Bandaids and a new way to recycle PLA

 3d systems webinar was very informative and focused on full color printing. After a couple of glitches getting in the webinar I jumped in with Tom Charron. He was speaking on the advantages of full color and high speed through put. Objex unlimited took over next stating that 3d printing is such a competitve advantage that they don't want to disclose for fear of trade secrets getting out. One example shown was a full-color relief  map of a golf course. The first piece of equipment that was shown was Project 4500 it is capable of printing parts that can survive in water without detoriation and these can also be painted on. 3d systems webinar will be on youtube in audio format if you want to listen for yourself.

   Akron has a start up gaining traction in the region. The startups goal is to recycle plastics. This is important to us as it is a crucial life cycle detail in 3d printing. I don't know of their interest in PLA but it should at least be in development. I would be interested in their insights as the by product of iterative product could have definite impact depending on the scale of the item.

  Moving out of regional to somewhere with international implications is advent of 3d printing water band aids. Because these are a type of membrane created they are not limited topical use. What is still be grasped is the scale. Military applications abound as well as those in 3rd world countries. People who operate in hard to access areas should also be interested as once again additive manufacturing could definitely be used for hazard response.