3D Printing News Unpeeled: Metallic Gel 4D Printing, In Flight 3D Printing and Tadej Pogačar’s Bike

Tadej Pogacar Colnago V4Rs for the Tour de France has some 3D printing components on it. There are polymer components made including a 3D printed headset cover, a number holder and a chainring bolt covers.

Ceramics firm 3DCeram has become a supplier to French ThrustMe. ThrustMe is a 2017 startup that has been making in orbit propulsion systems for satellites. They use ceramics 3D Printing because it can iterate quickly, can help miniaturize systems, can print complex shapes and is resistant to the harsh environment including the forces from the plasma iodine engine.

 NCState University has demonstrated 3D printing metal using a gel at room temperature in one step. They mixed indium-gallium alloy with water to make a gel which is extruded and then dried.

The Consortium for Additive Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) demonstrated the in-flight 3D printing of a cast on a MV-22 Osprey. The printer used was the  Advanced Manufacturing Operational System (AMOS) made by Spencer Koroly.