Rapid Prototyping

Mass produced 3D printed electronics

Ten short years ago 3D printing was almost the exclusive remit of rapid prototyping. Nobody was putting 3D printing into mass production back then.

Install base of 3D printing for metals jumped 43% in 2014

3D printing of metals is facilitating the transition to additive manufacturing from rapid prototyping. Printing in plastics has its place in prototyping and education, but metal printing has allowed the technology to be adopted for part production in the aerospace, orthopedic, dental and jewelry industries and is now being developed for the oil and gas, printed electronics, and general engineering industries.

Can 3D printing scale-up to mass production?

This was a strong theme of day 2 of the conference at Euromold 2015.

Cancer patient receives 3D printed ribs in world-first surgery

A Spanish cancer patient has received a 3D printed titanium sternum and rib cage designed and manufactured in Australia.

WACKER jumps into 3D printing materials

In their Q2 interim report, WACKER have revealed they are now able to 3D print silicone. Silicone is a useful material to be able to 3D print because injection-moulded silicone is a favourite choice for prototyping.

3D Printing for Rapid Prototyping and Industrial Design

Video interview with Delektre at 3D Printing Europe.

New battlegrounds emerge for conductive inks and pastes

Core applications of PV and touch panels continue to grow demand, but new opportunities emerge in the form of wearable technology, circuit boards and structural electronics.

PCB prototyping evolves with a new wave of electronics printers

A new wave of printers targeting printed circuit boards are enabling rapid, local prototyping while protecting company IP, finds IDTechEx Research.

From 2D to 3D Printed Electronics 2015-2025

In 2012 a tsunami of media hype began around consumer 3D printing that turned a lacklustre 30-year-old technology into a household name and created massive growth in the industry even among large established players.

3D printing in the automotive industry

As part of a series of IDTechEx articles examining the impact of each of the technologies we cover on the automotive industry, Rachel Gordon presents the uses of 3D printing in the production of vehicles.

2015 marks the start of manufacturing in metals using 3D Printing

Metal 3D printing is allowing the technology to be adopted for part production in the aerospace, orthopaedic, dental and jewellery industries, and is now being developed for the oil and gas, printed electronics, and general engineering.

Stretchable 3D ink-jet texture media

An ink jet media for making stretchable, three-dimensional textures that can accelerate 3D rapid prototyping and mold-making processes.

IDTechEx announce the winners of 3D Printing Europe Awards 2015

Each year IDTechEx recognises and rewards outstanding achievement of those involved in the rapidly growing industries they cover. For the first time, IDTechEx are including 3D Printing Europe Awards, which were announced at IDTechEx Show! on 28th April in Berlin.

Will Printed Electronics & 3D Printing disrupt PCB rapid prototyping?

The vast majority of electronic circuits are currently made using Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) that are both rigid and flat. The market for traditional Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) currently stands at around $60bn. This established technology is used across a variety of different final applications. Several technologies related to traditional PCBs are now emerging in the form of commercial products that address one or more of the limitations with traditional PCBs. Some of these new technologies aim to improve the current workflow by allowing traditional PCB designs to be prototyped more quickly, cheaply and locally. Other new technologies aim to fill gaps in markets such as wearable technologies where rigid PCBs have significant limitations. Finally, some new technologies promise to completely revolutionise the electronics industry by allowing fully 3D printed electronics with traces and components used anywhere inside an object.

Separating fact from fiction in 3D Bioprinting

"Eventually 3D printing will print people," according to Will.i.am, the music producer, rapper and entrepreneur. "I'm not saying I agree with it, I'm just saying what's fact based on plausible growth in technology." How true is this? And how close are we? At IDTechEx, we take pride in cutting through the hype, to reveal what is actually possible and where the real opportunities lie.

Materialise to offer 3D printed metal objects

According to IDTechEx research, the market for 3D metal printers is currently $440m, and is expected to grow to $6b in 2025.

3Dponics Inc to launch new 3D-modeling tool

3Dponics Inc is set to launch 3Dcreative.ly, a next-generation 3D-modeling tool that features a number of new and exciting functionalities that give users complete creative control over their digital files.

3D Printing: Next Revolution

This new 3D printing conference, launched by Innoplast Solutions, was small in delegate numbers but had high quality speakers from major industrial end-users of additive manufacturing, 3D manufacturers and materials developers. There were a few, strong themes which recurred over the two days.

NanoDimension

Nano Dimension is a listed company in Israel established in 2012. It is focused on 3D printing of electronics. It currently has two product lines: (1) a high-end desktop printer aimed at the professional end of the rapid prototyping of complex PCBs and (2) an inkjet printable silver nanoparticle ink.

FlexEnable welcomes British Prime Minister

Cambridge (UK), 19 February 2015 - FlexEnable, the leader in the development and industrialisation of flexible organic electronics, today welcomed the British Prime Minister, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, to the company's engineering centre and flexible rapid prototyping line in Cambridge.