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On the fourth day of record high temperatures, which are “probably the warmest in 100,000 years,” the conjecture and oil company fog surrounding climate change was breaking. You may not believe that it is raining, but you will get wet. The hotter Earth climate reality is set to disrupt the lives of everyone on the planet. Climate systems, water levels, growing seasons, nature itself are thrown off kilter.Surely, they know that if we kill the planet we would also kill “the economy,” and worse still, “the stock market.” Much of the world is blissfully unaware, complacent, or caught in a remarkably persistent self delusion about the current climate catastrophe we’re in. You do not have to be, however. For you and yours or your pocketbook, 3D printing can help you mitigate, reduce the effects of, and even profit from climate change. In this article, we look at some scenarios that could help you come out ahead in one of the most challenging crises that humankind has faced.Heat Pumps and Air Conditioning SystemsAir conditioning is going to be bigger than hair conditioning. With wet bulb temperatures becoming a reality for hundreds of millions of people worldwide, heat indexes are increasing, meaning that there will be many more deaths due to heat . The conditions on the planet are becoming harsher and this will affect us all but will disproportionately disadvantage those in some areas. In 2016, it was estimated that around 365,000 deaths were related to heat, and countries such as India could bear the brunt of more going forward. Air conditioning systems seem like a logical mitigation tool, but these are energy intensive, often uses chlorofluorocarbons, and have long been standardized.Optimized Air ConditionersWith 3D printing, Hyperganic, EOS, and Strata designed a more efficient air conditioner. They hope that the model is ten times more efficient than existing counterparts. More firms should look at making similar devices. Since around 2012, the University of Maryland has been working on heat exchangers with various partners. We know that we can make such devices in a highly optimized way for space and aviation. What we don’t know is if we can reduce the costs of these essential parts enough to make them viable for widespread industrial and home use. This is a weird example of a huge problem: established working technology and no one taking the time to industrialize it.Heat pumps are all the rage in Europe. These systems can be improved significantly, for instance by 3D printing improved versions of individual components, as demonstrated by Daikin. Incidentally, Daikin’s chemicals division also developed a fluoropolymer for powder bed fusion. Others have looked at HVAC, too, including architecture firm BVN, whose 3D printed ducting is not only prettier, but more efficient.TCPoly´s materials have been used to 3D print Xpanels that can be added on to existing HVAC systems to make them both more efficient than traditionally made counterparts, while also reducing heating costs.3D printed ceramic structures could be naturally cool or add cooling to a house, as demonstrated by the “Cool Brick” used to passively cool a room. Ceramics could be used for direct evaporation cooling structures, but other materials, such as bamboo powder, might be considered as well. We could make evaporative cooling fridges and water jugs.We might also see outdoor structures provide cooling and shade to garden areas, similar to Bat El Hirsh´s Earthenwind. This could be a whole new product category that could make outdoor spaces more livable.20% of the electricity used in buildings feeds their air conditioning systems. While in Japan, 91% of households have AC units, only 5% of Indian households have them. Estimates say that, in 2050, there may be as many as 1.4 billion air conditioners in China alone, compared to 500 million today. The U.S. is estimated to add nearly 200 million units by then, while the EU adds a 100 million units, and India adds 1.3 billion units. This is a huge financial opportunity that could help protect the planet and make lives better for all humans. The individual impact of better air conditioning with 3D printing could far eclipse many other things that we are spending far more time and money on.Personalized Air ConditioningWe think nothing about people using a battery operated scooter to drive to work and their phones throughout the day. We know that deadly temperatures are on the rise and an incredible 5 million people die of extreme heat or cold each year, with over 365,000 people dying of the heat. In the U.S., heat-related deaths are high, so the societal cost is there. Presumably people will also pay to be cooler and live with less fear for their mortality. One very real product category may be personalized air conditioners.Now many think this is merely a novelty gadget, but the first friends of mine that have them really like them. These personalized fans can cost only a few dollars or over $200. Most are priced around $20 to 30. For now, these devices are essentially easy-to-make, easy-to-charge, unsophisticated neck fans, but imagine putting a lot of R&D money and quality into these devices so that government, construction, and postal workers, along with others that need to be outside significantly, could be more comfortable and safer. They could feature 3D printed heat exchangers and channels that result in a lighter, more efficient device. Rather than cooling an entire building, we cool the people, and 3D printing could do it well. This could lead to a hugely advantageous 3D printed consumer electronic that might keep cool those who can afford oneSiestas?Now, it’s always wonderful ending with a techno-utopian solution to all of the world´s problems, but I’m not that naïve. I know that it will be difficult to get the 3D printing industry to move away from jigs and fixtures and toward products that could net billions more in revenue. Change in human behavior is difficult. That’s also kind of the point of my “Tip of the Iceberg” series. However, if you are successful at getting your company to create a solution for a climate-endangered world, you could do a lot of good for your fellow humans, as well as your bank account.In Spain, the traditional siesta means that you start work on the land early in the morning during the summer. You pause for a long lunch with a nap during the hottest part of the day, then go back to work later. Northern Europeans have always kind of seen the siesta as a bit of a lazy anachronism. Yet, they forget that a Spanish store owner will happily open shop again at 17:00 and work until 21:30, when the German is happily at home. Siestas extend the working hours, and the shopping hours into the more amenable evening and morning hours, when conditions are more livable and pose less stress on the body. Construction workers come to work at 6 or 7 am and finish early to work when the temperature is the least risky for them.Rather than adopt a similar, far safer approach that Spain has had for many years, other Europeans work through the hottest parts of the day. In a rational world, it would make a lot of sense to consider the sense and safety of siestas, but this will probably not be done. In some cases, therefore, the most sensible solutions are often not taken, no matter how rational and advantageous they would be.Subscribe to Our Email NewsletterStay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.

On the fourth day of record high temperatures, which are “probably the warmest in 100,000 years,” the conjecture and oil company fog surrounding climate change was breaking. You may not believe that it is raining, but you will get wet. The hotter Earth climate reality is set to disrupt the lives of everyone on the planet. Climate systems, water levels, growing seasons, nature itself are thrown off kilter.Surely, they know that if we kill the planet we would also kill “the economy,” and worse still, “the stock market.” Much of the world is blissfully unaware, complacent, or caught in a remarkably persistent self delusion about the current climate catastrophe we’re in. You do not have to be, however. For you and yours or your pocketbook, 3D printing can help you mitigate, reduce the effects of, and even profit from climate change. In this article, we look at some scenarios that could help you come out ahead in one of the most challenging crises that humankind has faced.Heat Pumps and Air Conditioning SystemsAir conditioning is going to be bigger than hair conditioning. With wet bulb temperatures becoming a reality for hundreds of millions of people worldwide, heat indexes are increasing, meaning that there will be many more deaths due to heat . The conditions on the planet are becoming harsher and this will affect us all but will disproportionately disadvantage those in some areas. In 2016, it was estimated that around 365,000 deaths were related to heat, and countries such as India could bear the brunt of more going forward. Air conditioning systems seem like a logical mitigation tool, but these are energy intensive, often uses chlorofluorocarbons, and have long been standardized.Optimized Air ConditionersWith 3D printing, Hyperganic, EOS, and Strata designed a more efficient air conditioner. They hope that the model is ten times more efficient than existing counterparts. More firms should look at making similar devices. Since around 2012, the University of Maryland has been working on heat exchangers with various partners. We know that we can make such devices in a highly optimized way for space and aviation. What we don’t know is if we can reduce the costs of these essential parts enough to make them viable for widespread industrial and home use. This is a weird example of a huge problem: established working technology and no one taking the time to industrialize it.Heat pumps are all the rage in Europe. These systems can be improved significantly, for instance by 3D printing improved versions of individual components, as demonstrated by Daikin. Incidentally, Daikin’s chemicals division also developed a fluoropolymer for powder bed fusion. Others have looked at HVAC, too, including architecture firm BVN, whose 3D printed ducting is not only prettier, but more efficient.TCPoly´s materials have been used to 3D print Xpanels that can be added on to existing HVAC systems to make them both more efficient than traditionally made counterparts, while also reducing heating costs.3D printed ceramic structures could be naturally cool or add cooling to a house, as demonstrated by the “Cool Brick” used to passively cool a room. Ceramics could be used for direct evaporation cooling structures, but other materials, such as bamboo powder, might be considered as well. We could make evaporative cooling fridges and water jugs.We might also see outdoor structures provide cooling and shade to garden areas, similar to Bat El Hirsh´s Earthenwind. This could be a whole new product category that could make outdoor spaces more livable.20% of the electricity used in buildings feeds their air conditioning systems. While in Japan, 91% of households have AC units, only 5% of Indian households have them. Estimates say that, in 2050, there may be as many as 1.4 billion air conditioners in China alone, compared to 500 million today. The U.S. is estimated to add nearly 200 million units by then, while the EU adds a 100 million units, and India adds 1.3 billion units. This is a huge financial opportunity that could help protect the planet and make lives better for all humans. The individual impact of better air conditioning with 3D printing could far eclipse many other things that we are spending far more time and money on.Personalized Air ConditioningWe think nothing about people using a battery operated scooter to drive to work and their phones throughout the day. We know that deadly temperatures are on the rise and an incredible 5 million people die of extreme heat or cold each year, with over 365,000 people dying of the heat. In the U.S., heat-related deaths are high, so the societal cost is there. Presumably people will also pay to be cooler and live with less fear for their mortality. One very real product category may be personalized air conditioners.Now many think this is merely a novelty gadget, but the first friends of mine that have them really like them. These personalized fans can cost only a few dollars or over $200. Most are priced around $20 to 30. For now, these devices are essentially easy-to-make, easy-to-charge, unsophisticated neck fans, but imagine putting a lot of R&D money and quality into these devices so that government, construction, and postal workers, along with others that need to be outside significantly, could be more comfortable and safer. They could feature 3D printed heat exchangers and channels that result in a lighter, more efficient device. Rather than cooling an entire building, we cool the people, and 3D printing could do it well. This could lead to a hugely advantageous 3D printed consumer electronic that might keep cool those who can afford oneSiestas?Now, it’s always wonderful ending with a techno-utopian solution to all of the world´s problems, but I’m not that naïve. I know that it will be difficult to get the 3D printing industry to move away from jigs and fixtures and toward products that could net billions more in revenue. Change in human behavior is difficult. That’s also kind of the point of my “Tip of the Iceberg” series. However, if you are successful at getting your company to create a solution for a climate-endangered world, you could do a lot of good for your fellow humans, as well as your bank account.In Spain, the traditional siesta means that you start work on the land early in the morning during the summer. You pause for a long lunch with a nap during the hottest part of the day, then go back to work later. Northern Europeans have always kind of seen the siesta as a bit of a lazy anachronism. Yet, they forget that a Spanish store owner will happily open shop again at 17:00 and work until 21:30, when the German is happily at home. Siestas extend the working hours, and the shopping hours into the more amenable evening and morning hours, when conditions are more livable and pose less stress on the body. Construction workers come to work at 6 or 7 am and finish early to work when the temperature is the least risky for them.Rather than adopt a similar, far safer approach that Spain has had for many years, other Europeans work through the hottest parts of the day. In a rational world, it would make a lot of sense to consider the sense and safety of siestas, but this will probably not be done. In some cases, therefore, the most sensible solutions are often not taken, no matter how rational and advantageous they would be.Subscribe to Our Email NewsletterStay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.

Breaking new ground in additive manufacturing (AM), researchers from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)’s Consortium for Additive Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE) successfully executed in-flight 3D printing aboard a U.S. military aircraft for the first time. The demonstration, which saw the creation of a medical arm cast during a flight on a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, was part of a Marines training exercise held in Twentynine Palms, California.A tiltrotor military aircraft, the MV-22 Osprey, combines the vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and range of a turboprop plane. With its ability to reach over 260 knots and a combat radius of 426 nautical miles, it is instrumental in assault support missions due to its speed, range, and payload capacity. Innovative features like a glass cockpit and fly-by-wire control system further bolster its safety and responsiveness, making it a unique asset for Marines operations. A CV-22 Osprey assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command. Image courtesy of U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Miranda Mahoney.“I see this as revolutionary, being able to print on the move,” said Spencer Koroly, the Naval Information Warfare Center engineer who developed the printer known as the Advanced Manufacturing Operational System (AMOS). “Being able to print on the move represents a vital capability for rapid response in contested logistics scenarios.”The demonstration was a collaboration with the Marine Innovation Unit (MIU) and the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton. The medical cast was created in-flight thanks to a 3D scan of a Marine’s arm and generative design software to create the blueprint of the medical cast.CAMRE’s successful in-flight 3D printing follows its previous accomplishment of deploying a 3D liquid metal printer on the USS Essex during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in 2022, a biennial international military exercise hosted by the Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet.Commenting on the potential of additive manufacturing for the military, CAMRE’s Program Manager, Chris Curran, stated, “We are in a unique position to rapidly support the joint force and accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing.”The successful demonstration took place on June 21 as part of an integrated training exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. In an impressive display of technological innovation, a medical cast was 3D printed using the AMOS while the aircraft was engaged in a variety of operations, including taxiing, takeoff, and in-flight maneuvers. The exercise featured operating forces from the Marine Forces Reserve, the I Marine Expeditionary Force, and the 3D Marine Aircraft Wing to show a distributed manufacturing model in a challenging logistics setting. 3D printing of a medical cast aboard an MV-22 Osprey during a training flight. Image courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps.Koroly described the operation as a milestone, stating, “Nothing is more expeditionary than printing medical devices and swarm robotics in the back of an aircraft.” This achievement emphasizes the revolutionary potential of in-flight 3D printing, which could usher in a new era of mobility and on-the-go manufacturing.Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael Radigan of the MIU, who also worked on the operational testing, shared his vision for the future of 3D printing: “We are just scratching the surface on the capabilities that will come from being able to 3D print in flight. Dozens of printers being installed in a modular fashion aboard aircraft bring the ability for mobile production at a scale we have not experienced before.” Spencer Koroly, an engineer at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific in San Diego, during the 3D printing aboard an MV-22 Osprey. Image courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps.Beyond this demonstration, the mission of CAMRE is to rapidly provide results to the warfighter and accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing for the joint force. Their work also involves providing education and certifications to increase the talent pool for the joint force, in addition to validating concepts through operational exercises.This groundbreaking work builds on the NPS’s commitment to advancing the operational effectiveness, technological leadership, and warfighting advantage of the naval service through defense-focused graduate education and interdisciplinary research.Through its Consortium for Robotics and Unmanned Systems Education and Research (CRUSER), the NPS has also been involved in various initiatives, such as exploring the application of 3D printing in creating unmanned systems like drones. Furthermore, NPS students and faculty have been investigating the use of AM to quickly generate essential equipment in remote or combat locations. For example, one project includes a student’s development of a method for 3D printing full-scale submarine hull sections, aiming to expedite and reduce the cost of submersible production.Overall, the NPS’ exploration and advancement of AM technologies highlights the potential these processes hold for military operations. With a successful demonstration of in-flight 3D printing aboard an MV-22 Osprey, the researchers have set the stage for a new era of on-the-move manufacturing and rapid response capabilities. As these pioneering efforts evolve, they promise to redefine the landscape of expeditionary warfare, opening new roads for logistical support, field reparability, and mission adaptability.Subscribe to Our Email NewsletterStay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.

Breaking new ground in additive manufacturing (AM), researchers from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)’s Consortium for Additive Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE) successfully executed in-flight 3D printing aboard a U.S. military aircraft for the first time. The demonstration, which saw the creation of a medical arm cast during a flight on a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, was part of a Marines training exercise held in Twentynine Palms, California.A tiltrotor military aircraft, the MV-22 Osprey, combines the vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and range of a turboprop plane. With its ability to reach over 260 knots and a combat radius of 426 nautical miles, it is instrumental in assault support missions due to its speed, range, and payload capacity. Innovative features like a glass cockpit and fly-by-wire control system further bolster its safety and responsiveness, making it a unique asset for Marines operations. A CV-22 Osprey assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command. Image courtesy of U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Miranda Mahoney.“I see this as revolutionary, being able to print on the move,” said Spencer Koroly, the Naval Information Warfare Center engineer who developed the printer known as the Advanced Manufacturing Operational System (AMOS). “Being able to print on the move represents a vital capability for rapid response in contested logistics scenarios.”The demonstration was a collaboration with the Marine Innovation Unit (MIU) and the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton. The medical cast was created in-flight thanks to a 3D scan of a Marine’s arm and generative design software to create the blueprint of the medical cast.CAMRE’s successful in-flight 3D printing follows its previous accomplishment of deploying a 3D liquid metal printer on the USS Essex during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in 2022, a biennial international military exercise hosted by the Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet.Commenting on the potential of additive manufacturing for the military, CAMRE’s Program Manager, Chris Curran, stated, “We are in a unique position to rapidly support the joint force and accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing.”The successful demonstration took place on June 21 as part of an integrated training exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. In an impressive display of technological innovation, a medical cast was 3D printed using the AMOS while the aircraft was engaged in a variety of operations, including taxiing, takeoff, and in-flight maneuvers. The exercise featured operating forces from the Marine Forces Reserve, the I Marine Expeditionary Force, and the 3D Marine Aircraft Wing to show a distributed manufacturing model in a challenging logistics setting. 3D printing of a medical cast aboard an MV-22 Osprey during a training flight. Image courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps.Koroly described the operation as a milestone, stating, “Nothing is more expeditionary than printing medical devices and swarm robotics in the back of an aircraft.” This achievement emphasizes the revolutionary potential of in-flight 3D printing, which could usher in a new era of mobility and on-the-go manufacturing.Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael Radigan of the MIU, who also worked on the operational testing, shared his vision for the future of 3D printing: “We are just scratching the surface on the capabilities that will come from being able to 3D print in flight. Dozens of printers being installed in a modular fashion aboard aircraft bring the ability for mobile production at a scale we have not experienced before.” Spencer Koroly, an engineer at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific in San Diego, during the 3D printing aboard an MV-22 Osprey. Image courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps.Beyond this demonstration, the mission of CAMRE is to rapidly provide results to the warfighter and accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing for the joint force. Their work also involves providing education and certifications to increase the talent pool for the joint force, in addition to validating concepts through operational exercises.This groundbreaking work builds on the NPS’s commitment to advancing the operational effectiveness, technological leadership, and warfighting advantage of the naval service through defense-focused graduate education and interdisciplinary research.Through its Consortium for Robotics and Unmanned Systems Education and Research (CRUSER), the NPS has also been involved in various initiatives, such as exploring the application of 3D printing in creating unmanned systems like drones. Furthermore, NPS students and faculty have been investigating the use of AM to quickly generate essential equipment in remote or combat locations. For example, one project includes a student’s development of a method for 3D printing full-scale submarine hull sections, aiming to expedite and reduce the cost of submersible production.Overall, the NPS’ exploration and advancement of AM technologies highlights the potential these processes hold for military operations. With a successful demonstration of in-flight 3D printing aboard an MV-22 Osprey, the researchers have set the stage for a new era of on-the-move manufacturing and rapid response capabilities. As these pioneering efforts evolve, they promise to redefine the landscape of expeditionary warfare, opening new roads for logistical support, field reparability, and mission adaptability.Subscribe to Our Email NewsletterStay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.