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fiber prevents warping, and it also increases part strength. The reinforcement of the mater-
ial enables production of UAVs which is one of Lockheed Martin main intentions with the
BAAM project. BAAM was used for printing Local Motor's “Strati” automobile in 2014.
Another small project was initiated in the UK in 2013 when Renishaw started a collab-
oration with a UK 3D printing services company Hieta and a software company Sysemia
aiming at enabling mass production through 3D printing of metal recuperators (devices that
recover waste heat in engines). The project has been funded by UK's Technology Strategy
Board
.
Some other big guns are also looking into 3D printing manufacturing. 3D Systems is de-
veloping a high-speed continuous 3D printer that will be able to mass produce smartphone
modules for Google's “Project Ara”: a smart phone solution where some modules in the
phone, such as cameras etc. may be replaced and upgraded, giving the consumer more con-
trol over its looks and functions. In the end of 2014 3D Systems released a video of the
“Continuous, High-Speed, Fab-Grade 3D Printing Platform” supposed to be used for Pro-
ject Ara. It showed a full-fledged factory line, truly a milestone that gave the message that
the 3D printing breaking point is near. The printing line consists of several printbeds run-
ning on rails which enters printhead stations, where 4 billion drops of material is jetted
every minute. The system enables both multi-color and multi-material production.
