At only 23 years old, young entrepreneur Maggie Grout has found her calling: 3D-printing school campuses in Madagascar.

Despite the challenges that Madagascar poses, Maggie is determined to provide access to education for the local children.

According to the United Nations, 40% of the population in Madagascar is comprised of children 14 years old and younger.

Additionally, Maggie recognizes first-hand how the trajectory of her life could have taken a different turn without education. Born in an orphanage in China, Maggie is extremely grateful for the educational opportunities she has been granted.

Photo: Mattea LinAe

Thinking Huts

The idea to 3D-print campuses first came to Maggie in 2021 during the pandemic. Maggie partnered with a San Francisco architect and together they decided to make these huts resemble a honeycomb so modules could be easily added.

Referred to as "Thinking Huts," these additive manufactured schools take 18 hours to build and cost between $40,000 - $50,000 to produce. Her goal is to cut down this amount to $20,000 per hut.

Maggie brought over her 3D printers in a shipping container and has successfully printed a campus in Fianarantsoa, a town in south central Madagascar and home to 200,000 people.

Photo: Geoffrey Gaspard

A campus consists of a few honeycomb designed huts complete with solar panels. The huts also contain drinkable water, Wi-Fi, and bathrooms.

“From that first project, I really learned how to streamline the logistics. I learned how to put together the supply chain when there’s not a lot of locally available materials. And then I learned how to work in harmony with the local people," stated Maggie as reported by Fast Company.

Maggie is now putting the finishing touches on the second 3D-printed campus, nicknamed "Honeycomb," which can be found on the west coast of the African island.

Photo: Thinking Huts

Beyond the Building

In addition to the physical structure, Thinking Huts aims to create 3D-technician programs which will improve the job market.

After completing the project, Thinking Huts will be managed locally which will encourage the community to become involved.

Although teachers are currently sourced from outside the area, Maggie strives to work with the Ministry of Education and make the school public. This would encourage the government to hire local teachers.

"Education is at the root of solving all the other problems in the world. I would look at all these problems going on in the news, and I was like, ‘Well, if people just had the skills and the education to come up with the solutions on their own, then we wouldn’t be seeing all of this,'" said Maggie according to Fast Company.

Something I saw recently that made me re-read the headline was: “How Montreal researchers are 3D printing using sound waves.” 

On April 27th, 2018, a team of engineering researchers at Concordia University successfully 3D printed an object utilizing sound waves. This research is being honored as one of the top ten scientific discoveries of the year by Quebec Science magazine.  

The research team is led by Muthukumaran Packirisamy, Professor of Engineering and Director of the Optical-Bio Microsystems Lab at Concordia University. 

According to CBC News, this technology may be used in the future for repairing nuclear reactors and spacecrafts or even printing medical devices that can be inserted into a patient’s body. 

How direct sound printing works 

Direct sound printing operates based on cavitation, a process which uses ultrasound waves to start small chemical reactions, lasting shorter than a second. As a result of the reaction, there is an enormous amount of pressure and heat.  

According to CNET, the pressure is close to 1,000 times that of air at sea level and the temperature is about 27,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is hotter than the surface of the sun which is close to 10,000 degrees.

Due to this, bubbles form in the printed material and then solidify. This allows the 3D object to be created layer by layer. 

The objects can be as thin as 100 microns, which is equivalent to the width of a strand of human hair. Direct sound printing can work with a range of materials including plastic, ceramic, metal, and biomaterials. 

Direct sound printing applications 

As Packirisamy stated, "sound can penetrate through barriers where light cannot.” 

Along this train of thought, sound can penetrate inside a body or device. 

This creates the potential of 3D printing an object directly unto a surface, such as internal parts of a plane’s engine or under someone’s skin, without requiring surgery.  

Packirisamy's team has printed parts such as: gears and propellers, honeycomb patterns, and the outlines of human noses and ears.  

They have also sent ultrasound waves through a 15 mm (1.3 inch) layer of pig muscle, skin, and tissue.  They were then able to print a small 3D maple leaf on the other side.

"DSP introduces the possibility of noninvasive deep inside body printing," Concordia researchers noted in a paper by Nature Communications.

Direct sound printing will continue to be one scientific innovation that makes you think, or in this case, read twice.

Watch how direct sound printing works:

This enhanced software reduces costs, print time, and manpower by utilizing automated processes, templates, and cost estimations.   

Welcome to GrabCAD Print Pro. 

GrabCAD Print Pro focuses on typical customer needs that will accelerate 3D printing, including:  

• Reliability
• Consistency 
• Traceability 
• Speed 
• Throughput 
• Part cost and quality 
• Reproducibility 
• Part design optimization 
• Rapid prototyping 

“New GrabCAD Print Pro geometry analysis, correction, and optimization capabilities eliminate the need to also use Magics or Insight for high performance parts.” - Aerospace Print Programmer

Therefore, by upgrading to GrabCAD Print Pro, you will experience reduced prep time to print as well as less scrap. This leads to greater savings and better efficiency.

GrabCAD Print Pro Features:

Accuracy Center  

Achieve unprecedented part accuracy for mission-critical projects and volume production.  

Manufacturing Templates  

Save print settings for common print job types to speed up workflow and synchronize your team.  

Nesting

With GrabCAD Print Pro, you can build more parts in a single print.

3rd Party Partner Plug-ins  

We are working with the best in the industry for MES, DRM, PLM, and analytics to provide a complete software solution.  

FIPS

GrabCAD Print Pro runs on FIPS compliant computers. 

Per-Part Time Estimation  

When printing multiple models in one build, quickly see the time estimate for each model instead of one grouped estimation.  

GrabCAD Releases:

GrabCAD Print Pro will be officially available for FDM and SAF on May 16th.

Additional features like labeling, sustainability calculations, DFAM checks, and textures are planned to be released in the coming months.  

Also keep an eye out for the Polyjet, P3, and Stereolithography to be added to GrabCAD Print Pro. 

Learn more about GrabCAD Print Pro here.

If you visit the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru, this is exactly what you will experience.  

Introducing Factory+

Thanks to the Factory+ framework, machines can manage, analyze, and export data generated through manufacturing operations. This open-access digital architecture was developed by engineers at the AMRC’s Factory 2050 in Sheffield. 

According to Harri Williams, a software engineer at AMRC Cymru, Factory+ can extract data from 3D printers, robot arms, CNC machines, and automated guided vehicles (AGV). As a result, manufacturers can analyze past performance and follow trends according to the consolidated data.

The AMRC Cymru’s two Stratasys 3D printers, the J835 and F170, are part of the Factory+ architecture. This is in addition to the Stratasys F170s and Fortus 900mc which are currently located at another AMRC site in Rotherham. This enables AMRC engineers to follow the output of these printers, their most utilized machines.  

The dashboard displays data which shows, for instance, how much material is left in the machines and current job status. A new feature that they have recently applied is an alert when a job is failing. Operators can react to jobs within ten minutes which results in a reduced number of wasted prints.

Facilitating Machine Connectivity

According to Frank Lindeman, Business Development & Customer Success, Stratasys Software, “it's becoming clear that machine connectivity is key to reap the benefits of Industry 4.0 and make factories smarter.”

The Stratasys printers at AMRC Cymru and the AMRC site in South Yorkshire, are powered by MTConnect and the GrabCAD Printer Connectivity API. These tools are both part of the open GrabCAD Additive Manufacturing Platform.

By integrating Stratasys machines with Factory+, they can work efficiently with other smart factory floor equipment.  

With insights available at their fingertips (or in the AMRC’s case, displayed on a projector), manufacturers can execute complete control over their processes, even down to the second.  

To learn more about Factory+: factoryplus.app.amrc.co.uk 

That’s where additive manufacturing comes into play.

As additive manufacturing continues to emerge as a viable method of manufacturing and production, the automotive industry will continue to benefit. Here are five examples that demonstrate the positive impact additive manufacturing has made to the automotive industry:

Developing Automotive Prototypes with 3D printing at Skorpion Engineering

Skorpion Engineering is a pioneer of advanced automotive prototypes. They utilize Stratasys PolyJet and FDM 3D printers to help produce high-performance prototypes and use innovative prototyping to bring conceptual designs to market quickly and stay competitive.

Traditionally parts like bumpers and other structural parts are often outsourced and made from specialty materials such as clay. Due to the fragility of clay parts, transporting them is risky. Such material is fragile and normally requires a specific vendor.

Outsourcing such parts can be costly and time consuming. Any iterations to the initial design only adds to the time and cost required to produce the part.

Skorpion Engineering demonstrated how the production of such parts could be expedited when they 3D printed the 1.4 m / 4.6 ft bumper on its Stratasys Fortus 900mc 3D printer. This reduced turnaround time by a massive 50% compared to traditional methods, enabling it to get the part to its customer quicker than ever before.

Producing High-Performing Automotive Parts for NASCAR

Due to extreme heat temperatures within the cockpit of vehicles, engineers set out to remedy the condition by cooling the interior of NASCAR’s Next Gen car and meeting temperature and durability requirements and maintaining a competitive cost-per-part for volumes. There was one important caveat: no modifications could be made to the design of the Next Gen car.

With help from Stratasys application engineers, using SAF technology on the H350 printer, the team came up with a way to achieve this specification.

Stratasys Direct Manufacturing engineers tested various options and recommended NASCAR use SAF technology powered by the Stratasys H350 3D printer. They came up with a modified ventilation configuration that required over 650 new air ducts and ventilation parts, which would be printed and utilize some sophisticated production methods.

They were printed on the H350, then finished with media that is blasted to clean the parts with the DyeMansion Powershot C, then dyed black on DyeMansion’s DM60, then shot peened with the Powershot S.

The parts were completed in short order and allowed the Next Gen car to participate in the 2022 NASCAR Cup racing season.

Saving Time and Cost in Prototype Fabrication for Volvo Construction Equipment

Volvo Construction Equipment (VCE), a manufacturer of heavy construction vehicles, designed a new water pump housing for one of its articulated hauler vehicles. They required a prototype to perform functional testing and validate the new design. Traditionally, tooling costs for such a prototype would have been significant and prohibitive.

They utilized 3D printing to print water pump housing prototypes for functional testing. The prototype parts were printed with a Stratasys Objet Eden260V 3D printer.

As a result, they were able to print the prototype at a fraction of the cost to produce traditional prototype parts. Plus, they completed testing much sooner than traditional methods would have allowed.

Radford Motors Creates Reliable and Cost-Effective Production for Luxury Vehicles

Radford Motors was to build only 62 units of one of its first run models, with the Radford Lotus Type 62-2 as its prototype production vehicle. Traditional automotive manufacturing, using mass production, was cost prohibitive and out of the question.

They turned to 3D printing to produce it.

Specifically, they used a large-format Stratasys F770 and F900 printers (this included 13 and 18 cubic feet (about twice the volume of a bathtub) of build volume, respectively) with thermoplastic feedstocks for the right strength-to-weight properties needed for making tooling and production parts.

The printer capacity allowed them to use durable, lightweight materials to design, iterate, and build the tooling and components, for each custom vehicle, faster cheaper than any other method.

Read more: How Radford Used GrabCAD Shop to Create Over 500 3D-Printed Car Parts

Lamborghini 3D Prints End-Use Parts and Prototypes

The Italian automotive manufacturer Lamborghini uses 3D printing to keep pace with the entire lifecycle of its parts, from rapid prototyping applications to direct digital manufacturing of end-use parts.

They use Stratasys FDM-based 3D printing technology high-strength end-use parts, durable for high-speed racing. The Stratasys Fortus 3D Production Systems are used to create complex geometries in a very tight timeframe.

To fabricate and prototype parts, they used a mix of technology: a Stratasys Dimension 1200es 3D Printer, Stratasys Fortus 360mc Production System and the Fortus 400mc Production System to produce prototype parts such as section bumpers, grills, aesthetic frames and those in the engine bay.

They also used the combination of technologies to fabricate various interior parts that span door panels, seat covers, steering wheels along with aerodynamic components such as conveyors and air heaters.

For Lamborghini, 3D printing is not only a significant cost and time saver, but it greatly enhances workflow efficiency.

3D Printing and the Automotive Industry

There you have it; just a few ways additive manufacturing has helped well-known automotive manufacturers achieve the impossible!

Want to learn how 3D printers can help you achieve your automotive needs? Download the 3D Printer Solution Guide for Automotive Manufacturers. This in-depth guide will help you learn about the benefits additive manufacturing brings to each step of the automotive manufacturing process!

Download the Guide

According to PR Newswire, Coupa Software found that 82% of supply chain leaders believe that these problems will remain the same or become even worse over the next 6-12 months.  

During 2022, four out of five organizations experienced one notable supply chain issue and 50% experienced three or more setbacks.  

Is this starting to sound familiar? 

Do you feel like we are living in a strange, recurring Groundhog Day? 

If so, Dr. Madhav Durbha, Vice President of Supply Chain Innovation at Coupa agrees with you. He believes that, “with climate change and geopolitical tensions expected to impact food and cause disruptions, now is the time for supply chain leaders to take initiative and be creative as to how they can invest and improve their operations.” 

So how can we resolve these supply chain delays? 

By utilizing additive manufacturing, companies can control output and will no longer have to rely on the supply chain. 

Cheaper and quicker prototypes

Semi-permanent makeup machine and needles

Additive manufacturing enables businesses to prototype products and designs faster, resulting in greater cost-efficiency. After utilizing the Stratasys J55 Prime 3D printer, SEONG YUN TECH decreased the cost of prototyping from KRW 10 million to KRW 100,000. 

Since their manufacturing schedule was shortened from a month to a few days, SEONG YUN TECH implemented design changes immediately. With this quick turnaround, the semi-permanent makeup machine models were ready within two to three days.  

According to the CEO of SEONG YUN TECH, Dongmin Lee, “using Stratasys’ 3D printers delivered tremendous synergy in product development, and these printers have been essential for the company’s development. We experienced that expanding into additive manufacturing enhances the agility of product planning and manufacturing.”

Overcome part shortages

When Stratasys first began producing the H350 3D printers, the PCB Stepper Controller Board was discontinued due to COVID-19 delays. Since this was vital for the printer to operate correctly, the team replaced the part with a different electronics board. The only drawback was that this new board required air cooling.

Circuit board bracket

In order to solve this problem, the H350 Production team used the H350 3D printer to produce a circuit board bracket. This part easily secures a fan to the electronics board. The bracket doesn’t need any tools or screws, streamlining product assembly. By printing this optimized part in-house, production for the H350 could continue and was no longer affected by supply chain delays.

Another instance when the H350 effectively resolved shipping issues was in March 2021. Eighty large housing parts were stuck on the Ever Given container ship in the Suez Canal. Philipp Götz, CEO of Götz Maschinenbau, a mechanical engineering company, was asked by one of his customers for assistance. With the H350, Götz was able to finish this order in only two weeks, enabling his customer to complete their machines and meet required deadlines.  

Instantly print replacement parts

Each month, at Siemens Mobility’s flagship site RRX Rail Service Center, a hundred trains enter and leave the depot. In order to be equipped for issues and maintain flexibility, Siemens utilizes the Stratasys Fortus 450mc 3D printer.

As a Siemens representative stated, “this is where FDM additive manufacturing fits in perfectly. [It provides] us with the capability to rapidly and cost-effectively produce one-off, customized production parts.” 

Parts print within hours, as compared to the weeks or months it may take with casting. According to Tina Eufinger, Siemens Mobility Division, “within a week, we can iterate and optimize the design. [And] then 3D print a final, customized production-grade part. This has [allowed] us to reduce the manufacturing time of each part by up to 95%. [This] has significantly sped up our ability to respond to customers.” This is essential in the railway industry since repairs are constantly required, typically after an accident.

Siemens 3D printed tool

Taking matters into their own hands

Additive manufacturing allows suppliers to break free from their reliance on supply chains and finally end this Groundhog Day-esque cycle.

By printing in-house and on-demand, companies can gain control over their operations and production.

Whether it be prototypes, acquiring that last part, or repairs, additive manufacturing enables companies to be self-sufficient.

Why? Because additive manufacturing continues to play a vital role in helping manufacturers overcome supply chain delays while also empowering them to get (better) products to market faster.

And it’s not just one particular industry; according to Diogo Quental, Global VP of Strategy, Partnerships, and International Business Development at  Raise3D, the industries that will see the most growth this year include defense, automotive, dental and aerospace.

So let’s dig a little deeper and see what exciting trends 2023 has in store!

While the COVID pandemic offered opportunities for 3D printing to rise to the occasion, there was the juxtaposition of the subsequent global industry downturn in the years that followed. Add in factors such as uncertainty over fuel prices, supply chain disruption, the increasing cost of living, rising production costs and the continuing war between the Ukraine-Russia, and you’re left with somewhat of an unpredictable landscape.

According to Markus Glasser, Senior VP at EOS ,“3D printing materials, hardware, and services sales combined will rise from $12 billion in 2021 to an estimated $38 billion by 2026.”

Shifting supply chains

Looking back on the past few years, it’s important to note how 3D printing was able to help with breakdowns in the global supply chain. The COVID pandemic, for instance, showed how valuable additive manufacturing solutions were, particularly the rapid production of 3D printed face masks and shields. Stratasys, for instance, with the help of many partners was able to make over 100,000 face shields for hospitals, medical personnel and other first-line responders.

Similar ventures were taken on by companies across the globe, as the production of mask adjusters, temporary emergency isolation spaces, hands-free door openers, test swabs and respirator parts became a priority. Movements such as the ‘innovate2ventilate’ project encouraged widespread community innovation and ingenuity like never before in the 3D printing world.

Today, additive manufacturing continues to play a big role in supply chain management. The technology removes the need for excess physical spare parts (as these can be stored digitally) and enables extra products to be produced quickly if necessary too (as seen during the pandemic).

Companies can therefore better manage their products from the get-go, reducing both waste and costs.

With new 3D printing materials coming to the market, an increasing range of printers and a growing number of additive manufacturing methods available, it makes sense for many companies to outsource certain aspects of 3D printing to companies who specialize in those areas.

According to Marketverse, “Simplified supply chains make a lot of sense for companies needing small batch production for rapid prototyping, spare parts, tooling, jigs, and fixtures.”

On the other hand, some industries and companies are looking to do the exact opposite and bring 3D printing in-house. For instance, 3D printers are popping up in hospitals, dentist offices and especially classrooms.

New materials

Photo courtesy: Stratasys

2023 will see new materials (with new mechanical properties and new capabilities) at the forefront of 3D printing. Watch the metal additive manufacturing and bio-printing spaces in particular.

We’re also likely to see additive manufacturing be taken up in new sectors and therefore witness innovations with regards to suitable materials for those industries. Flexible electronics, energy production and lifestyle/well-being products are just some of the areas set to experience a manufacturing renaissance with 3D printing at the heart.

“Outside of the high cost of the equipment, the next big barrier is materials and closed additive manufacturing ecosystems, which have stymied the 3D printing industry’s growth. Numerous types of 3D printing materials are on the market today, but few are advanced enough to meet the quality or regulatory requirements of industries." -- Design News

Increased 3D printing education

As additive manufacturing is adopted by more industries and businesses, increasing numbers of professionals need and wish to learn about the technology. 2023 will undoubtedly see more widespread adoption of 3D printing training and upskilling, particularly in remote online and virtual course format.

There is likely to be a greater number of specific courses focusing on in-depth knowledge of additive manufacturing in certain industries and key areas within those industries.

Better sustainability

In the context of climate change awareness and various global government initiates, reducing environmental impact is (or should be) at the top of the agenda for all industries and manufacturers. While attitudes do vary globally, I have no doubt that 2023 will see these efforts continue to ramp up in the 3D printing sector via new solutions and an influx of innovation from those within the sector.

More industries will look to additive manufacturing to:

• Harness lower energy consumption.
• Reduce waste and fewer required materials (many of which are both lighter and recyclable).

Not to mention the fact that entire assemblies can be printed in one go (vs printing multiple individual parts).

The 3D printing industry itself, while inherently more ‘eco-centric’ than traditional manufacturing methods, is also under pressure to make improvements where possible too. For example, polymer 3D printing might not be considered at the go-to method unless there is some sustainable aspect to the project such as sustainable materials or plans for recycling of products. There is also mounting emphasis being placed on streamlined workflows.

Transparent sustainability is on the minds of customers too. They are increasingly expecting for services, products, packaging, and methods of production to have minimal global environmental impact (and to be able to prove it). Provable sustainability is therefore something that additive manufacturing companies and companies relying on the technology will have to consider.

Greater customization & automation

Customers are demanding more personalization when it comes to products and services and additive manufacturing enables this concept to thrive. No doubt we’ll definitely see more of this over the next year. In addition, the ability for additive manufacturing to produce large volumes of product components via automation will also likely increase in 2023.

Automation, largely achieved via AI, enables companies to:

• Save on costs
• Improve workflows
• Provide better health and safety protocols
• Ensure product quality standards are controlled and maintained

Put these trends together, and you’ll be seeing more products produced to a higher quality via 3D printing thanks to automated order management, the printing process itself, material management and post processing, but with the added ability to customize before purchase.

Talk about win – win.

Looking ahead

3D printing’s popularity is gaining in traction year-over-year, not least due to the reduced design and production times, as well as increased overall quality of end products. While additive manufacturing might not replace traditional manufacturing in certain instances, it does provide access to faster prototyping along with cheaper spare parts and customized tool production.

As with all industries, additive manufacturing is impacted by the varying global matters at hand. However, if the past few years are anything to go by, then 2023 will see the world of 3D printing continue to break down barriers and rise to the occasion.

Supply chain interaction, newly explored materials, continued upskilling, sustainability opportunities, increased customization and greater automation are all key trends to monitor in the additive manufacturing world. Let’s see what the next 12 months brings!

Why? The additive manufacturing market is expected to reach $51 billion in 2030, compared to $12 billion in 2020 - growing at a 15% compound annual growth rate. As 3D printing continues to revolutionise the capability of manufacturing processes across multiple industries – from automotive and aerospace to medical and consumer goods – higher education facilities across the world will be required to lean into this type of technology.

Indeed, they are tasked with equipping the next generation of STEM professionals with the 3D printing skills necessary to keep up with future demands with their sectors.

Student holding a 3D printed part.

There can be no doubt that having 3D printers on site is an invaluable tool for university-level learning and development. Students are able to create models more seamlessly (and in shorter time frames) and learn about emerging technology, whilst teachers are able to demonstrate theory and create models that they wouldn't otherwise be able to do using 2D materials.

“3D printing technology gives students the possibility to test, create, and dream. Students are turned from passive consumers into active and creative users grappling with the possibilities and limits of the 3D printing process,” says Source Graphics.

There are of course unique requirements for a college 3D printer vs say a home or office 3D printer. These include budget restrictions, the amount of printers required, suitable education materials, emissions concerns and software options. With that in mind, here are three printers making waves right now in the education sector.

Ultimaker 2+ Connect

223 x 220 x 205 print area (mm)

Optional HEPA air manager to reduce emissions

$2,650

Ultimaker has evolved drastically over the years and now produces some of the top 3D printers for both businesses and higher education environments. Their printers are known for top quality hardware, informative educational content, extra features and ease of use.

Boasting industrial level quality and reliability, the 2+ Connect is one of the best FDM 3D printers for higher education specifically. Its network connectivity enables it to function with the Ultimaker cloud platform ecosystem.

These multi connection opportunities alongside the after-sales support, downloadable white papers and e-learning modules are ideal for workflow integration with students and teachers alike. In addition, all of these features help to streamline the rollout and implementation of these machines across educational institutions.

Formlabs Form 3+

145 × 145 × 185 print area (mm)

No emission filter but enclosed

$3,500

The Formlabs Form 3+ is tailored towards university-level education due to it’s breadth of educational resources, expert precision and the simple fact that it’s far less messy than some other

resin printers. It also offers a huge range of engineering, arts, dental, medical and standard grade resins, making it ideal for a variety of students who need to learn about 3D printing in relation to their specific field.

There are slick software packages available which take charge of print support generation too, something which can prove challenging when printing with desktop SLA technology.

Formlabs provide various webinars, lesson plans and educational resources to aid academic institutions on how to best utilise the printers in their areas of expertise. Research grants are also available to assist medical students with equipment fees – bonus!

The MakerBot Replicator + Educator’s Edition

295 x 195 x 165 print area (mm)

No emission filter

$2,699

The latest edition of the MakerBot has positioned itself as the 3D printer within the educational lab setting.

The Replicator+ arrives fully assembled, has a removable, flexible print bed offering safe print removal and the chance to experiment with metal and wood filled filament. It has a simple set up and works remotely off Wi-Fi. Then there’s the print app and browser based integration to simplify the student work process and class management.

There’s a wealth of educational resources for young learners and educators and safety is a top priority thanks to the onboard camera. The company offers the MakerBot Educators Guidebook with 600+ lessons for educational professionals wanting to lean into 3D printing and it invites educators themselves to collaborate with them via the MakerBot Educators Program.

Final thoughts

As additive manufacturing continues to be taken up within even more industries, it’s imperative that higher education bodies provide future STEM leaders with the hands-on 3D printing experience they need to succeed.

This means providing them with the printers, tools, software, learning materials and technology required to eventually take on real-world scenarios.

By providing 3D printers in higher educational settings, institutions provide students with the opportunity to improve their technical skills, design capabilities, visual learning capabilities and problem solving aptitude. From a cost perspective, allowing students to practice with 3D printing can reduce educational material costs and enhance class project efficiency.

STEM students and their teachers now have access to a wider range of resources, tools and learning resources than ever before, enabling them to achieve more, solve bigger problems and enhance knowledge without the waste, lead times and time lags of conventional manufacturing education.

3D printing is a viable alternative to traditional subtractive manufacturing, since it encourages innovative designs, the use of unique materials, faster lead times and an even greater scale of mass production.

The Music Industry Today

Within the arts at large, 3D printing is making its mark in areas such as fashion preserving history, film making and sculptures. The most common and well known commercial collaboration of 3D printing and the music industry tends to be in creating musical instruments such as ukuleles and guitars.

Indeed, there are companies that exclusively make 3D printed musical instruments and products, including Oddguitars, Monastudio, and 3D-Varius.

Then there’s the instances of 3D printing instruments within the hobby community. However, we’re now seeing 3D printing be utilized for the production of headphones, speakers and microphones, among other things.

What’s more, larger companies within the music industry are increasingly beginning to look to 3D printing and what it can do to further their success.

The benefits of using 3D printing within the music industry

There are numerous benefits to a 3D printing and music industry ‘collab’. To name but a few:

• Additive manufacturing process can allow for non traditional product design with innovative shapes and aesthetics
• Additive manufacturing can shorten the production time of products which could increase mass production and potentially mass customization for a consumer
• Additive manufacturing can also encourage the use of more exotic/non-traditional materials when constructing these products.

Instruments

Ordinarily, musical instruments are relatively expensive. However, 3D printing can make them more affordable whilst enabling the musician to tailor the instrument to their needs.

Various instruments can be 3D printed, from guitars and flutes, to pianos and violins.

Speakers

To date, most speakers have been presented as simple cuboid structures, restricted by traditional manufacturing design limitations. However, sound waves are not able to travel optimally from a cuboid speaker enclosure.

The 3D printing of speakers gives companies the chance to quite literally ‘think outside the box’ and create newly shaped, potentially smaller, more visually appealing and more sonically rich speakers for the market.

UK based industrial design company, Node, created the HYLIXA speaker (which comes as a set of two) and hits those very targets. Smaller than a traditional cuboid speaker with the same capabilities, it features a Helical Transmission Line which enhances the overall sound, in particular any base frequencies.

Importantly, its unique curved design – enabled via Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) additive manufacturing processes – helps to reduce any unwanted vibrational frequencies.

• Quick recap on SLS: SLS fuses powdered materials using a heat source such as a laser. The layer-by-layer process enables much more complex shapes to be created vs traditional manufacturing methods.

David Evans, industrial designer and founder at Node said:

“[The speaker] has almost a ceramic-like quality to the touch, which helped us both structurally and sonically. As designers, we could freely exploit SLS production to create the internal structure, but also design something that looked as beautiful as it sounds.”

Concept 3D print created on a Stratasys PolyJet Printer.

Headphones

There are in fact several companies now offering 3D printed headphones.

Armadillo headphones: Ultra foldable headphones that protect damage to the ear-cups when not in use. 98% of the headphones can be created via 3D printing. No screws are needed to assemble the Armadillo Headphones (the parts all snap together to form a solid product). The design works with PLA, ABS, and all other plastics that are sufficiently flexible and strong. Can be adjusted to four different sizes once made. Option to build these using an at home 3D printer.

Moondrop Blessing 2 earbuds: The buds have high transparency, hardness and precision. Accurate seal within the ear for greater control over internal or external sound filtering and resonance.

Print+ headphones: At home 3D headphone printing kit that consists of the electrical components such as speakers, push button remote, mic, cushions, audio cable and headband. All you need to do is print the plastic components. No screws, glue or soldering required for assembly. Option to tailor headphones to the design, material and color you like. With the headphones being produced on demand, production is made sustainable through the elimination of waste from overproduction, pollution from transport and faster turnaround times.

Print+’s founder Patrick Schuur explains the ethos behind the product: “The core idea of print+ is to inspire people to move away from this wave of hyper consumption to one in which we connect with our goods through being their producer. By producing ourselves we in turn gain the ability to fix them, upgrade them and appreciate their functionality.”

Microphone prototype printed on a Stratasys Objet 1000

Microphones

UK-based instrument manufacturer Sonuus offers a 3D printed microphone known as Loopa. Its the world’s very first microphone with a built-in looper engine, which enables vocalists to loop their voice using just a handheld microphone as opposed to foot pedals and footswitches, or using digital recording software.

Final thoughts

3D Printing is impacting the music industry in numerous ways. The creation of instruments, speakers, headphones and even microphones via additive manufacturing is providing more opportunities for greater efficiency, increased personalization and greater innovation within the music sector.

Most industries that have integrated 3D printing into their manufacturing processes have made revolutionary steps forward in terms of production efficiency, product quality and opportunity for growth at scale. The music industry is therefore no exception and the implications for the future of design within the sector are enormous.

Anyone can go to a store and buy something festive, and hand crafting a gift can be extremely satisfying, but here at GrabCAD, we found some community created models you might want to try out on a 3D printer! We hope that you try out some of these cool models or check out other creations from our community members.

3D Printed Snowmen

If you are in a part of the world that gets snow, you could go outside and make your own. If you don’t want to get cold or would would like your frosty buddy make it through past holidays, 3D printing a snowman is a perfect way to get both:

Model by Connor White

Ten Tetrahedra Tree Topper

A tree topper is an essential part of any Christmas tree! There are a wide range of toppers one could print ranging from stars, angels, reindeers, etc. Here is a tree topper created by a legendary member from the early days of the GrabCAD Community.

Model by Blake Courter

Miscellaneous Cookie Cutters

Baking cookies is a common tradition within many households! Some people stay with candy cane and tree shapes while others might go for more exotic shapes for their bakes. We picked out a set of 22 cookie cutters. Just make sure when 3D printing items or tools used for food, use food safe material.

Model by Kyle Robertson

Snow globe Make it real

If you have access to a printer that can print in transparent materials, it might be a good idea to try creating a snowglobe. If that isn’t quite possible, you could try printing out your own base, insert your own models of your choosing, then find a dome to top it off.

Model by Thomas WOZNIAK

3D Christmas Wooden Ornaments Bell

Making or choosing your own ornaments to place on the christmas tree gives it its own identity. You can go to any hobby store and find something creative but there is a certain satisfaction of designing your own ornament to print.

Model by M.B.I.

Celebrate With The Community

With this being published right at the end of November, we hope that you try one or more of these prints. If you are looking for any other ideas to print, the GrabCAD Community recently reached 10 million members. We are really thankful to the community for always creating new and exciting models. Feel free to check out the members mentioned in this post or the GrabCAD library to see more.

On the other end of the spectrum for printing, some militaries have used additive to aid in the manufacture of spare parts for things like fighter jets and tanks. Jigs and fixtures which have applications across industries are also widely used by militaries. One use of additive manufacturing that we have only started to see however is its capacity to save lives in active warzones or conflicts.

The 3D Printed Tourniquet In Ukraine

In war, one of the major causes of death in relation to battlefield injuries is loss of blood. According to researchers at Sun Yat-Sen University “In military settings, severe hemorrhages account for 50% of deaths, among which 80% are caused by the non-compressible injuries. This number used to be significantly higher before Jean-Louis Petit invented the tourniquet in 1718.

The tourniquet is a medical device used to stop the flow of blood through a vein or artery by compressing an affected limb via a cord or bandage. There are currently 3 types of tourniquets: surgical, rehabilitation, and combat variants. Due to continuing disruptions to global supply chains, these life saving devices have been in short supply. This impact had been especially felt by the combatants in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

A 3D-printed tourniquet. (Jakub Kaminski)

Seeing these shortages and rising death toll. Jakub Kaminski, a graduate from the Worcester Polytech University (WPI) along with other volunteers designed a tourniquet that was robust, easy to print, easy to assemble, that was high quality for use in armed conflicts. Shortly after its inception the design has since found its way onto the internet. Companies and individuals alike have started to create and send these tourniquets to Ukraine.

3D Printed “Bone Bricks”

Within the conflict in Syria, improvised explosives, mines, and aerial bombardments were heavily used within the years of 2012-2018. These weapons caused great damage to buildings but also killed more than 11,000 civilians. Those who weren't killed during these instances often suffered grievous injuries and one of the most common ones were various bone fractures.

These fractures could range from mild to severe enough to require orthopedic surgery or intervention. Depending on the field conditions, proper medical equipment can be hard to come by or take time to reach the hands of medical professionals. This is especially true to those operating out of refugee camps. Even if proper medical procedures were able to be conducted, it would be difficult for those treated to then recover and implement any form of post care without duress.

(Source: OHSU)

Thankfully during the Syrian War, researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have been researching a temporary, “bone brick” that could be configured, stacked, and placed into an affected bone to stabilize and encourage recovery. The brick is a mix of polymers and ceramics that allow the bone to grow with support then start to dissolve as new bone continues to form.

“The 3D-printed microcage technology improves healing by stimulating the right type of cells to grow in the right place, and at the right time,” said OHSU postdoctoral scholar and study co-author Dr Ramesh Subbiah in July. “Different growth factors can be placed inside each block, enabling us to more precisely and quickly repair tissue.”

Recovery Being a Print Away

Additive manufacturing has the potential to do great things in medicine even in the face of conflicts. More than ever, the world is using 3D printing to fabricate lifesaving ideas and send them to people who need them. Whether we like it or not there are intersections where almost any major technology can be used to conduct war but there is also a way that it can be used to benefit the lives of others. In the future, other tensions may cause challenges to the additive manufacturing industry however the technology will continue to grow and meet the world head on.