Desktop Engineering

07/08/2022

Bosch Rexroth Launches FRAMEpro Plug-In - Packaging Strategies







Bosch Rexroth Launches FRAMEpro Plug-In | Packaging Strategies


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Allows users to directly transfer CAD files for Bosch Rexroth’s modular aluminum profile system elements into popular CAD environments Autodesk Inventor and SOLIDWORKS from Dassault.

07/08/2022

What nobody tells you about running a business with your children - The Telegraph
What nobody tells you about running a business with your childrenThe Telegraph

07/08/2022

Furniture supplier poised for growth following six figure investment | TheBusinessDesk.com - The Business Desk
Bradford-based contract furniture company, Knightsbridge Furniture, has made a six-figure investment in an L-Series Pathfinder fabric cutting machine.
It is just part of a number of significant purchases the company has planned for 2022/23.
The latest machinery was bought from Australian-based manufacturer, Pathfinder, through its UK agent and installer, AE Sewing Machines in Wrexham.
Knightsbridge also recently acquired its fourth CNC Router, to help meet increased demand, improve productivity and energy usage.
The Pathfinder fabric cutting machine replaced an older and difficult to maintain cutting system. The new addition has a vastly reduced maintenance program and provides greater cutting accuracy.
It allows for superior fabric nesting techniques which will hugely increase production, material utilisation and time efficiency.
Jason Brown, director of design & development, said: “This new addition to the factory is an exciting investment for Knightsbridge.
“We are keen to invest in cutting-edge technology to improve our products and services wherever we can.
“The Pathfinder fabric cutting machine is industry-leading fabric equipment which will allow us to cut additional shapes and sizes and greatly increase our production speed.” Previous Article Next Article

Bradford-based contract furniture company, Knightsbridge Furniture, has made a six-figure investment in an L-Series Pathfinder fabric cutting machine.

07/08/2022

A new Hogwarts Legacy cutscene has been shared during a tech event - Video Games Chronicle
New footage from PC. However, last year Warner Bros delayed the game’s release window to 2022..cls-1fill:url( -gradient).cls-2fill:

Software company Autodesk has been hosting the Autodesk Vision Series, in which game developers give presentations explaining how Autodesk’s software is used during development.

07/08/2022

PLA vs ABS: Which Material Should You Choose? - 3Dnatives
When it comes to 3D printing polymers, it can be hard to decide which one to use. This is the case for pretty much any 3D printing technology, but especially for beginners or hobbyists using FDM/FFF 3D printing for whom it can seem impossible to know which filament is most appropriate. Previously, we have broken down the differences between two 3D printing filaments, PLA and PETG. Now, we want to go even further, comparing two of the most popular and widely used filaments, PLA vs. ABS. From properties to printing requirements and more, we took a closer look at the similarities and differences of PLA and ABS to help you better understand which to use depending on your needs.
Characteristics and Properties of PLA vs ABS
Of course, when talking about the characteristics of PLA vs ABS, the first thing to consider is what they are made of. Though both are what would be considered thermoplastics or polymers that can be softened through heating before cooling and hardening, that is where the similarities end. Famously, PLA is made out of organic sources such as corn or sugar cane, meanwhile ABS, like most standard plastics, is made out from petroleum. More specifically, PLA is made from fermented plant starch from sources like corn, cassava, maize, sugarcane or sugar beet pulp. The sugar from these sources are transformed into lactic acid which is then polymerized into polylactic acid. In contrast, ABS is made up of three monomers: acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. Acrylonitrile is a synthetic (man-made) monomer that comes from propylene and ammonia, butadiene is a petroleum hydrocarbon and styrene is made from the dehydrogenation (the removal of hydrogen by chemical reaction) of ethyl benzene. Understandably, the makeup of these materials has an impact in terms of “sustainability” of the materials.
Parts 3D printed with PLA vs ABS have differences in both their appearance and properties, as can be seen above (photo credits: Fictiv).
PLA is often lauded as a more environmentally friendly material because it is in fact biodegradable. However, it is important to note however that it is only truly biodegradable under the right conditions and many towns do not have the right tools to properly degrade the material. This means that though it is possible, in actuality it would only truly be able to be done through industrial composting. Therefore, though PLA is of course more “green” than many materials, especially since it is made out of renewable resources, it is perhaps not as environmentally friendly as it is often purported to be when it comes to disposal.
On the other hand, ABS is not considered to be a sustainable or environmentally friendly material. As previously mentioned, it is made, as are more plastics, from petroleum, meaning its processing is not as sustainable. However, what is a plus is that ABS is recyclable, though it is not widely accepted by recycling centers. Considering that many people do not realize how limited the biodegradability of PLA is, this could even be considered a plus for beginners who could potentially be more sure that the plastic would be appropriately disposed of without creating more waste.
Moving beyond the roots of the material, ABS and PLA also have distinctive properties that cause them to differ from each other. One, which will also be a factor when discussing ease of print, is the heat resistance of each one. Namely, ABS is resistant to heat and has a higher glass transition temperature, whereas PLA melts at much lower temperatures and is thus not considered heat resistant. This of course impacts applications for the materials, which will be covered later on.
Generally speaking, if you are looking for a material that is tougher with better mechanical properties, you will want to choose ABS. Beyond being heat resistant and having a higher heat deflection, it is also impact resistant, more durable and lighter than PLA. That being said, the two materials have similar tensile strength (ABS is slightly lower however) though ABS is often preferred for more industrial applications thanks to properties such as its improved ductility, or the ability of a material to be deformed without fracture, as well as a higher flexural strength and better elongation before breaking. In essence, these mean that ABS is more flexible compared to the more brittle PLA. These together enable ABS to even be used for end-use applications and is one of the reasons it is so popular in industries like injection molding.
Characteristics of PLA vs ABS
PLA however wins in a few other categories. Notably, it is both stronger and stiffer than ABS. Still, because of its low melting point, it loses these properties above 50 degrees Celsius, making it less useful in any application involving heat. However, even if ABS is significantly more heat resistant than PLA, as both are thermoplastics they do both degrade over time in UV light as well as in heat. For parts that will be outside therefore, different materials would be preferable.
Ease of Print
Now that we have covered the characteristics and properties of PLA vs ABS, next step is to discuss the 3D printing process itself. To begin with, since the glass transition temperature is different between the two thermoplastics, the preparation of the print will vary. This is because the temperature range in which a thermodynamic transition occurs in matter needs to be taken into consideration. In the case of PLA, the glass transition temperature range is between 60 – 100ºC, while ABS is between 105 – 200ºC. This subsequently determines the melting point of the material, or when it will be in a liquid state and thus ready to print. Depending on the parameters set in the slicer, it will take more or less time to heat up the 3D printer and reach the desired temperature.
Related to this, it is essential to correctly set the variables of the manufacturing process, both the bed and the print head. ABS requires a high print bed temperature, around 80-110ºC, as opposed to the 60ºC usually established for PLA. As far as the extruder is concerned, PLA also requires a lower temperature, specifically around 180-230°C vs the 210-250°C needed for ABS.
In terms of ease of use, ABS is known to be more complex to print than PLA. The printing difficulties encountered are also related to the temperature and properties of each material. PLA melts at a lower temperature than ABS, therefore, when the 3D printing process of the part is finished, the thermal change for the layers to solidify is lower. However, since ABS requires higher temperatures to melt, there will be a more abrupt change when cooling the parts. This thermal shrinkage can lead to misshapen parts. In fact, one of the most common problems is warping, in which the ends of the part contract, detach from the tray and deform. To avoid this phenomenon, it is crucial to control the temperature and the printing environment when printing with ABS, and use adhesives if necessary. This is also one of the reasons why it is often strongly recommended to use a 3D printer with an enclosed chamber when printing with ABS.
ABS tends to suffer from the warping, a problem related to the shrinkage of the material under sudden temperature changes
Both materials have approximately the same print speed, which is an advantage since there is no need to readjust the parameters in the slicer for the different materials. PLA generally prints at 60 mm/s, although some users have even worked with higher speeds. ABS on the other hand, is usually in the range of 40-60 mm/s, and it would be difficult to reach a higher speed.
Another point to keep in mind during the manufacturing process is the emissions that are generated during manufacturing. Like almost every thermoplastic filament, noxious odors and gases are generated during printing, although some are more harmful than others. When the material is heated, it releases substances containing particles that are harmful to health. In the case of PLA, as it comes from natural, plant-based sources, it does not give off a strong odor and is therefore not something to be concerned about. However, ABS is known to emit toxic gases and an unpleasant odor. In fact, this is another reason why it is strongly recommended when using ABS is to have an enclosed print enclosure as well as an air filter to prevent fumes from being released into the workspace. And even then, it is advisable to ventilate the room continuously to ensure that the fumes do not reach our lungs. This is related to the presence of styrene in ABS, a material that is toxic to human beings when inhaled.
Finally, to learn first-hand about the properties and printability of both filaments, we spoke with industry professionals. Luke Taylor, Marketing Manager at Polymaker, explained: “PLA is a weaker material but the advantage is that it is very easy to work with, it prints very easily. You do not need a heated bed, you do not need high temperatures, it has very low shrinkage rates, whereas ABS has a very high shrinkage rate. And it makes sense, generally speaking we see that the better the mechanical properties, the harder it is to work with. Though we can also add things to PLA to make it stronger without changing the printability“.
Figures 3D printed with PLA filament from Polymaker (photo credits: Polymaker)
Post-Processing
When thinking about PLA vs ABS, it is safe to say that similar post-processing techniques can be used for both thermoplastics. Though there are a few noticeable differences, one of which is in the finish of the part after printing. PLA parts are shinier immediately after removal whereas ABS tends to have a more matte finish. Both materials can also be painted for decoration after printing.
However, ABS is generally easier to post-process than PLA. This is for a number of reasons. First, though both can be sanded, the process is easier with ABS thanks to its durability. PLA can be harder to sand as well because it melts easier due to its low heat resistance. Machining is also possible with both, but again users must be more delicate with PLA.
ABS meanwhile is not only easier to post-process with these basic methods, but if you want a truly shiny finish, parts made with ABS can be smoothed with acetone v***r. Acetone is a colorless liquid often used as a solvent for plastics. Though it cannot be used with PLA, those with ABS parts can use acetone for much faster post-processing as well as a glossy finish. It is possible nevertheless to do a similar process with PLA. THF, or Tetrahydrofuran, can be used for hand polishing if you wish to do a v***r smoothing process with parts made out of PLA filament.
These finished parts have a glossy finish thanks to acetone smoothing (photo credits: Zortrax)
Applications for PLA vs ABS
Another major difference that we can find when discussing PLA vs ABS concerns which applications are used for each material. Depending on the purpose of the proposed part, we can choose one or the other. PLA is the most used material in FDM 3D printing, and it is mostly used in a maker environment. This is mainly due to its ease of printing, as well as its mechanical properties that make the parts fragile, weak and sensitive to the sun and high temperatures. For this reason, it is often widely used by novice users or for the creation of decorative elements and toys.
On the other hand, ABS is a more industrial material that offers advanced properties and, although it is more difficult to print, the parts have better qualities. It is therefore of real interest in the development of prototypes, gears or tooling. In short, it is usually implemented in situations where parts can be subjected to physical stresses and where high mechanical and thermal resistance is required. Therefore, before starting the additive manufacturing process, assess the differences between both materials to create parts according to their use.
PLA is typically used for more maker applications, decorative elements and toys. On the other hand, ABS can be used for applications where higher mechanical and thermal resistance is required.
Price
In terms of price, there is functionally no difference between PLA and ABS. Price instead differs by factors such as manufacturer. Manufacturers especially play a role when it comes to 3D printers that have a closed system. This means that the only filaments that can be used with said printers are ones made or approved by the manufacturer in question. This decision is often made as a way to ensure quality control, however it can impact price. Though again, in a closed system, the prices of ABS and PLA filament will still be similar if not the same.
Generally, we found that 1kg of PLA and ABS filament starts at around $18, though on average the price for a basic filament roll seems to be around $20. Of course, if you want higher quality filaments or special features like multicolor or professional grade, the price will go much higher. Nevertheless, it should be noted that since PLA is probably the most popular 3D printed filament, as previously mentioned, there tends to be a wider array of colors and options available for PLA filaments and you will find it sold by most material or 3D printer manufacturers.
Photo Credits: ColorFabb
Though occasionally ABS filaments are more expensive than PLA filaments, due to less availability, this is actually reversed in raw form. As one of the most popular industrial plastics, used for example by manufacturers such as LEGO, ABS is actually less expensive as a raw material, that is to say before being processed into a shape such as a filament. Though this does not have much of an impact for FDM printers, for those using pellets, this could also be a factor as in this case ABS would likely be cheaper than PLA.
Manufacturers of the Materials
In the additive manufacturing market, the number of companies dedicated to materials development is truly extensive. Since FDM 3D printing is the most widely used technology, whether by beginners or industrial companies, most manufacturers develop thermoplastic polymer filaments. Because PLA is more popular than ABS and more democratized, the offer is much larger. There are now hundreds of different brands, colors and blends, and although ABS filament is also available in several brands and colors, the supply is smaller than PLA. As for manufacturers of PLA materials, we can find companies specifically dedicated to the development of filaments, such as Polymaker, ColorFabb, Filamentum, MatterHackers, etc.
If we focus on ABS, we can see that, in general, companies that develop this type of filaments, probably also manufacture PLA. In this sense we can also find Polymaker, Hatchbox or Filamentum, among many others. Nor can we forget the machine manufacturers who, although it is not their main activity, also devote part of their time to develop 3D printing materials. In this case it is worth mentioning companies such as Ultimaker, Zortrax or Flashforge.
A comparison between PLA and ABS (image credits: 3Dnatives)
What do you think of the comparison of PLA vs ABS? Do you have a preferred material? Let us know in a comment below or on ourLinkedIn,Facebook,andTwitterpages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weeklyNewsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on ourYouTubechannel.

When it comes to 3D printing polymers, it can be hard to decide which one to use. This is the case for pretty much any 3D printing technology, but especially for beginners or hobbyists using FDM/FFF 3D printing for whom it can seem impossible to know which filament is most appropriate. Previously, w...

07/08/2022

Prototek Expands Midwestern 3D Printing with Purchase of Prototype Solutions Group - 3DPrint.com
Prototek continues its acquisition spree, which is seeing the North American digital manufacturing provider quickly grow its CNC machining, sheet metal, and additive manufacturing (AM) services. With the latest purchase of Prototype Solutions Group (PSG), the firm adds further CNC, 3D printing, and cast manufacturing to its repertoire.
Prototek Expands 3D Printing in the Midwest
Based in northern Wisconsin, about an hour easy of Minneapolis, MN, PSG is now Prototek’s third location in the state, alongside Midwest Prototyping, the company’s AM division headquarters, and Grafton, a sheet metal and machining operation. In particular, PSG’s novel casting techniques will be a new addition to Prototek’s portfolio.

Altogether, this provides Prototek with further support for its Midwestern U.S. manufacturing capacity, which now includes 11 facilities, over 300 employees, and over 250,000 square feet of manufacturing space across the U.S. Other sites include Colorado, New Hampshire, Northern California, and Pennsylvania. Prototek holds ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D:2016 certifications and is International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registered.

Co-founder and President of PSG Alan Anderson will continue to oversee the site’s operations with his management team. Meanwhile, he will also act as strategic operational advisor to Prototek. Bill Gress, CEO of Prototek, noted:
“Al and his team have built a great business in PSG. They have continued to grow and evolve the last 17 years into a truly impressive organization and their synergies with Prototek are undeniable. I’m confident that they will be instrumental in bolstering our continued effort to build a best-in-class, one-stop digital manufacturing solution.”
“I’m very excited to work with Bill and the Prototek team to grow this organization. I have enjoyed my years helping to build PSG, but the opportunity to leverage the resources and capabilities of a larger organization to realize a broader vision was the logical next step,” said Alan Anderson. “What Prototek is trying to do by becoming a comprehensive leader in the digital manufacturing space is something I wanted my company to be part of, and I’m really excited for the career growth opportunities this affords my team here at PSG.”
PSG’s facility in Wisconsin.
3D Printing Service Consolidation
The purchase falls in line with a broader trend of consolidation in the service bureau space. In North America in particular, CORE Industrial Partners is leading the charge, scooping up as many digital manufacturers as it can under the FATHOM brand. A decade ago, Stratasys and 3D Systems were performing the same strategy. For the former, this resulted in Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, which continues to operate today. For the latter, Quickparts was ultimately sold last year. Then, of course, there are Proto Labs, Xometry, Shapeways, Materialise, GKN, and BASF/Sculpteo/Replique.
For the North American market, there is still growth to be had, especially as additive manufacturing is increasingly used as a bridge technology in supply chain disruptions. We can expect both CORE and Prototek to continue purchasing service bureaus on the continent, with a focus on the U.S. At what point will they begin colliding with the industry’s stalwarts? Will we begin to see mergers between the larger players in the service sector? It seems likely.

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Prototek continues its acquisition spree, which is seeing the North American digital manufacturing provider quickly grow its CNC machining, sheet metal, and additive manufacturing (AM) services. With the latest purchase of Prototype Solutions Group (PSG), the firm adds further CNC, 3D printing, and....

07/08/2022

Top 5 Videos: 3D Explained on Powder Bed Fusion - 3Dnatives

Another week is over, and its time for another selection of Top 5 Videos about what is new and amazing in the 3D printing universe, so let us waste no time and dive right into it! We start off with our latest episode of 3D Explained on the method of powder bed fusion in 3D printing. Next, you will learn more about an exciting new project, in which researchers in Australia are using 3D printing technologies to create a new kind of breast implants. After that, Dr. Kyle Reeser tells you about his humanitarian mission to help people in Africa. Then, you’ll find out how 3D scanning makes work a lot easier for the design team at Hyundai North America. Our last video of this week’s top 5 selection, gives you valuable information on 3D printing and its consumption of power. We hope you’ll enjoy this week’s collection of videos and wish you a nice and happy Sunday!
Top 1: 3D Explained: Powder Bed Fusion
In the latest episode of our series called 3D Explained, we talk about Powder Bed Fusion in 3D printing. In this short yet very informative video, you’ll get all the information you need to understand how the popular 3D printing technology works! In the first part on Powder Bed Fusion, we start with the use ofpolymers and their advantages and disadvantages.

Top 2: 3D Printed Breast Implants
The more the possibilities of 3D printing are explored for the medical sector, the more brand-new ways are discovered to improve people’s health through innovative new AM projects. The following video is about a new way of creating breast implants with the help of 3D printing. Researchers from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Australia are conducting world-first human trials of what they believe will someday become a revolutionary method for women’s breast implants.

Top 3: Humanitarian Mission in Africa
Dr. Kyle Reeser, a biomedical engineer and brand ambassador for 3D printing company Crealite, talks about his humanitarian mission, in which he travels to Tanzania to 3D print prosthetics and orthotic devices for children and adults in the East African country, where the general population suffers from hunger and poverty.

Top 4: 3D Scanning For Car Designs
At the North American subsidiary of Korean car manufacturer Hyundai, the designing team has been using clay models of their cars as part of their design creating process. In the past, the team had to rely on external, third-party experts to carry out 3D measurements of these models. With the help of Creaform’s easy-to-use HandySCAN 3D portable 3D scanner, the team can do it themselves, which makes the entire process easier and quicker.

Top 5: 3D Printing and Power Consumption
As much as 3D printing seems to be beneficial in any imaginable way, there are some things that also need to be taken into consideration that are important yet easily forgotten. One example is the high-power consumption of 3D printing devices. In the next video, Ignasi Guardia, support manager at BCN3D, explains all about 3D printing and power consumption and gives you helpful advice on the subject.

What do you think of this week’s top 5 videos? Let us know in a comment below or on ourLinkedIn,Facebook,andTwitterpages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weeklyNewsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on ourYouTubechannel.

Another week is over, and its time for another selection of Top 5 Videos about what is new and amazing in the 3D printing universe, so let us waste no time and dive right into it! We start off with our latest episode of 3D Explained on the method of powder bed fusion in 3D printing. Next, you will l...

07/08/2022

3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: August 7, 2022 - 3DPrint.com
Things are picking up a little in terms of 3D printing webinars and events this week! Fortify will be at the SmallSat Conference, ASTM is continuing its virtual certificate course, and both Markforged and Stratasys are continuing their tours. Nexa3D will offer a closer look at the QLS 820, 3DHEALS will focus on dental 3D printing in a roundtable webinar, and Formlabs will discuss the differences between SLA and SLS 3D printing. For details on all of these events and more, keep reading!
August 6 – 11: SmallSat Conference

First up, the 36th annual Small Satellite Conference began yesterday, August 6th, and will last until Thursday the 11th, at Utah State University, and Fortify will be attending. Small satellites, or smallsats, are definitely a 3D printing application, and it looks like there will be at least two technical sessions at the conference focused on the technology. Additionally, there will be poster sessions, short talks by NASA, time for networking, a student competition, and something called “swifties,” which are three-minute flash talks on topics relevant to developing smallsats. If you can’t make it to Utah, you can watch the live stream of the conference as well.
“During the 36th Annual Small Satellite Conference, we will explore the realm of the possible and investigate key advancements for small satellite missions to truly become transformational scientific discovery tools beyond low Earth orbit.”
You can register for the conference here, and for a meeting with Fortify here.
August 8: ASTM’s Virtual Certificate Course

Last week, ASTM international’s AM Center of Excellence (AMCOE) began its month-long virtual Additive Manufacturing General Personnel Certificate Course. Designed by industry experts, the comprehensive course covers the entire AM process chain and is made up of of eight modules, the first two of which were held last week. This week, starting on August 8th, the next two modules will be covered: Feedstock, taught by Tony Thornton of Micromeritics and Louis-Philippe Lefebvre, NRC Canada; and Metrology and Post-Processing, taught by Richard Leach, University of Nottingham, and Olaf Diegel, Wohlers Associates and University of Auckland. At the end of the four-week course, there will be a multiple-choice exam, and attendees will earn a General AM Certificate.
“This course will feature 18 experts across the field of additive manufacturing to provide a comprehensive course covering all of the general concepts of the AM process chain to its attendees. Attendees will be given virtual access to two modules per week for self learning and then a live Q&A session with course instructors will be held the following week to review content.”
You can register for the coursehere.
August 9 – 10: Materialise Magics Fundamentals

Materialise offers online and in-person training courses throughout the year for its customers in Europe, North America, and Asia, and its latest one is this week. On August 9th and 10th, the company’s North American customers can take Magics Fundamentals Training. The course topics include an introduction to the Magics interface, how to fix part files and edit, position, and nest parts, support generation, and more. There are two available training formats, with the first one online, featuring 8 hours of live instruction, 30 tutorial videos, and various assignments, all of which can be completed within three weeks. The second one will be over two days this week at the company’s Plymouth location, facilitated by Materialise experts and including food and refreshments.
“Optimize your use of Magics, explore its features, and learn effective workflows with Materialise experts. Opt for our online option or join us in person for a two-day workshop to get to know Magics.”
You can reserve your seat here.
August 4: Forged Tour Part Deux

Markforgedis continuing its globalForged Tour Part Deux this week, featuring printers, pints, and snacks across North America, as well as the EMEA and APAC regions. First up, Markforged joins the TechNova team at the Oterra Hotel in Bengaluru at 4 pm IST (6:30 am EST) on the 9th. Also on the 9th, you can meet Phillips and Markforged at Straight to Ale in Huntsville, Alabama at 3:30 pm CDT (4:30 pm EST), and in North Carolina at 3:30 pm EST at Clouds Brewing Raleigh. On the 10th, Markforged will join GS Technology at 3D&I in Kontich, Belgium at 9:30 am CEST (3:30 am EST). Markforged will also be at Waypoint Spirits in Bloomfield, Connecticut on the 10th at 4 pm EST. The company will stop in Rupperswil, Switzerland to visit URMA headquarters at 10 am CEST (4 am EST) on the 11th. The 11th will be a very busy day for Markforged back in the U.S. with four stops! The company joins 3DOLOGiE at The Grand Reserve • 903 Venues in Lexington, Kentucky at 9 am EST, and then Hawk Ridge Systems at Blue Cat Brewing Company in Quad Cities, Illinois at 3 pm CDT (4 pm EST). Finally, Markforged and Phillips will host two stops at 3:30 pm EST that day, one at the Tap House & Empyreal Brewing Co. in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the other in Charlotte, North Carolina at Brewers at 4001 Yancey.
“We invite you to meet the platform that prints industrial parts at the speed of software in person. The Digital Forge is a combination of software, materials, and printers that bring you strong and reliable solutions to your manufacturing pain points.”
Stay tunedfor more dates and locations in the future!
3D Systems: Customer Innovation Center Open House

In its first of two events this week, 3D Systems is hosting an open house at itsLittletonCustomer Innovation Center in Colorado on Wednesday, August 10th, from 10 am to 7 pm MST (12 pm to 9 pm EST). At the center, which the company says is one of the largest metal additive manufacturing locations in the country, attendees will get a tour of the facility, see lots of sample parts from a variety of industries, and have the chance to speak with 3D Systems experts to discuss AM challenges, solutions, and best practices. The day will end with a reception.
“From metals to plastics, software, processes, and techniques supporting DMP, SLS, SLA, MJP, DLP and the latest and top-rated pellet extrusion, this unique day will enable you uncover and expand capabilities.”
You can RSVP for the open house here.
August 10 & 11: The Experience Stratasys Tour Continues

The Experience Stratasys tour continues in Pennsylvania this week, first with a stop at Topgolf Pittsburgh in Bridgeville on the 10th, hosted by TriMech. On the 11th, the tour heads to the Dave & Busters in Homestead, with CATI hosting the stop.
“Our mobile showroom offers a local, convenient way for you to talk with 3D printing experts and see the latest 3D printers, materials and solutions from Stratasys. Learn about additive manufacturing services from Stratasys Direct and discover how your organization can benefit from 3D printing applications.”
You can register for the Stratasys Experience Tourhere. Stay tuned for more dates and locations in the future!
August 10: Inside Nexa3D’s QLS 820

For a sneak peek at Nexa3D’s latest 3D printer, you’ll want to join “Insider’s Look at the QLS 820 Powder Bed Printer from Nexa3D” on Zoom at 1 pm EST on the 10th. The powder bed fusion printer is geared for serial production, and is said to be capable of printing up to 8L an hour at 20% packing density. Attendees will get an overview of the QLS 820 platform, as well as its powerful software, automation, and productivity tools, from Nexa3D speakers Kristin Mulherin, General Manager of Powder Bed Solutions, and Kuba Graczyk, Head of Product of Powder Bed Solutions and the co-inventor of the company’s QLS technology.
“What makes the QLS 820 different? In short, it’s a printer built from the ground up with production-scale printing in mind. The ‘820’ stands for 8L per hour and 20% average packing density. It is truly a high throughput printer, with 3-4 times the throughput of the majority of polymer PBF systems available today.”
You can register for the Zoom event here.
August 10: 3D Systems on Driving Transportation Innovation

Also at 1 pm EST on the 10th, 3D Systems is holding its second webinar of the week with Mechanical Engineering. Sponsored by ASME, “Driving Transportation Innovation with AM” will discuss how automotive manufacturers can use 3D printing for both product development and production to accelerate innovation and advance mobility for transportation applications. Attendees will hear about AM application areas within a vehicle, such as fluid flow/energy management systems and front bumpers, as well as how to increase productivity of model production, cut costs, and more. 3D Systems speakers will be Patrick Dunne, VP, Advanced Application Development; Niels Holmstock, Manager, Application Development, AIG; and Scott Cost, Segment Manager, Transportation & Motorsports.
“Automotive manufacturers need to accelerate innovation to advance mobility. Innovation without productivity is unrealistic for most manufacturers, while productivity without innovation can lead to low margins and economic pressures to evolve. By incorporating additive manufacturing technology into their product development and production strategies, automotive manufacturers can combine high-value transformative applications that advance the science of AM with high levels of productivity, giving them the ability to produce innovative parts and products while maintaining higher margins.”
You can register for webinar here.
August 10: America Makes on AM Data Management

The last webinar on Wednesday the 10th is by America Makes at 2 pm EST, “Demonstrating an AM Data Management Approach for America Makes.” Consulting company 3Degrees helps organizations maximize their investment in 3D printing, and is working with America Makes to build a functional proof of concept database that uses its TraceAM software, which collates 3D printing data according to its process workflows. The goal is to develop a searchable materials and process database for America Makes members to use in organizing and uploading project data. Mike Vasquez, the founder and CEO of 3Degrees, is the speaker for this webinar.
“Currently, when users log into the America Makes Digital Storefront they see a text-heavy dashboard listing historical projects, with project data that is stored in a variety of formats (e.g., Word, Excel, PDF). Although this is perfectly suitable for accessing certain types of data (e.g., project final reports, TRX PPT presentations), it makes it difficult for a member to see comparative data or trend analysis.”
You can register for the webinar here.
August 11: 3DHEALS on Dental 3D Printing

The latest 3DHEALS webinar will be at 11 am EST this Thursday, August 11th, about “Dental 3D Printing: Pioneers and Rulebreakers.” Neuroradiologist Dr. Jenny Chen, the founder and CEO of 3DHEALS, will moderate the discussion about the current status and near future of dental 3D printing, including international clinicians, startup founders, and industry veterans. The speakers will be Dr. Gordon Lai, who works in private practice and also teaches part time as an assistant professor at UOP; Dr. Nabeel Cajee, Dental Ambassador of 3DHEALS, who is also in private practice; Mayra Torres Vasques, Founder of Innov3D and the Latin America Chair of Women in 3D Printing; and Ron Ellenbogen, the Director of Dental Products at Stratasys.
“Dentistry seems to be the potential breakthrough industry to manifest many 3D printing enthusiasts’ dream of mass customization, point of care delivery, and local manufacturing hub for dental professionals, reducing inefficiency and costs. Over the past several years, 3DHEALS has invited many different stakeholders to share their experiences, ranging from material innovation, software development, to new clinical workflows. Applications ranging from surgical guides, implants, dentures, night guards are among the new applications gaining increasing attention either in the startup world or the industry at large, in addition to the existing billion dollar market of dental aligners. The collective thought is that 3D printing can do more and more in parallel to the maturation of technologies.”
You can register for the webinar here.
August 11: SLS vs. SLA with Formlabs

Also at 11 am EST on the 11th, Formlabs will hold a webinar on “When to Choose SLS vs SLA 3D Printing Technology.” If you’re interested in additive technology but can’t decide if SLS or SLA is the right choice for your business, you’ll learn all about the differences between, and benefits of, these two solutions, and how to choose the right one to fit your needs. There will be a demonstration, and afterwards you can stick around for a Q&A session with Formlabs speakers Alex Pestana, Sales Engineer, and Maeli Latouche, Product Marketing Manager.
“We will give an overview of both forms of 3D Printing, explain what SLS and SLA are each best for, and discuss what use cases make sense to utilize each technology.”
You can register for the webinar here.
August 11: Stratasys Continues AM in Automotive Series

Finally, Stratasys continues its four-part webinar series on “The Future of Automotive: Shifting from Traditional to Additive Manufacturing” at 2 pm EST on the 11th. The first session focused on transportation 3D printing applications, while the second one was about how the company’s FDM printers can accomplish cost-efficient, large, and customizable automotive parts and prototypes. This week, the focus will be on Stratasys’ SAF technology, and how its H350 printer can produce consistent, geometrically accurate end-use automotive parts at scale. The final session at the end of August will cover P3 technology, and welcome special guests. Attendees can chat directly with expert Application Engineers after each presentation about how to boost their own automotive applications.
“Many of the top automotive manufacturers are utilizing Stratasys technology to help them innovate inside their companies. Stratasys has curated a webinar series that outlines current applications in automotive and provides a look into the near future at what 3D printing in automotive will become.”
If you haven’t already registered for the series, you can do sohere.

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Things are picking up a little in terms of 3D printing webinars and events this week! Fortify will be at the SmallSat Conference, ASTM is continuing its virtual certificate course, and both Markforged and Stratasys are continuing their tours. Nexa3D will offer a closer look at the QLS 820, 3DHEALS w...