New Atlas

3D Printing Audio available

Titanium 3D-printed wheel provides a glimpse of the future

Ben Coxworth November 23, 2018

In a demonstration of what could be commercially possible within the near future, HRE Wheels recently teamed up with GE Additive’s AddWorks team to create the first-ever titanium wheel to be 3D-printed via Electron Beam Melting. The process is said to be more efficient than traditional machining.

A custom center piece was used to join the HRE3D+ wheel's five main sections together

3D Printing

Lockheed Martin's titanium domes are the largest 3D-printed spacecraft parts yet

Michael Irving July 15, 2018

Lockheed Martin is no stranger to 3D printing components, but now the company has created its largest piece to date – titanium domes to cap off satellite fuel tanks. Using additive manufacturing can help satellites be assembled faster and with less wasted materials.

Lockheed Martin has 3D printed its largest items ever: titanium domes designed to cap off fuel ...

3D Printing

World's largest metal 3D-printer scales up additive manufacturing

Darren Quick May 17, 2018

Australian company Titomic has unveiled what it claims is the world's largest metal 3D printer. Utilizing a patented process co-developed with Australian federal scientific research agency the CSIRO, the 3D metal printer boasts a build area 9 m long, 3 m wide and 1.5 m high (29.5 x 9.8 x 4.9 ft).

Titomic unveiled the world's largest 3D printer this week in Melbourne, Australia

Medical

Diamonds may be a titanium implant's best friend

Ben Coxworth March 15, 2018

Titanium is very biocompatible, which is why it's so often used for medical implants. That said, chemical compounds in the metal sometimes do result in implants being rejected by the body. Scientists at RMIT University are attempting to address the problem, by coating such implants with diamonds.

One of the diamond-encrusted implants created by the team

Outdoors

Keego water bottle uses squeezable titanium in place of plastic

Nick Lavars March 14, 2018

Nothing beats a simple squeezable bottle when it comes to staying hydrated on the move, but the plastics used for these receptacles come at a cost. So the team behind Keego thought, why not use elastic metals instead?

Keego is currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign

Energy

Titanium helps perovskite solar cells do a lead detox

Michael Irving February 14, 2018

Over the last few years, perovskite has proven itself to be a promising material for photovoltaic solar cells, but it’s not without its problems. Now, a team has found a way to helps solve at least one of those issues, removing toxic lead from the device by substituting in titanium.

A new design for perovskite solar cell has found that titanium could be a viable substitute ...

Space

Titanium clouds wreak havoc on "hot Jupiter" exoplanet's climate

Michael Irving September 14, 2017

Exoplanets are a constant source of surprise and wonder, and now astronomers have noticed something strange about a gas giant called WASP-19b. In the upper atmosphere of this “hot Jupiter” sits a layer of titanium oxide, which has flipped the usual atmospheric temperature structure on its head.

Astronomers have detected titanium oxide in the atmosphere of the "hot Jupiter" exoplanet, WASP-19b

Automotive

Icona's €2.5 million supercar is fast, attractive and looking for love

Scott Collie May 17, 2017

Apparently, being the only titanium car in the world isn't enough to woo a suitable buyer. Icona is shopping the on-off Vulcano Titanium around, and following forays into the USA and China, the car has now returned to Europe.

The Icona Vulcano Titanium makes use of, well, titanium for its body

Automotive

Driving meets art in the Pagani Huayra Roadster

Scott Collie February 14, 2017

In its short history, Horacio Pagani's boutique rival to Ferrari and Lamborghini has developed a back catalogue of automotive erotica to make any petrol head weak at the knees. We didn't think it possible, but the company's latest offering might just be its most beautiful car yet.

Wearables

The million-dollar RM 50-03 McLaren F1: Formula One engineering for your wrist

Scott Collie January 23, 2017

Formula One cars are the lightest, fastest, most advanced pieces of engineering in the motoring world, with prices stretching well into seven figures. So, what happens when the same focus on weight is applied to the world of watches? The Richard Mille RM 50-03 McLaren F1.