Shell Global, in the midst of the deepest water installation project ever, at the Stones site in the Gulf of Mexico, has been using 3D printing to solve complex challenges—and staving off problems before they happen. With hundreds of syntactic foam blocks that had to be worked into a puzzle-like geometry, engineers were glad to have something besides just a 2D drawing to work from. With 3D printing they were able to make a complex prototype for the complex project, including a process never before done in that region. Upon showing authorities how they would complete the work and seeking approval from inspectors, the 3D printed prototype was invaluable. Read more at 3DPrint.com: https://3dprint.com/130436/shell-3d-...d-prototyping/