Three-dimensional scanning makes it possible to obtain a complex-profile three-dimensional model of the object under study – a 3D scanner digitizes the object, which allows you to quickly make it a mathematical model for subsequent printing on a printer.

The device creates a cloud of points connected by lines that form the geometry of an object from a set of intersecting planes. The obtained coordinates are processed and saved as a parametric model, – you can work with it in any CAD system to remove drawings of individual elements of an object, refine it, adjust dimensions and other parameters necessary for programming the printer.

Where is the 3D scanner used
The scope of scanning equipment is unlimited. The use of additive technologies allows to reduce production costs, reduce waste, reduce the weight of parts made in the traditional way. 3D scanning is used in the following directions:

• aircraft industry;
• shipbuilding;
• manufacture of industrial equipment;
• auto industry;
• military-industrial complex;
• museology and cultural studies (digitization of products in order to preserve the historical heritage);
• construction and design of engineering systems;
• medicine and prosthetics;
• light industry.

Manufacturers of clothing and footwear have already announced that 3D scanners will soon appear in fitting rooms. This approach will allow buyers to order customized outfits and original shoes, and manufacturers – to quickly and accurately reproduce the model without using patterns and confrontation with the client. It is expected that people will be able to use their scanned and digitized silhouettes for a virtual fitting outfits, without the need for dressing up.

3D scanning methods
There are two methods of volumetric scanning – contact and non-contact.

Contact 3D scanner works by touch. The instrument traces the object, and each edge is examined with a special probe. Previously, markers were put on the object under study, forming a coordinate system. In areas with a large bend the distance between the points was made minimal, on flat planes – the maximum. The scanner took the coordinates of the points – a 3D model was formed from them. Modern devices do without applying a physical grid.

3D scanning: purpose, methods and application

Contact scanning does not depend on lighting conditions. Work with the device is easy to learn. But there are a number of drawbacks: the scanner does not distinguish between textures, and for processing a large object, you will have to sweat pretty much with the device in your hands.

The non-contact three-dimensional scanning method is divided into two subspecies: active and passive. Devices for active 3D scanning use ultrasound, a directional light source, a laser or X-rays to irradiate the object under study – the device calculates the return time of the “signal”, forming a coordinate system from the points of contact with the object and the distance to the scanner. The operator scans the object at different angles, and the software glues the parts together.

The advantage of an active type 3D scanner:

• easy to use;
• the process is carried out without physical contact with the object;
• works inside and outside the room;
• does not depend on lighting;
• affordable price;
• it is unnecessary to apply the grid and markers.

At the same time, there are significant omissions:

the scanner is unable to work with mirror surfaces and transparent objects;
To work with small products need powerful optics.

A passive 3D scanner is still the same digital video camera that shoots a test object from different angles, capturing its silhouette. It works only on high-contrast background and in good light. The footage is processed by the software and reduced to a 3D model for printing on a printer or processing in CAD systems.

What to look for when choosing a scanner
A device that is equally good at scanning for engineering and entertainment purposes, while making high-precision models, can cost tens of thousands of dollars. When buying a 3D scanner, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

• scan area;
• the duration of the work area scan;
• accuracy;
• resolution.

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3D technologies that will change humanity According to the analysis carried out, this area is only at the beginning of its development; therefore, in the near future, AF technologies will be able to more significantly influence the development of the construction business, redistributing spheres of influence and income. Thanks to existing facilities created with the help of 3D printer technology, one can already see today what is in store for us in the near future.

Villa in Beijing, created by Huashang Tengda. The area of the object is 400 square meters, while it was built in just 45 days. Using a huge 3Dprinter with a manipulator, the company’s specialists built a villa whose wall thickness is 2.5 cm. This building is able to withstand even an 8-magnitude earthquake. In addition to the rectangular box, the object also had rounded turrets. It is worth noting that a 3D printer significantly reduced financial, time and human resources, because, using conventional technology, it would take more than 3 months to build such a villa.

Mini-buildings in Barcelona, created by the Institute of Architecture of Catalonia. These objects have an interesting, unique architectural form. When printing them, experts used several small 3D printers, which created high-rise buildings. The construction process was very interesting: one 3D printer built the foundation for the next one, increasing the number of floors of the building to the required height. Such devices are easy to move from place to place, and their cost is low. A distinctive feature of this technology is the possibility of round-the-clock work without interruptions.

Buildings from the ground in Barcelona, created by the Institute of Architecture of Catalonia. 3D printing technology used for the construction of these objects, allowed the construction of the usual soil. Experts, using ordinary soil and a few additional components, created a natural material with tensile properties 3 times more than that of clay. It is this discovery will reduce the cost of housing, significantly changing the construction business in the world. Even poor countries can afford to provide housing for all those in need.

Unique architectural forms in Amsterdam, built by the Dutch architect Yanjap Rheissenars. This original structure was created by one large 3D printer with a 6-meter manipulator. This technology for creating buildings has opened up for the world the opportunity to create objects “without a beginning and an end” that you would not otherwise build.
Autonomous mobile homes in Oak Ridge, USA, invented by the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architecture bureau. This mobile home is an original building with a length of 12 meters, a width of 3.7 meters. The design is uniquely equipped with solar panels that are capable of delivering the collected energy and providing it with a house, and even an electric car designed for a mobile home. Thanks to such housing, people will be able to explore new places on Earth.
Temporary housing in 30 minutes, France, developed by the University of Nantes. The use of 3D technology for the construction of temporary shelters, will allow to solve the global problem of accommodating refugees, after hostilities, cataclysms, natural disasters. Such houses are built very quickly, they have rather simple forms, they are not durable, but they fulfill their main function – to save people from cold, precipitation, and sun. Print temporary housing from polyurethane compounds high-speed printer with a manipulator. This technology will be on the replacement of the usual and inefficient tent campsites.

3D carbon dioxide printing, Los Angeles, invented by CO2NCRETE. Thanks to the unique developments of this company, it became possible to convert carbon dioxide, which is emitted into the air by industrial companies, into a durable building material, similar in properties to concrete. This method has not yet been patented, it is being carefully studied, but with a successful outcome it will improve the ecological condition of our planet and reduce the use of earth resources.

3D printing of bridges in Amsterdam, developed by MX3D. This rather complex engineering task was successfully accomplished by two 3D printers, the appearance of which was similar to automotive robot welders that moved in six different directions. The bridge is still under construction, but most importantly, at the moment it meets all the standards. Completion is scheduled for 2107 year.

Brick-conditioner, Oakland, USA, an invention of the company Emerging Object. These bricks, printed using 3D print, have a built-in cooling system and function by absorbing water with its gradual evaporation. Building a house with at least one wall of such bricks will allow natural air conditioning at no additional cost.

Plastic houses in Chicago, created by the architecture studio WATG. It was the construction of houses made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic that became an excellent alternative to basic or classical building materials. Such buildings are printed on a 3D printer not entirely, but with separate sheet panels, which are already in place combined into one design.

Autonomous mobile homes in Oak Ridge, USA, invented by the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architecture bureau. This mobile home is an original building with a length of 12 meters, a width of 3.7 meters. The design is uniquely equipped with solar panels that are capable of delivering the collected energy and providing it with a house, and even an electric car designed for a mobile home. Thanks to such housing, people will be able to explore new places on Earth.

Picture Credit: Rob Wingate

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Researchers from the New Castle University, trying to broaden the boundaries of 3D printing, managed to print the 3D cornea of the human eye. The method developed by them allows the creation of functional tissues, which – as they admit themselves – in the near future can be used as tissue for transplants.

The prospect of creating organs and cellular structures “on demand” brings many potential benefits – now, for people with corneal defect, where the only right solution is a transplant (it is estimated that there are around 5 million in the world), an awfully troublesome problem is to wait . The cornea can be taken from a recently deceased person who has not suffered from any of the diseases that might imply shortening the viability of the tissue.

Recognizing these problems, a team of scientists took up the 3D bioprint of the eye part. The cornea was created from a specially developed biotouch, which consists of collagen, i.e. connective tissue protein and alginate – the substances provide the expected elasticity of the tissue. The mass was also enriched with the patient’s stem cells – early in vitro studies showed that human cells showed high survival.

As the head of the research team admits, they developed a biotube that provides cells with the right environment for growth – the material is stiff enough to maintain its shape, yet soft enough to be extruded and create the desired shape. He also adds that creating the optimal consistency of the gel is crucial – research teams from around the world are trying to achieve the perfect consistency of the biotouch, while maintaining the highest survival rate of the cells.

The 3D bioprint process was carried out using a bioplotter. The bioink was applied in the form of concentric vertebrae until a full-sized cornea of the human eye was obtained – all in less than 10 minutes! Due to the small thickness (0.5-0.6 mm on average) and the lack of vascularization, scientists did not have to struggle with the problem of building a complicated network of blood vessels.

Now a number of tests are waiting for the biodegradable 3D lenses, however, members of the research team believe that the possibility of additive production of these tissues, taking into account the anatomy of the eye of a particular patient, may turn out to be the technology of the future.

Picture Credit: Free-Photos

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This is the next entry of the company into the area of additive technologies. In the years 2014 – 2017, Canon cooperated closely with 3D Systems, distributing American products on selected markets around the world. In autumn 2015, he also presented the concept of a 3D printer based on resin that has never been materialized. At the end of 2017, he unexpectedly (and silently …) withdrew from this segment, focusing on returning on his flagship solutions. Now, almost a year after he left the spatial printing, Canon returns, promising a revolution in a relatively neglected sphere …

The Japanese company intends to print ceramic details! It is to be delivered to the machine in the form of a powder and be bonded in a selective manner, based on a method similar to SLM (i.e. selective sintering of metals by a laser beam). Unfortunately, so far everything that has been shown is a handful of details – we do not know anything more about technology, machinery, or even when they would see the light of day? What Canon has been praising for so long is work with a material with a low shrinkage. The corporation claims that just as existing incremental technologies that use ceramics at work (and the resin that is its carrier) during post-processing shrink by approx. 20%, in the case of its method the contraction is symbolic and amounts to less than 0.8% . As an example, give the following detail with a diameter of 19 mm.

Ceramics is a very desirable consumable material, but few manufacturers have managed to develop techniques able to tame it. Selected companies producing photopolymer 3D printers offer ceramic and resin composites, and attempts are made to press ceramic materials through the heads in a derivative process to FDM (i.e. 3D printing from plastic). Big promise is also 3D printing with the so-called “Liquid ceramics” (i.e. ceramic nanoparticles embedded in drops of resin) developed by the Israel XJet, which unfortunately has not yet hit the market.

When it comes to Canon, just like the company has the ability to develop and implement such technology, the way it presents itself is somewhat fascinating … As vividly reminiscent of the actions of October 2015 when the renders of the machine that was supposed to coil the market were presented. At the moment, we do not know anything except that the concern “is working on something crucial” – we do not know the deadlines, technological assumptions, real possibilities of this method?

Let’s hope that what we are now dealing with is the introduction to a well-thought-out and complex promotional campaign, and not, for example, the “innovative projects of the future”, to prepare the ground for upcoming publications of periodic financial results …

Picture Credit: Canon

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3D technologies that will change humanity According to the analysis carried out, this area is only at the beginning of its development; therefore, in the near future, AF technologies will be able to more significantly influence the development of the construction business, redistributing spheres of influence and income. Thanks to existing facilities created with the help of 3D printer technology, one can already see today what is in store for us in the near future.

Villa in Beijing, created by Hushang Tengda. The area of the object is 400 square meters, while it was built in just 45 days. Using a huge 3Dprinter with a manipulator, the company’s specialists built a villa whose wall thickness is 2.5 cm. This building is able to withstand even an 8-magnitude earthquake. In addition to the rectangular box, the object also had rounded turrets. It is worth noting that a 3D printer significantly reduced financial, time and human resources, because, using conventional technology, it would take more than 3 months to build such a villa.

Mini-buildings in Barcelona, created by the Institute of Architecture of Catalonia. These objects have an interesting, unique architectural form. When printing them, experts used several small 3D printers, which created high-rise buildings. The construction process was very interesting: one 3D printer built the foundation for the next one, increasing the number of floors of the building to the required height. Such devices are easy to move from place to place, and their cost is low. A distinctive feature of this technology is the possibility of round-the-clock work without interruptions.

Buildings from the ground in Barcelona, created by the Institute of Architecture of Catalonia. 3D printing technology used for the construction of these objects, allowed the construction of the usual soil. Experts, using ordinary soil and a few additional components, created a natural material with tensile properties 3 times more than that of clay. It is this discovery will reduce the cost of housing, significantly changing the construction business in the world. Even poor countries can afford to provide housing for all those in need.

Unique architectural forms in Amsterdam, built by the Dutch architect Yanjap Rheissenars. This original structure was created by one large 3D printer with a 6-meter manipulator. This technology for creating buildings has opened up for the world the opportunity to create objects “without a beginning and an end” that you would not otherwise build.

Autonomous mobile homes in Oak Ridge, USA, invented by the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architecture bureau. This mobile home is an original building with a length of 12 meters, a width of 3.7 meters. The design is uniquely equipped with solar panels that are capable of delivering the collected energy and providing it with a house, and even an electric car designed for a mobile home. Thanks to such housing, people will be able to explore new places on Earth.

Temporary housing in 30 minutes, France, developed by the University of Nantes. The use of 3D technology for the construction of temporary shelters, will allow to solve the global problem of accommodating refugees, after hostilities, cataclysms, natural disasters. Such houses are built very quickly, they have rather simple forms, they are not durable, but they fulfill their main function – to save people from cold, precipitation, and sun. Print temporary housing from polyurethane compounds high-speed printer with a manipulator. This technology will be on the replacement of the usual and inefficient tent campsites.

3D carbon dioxide printing, Los Angeles, invented by CO2NCRETE. Thanks to the unique developments of this company, it became possible to convert carbon dioxide, which is emitted into the air by industrial companies, into a durable building material, similar in properties to concrete. This method has not yet been patented, it is being carefully studied, but with a successful outcome it will improve the ecological condition of our planet and reduce the use of earth resources.

3D printing of bridges in Amsterdam, developed by MX3D. This rather complex engineering task was successfully accomplished by two 3D printers, the appearance of which was similar to automotive robot welders that moved in six different directions. The bridge is still under construction, but most importantly, at the moment it meets all the standards. Completion is scheduled for 2107 year.

Brick-conditioner, Oakland, USA, an invention of the company Emerging Object. These bricks, printed using 3D print, have a built-in cooling system and function by absorbing water with its gradual evaporation. Building a house with at least one wall of such bricks will allow natural air conditioning at no additional cost.

Plastic houses in Chicago, created by the architecture studio WATG. It was the construction of houses made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic that became an excellent alternative to basic or classical building materials. Such buildings are printed on a 3D printer not entirely, but with separate sheet panels, which are already in place combined into one design.

Autonomous mobile homes in Oak Ridge, USA, invented by the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill architecture bureau. This mobile home is an original building with a length of 12 meters, a width of 3.7 meters. The design is uniquely equipped with solar panels that are capable of delivering the collected energy and providing it with a house, and even an electric car designed for a mobile home. Thanks to such housing, people will be able to explore new places on Earth.

Picture Credit: creil91

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The topic of waste segregation, saving materials and reducing the presence of harmful rubbish in the environment is constantly on the candlestick. Social awareness in this area is growing, because if not ourselves, then who is to care for the world in which we live? As far as we know that ecological solutions can be used in the case of classic printing, how does it look with 3D printing?

One of the positive aspects is the possibility of using recycled cartridges in 3D printers. They are of course much less durable and lower in quality, but waste treatment is an important part of caring for ecology. Unfortunately, solutions based on recycling are unlikely to be accepted in professional production processes, as materials originating from waste processing are characterized by drastically reduced mechanical properties – they are simply more fragile.

In the production itself, two main methods are distinguished: one is a cavity and one a waste less one. The first one concerns mainly elements manufactured using traditional methods of metal materials (titanium, aluminum, gold, silver, etc.). The machining is then very complicated, and after it is finished, there are many debris that can hardly be used again. The second method is used for production based on plastics – it is an injection method, consisting of filling the matrix with a liquid material, which solidifies inside, actually not producing any waste, if not counting the matrix itself (it should be replaced from time to time).

In 3D printers, the SLS method is used, which uses a high-power laser whose radius is sintered with small particles, both plastics, as well as metal and ceramics. As a result, waste remaining after the “pattern” can still be used for subsequent projects. The 3D printers using this solution allow to significantly reduce the amount of waste generated during production, it is not surprising that the largest companies in the world, to mention even Apple, Dell and General Electrics, reflecting on the introduction of 3D printers as a permanent element of the production process.

Another aspect of the ecological use of 3D printers is the hypothetical limitation of transport. If we could get a situation where the 3D printer would become as popular as ordinary printing devices, instead of buying, for example, toys and waiting for their delivery, we could buy toy plans and print them ourselves. And although the argument itself is quite logical, the world is still far away from this state of affairs.

3D printing, although more environmentally-friendly than traditional methods of producing objects, is unlikely to have a significant impact on blog ecology. First of all, it is still an experimental method that does not allow for creating more complicated elements that are important during production. The glory is the famous self-replicating 3D printers, because they would not be able to print important, miniature elements of themselves. There is no reason to count on producers switching to 3D printers, because it would be too big a loss for the industry supplying production materials, and large corporations will certainly not allow it.

Picture Credit: mebner1

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The purpose of this article is to show, for the solution of which tasks and production of which products, 3D printing with metals is the most suitable.

1. Heat Absorbers
Heat exchangers are designed to dissipate heat, for example, heat generated by electronic and mechanical devices. The surface area significantly affects the performance of the heat sink, but usually the available space is rather limited. This means that maximizing the surface area within the available boundaries is a key problem.

The freedom of design, which offers 3D printing with metal, allows you to create subtle and complex geometric shapes and lattice structures that make optimum use of available space. Combined with the excellent thermal conductivity of aluminum used in 3D printing, this is the ideal solution for manufacturing heat sinks.

2. Spare parts
The demand for spare parts is usually unstable, and it is difficult to predict when and where specific details will be needed. Storage of spare parts on shelves is expensive – you need to store not only parts, but also tools. Thanks to additive production, it is possible to manufacture spare parts on site and as needed, avoiding stockpiling and transforming all supply channels.

To maximize the benefits of technology in terms of material, weight and functionality, it is recommended that you redesign. But the more companies will introduce additive production for the production of the first lots, the simpler will be the process of managing spare parts.

3. Structural components
Such areas as bionics and structural optimization demonstrate great potential for industrial application. The structures created as a result of topological optimization can have a very complex shape. Due to the freedom to change the geometry that 3D prints with metal, a complex shape can be realized with fewer restrictions or modifications related to the production process.

Given the excellent mechanical properties of the metal used in additive production, the structural components become lighter and require less material without compromising strength. This approach opens up great opportunities for designing structural components.

4. Tools
In the tool industry, the issue of cost reduction is particularly relevant. Controlling these costs can be realized in part by optimizing the productivity of the machine and by reducing waste. One solution is the use of conformal cooling. In the process of manufacturing tools using additive production, the most complicated cooling channels can be integrated close to the surface of the part. This results in optimization of the heat flow and saving of cooling time, which reduces the risk of deformation and improves the quality of the parts.

For details that are so complex that for their production by conventional methods, labor-intensive and expensive tools will be required, additive technologies can have undeniable advantages.

5. Medical devices
Mass customization can be stably implemented only through 3D printing, where design flexibility does not jeopardize economic efficiency. For this reason, the medical industry was one of the first industries to master additive production for the manufacture of individual devices, such as implants and personalized medical devices.

The biocompatibility of titanium used in 3D printing, combined with the ability to create complex structures, opened new possibilities for minimizing surgical intervention, stimulating bone ingrowth and increasing the patient’s mobility. At this level of adaptation to the individual requirements of the patient to the requirements of customers, 3D printing is the only technically feasible and cost-effective production method.

6. Food industry
Food production and processing companies often need custom-made parts. The creation of tools for the production of small series often leads to an increase in production costs. The cost of 3D printing, which does not depend on the volume of the lot, makes it possible to reduce costs.

In addition, the biocompatibility of titanium used in 3D printers allows it to have direct contact with products and liquids. In combination with the flexibility of design, this makes it possible to produce more functional and complex complex components used for fixing, feeding and storing food products. By increasing functionality, we can reduce the number of components, and this reduces the risk of downtime and the need for maintenance.

7. Fashion and design
Attracted by the possibility of creating unusual shapes and configurations – for reasons of both aesthetics and functionality – designers and artists have experimented with 3D printing from the early days of technology. As the metal seal becomes more accessible, new opportunities open for creating things that were previously unthinkable. Customized jewelry, glasses, designer objects and accessories can be made of materials and coatings, the range of which is constantly growing.

In this industry, where brands need to constantly update design to maintain their competitiveness, additive production will be the best choice due to the economical nature of small-scale production and the speed of production.

8. Industrial automation
Each industrial automation project has its own requirements, which involve the development of individual solutions. 3D printing solves this problem through the cost-effective production of small batches and unlimited design capabilities. Integrated integrated functionality allows grippers and clamping devices to use fewer components and less manual assembly. The optimization of volumes leads to the production of lighter and less expensive grippers, which allow the robots to function at the optimum speed.

The high strength and light weight of aluminum used in 3D printing makes it suitable for the development of reliable individual automation solutions, while stainless steel can be used where food safety conditions must be observed.

Picture Credit: MustangJoe

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NASA announced the winners at the next stage of the 3D Printed Habitat Challenge.  The main task of the competition is the development of 3D printing technologies for residential and working buildings on Mars.

The competition has been going on for the fourth year already, and during this time the participants managed to pass from simple sketches of future Martian colonies to elaborated architectural projects and visual demonstrations. The competition is divided into several phases, each of which in turn consists of several stages. At the previous stage, which ended last month, the contestants prepared a detailed description of the projects of the inhabited Martian structures, and the American-Russian team of SEArch + / Apis Cor entered the top five and divided the prize pool by presenting the design on the title illustration.

SEArch is a New York architectural bureau working with NASA on ideas for Martian settlements for ten years or so. Of course, the company took part in the competition and even won in the first phase of the competition by presenting the conceptual design of the “Martian needle” – a 3D printed living module with an ice shell (pictured above). The idea, of course, is interesting, but then SEArch had to adapt to additional competitive conditions, namely the use of cement mixtures made from “improvised” materials, that is, regolith and plastic waste. Here, American architects teamed up with Irkutsk engineers – the company Apis Cor, which developed an unusual 3D construction printer and successfully demonstrated the capabilities of its offspring by printing a demonstration house in Stupino.

Now it was the turn of the next practical demonstration of the proposed additive technologies. By the way, such exercises have been carried out several times, but the tasks have been complicated each time – from 3D printing of simple samples from construction mixtures based on the conditional Martian soil and secondary polymeric raw materials to examples of load-bearing elements of building structures, for example beams. The third phase poses the task of building prototypes of buildings on a reduced scale and consists of five stages. The first, as we already mentioned, provided for the elaboration of an architectural project, and at the second stage, participants were asked to print the foundation.

The obtained samples were tested for strength, including with the help of gravity and the Olympic core (the main thing – do not drop on the leg!). The best result was shown by the team of SEArch + / Apis Cor, who received a bonus of $ 55,154.77. The second place was taken by the team of the University of Pennsylvania, and the honorable third was the team FormForge / Austin Industries / WPM. In the next stages, participants will demonstrate other 3D-printed elements, up to the final competition next year, when it will be necessary to build a full-scale design in a scale of 1: 3.

Image credit: Youtube

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New to jewelers
At the beginning of the year, the manufacturer introduced two new materials to the market. After a couple of months, new ceramic resins were produced. Today Formlabs announced the delivery of a unique product Castable Wax Resin.

The jewelry market is highly competitive. More and more jewelers are turning to additive technology to create their masterpieces. This helps to save time on processing, replace traditional casting and grinding.

3D printing is the fastest and least expensive way of making jewelry. Specifically in this segment Formlabs is the leader, producing quality printers and filaments.

Castable Wax Resin is a wax-based material intended for injection molding. With its help, you can create parts that can be used both as final elements and as test pieces.

Castable Wax Resin
The new material harmoniously combines the smoothness of the surface and increased strength. With its help you can produce the most detailed products, including filigree meshes and curls.

As the Asia-Pacific region is the world’s largest jewelery market, Formlabs works closely with jewelry partners in China, Japan and India. It was tested that the Castable Wax Resin is great for making filigree bracelets and other refined ornaments popular in these countries.

The material consists of 20% wax resin. It does not need subsequent hardening. For processing, it is sufficient to wipe the product with isopropyl alcohol (it removes stickiness).

Image credit: formlabs

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The 3D print community is skeptical of attempts to create three-dimensional printed buildings over the years, although many have tried to do so.

It’s not that the technology did not work, it’s often not so. In some cases, when 3D-sized printers do achieve their modest goals.

Objections were mainly around these factors.

1. Cost: The cost of materials and printing can exceed traditional approaches, which makes the method financially unworkable for those who consider it seriously.
2. Incomplete: almost all methods of 3D construction printing apply only to walls. Almost never mentioned: plumbing, electrical treatment, surface finish, doorways, floor coverings, ventilation, windows, roofing or other important elements. I want to live in a three-dimensional printing house, not in a 3D printed cave.
3. Labor: Many jurisdictions have problems with the local workforce. Builders can be inefficient, make mistakes that need to be corrected and rebuilt, or they simply can not fit in time. The robotic system of buildings will eliminate the human factor and provide a very predictable way to build the building reliably and efficiently.
4. Corruption: We’ve all heard stories about corruption in the construction industry. Non-standard components, additional fees that must be paid to someone, unnecessary delays and other aggravating barriers to the completion of the project. The robotic system can reduce the likelihood of such phenomena occurring.
5. Speed: A robotic construction system can theoretically build a building faster than people can do, especially with fewer errors. The Philippine experiment showed that projects can be completed in a few days, not months. This means saving time, which is attractive for the market of potential buyers.
6. Unusual designs: until now this feature has mostly not been in the construction of buildings, but as soon as appropriate equipment is available, designers can go to the city to create very unusual and personalized structures that would otherwise be impossible to produce.
7. 24-hour work: the robotic system is not paid overtime or in double volume, unlike bothersome people. Current projects, as a rule, are built only in the daytime. The robotic system can work without interruption (except for weather and lack of building materials) to complete the projects literally as quickly as possible. This is one of the goals of every construction project manager who is very interested in this prospect. Yes, machines can require periodic maintenance, but then you can simply replace the machine with another one.
8. Scalability: if a robotic construction system works and is beneficial, what prevents you from getting another? There is never a shortage of labor because you could theoretically deploy construction machinery as quickly as you can buy them.

We remain optimistic about 3D construction printers and hope that in the near future it will be possible to develop one of the realistic functions. If so, he can benefit from all of these factors.

Image credit: Wikipedia

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