Rapid Ready Roundup: Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, MakerBot, 3D Medical and Zelda

In the course of my diligent efforts to keep you good people up to date on the state of additive manufacturing (AM), I come across many interesting news items. I’ll gather them up every so often and present them in a Rapid Ready Roundup (like this one). You can find the last Roundup here.

Let’s start this Roundup with an update from the US government about its manufacturing initiative. Apparently NAMII has been considered a success, as the White House has announced the launch of competitions for three new manufacturing innovation institute sites. This represents $200 million in additional funding for the project and President Obama has continued to call for congress to approve the investment of $1 billion to complete 15 sites nationally.

President Obama is committed to making America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing so we continue to build things the rest of the world buys. After shedding jobs for a decade, our manufacturers have added about 500,000 over the past three years. Manufacturing production has grown since the end of the recession at its fastest pace in over a decade.  To build on this momentum, the President has outlined a concrete and comprehensive agenda to invest in American manufacturing. –The White House

Moving on, if you have a friend, boss or co-worker who would like to know more about AM but isn’t sure where to start send them here! Additionally, MakerBot is hosting a 45-minute webinar on May 22 at 12 p.m. (EST) for the express purpose of disseminating information about the technology. The agenda will cover the basics of the 3D printing process, from CAD file to printed part. The discussion will include information about PLA filament and provide examples of prototypes, parts, and models capable of being printed on a desktop AM system.

Next, University of Wollongong‘s Centre for Electromaterials Science has announced it has begun animal testing on bioprinted replacements for skin, cartilage, arteries and heart valves. The process employed by researchers at the Australian university involves incorporating living cells into the layering process. Researchers are claiming a 95% survival rate for the cells and claim new tissues will be cleared for use on humans within five years.

Last for today, if you’ve ever played a Legend of Zelda game and wished you could own some of the fantastic items found in the game, I have good news for you. Hyrule Foundry has created a set of Zelda models that are available for production via 3D printing. The set includes swords (it’s dangerous to go alone), hearts and many of the objects you’d expect to see while playing, though, oddly, the Triforce seems to be missing. Maybe it has yet to be assembled.

Below you’ll find a video about the University of Wollongong’s research.

Sources: White House, ABC, Shapeways, MakerBot