http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/interviews/interview/1001666/
Archiv der Kategorie: 3D printing
Tal Golesworthy – The engineer who fixed his own heart
An excellent example of how a user invented a new medical device / procedure using 3D printing. Have a look here.
3D printin in progress @ IfM
See one of our new 3D printers running in the design studio:
Janine Benyus on 3D printing and the circular economy
This is another video worth seeing. Janine Benyus, author of “Biomimicry : innovation inspired by nature” talks at the inaugural Circular Economy 100 Annual Summit, sponsored by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation this June. Her message is about how 3D printing can help us on the way towards a sustainable economy. Quite inspiring 20 min with some good examples.
Web-collection of 3D printing news
CTM colleagues at the IfM running the Digital Fabrication project run this website, where they collect interesting articles relevant for practice, but also bits and pieces about manufacturers, new printing techniques, etc.
Special issue on innovation and additive manufacturing
Technological Forecasting and Social Change calls for papers for a special issue on „Bit by bit – Capturing value from the digital fabrication revolution“ guest edited by IfM colleagues. Details can be found here. The deadline for submitting an abstract is 31. October.
MakeSpace in Cambridge
Yesterday, I visited the MakeSpace in Cambridge. A recently started collaborative fablab made possible with generous funding from ideaSpace, the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), ARM, TTP, Microsoft Research and Cambridge Science Centre.
They got great equipment to build whatever you want, from laser cutter, 3D printer, but also the „old school“ equipment for drilling and milling. I hope this space inspires a lot of people to become creative and innovative.
3D printer manufacturer
ARCAM, based in Göteborg (Sweden) seems to be one of the leading 3D printer producer tailoring their devices specifically for medical applications.
By the way, 3D printing is also called additive manufacturing in contrast to manufacturing techniques where material is removel. According to AdditiveManufacturing.com, additive Manufacturing (AM) „is an appropriate name to describe the technologies that build 3D objects by adding layer-upon-layer of material, whether the material is plastic, metal, concrete or one day…..human tissue.“
Business models for 3D printing
3D printings get more and more advanced. A few firms already offer 3D printing services, such as Shapeways, Thingiverse and Ponoko. You either create your design using their software, your own software or choose from a range of their products and materials. This offers many possibilities particularly for user innovations.
Users innovate collaboratively in fab labs
Fab labs are on the rise. One has recently opened here in Cambridge, named „Makespace„. In Hamburg we have Fabulous St. Pauli since 2011. These are places where users can turn their ideas into prototypes using state-of-the-art 3D-printing, but as well more conventional tools such as CNC or drilling machines. A recent brand eins article dealt with the phenomenon, particularly in the context of sharing knowledge, resources and just forming local communities. Several examples exist. Visit also the website of the International Fab Lab Association for more information and several examples. According to the article, the first fab lab in Germany was the „Münchner Haus der Eigenarbeit“ founded already in 1987.