(DGIwire) – In October 2018, GE Aviation’s 3D printing facility in Auburn, Alabama reached a major milestone: it produced its 30,000th 3D-printed fuel nozzle tip. As an article on ECNmag.com recently observed, fuel nozzles may seem like unimposing objects—but their production via 3D printing has not only given rise to some of the world’s bestselling […]
3D Printed Metal Parts: Higher Tech Means Higher Quality
(DGIwire) – Quality control (QC) is a must in all manufacturing—and the 3D printing of metal parts is no exception. Since the metal components used in everything from airplanes to medical prosthetics must adhere to the customer’s required dimensions down to extremely small scales, techniques must be utilized ensuring that every part delivered meets high […]
3D Printing: A Bright Future for Orthopedics
(DGIwire) – For anyone undergoing orthopedic surgery, a common concern is a complication called aseptic loosening. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, this occurs where the bond between an implant and bone doesn’t hold, requiring patients to be taken back to surgery after a joint replacement. Now a team of researchers from the […]
Industrial Internet of Things: Ensuring Quality Control on the Factory Floor
(DGIwire) – Many people have heard of the Internet of Things, in which everyday objects have network connectivity allowing them to send and receive data. This paradigm has already started transforming the world of industry in myriad ways. At its core, the so-called Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is about using Big Data to create […]
Medical Device Manufacturing Turns to 3D Printing
(DGIwire) – Imagine being able to produce bone implants, dentures or surgical tools in almost any conceivable design. This scenario came closer to reality in April 2016 when researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems in Dresden, Germany unveiled a new additive manufacturing (i.e. 3D printing) method at the Medtec medical technology […]
6 Things to Know About 3D Printing
(DGIwire) – Excited about 3D printing? There are many amazing things about this breakthrough technology, such as how quickly it is evolving and the sheer range of items that can be created using 3D printers. But those two are just a start—here are five other fascinating facts about this futuristic-but-real technology: 3D printing was born […]
Now in Earth Orbit: 3D Printing
(DGIwire) – The International Space Station (ISS) is a technological marvel in itself—but lately its crew members have been engaged in yet another cutting-edge technology: 3D printing. In June 2016, NASA announced that ISS members installed a 3D printer for a new experiment, “3D Printing in Zero-G Technology Demonstration,” to show that a 3D printer […]
3D Metal Printing: Revolutionizing Medical Devices Limb by Limb
(DGIwire) – 3D printing is revolutionizing the world of medical devices. In May 2016, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released new guidelines for medical device manufacturers involved in 3D printing, the agency spotlighted some of the technology’s key advantages. For example, scans of a patient’s body can be used to create 3D-printed components […]
