The Italian technology services company Hi.Stories was founded in 2017, drawing on the partners’ background in technology, communication and the museum sector. The opportunity to build on their experience came from their participation in the „Cultura Crea“ call for proposals, managed by Invitalia through the national operational programme for culture and development, which aims to create cultural and creative businesses, particularly those dedicated to working in the creative sector by combining digital and cultural expertise. In an interview with 3Druck.com, Hi.Stories founder Luna Meli shares her insights on how 3D technology can be incorporated into museums and cultural heritage sites.
Hi.Stories main focus lies in providing services for digitally enhancing artistic and cultural heritage. This includes creating virtual tours, 3D models and prints, mobile applications, and web apps. All of these solutions use the tools that visitors are most familiar with, making it easier to create a more dynamic and engaging tour. Additionally, the company offers consultancy services for museum valorisation. Archaeological parks, civic museums, art galleries, and historic buildings, all part of our historical and artistic heritage, can be reimagined in a fun and innovative manner, enhancing their role in transmitting and preserving the unique knowledge of a historical site.
All research and development is carried out in-house, including 3D modelling and 3D printing. Hi.Stories uses both desktop and mobile 3D scanners, with a particular focus on the environmental sustainability of its printed items.
Interview with Luna Meli
In an interview with 3Druck.com, Luna Meli, founder of Hi.Stories, shares her knowledge on how 3D printing can add value to museums and what other 3D technologies can be integrated to enhance the visitor experience.
In your opinion, what significance does 3D printing have for the field of cultural heritage?
Luna Meli, founder of Hi.Stories
I think that 3D printing can be an added value for the valorisation of cultural heritage because it allows different approaches to objects, especially in the archaeological field. Think, for example, of how it can be used to create accessible itineraries: The 3D reproduction allows the visually impaired to touch the work of art and, through a good 3D print accompanied by a Braille caption, to get to know the artefact by touching its shape. It also becomes a tool for educational services, as educational or excavation workshops can be organised. 3D printing can also be a useful tool for exhibiting artefacts or works of art that are temporarily not on display because they are on loan or in rotation with other pieces in the collections.
How do you see the integration of 3D technology in museums and other cultural institutions progressing?
The integration of 3D technologies in cultural institutions is very heterogeneous and varies from region to region, especially in Italy, and goes hand in hand with the incorporation of digital tools for museum enhancement. Undoubtedly, the increased focus on tactile accessibility is driving this type of integration, but also the increasing use of visitor support tools including 3D models, such as augmented reality applications or reconstructions of the environment via the viewer, is stimulating the curiosity of the managers of the main museum sites.
left: 3D print of an artefact, placed on the exhibition panel with the original inside and the Braille inscription next to it. right: 3D model of artefact. Images: Hi.Stories
Additive manufacturing and 3D technologies have continuously developed in recent years. Which innovations or technological breakthroughs do you consider to be particularly important for your work?
Of course, the most interesting aspect of working with cultural heritage is the possibility of using natural materials, such as ceramics, although the cost of these printers, as well as the cost of the final product, still makes them a tool that is not easily accessible economically, either for the companies producing the product or for the end user.
What impact do you think additive manufacturing will have on various industries and possibly society as a whole in the coming years?
We are already hearing about the use of additive manufacturing in areas such as food and medicine, which can certainly have a significant impact on society. I am thinking, for example, of the possibility of so-called 3D printed synthetic meat, which could be an interesting and innovative way of also addressing the environmental impact of intensive livestock farming. But we can also think of bioprinting, i.e. the use of organic materials to reproduce organs, situations that seemed unreal a few years ago, but in which research is making remarkable progress.
Here you can find further information on Hi.Stories.
The Indian startup Boltz R&D has released the SmartPrintCoreH7x, a new open-source motherboard for 3D printers, on GitHub. The powerful, highly customizable electronics are designed to provide both hobbyists and professionals with an outstanding printing experience.
At its heart is a powerful ARM Cortex-M7 microcontroller from semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics. According to Boltz, the STM32H723 provides sufficient computing capacity for complex 3D printing tasks. The board supports a total of five stepper motors and has five closed-loop connections for precise motor and position control.
The user-friendly design is intended to facilitate setup and handling with features such as self-locking connectors. Thanks to the openness of the open-source design, the community can adapt the mainboard to individual requirements.
It is compatible with common firmwares such as Marlin and Klipper and is suitable for high-performance 3D printers thanks to its robust power supply and efficient heat dissipation. It was developed in the free KiCad software to make contract manufacturing even easier.
The board is aimed at users of modular and customizable 3D printers. Thanks to its open design, interested parties can not only purchase the board, but also modify and manufacture it themselves. Boltz is looking for partners for contract manufacturing.
Downloads and further information can be found directly on GitHub.
SINTX Technologies, a specialist in advanced technical ceramics, and Prodways announced a comprehensive technical partnership and agreement for the supply of ceramic slurries. SINTX and its subsidiary Technology Assessment and Transfer will supply Prodways with ceramic-filled printable slurries and assist with process development and customer support.
SINTX has been active in the ceramic 3D printing industry since 1998 and has continuously expanded its capabilities from prototyping and low-volume manufacturing to a full-scale production process. Today, the company supplies customers in various industries with 3D printed components made from materials such as alumina, zirconia and silica.
Ann Kutsch, General Manager of the SINTX-Maryland site, commented: “Our outstanding engineering team has 6 years of experience working with Prodways printers, and we have already used their equipment to commercialize multiple resin compositions and part designs. I expect that a more formal partnership will lead to some breakthrough developments and novel solutions for all our customers.”
Prodways will use the SINTX qualified slurries on their latest generation of MovingLight machines. These machines are specifically designed to meet the demanding requirements of ceramic printing and offer a unique combination of high resolution and large build volume, while providing process scalability.
Vincent Icart, CTO and COO of Prodways, added “Prodways has had a very early exposure to ceramics 3D printing. Before this partnership, we were only supplying customers with internal capabilities development. We are thrilled to bolster our specifically developed MovingLight machineries with SINTX slurries, as our joint expertise will allow us to be an end-to-end solution provider for the most demanding ceramic printing applications.”
The partnership between SINTX and Prodways marks an important step in the advancement of 3D printing of technical ceramics and promises to significantly expand the possibilities in this field. The combined expertise of both companies will set a new standard for quality and efficiency in the production of technical ceramics.
Quantum dots, nanoscale semiconductors with unique light-emitting properties, have been generating excitement for years as they have the potential to revolutionize technologies ranging from solar cells to biomedical imaging. In particular, quantum dots made from organic-inorganic perovskite hybrid materials exhibit exceptional properties such as color tunability, narrow emission bands and high quantum yields. However, it has proven difficult to harness the capabilities of perovskite quantum dots due to their sensitivity to heat and oxygen.
Under the leadership of Im Doo Jung, the team succeeded in establishing a printing method that allows perovskite quantum dots to be embedded directly into a polymer matrix without damaging the sensitive materials. The research was published in the journal “Advanced Functional Materials”.
The new printing technique enables high precision in the production of objects, such as pyramids and replicas of the Eiffel Tower, with layer thicknesses of up to 150 micrometers. The embedded quantum dots retain their light-emitting properties, which has been confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopic analyses. The stability of the quantum dots against heat and oxygen is significantly improved by the polymer matrix.
In addition to demonstrating 3D-printed optical structures, the researchers also showed the suitability of these materials for security applications. Using special print layouts, they were able to create hidden patterns that are only visible under UV light. This technology has the potential to be used in areas such as anti-counterfeiting and information encryption.
The development opens up new possibilities for the integration of quantum dot composites into 3D-printed architectures, which can increase the active surface area and adjust the photophysical properties. The room-temperature process preserves the outstanding properties of the quantum dots and offers high adaptability for different substrates.
In times of increasing digitalization and technological progress, the need for specialized professionals is growing, including in additive manufacturing. In order to meet this demand, the SKZ Plastics Center and the Würzburg-Schweinfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce have launched a new practical course of study.
The new “Certified Industrial Technician specializing in Additive Manufacturing” course offers comprehensive training ranging from the basics of materials science and specific manufacturing processes to business organization and production management. The course is designed to give participants an in-depth understanding of the entire 3D printing process chain.
The curriculum is designed to be practice-oriented and includes theoretical principles as well as hands-on experience, which is supplemented by excursions and projects with cooperation partners from industry.
“The ‘Certified Industrial Technician specializing in Additive Manufacturing’ training course offers a unique opportunity to deepen knowledge in a rapidly growing area of modern manufacturing,” says Matthias Ruff, Sales Manager Education & Research at SKZ. “We are proud to provide participants with a practical insight into additive manufacturing that prepares them for the current demands of the job market. Thanks to the theoretical and, above all, practical knowledge we have built up over the years from numerous research and industrial projects, we at SKZ can draw on an incredible wealth of experience in the field of additive manufacturing.”
Graduates of the course are qualified to plan and optimize complex manufacturing tasks while taking economic and environmental criteria into account. The degree is state-recognized and prepares students for a career in various industries in which additive manufacturing processes are becoming increasingly important.
The introduction of this certificate course underlines the growing importance of additive manufacturing technologies and the need to train qualified specialists in this field. Starting on September 14, 2024, the course offers an excellent opportunity for professionals to continue their education alongside their job and deepen their skills in a promising field.
The Tomsk State University is investigating the strength of blades produced on the International Space Station (ISS) using a Russian 3D printer.
The samples presented by cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev, which were produced using the first Russian 3D printer in space, are now undergoing mechanical tests at Tomsk State University (TSU). The TSU is carrying out these tests on the strength of the samples printed in space to compare them with corresponding samples produced on Earth.
“The new shift of ISS cosmonauts has printed more than just samples, which were previously gifted to the experiment participants but now their physical and mechanical characteristics will be studied. Using special equipment, we will test them for strength by tearing them in the thin part and monitoring under what loads this happens,” said Alexander Vorozhtsov, TSU Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation.
The 3D printer, a joint project between RSC Energia, TSU and Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), was specially developed for use in space. The creation of samples on the ISS makes it possible to produce necessary parts and tools directly in orbit, which could simplify logistics for space missions in the long term. This technology promises to improve the quality of 3D-printed objects by distributing material more evenly without the effects of gravity.
Researchers in Virginia Tech‘s College of Engineering are developing novel 3D printing processes and new recyclable materials to improve the environmental footprint of wind turbine blade manufacturing.
The team, led by Chris Williams, professor of mechanical engineering, and Michael Bortner, professor of chemical engineering, is using additive manufacturing techniques and a fully recyclable high-performance thermoplastic. This approach enables the environmentally sustainable production of turbine blades, which could replace previous materials such as glass fiber-reinforced composites.
“Although the energy generated by wind turbines is green, the materials they are made of are not recyclable, create a tremendous amount of waste, and blade manufacturing is quite arduous,” said Williams. “Our proposed project is looking to dramatically reduce waste, completely eliminate all hazardous materials, and enable 3D printing of a completely recyclable wind turbine.”
“There is a huge emphasis right now across the world for renewable energy resources and implementation of renewable resources,” said Bortner, associate director of the Macromolecules Innovation Institute. “With my focus on the materials research side coupled with Chris Williams’ work on the process side for additive manufacturing, we’re able to collaborate and solve these complex problems and transition them into full-scale wind turbine blade components.”
A core part of the project is the use of robotic printing techniques to produce large objects efficiently and in a material-saving manner. The researchers are using computer-aided design optimization to improve material distribution in the turbine blades and maximize their structural integrity. This would allow the turbine parts to be printed directly at the installation site, shortening transportation routes and significantly reducing transportation costs.
“Collaboration with industries gives us access to world class expertise in wind turbine blade designing, manufacturing, testing, and characterization,” said Williams. “NREL and TPI Composites are helping us explore how our research could be translated into their facilities and will help evaluate and test our materials and our optimized robotic printing toolpaths on their large robotic additive manufacturing platforms. The goal is to make sure that the interdisciplinary expertise we are bringing together has industrial relevance.”
The research work is supported by collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and TPI Composites. The newly developed materials and printing technologies have the potential to make the manufacture and assembly of wind turbines more sustainable and cost-efficient. The initiative represents an important step towards sustainable energy generation and could offer both environmental and economic benefits in the long term.
“This project speaks to the core strengths of Virginia Tech,” said Williams. “We are bringing together interdisciplinary expertise in a collaboration that is unique to this university. Our work with national labs and industry partners adds contextual expertise and a guiding path toward industrial relevance and future technology transition. It’s all in the name of advancing sustainability, which aligns perfectly with Virginia Tech’s vision to be a leader in climate action in service to our community, the commonwealth, and the world.”
Researchers have developed an AI-based troubleshooting system called “3DPFIX” for 3D printing newcomers, which aims to make it easier to get started in the often error-prone world of desktop 3D printing.
The idea was born from observations of how beginners typically deal with problems. Although online resources offer numerous suggested solutions, beginners find it difficult to describe their specific problems precisely and find suitable instructions. They therefore tend to simply post pictures of the failed prints – often with no response.
“Unfortunately, many posts remain unanswered as new requests are constantly flooding the forums,” the researchers note. “Yet many cases have similarities, so that existing solutions could be found through targeted searches – a practice that newcomers do not use.”
3DPFIX was developed to avoid this frustration. The system contains four core functions. An image-based fault diagnosis for simple problem description, a visual explanation of the diagnosis for reliable assignment, explanations of technical terms via mouseover and curated solution workflows.
In the first step, users can upload a photo of the fault. After the diagnosis, 3DPFIX offers general solutions as well as specific instructions based on details such as noise, vibrations or settings. The approach thus packs 3D printing know-how into a form that is understandable for newcomers.
The ASTM International Committee F42 for Additive Manufacturing Technologies is working on a series of standards for quality assurance and control of materials and components for additive construction with cement-based materials.
The new standards are intended to improve the productivity and structural performance of additive construction processes and materials. Various potential user groups, such as companies that develop and evaluate materials and construction quality in factories or on construction sites, will benefit. Regulatory authorities, who use the standards as a reference, as well as construction engineers for specifications and review of construction documents will also be able to work with the standards. Other beneficiaries include testing laboratories for material testing as well as universities and research institutions for data collection and comparisons.
The planned standards include Guidelines for the additive properties of concretes for 3D printing, a guide for the design and documentation of additively manufactured concrete and mortar components, a guide for curing and sampling of additively manufactured components and a test method for determining the mechanical properties of additively manufactured materials.
“The planned standards address many aspects of the UN sustainability goals such as increased productivity, cost reduction and structural performance through the geometric freedom of 3D printing,” explains ASTM member Eric Kreiger from the US Army. “It can also reduce logistics costs and allow structures to be manufactured in hazardous or remote locations.”
Solidscape, a specialist in 3D printing for jewelry, is taking a new path following a takeover by a private investor. At the headquarters in Merrimack, New Hampshire, with around 20 employees, little will change as a result of the takeover. Solidscape wants to offer its customers continuity and stability.
The realignment follows Prodways’ plans to withdraw from the jewelry 3D printing segment. Solidscape sees great opportunities for digital manufacturing here.
The company wants to expand its portfolio of high-precision wax 3D printers and materials for design and jewelry production. “We have R&D activities to improve existing products and develop new ones,” announced CEO Alban d’Halluin.
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