Monthly Archives: March 2017

The Top 5 3D Printing Innovations at LAM® 2017

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Considered by many to be one of the biggest manufacturing revolutions of this century, 3D printing has captivated and intrigued individuals in a wide spectrum of fields and industries. From the independent crafter to the leadership behind some of the biggest companies in the world, to some of the most prestigious universities, it is safe to say that the future is 3D printed.

The Laser Additive Manufacturing Workshop (LAM) last month helped emphasize that point, with some of the most-talked-about presentations revolving around 3D printing innovations.

Five 3D Printing Innovations You May Have Missed at LAM 2017

1. GE Plans to Go Full Vertical by 2022, Plans Parallel Supply Chain

It is no secret that GE is investing ample time, resources, and funding into its additive manufacturing

Attendees hear about the latest AM Innovations at LAM 2017 in Houston

initiatives. The company has created additive manufacturing applications across multiple GE businesses and has earned over 300 patents in powder metals used in the additive process.

During the Accelerating the Additive Revolution keynote on Day one of LAM®, GE Additive’s Greg Morris revealed that the company plans to become fully vertical by 2022. Concerning the supply chain, Morris does not believe that the current methods will be replaced immediately. Instead, both traditional and additive manufacturing methods will exist side by side. The company is continuing its focus on being a user and developer of additive manufacturing capabilities, as demonstrated by the willingness to integrate the technology alongside existing practices.

2. OPTOMEC Debuts New LENS Machines- Making Additive Manufacturing Affordable

A challenge for many industries looking to join the 3D printing revolution is the anticipated cost of equipment. At LAM, OPTOMEC debuted a potential solution to this issue with their new LENS machines. The three new LENS systems use lasers ranging from 500W to 4kW to create 3D structures. Prices start at under $25,000; a price point that puts 3D printing capabilities into the hands of more people.

The systems are designed to help reduce the process time and cost while increasing the quality and capability for design changes- or in simpler terms, all the qualities that entice industries to explore additive manufacturing in the first place. The new systems join the existing line of LENS machines and will fill gaps in demand for low-cost additive systems, thus making the 3D revolution more accessible and affordable than ever.

3. Stryker Discusses the Future of Custom Printed Implants

“We can design anything,” Marc Esformes of Stryker, told the audience at LAM®. Stryker’s additive manufacturing efforts are revolutionizing the future for medical implants, through their focus on 3D printing to develop innovative medical devices.

Esformes discussed the potential for custom, 3D printed implants that would take a matter of weeks from 3D scan to 3D printed part. The 3D printing process allows for a more biocompatible implant, reducing the chance of rejection and infection in patients, a point of great interest for the future of Stryker’s medical additive manufacturing applications.

4. Fraunhofer Discusses Low-Cost SLM Systems

Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) lead two presentations at LAM® 2017. One of which discussed selective laser melting, an additive manufacturing process that is potentially an economical choice for 3D printing of parts.

The cost of production using SLM Systems relates less to the complexity of the part, and more about the physical volume. The systems allow for individualization, as details can be altered before the part begins production. Should the SLM process be utilized from concept to completion, the utilization could be game changing for parts manufacturing.

5. Siemens Aiming to Reduce Production Time, Using More AM Machinery, With Less Risk

Siemens has made significant waves with their adoption of additive manufacturing processes. At LAM, Ingomar Kelbessa discussed the company’s approach and plans toward increased 3D printing adoption.

In a just under two years, Siemens was able to develop an entire process chain to optimize their gas turbine blades. The system lead to a 90% reduction in lead time, through the use of 24 additive manufacturing machines. Siemens hopes that this reduced time and increased flexibility with the manufacturing of parts can lead to greater customer satisfaction and parts-on-demand.

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The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. To learn more about LAM 2017 and the LAM Workshop by LIA, visit the official workshop website.

 

3D Printing India’s 1st Jet Engine

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Remote Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) are getting a boost from the Bengaluru-based company Intech DMLS with the firing of the MJE-20, a small-scale engine for UAVs and RPVs.

Written by: Alanna Ritchie 

On February 8th, 2017, Intech successfully tested the MJE-20, the company’s first unmanned aerial vehicle. The MJE-20 contains a gas-turbine engine weighing 2.16 kg with an uninstalled thrust of 20 kg. With this development, Asia will be joining the short list of continents at the forefront of jet engine manufacturing. Once testing is complete, the United States, Israel, Europe, and Asia will be the only four locales in the world that have developed and manufactured indigenous jet engines.

Image via New Times of India

Intech’s research and development branch, known as Poeir Jets Private, Limited has been hard at work on the MJE-20. Sridhar Balaram, director of Intech, shared the exciting progress in the development of this engine just last month.

In an interview with the Times of India, Balaram said: “We fired the engine for the first time on February 8, 2017, and it was a success. Some other tests are going on, and we are confident that it will be ready to be presented for certification in 18-24 weeks.”[1]

Intech Direct Metal Laser Sintering, or DMLS, is a metal additive manufacturer in India responsible for products in aerospace, rapid prototyping, medical and automotive industries, among others. The company manufactures cutting-edge parts using cobalt chromium, steel powders, stainless steel strains, titanium, inconel, and aluminum. Intech plans to push further by using the MJE-20 research for larger jet engines.

One of Intech’s previous accomplishments, the 3D printing of the Combustion Chamber, was designed for a client’s 25 KN engine. 3ders.org reports Intech shortened overall development time for the part from 18-24 months to 3-4 months. The company continues to think bigger and is amid other projects as well. It is working on the MJE-40 and MJE-100, which should be able to power larger engines and remain in flight longer.

Indigenous engine manufacturing is one of Intech’s aviation endeavors. It is also currently manufacturing the SJE-350 jet engine with a thrust of 350 KGF. The goal is to use the SJE-350 in strategic applications.

Balaram revealed more about Intech’s projects, telling the Times of India, “While SJE-350 in a twin-engine configuration can power a fighter, we are also looking at helicopters, for which we are working on the turboshaft technology.”

Want to learn more? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to review the results of the MJE-20 tests and discover the next major 3D printing development.

 

[1] Indian Aerospace Industry – Page 5 – SkyscraperCity. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=138580438

LIA’s Laser Additive Manufacturing Workshop (LAM®) 2017 Explored Top Innovations, Insights in the 3D Printing Revolution

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Notable names in Additive Manufacturing, including GE Additive’s Greg Morris and Marc Esformes of Stryker, gathered in Houston, TX for the two-day event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 14, 2017 – The Laser Institute of America’s 2017 Laser Additive Manufacturing Workshop (LAM®) took place February 21–22 in Houston, Texas. Researchers and industry leaders from all over the world came together to discuss the latest advances and future challenges within the world of laser additive manufacturing. The two-day event featured
presentations, exhibitors and ample networking opportunities for attendees and industry professionals alike.

“LAM offers its attendees the opportunity to create lasting relationships with key individuals in their industry,” said Jim Naugle, Marketing Director with LIA. “This year was no exception.”

Attendees hear about the latest AM Innovations at LAM 2017 in Houston

Presentation Highlights

Conference General Chair Milan Brandt of RMIT University addressed the conference, officially kicking off the event.

“Laser systems are at the heart of metal additive manufacturing technology,” says Brandt. “This year’s conference provided an opportunity for those involved with laser technology to explore the latest progress and challenges in additive technology, including the latest in Nano-additive technology and medical applications.”

The workshop opened with a keynote presentation from GE Additive’s Greg Morris, titled Accelerating the Additive Revolution, which highlighted the additive manufacturing efforts led by General Electric, including the company’s plans to be vertical by 2022. In regards to the future of additive manufacturing as a whole, Morris suggested that while the current supply chain will not be immediately replaced, a definite shift is occurring, with co-existence happening in the foreseeable future. He added that laser additive manufacturing has revolutionized jet engine production, reducing 855 individual parts down to 12.

Representing the medical side of additive manufacturing, Marc Esformes of Stryker presented Additive Manufacturing of Medical Implants. As a part of one of the pioneering companies utilizing additive manufacturing for medical devices and tools, Esformes emphasized the potential for revolution when it comes to using AM for life-saving medicalpurposes.

“We can design anything,” Esformes said, in reference to how implants can be custom designed by doctors, for patients using additive manufacturing. “Custom implants can go from 3D scan to 3D part in just a few weeks.”

Our final keynote, Simulation and Modeling of the Metal Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing Process, was presented by Wayne King of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)

and focused on results of extensive efforts to improve qualification of parts produced using laser powder-bed fusion AM by applying physics-based models. King, a widely-recognized expert andDirector of AM Materials at LLNL described the multi-scale modeling efforts of his team, focusing on powder-scale and parts-scale models.

The powderscale model has become so powerful that it can now predict phenomena that was unanticipated, as well as nearly every spark and splatter, occurring in the powder-bed and melt pool. Even with such powerful simulation tools, there is work to be done to create more complete simulations of every step from design to part.

Exciting Developments Unveiled at LAM

Dr. Wayne King of LLNL speaks at LAM 2017

Sponsor and attendee Optomec featured the new LENS Machine Series for metal additive manufacturing applications at the event. The LENS series comes in three models and combines Optomec LENS Print Engine technology with standard CNC Vertical Milling platforms, making metal AM technology more accessible and affordable.

While using #LAM2017 on Twitter, attendees, vendors and presenters alike shared their thoughts and photos from the event. LAM 2017 provided two days packed full of knowledge and innovation in laser additive manufacturing, kicking off a new year of progress for both lasers and additive manufacturing technology.

For more information regarding LIA conferences and workshops, like LAM, please visit www.lia.org/conferences. For the latest updates regarding conferences, industry developments, and all things lasers, visit and subscribe to www.laserstoday.com.

The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide.

 

 

LIA’s Outlook for Lasers & 3D Printing in 2017

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Booming industries like healthcare, oil, automotive and aerospace are quickly becoming today’s 3D printing epicenters. As we saw at LAM 2017, From custom dental parts to working engine parts, the 3D printers used in Additive Manufacturing (AM) are improving and streamlining manufacturing. The advances across industries in 2017 offer the promise of a better tomorrow and the competitive force of being the first to get there.

Lasers & 3D Printing Outlook: 2017

Boeing, Siemens, GE, and Audi are just a few of the companies actively embracing the innovative possibilities offered by this new technology. The benefits to be gained from implementing additive manufacturing processes are many. Production is more efficient by creating complex, individual parts. Manufacturers are now able to expedite production time, use precision geometries and reduce the weight of parts, while at the same time maintaining strength.

What will 3D printing & lasers do for the world in 2017?

Recent Milestones & Challenges

While some companies have already modified their manufacturing processes, others are forecasting AM will be applied to their industries on a macro scale. For example, Siemens just celebrated the completion of the world’s first 3D printed turbine blade trials. The company boasts that this accomplishment will reduce the time between design and testing from two years to two months. Also, Scandinavian Oil and Gas Magazine recently published an article on how metal 3D printing will increase the flexibility of production for oil and gas manufacturing.

In a summary of the 2016 Wohlers Report, Forbes revealed just how widespread the use of 3D printing has become, as there were 278,000 desktop 3D printers purchased in a single year. Taking data from the Wohlers Report, the article went on to describe the financial impact of these purchases. Overall, in 2015 the value of the additive manufacturing industry increased to $5.165 billion.

According to TechTarget’s Albert McKeon, companies now face challenges such as how to change long-established manufacturing processes, how to safely incorporate AM into product development and manufacturing, and how to effectively harness this innovative potential by determining how their industry will benefit most from using 3D printing and AM.  Pushing forward and encouraging further innovation, NASA is in the midst of holding a contest to build a 3D printed habitat for deep space exploration. The intent of the contest is to create sustainable housing solutions which can also be used on earth.

Courtesy: Wohlers Associates

What We Can Expect to See Next

3D printing is a gateway to more: more customizations, more parts manufactured at a faster pace and more opportunities to introduce these technologies into a range of industries. Every day new applications of this technology are developed, and more industries are determining how to best incorporate 3D printing into their value chain.

With the increased applications of 3D printing and additive manufacturing, the need to standardize these procedures has grown. Private and public sector organizations are teaming up to address this need. Just this month, America Makes and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) published a roadmap which identifies gaps in AM standards and areas requiring more R&D. Per 3DPrint.com, as more industries adopt this technology in different ways, the need to continue to develop regulatory procedures will grow.

Your Turn: Which Additive Manufacturing innovation over the last several months do you think will have the biggest impact on 2017? COMMENT Below.

Stay updated on the latest 3D Printing & AM Trends. Follow the LasersToday.com blog here to receive the latest thought leadership by email. To learn more about LIA’s LAM Workshop, visit the official LAM website.

Meet IVAM Microtechnology Network – March’s Featured Corporate Member

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IVAM Microtechnology Network, a company based in Dortmund, Germany, is an international association with members in the fields of microtechnology, nanotechnology, advanced materials, MEMS and photonics. IVAM supports companies by pushing their clients’ innovative technologies and products to the forefront of the international marketplace with the goal of securing competitive advantages abroad. The association does this by creating synergies that support its members with exchanging knowledge, initiating joint projects and networking.

IVAM Microtechnology Network is LIA’s Featured Corporate Member for March 2017.

IVAM was founded in 1995 and has since offered a number of valuable services to their customers. Their services have included assistance with marketing, public affairs, networking opportunities and internationalization efforts.

The organization is made of four departments that include Membership Relations Management; Trade Fairs and Events; Publics Relations; and Economic Research. These departments work together to offer customers a variety of platforms that facilitate cooperation between companies that complement one another.

Exhibitors of the IVAM joint booth at MD&M West 2016

IVAM, an LIA corporate member, offers platforms at tradeshows and technical presentation forums, which they say creates visibility, and gets their members in touch with potential partners and clientele. Through large-scale communication efforts, they bridge the gap between companies that can work well together. In doing so they also allow intellectuals and experts to share numerous tech industry trends and ideas.

“Microtechnology, nanotechnology, photonics, MEMS and advanced materials have significantly accelerated innovation in the late 20th and early 21st century,” said Mona Okroy-Hellweg, Public Relations Manager at IVAM. “These key enabling technologies have affected, improved or fundamentally changed many areas of society, industry, and economy – either by improving existing products and processes or by triggering entirely new, previously unthought-of applications.”

IVAM INNO Magazine

With over two decades of experience and observation, the company has witnessed an increasing demand for international reach amongst tech companies. They have risen to this challenge and presently have members in 18 countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

For more information about LIA’s March Featured Corporate Member, please visit: http://www.ivam.de. 

This Corporate Member Feature was written by Brandon Kalloo in collaboration with IVAM Microtechnology Network.