Today, for the first time, we got to sleep in.  A 10:30 wake up made me miss breakfast, but it was worth it for the extra sleep.  At 12:15 we met Sophia to head downtown to the red light district, where we visited the famous 3D printed bridge, developed by the company MX3D. The bridge crossed a small canal in Amsterdam, and was equipped with sensors to register data on foot traffic.  Whilst the bridge was quite the feat of engineering, some of the drawbacks of 3D printing were noticeable.  For example, the metal was rugged, rather than smooth.  For a bridge this was fine, but in order to print something like a boat, this issue will have to be addressed.  

After taking a few pictures, we hopped back on the train to travel to the outskirts of Amsterdam, where the MX3D office is.  We were given a presentation on the company in the lobby of the office, but did not get to tour the facility.  MX3D is a cutting edge tech company, who specializes in 3D printing with metal.  They are a middle man in the concept to consumer supply chain.  Companies will come to them with designs, and they will develop them in cost efficient ways. The companies will then complete the supply chain by using or selling the 3D printed product, ultimately benefiting the common consumer.  I learned that MX3D works on a variety of projects, in a variety of fields, including maritime, automotive, and oil and gas.  Much of their work however is making parts for other companies to use, rather than big name items like the bridge. They do have clients in the United States, but due to an NDA we were not permitted to hear about them. I am certainly curious to know what types of things they are exporting to the states. 

After our visit, we were given some free time before dinner, which was used to get a snack at a local cafe.  Dinner was in a small local restaurant that was set on a farm.  It was a three course meal, each providing its own perspective of the place.  It was certainly a memorable outing.  After dinner we headed back to Amsterdam for the evening to get some rest, as tomorrow we will travel to Rotterdam!