A recent study from Queen’s University Belfast has employed 3D printing to create cacao-based formulations infused with raw Greek honey and vitamin D3 (VitD3). The researchers aimed to improve supplement delivery by addressing taste and bioavailability issues. Their approach involved blending organic cacao with varying concentrations of honey and introducing VitD3, using specialized 3D printing technology to form precise, stable “printlets.” Three honey types—Vitex Honey, Lavender Honey, and Jerusalem Sage Honey—were each melted at 37 °C and incorporated into 100% organic cacao liquor. The team prepared two concentrations, 5% and 10% (w/w), to identify how varying honey ratios affected the resulting mixtures. Physicochemical tests indicated that the chocolate-honey formulations stayed liquid-like under ambient conditions and remained stable up to around 38 °C. Rheological analyses revealed that adding honey increased viscosity, enhancing the structural stability of the 3D printed shapes. Graphical abstract. Image via Science Direct. Lavender Honey at 10% concentration emerged as… read more
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has successfully tested a 3D printed specimen capsule in its High Flux Isotope Reactor. The capsule, known in the industry as a rabbit capsule, was designed and manufactured using a laser powder bed printer with stainless steel materials. This marks the first time an additively manufactured component of this type has been qualified for reactor use. Image Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory The specimen capsule underwent nearly a month of testing inside the High Flux Isotope Reactor, where it demonstrated its ability to withstand the reactor’s high neutron flux environment. These capsules play an essential role in nuclear fuels and materials research by containing experiments during irradiation testing. “This is a significant step toward demonstrating that additive manufacturing can be used to develop and qualify specialized components that cannot be conventionally machined,” said Richard Howard, group lead for irradiation engineering at ORNL. The technology offers… read more
Airtech Advanced Materials Group, a leader in high-performance materials for additive manufacturing, has qualified its Dahltram® Resins for use with KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH’s powerPrint Large-Format Additive Manufacturing platforms. This partnership represents a significant advancement in large-scale 3D printing for industrial applications, enabling more precise and reliable production processes. KraussMaffei Technologies, renowned for its expertise in injection molding and extrusion, has been at the forefront of large-format additive manufacturing. The company’s Additive division specializes in extrusion-based 3D printing technology, with the powerPrint system being a key component. This gantry-based platform is designed for industrial-scale production, offering high precision and consistency in part manufacturing. Recently, KraussMaffei has expanded its offerings to include industrial robot-based systems and standalone extrusion solutions, further solidifying its position in the additive manufacturing sector. KraussMaffei powerPrint system interior setup for large-scale additive manufacturing. Photo via Airtech Advanced Materials Group. “We are excited to collaborate with KraussMaffei to bring… read more
Formnext 2024 wrapped up recently, with companies introducing new products spanning the entire additive manufacturing ecosystem. One particularly interesting launch came from 3D scanner manufacturer 3DMakerpro, which unveiled the Eagle, its new LiDAR-based spatial scanner for indoor and outdoor spaces. During the Frankfurt-based show, 3D Printing Industry sat down with Tianshi Yuwen, Global Marketing Director, and Luo Wei, Head of 3DMakerpro’s R&D Department. They highlighted that the Eagle stands out within the 3D scanner market thanks to its extensive scanning range, portability, impressive full-color texture cameras, and ability to function in a range of environments. Additionally, the discussion outlined novel 3D scanning applications, with 3DMakerpro expanding beyond the hobbyist space into the industrial manufacturing and real estate markets. Yuwen and Wei also offered a sneak preview of 3DMakerpro’s upcoming launches, including a new consumer-grade 3D scanner as well as the company’s entry into the medical sector. “We believe spatial scanning… read more
A recent study conducted by Henkel’s Loctite 3D Printing team has revealed that UV curing resins can compete with established engineering thermoplastics in many durability conditions relevant for industrial applications. According to Henkel, additive manufacturing has transformed how functional plastic parts can be produced, providing superior design flexibility, complexity, and speed in production. As the range of materials expands, particularly UV curing resins, a growing need exists to evaluate their performance compared to traditional thermoplastics. Based on frequent customer requests, Loctite 3D Printing conducted a study that compared their UV curing resins Loctite® 3D 3843 BK and Loctite® 3D IND403 BK with two traditional thermoplastics used for injection molding, namely PA6 and POM. In this study the mechanical properties of the 3D printed samples were compared with the Injection molded samples. The individual performances were assessed after following an extensive series of durability tests, like accelerated weathering, accelerated heat ageing,… read more
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