Enclosure design prototypes for fit & function testing are common requirements in a product design lifecycle. It’s been well demonstrated how using 3D printing for these functions can cut months off a product design lifecycle. But, have you considered using some of the other advantages that 3D printing offers when designing enclosures for your products? […]
Additive Manufacturing Information
Engineering Students Build 3D Printed Robotic Prosthetic
A group of Nelson Mandela University engineering students, academics and their University of KwaZulu-Natal counterparts have built a robotic prosthetic to help amputees perform day-to-day functions. The group presented the invention at the 2020 Global Cybathlon hosted virtually by Switzerland on the 13th & 14th of November 2020. The members of the Touch Hand team […]
Mandela University Engineering Student Designs Metal 3D Printed Golf Putter
Mechanical Engineering student, Wian van Aswegen from Port Alfred, has designed and created a unique 3D metal printed golf putter. Wian is a former youth national and provincial golf champion and a member of the Advanced Engineering Design Group (AEDG) in the School of Engineering at Mandela University. In the middle of 2020, he discussed […]
3D Printing in the Arts #1
Dr. Michaella Janse van Vuuren pulls together multiple disciplines, from her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering in Computer vision, a post-doctorate in medical implant design, to being an internationally renowned 3D print designer, artist, and innovator in education. Michaella started her journey with 3D printing in 2006. In 2008, she founded Nomili, an innovative interdisciplinary research, […]
3D Printing – The New Go-To Technology for Small Production Runs
Many think of 3D printing as primarily a prototyping technology. This perception is changing rapidly as manufacturers worldwide are using additive manufacturing for short-run manufacturing of plastic production parts. The most traction is for small to medium quantities, where traditional tooling isn’t up to speed. The term used to describe this is the ‘bridge-manufacturing technique’ […]
The Future of Industrial Manufacturing is Already Here
Successes with 3D Printing on the Factory Floor. 3D printing often sounds like one of those technologies that will be useful ‘one day’, but the truth is, it’s already having a huge impact in a factory near you. If you’re not at least considering where 3D printing can impact your business, you’re probably falling behind. We’re […]
Raptor Rescue – 3D Printed Enclosures Reduced from 90 grams to 6 grams
Akhani 3D has been working with Raptor Rescue for a number of years …
This video is the story of how Akhani 3D has used Additive Manufacturing to help Ben at Raptor Rescue, solve the challenges of tracking the birds.
3D Printed Plastic Parts in Serial Production
A joint collaboration between internal groups of experts has made it possible for the Volvo Group to put its first 3D printed part in full serial production. The printed part is a connecting block for an oil filling pipe. 1500 units are planned to be 3D printed in plastic by the supplier. This is not […]
5 Challenges Preventing Companies from using Additive Manufacturing
In the modern world, Additive Manufacturing (AM) has an important role to play as a method that allows companies to evolve their products in response to the demands of the market. It allows for the customised design and manufacture of more complex structures and geometries, and can also result in higher manufacturing performance, greater efficiencies […]
Laser Powder Bed Fusion – SLS | DMLS
Powder Bed Fusion technologies use a thermal source (e.g. a laser) to cause fusion between powder particles. Most Powder Bed Fusion technologies use mechanisms for applying and smoothing powder as a part is constructed, resulting in the final component being covered in powder. TL;DR Powder Bed Fusion Technologies SLS – Selective Laser Sintering SLS Industry […]
Digital Inventory: The Waning of the Warehouse
As the Fourth Industrial Revolution continues to pick up steam (or should we say Gigabytes?), digitalisation is affecting all manner of industries, including manufacturing. One of the issues that digitalisation may be able to address in the manufacturing industry is that of the storage and production of spare parts to meet aftermarket needs. Traditionally, replacement […]
It’s a Small World After All – Decentralising Production with 3D Printing
The connecting power of technology has the potential to make a wide world smaller. One example of this is the impact of 3D printing, as it turns global into local, mega into mini, and shrinks supply chains worldwide. Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing has the ability to take an idea or physical product […]