Tag Archives: 3D printing

PLA – poly lactic acid – is a 3d printable polymer that can be made from maize and is biodegradable. Except, it is seldom publicised, that it is only biodegradeable in industrial-scale high temperature processes, and will last of years in the open environment. Now researchers at the Toulouse Biotechnology Institute have engineered a designer enzyme – hyperthermostable PLA hydrolase ...

Prusa has introduced its first industrial 3D printer, which includes a 90°C heated chamber and a 500°C print head for handling engineering polymers including PEEK and PEI, while still printing PLA for prototyping. Called ‘Pro HT90’, it has a vertical cylinder build volume, 300mm in diameter and 400mm tall. “HT90 supports a wide range of materials, from PLA to Ultem ...

Farnell is to stock a range of 3D printing filamants under its Multicomp Pro brand, aiming at “design engineers, creators and hobbyists”, it said. “As interest and demand in 3D printing continues to grow, we are happy to provide our customers with a diversified line-up of 3D printer filaments that are designed to meet the quality standards engineers require,” added ...

Medium-sized cnc machines, which I am defining as those using NEMA 23 and 24 motors, need about 5A per stepper, usually mandating separate driver modules alongside a control board. However, 3d printer parts maker BigTree Tech, also known as Biqu (Shenzhen Biqu Technology), has recently released a 3d printer control board that includes four 8A 24-60V drivers – integrated right ...

Finally, after a lot of false turns, I have both designed and CNC-ed an object. It is a 18x1mm counter-bored 16mm hole for a flanged bearing, in a pleasantly-shaped piece of 4mm acrylic. After seven minutes of cutting, including the shaped perimeter, it came out just right, with the bearing a firm push fit (until I played with it too ...

After much pondering this weekend, I discovered something abouth 3d printing that I have not seen written about before – cylindrical bores tapering subtly at the lower end. I had heard of ‘elephant’s foot’ – 3d prints squashing out at the bottom for various reasons, including the heatbed being set too high – but this tends to be associated with ...

What a cheek – a 3d printed automatic robot gripper that works without the interference of electronics. Instead, it gets power from air pressure, is triggered when it is pushed against the object to be caught, and then releases when the gripper it turned sideways. A pressure pad at the centre of the claw detects contact and, once the claw ...

As preparation for a commercial launch, Skyrora has 3D printed a new model of its orbital rocket engine ready for landmark tests. The Edinburgh-based rocket company – which has developed its own eco-friendly fuel, Ecosene, made of waste plastics – has begun a series of full-duration tests to qualify the updated design of its 70kN engine. The engines were created ...

Fuji Corporation has joined 3d printed electronics association JAMES (Jetted Additively Manufactured Electronics Sources), which describes itself as establishing a collaborative community that brings together professionals and enthusiasts from various fields to drive additive manufacturing development in 3D printed electronics. The addition of Fuji “will allow both companies to work together on upcoming projects, share insights, and develop new ideas ...

Open-source licencing needs a re-think in the face of intellectual property abuse, according to open-source advocate Josef Prusa, founder of 3D printer maker Prusa Research (pictured), which publishes full design files for its products. While Prusa concentrates on the stifling effect of open-source leeches on innovation in the 3D printer world, his comments are applicable more broadly. In an open ...