AM Radio

Additive Manufacturing Media editors have had the chance to visit three different NASA facilities: the Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Marshall Space Flight Center. Pete Zelinski and Stephanie Hendrixson learned and reported on how 3D printing is being used to fulfill NASA missions through parts like a generatively designed bracket, lightweight titanium lattices and a multimaterial thrust chamber made with two different processes. But where do these parts fit within NASA's broader mission, and what is the role of additive manufacturing at NASA? In this episode, part 1 of a 2-part series, Pete and Stephanie discuss what it's like to visit NASA and the observations they gleaned from being on site. (Make sure to subscribe and join us for Part 2, featuring AM Radio cohost and NASA system design innovator Dr. Tim Simpson.)

Find photos, related links and the transcript for this episode on AdditiveManufacturing.Media.

This episode is brought to you by THE BUILDUP.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Cool Parts Show episodes featuring:

• "Evolved" bracket structures for the EXCITE mission, seen at Goddard Space Flight Center
• Lattices for the Mars sample return mission, seen at the Jet Propulsion Lab
• The RAMPT thrust chamber assembly, filmed at Marshall Space Flight Center

More on these NASA initiatives:

• EXCITE Balloon Mission
• Mars Sample Return
• RAMPT

Our previous episode on qualification and standards in AM, including NASA 6030

3D printed brackets on the Juno spacecraft

The 2024 edition of IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show welcomed more than 89,000 attendees to Chicago last week. While only a portion of the show’s 1,500 exhibitors were offering additive manufacturing equipment or services, AM nevertheless had a significant footprint at this show. Conversations with speakers, exhibitors and attendees revealed insights about where additive is finding traction now, and where it is heading next. In this episode of AM Radio, I talk with Pete Zelinski about equipment launches during the show, advances in usability and accessibility, AM’s role in the casting supply chain, the increased presence of service providers, and how the next “phase” of AM will look different.

Find photos, related links and the transcript for this episode on AdditiveManufacturing.Media.

This episode is brought to you by Additive Manufacturing Media. Never miss a story.

Mentioned in this episode:

• LinkedIn feeds: Stephanie | Pete
• Videos from the show:
• Robot Machining and Robot DED
• Video: Scanning for Fast Model Capture and Validation of AM Parts
• More to come — subscribe to The BuildUp
• Markforged FX10 Metal Kit
• 3D Systems Titan EXT 800 pellet printer
• Formalloy, developer of the DED Smart Path scanning module
• Stratasys F3300 and Origin 2
• One Click Metal (video to come)
• EOS dual setup system for laser powder bed fusion
• Mazak hot wire hybrid deposition machine
• Würth Additive Group’s DIS platform (video to come)
• How DIS integrates with Raise3D's resin 3D printers
• A test of Spee3D's cold spray technology in expeditionary manufacturing
• Meltio M600 DED machine
• Colibrium Additive (formerly GE Additive) and the impact of binder strength for production
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory integrated machining/DED system
• Perspective on hybrid manufacturing from Hybrid Manufacturing Tec...

As a “born digital” technology, additive manufacturing intrinsically relies on data, more so than any other manufacturing process. That data reliance potentially exposes AM users to data security and cybersecurity issues; efforts are underway to help these users protect designs, print parameters, machines and even 3D printed parts. But beyond the dark side of data, figuring out secure ways of storing and sharing data also opens the door to more freely distributing manufacturing, sharing material and print profiles, and flexible, secure supply chains. Stephanie Hendrixson and Dr. Tim Simpson discuss all things AM data on AM Radio.

This episode of AM Radio is brought to you by Formnext Forum: Austin.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 37 on sustainability
• CyManII and its efforts to protect an additive manufacturing company
• NIST introduces a new “dictionary” for data definitions in AM
• VeriTX’s Fortis platform for data assurance
• Senvol industrial AM machine and material database
• TRACEam program from Mike Vasquez
• 3DOS decentralized manufacturing marketplace model
• Xometry distributed manufacturing network | episode from sister podcast Made in the USA featuring Randy Altschuler, CEO
• Dr0wned hacked drone video
• Chris Williams and the Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems (DREAMS) Lab at Virginia Tech (VT is now also a managing member of CyManII)
• ANSI manufacturing standards for anticounterfeiting
• Work with InfraTrac and Sharon Flank to embed different materials via DED for authentication
• Shape Matrix system created by Shape Operating Systems
• The Cool Parts Showcase 2021 featuring a 3D printed barcode in the Bespoke category (Meet the 2023 finalists and VOTE)
• Subscribe to The BuildUp, Additive Manufacturing Media’s newsletter on 3D printing for industrial production

Additive manufacturing is a dynamic space for various reasons: The technology is advancing and application possibilities are still being developed, and as a direct consequence, the landscape of AM companies is subject to change due to investor moves; mergers and acquisitions; and startups emerging from “stealth mode.” On this podcast, and in related reporting for Additive Manufacturing Media, we serve manufacturers by covering AM technology and applications — the corporate and financial moves are not the focus. And yet, one realm affects the other. The company moves shape what we cover and affect the choices of manufacturers as they aim to proceed with the technology. In this episode of AM Radio, Peter Zelinski and Stephanie Hendrixson talk about this. They discuss how the corporate and financial developments among AM companies play out for AM users, and where the dynamism of the additive space is likely to lead in the future.

This episode of AM Radio is brought to you by Formnext Forum: Austin.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Stratasys and Desktop Metal
• Other recent company moves: Ultimaker and Makerbot; Markforged and Digital Metal; Shapeways and Linear AMS; Nexa3D and Addifab
• AM provider Zeda opening new facility
• Tangible Solutions built its process on machines from Concept Laser. Concept has since been acquired and Tangible has been acquired.
• RP+M succeeding with FDM, its initial process
• Facilities with space to add more additive capacity: GKN in Michigan; Wabtec in Pittsburgh; Collins Aerospace in Charlotte
• HP binder jetting, and HP Corvallis legacy developments such as first laptop
• Fortify applications to mold tooling and radio frequency devices
• Evolve STEP process
• Stratasys and Origin work together, then join
• Dayton Horvath on AM investor shift toward applications

Subscribe to THE BUILDUP, our newsletter on 3D printing for industrial production

Additive manufacturing offers significant promise for strengthening and simplifying manufacturing supply chains.

We glimpsed this during the pandemic, when 3D printers provided a quick response for needed medical components for uses such as ventilators and personal protective equipment.

What are the ways AM can answer supply chain problems longer term, and how close are we to realizing this promise?

In this episode of the AM Radio podcast, I am joined by Penn State’s Dr. Tim Simpson as we discuss additive manufacturing as a logistics solution, 3D printing for faster lead time relative to casting and forging, AM for MRO and sustainment needs, and other aspects of additive as a supply chain solution.

• Dr. Tim Simpson’s additive manufacturing research organization at Penn State University
• Additive manufacturing for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic
• Sand 3D printing as a way to improve metal casting
• 3D printed TPU seals for GM’s Chevy Tahoe
• AMNOW digital additive manufacturing supply chain
• Navy’s use of distributed manufacturing for T-45 Goshawk oxygen vent
• IMI Critical Engineering demonstration of globally distributed additive manufacturing for valves
• AM as a spare parts inventory solution for the oil and gas industry
• AM Radio episode on bridge production
• Made in the USA podcast