3D printing of organic electronics
Researchers achieve microscale organic electronics via multiphoton 3D printers.
Additive manufacturing
Aalen University develops multifunctional powder process chamber
In order to further optimize electric vehicles, researchers worldwide are looking for new concepts as well as manufacturing processes. One possible drive concept for sustainable, low-emission electric mobility is the so-called wheel hub drive.
3D printers for entire layers
Where two light beams meet, two activated molecules react to form a solid material.
AM for sustainable structural transformation
Over 2,500 people attended the 18th Rapid.Tech 3D. They heard about new products and services in additive manufacturing (AM) from 97 exhibitors representing 11 countries. 13 of the exhibitors in Thuringia came from outside Germany, including companies from the US, Great Britain, Austria and Switzerland. Visitors were delighted with the conference programme, and delegate numbers were higher than at the last live conference in 2019.
VDMA founds additive manufacturing trade association
AM processes are playing an increasingly important role in industrial production. Networking within the VDMA helps to further develop this technology of the future.
Successful “Industrialization and Digitalization of Additive Manufacturing”
At sites of BMW in Munich and GKN Powder Metallurgy in Bonn, the results of the IDAM project allows to manufacture more than 10,000 individual and spare parts.
Open call for LBAAM technology in production
On 2 May 2022, the EU-funded Pulsate project launched the Technology Transfer Experiments (TTE) open call for LBAAM technology in production environments.
3D-printing for glass microstructures
German and American researchers use computed axial lithography to print extremely fine features in glass.
Bandpass Filters Excel in UV Fluorescence Applications
Railroad ties are mainly made of wood. In the production process fluorescent paint helps to determine the wood’s sap side orientation. A combination of red and green bandpass filters from MidOpt ensures that there is sufficient contrast between the fluorescent paint marker and the steel plates that are used to strengthen the wood.
A new kind of 3D printing
Engineers at Stanford and Harvard have laid the groundwork for a new system for 3D printing that doesn’t require that an object be printed from the bottom up.
Best business prospects for additive technologies
Investment plans in AM remain high – technology development of greatest importance in the industry.
Prima Additive is born
Prima Industrie completed the spin-off operation of the business unit dedicated to additive manufacturing.
Wayland Additive and EWI sign MoU
The agreement marks a collaborative effort to extend the production capabilities of eBeam metal additive manufacturing with the purchase of a Wayland Additive Calibur3 system by EWI.
Pushing the boundaries of additive manufacturing
As demonstrated by research at the Technical University of Munich, the combination of a programmable nLight fiber laser that can toggle between single-mode and ring mode in a matter of milliseconds plus a Raylase optical deflection unit with a zoom axis solves many of the known problems with laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) in 3D printing – such as a lack of homogeneity in the melt pool and reduced production speed.
UpNano strengthens position at US market
Based on strong interest from the US market and a solid finance position, UpNano, a commercial-stage technology company and expert in 2-photon polymerization (2PP) 3D-printing, announced it will extend operations to the United States, adding Erika Bechtold as vice president of US operations.
How to go from nano to macro in 3D printing
Nanoscribe extends 3D microfabrication to print macroscopic structures with the new Extra Large Features (XLF) Print Set which expands the functionality of an existing machine and turns it into a blazing-fast precision printer for millimeter- and centimeter-sized parts.
OCT improves process stability of laser metal deposition
German-Belgian four-year research project improves coaxial process for wire-based LMD.
Joint solutions for laser material deposition
The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen and Trumpf Laser- und Systemtechnik from Ditzingen have signed a cooperation agreement. They want to collaborate more closely in the field of laser material deposition and accelerate the transfer of the technology to industry.
Eight partners from research and industry start the BMBF project FluoResYst
With Covid-19, tuberculosis is one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide. A national network of eight companies and non-university research institutions wants to counter this with the help of photonics.
Scanning and 3D-printing NASA rocket engines
Hexagon’s manufacturing intelligence division collaborates with printer manufacturers Pro-beam, Sciaky, DM3D, Gefertec and Meltio.
3D laser nanoprinters become compact
New approach opens the door to drastic miniaturization and cost reduction of 3D laser nanoprinters.
Materialise exercises option to buy Link3D
The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year, Materialise acquires 100 % of the Link3D equity interests for 33.5 million US dollars.
3D-printing miniaturized optics on glass fibers
Scientists working on the BW Foundation project Hyazinth have developed a special 3D method that allows complex micro-optics, including apertures or other components, to be printed in a single step. This 3D microfabrication technology can be used to manufacture microendoscopes, for example.
Improved 3D printing of titanium
Additive manufacturing processes can eliminate inhomogeneity of titanium alloys during fast cooling – 40 % lighter and super-strong.
Trumpf acquires joint venture with Sisma
The top management of Sisma thanks Trumpf for the collaboration within the joint venture Trumpf-Sisma S.r.l. and look forward to a productive commercial partnership.
Advanced efficiency and process control of AM systems
Prima Additive, a business unit of the Prima Industrie group, Borsa Italiana, and Materialise, a global provider of 3D printing solutions, are intensifying their collaboration in the optimization of metal additive manufacturing systems.
Formnext celebrated successful return as in-person event
Now in its seventh year, Formnext 2021 once again gave a warm welcome to the international AM community and, following last year’s online-only event, built on the remarkable successes of previous years.
25 years of metallic 3D laser printing
“This is an auspicious occasion for a retrospective and outlook on our technology,” says Jasmin Saewe, head of the LPBF competence area at Fraunhofer ILT.
Purmundus Challenge presented for the ninth time
The annual international design competition for 3D and 4D printing was concluded in Frankfurt on 18 November 2021 as part of the Formnext exhibition. A total of eight submissions received the coveted gold trophies.
Nanoscale lattices flow from 3D printer
Lasers write the lines by prompting the ink to absorb two photons, initiating free-radical polymerization of the material.
Additively manufactured copper components for linear accelerators
A new generation of particle accelerators aims at taking cancer therapy, drug detection and material analysis to a higher level. Green laser copper AM allows the previously impossible in component optimization.
Novel material allows 3D printing of black structures
Highly precise 3D structures in black can now be printed using a 2-photon polymerization (2PP) 3D printing process. This seemed for a long time impossible as non-transmissive (black) materials greatly reduce the polymerization efficiency of the printing process.
Assemble optical systems with maximum precision
Aachen scientists have developed and set up a new precision gripper arm made of metal powder for the first time: a novelty for the assembly of space components in clean rooms. The gripper arm is lighter than its predecessor and yet stable enough to mount and adjust heavier laser optics with ultraprecision.
Printing microscopic gas sensors
Using direct laser writing, arrays of optically responsive ionogel structures were fabricated. They show visible color changes in the presence of different solvent vapors.
Metal AM at the service of watchmaking
Kif Parechoc, an expert in watch movement components, has signed a highly innovative partnership agreement with AddUp, a French specialist in industrial metal 3D printing, to use metal additive manufacturing (AM) for very high precision watchmaking purposes.
Link3D Inc.
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT
Sandia National Laboratories
Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionstechnologie IPT
European Photonics Industry Consortium EPIC
UpNano GmbH
nLIGHT, Inc.
VDMA Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbauer e.V.
Nanofabrica Ltd.
TRUMPF SE + Co. KG
Laserline Gesellschaft für Entwicklung und Vertrieb von Diodenlasern mbH
Civan Lasers
Technologie-Lizenz-Büro (TLB) der Baden-Württembergischen Hochschulen GmbH
Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.
amsight GmbH
Photonics21
Materialise N.V.
Aalen University – LaserApplicationCenter (LAZ)
Fraunhofer Institut für Werkstoff- und Strahltechnik IWS
Trumpf Gruppe
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
Prima Additive S.r.l.
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionstechnik und Automatisierung IPA
Microlight3D
Messe Erfurt GmbH
Xi'an Bright Laser Technologies Co., ltd.
ASTM International
Shapeways Holdings, Inc.
Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute ETRI
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
Sodick Co., Ltd.
InfraTec GmbH Infrarotsensorik und Messtechnik
Nanoscribe GmbH & Co. KG
Technische Universität Dortmund
Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH
Wiley-VCH GmbH
RWTH Aachen University
Universität Paderborn
KIF PARECHOC
iC-Haus GmbH
Technische Universität Graz
Carl Zeiss AG
Midwest Optical Systems, Inc.
IPH - Institut für Integrierte Produktion Hannover gGmbH
EWI Inc.