The Digital Thread

Digital manufacturing is revolutionising surgery. It provides both surgeons and instrument manufacturers with the information and equipment that they need to achieve better results faster and more cost effectively.

Getting a new medical device from concept through approval and to manufacture to the deadlines that you and your team expect is a real challenge. Yet something that the recent pandemic has taught us is that it is possible to innovate and achieve production quickly when it is really needed.

3D printing is making major inroads into customising medical implants for individuals. It allows implant manufacturers and sometimes even hospitals to create complex geometries and patient specific solutions that saves the surgeon time and improves a patient’s outcome.

Major dental work traditionally takes days of time and effort but as technology evolves even complex treatment is possible in just a few hours thanks to digital technology.

Protolabs’ new post-process ‘vapour smoothing’ – a first for European digital manufacturing – has developed additive manufacturing further. It enables parts 3D printed from the commonly used material PA-12 and the elastic TPU-01 to be 3D printed with a smooth surface finish similar to that produced by injection moulding.

The automotive industry is doubling down on its push to adapt additive manufacturing technologies

A common finishing option for companies is to mark parts using pad printing or laser engraving.

Get threaded inserts on injection-moulded parts for added durability and to connect multiple components together.

How vapour smoothing takes the surface quality of 3D printed parts to the next level

The Great Engineering Challenge of Tomorrow. Sustainability Training Hackathon.

10 Reasons to Attend the Protolabs Sustainability Training Hackathon

The Protolabs Sustainability Training Hackathon – What Will I Get From It?