This is what a typical extruded fin heatsink looks like. It’s made of metal and sits on top of IC packages that themselves are soldered to a PCB. It cools those packages by providing an increased air apparent surface area with which to pass on the heat that has been conducted up through it. It’s shape (topology) is in most ways set by the manufacturing process used to create it. In this case squeezing molten aluminum through a die with that shape as the profile. Similar constraints exist for other manufacturing processes, be it milling, casting, brazing etc. 3D printing removes many of these constraints and, as the technology matures, I believe all of them will be addressed. So, with a process that can print any 3D shape, how should design tools adapt to such an opportunity?
This lattice uses a new microfluidic printhead that is able to seamlessly switch between printing two different viscoelastic inks. The structure, which was printed with red and transparent inks, showcases the sharp transitions possible with the new nozzle.
A research team prints a lithium ion battery the size of a grain of sand out of electrochemical inks, opening the door for microscopic medical implants, communications devices and other gear.
Curious about just how far they could take the company’s additive manufacturing technology, engineers at GE Aviation’s Additive Development Center in Cincinnati successfully created a simple jet engine, made entirely from 3D printed parts, that was able to rev up to 33,000 RPM.
It may look like some kind of ancient urn, but you’re looking at something rather more advanced. In fact this is the first full-scale copper rocket engine part made by NASA using 3D printing techniques.