Earlier this week GE announce that it going one step further in its investment into 3D Printing by launching two global design challenges. The first challenge invites entrepreneurs, companies, designers and institutions to leverage 3D printing in the development of high speed additive manufacturing techniques. The second, and more straightforward challenge, enlists this same global group in an effort to redesign an aircraft engine bracket.
With their already sizable investment into 3D Printing, GE has shown the design community that it’s serious about the technology. According to Michael Idelchik, lead of GE’s advanced technologies division, the company’s next step is to “develop an ecosystem of designers, engineers, materials scientists, and other partners who can learn with us. We have a number of products that we are going to be launching and we want to challenge people to get into business with us. If the ecosystem grows, the entire industry will grow."
For the first competition GE is asking companies and institutions to optimize the 3D printing process -- creating methods for delivering high-speed, high fidelity precision products that use advance materials.
Both competitions are already open. If you’d like to participate head over here for more details.
Images Courtesy of GE & GrabCAD