Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a research facility managed by the U.S. Department of Energy specializing in materials science and nuclear research, has achieved a significant breakthrough. The facility designed, 3D printed, and tested a specialized specimen capsule for use in its High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR), marking a first for additive manufacturing in the context of reactor components. This initiative demonstrates how 3D printing can create complex shapes more efficiently and cost-effectively than traditional fabrication methods.ORNL employed laser powder bed fusion to fabricate a stainless steel rabbit capsule, a type of container used for holding experiments during irradiation inside a test reactor. The process involved assembling, loading, and sealing the printed capsule before inserting it into HFIR. The capsule successfully withstood nearly a month in a high neutron flux environment, showcasing the durability and reliability of 3D printed components under extreme conditions.The 3D printed specimen capsule for use in its High Flux Isotope Reactor. Photo via ORNL.Richard Howard, group lead for irradiation engineering at ORNL, highlighted the significance of this achievement by stating, This is a significant step toward demonstrating that additive manufacturing can be used to develop and qualify specialized components that cannot be conventionally machined. Ryan Dehoff, director of ORNLs Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, added, As we demonstrate the reliability of these printed components, were looking at a future where additive manufacturing might become standard practice in producing other critical reactor parts.Post-irradiation evaluation of the 3D printed rabbit capsule is scheduled for this winter. Findings from this analysis could extend the use of 3D printing in safety-critical nuclear applications and other regulated industries. Researchers at ORNL plan to exploit the design flexibility provided by additive manufacturing to create more intricate components that traditional methods struggle to produce. This effort supports meeting stringent material composition and qualification standards while potentially reducing costs and development times.3D Printing in Nuclear Power ApplicationsIn 2024, Westinghouse Electric Company, a leading nuclear power technology firm, advanced the use of 3D printing in reactor component design by developing filtering bottom nozzles aimed at improving debris capture and fuel endurance in Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). Utilizing additive manufacturing, Westinghouse achieved enhanced design flexibility that reduced the diameter of debris capable of entering the reactor, resulting in a 30% increase in resistance to debris-related wear.Earlier, in 2022, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), a leader in microreactor development, invested in Desktop Metals X-Series 3D printers to innovate nuclear fuel designs. These printers, capable of processing advanced materials like silicon carbide, support the creation of Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated (FCM) fuel for next-generation reactors. USNCs adoption of additive manufacturing techniques facilitates the production of complex reactor components, enhancing safety and performance in advanced nuclear systems.USNCs Fully Ceramic Micro-encapsulated fuel innovation. Photo via Desktop Metal.Ready to discover who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards?What will the future of 3D printing look like?Which recent trends are driving the 3D printing industry, as highlighted by experts?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights.Stay connected with the latest in 3D printing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, and dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel for more exclusive content.Featured image shows the 3D printed specimen capsule for use in its High Flux Isotope Reactor. Photo via ORNL.

Hyliion Holdings Corp., a developer of sustainable electricity-producing technology, has installed its first M Line additive manufacturing system from Colibrium Additive, a GE Aerospace company. Hyliion, known for creating distributed power generators, will use this system to scale production of its KARNO generator technology. This installation marks the first U.S. deployment of the advanced M Line platform.The developer of sustainable energy anticipates that the M Line machine will increase output of precision parts by two to four times compared to previous 3D printing setups. The ability to produce complex geometries required for the KARNO linear generator relies on advanced additive manufacturing methods. Colibrium Additive, a supplier of 3D printers, metal powders, and industrial-scale manufacturing services, designed the M Line with a modular approach that separates laser processing from material handling. This design streamlines production and reduces downtime, optimizing manufacturing processes.Colibrium Additive M Line 3D Printer. Photo via Hyliion.Thomas Healy, Founder and CEO of Hyliion, explained, The M Line systems are a pivotal advancement in our journey to scale manufacturing. By incorporating this state-of-the-art technology into our process, we are significantly enhancing our capacity to meet growing demand for KARNO generators. Hyliion has ordered additional M Line machines, with deliveries set to continue throughout 2025.Chris Schuppe, CTO of Colibrium Additive, stated, Our M Line technology, with its modular design, aims to streamline operations, reduce production times, and optimize manufacturing processes. It is an optimal choice for producing the complex parts required in full-scale production of the KARNO generator. This emphasis on efficiency is crucial for producing the intricate components that underpin the KARNO generators performance.3D Printing in the Energy SectorIn Saudi Arabia, the National Additive Manufacturing & Innovation (NAMI) Companya joint venture between 3D Systems and Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company Dussurhas purchased new metal and polymer 3D printers. These include systems optimized for precise production of end-use parts, such as metal DMP Factory 500, DMP Flex 350 Dual, and polymer SLS 380 printers. NAMI will use these to produce parts for the Saudi Electricity Company, creating a localized supply chain. The initiative includes developing a digital inventory of parts to reduce production time, storage requirements, and costs, directly impacting efficiency for energy infrastructure.Elsewhere, Upwing Energy, a natural gas service provider, has integrated Velo3Ds laser powder bed fusion technology to manufacture its Subsurface Compressor System compressor module. This approach reduced the production lead time for a full compressor rotor assembly to 10 weeks. Upwing produces high-quality Inconel 718 parts with complex geometries necessary for its gas compression processes. Rigorous testing, including rotational speeds exceeding 55,000 RPM and spin-to-burst tests, confirmed that 3D printed parts meet ASTM standards and perform reliably under extreme conditions.NAMI facilities in Saudi Arabia. Photo via NAMI.Ready to discover who won the 20243D Printing Industry Awards?What will the future of 3D printing look like?Which recent trends are driving the 3D printing industry, as highlighted by experts?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights.Stay connected with the latest in 3D printing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, and dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel for more exclusive content.Featured image shows Colibrium Additive M Line 3D Printer. Photo via Hyliion.

Hello everyone,This is something I have been wanting to achieve for MANY years and I finally was able to accomplish it so I figured I would share! This is for UE5.5 but it may work with earlier versions too. It works thanks to some new upgrades to the scene capture 2d entity. Im not sure exactly when the changes were made but it was fairly recent. (pass info settings in details panel)This mini tutorial will go over how to set up an emissive back scattering map that is based on the particles opacity map. This solves the issue of having halos around each individual sprite when you try and bake a scattering map into the texture.Create your particle system. For this tutorial I will be making some clouds. Make your material for your particles and set it aside for now, we will need it later.Create a new render target, Set the format to RGBA8 and the resolution to 1 pixel. If you wanted you could automate this creation via a blueprint but for now we will just manually create the render target.Add a scene capture 2d entity into the level. This is where the magic happens. Assign your render target to the capture2d entity and enable the capture every frame flag.Disable the atmosphere flag or else the opacity from the particles wont show up in the RT.Enable the main view camera for the capture source and the ignore screen percentage. This is required for the RT to map correctly onto the particles. The render divisor can also dramatically improve performance. A value one 1 is rendering the full screen resolution, which is total overkill. Setting it to 4-6 still looks pretty good.Open up the material you used for your particle system. Create a new texture sampler and assign the render target. Create a screen position node and plug it into the UV of the texture sampler with the RT.Thats it! You can combine this backscatter mask into your shader however you need. Im doing a bit of extra stuff to adjust color and fade based on camera angles etc, but its not required for this technique to work. The great thing about this is since its using the opacity buffer from your particles, it will correctly react to changing opacity from your niagara systems.Troubleshooting: If your particle isnt showing up in the render target, make sure you dont have the hidden in scene capture flag set in the particle details panel.Enjoy!

These high-performing glass and film options provide an array of useful innovations for designers, from solar control and fire-resistance to high visible light transmittance and superior thermal performance. (Courtesy Aluflam)Fire-Rated True Aluminum Framing with Contraflam ONE GlassAluflamBy combining Contraflam One interlayer glass technology with Aluflam True Aluminum Framing, architects can now design much larger openings. This glass contains 35 percent less embedded carbon content than previous generations of Contraflam according to Vetrotech.(Courtesy Vitro)Sungate ThermLVitroThermL low-e glass is engineered for use on the interior surface of a typical 1-inch IGU. When paired with a Solarban solar control low-e glass on the second surface, Sungate ThermL glass dramatically improves U-values. (Courtesy C.R. Laurence Blumcraft)Entice HP+ Commercial Entrance SystemC. R. Laurence BlumcraftThe Entice HP+ Entrance System features a full perimeter seal around doors, structural enhancements, and thermally broken components with 1-inch insulating glass. This delivers superior thermal and wind load performance, as well as improved air infiltration resistance.(Courtesy sedak)sedak Tempered+sedakBased on a revolutionary advanced tempering process, sedak now offers tempered glass with the best optical properties from every angle and under any lighting condition for fully tempered and heat-strengthened glass.(Courtesy YKK AP)ProTek SystemsYKK APThe new Baptist Health Care campus at Brent Lane in Pensacola, Florida, features expansive windows at the hospital entrance. Multiple ProTek Systems used in concert made this design possible, helping designers achieve performance goals like impact-resistance, blast-mitigation, and window wall systems. (Courtesy Avery Dennison)SkyLite 20 XTRM Pro Window FilmAvery DennisonThe new SkyLite 20 XTRM Pro exterior window film offers exceptional durability against extreme heat and severe weather conditions, a neutral appearance, and natural daylighting with high optical clarity. Edge sealing is not required for this film, saving installation and labor time(Courtesy Vetrotech Saint-Gobain)Contraflam OneVetrotech Saint-GobainContraflam One fire rated glazing offers 90 percent light transmission with 35 percent less embodied carbon than conventional multichamber products. Contraflam One is distinguished by Hybridcore Technology, an innovative single-chamber foaming interlayer for all fire-resistance ratings.

Courtesy of Digital CommonwealthWhen theErie Canalopened in 1825, New York Citys advantageous water connection through the Hudson River threatened Bostons dominance as a historic trade center. Since the topography of the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts made construction of a canal infeasible, Boston turned to the emerging railroad technology for a share of the freight to and from the Midwestern United States. TheBoston and Worcester Railroadwas chartered in 1831 and construction began the next year. Stations and rail lines were built westward of Boston and would eventually reach the Berkshires and the Hudson Valley with three existing lines merging in 1867 as theBoston and Albany Railroad, becoming the longest and most expensive point-to-point railroad yet constructed in the United States. The B&A undertook a significant program of improvement and beautification in the 1880s and 1890s, when the railroad hired architectAlexander Rice Estyto design this building, the Boston passenger station which was completed in 1881, the year of Estys death. That same year, the B&A hired architectHenry Hobson Richardsonto designa series of passenger stations, connecting suburban villages west of Boston to the city. This station was located on Kneeland Street and serviced passenger service from Boston until the new South Station, a consolidated train station of various lines, was completed in 1899. This station later became a freight and storage warehouse for the railroad until the 1950s when the building was razed for the Central Artery, signaling the death of train travel as we knew it for decades to come.The site of the former station has remained undeveloped since then.

Tech Sonys surprising entry into electric vehicle market The EV that's trying to give Tesla, Lucid Air a run for their money Published January 21, 2025 6:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': Sonys surprising entry into the electric vehicle market Sony and Honda's Afeela 1 EV launches with advanced tech and entertainment for $89,900. Tech expert Kurt Knutsson gives his takeaways. Sony has officially entered the electric vehicle (EV) market with its new model, the Afeela 1. This innovative vehicle, developed in partnership with Honda, aims to redefine the driving experience by integrating advanced technology and entertainment features. Unveiled at CES 2025, the Afeela 1 is now available for preorder, marking a significant milestone in Sony's expansion beyond consumer electronics into the automotive industry.Enter the giveaway by signing up for myfree newsletter. Exterior of the Afeela 1 (Sony) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Performance and rangeEquipped with a powerful 482 hp all-wheel-drive powertrain, the Afeela 1 features a 91 kWh battery that offers an EPA-estimated range of 300 miles. It supports fast charging at 150 kW and is compatible with Tesla's Supercharger network, providing convenience for long-distance travel. Exterior of the Afeela 1 at a Tesla charging station (Sony) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)The Afeela 1 boasts an impressive array of 40 sensors and cameras, enabling Level 2+ ADAS features. These systems include lidar assistance for tasks like automated parking and real-time environmental monitoring. The vehicle's AI processing capabilities allow it to perform up to 800 trillion operations per second, paving the way for future updates that may enhance its autonomous driving capabilities. Exterior of the Afeela 1 (Sony) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)In-car technology and entertainmentSony emphasizes creating an interactive experience within the Afeela 1. The car features:An AI-powered personal assistant for voice interactionsA dashboard-length screen for navigation and entertainmentSurround sound systems utilizing Sony's 360 Reality Audio technologyMoreover, certain functionalities will be available through a subscription model after an initial three-year complimentary period. Interior of the Afeela 1 (Sony) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Design and comfortThe design of the Afeela 1 focuses on comfort and aesthetics. Its interior is crafted from high-quality materials, including plant-derived and recycled components. The cabin is optimized for entertainment, featuring strategically placed displays and noise-canceling technology to enhance the passenger experience. Interior of the Afeela 1 (Sony) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Pricing and availabilityThe Afeela 1 is available in two trims: the Origin, which starts at $89,900, and the Signature, priced at $102,900. Currently, preorders are open exclusively for California residents, requiring a refundable reservation fee of $200. The Signature variant is expected to ship in mid-2026, while the Origin will follow in 2027. Exterior of the Afeela 1 (Sony) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Kurts key takeawaysSony's entry into the electric vehicle market with the Afeela 1 represents a significant shift towards integrating technology and mobility. With its high-performance specs, advanced driver assistance systems and focus on entertainment, it aims to appeal to tech-savvy consumers looking for more than just transportation.What features are most important in an electric vehicle, and how will that affect your decision to purchase one? Let us know what you think by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com. Related Topics

BrunoWeltmann - stock.adobe.comNewsHyperscalers to spend a trillion dollars on AI optimised hardwareThe market for AI optimised servers is growing, driven by hyperscalers and IT services firms developing AI-enabled servicesByCliff Saran,Managing EditorPublished: 21 Jan 2025 11:00 The latest spending forecast from Gartner predicts that more than twice as much is being spent on AI-optimised servers compared with traditional servers. The analyst firm has forecast that $202bn will be spent on AI-optimised servers in 2025.Gartners data shows that server spend amounted to approximately $130bn in 2022. This figure rose by a small amount in 2023, in line with Gartners forecast to $134bn as GPU servers began to ship.The latest data shows that spending on datacentre systems, which includes servers, grew to $329bn in 2024 and is forecast to grow by over 23% this year, which means, according to Gartner, that $405bn of servers will be sold in 2025, driven by adoption of AI-optimised servers. Gartner predicts spending on AI-optimised servers to easily double spending on traditional servers in 2025, reaching $202bn.However, the bulk of the servers purchased, as John-David Lovelock, distinguished vice-president analyst at Gartner, notes, is not being made by enterprise IT. By 2028, hyperscalers will operate $1tn dollars worth of AI optimised servers. IT services companies and hyperscalers account for over 70% of spending in 2025, said Lovelock.While the hyperscalers will offer AI-optimised servers as part of their infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offerings, Lovelock said they are mainly deploying them to offer generative AI (GenAI)-enabled services to businesses and consumers.Gartner has also predicted that IT buyers will be spending 14.2% more on software this year. This is partly being driven by price increases as software providers embed AI into tier products. There is also 9% growth in the IT services market.Technology companies are starting to embed GenAI in their products and bumping the price a bit, Lovelock said.Looking at the device market, Gartner expects spending to increase 10.4%. While some of this growth is likely to come as a result of the PC refresh cycle as businesses upgrade to newer devices and the need to migrate over to Windows 11 before October 14th this year, manufacturers are increasinging prices, making AI PCs premium products.These AI-enabled devices are designed to improve the performance of GenAI and AI-based applications, offering on-device AI inference capabilities. They potentially offer a means to deploy GenAI on local devices across the organisation, in a way that avoids data leakage that can occur when using cloud-based GenAI. However, there is no compelling reason for IT leaders to pay a premium for these devices yet.GenAI is sliding toward the trough of disillusionment, which reflects CIOs declining expectations for GenAI, but not their spending on this technology, said Lovelock.For instance, the new AI-ready PCs do not yet have must have applications that utilise the hardware. While both consumers and enterprises will purchase AI-enabled PC, tablets and mobile phones, those purchases will not be overly influenced by the GenAI functionality.Overall, Gartner forecasts that worldwide IT spending is expected to total $5.61tn in 2025, an increase of 9.8% from 2024.Read more IT spending storiesIs diversity suffering because of budget management? Many are considering quitting their jobs over the next year because of rising workloads and falling team sizes. Are firms misallocating budgets and causing retention issues?Overcoming the cyber paradox - Shrinking budgets, growing threats: The challenging macro environment has left security budgets stretched thin even while new tech like AI presents a threat multiplier. In the face of these challenges, it becomes vital for security leads to do more with less.In The Current Issue:Can the UK government achieve its ambition to become an AI powerhouse?A guide to DORA complianceDownload Current Issue

On the rare occasion that you find a Linux app or service isn't starting properly, there's a handy command ready to help you suss out the problem.

When implemented strategically, AI can create more efficient, agile, and resilient supply chains, positioning logistics operators for long-term success.

Kaspersky has disclosed Mercedes-Benz car hacking threat.POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesIts worrying enough that hackers are targeting your account passwords, your iPhone and even your, erm, sex toys. But when they come for your Mercedes-Benz, well, thats a step too far. Heres everything you need to know about the Mercedes-Benz security vulnerability that could give a car hacker access to your vehicle infotainment system.Hacking The Mercedes-Benz Infotainment SystemA newly published report by security researchers from Kaspersky has revealed how they found a total of 13 vulnerabilities in the first-generation Mercedes-Benz User Experience infotainment system. The Kaspersky Security Services research revealed how some of these vulnerabilities could be used by hackers, if successfully exploited, to launch denial-of-service attacks, escalate user privileges and potentially steal data. The report also confirmed that hackers could, if they had physical access to the vehicle, unlock paid services and even disable anti-theft protections.A Mercedes-Benz statement said: The topic described by the researchers requires physical access to the vehicle on-site as well as access to the interior of the vehicle. In addition, the head unit has to be removed and opened. Newer versions of the infotainment system are not affected. The statement also confirmed that Mercedes-Benz had been aware of the security issues since August 2022, when a team of external security researchers contacted us regarding the first generation MBUX Mercedes-Benz User Experience.The vulnerabilities have all now been patched.MORE FOR YOUSecurity Professionals Respond To The Mercedes-Benz Hacking Research"The exploitation of Mercedes-Benz user experience systems is a stark reminder of the evolving attack surface presented by connected devices and embedded systems in modern vehicles, Jamie Akhtar, CEO at CyberSmart, said. This incident highlights the increasing convergence of cybersecurity and the automotive industry, where software vulnerabilities can expose both users and manufacturers to significant risks."The recent report about Kaspersky researchers identifying vulnerabilities in the Mercedes-Benz infotainment system highlights the importance of tighter collaboration between researchers, manufacturers, and the wider cybersecurity ecosystem to keep drivers safe, Anna Collard, an evangelist at KnowBe4, said. Although it is wise to remember that no access to critical vehicle functions were made possible by the vulnerabilities that the Kaspersky researchers disclosed, Collard said, the ability to manipulate the infotainment system could still pose safety risks by distracting drivers with unexpected visuals or flashing lights.