Day: July 17, 2016

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Lani, startup in Ontario makes 3D printing simple and accessible to all

To practice any creative form like the 3D printing, one has to have knowledge about its various functions and features. Certainly, no novice could use the 3D print technology to create his designs.
This could be a major hindrance for those who want to give a shape to their creative thinking, but have no technical knowhow.

The process of acquiring knowledge could be an expensive and tedious affair. It might involve investing on equipment and software and getting professional help or books to learn the technology.

But, there could be a simpler way of attaining a 3D model of your imagination.

Lani, a startup in Ontario has created a very simple platform where even amateurs could print their design. All they have to do is to focus on the design, and clicking the button to get their designs printed. The Lani prints the 3D designs in 3 steps-
1. Upload the design
2. Choose the available options
3. Press end to print

The internal processes are all handled by Lani. It acts as a payment and management center for 3D printing organizations. Institutes, libraries and printing centers can operate the front-end printing processes where users can come and avail this facility of 3D printing their own designs.

The company has developed the Lanibox which is a hardware device that enables wireless management and connection of the 3D printing service to the PCs. They also have advanced facilities for the users willing to use these services.

Pablo Eder envisages the use of 3d printing into the mainstream where people can use it as easily as reading the newspaper. The growing technology sees the addition of 3D printing classes in schools to teach the children this art. Lani has taken the first step towards making this technology available for all.

Source: 3dprint.com

 

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Jewelry Maker Boltenstern Uses 3D printing for Jewelry Making

3D printing could make printing of gold a reality. Yes, you could print gold. Well, literally. The raw material, i.e. the gold would be provided and 3D printing techniques would be used to print intricate jewelry out of it.

The concept of 3D printing has been used in the jewelry segment for many years now. But, it was the molds of jewelry designs that were 3D printed and not the real jewelry itself.

With the launch of the Precious M 080 jewelry printer in the market, jewelry and watches could be directly printed with these printers. This printer has been devised by Cooksongold and EOS and is the first Direct Metal Laser Sintering printer.

Cooksongold has been developing various types of metal powders, apart from the gold material. They are rose gold, white gold, silver, and platinum.

This lucrative technology has attracted the attention of prominent jewel makers like the Austrian fine jewelry producer Boltenstern. The company was established in 1964, it is engaged in the production of fine metal jewelry and has recently started using 3D printing for traditional jewelry making processes.

Marie Boltenstern is the daughter of Steve Boltenstern, the founder of Boltenstern. Marie has taken over the control of the company. She is a graduate from London and Berlin, in architecture and has a strong vision to combine classic styles with contemporary technologies. Under her leadership, the company is foraying into 3D printing ventures. It is experimenting with unique and interesting designs of jewelry making.

They started with using the Precious M080 printer to make molds used to cast jewelry. But the company will now be using this technology to create new and striking jewelry pieces.

The jewelry making art has seen many changes in the past centuries, and it continues to evolve each day. With 3D printing we will now have to wait and watch, the new heights this industry is set to scale.

Source: 3dprint.com

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BMW Uses Additive Manufacturing for Manufacturing Series Components

BMW, the German automaker, recently celebrated 25 years of using the additive manufacturing technology. It further intends to expand its use in the manufacturing of its auto parts. It will use the HP’s Multi-Jet Fusion technology for manufacturing purposes. This will reduce their cost and time of production.

Rolls- Royce a subsidiary of the BMW has also been using the 3D printing technology, and it recently stated that its Phantom model has more than 10000 3D printed components. It includes holders for lights, lock buttons, parking brakes, sockets, and much more. Rolls-Royce has also introduced 3D printed mounting brackets for optic cable fibers in its Dawn luxury model.

Using additive manufacturing for these high-end cars has facilitated the faster production of prototypes and reduced the cost and time of production.

Udan Hanle, of the BMW group, said in a press release that additive manufacturing will be extensively used in the production of parts at BMW. They would also be incorporating 3D printing technology on a larger scale for the manufacturing of Rolls-Royce parts.

The auto giant is also adapting newer 3D printing technologies like the plantar printing process. The plantar printing process like the HP’s Multi-Jet Fusion Technology, further enhances the production, as compared to the usual 3D printing processes. This technology has combined print heads and liquid agents with infrared radiation, the 3D printing processes have become more advanced.

BMW will be using the plantar printing technology for series part production and manufacturing of customized parts.

Along with the HP printing process, BMW will incorporate other plantar printing methods like the Continous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP). CLIP will be used to make side indicators for its Drive-now car-sharing project. BMW has asked the Germans to vote and decide the 100 top names for MINIs. These names were then 3D printed using CLIP on the cars.

BMW continues to use additive manufacturing for its parts. It prints 25000 prototypes and 100000 3d printed parts every year and this figure continues to increase.

Source: 3ders.org