Alex

A research paper and associated video has been published demonstrating the freeform printing of extruded thermoset plastics. The video shows a thermoset composite being extruded and curing in mid air, and without support material. It has been achieved with a process known as Frontal Polymerization, and the researchers from Colorado State University claim this is the first time that freeform printing thermoset composites with FP has been demonstrated. You can see the FP printing in action in the video below. Read on to know more about Frontal Polymerization. Thermoset The vast majority of extrusion-based carbon-fiber composite printer systems utilize feedstock consisting of short chopped fiber pieces encased within a thermoplastic matrix (the filament or pellet). This is exactly how a heat-based plastic printer works. It melts a thermoplastic with its hotend, it extrudes it, the extruded plastic cools rapidly as it leaves the nozzle, and it sets into shape. The…    read more 

3D printer giant Creality has two new product lines launched today and has also teased the upcoming release of the Klipper-integrated Creality Sonic Pad. Read on to know more about the new and upcoming releases, plus a couple of extra goodies for fans of Creality Cloud and the CR-Laser Falcon cutter. Ender-3 Neo series The new Ender-3 Neo series is the latest addition to the Ender 3 line and consists of three printers, the Ender-3 Neo, Ender-3 V2 Neo, and Ender-3 Max Neo. The Ender-3 Neo series carry durable full-metal Bowden extruders, offering great extrusion force and smooth feeding and retracting of filaments. They also integrate the CR-Touch automatic leveling system with Z-axis compensation functions, providing a hassle-free print bed leveling experience. The Ender-3 Neo is the updated version of Ender-3 Pro, and it integrates a silent mainboard reducing the noise during the printing process. The compact wavy-fin heat sink…    read more 

Researchers at CERN have been awarded funding to continue development of 3D printed cooling system components as part of the AHEAD project. The AHEAD project, which consists of CERN and 5 other partners, aims to produce lightweight, smart heat exchangers with a reduced part count by use of AM processes. AHEAD is one of several projects funded under the second phase of the ATTRACT program which is intended to spin-off research technologies into commercial applications. The AHEAD project will build on previous research conducted in phase one of ATTRACT, where a CERN research team had developed smart pipe technology. Smart pipe. (Image credit: CERN) The Smart Wall Pipes and ducts (SWaP) project (pictured above) used 3D printing to manufacture smart pipes with sensors embedded inside the component. The reduction in size and increase in complexity of these parts means they can be placed in tighter spaces, closer to the systems…    read more 

The Airbus A350 already has more 3D printed parts than any other civil airliner. And that list of AM components will grow further shortly thanks to German company Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH, who will be manufacturing a complex titanium component for the aircraft. Liebherr has been selected to supply the lower cargo door actuator and valve for the A350 extra wide body passenger aircraft. It is one of many ongoing projects between Liebherr’s center of competence and Airbus. Liebherr specializes in flight control systems, landing gears, gears, gearboxes and electronics, and is collaborating intensively with Airbus in the development of additive layer manufactured components. Vacuuming the dust (Image credit: Liebherr) Liebherr has hardware installed on all Airbus aircraft and has provided AM components for the A350 before. This is great news for us, because we don’t have any photos of the new 3D printed cargo door actuator, so let’s have a…    read more