Sydney is now home to Australia’s most advanced 3D printing facility.

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has opened the new ‘ProtoSpace’ to help grow advanced manufacturing in Australia.

Featuring cutting-edge 3D printers unique in Australia, including the exclusive Nanodimension Dragonfly, ProtoSpace is an open space for collaboration with business of all size and from all sectors, with a focus on SMEs and start-ups.

3D printing makes up less than one per cent of global manufacturing, so there is huge potential for growth.

Projects already underway include:

  • an industry partnership with a mining company to examine the use of composite polymer in mining equipment manufacture
  • supporting research for a scoping study of robotic sheep shearing using a full-size 3D printed merino sheep
  • developing the next cohort of 3d print specialists including a student project creating customised ankle-foot orthoses for children with cerebral palsy

“We are working with all major 3D printer makers including Victorian award winner Spee3d, are looking to create a large 3D printer for the on-site manufacture of mining parts, and to expand our own 3D printing technology expertise,” said ProtoSpace director Hervé Harvard.

More information is accessible here.