Aureus!

 

envisiontec's latest 3D printer is the Aureus, announced in March of this year. The desktop 3D printer (although we're never certain whether "desktop 3d printers" could actually sit on a desk, this one included since we don't know the device's weight) offers some interesting features:

• A built-in PC permits offloading some processing to the device, freeing up your main PC
• Special software permits remote monitoring and control
• Between 3-7 mm per hour build time
• 35 μm vertical thickness resolution
• Relatively small build chamber of 60 x 45 x 100 mm
• Several features to ensure reliability
• "Post-processing is clean and simple due to near 100 % photo cure 
• during the building process"
• And of course, low cost

Via envisonTEC and JCKOnline

The Objet Connex350

 

Today Objet announces their newest printer, the Connex350, joining the Connex500 in Objet's flagship product line. Like the earlier Connex500, the new Connex350 has the unique ability to print with multiple materials, and we don't mean that you stop the print, change the cartridges and resume printing with that other squishy material. No, these devices actually hold several cartridges of different materials and can deposit them all during a single print operation.

How do they do this? Both devices have eight print heads and four sealed 3.6kg cartridges, into which you can load a variety of different materials. and continuously run for a very long time.

But what about the new Connex350? We don't see major differences between this unit and the older Connex500, except for one major factor: the build chamber is somewhat smaller on the Connex350. Where the Connex500 has a 500x400x200mm chamber, the Connex350's is 350x350x200mm. That's about 40% less volume, but otherwise the devices are quite similar.

That's still quite a large build chamber compared to other units, and the added ability to print multiple materials simultaneously is tremendous. Consider the effect on productivity: if you were printing with single materials, you'd have to not only withstand multiple lengthy print runs, you'd also spend time assembling all the pieces. With the Connex500 and now the Connex350, you can print out many kinds of objects to a completed state in a single print run.

No word on pricing, yet, but we're expecting pricing to be less than that of the larger Connex500.

Via Objet

Get Your Own Evil CandyFab?

 

Quite a while ago Fabbaloo reported on the CandyFab 4000, an ingenious prototype 3D printer that used common sugar as the build media. The device uses the familiar X-Y-Z inkjet-style motion, but instead of depositing the media it simply heats a successive layers of powdered sugar to its melting point and fuses it into a solid shape.

But the really interesting part is that the calorie-laden printed objects are in fact edible! One can only imagine the amazing items emerging from gourmet dessert kitchens once these things are widely available. 3D software training for chefs? Would Gordon Ramsay scream at the printer?

But then:

Evil Mad Science plans to announce the availability of CandyFab kits sometime in the summer or fall of 2009.

And a comment on the Thingverse by Evil Mad Scientist Windell Oskay says:

Yes, there will be kits.

Won’t quite be as inexpensive as the Cupcake CNC. It’s a more complex machine, supporting a deep, heavy bed of material and a build volume ten times as large. Still, we’ll do what we can. :)

The CandyFab 6000 is still being developed, but here are the highlights:

• New mechanical parts, and no requirement to re-use old printer components
• Upgraded sofware: the cross-platform CandyFabulous
  
• Build volume of 10 Liters
• Layer thickness of 0.067 inches
• One Arduino board per axis
• Food-safe sugar containment
• Laser-cut casing
• Highly expandable

These are just the preliminary specifications, as "There's plenty of room for improvement, and finally we have a machine that can be improved."

As the Evil Mad Scientist says, "it's looking sweet."

Via Evil Mad Scientist, CandyFab wiki and Thingiverse (hat tip to Thomas Amberg, once again!)

Another Sub-$10K 3D Printer

 

This one is from Solido, whose new entry into the market is the SD300 Pro 3D Printer, and it looks very attractive. Highlights:

• Includes SD View, a 3D modeling system and controller that directly integrates with the printer and can even monitor consumables status during prints
• SD View can import .STL files from any other modeling system
• Print media is a PVC / adhesive combination
• Model output is "rugged" and "can be machined, drilled, finished and painted and show no distortion over time"
• Material is sold in 7.5Kg kits (a roll sheet of PVC, Adhesive cartridge and a release agent)
• Colors available are: slightly amber-tinted transparent, Red, Blue, Black and "Cream"
• Layer thickness is 0.168mm
• Build chamber is a moderate 160 x 210 x 135 mm
• Weight with cartridges installed (45Kg)
• Sound pollution: only 65db!
• Windows only, sigh

This one looks like a great start for a new product.

Via Solido and TCT Magazine (Hat tip to Ofer Segali)

V-Flashed

 

Quite a while ago we wrote on 3D Systems's upcoming V-Flash Desktop 3D printer. At the time it was only in Beta, but now it's available for purchase by anyone. According to 3D Systems's press release:

• It's the very first commercial 3D Printer priced at less than USD$10,000 (actually it's USD$9,900, we're told)
• Produces hard-plastic models
• Compact size and quiet operation - it actually will fit on a desk, almost. 26x27 (660x685mm) inches and 146lbs (66Kg) (we're checking our desk's legs now)
• "Exceptional fine-feature details"
• One-year warranty

3D Systems has a companion service for V-flash modeling support at Modelin3d.com. From there you can find a reseller and get started.

Via 3D Systems

The Early Angle on Growth

Martin Stevens, CEO of A1 Technologies (makers of the Rap-Man we covered recently) dropped us a line to follow up on our post regarding the growth of the 3D printing market. Stevens says:

... we have been amazed on the response from industrial organisations.  We have taken orders from large corporations, which are interested in the technology.  We have shipped to small companies that have never used 3D printing before because it was too expensive.  We are also supplying companies that use bureau services but have no in-house facility, and want to use the RapMan for early stage prototyping.

This is a very intriguing development, because it shows where the growth is:

• In low costs 3D tech
• From companies who have not used 3D tech before

This is great news for the industry in general, because it promotes new entries to the printer space with innovative and low-cost products, and generally widens the market. When the economy recovers, you'll have many more companies familiar with the technology who will no doubt buy better printers developed by the smaller manufacturers with their growing revenue, or move up to the large-scale full-on 3D printers.

New ULTRA 3D Printer

 

EnvisionTEC has announced their new ULTRA 3D printer, to be shown publicly today at the RAPID conference. According to the press release, the key features are:

• X & Y resolution 80 microns with ERM module(0.0032 in)
• Z-resolution adjustable from to 20 to 100 microns (0.0007 to 0.004 in)
• Build speed 0.5 in/hr (12.7 mm) at 100 microns  Voxel depth for the full build envelope
• Wide material choice, from ABS- and polypropylene-like to wax-based materials for investment casting
• Extremely smooth surface finishes
• Office-friendly, low power requirements and plug and play operation
• Built with proven high-reliability DLP technology

We like the reasonably large build chamber (10x7.5x8 inches).

No word on price yet, other than whispers of it being "very competitive".

Via TCT Magazine and EnvisionTEC

Purple Crayon

 

Today's discovery is Purple Crayon, a startup company intending on producing an inexpensive consumer-oriented 3D printer. And that's not all:

An old school garage style startup, Purple Crayon is a new company dedicated to developing and selling consumer personal fabrication technologies. At its core the idea of personal fabrication is to provide anyone the ability to “make stuff” regardless of skills or knowledge. The idea is similar to modern desktop printers, which make it possible for anyone to produce high quality printed material with absolutely no idea how the printer works. Personal fabrication technologies will have an impact on the same scale of the industrial revolution – enabling anyone with a vision to build it, or share with others to build or modify a version of their own.

Purple Crayon intends on producing an entire line of related products that would enable consumers to create a variety of object types. They envision scanners, milling machines and printers that are inexpensive and easy to use. And they'll be quiet, too.

They're not shipping a 3D printer yet; in fact, at this time they are only beta-testing a 3-axis positioning system, code-named "Cassius". This platform could be used to become a CNC mill or even a 3D printer in the future. They expect to be shipping a Cassius kit in June 2009. Watch for it!

Via Purple Crayon