Business first in today’s 3D printing briefs as The Spaghetti Detective has changed its name and Formlabs is more focused on global expansion. Moving on to software next, as a 3D printing algorithm developed several years ago made its debut at RAPID. Photocentric has launched a new 3D printer based on an LCD screen. Finally, a new 6,000 industrial robot developed at Cornell University could lead to more efficient and sustainable construction.

Detective Spaghetti becomes Obico

Smart open-source AI software The Spaghetti Detective, which automatically detects and shuts down failed prints, recently underwent a brand change and is now called Obico. Why has the name changed? The platform introduced several new features, such as OctoPrint Tunneling and a mobile app for remote monitoring and control of your 3D printer, and as it expanded, the name just didn’t cover everything. what he had to offer. But the Obico name isn’t all that’s new – the platform’s open source offerings have also grown with a public API, plugin support, and also support for the Klipper ecosystem, not just OctoPrint. The Pro price remained the same except for the removal of the store plan, and you can check out the blog post for other relevant changes.

“We’ve done the plumbing to make your move to Obico as smooth as possible for you. All of your current settings in your The Spaghetti Detective account have been migrated to Obico.

Formlabs Appoints New APAC General Manager

In order to continue its expansion in the world, Formlabs announced that it has strengthened its global management team and intensified its commitment to the AM market in Asia-Pacific, by appoints Michael Agam as CEO of APAC. Most recently President of South Asia at Stratasys and former CEO of New Hope Data and MNC Solutions, Agam has over 15 years of experience leading international businesses and working with enterprise and technology leaders. of the APAC region. He will now play an important role in establishing and growing the company’s business there as Formlabs continues to expand into the global market and provide mass production and customization through 3D printing, who is should grow rapidly over the next five years in the region.

“Formlabs is focused on global expansion to provide mass production and customization, reduce supply chain disruptions, and enable new methods of invention through 3D printing,” said Luke Winston, Director Formlabs sales representative. “Asia-Pacific presents a significant opportunity for Formlabs and the appointment of Michael to our leadership team is an important next step. He has both a proven track record and key experience in Asia-Pacific that will be key to successfully establishing the business in the region.

Launch of Ulendo software to speed up 3D printing

Chinedum Okwudire and students from his lab at the University of Michigan demonstrated an early version of FBS software in 2017. Image credit: Evan Dougherty, Michigan Engineering

In 2017, the Smart and Sustainable Automation Research Lab (S2A Laboratory) at University of Michigan College of Engineering has developed a filtered b-spline (FBS) software algorithm that could double the speed of 3D printing by telling the system how to compensate for vibrations. A Kickstarter campaign for the solution ran in 2020, and although it ultimately failed to fund the software, dubbed Ulendo through her spin-off company of the same name, she received a $250,000 research grant from the NSF last year. The product was officially launched at the recent RAPID+TCT conference in Detroit and is now available on the market. FBS refers to the mathematical function used by the team to translate machine commands from typical hold to those that would compensate for the vibrations of desktop 3D printers, allowing systems to double their speed without consuming too much power or sacrificing accuracy, and reducing the cost per 3D printed part as well.

“If you want to reduce the vibrations of a moving object, most of the time you can do it by slowing down. But since 3D printing is already very slow, this solution creates another problem. Our solution allows you to print quickly without sacrificing quality,” explained Chinedum Okwudirefounder of Ulendo and associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan.

“Suppose you want a 3D printer to move in a straight line, but due to vibrations the motion is moving upwards. The FBS algorithm tricks the machine into telling it to follow a downward path, and when it tries to follow that path, it moves straight.

Photocentric launches the Liquid Crystal Magna v.2 3D printer

Specialist manufacturer of resin and LCD printers Photocentric, which invented LCD 3D printing, has released the latest version of its Liquid Crystal (LC) Magna system, the LC Magna v.2. The company says the general-purpose printer is robust and more efficient, and offers much faster print speeds, so it’s suitable for on-demand, small batch or full production applications. The LC Magna v.2 is claimed to deliver accurate end-use parts at scale and offers a new hydrophobic platform, designed to reduce waste and further improve productivity. Each is pre-calibrated to ensure quick installation, and the system is backed by a range of high performance resins and post-curing units for an excellent value proposition.

“Magna is the crown jewel of Photocentric, and we are delighted to launch this new model which builds on the solid foundation of its predecessor. The product development team retained everything that made the LC Magna so popular with our customers – including its impressive build volume – while adding a range of features that increased print speeds, further improved reliability and dramatically increased processing power,” said Sally Tipping. , Director of Sales, Photocentric. “We are extremely excited about the possibilities of the new Magna and cannot wait to see what our customers will make of it.

3D printing of Cornell’s industrial robot powers greener construction

Bovay’s Civil Infrastructure Laboratory complex has a new tenant: a roughly 6,000-pound industrial robot capable of 3D printing large-scale structures that could make construction more sustainable.

To finish, Cornell University received a 6,000 lb IRB 6650S industrial robot system this year, which can be used for 3D print large-scale structures more sustainably by getting rid of waste. The Bovay Civil Infrastructure Laboratory trained users in the use of the versatile robotic arm system, and several medium-sized test prints, such as planters and benches, were successfully completed. The robot is currently 3D printing with mortar, as anything bigger could damage the pump system, but Sriramya Nair, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and his team plan to build an extruder head capable of printing steel-fiber reinforced concrete, so the lab can 3D print and test complete bridge components. Nair, who plans to incorporate the 3D printing system into his “Sustainability and Automation: The Future of the Construction Industry” course this fall, also hopes his team can also develop their own mix and reduce the carbon footprint. Either way, the robotic 3D printer saves time and wastes much less material.

“Whenever you pour poured concrete, like for a sidewalk, you have to put all the molds in place. It takes manpower, equipment, everything has to be staked out. All of this takes a long time. Every change you make to a concrete structure, you have to modify the mold or get a new mold and spend labor on it,” explained James Strait, technical services manager for the Bovay Lab. “It’s a lot harder than going to a computer program and saying, ‘Do you want this rounded?’ Click on. A few hours and you’re done.