A deep dive into polymer 3D printing: technologies, promising developments, applications, and more.   2019 promises to be the year of polymer 3D printing. As major chemical companies are now joining the 3D printing world and industry mainstays are further advancing the capabilities of the technology, polymer 3D printing is given a tremendous boost.   To keep up to the latest developments, today we’ll be diving into the most exciting innovations in polymer 3D printing and opportunities offered by the technology. But first, let’s explore the common polymer 3D printing techniques used across ...

Aerospace has long been at the forefront of 3D printing innovation. From its origins as a rapid prototyping tool, today additive manufacturing is used within aerospace not only for product design, but also to produce end parts as well as for maintenance operations. With the ability to create complex designs, lightweight parts and reduce production costs, 3D printing offers a range of advantages for the aerospace industry. However, key players, such as GE, Airbus, MOOG, Safran and GKN, are not only leveraging the benefits of the technology — they are also ...

Metal additive manufacturing has experienced an explosive growth across a range of industries, which has led to the emergence of more 3D printing metals systems and machines on the market.  Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is one of the most popular 3D printing technologies, as it delivers high-quality metal components. There are a number of leading players in the market that provide DMLS 3D printers for industrial applications — but can you be sure which DMLS machine is right for your needs? We'll explore the range of DMLS machines available, ...

Above: Digital Metal's 3D printing technology uses metal binder jetting technology  As one of the most established 3D printing technologies, Binder Jetting offers a faster way to produce sand moulds, small metal parts, decorative objects and prototypes at a lower cost. But with a wide range of Binder Jetting machines on the market, it is important to choose the right printer for your 3D printing needs. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 Binder Jetting machines, along with their pros and cons and particular applications. Note: Binder Jetting is a powder-bed ...

When producing your FDM part, often the finished look matters just as much as the functionality. FDM parts are ideal for functional prototypes, low-volume end use parts and concept models. However, when printing your FDM parts, it’s important to know not only how the FDM production process works, but also how to achieve aesthetically-pleasing results in the post-processing stage. In today’s tutorial we’ll explore a few practical tips on how you can effectively finish your FDM parts — as well as key things to watch out for.   1. Remove any support structures ...

Commercial 3D printing has not quite taken off at the rate one would have expected a few years ago. One reason for this is speed, with the majority of desktop 3D printers requiring hours to print a part. However, the development of a new desktop FDM 3D printer by a team of engineers at MIT may well have changed the game.   What's new? [caption id="attachment_2193" align="alignright" width="300"] Some of the objects printed on MIT’s new printer – Image: Chelsea Turner[/caption] While FDM technology is the most popular commercial 3D  printing system, it is ...

Following the success of formnext last week, AMFG is taking a closer look at some of the innovative companies that showcased at the Frankfurt trade fair. This week, we're speaking with Dr. Konstantin Rybalcenko, Development Manager at Additive Manufacturing Technologies, to talk about the company's revolutionary new technology, his experience at formnext and his thoughts on the future of additive manufacturing.   Post-processing is a critical stage in the additive manufacturing process - and yet, many post-processing techniques remain manual. As a result, post-processing is often a labour-intensive and costly element in the manufacturing ...

Formnext has officially begun! Over the next few days, the biggest names in additive manufacturing will be showcasing their latest products and developments at Europe’s largest trade fair and conference - including the RP Platform team. As formnext gets underway, many leading 3D printer manufacturers have announced plans to unveil their new 3D printing systems at this year’s trade fair. At RP Platform, we’ve compiled a list of some of the new 3D printing systems we’re looking forward to seeing at formnext this week.   A Game-Changer: ACEO’s new multi-material ...

It's that time of the year again – in just a few days, some of the biggest names in additive manufacturing will be gathering in Frankfurt to showcase their latest technologies and intelligent manufacturing solutions at formnext, Europe's largest additive manufacturing trade fair and conference. And as everyone who’s anyone will be there, the RP Platform team is excited to announce that we will be presenting the latest features of our RP Platform software solution at formnext for the second year running. Following the successful release of our email integration ...

Whether you’re an aspiring hobbyist or seasoned professional, there’s currently a tremendous range of choice if you’re looking to purchase a new 3D printer. From simple, compact desktop units to large-scale industrial machines, new printers, technologies and materials are entering the market at a rapid (and increasing!) pace as more and more global companies delve into additive manufacturing. Today on the blog, we’ll take a closer look at some of the upcoming 3D printer models that the RP Platform team are most excited about. While these differ considerably in terms ...