of a fracture in the floor of an eye socket using augmented reality and 3D printing. The patient received a 3D printed titanium plate based on a 3D model built from scanned CT data of the injured left socket area. To position the 3D printed titanium plate correctly, one doctor used Microsoft HoloLens mixed reality glasses to overlay the 3D model of the titanium implant into position under the patient’s left eye socket.

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) created a novel film that can evaporate sweat six times faster and use the harvested moisture to power wearable electronic devices. Anyway, while the final shoes won't be printed, this is a great example of using 3D Printing to embed electronics, and points to the future of 3D Printed prototyping, as well as wearables.

Adidas has just released a new 4D Fusio model which confirms 3D printed midsoles are here to stay. The 4D Fusio is a lightweight running sneaker with the upper made from Primeknit technology, and while they've already offered white and black colored midsoles, the 4D Fusio actually presents a mix of colors with the white tip gradually changing an entirely new bright orange color. 

Carbon Inc has recently appointed a new Chief Revenue Officer, Debbra Rogers! At GE Additive, Rogers was responsible for all commercial processes, commercial excellence, sales force effectiveness, marketing and communications, while previously filling similar roles at Paradata and Flextronics. 

Researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have developed a shape-changing 3D printer nozzle meant to tackle a particular method for 3D printing fiber composites. The nozzle is made up of flexible bladders that are inflated pneumatically, which then changes the shape of the 3D printer nozzle from a straight channel to converging-diverging geometry, which then alters the orientation of fibers within the printing medium.

The Boom Supersonic team chose the company’s next-generation laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) technology to produce a number of printed titanium parts for XB-1 aircraft tests (a right and a left version for many of them), located in critical areas of the plane. Many of Boom’s 3D printed parts are related to channeling air, and contain complex vanes, ducts and louvres. 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Would you pay the premium of $200 for a CUSTOM 3D Printed pair of shoes? It might be in the near future... or, alternatively, have you 3D Printed anything wearable for yourself?

At Vision Miner, we specialize in Functional 3D printing, especially high-performance plastics like PEEK, ULTEM, PPSU, PPS, CFPA, and more. If you're interested in using functional 3D printing and materials in your business, feel free to reach out, and we can help you make the right choice for your application. 

Call 833-774-6863 or email contact@visionminer.com, and we're here to help!