This post was written by Alec Miller, Manager of Measured Innovation, at TechAlliance
On November 22, TechAlliance, in conjunction with Javelin Technologies and two design collaborators, ran a new event called Print Your Part. Held at Windermere Manor, the event was designed to give TechAlliance clients and the regional technology community the chance to learn about 3D printing and to print a part of their own.
3D printing has been around since the 1980s, although most people have only just started to hear about it in the last couple of years. I wrote a previous blog post where I gave a brief overview of the technology, but as a refresher, 3D printing (aka “additive manufacturing”) is a technology which allows for the layer-by-layer creation of a physical object out of a variety of materials.
Unlike traditional manufacturing techniques which are top-down and subtractive, 3D printing works by taking a 3-dimensional CAD file and building it from the bottom-up. This technology is transforming the design and prototyping phases of the product development process by reducing the time and cost associated with product iterations.
Prior to the event, Javelin received three CAD files which were printed at their 3D printing lab in Oakville, and then delivered them to attendees during the event. This was a great opportunity for local innovators to get a hands-on experience with an exciting, emerging technology.
TechAlliance would like to thank everyone who was involved in organizing the event, as well all those who attended. We look forward to hosting similar events in the future where the Southwestern Ontario tech sector can learn about and interact with the technologies that are shaping the economy of the future.
