Category: 3D scanning & printing

40 3D PRINTING EXPERTS GIVE PREDICTIONS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING IN 2019

3D printing has come a longer way in its origins in the 1980s, with a brief entry to the consumer space galvanizing its growth in the earlier part of the decade. It looks as though mass production with additive manufacturing technology is just around the corner, as a number of companies start methods for 3D printing. There is a strong one in the industry that mass production is the next higher thing in 3D printing. 2019 will be the year that manufacturing travels from prototyping to full production in the automotive industry.

In the move to full production, 3D printing enables the automotive industry to do swifter, leverage flexible manufacturing, reinvent supply chains, create new markets and produce new parts in new ways that were impossible previously.

HP aims to play a dominent role in this evolution with its Metaljet 3D printing technologies and Multijet Fusion (MJF). They are designed for large batch production. The company has seen BMW make use of MJF to create one-millionth 3D printing part, a guide rail for the BMW i8 roadster. BMW was able to 3D print to 100 of the parts in 24 hours. Hence, we will see an increase in real-time supply chain traceability.

HP’s FitStation platform uses 3D scanning & printing to make perfect shoe and insole

FitStation Platform launched by HP uses 3D scanning and printing technologies in order to create custom insoles for shoes. These insoles are best designed suited for athletic shoes due to their enhanced grip. HP has launched various stores that house the FitStation which is now being used by over 30 NFL teams to create shoes for customised footwear for their sport.

The FitStation Platform is equipped with four FDA class one laser that is exclusively designed for 3D scanning. It also comprises of a gait pattern that captures data at the speed of 500 dps. Insoles are printed using multi-material the HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer that built into the FitStation. The products generated by this printer have varying densities that make it more stiff for better support.

The National Football League has adapted to this type of technology as this is essential for heavy football players who exert a large amount of pressure during play. Insoles are prone to tear under this pressure; the FitStation Platform is equipped with integrated sensors that design soles that will not tear when exposed to heavy pressure. FitStation has a Kinetic profile that detects the curvature of the wearer’s foot and designs the insole accordingly. This technology gives an insight into different types of insoles and that some people need custom designed ones that suit their feet.

HP’s FitStation Platform will reduce the cost of manufacturing insoles significantly. Most sports equipment manufacturers prefer the FitStation Platform to fuel their needs.