3D Printing Buzz Increases

With the close of the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show it seems like a good time to check the buzz level of 3D printing, which we suspect is higher than its ever been. By using Google Trends, a free tool that shows the frequency of search terms used on the omnipresent search engine, we can see whether people are becoming more interested in the topic. 

 

The search we made includes keywords "3D printing", "MakerBot", "3D Systems" and the new "Cubify". The results are quite clear - a massive jump in search interest. MakerBot leads in searches, but the new Cubify is off to a huge start as well. 

 

One more clue to the growing popularity of 3D printing: there's now a cartoon on a popular site related to it. CNET's weekly Low Latency comic features two guys at CES discussing a 3D printer, which looks suspiciously like a Cube. 

 

Via CNET and Google Trends

CNET Names MakerBot's Replicator Best of CES

CES has now closed and the media now reports on their observations. CNET produced a list of their "best 10 of CES". On the list was the MakerBot Replicator personal 3D printer, winner of the "Best emerging tech product" category. Why the MakerBot instead of its competitor the 3D Systems Cube? According to CNET:

 

We saw two promising 3D printers at the show, but the the MakerBot Replicator one-ups the rival Cube 3D with "dualstrusion" technology, meaning it can print objects in multiple colors and materials. 

 

True, but we think there are a lot more considerations than just that. Nevertheless, the Replicator is a great representative of 3D printing tech to show alongside of CNET's other choices, which include car tech, cell phone, camera, home theatre, computer, software, networking, tablet and TV. It seems 3D printing is moving towards becoming one of those permanent, well-known categories. That can only be good - and congratulations to MakerBot! 

 

Via CNET

3D Print Time, Size and Accuracy

With the announcement of MakerBot's giant Replicator 3D printer, we're now entering a stage where most personal 3D printers have a significantly large build envelope, typically around 200mm wide by 200mm deep by 150+mm tall. This means we can print big things! But should we? 

 

Sure you can print something "twice as large", but what does that mean? Usually it means printing the a 120mm cube instead of a 60mm cube. In other words, when we say "twice as big", it usually means one of the axes has double length. 

 

This leads to a big issue that owners of large-sized personal 3D printers must face: print time. When you "double the size" of something you must consider that the actual object volume goes up twice x twice x twice = eight times the volume. This often means a print time of up to eight times as long! So your 47 minute print suddenly becomes six hours and sixteen minutes! 

 

But wait, it gets a lot worse. Everyone prefers higher resolution prints because they're visually more appealing with their smoother finish. The same equation results when you double the resolution: if you're printing at 0.5mm resolution and change it to 0.25mm resolution you've just created (more or less) eight times as much work to do! So even at the same physical size, a higher resolution print can take much longer. 

 

The situation is worst when you double the size of an object and also double the resolution: a theoretical 64 times longer to print. Of course these numbers are simply theoretical as the actual print time depends on a variety of factors, not the least of which is the number of shells, the complexity of the geometry and the fill density and pattern. Maybe it means we'll all be printing things overnight instead of while you wait. 

 

Nevertheless, the moral of the story is to carefully consider your print time when you get your brand new giant 3D printer. 

MakerBot Announces The Replicator

We anticipated some announcement action this week coinciding with the annual Consumer Electronics show and we were definitely not disappointed. Today we find 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot has announced a brand-new personal 3D printer: The Replicator!

 

The replicator appears to be much more capable but also strongly based upon its predecessor the venerable Thing-O-Matic. This is MakerBot's normal process: deliver a great machine and then perform experiments to make it better. Then bundle up all those improvements into an optimized new model. That's what we see today: a machine incorporating a variety of such improvements.  

 

The Replicator prints in ABS or PLA, like its predecessors, but here are the highlights from our view: 

 

• It's Waaaaaay bigger! The new device's build envelope is a whopping 3 times bigger (by volume) than the Thing-O-Matic and brings MakerBot in line with many recently announced RepRap derivatives. You can now build up to 225x145x150mm or 8.9x5.7x5.9 inches
• A dual extruder option is available for (the still experimental) multicolor or support material printing
• Replicator includes the new MakerBot Stepstruder™ MK8, which uses 1.75mm filament
• It's fully assembled - and we see no evidence for a kit option, at least at this time
• A new control panel on the front of the machine lets you know exactly what's happening without requiring an attached computer - great for those very long prints
• Linear ball bearing mechanicals for smoother, more accurate operation
• It includes a buzzer, likely for notification of print completion - very handy!
• LED lighting is included, something most 3D printers eventually gain as an add-on since everyone loves to watch 3D printing action
• You can initiate a print from your computer via USB or from an SD card using the new front panel

 

The pricing is higher than the Thing-O-Matic kit, but less than the assembled Thing-O-Matic: USD$1749 for the single extruder version and USD$1999 for a dual extruder model. Which one should you get? We don't know your budget, but we'd strongly recommend the dual extruder since it permits printing support material - and especially using a different plastic for your raft. Regardless, you'll wait at least six weeks for yours to arrive as that's the current lead time. Expect this to grow as orders flood in. 

  

One more thought: does this assembled-only version signify that MakerBot is switching market focus, from hobby kit-makers to more of the general public who can't handle complex machine assembly?

 

Via MakerBot and YouTube

MakerBot Reaches Retail

New York City-based retailer AC Gears now sells MakerBot's Thing-O-Matic personal 3D printer, in another step by growing Brooklyn-based manufacturer MakerBot's strategy to get more MakerBots in the hands of more people. 

 

AC Gears is "New York's Gadget Emporium", selling a quite amazing selection of cool stuff such as a Breath Tester, LED lantern or Solar backpacks. The Thing-O-Matic joins this list as of December 2011 in both AC Gears' physical store on E 8th Avenue in NYC as well as their online store. At the NYC store they've been using a MakerBot to produce objects for shoppers to take a close look at during their shopping excursion. 

 

Is this a good strategy? We think so, as our mentors used to say, "have as many people selling your product as possible!" 

 

Via AC Gears

Dozens of MakerBot Jobs!

Popular 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot is hiring. And boy, are they ever! A recent check of their jobs list revealed a startling number of required positions in wildly different roles. It's almost as if MakerBot suddenly gained a ton of money and started recruiting for every job they felt they needed. But then, that's exactly what happened - we now know how MakerBot is using that massive USD$10M investment they received earlier this year. 

 

So you'd like to apply? Here are is rather impressive list of roles we saw on their site:

 

• 3D Modeler
• writerbot
• designerbot
• Workshop Tech
• Marketing Department Intern
• Assistant for MakerBot TV (Part-time)
• printerbot intern
• C++/Java Software Engineer
• Web Developer
• Project Manager
• 3D Design Rapid Prototyper
• docbot
• qualitybot
• Head of Sales
• salesbot
• bizdevbot
• Support Secret Agent
• Head of Operations
• Staff Accountant
• Purchasing Agent
• netadminbot
• Productors!
• Executive Administrator
• adminbot
• researchbot

 

With all these ultracool job names, they've obviously already hired someone for the titlebot position. 

 

Via MakerBot

MakerBot's Christmas Strategy

Retailers must plan around the holiday season. In fact, for some retailers that season is the "make or break" portion of the year's revenue. Like any good retailer, MakerBot is doing the same by offering their 3D printers at a number of New York City shops, including AC Gears, Wired, GizModo Gallery and the New Museum Store. 

 

But hold on a moment - MakerBot isn't a retailer; they are a manufacturer. 

 

Does this imply a strategic shift? Probably not, we think. MakerBot previously experimented with retail operations by offering kits for sale at their Brooklyn Botcave last year at this time. This latest move just extends that concept. None of the retailers mentioned are large chains, which would be difficult to supply given MakerBot's limited manufacturing capabilities. However, steps are meant to take you somewhere and we suspect we'll see a lot more of this from MakerBot in the future. Where will we find the Thing-O-Matic for sale during Christmas season 2012?

 

Via MakerBot

Sugru Available At MakerBot

You may not have heard of Sugru, but it's an amazingly useful material now for sale at the MakerBot online store. It's not something you use in your 3D printer, but it definitely adds a lot to 3D printing. But first, what exactly is it? 

 

It's a secretly formulated air-curing rubber compound sold in small 5g packets. Made in the UK by some brilliant entrepreneurs (be sure to read their amazing tale here), this stuff is moldable by hand for about 30 minutes. During those 30 minutes it can be manually affixed more or less permanently to almost any surface. After 24 hours it has completely cured - but it's still flexible. That's right - it "hardens" into flexible form. How can this mysterious substance be of any use to a 3D printer operator? Let's look at some ideas:

 

• Print two or more parts in plastic, then use Sugru to join them together
• Make a flexible hinge for moving parts in your project
• Create colourful grips for handles that precisely match your fingers
• Place some shock-absorbing feet on your object
• Print a mold and press Sugru into it to create a precisely shaped flexible object
• Build something out of Sugru but use 3D printed parts as a skeleton for support

 

And we're certain there are many more imaginative ideas possible with Sugru.

 

The news today is that this substance is now very conveniently available at the MakerBot online store. They're selling 12x5g packs both color and black & white packets for USD$18 and USD$20 respectively. Of course, you could have obtained Sugru directly from their online store, but shipping could have been difficult from the UK to North American locations. 

 

How will you Sugru?

 

Via MakerBot and Sugru