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July 31, 2014

Local 3-D printing hubs bring manufacturing back to US

Imaginestics is a start-up out of West Lafayette, Ind., founded by Nainesh Rathod. At the Smart America Expo, Rathod was part of a team that demonstrated the potential impact of "Smart Shape Technology" on 3-D printing and local manufacturing hubs.

Using this system, you can take a picture of a part of a larger device with a mobile phone, and then either identify a local retailer where this part can be found or instantly print it at a local 3-D printing service provider.

The demonstration showed how Smart Shape Technology -- using novel shape search, active label, smart hubs and 3-D printing technologies -- can create local jobs and increase local skills.

Credit: NSF


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