What I Learned at a 3D Printing/Fabrication Trade Show

I had occasion recently to attend a trade show, wherein all sorts of innovations in manufacturing would be displayed. Mostly 3D printing, laser etching and similar methods for quick, cheap, bespoke production of one-off or limited run parts.

The drive sucked down half my battery, but luckily the expo center has electric car chargers. Three different types in fact, of which I could use only one (JVC 1772). Makes me concerned about the format war going on with electric car charging standards right now, I hope I don't get stuck with the EV equivalent of betamax.

The expo center is huge and in fact hosts many expositions at once. I didn't know which building the show I came to attend would be hosted in, which necessitated a bit of wandering. That's how I discovered the expo next door was all automotive stuff.

Just inside was a row of kiosk mounted ipads to the left, for signing in. Then they print you a badge with all the info on it that you entered in. I'd put some silly stuff on mine, like "human" under profession which I then had to display on my badge.

The photos end here as they didn't want me taking pictures of the actual booths and what they were showing off, but I can describe it well enough. The main attractions for me were the next generation 3D printers which can combine 3D printing with lithography, to print working electronic devices.

There were also full color 3D printers which added ink to absorbant filament, demonstrations of printed objects with sophisticated moving parts or notable material properties (such as internal lattices) and that sort of thing.

I had an interesting discussion with a man whose business sells LED grow lights and hydroponic grow enclosures that facilitate rapid turnaround from planting to harvest. There was not a lot that set him apart from countless other companies doing the same thing, though.

I opined that indoor farming is heading unavoidably towards aeroponics for the tremendous water savings. When half or more of the argument for indoor farming revolves around efficiency, the further water savings to be realized by going from hydroponics to aeroponics are the elephant in the room.

I got to see an ABB style pick and place robot, of the type commonly used to arrange foods on fast moving conveyor belts for for packaging. There was a bank of switches and dials with which the speed of the robot could be controlled, which was a neat interactive touch.

I'm afraid it was largely wasted on me. Although I was well familiar with everything on display, the show was really for the sake of potential investors and business partners. I was just along for the ride, with someone I met recently who is very into this sort of thing in a professional sense.

Not a bad way to spend a dreary, overcast Wednesday though! It's also the first time I had the opportunity to make use of a public charger, which was a surprisingly complicated ordeal that required me to register on the company's website. Supposedly it will get easier once I receive the RFID card they're mailing me, which will activate the charger with a quick swipe.

That's all for now! Stay tuned for more insights into my life, if that's even what you want to read about!

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^{Stay Cozy!}