Category: 3D Printer

In a groundbreaking stride for construction innovation, Hubei province has unveiled the inaugural application of concrete 3D printing technology in building construction. The milestone was marked with the official delivery of the new rural housing project in Daye, a venture spearheaded by the First Company of China Construction Third Engineering Bureau.

Situated in Huangshi city, the Daye rural housing project spans an expansive 20-hectare area, heralding a new era of provincial-level pilot initiatives. Embracing a holistic vision, the project encompasses not only residential units but also integrates agricultural parks, high-standard farmland, and meticulous landscaping, culminating in a scenic and harmonious neighborhood.

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In a groundbreaking development for sustainable manufacturing, the University of Maine has shattered its own world record by introducing the largest polymer 3D printer, the Factory of the Future 1.0 (FoF 1.0). This monumental achievement sets the stage for revolutionizing affordable housing and addressing critical national security needs.

The FoF 1.0 represents a significant leap forward from its predecessor, which constructed a 600-square-foot house using recyclable materials in 2019. With Maine facing a pressing demand for 80,000 homes in the next six years, the FoF 1.0 aims to meet this challenge head-on by significantly accelerating construction processes.

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Formlabs, known for its innovative laser-powered 3D printers, is shaking up the industry once again with the introduction of the Form 4 series. Departing from traditional resin-blasting lasers, these new printers utilize LCD screens and bright backlights to achieve printing speeds two to five times faster than their predecessors.

The switch to LCD technology, coupled with a high-intensity backlight, allows the Form 4 to cure an entire layer of resin at once, significantly increasing printing efficiency. While this technique, known as masked stereolithography (mSLA), is not new to the prosumer market, Formlabs claims to have optimized it for higher quality output.

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A groundbreaking 6-axis 3D printer, dubbed the TIME system (True Independent Multiple Extrusion), has emerged, heralding a potential paradigm shift in additive manufacturing. This innovative machine enables the independent operation of multiple tools across all three axes, allowing for the simultaneous printing of diverse parts or the combination of various materials within a single print job. Such versatility and efficiency hold the promise of a significant breakthrough in the 3D printing landscape.

At the heart of the TIME system lies a meticulously re-engineered grill plate base, meticulously designed to offer unparalleled stability and optimal heat distribution. This robust foundation serves as the backbone of the printer’s intricate structure, ensuring seamless coordination among its components to deliver exceptional results. Crafted to endure continuous operation, the base guarantees reliable performance even under the most demanding conditions.

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Icon, a leading provider of large-scale 3D printing technologies, has introduced its latest innovation in construction: Phoenix. This groundbreaking robotic technology has the capability to construct multi-story buildings, revolutionizing the way structures are built.

The inaugural engineering prototype of Phoenix recently completed an impressive architectural demonstration project, standing at an impressive height of 27 feet. Located in Austin, Texas, this demonstration showcases the potential of Phoenix to redefine construction methodologies.

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In a groundbreaking stride towards architectural innovation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia proudly unveils the world’s inaugural 3D-printed mosque, nestled within the Al-Jawhara suburb of Jeddah. Spanning an impressive 5,600 square meters, this architectural marvel serves as a tribute to the late equestrian Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly and stands as a testament to the kingdom’s embrace of cutting-edge technology. Spearheaded by Forsan Real Estate and employing state-of-the-art 3D printing technology from Guanli, the mosque’s construction was completed in a mere six months, under the visionary leadership of Wajnat Abdulwahed, the spouse of the esteemed Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly.

Designed to foster tranquility amongst worshippers while seamlessly integrating natural light, the mosque boasts distinctive minarets, elevating it to the status of a neighborhood landmark. Its inauguration heralds Saudi Arabia’s ascent as a global technological hub, outpacing even the United Arab Emirates in a similar endeavor. While Dubai had previously announced plans for the world’s first 3D-printed mosque last May, Saudi Arabia has now taken the lead, demonstrating the boundless possibilities of this emerging construction technique.

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At Stanford University, researchers have unlocked a transformative advancement in 3D printing technology, enabling the rapid production of highly detailed microscopic particles with a wide array of applications. These particles, smaller than visible dust, find utility in drug delivery, microelectronics, microfluidics, and precision manufacturing. However, the intricate coordination required between light delivery, stage movement, and resin properties has historically hindered scalable fabrication of such custom microscale particles.

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, Jason Kronenfeld, a PhD candidate in the DeSimone lab at Stanford, unveils a novel processing technique capable of printing up to 1 million intricately detailed microscale particles per day. This achievement represents a significant leap forward in particle fabrication, offering unprecedented speed and complexity in production.

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Texas-based ICON has made waves at SXSW with the debut of Phoenix, a groundbreaking robotic-arm-mounted 3D printer designed to construct fully-enclosed, multi-storey buildings using a low-carbon mixture.

Revolutionizing Construction at SXSW During a presentation at SXSW in Austin, ICON showcased Phoenix, a demountable crane-based 3D printer set to redefine construction possibilities. This innovative technology enables the creation of multi-storey dwellings with enclosed systems, ushering in a new era of sustainable and efficient building practices. Currently, ICON is constructing a prototype outside its headquarters in Austin, featuring a dome-like enclosed roof and towering at 70 feet tall.

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In a groundbreaking development, researchers have achieved a remarkable feat by directly printing multi-layered, living skin onto significant injuries in rats, promising scar-free skin repair. This innovative approach, previously confined to the realms of science fiction, involves the genuine 3D printing of skin, potentially including hair, directly into damaged areas.

The importance of the skin, particularly on the head and face, extends beyond mere protection to encompass aspects of identity. However, full-thickness skin damage resulting from traumatic injury or extensive surgery in these areas poses significant challenges. Traditional methods such as skin grafts often lead to scarring, permanent hair loss, and graft failure, affecting individuals’ confidence and self-esteem.

Continue reading… “Revolutionary Advancement: 3D Printing Living Skin with Hair for Scar-Free Reconstruction”

Protein Engineering and 3D Printing

Over two decades ago, a groundbreaking achievement led by David Baker at the University of Washington marked the inception of de novo protein design. While ‘Top7,’ an early creation, initially lacked biological functionality, today, the field has evolved into a powerful tool for tailor-made enzymes and proteins. Neil King, collaborating with Baker’s team, emphasizes the transformative nature of this progress, citing the ability to accomplish tasks that were deemed impossible just a year and a half ago. The success owes much to extensive datasets linking protein sequences to structures and the indispensable role of deep learning in unraveling the hidden grammar of protein architecture.

Deep Learning for Protein Design

The utilization of large language models (LLMs), such as those powering ChatGPT, has paved the way for ‘sequence-based’ strategies in protein design. Noelia Ferruz and her team at the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona developed ProtGPT2, an algorithm consistently producing synthetic proteins with stable folding. Meanwhile, ‘structure-based’ approaches, fueled by diffusion models akin to those in image-generating tools like DALL-E, demonstrated notable progress in bespoke protein-design algorithms in 2023. RFdiffusion software and the Chroma tool exemplify the power of these approaches in engineering novel proteins.

Continue reading… “Advancements and Challenges: Seven Key Technological Frontiers Explored”

A groundbreaking advancement in 3D printing within the human body has been achieved by a collaborative team of researchers from Duke University and Harvard Medical School. Their innovative approach involves utilizing ultrasound waves to solidify an injectable biocompatible ink, as detailed in a recent paper published in the journal Science.

Building upon a previously developed photo-sensitive ink that hardens when exposed to light, the researchers sought to overcome the limitation of light penetration, which extends only a few millimeters into the patient’s tissue. The new technique, termed “deep-penetrating acoustic volumetric printing” (DVAP), leverages the sono-thermal effect, where soundwaves are absorbed, increasing the temperature and subsequently solidifying the ink.

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In a groundbreaking development, the application of advanced laser scanning technology has reshaped the way museums engage in the research and conservation of paintings, meticulously mapping their textures, colors, and dimensions. Now, an Austrian printmaking company, Lito Masters, is harnessing this technology to provide art enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to “live with a masterpiece.”

Established in 2022, Lito Masters has collaborated with major museums, conducting detailed scans of iconic paintings by artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, and Wassily Kandinsky. Utilizing 3D-printing technology, the company produces textured, stroke-for-stroke reproductions on canvas or paper, faithfully replicating the originals’ cracks, ridges, and imperfections.

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