MakerBot announced the availability of “natural” colored filament. A minor announcement perhaps, but there’s more to the story.
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Controversy at Robox?
Readers have contacted Fabbaloo to make us aware of their concerns with the Robox Kickstarter campaign. We tried to find out what’s really going on.
Kobrin’s 3D Printed Sunglasses
We’ve been contacted by an Italian-Brazilian startup that’s producing 3D printed sunglasses.
Something New Coming from Fabbaloo
We’ve been quite busy in the Fabbaloo lab creating something new that we hope to release this weekend.
Make Certain Your 3D Model’s Bottom is Flat
If it hasn’t happened to you yet, it will in the future: prints with not-quite flat bottoms.
3D Printing Dinners
No, no, no! We are not talking about 3D printed food! We are talking about 3D printing dinners, though.
The Challenges of Self-Made 3D Printer Filament
3D Hubs has been doing some experiments with their Filabot to prepare their own printer filament.
The FLEKS3D Build Plate Avoids Blue Tape Carnage
Another flexible build plate accessory has launched on Kickstarter: FLEKS3D.
An Unreleased LulzBot 3D Printer?
We’re checking out an opensource design for an apparently unreleased 3D printer from LulzBot: the Begonia.
Make Your PLA 3D Prints Stick
We’re written about the perils of ABS plastic warping and not sticking to your print surface, but what about PLA? Are there solutions? Is it even a problem?
Fraemes App Expands MakerBot’s Ecosystem
MakerBot announced a new app for their 3D content generation family: Fraemes.
3D Systems’ Digital Thread Enhances U.S. Marine Corps Combat and Logistic Units’ Toolkit
3D Systems has announced its role in the US Marine Corps Expeditionary Logistics Wargame VIII (ExLog).
Verbatim Makes 3D Printer Filament?
Who knew? The venerable analog media giant now markets their own 3D printer filament.
3D Printing Simplifies Manufacturing In Ways You Didn’t Realize
We found an unusual method of leveraging 3D printing technology to simplify the process of manufacturing: Through RFPs.
Design of the Week: 3D Printed Picnic
This week’s selection is the 3D Printed Picnic by INC Architecture and Design.
3D Printing Really Does Change Manufacturing
An interview with David Patrick of Shark Wheel dramatically shows in how 3D printing has utterly changed manufacturing.
The ICE1 and ICE9 SLS 3D Printers
A new company hopes to launch the first affordable SLS-based 3D printers.
YouMagine Takes On a Big Challenge
The folks at YouMagine, Ultimaker’s online repository of downloadable 3D objects, have begun development of a new open source license for 3D printed items. They need your help.
Historic Windmills Brought Back to Life with 3D Printing
The American Wind Power Center (AWPC) has partnered with WhiteClouds to create scale models of historic windmills using computer aided design and 3D printing.
The 3D4C CYMK Color 3D Printer
We’re looking at the launch information for a new color 3D printer, the 3D4C.
Hyve-3D’s Unique Interface
A new method of 3D sketching has been developed: Hyve-3D.
A 3D Printed Elephant Helps Save Elephants
A rather unusual project hopes to raise awareness of elephant mistreatment through 3D printing.
The Three Laws of 3D Printing
Years ago Isaac Asimov developed the “Three Laws of Robotics” to govern the behavior of robots. Do we need something similar for 3D printing?
LulzBot Sneaks out a 3D Printer Kit
Bucking the recent industry trend of shipping only assembled 3D printers, TAZ 4 manufacturer LulzBot announced a 3D printer kit.
Afinia Releases an eBook
Most 3D printer manufacturers release, well, 3D printers. But Afinia is bucking the trend by releasing their own eBook.
LittleRP Sells Out
No, LittleRP hasn’t been bought out by the corporates. Instead they’ve sold out their Kickstarter campaign.
3D Printed Hydroponics – For Free!
The folks at 3DPrintler Labs have provided a gift to urban dwellers worldwide: free 3D printed hydroponics components.
3D Design By Example
Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab have developed a new twist on 3D design by creating “Fab By Example”.
The Candy 3D Printer Launches This Week
We’re looking at the pre-launch information for a new chocolate 3D printer, the Candy.
The Eight Fundamental 3D Printing Prep Functions
3D printing a model is often not as simple as just hitting the “print” button. There are several operations you may need to do to your model before hitting that button.
Shapeways Introduces A New Full-Color 3D Printing Option
The folks at Shapeways have been shopping. Their purchase: a new 3D Systems ProJet 4500, capable of full color 3D printing.
The Biomimicry Approach
A graduation project illustrates the future of 3D printed structures.
Design of the Week: Clay Sculpture
This week’s selection is the anonymous “clay sculpture” found in the 123D Gallery.
Vote for Your Favs at the 3D Printshow Global Awards
In only a couple of weeks the winners will be awarded at the 3D Printshow Global Awards. Here’s how you can participate.
To Stick or Not To Stick; That is the 3D Printing Question
Recently we’ve seen multiple solutions to help 3D printer owners operate their machines. But is this really the right answer?
Canada’s Burloak Tech Goes Long on Metal AM Investment
Burloak Engineered Solutions Inc. has announced that it is embarking upon a new 5 year strategic plan which will see the company invest $11.5 million into establishing Canada’s first full production additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing center.
3D Printer Crowdfunding Suicide?
Daniel Brown created a very detailed analysis of crowdfunded 3D printer startups on his blog, 3D Prototypes and Models.
Research May Lead to a Molecular-Level 3D Printer
Researchers are attempting to develop a machine that can produce arbitrary organic molecules – on demand.
The Blacksmith Genesis 3D Printer
We’re checking out the details on a new personal 3D printer that uses a very unusual approach we haven’t seen before.
The Da Vinci 3D Printer is Leading?
Something interesting showed up in 3D Hubs’ monthly trends report: XYZ Printing’s Da Vinci 3D printer is trending.
MeshMixer’s Very Cool Updates
It’s becoming a big favorite around our lab and it just got even better: MeshMixer 2.5 offers some very interesting new features.
Airwolf 3D’s AW3D HDL 3D Printer
Airwolf 3D has been busy. Today they announced a brand new, lower cost 3D printer, the AW3D HDL.
CobbleBot Controversy?
A minor controversy erupted in the CobbleBot forums this past week after the project apparently cancelled all USD$1 pledges.
Stratasys Patent Claims Against Afinia Dropped, Partially
The outcome is beginning to appear in the patent infringement case Stratasys brought against personal 3D printer marketer Afinia.
MakerBot Shuts Down Its Google Group
MakerBot is converting its Google Group into an archive and focusing support efforts on their in-house programs instead.
Research Done, But No 3D Chop Yet
Following up on our piece about the 3DPrintTech free utility for segmenting large 3D models for printing, we found something.
Made With Code’s 3D Printed Bracelet
Google’s Made with Code site took a step into the world of 3D printing with a simple bracelet generator.
Design of the Week: Cash
This week’s selection is “Cash” by Scott Frank.
Gartner’s Hype Cycle Positions 3D Printing
Gartner’s annual technology Hype Cycle chart has been released, and it shows 3D printing in two positions.
3D Systems’ 1H14 Financial Results
3D printing titan 3D Systems announced their first half of 2014 financial results. Let’s dissect the numbers and see what we can find.
What’s With Remote Control 3D Printers, Anyway?
Several manufacturers have recently added various remote control features to their personal 3D printer products. Are they really useful?
It’s Time for Local 3D Printer Materials
An Irish company hopes to overcome the bane of 3D printer material purchasing: Shipping Costs.
Reusable HDPE Material Introduced by Diamond Plastics
Germany’s Diamond Plastics GmbH, has introduced a new, reusable plastic powder of laser sintering.
How to 3D Print in Metal – At Home!
Extraordinary 3D printing experimenter Cosmo Wenman has come up with a feasible technique for producing metal objects using a personal 3D printer.
Drop By And See Us at London’s 3D Printshow 2014
It’s the 2014 London 3D Printshow. And we’re going. Are you?
BEECONNECT Announced
BEEVERYCREATIVE announced a new add-on to their BEETHEFIRST personal 3D printer: BEECONNECT.
New Solidoodles!
In a sudden announcement, Solidoodle has completely revamped their line of personal 3D printers.
“Green” 3D Printer Filament?
We’re looking at a new proprietary 3D printer filament from Avante Technology that could qualify as “Green”. And we’re not talking about the color.
Uncia Improves Their DLP 3D Printer
Uncia has launched a new version of their resin-based 3D DLP printer.
How Much 3D Printer Filament Do You Need?
There’s a slight trend emerging in the 3D printer filament market: volume shipments.
MetalTree’s Large Delta 3D Printer
An Australian company hopes to launch a new delta 3D printer this month.
i3DConverter: Save in Almost Any 3D Format
We’re checking out a 3D utility program that converts 3D files into different formats.
Design of the Week: Crybaby Shoes
This week’s selection is “Crybaby” 3D printed shoes by artist Sebastian Errazuriz.
MadeSolid’s Really Tough 3D Printer Resin
MadeSolid announced a new material, the “Tough Resin” for 3D printers using resin technology.
MakerBot’s European Wing
MakerBot announced they’ve created “MakerBot Europe”, which they say is a “major expansion”.
What’s MatterFab Developing?
Startup company MatterFab is said to be developing a new kind of 3D metal printer. We spoke with CEO Matt Burris to find out more.
3D Printing… With Potatoes?
People have been experimenting with a filament made from solanyl. It’s a biopolymer that’s made from potato skin?
Sculptify’s David 3D Printer Launch
A couple of months ago we wrote of Sculptify’s new plastic pellet-fueled personal 3D printer, the “David”. Now that it’s launched, we checked to see how well it’s doing.
Researchers Develop Method for 3D Printing Gradient Alloys
Industrial 3D printers have long been able to print metal objects, using a variety of techniques, but now researchers from NASA, California Institute of Technology and Penn State are working on printing “gradient alloys”.
Making, 3D Printing a Part of Egypt’s Change
It was another testy day in the post-revolution Cairo of 2012, with protestors and police crowding streets that threatened to erupt into violence.
US Army To 3D Print Warheads
Motherboard reports the US army has been investigating use of 3D printing to optimize warhead design.
University of Connecticut Makes 3D Scanning Breakthrough
Researchers at UConn have developed a new technique for 3D scanning antique musical instruments.
Dark Days for Small 3D Printer Manufacturers
Recently we’ve observed several ultra-low cost 3D printer startups disappear from the landscape. It seems the market is finding the true cost of 3D printing.
The Miracle of 3D Printing: Holding Your Thoughts
We’re watching a video showing the effect 3D printing can have on schoolchildren.
3DPrintTech Automatically Chops Up 3D Models
Have you ever wanted to 3D print an object that’s larger than your printer’s build volume? There’s a plugin for that.
The First Graphene 3D Printer?
A startup hopes to develop not only graphene materials for 3D printers, but a 3D printer designed for graphene printing. But we’re not so sure.
Capturing Die Viktoria
This is the true story of how a massive 19th century German sculpture made its way into our 3D printers.
Amazon’s 3D Nuclear Option Launches
Things just got mainstream: Amazon announced a dedicated 3D print service.
MakerBot’s PrintShop
MakerBot has released “PrintShop”, a friendly iPad app with which you can generate your own 3D models.
Union Technology’s Print-Rite CoLiDo 3D Printer
Many new personal 3D printers have emerged from Asia, and the CoLiDo is one of them.
A New Way to Search for 3D Models?
We’ve been testing out a new 3D model search service, 3DShap.es, which hopes to search by geometry instead of by text.
3D Printing Winged Victory
Every once in a while you bump into an incredible 3D print. We did and we wanted to make it, too. Thus began our Winged Victory Project.
3D Printing and Outsourcing Solves Innovation Dilemma
3D printing saved the day by enabling an innovative product to be developed in record time.
US Army Investigating 3D Printers for Food Production
Army researchers are investigating ways to incorporate 3-D printing technology into producing food for Soldiers.
NASA Releases Many Printable 3D Models
The US space agency NASA has released two dozen printable 3D models of spacecraft and alien worlds.
Silo 3D Modeler now Available for Linux
The Silo 3D modeling software system now adds Linux as one of its supported platforms, joining OS/X and Windows.
Giant Creature 3D Printed
Some folks have 3D printed a truly gigantic monster that might be one the largest 3D prints ever attempted.
Pioneer Pomade’s Sticky Solution
Yet another solution for loose prints is now available: Pioneer Pomade can make your 3D prints stick to the print bed.
How to Smooth Your PLA 3D Prints
Matthew Gorton of PrintedSolid seems to have found a way to smooth PLA prints.
The Fumeless ZYYX 3D Printer
We haven’t yet seen one in person, but we really like the features of the new ZYYX 3D printer.
Autodesk’s Fusion 360 Can Be Yours
Looking for a more powerful 3D modeling tool to design things to print? Look no further than Autodesk’s Fusion 360, which can be your at no charge.
Hurco to Transform CNC Machines into 3D Printers?
Industrial CNC machine maker Hurco says they’ve filed a patent to enable CNC machines to become 3D printers.
Shapeways Partners with Hasbro?
Toy giant Hasbro has struck a deal with Shapeways to provide access to some of their copyrighted characters.
Design of the Week: x.pose
This week’s selection is x.pose by designers Xuedi Chen and Pedro G. C. Oliveira.
The Almond 3D Printer
Korea-based OpenCreators has released the Almond 3D printer.