Stephanie Hendrixson
News
10 Impressions of Formnext 2018
The size and scope of this year's Formnext exhibition offered plenty to see, but also reinforced additive manufacturing's continuing maturity. 10 impressions from Additive Manufacturing editors.
November 20, 2018 - Stephanie Hendrixson
Production
Economies of Scope: Additive Manufacturing’s Trajectory Toward Bigness
A new book argues that the advance of AM will ultimately favor bigger and bigger manufacturers. Recent articles about groups and companies seeking to benefit from AM show a tiny trajectory in the same direction.
November 16, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Moldmaking
New Kimura U.S. Metal Casting Plant Relies Entirely on 3D Printing for Molds and Cores
Printing foundry molds and cores without hard tooling will speed leadtimes and make small quantities of castings affordable, the company says. Its proprietary process advances the detail and finish obtainable from casting using 3D sand printing.
November 14, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Metal AM
5 Lessons About Additive Manufacturing We Can Learn from This Part
A bracket redesign has a lot to say about the successful application of metal AM. One of the takeaways: Support structures are worth the effort!
October 19, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Tooling
The Manufacturing Network as a Source for Internal Custom Tooling
For a tool that includes both machined and 3D-printed components, all the pieces of the tool can be made by separate companies yet arrive together. BMW has used Xometry to obtain tooling in this way.
October 17, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Production
From Functional Parts to Lots of Functional Parts, AM Is Advancing into Production
The assumption that additive is only for low-volume manufacturing is about to give way. Read these stories of companies getting ready for additive production at larger scales.
September 26, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Automotive
HP Enters Metal Additive Manufacturing with Production-Focused Binder Jetting Machine
A metal 3D printer for scale production of steel parts is the next extension of HP's additive offerings and the logical extension of printer technology the company has been developing for decades.
September 11, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Polymer AM
This Company Is Pioneering Embedded Service as a Model for Delivering AM
PSMI manages ordering and inventory of tooling and MRO supplies for major manufacturers. Installing 3D printers within those customer sites offers an entirely different way to service this demand.
August 20, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Basics
Okuma Engineer Offers Safety Tips for Hybrid Machine Tools
Shop air should be out of reach, but flood coolant is a friend, he says. The real challenge of hybrid machines right now is not safety procedures but software.
August 17, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Education
DMG MORI to Relocate U.S. Headquarters to Chicago’s South Side
The move aims to address the coming need for engineering talent. Locating close to the Illinois Institute of Technology will provide access to students and expose them to manufacturing technology including additive, which was an important part of the discussion with IIT.
August 8, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Materials
Materials Are the Most Important Component in AM
You will see a lot of additive machines at IMTS. Success with those machines is determined by an underappreciated ingredient. Read our collection of recently published articles focused on materials.
July 18, 2018 - Peter Zelinski
Design for Additive
The Third Bucket and the Conversion of Production: A Perspective on Polymer Development for AM
Sabic sees 3D printing taking plastics where they have not gone before, but end-user needs will push the capabilities of 3D printers.
July 13, 2018 - Peter Zelinski