#3DExpress: Dubai’s First Fully 3D Printed Boat
This week, we’re taking you on a boat tour, and not just any boat! It’s a boat entirely 3D printed by a Dubai-based company. Thanks to 3D technologies, the company is able to drastically reduce manufacturing lead times, thereby boosting productivity. What’s more, the structure is made from recycled plastic. In this 3DExpress, you’ll also take to the skies: a Polish airline has opted for additive manufacturing to design the new seat armrests for its Boeing 737s. This frees the company from the problem of spare parts, and gives it greater flexibility. Enjoy your trip!
A Fully 3D Printed Boat in Dubai
As you know, the city of Dubai is increasingly looking at the use of additive manufacturing to create its infrastructure. It would seem that this use is also extending to transport, and more specifically to boats. In fact, the company Inoventive 3D has just revealed the city’s first fully 3D-printed boat. Called Cyberfin, it measures 10 meters long, 2.1 meters wide and 2.7 meters high, and is made from recycled marine waste. According to the company, it took precisely 6 days and 9 hours to manufacture (compared with 3 to 4 months using traditional methods). It has a capacity of 10 people. Inoventive 3D intends to speed up production of these boats – it could 3D print 6 to 7 structures a month.
Armrests Made With Additive Manufacturing in Boeing 737s
LOT Polish Airlines is Poland’s national airline, serving numerous destinations worldwide. Its fleet includes several Boeing 737s. And the reason we’re telling you about it today is that economy-class seats are now equipped with 3D-printed armrests. To be precise, the airline has received 1,200 armrests. Previously, these were manufactured using more traditional methods, with assembly steps that weakened the armrest’s lifespan. They were fitted with a cap attached to an injection-molded frame. But the cap often tended to detach from the frame, causing regular breakage. To overcome this problem, LOT approached AM Craft, who used FDM technology and ULTEM 9085 filament. The armrest was completely rethought in terms of design to avoid these assembly steps and the risks mentioned. Not only is the final armrest stronger, it’s also quicker to obtain, and the airline is freed from the problems associated with spare parts and storage.
the original armrest; the unpainted 3D-printed part; two painted 3D-printed armrests (photo credits: AM Craft)
3D Printed Military Barracks Inaugurated at Fort Bliss
A year ago, the U.S. Army launched a pilot program to 3D print a series of barracks at Fort Bliss Base, Texas. The goal of this project was to use additive manufacturing to improve living conditions for soldiers. Now, these barracks, covering 530 m², have been completed, making them the largest 3D printed structures in the Western Hemisphere. The barracks, created with materials resistant to mold and extreme conditions (such as earthquakes and severe weather), will house up to 72 soldiers each. ICON collaborated with the Department of Defense and the Army to design and build the structures using its Vulcan solution and Lavacrete material. This project marks the Army’s first use of 3D printed structures, although a similar project was previously completed in 2021 at Camp Swift Training Center.
Photo Credits: Alyx Riebeling/US. Army
A 3D Printing Bio-Ink Made From Kombucha
A team of researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SEOULTECH) has developed an innovative nanocellulose-based bio-ink extracted from the SCOBY of kombucha tea. This biomaterial acts as a support structure for cell growth and can be applied directly to damaged tissue using a digital biopen. The material has been optimized for 3D bioprinting through modifications to its structure, combining it with chitosan and kaolin nanoparticles to improve its stability. Using a digital biopen, the researchers were able to print high-resolution multilayer structures and directly treat complex wounds and deformities. This technology represents a significant advance in the field of regenerative medicine, as it enables immediate tissue repair without the need for in vitro processes, facilitating its use in emergency and first-aid situations.
Photo Credits: SEOULTECH
Q.BIG 3D Files for Bankruptcy and Seeks Investors
With its innovative large-format 3D printing technology, startup Q.BIG 3D was one of Germany’s most promising 3D printing startups. Now the tide has turned, and the Backnang-based company has filed for insolvency. The reason for this is cash flow difficulties, as Q.BIG had invested heavily last year to pave the way for the company’s internationalization. This objective has been maintained and should succeed with the help of new investors. PLUTA Rechtsanwalts-GmbH has appointed an insolvency administrator to support the restructuring of Q.BIG 3D. Lawyer Bananyarli says: “Business activities are continuing uninterrupted, and we are now looking for an investor for this innovative company.” The good news? The salaries of the twenty or so employees are guaranteed for the next three months.
Dennis Herrmann, founder of Q.BIG 3D (photo credits: Q.BIG 3D)
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