Going “green” is something most of us have been trying to do for a while now. Whether it’s cutting down the amount of plastic we use, recycling as much as possible, switching off the lights when we leave a room or eating less meat, there are so many ways in which we can and are doing our bit for the environment. Less topical, however, is the fact that 3D printing can lower our negative impact on the world around us.
The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an annual automobile and motorcycle race to the summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado, but this year's race might be even more extraordinary than usual thanks to 3D printing.
Racers take on the 12.42-mile public toll road, which contains a whopping 156 turns. Total elevation climb is 4,720 feet. At the summit, the elevation is 14,115 feet above sea level.
There is lots of talk and written matter about the acceleration of technology, and even about acceleration of acceleration of technology.
Perusing articles about the upcoming singularity, it is easy to find charts showing the curves of attainable speeds of data transfer that extrapolate beyond the 5G networks into the terahertz range and beyond. It is a wonderful, and somewhat scary, to think that in less than 10 to 15 years, I will be on the wrong side of “singularity,” and my kid will not be able to explain to me the technology that he takes for granted. Even more fascinating is contemplating the fact that beyond not being able to comprehend technology, I might not be able to understand the society that is shaped by that new technology. It doesn’t seem possible that we, the generation that has the world at its fingertips, will be as lost as a misplaced 10th century farmer time traveling to the current Silicon Valley…Brave New World indeed.
Neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly becoming a global health problem and occur when nerve cells, or neurons, begin to deteriorate. Various conditions are associated with this degeneration, such as Alzheimer’s disease, which affects 5 million Americans, Parkinson’s disease affecting 400,000, and multiple sclerosis, affecting 30,000. The total number of Americans affected annually by neurodegenerative diseases totals 55 million.
What goes into a “good” design?
That’s a very good question, and one we typically have to deal with in the additive manufacturing business on a daily basis. With 3D printing, a good design is more than its aesthetics, it must consider functionality, cost, time and repeatability.
The 3D printing industry is in a state of constant flux and development. With the market set to expand by 17.5% over the next seven years, the career opportunities for both men and women are broad and far reaching. However, for years the tech field at large has been mostly dominated by men. Indeed, with only 13% of the 3D printing workforce being female, it’s clear we still have some way to go. But, we are getting there.
From cutting costs and increasing efficiency to prompting innovation, 3D printing has had an undeniably significant impact on the manufacturing industry in recent years. Thanks to advances in material science, digital design and on-demand production capabilities, we are seeing industry-wide change. From the realms of aerospace and prosthetics, to cars, sports and food, manufacturers are tapping into 3D printing technology to improve and revolutionize their production processes.
Metal 3D Printing is undoubtedly the next big thing in the fast-moving realm of 3D printing.
Put simply, it’s a quick and effective process used to create three-dimensional metal parts from a digital file. Using 3D CAD technology, metal 3D printing techniques use binders, lasers and heated nozzles to create products that are robust and boast intricate internal features (channels, undercuts, inner tubes, internal voids). Components that wouldn’t have been imaginable a few years ago are now a reality due to the various industrial applications available for metal 3D printing today.
The benefits of 3D printing and rapid prototyping are numerous and well recognized. Whether it’s design validation, functional testing or faster launch of new products, executives seldom need to be convinced of the benefits. Still, many businesses continue to outsource 3D printing because they believe ownership is cost prohibitive.