Top 5 Videos: Refurbishing Trains With 3D Printing
Welcome to our weekly roundup of the Top 5 most compelling 3D printing videos. This week’s edition kicks off with Deutsche Bahn’s groundbreaking use of Formlabs SLS 3D printers, transforming in their ongoing train refurbishing efforts for their iconic Intercity Express 1 locomotives. We’re then taken into the heart of Audi’s 3D Printing Center in Ingolstadt, Germany, unveiling the efficiency of Additive Manufacturing in crafting essential automotive components. The journey continues with insights from Judge Mark Chester on the 2023 WorldSkills UK Additive Manufacturing Finals, offering an inside perspective on judging, additive manufacturing’s integration, and participants’ work. Wrapping up, i-SOLIDS provides an insightful tour of their 10,000-square-foot 3D printing facility in Houston, Texas, outlining their workflow and showcasing cutting-edge technologies. And finally, through a detailed look into their vision to create 3D printed XQ-58, the Tanton Corporation suggests a future landscape at the intersection of 3D printing and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Join us this week as we delve into the latest advancements and applications in the world of 3D printing.
Top 1: Refurbishing DB Trains with Formlabs SLS 3D Printers
We start with a video that delves into Deutsche Bahn’s significant advancements in employing Formlabs SLS 3D printers to revolutionize workflows, reduce costs, and expedite repairs as part of their train refurbishing efforts for the iconic Inter City Express 1 trains. The video provides insights into the meticulous precision involved in 3D printing over 100,000 parts since 2015. Deutsche Bahn utilizes this SLS technology to manufacture components no longer available for purchase or sourcing across their 50 plants nationwide. Given the specific and specialized nature of the tools required for this project, some of which are no longer in production, the use of SLS technology has become crucial for producing these essential tools, saving time and money.
Top 2: Unveiling Audi’s Advanced 3D Printing Center Efficiency and Cost-Effective Applications
In this video by Formnext, Frank Jablonski guides us through a virtual tour of Audi’s 3D Printing Center in Ingolstadt, revealing Audi’s adept use of 3D printing to manufacture essential components. This exploration not only showcases the efficiency of Additive Manufacturing in the automotive industry but also highlights its cost-effective applications for crafting tools that were previously deemed impractical through conventional means. Through this technology, Audi can use hot forming for tool segments, producing lightweight yet stable components crucial for vehicle body parts.
Top 3: Judge Insights on the 2023 WorldSkills UK Additive Manufacturing Finals
Next, we present a video by CREATE Education, focusing on the 2023 Worldskills UK Additive Manufacturing Finals. The competition, held at the University of Salford in November 2023, marked a significant event in the world of additive manufacturing. Delving into this event, Judge Mark Chester shares his perspective on the competition, detailing the importance of judging, the significance of incorporating additive manufacturing into the competition, and his impressions of the participants’ work. Gain valuable insights into the world of additive manufacturing through the eyes of an experienced judge in this engaging interview.
Top 4: Inside i-SOLIDS’ State-of-the-Art 3D Printing Facility with Managing Director Jason Knight
Next in line, i-SOLIDS provides a detailed tour of their expansive 3D printing facility, spanning 10,000 square feet in Houston, Texas. With aspirations to become one of the largest additive manufacturing facilities in the nation, this tour serves to meticulously outline their workflow and showcase a variety of 3D printers and scanners housed within their factory. Welcoming the New Year, Managing Director Jason Knight guides viewers while providing updates on their cutting-edge 3D printing farm and other innovative technologies, offering an insightful overview of their advancements.
Top 5: Tanton Corp’s 3D Printing Journey with XQ-58 Valkyrie
We conclude with a video by The Tanton Corporation showing how they envision utilizing off-the-shelf 3D printers to create Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Focusing specifically on scaled-down versions of the XQ-58 Valkyrie, Tanton Corps highlights the potential possibilities and roadbumps they may face in this endeavor. This in-depth exploration doesn’t just cover the benefits of 3D printing, emphasizing its benefits in customization, rapid prototyping, and cost-effectiveness, but also contemplates the future landscape at the crossroads of 3D printing and advanced drone technologies.
Which video was your favorite this week? Have you seen 3D printing being used in train refurbishing before? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
*Cover photo credits: Deutsche Bahn
