nano-electronics projects CEA has been working on , such as satellites and renewable energy cells .
A few rooms have large equipment and HP Multi Jet Fusion ( MJF ) printers that provide polymer-based 3D printing , which uses a type of plastic filament , while HP Metal Jet printers are housed nearby .
“ We believe 3D printing is very relevant for industry ,” says Richard Laucournet , head of the Department of New Materials Technologies at CEA ’ s base in Grenoble . “ Working with HP was a real opportunity to collaborate with a big player in 3D printing . The techniques developed by HP are different from its competitors ’, so we are investing in them , and working on polymer and metal printing to promote 3D printing technologies and demonstrate their relevance .”
Members come to Y . Spot — nicknamed “ the hub ”— to collaborate on cross-industry projects that could lead to major changes in their own areas of business , including the automotive , cosmetics , prosthetics , product ID equipment , railways , and energy management industries . These trials are highly confidential and afford them the ability to experiment , share ideas , and devise solutions for incubating , prototyping , and testing in a safe and supportive environment , away from the day-to-day grind of the home company .
SHARED SPACES Employees from different industries collaborate at CEA ’ s Y . Spot . From left , designer Exbrayat , Ottobock R & D manager Jules Revais , and HP Distinguished Technologist Agnieszka Thonet examine a prosthesis sample .
Cooperation brings new ideas and products HP and CEA have designers , engineers , technicians , and other staff based at the hub permanently , and member companies send their own people or teams on a regular or as-needed basis . The space attracts diverse talent from across STEM disciplines , as this type of cross-domain expertise is needed for complex digital and physical solutions .
“ In the 3D hub , we bring together experts from different industries , such as automotive and cosmetics , and researchers in key areas of science , such as physics , chemistry , and electronics , to drive insights and innovation ,” says Agnieszka Thonet , Distinguished Technologist and HP lead at Y . Spot .
These experts present business problems they hope 3D printing innovations could help solve , and team up with other members to find novel approaches to their own challenges . Computer software is used to test out hypothetical solutions , and some are turned into prototypes , which are subjected to various tests at the hub or are brought back home to a partner ’ s own facilities to see how they perform .
By sharing ideas and insights at an early stage , Y . Spot partners discover that , often , the same behind-thescenes technology and information can be used to produce remarkably different outputs . J
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