Cool Parts

Design

Ultra-Complex 3D Printed Scaffolds Enable Cell Growth: The Cool Parts Show #70

Perhaps the ultimate surface-area challenge is in bioengineering: creating structures that can grow sufficient cells within a compact volume to be effective for leading-edge medical treatments. The Southwest Research Institute develops bioreactor scaffolds that could only be made using 3D printing.

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Production

Variable Resistance Valve Trim Achieves Lead Time Reduction Through AM: The Cool Parts Show #69

Baker Hughes is realizing shorter lead times and simplified manufacturing through powder bed fusion to produce valve trims previously assembled from many machined metal parts. 

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Cool Parts

Aircraft Ducts 3D Printed in Composite Instead of Metal: The Cool Parts Show #68

Eaton’s new reinforced PEKK, tailored to aircraft applications, provides a cheaper and faster way to make ducts compared to formed aluminum.

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Design

This 3D Printed Part Makes IndyCar Racing Safer: The Cool Parts Show #67

The top frame is a newer addition to Indycar vehicles, but one that has dramatically improved the safety of the sport. We look at the original component and its next generation in this episode of The Cool Parts Show. 

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Cool Parts

Introducing The Cool Parts Show ALL ACCESS

Subscribe for early access to new episodes plus exclusive extra video segments offering more about each part.

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Design

3D Printed Lattice for Mars Sample Return Crash Landing: The Cool Parts Show Bonus

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory employs laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing plus chemical etching to create strong, lightweight lattice structures optimized to protect rock samples from Mars during their violent arrival on earth.

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Lightweighting

This Drone Bird with 3D Printed Parts Mimics a Peregrine Falcon: The Cool Parts Show #66

The Drone Bird Company has developed aircraft that mimic birds of prey to scare off problem birds. The drones feature 3D printed fuselages made by Parts on Demand from ALM materials. 

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Cool Parts

8 Cool Parts From Formnext 2023: The Cool Parts Show #65

New additive manufacturing technologies on display at Formnext were in many cases producing notable end-use components. Here are some of the coolest parts we found at this year’s show.

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Consumer Goods

3D Printed Ductile Spikes for Better Sound Quality: The Cool Parts Show Bonus

Work on 3D printing flexible metal bellows has led to other applications, including the development of ductile spikes that sit between a speaker and the surface below to help limit vibration and isolate the audio equipment. 

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Cool Parts

Flexible Bellows Made Through Metal 3D Printing: The Cool Parts Show #64

Can laser powder bed fusion create metal parts with controlled flexibility? We explore an example in this episode of The Cool Parts Show. 

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