Electronics Foam is commonly used in the electronics industry to create protective barriers for delicate components. It is also the most common material used for manufacturing e l e c t ro n i c s p e a ke r s , a n d headphones. Researc her s are exploring the use of 3D printers in this context as well. Nanotechnologists from Rice University and China’s Tianjin University recently researched the use of 3D printers to create centimeter-sized blocks of graphene foam which they envision to eventually be used in nanoelectronics applications. Biomedical One commonly researched use of 3D printed foams is in the biomedical industry. In this area researchers are exploring the use of 3D printers to create titanium foam products. This titanium foam is commonly used to create bone grafts. The reason 3D printers are so beneficial in this area is because no two bone grafts are identical. Thus, traditional manufacturing techniques which are best suited for reproduction in mass quantities are rendered useless. With 3D printing, however, manufacturers can take precise measurements and create individually tailored grafts one at a time in an economically feasible manner. Packaging Foam is one of the most common materials used in the packaging industry. The main benefit is its ability to keep products safe during transit and delivery. The creation of a custom and uniquely shaped foam packaging product, however, traditionally requires a large investment in injection molding equipment. This does not bode well for small production runs which may be rejected in light of the
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Check out the NEW America Makes website! America Makes announces the launch of its new, redesigned Website at www.americamakes.us that reflects the ongoing evolution of both the Institute and the needs of its growing membership community. “Our newly redesigned digital presence captures the essence of America Makes’ evolving roles as an impartial convener of additive manufacturing and 3DP stakeholders, a coordinator of technical and workforce information, and an activation catalyst for innovation and research breakthroughs,” said Rob Gorham, America Makes Executive Director. “The Website redesign is just one of many initiatives that we’ve recently undertaken to ensure that the Institute remains at the forefront of advancing the additive manufacturing industry.” CHECK IT OUT. https://www.americamakes.us A2Z MANUFACTURING SW •
51 • Sept / Oct 2017