Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

The interestingly-named Purple Platypus at Booth No. 3409 is not exactly what one would expect to see at a helicopter convention, but the Stratasys 3D printer certainly represents the latest technology. Purple Platypus is a distributor for Stratasys, manufacturer of what it says is the world’s first color and multi-material 3D printer, the Objet500 Connex 3. 
What makes the Objet500 Connex 3 unique is “triple-jetting technology that combines droplets of three base materials,” according to Purple Platypus. In a single print run, the printer can make a part combining rigid, flexible and transparent color materials. “This ability to achieve the characteristics of an assembled part without assembly or painting is a significant time-saver. It helps product manufacturers validate designs and make good decisions earlier before committing to manufacturing, and bring products to market faster.” 
The Stratasys printer can print objects using resin layers as fine as 16 microns, and the objects simulate the characteristics of high-performance thermoplastics for engineers needing to prototype and design complicated parts.

Purple Platypus Brings 3D Printing to Heli-Expo

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