Ian Wright

Hamilton

Philosopher by training, writer by trade. I'm an editor at https://t.co/eOwvdG7DWx. I post stories about #mfg, #3dprinting and #technology.

Articles

Making additive manufacturing sustainable

5 days ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

In conversation with EOS' Head of Sustainability, Björn Hannappel. Sometimes, the idea that additive manufacturing (AM) can be more sustainable than conventional production methods, such as machining or injection molding, seems to be approaching the status of platitude. "Well of course AM wins on sustainability," one might say.
Velo3D gaining ground in defense

1 week ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

Metal additive manufacturing provider announces agreement with Ohio Ordnance Works. The defense sector is a fecund market for metal additive manufacturing (AM) these days. DARPA just announced funding for research on the durability of metal AM parts and Cummings Aerospace recently completed tests of a new loitering munition that incorporates 3D printed parts to reduce production costs.
Ricoh introduces new material jetting technology in Japan

1 week ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

3D inkjet printing produces biocompatible full-color resin components. The dental industry has been a posterchild for additive manufacturing (AM) for years, encompassing both polymer and metal 3D printing applications. In the former case, stereolithography (SLA) has been the preferred technology but now the Japanese imaging and electronics provider, Ricoh, has announced the development of an alternative approach based on material jetting (MJ).
Additive manufacturing progress update

2 weeks ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

New alloying research, industry perspectives from the C-suite and a little fixturing for fun. Welcome to the latest edition of the engineering.com Additive Manufacturing Progress Update, a monthly column focusing on the latest in 3D printing research and business - with a little fun thrown in at the end. Here's the previous column, in case you missed it.
Renishaw and Metalpine collaborate on copper-nickel powders for metal AM

2 weeks ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

CuNi powder formulations for metal additive manufacturing target marine applications. The maritime sector is a growing market segment for metal additive manufacturing (AM), particularly in maintenance and repair applications. The latest example of this trend is a collaboration between metal AM machine manufacturer Renishaw and Austrian metal powder provider Metalpine.
3D printed ceramics bend without breaking

2 weeks ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

University of Houston engineers take inspiration from origami in new design. Is there any papyraceous art more inspiring for engineers than origami? In the last decade alone, it's provided inspirations for new construction methods, 3D designs, soft robots, novel structures, robotic grippers, and even microbots. Now, the latest example comes from the University of Houston, where researchers have developed a new class of ceramic structures that bend without breaking.
Who should buy Desktop Metal?

3 weeks ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

Nano Dimension doesn't seem to want Desktop Metal, but who else might? The funny thing about this headline is that it could have been written last year, when Nano Dimension announced that it was acquiring Desktop Metal, or the year before that, when Stratasys said the same thing.
How I spent my first AMUG

3 weeks ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

Looking back on the Additive Manufacturing Users Group Conference for 2025. It's been several weeks since I attended my first Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) Conference in Chicago, but my head is still spinning. Not so much from the food and drink and company (though all three were excellent) but from the sheer volume of information there was to take in from the very beginning.
AMUG announces new board of directors

3 weeks ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

Newly elected board includes two new members and two returning. The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) has announced the election of four individuals to its board of directors. Heather Natal, Alex Roschli, Kim Killoran, and William (Dallas) Martin will serve as Secretary, Director of Education & Conference, Director of Marketing & Events, and Director of Sponsors & Exhibitors, respectively.
How additive manufacturing benefits UAV design

4 weeks ago | engineering.com | Ian Wright

Lightweighting, topology optimization and digital workflows are all enabled by 3D printing. In many respects, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) represent the cutting edge of aerospace engineering: from the novel designs in airframes and powerplants to innovative methods of manufacturing. Similarly, 3D printing represents the cutting edge of aerospace manufacturing, enabling new geometries, part consolidation as well as unlocking new materials.