#3DExpress: The Sarco 3D Printed Suicide Pod Was Used for the First Time

This week’s news includes a number of interesting topics including the first use of a 3D printed suicide pod in Switzerland as well as a new production milestone for Carbon and Keystone Industries. The companies have announced the 3D printing of over a million parts for the dental sector! An impressive number, achieved in over 300,000 man-hours. Next up, learn more about 3D-printed oyster shells and a LEGO motorcycle designed using 3D printing. Then finish it up with a closer look at additive manufacturing in the Oil&Gas sector with news from Vallourec. Happy reading!

First Case of Use of 3D Printed Suicide Pod in Switzerland

Do you remember Sarco, a project developed by Australian Dr. Philip Nitschke in late 2021? It is an assisted suicide capsule, designed in part by 3D printing. Well, it has just been used for the first time in Switzerland. A 64-year-old woman suffering from an immune disease decided to end her life using the capsule. The capsule is flooded with nitrogen within minutes, causing death by hypoxia and hypocapnia. As you can imagine, this is a story that has caused quite a stir on the legal and ethical fronts, obviously raising many questions as well as a criminal investigation in the country.

Photo Credits: Philip Nitschke/Reuters

One Million Parts 3D Printed on Carbon Machines

This week, resin 3D printer manufacturer Carbon announced that it had 3D printed over a million dental parts with its partner Keystone Industries, which specializes in resin formulation. It took 314,000 hours to design all the parts, as well as 11,200 liters of materials! Phil DeSimone, CEO and co-founder of Carbon, adds: “Reaching this milestone is a significant achievement for our partnership with Keystone and a clear indicator of the direction in which dental manufacturing is headed. We are not just a 3D printing company; we are pioneering a new era of high-volume custom manufacturing to meet the demands of today’s dental industry.” This milestone is indeed proof of the capabilities of additive manufacturing in the dental sector and shows how it impacts the value chain.