Advanced Computing in the Age of AI | Friday, March 29, 2024

Wrench Opens an Interest in Additive Manufacturing! 

<img style="float: left;" src="http://media2.hpcwire.com/dmr/wrenches_small.jpg" alt="" width="95" height="100" />While some are using additive manufacturing technology to make <a href="http://www.digitalmanufacturingreport.com/dmr/2012-04-02/rebecca%E2%80%99s_vette_is_fixed_.html" target="_blank">hard to find car parts</a> or <a href="http://singularityhub.com/2012/04/07/on-demand-robots-from-a-3d-printer/" target="_blank">small robots</a>, Objet printed something relatively simple and known to almost everyone, a set of adjustable crescent wrenches.

3Dprinting, also known as additive manufacturing, has the potential to completely transform how the we build things. Despite being written about in numerous media articles, and even capturing the attention of the White House, many people struggle to grasp its potential. How can something “printed” hold up to the rigors of everyday use?

While some are using additive manufacturing technology to make hard to find car parts or small robots, Objet printed something relatively simple and known to almost everyone, a set of adjustable crescent wrenches. The six working wrenches were made simultaneously of ABS-like material in a single 3D printer. The build material is sprayed down in a thin liquid layer and is instantly cured by ultraviolet light, incrementally building up the object until complete. After a simple water rinse the object is ready to be used.

Demonstrations like this are critical to building public awareness about new technology. While industry professionals may be dazzled by the infinite possibilities that additive manufacturing hold to create complex parts and assemblies, sometime a simple wrench is all that is needed to open up the mind of the general public.

 

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