Today 3D printing means much more than just plastics 3D printing uses materials like plastics, PLA, ABS, and PETG, as well as metals, resin, and more, making almost any design possible. New materials now offer even greater choices. Know more below.


What material is used in 3d printing?

Buildings can now be constructed faster, with less waste, and at a lower cost thanks to the 3D printing technology. Watch the report to learn more about this breakthrough.

World's First 3D-Printed Hotel Takes Shape in Texas

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a method used to create physical objects from a digital design. The 3D-printed item is produced through this additive process, in which an object is made by adding one layer of material on top of another until the final shape is formed.

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a method used to create physical objects from a digital design. The 3D-printed item is produced through this additive process, in which an object is made by adding one layer of material on top of another until the final shape is formed. Each layer can be thought of as a thin, sliced section of the object. However, there is one exception, known as volumetric 3D printing, through which entire structures can be created all at once, instead of building them a layer at a time. However, volumetric technology is still mostly in the research stage at this time. The 3D printing process is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing, in which, instead of carving out a particular shape from a solid block of material, as done with a milling machine, an object is built by adding layers of material. 3D printing allows the creation of intricate shapes using less material compared to traditional manufacturing methods. 3D printing is widely used across industries, from creating such consumer products as eyewear and furniture to industrial tools, prototypes and functional parts. It is also revolutionising fields, such as dentistry and prosthetics by enabling efficient production of custom items. How does 3D printing function? The process begins with a 3D model. You can either design it yourself or download one from a 3D model library. Since the late-1970s, companies have been using 3D printers in their design process to make prototypes. This practice is known as rapid prototyping. It is fast and cost-effective. You can take an idea, turn it into a 3D model and have a physical prototype in hand within days, not weeks. Adjustments are simpler and cheaper, without requiring expensive molds or equipment. Besides rapid prototyping, 3D printing is used for rapid manufacturing. This is a modern manufacturing method where companies use 3D printers to produce small batches or custom items in limited quantities quickly and efficiently. 3D printing in aerospace & defence The aerospace and defence industry has been using 3D printing technology for several years. According to Market Research Future, the 3D printing market in this sector is projected to grow to $5.58 billion by 2026. This growth has been so impactful that 70% of industry professionals believe it has completely changed how the sector thinks and functions. It is not surprising that almost 75% of industry experts reported using 3D printing for prototyping. Additionally, 44% apply it for repair and maintenance, 43% for research and development and nearly 40% for producing parts. Around 33% use 3D printing to create jigs, fixtures and tooling, or for temporary production. Also read: Indian Army’s ‘HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2’ to test made-in-India drones at high-altitudes A few years ago, simply using 3D printing in defence and aerospace manufacturing provided a significant competitive advantage. Companies quietly experimented with materials and techniques to stay ahead of their competitors by improving performance, making things lighter, or reducing the size of what they carry. Today, the focus on materials is expanding beyond plastics to include metals, opening up new possibilities. As 3D-printed metals become more widely adopted, we can expect a significant increase in their use across the defence, aerospace and space industries. Nearly 90% of industry professionals predict their use of 3D printing will at least double in the coming years. Advancing aerospace and defence While 3D printing is still in its early stages in some areas, it is already being used for parts that carry a higher level of risk. Today, companies in the industry are growing confident and now moving beyond using 3D printing for simple plastic parts. They are starting to apply it to more complex areas, such as secondary structures—not the main framework—and important systems in defence and aerospace projects. There are many advantages of using 3D-printed parts in the aerospace and defence industries. 1. Streamlining parts with Bill of Materials (BOM) simplification Additive manufacturing offers companies more design flexibility by encouraging them to think beyond individual components. For instance, a cooling system fan that usually requires up to 78 complex parts can be simplified into a single piece using 3D printing. This not only makes assembly faster and reduces failure points, but also cuts down on waste compared to traditional manufacturing methods. While simplification is a major advantage, 3D printing also enables the production of complex designs that traditional methods, such as injection moulding, cannot achieve. This gives engineers the freedom to create parts optimised for better performance. From a manufacturing standpoint, it allows for smarter designs, reduces tooling costs and improves the durability and lifespan of parts. 2. Facilitate on-demand, localised manufacturing and production Supply chain innovations in the aerospace and defence industry that allow faster production are an important factor in reducing time-to-market, essential for success in any industry. One of the best ways of speeding up production is by using on-demand manufacturing. Regardless of the certifications or qualifications needed, this manufacturing process can use standard equipment without needing specific tools for each part, allowing specialised components to be made anywhere in the world. Industry experts believe that additive manufacturing has helped them speed up production. Since the design files are digital, they can easily be customised for different needs. With no need to change tools or moulds, the process mainly focuses on updating designs, making it more efficient. Mass customisation does not always mean producing just one item. With 3D printing, it can mean reducing a production batch from 10,000 units using traditional methods to just 100 units, making it more efficient and tailored to specific needs. 3. Lower supply chain expenses with localised additive manufacturing Reducing a component from 78 separate parts to just one has a big impact on the entire supply chain. Fewer parts mean a simpler, more efficient supply chain, leading to more reliable and consistent production. For instance, the industry no longer requires a foundry to create a metal part that is then sent to a machine shop for finishing before being shipped to its destination. The aim is to achieve vertical integration, where the entire process—from design to production—happens in one facility, without needing outside suppliers. This includes producing such materials as certified powders and using 3D printing to make parts. By allowing machine shops to operate independently with these materials, local production can be done, cutting down on shipping costs and long wait times associated with traditional manufacturing, making everything faster and more efficient. 3D printing for missiles & rockets 1. Boosting India’s missile production: Missiles, such as the Very Short-Range Air Defence Systems (VShoRADS) and Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (MPATGM) are vital for battlefield defence. These missiles rely on launch motors and, in the case of VShoRADS, sustain motors (which help maintain the missile’s speed after launch). Traditionally, these motors are made from special steel alloys using extrusion methods. Even though production is going on, the current capacity may fall significantly short of wartime demands. At full capacity, roughly 2,000 units could be produced per year, a number which could be exhausted in only a couple of months of heavy fighting. The DRDO and its production partners are looking at 3D printing as a way to solve this issue. The technology can create complex parts, such as rocket motor casings, much faster than traditional methods. While it may take around a month to produce a motor using extruders, 3D printing can achieve it in only 3-4 days. 3D printing can greatly speed up the production of essential missile parts, helping to quickly restock supplies during the war. This technology can increase overall production, allowing for more missiles to be made in less time. Flexibility in operations also helps in creating new and innovative missile designs that have complex shapes, thus greatly enhancing performance. Although 3D printing holds great promise for India’s missile production, more R&D is required. It is essential to refine the printing methods for specific materials and ensure that the printed components meet high standards of quality and reliability. 2. Rapid defence construction: India’s Military Engineering Services (MES) has used 3D rapid construction technology from private companies to build two houses at the South-Western Air Command in Gandhinagar and Jaisalmer. However, the military is now also building bunkers and vehicle parking facilities in border areas where traditional construction methods are difficult because of harsh weather conditions and labour constraints. 3. ISRO’s success with 3D-printed rocket engine: On May 9 this year, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested a liquid rocket engine created using 3D printing. ISRO redesigned the PS4 engine, used in the fourth stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), for 3D printing. This technology reduced the number of engine parts from 14 to just one, eliminating 19 weld joints and saving 97% of raw material. It also cut production time by 60%. Aerospace, defence, MRO unified In 2015, Russia began using industrial 3D printers to create prototype components and master models for its third-generation T-14 main battle tank (MBT), based on the ‘Armata’ universal chassis system. This development was disclosed by the head of the Rapid Prototyping Lab at Electromashina, a division of Uralvagonzavod (UVZ), the world’s largest main battle tank manufacturer. Alexander Loktev, Managing Director of ETC Tecnopolice in Moscow, which supplies essential tooling and quality equipment to various sectors in Russia, provided this information. In January 2020, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Wipro 3D signed an MoU to collaborate on designing, developing, manufacturing and repairing aerospace components using metal 3D printing. The partnership aims to explore new materials for metal additive manufacturing, with a focus on creating and certifying aerospace parts, including maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) components, ensuring their reliability through rigorous testing. 3D printing could greatly enhance the production of parts for such older equipment as fighter jets and transport aircraft, besides producing advanced materials, such as titanium and graphene and hybrid components, which is expected soon. In mid-2022 the Indian Army used 3D printing to prototype a 9mm pistol, with such metal-printed parts as the trigger, featuring an aircraft-grade aluminium top receiver and a carbon fibre lower receiver. (The author of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)

Defending innovation: 3D printing's role in modern warfare

It was a few years ago when 3D print technology was considered a novelty but now it's revolutionising. The way we create everything from toys to tools and now even art!

3D Print Technology: From curiosity to revolution

In jade waters off Hong Kong's eastern shoreline, scientists are thrilled to spot a cuttlefish protecting her eggs inside an artificial, 3D-printed clay seabed helping to restore the city's fragile coral reefs.

On postcards and in the popular imagination Hong Kong is a byword for urban density, a thicket of towering skyscrapers crammed along the harbour or clinging to the vertiginous hillsides above.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/we-need-to-rethink-our-role-on-planet-if-corals-cannot-be-saved-538687">'We need to rethink our role on planet if corals cannot be saved'</a>

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Yet it is circled by a surprising array of nature and the small number of coral reefs are some of the city's best-kept secrets.

Around 84 species of coral are found in Hong Kong's waters, scientists say, more diverse than those found in the Caribbean Sea.

Most can be found on remote inlets, far from the sediment-filled Pearl River Delta and its busy shipping channels.

But like all reefs in a rapidly warming world, they are under enormous pressure.&nbsp;

Which is where Vriko Yu and her team of fellow marine scientists come in.&nbsp;

They have begun using 3D printed tiles that work as an artificial bed for corals to latch onto and thrive, with promising results.

"The first time we put down the tiles, there were a few fish around," she said on a recent inspection by University of Hong Kong (HKU) researchers.

Now the artificially produced reef laid down last summer is teeming with wildlife, including the cuttlefish, something Yu described as "very, very exciting".

Terracotta warriors

Hong Kong's government-commissioned research into local coral ecosystems after the reefs at Hoi Ha Wan marine park were struck by bleaching and mass die-offs.

Corals are colonies of billions of living polyp invertebrates and are hugely sensitive to temperature changes.&nbsp;

When they get too hot, they lose their vibrant colour and die.

Repopulating a dead or damaged reef requires suitable ground for the remaining coral larvae to latch onto and build a new home -- and the printed tiles have so far proven dependable.

Hong Kong's government commissioned research into local coral ecosystems after the reefs at Hoi Ha Wan marine park were struck by bleaching and mass die-offs.

Corals are colonies of billions of living polyp invertebrates and are hugely sensitive to temperature changes.&nbsp;

When they get too hot, they lose their vibrant colour and die.

Repopulating a dead or damaged reef requires suitable ground for the remaining coral larvae to latch onto and build a new home -- and the printed tiles have so far proven dependable.

"3D printing allows us to customise a tile or a solution for any type of environment and I think that's the real potential that the technology brings," said David Baker, an associate professor at HKU's School of Biological Sciences who led development of the technology.

Tiles carrying 400 coral fragments have been laid on a 40 square-metre (430 square-foot) section of sea floor in the marine park.

"The corals now on the tiles definitely survive better than the traditional way of transplantation," said Yu, putting the success rate at around 90 percent.

Some projects around the world have deliberately sunk ships or concrete onto the sea floor to encourage coral growth. And while those methods have had some success, they can change the chemistry of the water.

The tiles used in the Hong Kong project are made with terracotta, minimising the environmental impact.

"Clay is basically soil, so soil you can find everywhere on earth," said Christian Lange, an associate professor from HKU's Department of Architecture.

It leaves water chemistry unchanged, Lange added, and if a tile fails to spawn a new colony it will simply erode without leaving a trace.

Tougher colonies

Marine biologists pay close attention to successful reef repopulation programmes because corals are at risk of disappearing.

Rising sea temperatures have decimated reefs around the world, especially those in warmer tropical waters.

Australia's Great Barrier Reef -- the world's largest coral system -- is now so badly damaged that it is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as "critical", the worst category.

Corals that exist in subtropical waters are of particular interest to scientists because they form generally hardier colonies that are better able to withstand a greater range of temperatures.

A recent Royal Society paper found some evidence that some subtropical corals were thriving in warmer oceans, compared with their tropical cousins.

"The Great Barrier Reef... has many corals living offshore in clear tropical waters, they're not used to change," explained Baker.&nbsp;

"So just having a little extra warmth is going to push them over the edge faster than we think our local corals would succumb to bleaching."

Baker said the tiles are not a panacea for the mass bleachings.

But he hopes the project can identify species with the genetic resilience to endure future environmental stress and buy time for corals "to adapt and to migrate into more suitable areas".

"We might actually be creating a new potential home for corals as they try to escape climate change from equatorial regions," he said.

In jade waters off Hong Kong's eastern shoreline, scientists are thrilled to spot a cuttlefish protecting her eggs inside an artificial, 3D-printed clay seabed helping to restore the city's fragile coral reefs.

In jade waters off Hong Kong's eastern shoreline, scientists are thrilled to spot a cuttlefish protecting her eggs inside an artificial, 3D-printed clay seabed helping to restore the city's fragile coral reefs. On postcards and in the popular imagination Hong Kong is a byword for urban density, a thicket of towering skyscrapers crammed along the harbour or clinging to the vertiginous hillsides above. WATCH | 'We need to rethink our role on planet if corals cannot be saved' × Yet it is circled by a surprising array of nature and the small number of coral reefs are some of the city's best-kept secrets. Around 84 species of coral are found in Hong Kong's waters, scientists say, more diverse than those found in the Caribbean Sea. Most can be found on remote inlets, far from the sediment-filled Pearl River Delta and its busy shipping channels. But like all reefs in a rapidly warming world, they are under enormous pressure. Which is where Vriko Yu and her team of fellow marine scientists come in. They have begun using 3D printed tiles that work as an artificial bed for corals to latch onto and thrive, with promising results. "The first time we put down the tiles, there were a few fish around," she said on a recent inspection by University of Hong Kong (HKU) researchers. Now the artificially produced reef laid down last summer is teeming with wildlife, including the cuttlefish, something Yu described as "very, very exciting". Terracotta warriors Hong Kong's government-commissioned research into local coral ecosystems after the reefs at Hoi Ha Wan marine park were struck by bleaching and mass die-offs. Corals are colonies of billions of living polyp invertebrates and are hugely sensitive to temperature changes. When they get too hot, they lose their vibrant colour and die. Repopulating a dead or damaged reef requires suitable ground for the remaining coral larvae to latch onto and build a new home -- and the printed tiles have so far proven dependable. Hong Kong's government commissioned research into local coral ecosystems after the reefs at Hoi Ha Wan marine park were struck by bleaching and mass die-offs. Corals are colonies of billions of living polyp invertebrates and are hugely sensitive to temperature changes. When they get too hot, they lose their vibrant colour and die. Repopulating a dead or damaged reef requires suitable ground for the remaining coral larvae to latch onto and build a new home -- and the printed tiles have so far proven dependable. "3D printing allows us to customise a tile or a solution for any type of environment and I think that's the real potential that the technology brings," said David Baker, an associate professor at HKU's School of Biological Sciences who led development of the technology. Tiles carrying 400 coral fragments have been laid on a 40 square-metre (430 square-foot) section of sea floor in the marine park. "The corals now on the tiles definitely survive better than the traditional way of transplantation," said Yu, putting the success rate at around 90 percent. Some projects around the world have deliberately sunk ships or concrete onto the sea floor to encourage coral growth. And while those methods have had some success, they can change the chemistry of the water. The tiles used in the Hong Kong project are made with terracotta, minimising the environmental impact. "Clay is basically soil, so soil you can find everywhere on earth," said Christian Lange, an associate professor from HKU's Department of Architecture. It leaves water chemistry unchanged, Lange added, and if a tile fails to spawn a new colony it will simply erode without leaving a trace. Tougher colonies Marine biologists pay close attention to successful reef repopulation programmes because corals are at risk of disappearing. Rising sea temperatures have decimated reefs around the world, especially those in warmer tropical waters. Australia's Great Barrier Reef -- the world's largest coral system -- is now so badly damaged that it is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as "critical", the worst category. Corals that exist in subtropical waters are of particular interest to scientists because they form generally hardier colonies that are better able to withstand a greater range of temperatures. A recent Royal Society paper found some evidence that some subtropical corals were thriving in warmer oceans, compared with their tropical cousins. "The Great Barrier Reef... has many corals living offshore in clear tropical waters, they're not used to change," explained Baker. "So just having a little extra warmth is going to push them over the edge faster than we think our local corals would succumb to bleaching." Baker said the tiles are not a panacea for the mass bleachings. But he hopes the project can identify species with the genetic resilience to endure future environmental stress and buy time for corals "to adapt and to migrate into more suitable areas". "We might actually be creating a new potential home for corals as they try to escape climate change from equatorial regions," he said.

Scientists are boosting Hong Kong's fragile coral reefs by 3D printing

The India-China border standoff has been ongoing for more than two years. In an attempt to keep up with the enemy and remain prepared for any eventuality at any time, the Indian Army has come up with a major infrastructure build-up plan.&nbsp;

Reportedly, the Indian Army will be constructing modular, 3D-printed next-generation bunkers to provide additional protection to the troops in the Ladakh sector of the country, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

According to reports, the structure will be strong enough to withstand a&nbsp;direct hit from a T-90 tank from mere 100 metres. The officials associated with the matter added that bunkers have undergone extensive trials in the western sector (Rajasthan) and eastern Ladakh.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-china-border-standoff-what-comes-next-troops-pulled-back-from-a-major-flashpoint-514322">WATCH |&nbsp;India-China border standoff: What comes next | Troops pulled back from a major flashpoint</a>

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The main purpose of using 3D printing technology is to minimise the cost as well as time associated with constructing a conventional bunker. According to army officials, a single bunker can be printed in a matter of hours.&nbsp;

Additionally, the ergonomic nature of the bunker will allow it to be easily moved by two soldiers as the heaviest component in the structure only weigh 40 kilogrammes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The army terms these 3D-printed modern bunkers as permanent defences which will come into operation next year. 20-odd bunkers have been developed already and the Army will be printing hundred in the coming months, based on the requirement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/60-years-of-1962-indo-china-war-it-wont-be-a-cakewalk-for-the-aggressor-again-527115">Read more:&nbsp;60 years of India-China war: It won’t be a cakewalk for the aggressor again</a>

The project will be implemented by the Corps of Engineers. The US Army has been using these structures for some years now.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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The India-China border standoff has been ongoing for more than two years. In an attempt to keep up with the enemy and remain prepared for any eventuality at any time, the Indian Army has come up with a major infrastructure build-up plan.

The India-China border standoff has been ongoing for more than two years. In an attempt to keep up with the enemy and remain prepared for any eventuality at any time, the Indian Army has come up with a major infrastructure build-up plan. Reportedly, the Indian Army will be constructing modular, 3D-printed next-generation bunkers to provide additional protection to the troops in the Ladakh sector of the country, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). According to reports, the structure will be strong enough to withstand a direct hit from a T-90 tank from mere 100 metres. The officials associated with the matter added that bunkers have undergone extensive trials in the western sector (Rajasthan) and eastern Ladakh. WATCH | India-China border standoff: What comes next | Troops pulled back from a major flashpoint × The main purpose of using 3D printing technology is to minimise the cost as well as time associated with constructing a conventional bunker. According to army officials, a single bunker can be printed in a matter of hours. Additionally, the ergonomic nature of the bunker will allow it to be easily moved by two soldiers as the heaviest component in the structure only weigh 40 kilogrammes. The army terms these 3D-printed modern bunkers as permanent defences which will come into operation next year. 20-odd bunkers have been developed already and the Army will be printing hundred in the coming months, based on the requirement. Read more: 60 years of India-China war: It won’t be a cakewalk for the aggressor again The project will be implemented by the Corps of Engineers. The US Army has been using these structures for some years now. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian Army to construct 3D-printed bunkers at LAC amid border standoff with China

Israel has unveiled world’s largest lab-grown steak that weighs nearly 4oz (110 grams) and is made up of real muscle and fat cells.<o:p></o:p>

Lab grown by Israeli company MeaTech 3D, this steak is composed of real muscle and fat cells which have been derived from tissue samples of a cow. To complete the process, bovine stem cells were added in the 'bio-links' which were then put into a 3D printer to make the final steak. From there, the steak was left to mature in an incubator to mature where the printed stem cells were differentiated into fat and muscle cells that develop into fat and muscle tissue, respectively, to form the steak

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/gamechanger-scientists-reveal-cruelty-free-mushroom-leather-433875">Gamechanger? Scientists reveal cruelty-free 'mushroom leather'</a></o:p>

"The breakthrough is the culmination of over one year’s efforts in our cellular biology and high-throughput tissue-engineering processes, as well as our precision bioprinting technology. We believe we have placed ourselves at the forefront of the race to develop high-end, cell-based meat products,"&nbsp;Sharon Fima, CEO at MeaTech, said.<o:p></o:p>

While the Israeli company is trying to bring this process at a point where the price for conventional and cultured meat is the same, experts have said that the steaks might not be out for public soon. The company is planning to first sell cultured fat as an ingredient to be included in other products. A pilot plant is in works for next year.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/killer-dish-chef-jailed-for-serving-deadly-shepherds-pie-434099">Killer dish: Chef jailed for serving deadly shepherd's pie</a></o:p>

"MeaTech intends to continue improving upon its bioprinting and cultivation technologies to produce cultivated meat that better mirrors the key characteristics of farm-raised, premium steak," the company says in a press release.

The company is aiming to develop a perfect replacement of the&nbsp;conventional steak that can maximise 'cell-based content rather than non-meat ingredients'.

"The MeaTech announcement marks an exciting step forward in terms of the complexity and sheer size of a cultivated steak," Seren Kell at the Good&nbsp;Food&nbsp;Institute (GFI) Europe was quoted by the Guardian. "3D printing enables companies to create more sophisticated 'whole cut' products which can authentically recreate the taste, texture and mouthfeel of conventional meat."<o:p></o:p>

Israel has unveiled world’s largest lab-grown steak that weighs nearly 4oz (110 grams) and is made up of real muscle and fat cells. Lab grown by Israeli company MeaTech 3D, this steak is composed of real muscle and fat cells which have been derived from tissue samples of a cow.

Israel has unveiled world’s largest lab-grown steak that weighs nearly 4oz (110 grams) and is made up of real muscle and fat cells. Lab grown by Israeli company MeaTech 3D, this steak is composed of real muscle and fat cells which have been derived from tissue samples of a cow. To complete the process, bovine stem cells were added in the 'bio-links' which were then put into a 3D printer to make the final steak. From there, the steak was left to mature in an incubator to mature where the printed stem cells were differentiated into fat and muscle cells that develop into fat and muscle tissue, respectively, to form the steak Also read | Gamechanger? Scientists reveal cruelty-free 'mushroom leather' "The breakthrough is the culmination of over one year’s efforts in our cellular biology and high-throughput tissue-engineering processes, as well as our precision bioprinting technology. We believe we have placed ourselves at the forefront of the race to develop high-end, cell-based meat products," Sharon Fima, CEO at MeaTech, said. While the Israeli company is trying to bring this process at a point where the price for conventional and cultured meat is the same, experts have said that the steaks might not be out for public soon. The company is planning to first sell cultured fat as an ingredient to be included in other products. A pilot plant is in works for next year. Also read | Killer dish: Chef jailed for serving deadly shepherd's pie "MeaTech intends to continue improving upon its bioprinting and cultivation technologies to produce cultivated meat that better mirrors the key characteristics of farm-raised, premium steak," the company says in a press release. The company is aiming to develop a perfect replacement of the conventional steak that can maximise 'cell-based content rather than non-meat ingredients'. "The MeaTech announcement marks an exciting step forward in terms of the complexity and sheer size of a cultivated steak," Seren Kell at the Good Food Institute (GFI) Europe was quoted by the Guardian. "3D printing enables companies to create more sophisticated 'whole cut' products which can authentically recreate the taste, texture and mouthfeel of conventional meat."

Israeli company reveals world's biggest lab-grown steak

3D printing has been around for a while. We even have friends who flaunt small keepsakes they say have been 3D-printed. But printing a full house? An entire neighbourhood? Well, this seems to be something out of the ordinary.&nbsp;

A housing project being developed in Austin, Texas, is set to become world's first 3D-printed neighbourhood. It is scheduled to break ground next year.

A digital rendering of the project showed 3D-printed houses with solar cells on the roof. The development project is a collaboration between Lennar, a homebuilding company and ICON, a construction firm specialising in 3D-printing structures. A Danish firm Bjarke Ingels Group has co-designed the houses.

Each 3D-printed house would take a week to build. The companies say that houses measuring 3000 square feet in size.

Construction of the neighbourhood in Texas would take place with the help of five 46-foot wide robotic 'Vulcan' printers. These 3D printers will pipe out a concrete mixture called Lavacrete to 'print' the houses.

Although the companies have not disclosed the exact cost of house-building, they say that the cost of 3D-printing a house is less than traditional construction methods.

3D printing has been around for a while. We even have friends who flaunt small keepsakes they say have been 3D-printed. But printing a full house? An entire neighbourhood?

3D printing has been around for a while. We even have friends who flaunt small keepsakes they say have been 3D-printed. But printing a full house? An entire neighbourhood? Well, this seems to be something out of the ordinary. A housing project being developed in Austin, Texas, is set to become world's first 3D-printed neighbourhood. It is scheduled to break ground next year. A digital rendering of the project showed 3D-printed houses with solar cells on the roof. The development project is a collaboration between Lennar, a homebuilding company and ICON, a construction firm specialising in 3D-printing structures. A Danish firm Bjarke Ingels Group has co-designed the houses. Each 3D-printed house would take a week to build. The companies say that houses measuring 3000 square feet in size. Construction of the neighbourhood in Texas would take place with the help of five 46-foot wide robotic 'Vulcan' printers. These 3D printers will pipe out a concrete mixture called Lavacrete to 'print' the houses. Although the companies have not disclosed the exact cost of house-building, they say that the cost of 3D-printing a house is less than traditional construction methods.

World's largest 3D-printed neighbourhood to come up in Texas

One of the world’s largest fast-food chains specialising in chicken - KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is set to take on an almost unbelievable task.

The chain is undertaking 3D printing of its chicken nuggets. This will mark the first laboratory produced chicken to be available for consumption, but only in Russia.

Coming this year!

Beginning autumn of 2020, KFC, in partnership with 3D Bioprinting Solutions in Russia will roll out the artificially produced meat.

The release says that the company is attempting to imitate not only the physical characteristics of meat, but also its taste.&nbsp; It wants to create something "as close as possible in both taste and appearance" to “the famous KFC chicken.

As the global demands for alternative to animal meat picks up, KFC in a media release claims to have crafted the “meat of the future”.

<h6><img alt="Chicken wings are seen before a chicken wing eating contest, on National Chicken Wing Day, at a Safeway grocery store in Washington, DC on July 29, 2015. Hickman won the contest and USD 500 after eating 26 chicken wings weighing 2.21 pounds in 5 minutes." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="82ef0141-c83d-4540-8b45-8b22ad80ba07" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_121.jpg" /> 
Chicken wings are seen before a chicken wing eating contest, on National Chicken Wing Day, at a Safeway grocery store in Washington, DC on July 29, 2015. Hickman won the contest and USD 500 after eating 26 chicken wings weighing 2.21 pounds in 5 minutes. | AFP</h6>

“Our experiment in testing 3D bioprinting technology to create chicken products can also help address several looming global problems," Raisa Polyakova, the general manager of KFC Russia, said in a statement.

"We are glad to contribute to its development and are working to make it available to thousands of people in Russia and, if possible, around the world”, Polyakova added.

The testing of the final product should begin by the end of this year in Moscow. Work is underway to create an additive bio printing technology. It will use chicken cells along with plant material to recreate the taste and texture of meat. Reportedly, it will “almost” involve no animals.

Additive free

Biomeat usually carries the same characteristics and elements as the original meat, but in fact gets rid of all the additives that are used on the product for it to be produced, processed, treated, packaged, and stored. This way, the printed food will be much cleaner and additive free.

"3D bioprinting technologies, initially widely recognized in medicine, are nowadays gaining popularity in producing foods such as meat," Yusef Khesuani, co-founder of 3D Bioprinting Solutions said in a release.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/four-year-old-burst-into-tears-as-kfc-mcdonalds-shut-down-over-coronavirus-outbreak-288696" hreflang="en">Four-year-old burst into tears as KFC, McDonald's shut down over coronavirus outbreak</a>

"In the future, the rapid development of such technologies will allow us to make&nbsp;3D-printed meat products more accessible and we are hoping that the technology created as a result of our cooperation with KFC will help accelerate the launch of cell-based meat products on the market”, Khesuani added.

While citing a study done by the American Environmental Science &amp; Technology Journal, KFC claimed that growing meat from cells will significantly cut down the negative impact on the environment. In turn, this will cut down energy consumption by over half.

As a consequence, greenhouse gas emissions will be decreased by 25 times. Additionally, 100 times lesser land will be needed to procure meat this way.

"At KFC, we are closely monitoring all of the latest trends and innovations and doing our best to keep up with the times by introducing advanced technologies to our restaurant networks…Crafted meat products are the next step in the development of our 'restaurant of the future' concept”

One of the world’s largest fast-food chains specialising in chicken - KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is set to take on an almost unbelievable task. The chain is undertaking 3D printing of its chicken nuggets.

One of the world’s largest fast-food chains specialising in chicken - KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is set to take on an almost unbelievable task. The chain is undertaking 3D printing of its chicken nuggets. This will mark the first laboratory produced chicken to be available for consumption, but only in Russia. Coming this year! Beginning autumn of 2020, KFC, in partnership with 3D Bioprinting Solutions in Russia will roll out the artificially produced meat. The release says that the company is attempting to imitate not only the physical characteristics of meat, but also its taste. It wants to create something "as close as possible in both taste and appearance" to “the famous KFC chicken. As the global demands for alternative to animal meat picks up, KFC in a media release claims to have crafted the “meat of the future”. Chicken wings are seen before a chicken wing eating contest, on National Chicken Wing Day, at a Safeway grocery store in Washington, DC on July 29, 2015. Hickman won the contest and USD 500 after eating 26 chicken wings weighing 2.21 pounds in 5 minutes. | AFP “Our experiment in testing 3D bioprinting technology to create chicken products can also help address several looming global problems," Raisa Polyakova, the general manager of KFC Russia, said in a statement. "We are glad to contribute to its development and are working to make it available to thousands of people in Russia and, if possible, around the world”, Polyakova added. The testing of the final product should begin by the end of this year in Moscow. Work is underway to create an additive bio printing technology. It will use chicken cells along with plant material to recreate the taste and texture of meat. Reportedly, it will “almost” involve no animals. Additive free Biomeat usually carries the same characteristics and elements as the original meat, but in fact gets rid of all the additives that are used on the product for it to be produced, processed, treated, packaged, and stored. This way, the printed food will be much cleaner and additive free. "3D bioprinting technologies, initially widely recognized in medicine, are nowadays gaining popularity in producing foods such as meat," Yusef Khesuani, co-founder of 3D Bioprinting Solutions said in a release. Also read: Four-year-old burst into tears as KFC, McDonald's shut down over coronavirus outbreak "In the future, the rapid development of such technologies will allow us to make 3D-printed meat products more accessible and we are hoping that the technology created as a result of our cooperation with KFC will help accelerate the launch of cell-based meat products on the market”, Khesuani added. While citing a study done by the American Environmental Science & Technology Journal, KFC claimed that growing meat from cells will significantly cut down the negative impact on the environment. In turn, this will cut down energy consumption by over half. As a consequence, greenhouse gas emissions will be decreased by 25 times. Additionally, 100 times lesser land will be needed to procure meat this way. "At KFC, we are closely monitoring all of the latest trends and innovations and doing our best to keep up with the times by introducing advanced technologies to our restaurant networks…Crafted meat products are the next step in the development of our 'restaurant of the future' concept”

KFC will start testing its environment friendly 3D-printed chicken in Russia by end of 2020

3D printers could end the woes of supply shortage induced by the novel coronavirus COVID-19, as companies like HP have stepped up efforts to create life-saving medical tools using the technology.

Hewlett-Packard (HP), and other companies like the teeth straightener vendor SmileDirectClub are looking for ways to employ their preexisting 3D-printing technology to build medical supplies that are already running short across the world, as most countries have halted trade and are exercising self-protectionism in the face of the pandemic.

Reported first by CNET, HP is allegedly looking at "entirely new parts such as plastic door handle adaptors which enable easy elbow opening to prevent further spread of the virus."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-pandemic-nasa-suspends-work-on-moon-rocket-287633" hreflang="en">Coronavirus pandemic: NASA suspends work on Moon rocket</a>

The paraphernalia in question involves ventilator valves, breathing filters, and face mask clasps.

"We will make available any HP proprietary design files for these parts so they can be produced anywhere in the world and are also helping end-customers bridge potential supply chain interruptions by expanding distributed print-on-demand capabilities," HP announced in a press release.

3D printing has been for long employed in the orthodontic industry to provide accuracy. SmileDirectClub is one of the largest 3D-printing manufacturers in the United States. The company has recently started donating plastic to medical supply companies and health organisations to quickly fill the supply gap in terms of medical equipment.

<h6><img alt="ppppp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2bbe534c-157c-4376-a833-12dc4a187286" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_106.jpg" /> 
Kinds of 3D printing machines | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

3D printers can easily build ventilators and face masks, however the safety imbued in this process remains in question.

Printing most of the equipment requires special tools, with no clarity on the effectiveness of the products created using this technology.

In the end of last year, the novel coronavirus was detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, and hails from the same family of coronaviruses as SARS and MERS.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently labelled the outbreak as a pandemic. As part of the precautionary measures, people across the globe have been advised to stay indoors and to practice social distancing.

The pandemic has shut down major countries and industries around the world. Italy continues to be in complete lockdown mode, with over 300 deaths being reported daily. This may partly be due to the large number of senior citizens in the country. Additionally, schools, restaurants, and bars have been ordered shut across the globe. Sporting events have also been cancelled until the virus threat simmers down. The US state of California recently enforced a complete lockdown which places over 40 million people in self-isolation.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eight-out-of-ten-people-expected-to-contract-covid-19-in-spanish-capital-madrid-287607" hreflang="en">Eight out of ten people expected to contract COVID-19 in Spanish capital Madrid</a>

With no clear picture in sight of how long the pandemic might last, people have been compelled to hoard for not weeks, but for months.&nbsp;

In the face of supply shortages, people have been hoarding toilet paper, hand sanitiser, disinfecting wipes, and masks, which has, in turn created an endless cycle of shortages.

Leaders across the world have urged people not to stock on essential medical supplies as it could cause a problem for emergency responders who are most vulnerable to contracting the virus.&nbsp;

As per data released by The Society of Critical Care Medicine, nearly one million patients in the United States will need ventilators at some point in the near future. However, the country currently has only 200,000 machines.

Recently, Elon Musk’s Tesla also offered to build ventilators for countries facing shortages.

Even though 3D printing started a way to design prototypes, it is now being used to make finished products. The benefit of the technology is the fact that it uses lighter plastic, and is a viable alternative to heavy metals.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-the-duration-of-covid-19-treatment-be-minimised-by-using-a-combination-of-drugs-287565" hreflang="en">Can the duration of COVID-19 treatment be minimised by using a combination of drugs?</a>

However, 3D printing may not be the definitive answer to supply shortages, as many items like face masks use complicated material. Additionally, 3D printers are slow and take hours to print designs. But printing relatively simpler items like valves would be easier.

The primary drawback of 3D printing is that it is capable of mass-production, if compared to the factory model of bulk production.

But this is not the end! Open Source Ventilator, a Facebook group aims to build ventilators using material which are already available. The group currently has 300 members, ranging from engineers to doctors. They have been able to conjure a prototype which could be approved for use in Ireland as soon as next week.

(With inputs from agencies)

3D printers could end the woes of supply shortage induced by the novel coronavirus COVID-19, as companies like HP have stepped up efforts to create life-saving medical tools using the technology.

3D printers could end the woes of supply shortage induced by the novel coronavirus COVID-19, as companies like HP have stepped up efforts to create life-saving medical tools using the technology. Hewlett-Packard (HP), and other companies like the teeth straightener vendor SmileDirectClub are looking for ways to employ their preexisting 3D-printing technology to build medical supplies that are already running short across the world, as most countries have halted trade and are exercising self-protectionism in the face of the pandemic. Reported first by CNET, HP is allegedly looking at "entirely new parts such as plastic door handle adaptors which enable easy elbow opening to prevent further spread of the virus." Also read: Coronavirus pandemic: NASA suspends work on Moon rocket The paraphernalia in question involves ventilator valves, breathing filters, and face mask clasps. "We will make available any HP proprietary design files for these parts so they can be produced anywhere in the world and are also helping end-customers bridge potential supply chain interruptions by expanding distributed print-on-demand capabilities," HP announced in a press release. 3D printing has been for long employed in the orthodontic industry to provide accuracy. SmileDirectClub is one of the largest 3D-printing manufacturers in the United States. The company has recently started donating plastic to medical supply companies and health organisations to quickly fill the supply gap in terms of medical equipment. Kinds of 3D printing machines | AFP 3D printers can easily build ventilators and face masks, however the safety imbued in this process remains in question. Printing most of the equipment requires special tools, with no clarity on the effectiveness of the products created using this technology. In the end of last year, the novel coronavirus was detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, and hails from the same family of coronaviruses as SARS and MERS. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently labelled the outbreak as a pandemic. As part of the precautionary measures, people across the globe have been advised to stay indoors and to practice social distancing. The pandemic has shut down major countries and industries around the world. Italy continues to be in complete lockdown mode, with over 300 deaths being reported daily. This may partly be due to the large number of senior citizens in the country. Additionally, schools, restaurants, and bars have been ordered shut across the globe. Sporting events have also been cancelled until the virus threat simmers down. The US state of California recently enforced a complete lockdown which places over 40 million people in self-isolation. Also read: Eight out of ten people expected to contract COVID-19 in Spanish capital Madrid With no clear picture in sight of how long the pandemic might last, people have been compelled to hoard for not weeks, but for months. In the face of supply shortages, people have been hoarding toilet paper, hand sanitiser, disinfecting wipes, and masks, which has, in turn created an endless cycle of shortages. Leaders across the world have urged people not to stock on essential medical supplies as it could cause a problem for emergency responders who are most vulnerable to contracting the virus. As per data released by The Society of Critical Care Medicine, nearly one million patients in the United States will need ventilators at some point in the near future. However, the country currently has only 200,000 machines. Recently, Elon Musk’s Tesla also offered to build ventilators for countries facing shortages. Even though 3D printing started a way to design prototypes, it is now being used to make finished products. The benefit of the technology is the fact that it uses lighter plastic, and is a viable alternative to heavy metals. Also read: Can the duration of COVID-19 treatment be minimised by using a combination of drugs? However, 3D printing may not be the definitive answer to supply shortages, as many items like face masks use complicated material. Additionally, 3D printers are slow and take hours to print designs. But printing relatively simpler items like valves would be easier. The primary drawback of 3D printing is that it is capable of mass-production, if compared to the factory model of bulk production. But this is not the end! Open Source Ventilator, a Facebook group aims to build ventilators using material which are already available. The group currently has 300 members, ranging from engineers to doctors. They have been able to conjure a prototype which could be approved for use in Ireland as soon as next week. (With inputs from agencies)

Could 3D-printing be the answer to coronavirus-induced supply shortages?

India's 1st 3D printing construction technology

A plethora of interesting innovations happened during the year 2017, but some of them stand out with a promise to transform the way we live, work, and travel. Interestingly, these tech advancements hint at a future straight out of space operas. And before the year wraps, let&#39;s take a look at some of them:

Travel faster than a plane: One of the most path-breaking innovations that came to light this year was the idea of a Hyperloop. This concept of a high-speed transportation aims to cut travel times from hours to minutes. And a good thing here is that some companies like Hyperloop One and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies have already started working on the faster mode of transportation. Interestingly, the first Hyperloop in India will connect the cities of Vijayawada and Amaravati in the state of Andhra Pradesh. In other words, India&rsquo;s first Hyperloop will cover a distance of around 35 kilometers in 5 minutes. It, however, will take a year or so to be a reality in India. But the idea, definitely, gives some high hopes.

Fly in a taxi: Talking about transportation, the year 2017 also witnessed the concept of connected cars going to a whole new level. Having made driverless cars a reality, tech majors in collaboration with auto makers are now taking connected cars to the skies. It&rsquo;s interesting to note that Germany-based Volocopter tested a driverless taxi in Dubai a few months ago. It resembles a small helicopter-like cabin, accommodates two people, and can fly for 30 minutes at a maximum speed pf 100 kmph. And before you assume it to be a dream far from reality, you must know that Dubai aims to make this flying taxi commercially available in the next 5 years. And it was just not Volocopter that aggressively teased its flying car plans this year. Kitty hawk, a silicon valley startup backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, also demonstrated a personal flying machine back in April. And it could be out anytime soon. Clearly, a driverless flying future isn&rsquo;t too far.

Shop like never before: It&rsquo;s just not travel, futuristic technologies are going to change the way we shop and buy. Ever thought that you would be able to buy cars from a dispensing machine? But people in Singapore can now buy luxury cars from a dispenser. Buyers can see everything on display and all they need to do is make a choice and a car is automatically transported down by a lift. Isn&rsquo;t a space-saving innovation in the land-starved Singapore?

Adding to the convenience of shopping is the concept of drone delivery, which aims to change the way we receive parcels at our doorsteps. While the concept of drone delivery emerged a few years ago, it was in 2017 it became a serious focus for many companies and countries. For instance, in Japan, e-commerce company Rakuten started delivering goods using drones in the northeastern city of Minami Soma this year. And now India is also taking the use of drones for businesses pretty seriously. India&rsquo;s aviation ministry recently proposed rules for the commercial use of drones in the country, which means that you could soon see drones delivering packages in India.

The rise of robots: This list remains incomplete if we don&rsquo;t talk about new trends that pushed the envelope further in the space of robotics. The use of robots in different spheres of life not only leaves us surprised, but it also offers a glimpse into an exciting future. We now have robot waiters, masseuses, footballers, musicians, and bartenders. And the most exciting robot war of the year leaves us wondering - what&rsquo;s next?

3D printing is gaining momentum: While the 3D printing revolution is still underway, it has opened a whole new world of ideas. From prosthetic limbs to food to jewellery and farming tools, 3D printers are now creating what was once unimaginable. The concept offers endless possibilities and we now want to see what the world of 3D printing holds for us in future.

A plethora of interesting innovations happened during the year 2017, but some of them stand out with a promise to transform the way we live, work, and travel.

A plethora of interesting innovations happened during the year 2017, but some of them stand out with a promise to transform the way we live, work, and travel. Interestingly, these tech advancements hint at a future straight out of space operas. And before the year wraps, let's take a look at some of them: Travel faster than a plane: One of the most path-breaking innovations that came to light this year was the idea of a Hyperloop. This concept of a high-speed transportation aims to cut travel times from hours to minutes. And a good thing here is that some companies like Hyperloop One and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies have already started working on the faster mode of transportation. Interestingly, the first Hyperloop in India will connect the cities of Vijayawada and Amaravati in the state of Andhra Pradesh. In other words, India’s first Hyperloop will cover a distance of around 35 kilometers in 5 minutes. It, however, will take a year or so to be a reality in India. But the idea, definitely, gives some high hopes. Fly in a taxi: Talking about transportation, the year 2017 also witnessed the concept of connected cars going to a whole new level. Having made driverless cars a reality, tech majors in collaboration with auto makers are now taking connected cars to the skies. It’s interesting to note that Germany-based Volocopter tested a driverless taxi in Dubai a few months ago. It resembles a small helicopter-like cabin, accommodates two people, and can fly for 30 minutes at a maximum speed pf 100 kmph. And before you assume it to be a dream far from reality, you must know that Dubai aims to make this flying taxi commercially available in the next 5 years. And it was just not Volocopter that aggressively teased its flying car plans this year. Kitty hawk, a silicon valley startup backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, also demonstrated a personal flying machine back in April. And it could be out anytime soon. Clearly, a driverless flying future isn’t too far. Shop like never before: It’s just not travel, futuristic technologies are going to change the way we shop and buy. Ever thought that you would be able to buy cars from a dispensing machine? But people in Singapore can now buy luxury cars from a dispenser. Buyers can see everything on display and all they need to do is make a choice and a car is automatically transported down by a lift. Isn’t a space-saving innovation in the land-starved Singapore? Adding to the convenience of shopping is the concept of drone delivery, which aims to change the way we receive parcels at our doorsteps. While the concept of drone delivery emerged a few years ago, it was in 2017 it became a serious focus for many companies and countries. For instance, in Japan, e-commerce company Rakuten started delivering goods using drones in the northeastern city of Minami Soma this year. And now India is also taking the use of drones for businesses pretty seriously. India’s aviation ministry recently proposed rules for the commercial use of drones in the country, which means that you could soon see drones delivering packages in India. The rise of robots: This list remains incomplete if we don’t talk about new trends that pushed the envelope further in the space of robotics. The use of robots in different spheres of life not only leaves us surprised, but it also offers a glimpse into an exciting future. We now have robot waiters, masseuses, footballers, musicians, and bartenders. And the most exciting robot war of the year leaves us wondering - what’s next? 3D printing is gaining momentum: While the 3D printing revolution is still underway, it has opened a whole new world of ideas. From prosthetic limbs to food to jewellery and farming tools, 3D printers are now creating what was once unimaginable. The concept offers endless possibilities and we now want to see what the world of 3D printing holds for us in future.

Yearender 2017: 5 tech breakthroughs that promise a better future

Adidas launched a new sneaker with a 3D-printed sole that it plans to mass-produce next year. This new move is part of a broader push by the German sportswear firm to react faster to changing fashions and create more customised products.

Adidas already lets people customise the colour and pattern of shoes ordered online but new 3D printing methods will make small production runs, limited edition shoes and even soles designed to fit an individual&#39;s weight and gait economical.

Rivals Nike, Under Armour and New Balance have also been experimenting with 3D printing but have so far only used the technique to make prototypes, soles tailored for sponsored athletes and a handful of high-priced novelty shoes.

That&#39;s because traditional 3D printers are slower, more expensive and often create an inferior product than the injection moulds for plastic that are currently used to produce hundreds of millions of shoes each year, mostly in Asia.

However, Adidas says its new partnership with Silicon Valley start-up Carbon allows it to overcome many of those difficulties to produce a sole that can rival one made by an injection mould, and at a speed and price that allow for mass production.

&quot;This is a milestone not only for us as a company but also for the industry,&quot; said Gerd Manz, Adidas head of technology innovation, announcing the launch of its new &quot;Futurecraft 4D&quot; shoe. &quot;We&#39;ve cracked some of the boundaries.&quot;

Carbon, financed by venture firms such as Sequoia Capital as well as funds set up by General Electric and Alphabet&#39;s Google, has pioneered a technique that prints with light-sensitive polymer resin that is then baked for strength.

Standard 3D printers build up products with layers of plastic powder, a method used by Hewlett Packard which is working with Nike and says its newest machines work 10 times faster and at half the cost than earlier models.

Adidas hopes to sell 5,000 pairs of its &quot;Futurecraft 4D&quot; this year, and 100,000 next year as Carbon cuts the time it takes to print a sole from the current hour and a half to as low as 20 minutes per sole.

The shoes will sell at an unspecified premium price but Adidas plans to lower the cost as the technology develops.

Late last year Adidas sold a few hundred pairs of running shoes with soles made by regular 3D printing for $333 but they were relatively rigid and heavy and took 10 hours to print.

&ldquo;Walk before you run&rdquo;

Carbon&#39;s technology will allow Adidas to make small batches of shoes far more quickly. Small production runs were not economical before as the metal moulds for most soles need to be used 10,000 times to pay for themselves, and they take four to six weeks to cast and grind.

&quot;What you can do is introduce more types of products without a cost penalty,&quot; said Terry Wohlers, head of Wohlers Associates, a US consultancy specialising in 3D printing. &quot;With this technology, you can produce one or a few inexpensively.&quot;

Wohlers expects the 3D printing industry to more than quadruple sales to $26 billion by 2022, driven mostly by the automotive, medical, dental and jewellery sectors.

Adidas initially plans batches of shoes tailored to specific sports or cities but hopes consumers will eventually be measured and tested in store to design perfectly-fitting shoes tweaked for an individual&#39;s gait, weight and type of sport.

&quot;Individualisation will come, but you&#39;ve got to learn to walk before you run,&quot; Manz said, citing a survey that shows 80 percent of consumers want to be part of the design process.

Adidas last month experimented with a pop-up store where customers could design a custom-fitted sweater and have it knitted in the store.

3D printing will also help cut the time it takes to get new designs to stores from the 12 to 18 months it usually takes for sneakers. To that end, Adidas is also opening factories mainly operated by robots in Germany and the United States.

(Reuters)

Adidas will sell the shoes at an unspecified premium price, but it plans to lower the cost as the technology develops

Adidas launched a new sneaker with a 3D-printed sole that it plans to mass-produce next year. This new move is part of a broader push by the German sportswear firm to react faster to changing fashions and create more customised products. Adidas already lets people customise the colour and pattern of shoes ordered online but new 3D printing methods will make small production runs, limited edition shoes and even soles designed to fit an individual's weight and gait economical. Rivals Nike, Under Armour and New Balance have also been experimenting with 3D printing but have so far only used the technique to make prototypes, soles tailored for sponsored athletes and a handful of high-priced novelty shoes. That's because traditional 3D printers are slower, more expensive and often create an inferior product than the injection moulds for plastic that are currently used to produce hundreds of millions of shoes each year, mostly in Asia. However, Adidas says its new partnership with Silicon Valley start-up Carbon allows it to overcome many of those difficulties to produce a sole that can rival one made by an injection mould, and at a speed and price that allow for mass production. "This is a milestone not only for us as a company but also for the industry," said Gerd Manz, Adidas head of technology innovation, announcing the launch of its new "Futurecraft 4D" shoe. "We've cracked some of the boundaries." Carbon, financed by venture firms such as Sequoia Capital as well as funds set up by General Electric and Alphabet's Google, has pioneered a technique that prints with light-sensitive polymer resin that is then baked for strength. Standard 3D printers build up products with layers of plastic powder, a method used by Hewlett Packard which is working with Nike and says its newest machines work 10 times faster and at half the cost than earlier models. Adidas hopes to sell 5,000 pairs of its "Futurecraft 4D" this year, and 100,000 next year as Carbon cuts the time it takes to print a sole from the current hour and a half to as low as 20 minutes per sole. The shoes will sell at an unspecified premium price but Adidas plans to lower the cost as the technology develops. Late last year Adidas sold a few hundred pairs of running shoes with soles made by regular 3D printing for $333 but they were relatively rigid and heavy and took 10 hours to print. “Walk before you run” Carbon's technology will allow Adidas to make small batches of shoes far more quickly. Small production runs were not economical before as the metal moulds for most soles need to be used 10,000 times to pay for themselves, and they take four to six weeks to cast and grind. "What you can do is introduce more types of products without a cost penalty," said Terry Wohlers, head of Wohlers Associates, a US consultancy specialising in 3D printing. "With this technology, you can produce one or a few inexpensively." Wohlers expects the 3D printing industry to more than quadruple sales to $26 billion by 2022, driven mostly by the automotive, medical, dental and jewellery sectors. Adidas initially plans batches of shoes tailored to specific sports or cities but hopes consumers will eventually be measured and tested in store to design perfectly-fitting shoes tweaked for an individual's gait, weight and type of sport. "Individualisation will come, but you've got to learn to walk before you run," Manz said, citing a survey that shows 80 percent of consumers want to be part of the design process. Adidas last month experimented with a pop-up store where customers could design a custom-fitted sweater and have it knitted in the store. 3D printing will also help cut the time it takes to get new designs to stores from the 12 to 18 months it usually takes for sneakers. To that end, Adidas is also opening factories mainly operated by robots in Germany and the United States. (Reuters)

Adidas to mass-produce 3D-printed shoe

Need hair? Just press print, say Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)&nbsp;scientists who developed a new way to 3D print thousands of hair-like structures within minutes on various surfaces, which can perform useful tasks such as sensing and adhesion. 
 
Instead of using conventional computer-aided design (CAD) software to draw thousands of individual hairs on a computer - a step that would take hours to compute - the team built a new software platform, called &quot;Cilllia&quot;, that lets users define the angle, thickness, density, and height of thousands of hairs, in just a few minutes. 
 
Using the new software, the researchers designed arrays of hair-like structures with a resolution of 50 microns - about the width of a human hair. 
 
Playing with various dimensions, they designed and then printed arrays ranging from coarse bristles to fine fur, onto flat and also curved surfaces, using a conventional 3D printer. 
 
The technology could possibly be used to print wigs and hair extensions, the researchers said. But their end goal is seeing how 3D-printed hair could perform useful tasks such as sensing, adhesion, and actuation. 
 
To demonstrate adhesion, the team printed arrays that act as Velcro-like bristle pads. Depending on the angle of the bristles, the pads can stick to together with varying forces. 
 
For sensing, the researchers printed a small furry rabbit figure, equipped with LED lights that light up when a person strokes the rabbit in certain directions. 
 
To see whether 3D-printed hair can help or move objects, the team fabricated a weight-sorting table made from panels of printed hair with specified angles and heights. 
 
As a small vibration source shook the panels, the hairs were able to move coins across the table, sorting them based on the coins&#39; weight and the vibration frequency. 
 
Jifei Ou, a graduate student at MIT in the US, said that the work is inspired by hair-like structures in nature, which provide benefits such as warmth, in the case of human hair, and movement, in the case of cilia, which help remove dust from the lungs. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re just trying to think how can we fully utilise the potential of 3D printing, and create new functional materials whose properties are easily tunable and controllable,&quot; Ou said. 
 
To 3D print hair using existing software, designers would have to model hair in CAD, drawing out each individual strand, then feed the drawing through a programme that represents each hair&#39;s contour as a mesh of tiny triangles. 
 
The programme would then create horizontal cross sections of the triangle mesh, and translate each cross section into pixels, or a bitmap, that a printer could then print out, layer by layer. 
 
Ou said designing a stamp-sized array of 6,000 hairs using this process would take several hours to process. 
 
To design hair, the researchers built a new software platform to model first a single hair and then an array of hairs, and finally to print arrays on both flat and curved surfaces. 
(PTI)

The innovative software developed could be used to print wigs and hair extensions

Need hair? Just press print, say Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientists who developed a new way to 3D print thousands of hair-like structures within minutes on various surfaces, which can perform useful tasks such as sensing and adhesion. Instead of using conventional computer-aided design (CAD) software to draw thousands of individual hairs on a computer - a step that would take hours to compute - the team built a new software platform, called "Cilllia", that lets users define the angle, thickness, density, and height of thousands of hairs, in just a few minutes. Using the new software, the researchers designed arrays of hair-like structures with a resolution of 50 microns - about the width of a human hair. Playing with various dimensions, they designed and then printed arrays ranging from coarse bristles to fine fur, onto flat and also curved surfaces, using a conventional 3D printer. The technology could possibly be used to print wigs and hair extensions, the researchers said. But their end goal is seeing how 3D-printed hair could perform useful tasks such as sensing, adhesion, and actuation. To demonstrate adhesion, the team printed arrays that act as Velcro-like bristle pads. Depending on the angle of the bristles, the pads can stick to together with varying forces. For sensing, the researchers printed a small furry rabbit figure, equipped with LED lights that light up when a person strokes the rabbit in certain directions. To see whether 3D-printed hair can help or move objects, the team fabricated a weight-sorting table made from panels of printed hair with specified angles and heights. As a small vibration source shook the panels, the hairs were able to move coins across the table, sorting them based on the coins' weight and the vibration frequency. Jifei Ou, a graduate student at MIT in the US, said that the work is inspired by hair-like structures in nature, which provide benefits such as warmth, in the case of human hair, and movement, in the case of cilia, which help remove dust from the lungs. "We're just trying to think how can we fully utilise the potential of 3D printing, and create new functional materials whose properties are easily tunable and controllable," Ou said. To 3D print hair using existing software, designers would have to model hair in CAD, drawing out each individual strand, then feed the drawing through a programme that represents each hair's contour as a mesh of tiny triangles. The programme would then create horizontal cross sections of the triangle mesh, and translate each cross section into pixels, or a bitmap, that a printer could then print out, layer by layer. Ou said designing a stamp-sized array of 6,000 hairs using this process would take several hours to process. To design hair, the researchers built a new software platform to model first a single hair and then an array of hairs, and finally to print arrays on both flat and curved surfaces. (PTI)

New system to 3D print hair-like structures

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