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Windmill Blade Molds 3D Printed By National Labs (energy.gov)

Posted by yaelk on from the gone-with-the-wind dept.

MountainLogic writes: Last year ORNL produced a 3D printed Shelby. This year, the National Labs are using the mother of all 3D printers to make windmill molds cheaper and faster to produce in the US. The size of the current 150 foot utility scale blades are being extended with these techniques. US DOE is providing a leading role to advance US manufacturing technology and competitiveness. Welcome back rust belt, we missed you.

1 of 70 comments (clear)

  1. Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Why not 3D print the blades directly? I was told, in no uncertain terms, that 3D printing is the future, and anything else is just Luddite.

    I was told 3D printed houses, 3D printed cars,3D printed airplanes,3D printed Mars colonies,3D printed rockets,3D printed food,3D printed organs.

    Now all you have is a big mold? So what?