The Netherlands – Industrial 3D metal printing or additive manufacturing is gaining ground by the day. In the medical industry, additive processes are used for both dental and medical implants by several specialized manufacturers. In aerospace fuel nozzles are printed by GE Aviation and Siemens are printing parts for turbines. Crucial in the success of these innovative applications is the ability of the designer to ‘design for additive manufacturing’ and maximize the possibilities this new production technology has to offer. Apply the features that make this technology unique: thin walls, honeycomb structures, form free channels in the product, integration of functions and personalization.

In order to grow the number of examples and inspire many other industries to develop dedicated applications for industrial 3D printing, Additive Industries is presenting the second edition of the Additive World Design for Additive Manufacturing Challenge. Competing in two categories, both professionals and students are encouraged to redesign an existing conventional part of a machine or product for 3D printing. The winners are announced at the Additive World Conference on March 23, 2016 in Eindhoven.

Partners in the Design for Additive Manufacturing Challenge are leading CAE technology provider (e.g. Topology Optimization) - Altair Engineering and consumer 3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker. The contestants will be supported by Additive Industries’ AddLab team in topology optimization during the design process and the winners in both categories take home the latest Ultimaker 2 3D printer. Also the award winning designs will be printed in metal. On www.additiveworld.com more information on the Design Challenge can be found such as support by the AddLab team, evaluation criteria and how to submit your redesign.

Source: Additive Industries

Chicago, Illinois – The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII), a UI LABS collaboration, announced the availability of up to $500,000 in project funding to solicit proposals for the creation of a Digital Manufacturing and Design “Specialization,” a suite of open online, on-demand courses leading to a certificate upon completion. DMDII is issuing a project call for courses that will be offered on Coursera, the largest provider of open online courses with more than 16 million registered learners worldwide.

The Digital Manufacturing and Design (DM&D) Specialization will be free for access to the content or require a small fee in order to earn a DM&D Certificate. These courses will target a large audience of users, with a specific focus on students and existing engineers affected by the changes brought by digital manufacturing. 

“As with all our programs, DMDII intends to bring together the best partners and the most qualified experts to help usher in this transformation sweeping American manufacturing,” said Dr. Dean Bartles, the chief manufacturing officer at UI LABS and executive director of DMDII. “This specialization will serve as the premier information tool for students and the current workforce looking to better understand digital manufacturing. Utilizing the Coursera platform, DMDII is partnering with a leading provider to reach out to a very large audience of interested learners.”

This collaboration represents advances in programming for both DMDII and Coursera. The Digital Manufacturing and Design Specialization will serve as a new addition to the Coursera platform, which currently offers a variety of courses on diverse topics for users.

“Coursera serves people who need the flexibility to mold their continued education around the constraints of their lives and their families,” said Daphne Koller, president and co-founder of Coursera. “DMDII’s Specialization in digital manufacturing will open access to high-quality, low-cost, and industry-relevant training that will open the talent pipeline to help manufacturing companies remain innovative and productive.”

This project call is part of a workforce development strategy endorsed by DMDII’s Workforce Development Advisory Committee, comprised of industry, academic, and government experts as well as the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and is intended to recruit subject matter experts at top universities and manufacturing companies to develop courses for the Coursera platform.

“We are excited to bring together leading minds and content providers to propose the best ways to teach digital manufacturing through our first competitive workforce development project call,” said Haley  

Stevens, associate director of workforce development and education outreach at DMDII. “As massive open online courses (MOOCs) have democratized learning and are accessible to all, the finished product will target the Institute’s vast network of stakeholders to participate in this learning opportunity.” 

The Specialization, containing a targeted sequence of up to nine courses, will include 20 to 40 hours of lecture, as well as evaluation components, such as quizzes and tests. Course topics may include “Introduction to Digital Manufacturing & Design,” “Introduction to the Digital Thread,” and a focus on DMDII’s three research thrust areas: Advanced Analysis (AA), Intelligent Machining (IM), and Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise (AME).

“According to our research, there is great employee and employer interest in using MOOCs for training and professional development,” said Alexandria Walton Radford, Ph.D., a Program Director in Education and Workforce Development at RTI International. “While less than 10 percent have used MOOCs for professional development thus far, over two-thirds of human resources professionals we surveyed reported that they envision using them in the future. We are pleased to see DMDII capitalizing on this new technology and platform to package and impart much-desired skills and information.”

DMDII will hold a project call workshop available on January 14, 2016, to address project applicant questions and to catalyze the formation of project teams. Once applications are submitted, selections will be reviewed and subject to approval, with course offerings slated to come online in late 2016 or early 2017. The project call is open to all applicants, with membership in both DMDII and Coursera required upon being selected.

Complete information about the call for proposals, submission requirements, and workshop logistics are available at www.dmdii.org.

Source: UI LABS and DMDII

Lincolnshire, Illinois – Earlier this year, GF Machining Solutions surpassed a major company milestone for machine installations. Now, the leading provider of advanced milling, electrical discharge machining (EDM) and laser-texturing solutions is ensuring its customers get the most out of their machines by boosting the level of service and support it provides.

GF Machining Solutions has added seven field service engineers and one refurbishment technician to its service and support team. These new highly-trained team members are dedicated to providing answers and solutions to GF Machining Solutions customers in the quickest possible manner through the company’s industry-leading, all-encompassing Uptime+ Service and Support Program.

“We are serious about supporting the needs of our customers in today’s 24/7 manufacturing world,” said Gisbert Ledvon, director of business development, GF Machining Solutions. “By adding to our service and support team, we are able to more comprehensively and quickly support business owners as they continuously search for new ways to increase quality, efficiency, and productivity.”

GF Machining Solutions’ Uptime+ program gives its customers a competitive advantage by helping them achieve consistent and reliable operation from every GF Machining Solutions machine throughout their facilities. The program comprises extensive operator training, technical support, preventive, maintenance and warranty service. 

To further support customers, GF Machining Solutions guarantees quick delivery on quality replacement parts and certified consumables. The company stocks more than $10 million in inventory at its North American Hub for Spare Parts and Consumables located in the heart of the I-55 and I-355 logistics corridor in Woodridge, Illinois. This, combined with state-of-the-art warehouse operations and knowledgeable personnel, enable GF Machining Solutions to same-day ship 99% of all domestic orders received by 4 p.m. (CST) for items that are in stock.

Source: GF Machining Solutions

Charlottesville, Virginia – In “Polymer Materials: 3D Printing Opportunities – 2015,” a report available from SmarTech Publishing later this month, predicts that consumption of polymers by the 3D printing (3DP)/additive manufacturing sector will reach $4.3 billion by 2023. 

About the report:

• Utilizing SmarTech’s purpose-built proprietary 3D-printing market models, this report provides a ten-year revenue and volume market forecast data on all polymers used (or likely to be used) in 3D printing. Breakouts are included by type of material, type of print process, end-user type, and end-user location by country/region.
• Coverage includes photopolymers, thermoplastic filaments and powders, and powders for binder jetting, which include a number of specific materials including various nylons, ABS, polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane, polystyrene, PMMA, PEKK, PEEK, and many others.
• The report analyses in depth the use of polymers in all major 3D printing processes from leading vendors: Fused Deposition Modeling, Stereolithography, Selective Laser Sintering, binder jetting, PolyJet, and others encompassing material extrusion, polymer powder bed fusion, photopolymerization, material jetting, and binder jetting.
• It also provides strategic assessment and profiles of leading firms shaping polymer 3D printing technology and related material suppliers and vendors. Firms or related subsidiaries covered include: 3D Systems, Arburg, Arkema, BASF, Bolson Materials, Covestro, CRP Technologies, DeltaMed, DSM Somos, EnvisionTEC, EOS, Evonik, Farsoon, Keyence, Oxford Performance Materials, Prodways, SABIC, Sartomer, Solvay/Rhodia, Stratasys, taulman3D, Tiertime, voxeljet, and more.
• Our study also provides guidance on how new 3DP technologies will influence future demand for polymer print materials, how the addressable market for 3DP polymers will expand into manufacturing and advanced tooling, and how low-cost 3DP technology will impact the consumption of polymers. The report also examines how polymers will be used in 3DP in the future in specific industries such as medical, dental, aerospace, and automotive.
• An assessment of how pricing and costs for 3DP polymers will change over the coming years is also included.

“Polymer Materials: 3D Printing Opportunities – 2015,” will provide exceptional value to business development professionals and market strategy teams in the specialty chemical and polymer industries, as well as polymer 3D printer manufacturers, print service providers, and developers of polymer 3D printing manufacturing solutions. SmarTech also believes that this report will be required reading for investors following the growth of the 3DP sector.

Source: SmarTech