3D Systems Picks Up Bespoke

You may recall Bespoke Innovations, a company dedicated to using 3D printing to produce personalized replacement limbs. The method is to use 3D scanning to prepare a digital model of a remaining limb, then 3D print a mirror image of the model, approximating the original missing limb. Panels are prepared in the correct shape and then mounted on a strong artificial limb structure to produce a replacement limb that appears very close to the original. 

 

But now they've been acquired by industry giant 3D Systems in yet another of their frequent acquisitions. It's not known what the acquisition terms were, but according to the press release: 

 

3D Systems plans to integrate Bespoke into its growing healthcare solutions services and leverage its integrated scan, design and print technology and knowhow to develop and commercialize a full range of innovative, ventilated and lightweight custom fit prosthetics, orthotics and orthopedics.

 

Who will be the next acquisition? 

 

Via 3D Systems

You May Now Order Your Cube

First announced in January of this year, 3D Systems' latest personal 3D printer, the Cube, is now available for pre-order. 

 

The highly consumer-oriented device first came to light at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, where its ease of use features were very noticeable. The USD$1299 device was not available then, and actually isn't yet either - but you can pre-order it. Shipping evidently commences on May 25th, so the wait won't be that long.  

 

If you haven't heard of the Cube yet, it is a rather interesting device. While it has only a single plastic extruder (and thus prints in a single color at a time), it has several terrific ease-of-use features: 

 

• A solid yet friendly case that provides safety for internal workings and transforms the device's look into something families and children would resonate with.
• Easy to load print cartridges, which are available for USD$50 or less from a selection of very cool colors. They're called "EZ Load Cartridges", obviously. 
• WiFi capability to send print jobs to the device without having to get out of your chair. We like anything that keeps us in our chairs. You can also use the included USB stick if you need the exercise, however.
• A tube of glue to assemble multi-part prints. It's a small thing, but we think this is the only personal 3D printer that includes glue.
• They even include "25 Free Creations", which we suspect are digital files from Freedom of Creation that you can quickly print on your Cube. 

 

It sounds like a terrific entry-level 3D printer for less technically-inclined consumers. We'll find out for sure when the sales figures come in. 

 

Via 3D Systems

The ZPrinter 850 is Announced

3D Systems and their recent acquisition, ZCorp, announced the availability of their most gigantic 3D printer yet, the ZPrinter 850. The 850 is capable of 3D printing large objects in full color using its powder-based printing approach. 

 

This beast is similar to the smaller model 650, but with a larger build area. The new model can build up to 20 x 15 x 9 inches (508 x 381 x 229 mm), quite an increase over the 650's 10 x 15 x 8 inches (254 x 381 x 203 mm). That's a 2.25x increase in volume, according to our calculations. 

 

While most of the other specs are similar to the 650, including 390K colors using 5 heads, 600x540 dpi resolution, a layer thickness of 0.089 - 0.102mm and minimum feature size of 0.1mm, there are some differences. The vertical build speed is actually somewhat less on the 850, which is no doubt due to the massively larger build envelope - there's much more to get done. Strangely, although the 850 has more than double the build envelope it's actually physically smaller: 47 x 46 x 68 inches (119 x 116 x 162 cm) vs. the 650's 74 x 29 x 57 inches (188 x 74 x 145 cm). Another difference is a new requirement for Shop Air, presumably for cleaning finished items. 

 

The main feature seems to be the massively larger build area, which should provide much convenience for architects and others needing to produce very large models. 

 

No word on pricing yet. 

  

Via ZCorp

That Cubify Van

To promote their new Cube 3D printer and Cubify 3D printing community, 3D Systems has a tricked out van shuttling around the USA. The van is equipped with Cube 3D printers and evidently a ton of 3D models, too, as they're printing stuff at every stop. They've started in the western USA and are more or less proceeding east. It's possible to follow their activities by checking the Cubify blog (tag Cube Odyssey) for location updates. 

 

What we found interesting (beyond the 3D printing of course) was the van itself. This is a wonder of art and paint, as you can see in the image above. The paint over was created by noted artist Jeremy Madl of MAD Toy Design. There's no way you wouldn't notice this vehicle cruising down your street. 

 

But what kind of vehicle is it? 

 

A Nissan Cube, of course. 

 

Via Cubify Blog

3D Systems Added to S&P SmallCap 600 Index

Standard and Poors have added 3D Systems to their SmallCap 600 index. The index is a basket of (surprise) 600 companies whose aggregated stock prices offer insight into medium-sized company performance. 3D Systems was able to be added after one of the existing companies, Taleo, was acquired by Oracle (making it definitely not a Small Cap instrument). 

 

We think this is an important development because of two things: first, it confirms that 3D Systems, a company dedicated to 3D printing, is large enough to be considered for this influential list. Secondly, it also means the 3D printing industry is seen as a valid and important concept in business. Those can only be good for all 3D printing companies. 

 

Via S&P

3D Systems Picks Up Robots, And More

Industry giant 3D Systems has made another acquisition, and this one appears to be a little different than previous purchases. They've acquired specialty 3D print service MyRobotNation, whom we've written about in the past. MyRobotNation's specialty is, well, robots. Personalized robots. 

 

The service provides users with a very easy to use (and fun) interface to quickly design your own robot. Press the final button and they produce your custom 3D printed robot and it shows up in your mailbox shortly thereafter. 

 

The service was clearly a success, as they've now attracted the attention - and pocketbook - of 3D Systems. 

 

How is this acquisition different? 3D Systems didn't just buy them for the robots. They bought their expertise in producing a high-quality end-user design experience. It's a perfect addition to the company's Cubify online repository of 3D models. Now (theoretically) some Cubify models could be customized in a manner similar to MyRobotNation, making Cubify much more interesting. 

 

We'll be watching for changes inevitably coming in Cubify that incorporate the new approach. 

 

Via 3D Systems (Hat tip to Franky)

The Cube on CNN

Big media coverage for 3D Systems this week: 3D Systems CEO Abe Reichental appeared on CNN to demonstrated their new USD$1300 "Cube" personal 3D printer. Reichental explained the basics of 3D printing to the audience and said that although 3D printing has been around for decades for industrial applications, 3D Systems is now "democratizing" the technology by bringing it into the home, which may eventually lead to increased home manufacturing instead of offshore manufacturing. 

 

Reichental also produced a small model of CNN host Randi Kaye's head, produced in "less than an hour" in full color using an iPhone app and one of their ZCorp color 3D printers. That part, color 3D printing, isn't being brought into the home. Not yet, anyway.

 

Reichental described 3D Systems' new "Cube Odyssey", where they'll be traveling to 25 cities across the USA to demonstrate the Cube personal 3D printer and show off examples of 3D printed objects. This should be a terrific opportunity for those interested in 3D printing but have never seen one up close. Check the link below for a full list of cities on the Odyssey schedule. 

 

Via CNN Video and Cubify

3D Systems' 2011 Financial Results

3D Printing industry leader 3D Systems recently announced their year-end financial results for 2011. We wondered how the incorporation of their many newly acquired companies affected their results. 

 

Overall it seems that the acquisitions have assisted 3D Systems in raising their results. Here's the highlights as we saw them: 

 

• Full year revenue increased 44% over 2010
• The number of printer units increased much more, some 190%. Why hasn't the revenue gone up similarly? We think because they are selling many more lower-cost personal 3D printer units
• Total income of USD$35.4 million for 2011. This is massively larger than all of the personal 3D printer startups we've seen, indicating the difficulty of competing against 3D Systems
• Some "drag" occurred during 4Q11 from corporate acquisition costs
• Amazingly, some USD$3.6M was spent developing the Cubify.com initiative

 

Huge results that can only grow this year as their acquisition continue to be consolidated and the market expands. 

 

Via 3D Systems