With the AMUG Conference and Rapid+TCT under our belt, the AM industry has already covered a lot of ground in 2023. So far this year, we’ve seen an uptake in interest across all sectors on how 3D printing technology can boost production, transform business models, and support sustainable manufacturing. Aerospace, defense, and medical are still […]
Berkeley space team has “Eureka” moment with 3D printing
The Space Enterprise Berkeley (SEB) team successfully launched their first-ever liquid-fueled rocket, Eureka-1, which reached 11,024 ft in December last year. The collegiate team partnered with Protolabs to create parts for Eureka-1’s plenum and complex parachute system using selective laser sintering (SLS). “3D printing made sense for creating a part that could combine functionalities. It […]
Protolabs’ unveils advanced capabilities and volume pricing
Protolabs has invested in a new manufacturing model that will help its growing customer base access advanced production capabilities, reduced part costs, and, importantly, higher volumes. Protolabs has combined its own, state-of-the-art digital factories in the UK and Europe with a distributed network of manufacturers that is powered by Hubs, transforming the way production at…
Protolabs launch 3D printing DFM analysis for a faster turnaround
Protolabs has launched Design for Manufacturability analysis for 3D printed parts, offering peace of mind to manufacturers across Europe. It is a significant advancement to the 3D printing offering as it provides added assurance that a part is suitable for manufacturing before committing to production, all entirely online in a matter of seconds. Protolabs have […]
How to avoid over engineering a part
3D printing/additive manufacturing can help designers simplify a part, reducing assembly steps in many cases, and creating a better end product. Is it possible, though, to over engineer a part? 3D printing engineers like Eric Utley of Protolabs see situations where a part was over engineered. Here are some tips to help reduce excessive engineering […]
The winners of the 2021 LEAP Awards in software are …
The votes are in and the winners of the 2021 LEAP Awards (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) were announced in a digital ceremony with products across multiple categories, including Software. Critical to LEAP’s success is the involvement of the engineering community. No one at WTWH Media selected the winners. Instead, our editorial team did the…
Using 3D printing to bring people together, enable invention, and inspire at-risk youth
Digital manufacturing leader Protolabs announced that The BOOM has been selected as a winner of the Cool Idea Award, a manufacturing grant used to help accelerate the development of innovative products. The BOOM is an organization that empowers kids to develop skills and hands-on experience to build a brighter future. Piloting in the close-knit Bayview […]
Trends in aerospace and automotive additive manufacturing
The aerospace industry was an early adopter of additive technology, followed by the automotive industry. Where do these industries stand in relation to additive technology today? In a recent interview, David Giebenhain, global product director at Protolabs, shares his thoughts. Design World · Trends in aerospace and automotive additive manufacturing The aerospace industry has been […]
How injection molding can help power wheelchair applications
Brothers Barry and Jered Dean didn’t set out to start a company. But nothing on the market solved their problem: Keeping Barry’s daughter, Katherine, safe in her power wheelchair. Users can get hurt if the devices, which weigh hundreds of pounds, tip over or run into objects. That happened to Katherine, who was born with…
Material considerations when moving to 3D printing
By Jon Eric Van Roekel, Protolabs Advancements in 3D printing have made it a proven, industrial-grade manufacturing practice for end-use parts that is shaping product design. At Protolabs, we are seeing this evolution firsthand as customers are leveraging new additive manufacturing (AM) processes and expanding material options to make a more complex, lightweight, or sustainable […]
Protolabs 3D printing achieves DNV certification
A key metric for Oil & Gas and the wider energy sector, this certification will provide important assurances around part performance and equipment safety for the demanding conditions of the sector. Protolabs, a world leading digital manufacturer, has worked closely with DNV to achieve ‘Qualification of Manufacturer’ certification. Protolabs is among the first manufacturers in […]
Protolabs launches all-new digital quoting platform in U.S.
Digital manufacturing leader Protolabs has launched its new digital quoting and design analysis platform to its U.S.-based customers, following a successful launch late last year to its European-based users. “Protolabs was founded on a digital manufacturing model that would dramatically reduce the time it took to get parts—and it was a success. Twenty years later, […]
Protolabs acquires 3D Hubs, an online manufacturing platform
Proto Labs, Inc., a global technology-enabled digital manufacturing leader, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 3D Hubs, Inc. (“3D Hubs”), a leading online manufacturing platform that provides engineers with on-demand access to a global network of approximately 240 premium manufacturing partners. The transaction creates the world’s most comprehensive digital manufacturing offer for custom […]
What service providers are doing to help battle the pandemic
Listen as Greg Thompson of Protolabs discusses how service bureaus are helping in the battle against the Coronavirus with their ability to offer a range of prototyping and manufacturing capabilities. Welcome to Technology Forward. In addition to additive vendors’ efforts to help healthcare workers, service providers are also doing their part. Today, I’m here with […]
Impact sensors monitor for brain injury in sports and recreation helmets
Digital manufacturing leader Protolabs announced that Tozuda is its latest Cool Idea Award winner. Attached to sports helmets, the head impact sensors made by this Philadelphia-based company of the same name change color to bright red when they experience an impact potentially strong enough to cause a concussion. Protolabs’ Cool Idea Award provides in-kind manufacturing…
Digital manufacturing makes a better prosthesis, enabling paralympic athlete to compete in Winter X Games
In 2008, 38-year-old ‘Monster’ Mike Schultz from St. Cloud, MN suffered a knee injury during a snowmobile competition, resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. The prosthesis Schultz received after his accident didn’t perform as he needed for competitive, rigorous sports. Using his knowledge and experience of fabrication and tuning suspension…
Efficiently making one product at a time
It’s been a long, long time in coming. But the dream of making millions of unique, individual products is getting closer to reality. And that’s a good thing as consumers continue to search for and demand products that meet their individual preferences. At this year’s CES show, a survey by CITE Research and Dassault Systemes […]
Meet the need for speed and market volatility with on-demand manufacturing
Today’s volatile market – no matter the industry – wreaks havoc on even the best inventory strategies. On-demand manufacturing, though, gives engineers a way to use their inventory model to create the parts they need, when they need them. No more managing excess inventory or tying up cash flow in products that won’t be sold […]
Designing it right to make it right
Machining? Injection molding? Additive manufacturing? Sheet metal fabrication? Engineers and product designers have several manufacturing choices to consider these days during the design and prototyping stages of making a part. Machining and injection molding have common recommended design practices, known as Design for Manufacturing or Manufacturability (DFM), which can guide the design of a part […]
3D printing perfects a pair of creative feeding tube inventions
The Cool Idea Award: Healthcare Grant is an extension of Protolabs’ flagship Cool Idea Award program. Protolabs recently announced two winners of this grant—MedStar Health and Cleveland Clinic Innovations for a device that improves NICU feeding and a feeding tube that enhances the quality of life for patients, respectively. These grants provide in-kind manufacturing services […]
Innovative EEG device helps you visualize mental activity and control IoT devices with brain waves
Backed by powerful software, the nūrio EEG device gives one an in-depth look at the activity of the mind anytime, anywhere. It uses AI algorithms that let users transform thoughts into commands to control things, such as IoT devices connected to the nūrio cloud. The proprietary architecture allows Brain-Computer Interfaces to control most devices with…
How to recreate Thanos’ Endgame Infinity Blade
For a little fun and relaxation: The Hacksmith used Protolabs’ CNC machining services to recreate the blade handguard and handguard spacer from the movie Avengers: Endgame. Protolabs www.protolabs.com
Smart home product will automatically take out the trash for homeowners
It began with autonomous robotic vacuum cleaners. Then, smart doorbells and home cameras emerged. Get ready for the latest development in autonomous products for the home market driven by the Internet of Things—the SmartCan developed by Rezzi. The SmartCan eliminates the need for homeowners to drag their garbage cans to the curb. Instead, homeowners use…
Protolabs adds Carbon Technology to its 3D Printing service
Digital manufacturer Protolabs added the Carbon platform to its portfolio of production-grade additive manufacturing technologies. With Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), Protolabs’ customers can move into production faster and more cost-efficiently than ever before with 3D printing. “We recognize that market demand for additive manufacturing has moved beyond prototyping and is being leveraged to create […]
Adding production capacity, Protolabs adds Carbon 3D printing to its lineup
Increasingly, various markets are using 3D printing to produce parts in a production capacity. This trend is one of the reasons behind Protolabs recent announcement that it will offer low-volume production manufacturing using Carbon’s M2 3D printer. Says Rachel Hunt, 3D printing Marketing Manager, Protolabs, “We wanted to be able to meet our customers production […]