A dashboard tray that appears and disappears at the wave of a hand

Storage trays in cars can be real dustbowls. But they also fulfill a useful function. Where else to store those sunglasses, paper handkerchiefs or a parking disc? A new type of storage tray, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, is concealed in the dashboard and only materializes when needed Read more about A dashboard tray that appears and disappears at the wave of a hand[…]

Embed information with a 3D printer and retrieve with a commercial scanner

A team from Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), composed of Ph.D. Student Arnaud Delmotte, Professor Yasuhiro Mukaigawa, Associate Professor Takuya Funatomi, Assistant Professor Hiroyuki Kubo, and Assistant Professor Kenichiro Tanaka, has developed a new method to embed information in a 3D printed object and retrieve it using a consumer document scanner. Information such Read more about Embed information with a 3D printer and retrieve with a commercial scanner[…]

New solutions for power plant noise emissions

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the technology group Wärtsilä have completed a three-year project funded by Business Finland, which created new solutions for power plant noise emissions. New solutions can reduce a power plant’s noise level by 10–20 decibels. In practice, this means a 90–99% reduction in noise footprint. Increasing the use of Read more about New solutions for power plant noise emissions[…]

Titanium-copper alloys could be a new 3D printing option for aerospace and medical devices

Successful trials of titanium-copper alloys for 3D printing could kickstart a new range of high-performance alloys for medical device, defence and aerospace applications. Current titanium alloys used in additive manufacturing often cool and bond together in column-shaped crystals during the 3D printing process, making them prone to cracking or distortion. And unlike aluminium or other Read more about Titanium-copper alloys could be a new 3D printing option for aerospace and medical devices[…]

A new 3D printing technique makes bone implants to be precisely fitting

Cancerous tumors, infections or bad fractures can make it necessary to surgically remove bones and insert implants in their place. In collaboration with European partners, Fraunhofer researchers have now developed a technique with which bone implants that are precisely fitting, stable and variable in dimensions can be 3D-printed from a special plastic. The secret lies Read more about A new 3D printing technique makes bone implants to be precisely fitting[…]

3D Nanoprinting Facilitates Communication with Light

At Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), researchers have developed a flexible and efficient concept to combine optical components in compact systems. They use a high-resolution 3D printing process to produce tiny beam-shaping elements directly on optical microchips or fibers and, hence, enable low-loss coupling. This approach replaces complicated positioning processes that represent a high obstacle Read more about 3D Nanoprinting Facilitates Communication with Light[…]

A 3D printed stethoscope is the first open-source medical device that has been clinically validated and is widely available

A team of researchers have developed an open-source, clinically validated template for a 3D printed stethoscope for use in areas of the world with limited access to medical supplies – places where a stethoscope could mean the difference between life and death. “As far as we know this is the first open-source medical device that Read more about A 3D printed stethoscope is the first open-source medical device that has been clinically validated and is widely available[…]

Efficient use of resources in manufacture of metal components

Additive Manufacturing has established itself in many industrial sectors as a method for making plastic parts. The 3D printing of metals is on the road to becoming a similar success story. In the newly opened 3D-Printing Lab for Metals and Structural Materials at the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach-Institut, EMI, researchers have investigated how Read more about Efficient use of resources in manufacture of metal components[…]

New scanner works autonomously and in real time

Let’s say the armrest is broken in your vintage car. As things stand, you would need a lot of luck and persistence to find the right spare part. But in the world of Industrie 4.0 and production with batch sizes of one, you can simply scan the armrest and print it out. This is made Read more about New scanner works autonomously and in real time[…]

A new trading platform for digital design, engineering and manufacturing transactions

Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) announced that it has officially launched the 3DEXPERIENCE Marketplace, its online ecosystem where today’s business innovators will be able to collaborate and transact with other industrials and service providers. The cloud-based marketplace is a new trading platform for digital design, engineering and manufacturing transactions, with ambition to transform the industrial Read more about A new trading platform for digital design, engineering and manufacturing transactions[…]

The first industry demonstration of a 3-D printed complex rocket nozzle

Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, announced it has successfully completed a series of static test firings of a prototype tactical solid rocket motor built with critical metal components fabricated by additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3-D printing. These tests marked the first industry demonstration of a 3-D printed Read more about The first industry demonstration of a 3-D printed complex rocket nozzle[…]

futureAM – Next Generation Additive Manufacturing

On November 14th, 2017, the Fraunhofer focus project, futureAM, was launched in Aachen under the auspices of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT. Six project partners – the Fraunhofer Institutes ILT, IWS, IWU, IGD and IFAM as well as the LZN Laser Zentrum Nord – have set themselves a clear goal: Over the next Read more about futureAM – Next Generation Additive Manufacturing[…]