0:00 - Today in 3D printing news we have trucks, trains, olympics and the world’s largest 3D printer. Let's dive right in!
Re-uploaded from August 25
0:09 - FORD offers 3D-printable Organizers
Starting off with the Blue Oval from Detroit, we’ve got Ford launching a program to help owners easily design and create their own 3D printed accessories, for their brand new Maverick truck. This is actually a pretty neat idea -- at the simplest level, they integrated some t-slots around the truck, which you can print custom organizers for. They call it the FITS system, or Ford Integrated Tether System, and it’s really just a series of mounting slots for organization, in the center console and under the seats.
If you want to design your own part, a QR Code will link you to download slot geometry along with a few pre-made accessories. For automotive 3D printed customization, this definitely beats out a lot of what we’ve seen in the past, like those custom 3D printed badges you could get with Mini’s that no one ever really used. Leave it in the comments section what you’d want to make in your truck
1:37 - 3D Printed Railways
Moving right along we have the UK’s brand new high speed rail network implementing 3D printed concrete structures to help deliver environmental, cost and community benefits. How? This isn't just your average 3d printed concrete. The high speed rail line will be using graphene-reinforced concrete developed by ChangeMaker 3D. Let's take a closer look!
The appropriately named “Printfrastructure” will consist of a series of robots that can create structures on site, cutting down on labor, time and costs associated with the traditional method of transporting pre-cast slabs through roadways. The graphene laced concrete is another big innovation in this project as well, cutting down the use of steel reinforcement that’s traditionally present in concrete construction. This improves construction safety, flexibility, shortens build times and supposedly decreases the carbon footprint.
2:47 - 3D Printed Archery Winners
Moving right along, did you know that 3D printing helped South Korea win the Gold Medal in Archery at the Tokyo Olympics this year? That’s right -- additive manufacturing, every step of the way. The Hyundai Motor Group 3D printed custom grips for the archers that won gold in the men’s, women’s and mixed categories at this year’s Olympic games. 3D Printing has really started to make its mark in the world of sports and particularly at this year’s Tokyo Olympics. The South Korean archery team isn't the only one furthering their athletic performance with additive manufacturing. Other sports like cycling, track and field and even the Olympic podiums have all found ways to improve upon the status quo with the help of 3D printing.
3:57 - Markforged Paralympics
We’ve also got Markforged helping out with the Paralympics -- with prosthetics and custom equipment being, at least traditionally, VERY expensive to create, 3D Printing adds a whole new dimension to the paralympic games. The complex, very individual needs of these athletes is a task perfectly suited for 3D printing, and that’s what 3DVerkstan and SolidPrint 3D in the UK have been working on -- not only creating perfect prosthetics, but bringing the costs down significantly, while still creating very strong, dynamic parts.
4:30 - US Army Worlds Largest 3D Printer
And finally we have the US Army with plans to create the world’s largest 3D printer! If that wasn’t crazy enough, the U.S. DEVCOM Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center who’s ordering this behemoth is also requiring it to print in metal. Now you might be wondering, how big is this thing? The build volume for this monster of a 3D printer is a staggering 30 by 20 by 12 feet! That means the build volume alone is not too far off from the size of an average apartment! Called the Jointless Hull project, it is being led by ASTRO America, a nonprofit formed to advance American competitiveness in key defense industries.
The machine’s primary purpose is to create large components for military vehicles, namely creating monocoque-like structures due to their extra strength and weight savings that traditional manufacturing methods struggle with. The machine is expected to be ready in 14 months and will be installed at and operated by the Rock Island Arsenal - Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center.
5:41 - 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!
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