Apparently in Q4 of 2009, they'll release the new function, while they are searching for beta testers today. According to their blog announcement:

You could call it Digitalmake – an online Ponoko account designed especially for owners of digital making technology (eg, laser cutters, CNCs, 3D printers).

Digitalmake springs from our desire to create a digital making network that enables products to be made as close to the point of consumption as possible.

With Digitalmake you can manage and download product designs and materials for digital making. You can also offer your fabricator to Ponoko users (and get pre-paid jobs).

They've also got a survey up that asks the basic questions such as:

• If you own a fabricator to make money from it, what are the most important things this online account NEEDS to provide to you?
• If you own a fabricator for personal use, what are the most important things this online account NEEDS to provide to you?

and most importantly,

• Would you like to be a beta tester?

We agree with Ponoko that this will be an incredibly big development. It may be in response to their recent capacity issues, but evidently has been in development for two years. Perhaps they anticipated the growth demand and determined it would be best to spread the work out as much as possible?

Their vision is truly important. Imagine a future scenario where Ponoko acts as a centralized repository of models, both commercial and free. Across the world, anyone who owns a 3D printer (or CNC machine, Laser Cutter, etc.) simply creates a Ponoko account and has immediate access to that repository, presumably with easy to use interfaces. While the high-end 3D printers usually have a crew of designers directly associated with them developing models (think architecture professionals or a manufacturing plant), the low-end devices might not.

Until Q4. At that time, every device will have quick access to a massive repository of high-quality models. Should the MakerBot guys include a Ponoko coupon in their printer kits? We suspect there will be a large uptick in Ponoko business in 2010.

Good luck, Ponoko!

Via Ponoko Blog

Stratasys, makers of the Dimension line of 3D printers, recently released their 3rd Quarter 2008 financial results. Surprisingly the company produced "record third quarter revenue", some 16% higher than the previous year. Their income also increased 15% year over year.

Now, we don't know how you feel, but it seems to us that there is a teeny problem in the world economy lately, causing some companies to suffer lower revenues, or in some cases the companies are actually disappearing altogether!

Stratasys's results seem to indicate that there is indeed very high interest in 3D printing technology in spite of the swirling economic peril around us. One wonders where this space will be when the economy does recover.

Via MarketWatch

Remember mcor technologies? They are the folks building a 3D printer that uses plain old ordinary paper as its media. In fact, the printer is beyond development - they launched it two weeks ago at the TCT Exhibition in Coventry, UK.

According to their press release:

The Mcor Matrix is the only 3D printer in the world that can use ordinary/used A4 paper to make 3D objects. This key technology breakthrough shatters the industry’s cost barrier to universal access to 3D printing. Infact, the operating costs of using the Mcor Matrix is up to 50 times less expensive than competitors’ current technologies.

Mcor CEO, Dr Conor MacCormack believes a lower total cost of ownership will expand the market further and accelerate adoption into smaller companies in the area of engineering, design, and architecture and will reach out to every student in these disciplines. "Right now 3D printers are jewels not tool," he says. The matrix will put multiple parts into multiple hands.

Models straight out of the Mcor Matrix have the appearance of a wood-carving and are – tough, durable and eco-friendly TM. The final models can be treated to give them a smooth, shiny finish and increases the life of the part, making it even more durable.

and

The Mcor Matrix is now available direct in Ireland and the UK and it is expected to be rolled out globally in 2009.

We think this is a wonderful concept that can get over the problem of expensive and difficult-to-find media that are often used by other 3D printers.

Via mcor technologies

Z Corp announced a special arrangement with Bentley, makers of various products related to building, construction and architecture. Bentley's software is used by a majority of such firms, and the deal is to ensure smooth use of Z Corp's 3D printers from Bentley's software.

We have two observations on this development:

• Z Corp is making a move to get closer to a major market. It's a good move, we think. But does it mean they will be focusing on the high-end market, rather than the low end?
• The frail links between users and 3D printers are slowly tightening. In a world where we all take for granted the ease in which 2D documents are produced, we still have a gap in the 3D space.

Via Z Corp and Bentley

Fabbaloo received several notices of a press release from Stratasys in which they announced they have:

given over $400,000 to schools across the nation to underwrite the purchase of 3D printing systems for the 2008-09 school year. More than 40 schools received the $10,000 grants

Stratasys's program emphasizes providing 3D equipment to schools and students who otherwise would not be able to make use of this advanced technology.

We strongly support this endeavor, and hope that other vendors in the 3D space would consider doing similar programs.

Via YahooBiz

One of the most popular makers of 3D Printers, ZCorp is expanding. They've announced two developments:

• A new Vice President of Global Sales
• A new Director of Business Development

In addition, their press release reveals they have added 22 more staff since January, and now comprise 161 staff in total.

Analysis: 3D Printing continues to roll forward as a rapidly growing technology area. Just watch what happens in 5 years.

Via MCADCafe

In spite of the lousy economic situation, Stratasys has managed to pull off very good results for the first quarter of the year. Manufacturers of the Dimension line of 3D printers, Dimension set records for revenue and unit sales. According to their press release, some 577 units were shipped in 1Q08, and revenue rose to exceed USD$30M. From the release:

Revenues rose to $30.7 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008 over the $27.3 million reported for the same period in 2007. Revenue from proprietary products and services increased by 16% over the same period last year. System shipments totaled a record 577 units for the first quarter of 2008, the highest quarterly unit shipments in the company’s history.

What does this mean? If the 3D industry is doing well in the current flat economy, we can only speculate that those who know this technology are leaning hard on it as a way to leverage investment in the 21st century.

Via BusinessWeek

Dimension 3D Printing Group (a unit of Stratasys) has made available two new 3D Printers:

• 1200es BST ($26,000)
• 1200es SST ($34,900)

The two key highlights of the 1200es series:

• A relatively large 10x10x12 inch build chamber (254 x 254 x 305 mm). (For comparison, the DesktopFactory 125ci has a 5x5x5 build chamber)
• A special print media - ABSPlus, which is claimed to be some 40% stronger than their previous media. Obviously, your objects will be quite a bit more robust with this media.

Nope, this isn't quite for home use, unless you have a bit more space on your workbench than we at Fabbaloo do! However, it is very appropriate for 3D Print services, where the 1200es devices could easily be used by anyone.

Via BusinessWire.com and DimensionPrinting