3D Printing via the FESPA Wrap Rally II

For the FESPA Wrap Rally II, the team will be visiting two different perspectives from the 3d printing cycle.  Esteemed professor Neil Hopkinson is the first.  Neil is Professor of Manufacturing and Engineering at the University of Sheffield and his research on 3d printing using the inkjet process is really making waves in the manufacturing and printing industries alike.  Never before has it been possible to print 3d objects with real practicality for everyday life using inkjet.

Not to be confused with lenticular printing (appearing 3d), 3d printing is a phrase used to describe the process of creating three dimensional objects from a digital file.  The term is most closely associated with additive manufacturing technology, where an object is created by laying down successive layers of material.  3D printing is now able to create items using an inkjet printing system.

The printer creates the model one layer at a time by spreading a layer of powder (plaster, or resins) and inkjet printing a binder in the cross-section of the part. The process is repeated until every layer is printed. This technology is very new, very revolutionary and very exciting.

The FESPA print explorers will visit Neil during the Rally and give the exposé on the physical side of 3d printing live from the laboratory.  Check the video out on 17 February at www.fespawraprally.com or check twitter (@fespa) or Facebook (facebook.com/fespa) for updates.

But there is another element to the 3d printing process which cannot be overlooked. The design element of 3d printing will be explained in more detail by Bernat from Cunicode in Barcelona.  When the FESPA print explorers meet Bernat, he will show the team exactly what goes into the design of a 3d printed product, and how this area can become a wider opportunity for the modern day print service provider in the not too distant future.

Check back tomorrow for your next wider opportunity from via the FESPA Wrap Rally II.

Don’t miss a thing – stay in touch via:

WEB: www.fespawraprally.com
TWITTER: @fespa & #fwr
FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/fespa

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