Game-changing 3D Printing: building flexible robots with bones and tendons for smart investments
Your Weekly Shortcut to Deeptech Investing—Exclusive Trends & Startup Reports for VCs & Angels in Just 5 Minutes
By Eden Djanashvili, Deeptech Expert
What is going on?
3D printing has gotten much better using a wider variety of materials. This improvement comes from a collaboration between researchers at ETH Zurich and a US start-up. Together, they've developed a technology that creates complex and strong robots using different high-quality materials. Making a robotic hand that has bones, ligaments, and tendons made from different plastics all at once. These special plastics, called thiol-ene polymers, are great because they can bend and quickly return to their original shape.
Where to invest?
Critical research is shaping the 3D printing market, presenting compelling opportunities for retail investors. The adoption of 3D printing is surging across a multitude of industries, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and manufacturing, owing to its versatile capability in crafting intricate structures.
Bioprinting and Tissue Engineering involve advancements that allow scientists to create intricate body structures, opening new avenues in regenerative medicine. 4D Printing introduces an extra dimension by creating objects that can dynamically change shape over time, enhancing the possibilities of traditional 3D printing. Integrating Nanotechnology into 3D printing aims to strengthen materials, increasing their utility across various applications. Multi-Material Printing allows for the creation of complex objects with diverse properties in a single print run. High-Speed 3D Printing research focuses on accelerating the printing process without compromising quality, presenting potential benefits for large-scale manufacturing. Ongoing work in Metal 3D Printing optimization is enhancing the precision of creating metal parts, particularly valuable in aerospace, automotive, and medical fields. Machine Learning and AI Integration aim to make 3D printing more efficient and predictive. Researchers are also optimizing Support Structures to expedite and cost-effectively improve the printing process. Large-Scale 3D Printing research explores adapting the technology for more substantial objects and construction projects, including the development of new materials and improved printing methods. Smart Materials Development aims to create adaptive materials, responsive to conditions like color or conductivity, with applications in electronics and wearables. Additionally, efforts in Post-Processing Techniques Enhancement seek to refine the finishing touches of 3D-printed objects, enhancing their overall quality. Sustainability Initiatives focus on making 3D printing eco-friendly by employing environmentally conscious materials and practices, aligning with global sustainability goals.
While 3D printing has made significant strides, challenges related to scalability for mass production are actively being addressed by researchers and industry stakeholders.
How to invest?
Some early-stage startups that are making strides in the field of 3D printing can be found below:
Desktop Metal: Desktop Metal focuses on metal 3D printing and has developed technology to make metal 3D printing more accessible and cost-effective.
Carbon: Carbon is known for its Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP) technology, a resin-based 3D printing process that enables faster and more accurate printing.
Formlabs: Formlabs specializes in stereolithography (SLA) 3D printers and resin materials, providing high-resolution desktop 3D printing.
Markforged: Markforged is recognized for its composite 3D printing technology, allowing for the production of strong and lightweight parts using materials like carbon fiber.
Inkbit: Inkbit focuses on developing 3D printers with vision-based feedback control systems, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the printing process.
VELO3D: VELO3D specializes in metal 3D printing, particularly for challenging geometries and designs that may be difficult with traditional methods.
Xometry: Xometry operates as an on-demand manufacturing platform, connecting customers with a network of manufacturing facilities, including 3D printing services.
Essentium: Essentium focuses on industrial-scale 3D printing solutions, particularly for manufacturing applications, with an emphasis on high-speed extrusion.
Authentise: Authentise provides software solutions for additive manufacturing, including tools for process automation, monitoring, and optimization.
Shapeways: Shapeways operates as a 3D printing marketplace, allowing individuals and businesses to upload, customize, and order 3D-printed products.
MatterHackers: MatterHackers provides a platform for selling 3D printing materials and equipment, catering to both professionals and enthusiasts in the 3D printing community.
CELLINK: CELLINK is a bioprinting company that provides a range of bioprinters, bioinks, and other products for researchers and organizations involved in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Organovo: Organovo focuses on creating functional human tissues using 3D bioprinting technology. Their platform is designed for pharmaceutical testing and potential therapeutic applications.
Aspect Biosystems: specializes in 3D bioprinting solutions for creating living, functional tissues. Their technology has applications in drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and personalized therapeutics.
Allevi: offers 3D bioprinters and bioinks designed for researchers and scientists working in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
RegenHU: provides bioprinting solutions for creating 3D cellular structures. Their technologies are used in tissue engineering, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine.
✨ That’s all for today. Thanks for reading !
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