After their acquisition of MakerBot, we’re expecting changes in StrataBot, or is it MakerSys? We’re just kidding; neither Stratasys nor MakerBot will change their name as a result of this week’s acquisition; there’s too much value associated with each brand. But what else will change? The two companies have some similarities in technology –… Continue reading How Will Stratasys and MakerBot Change?
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The Budget That Was Saved By 3D Printing
South east of Huntsville, Alabama is the small city of Boaz, where something very interesting happened. The Boaz City School System discovered they had to replace all the switch mounts for their network upgrade. The 364 switches were to cost USD$2000, but Wayne Caudle, Director of Technologies for the School System had a better… Continue reading The Budget That Was Saved By 3D Printing
Demand for 3D Printers Continues to Grow
In a recently released report, independent market research firm IDTechEx found that the 3D printing market did an impressive billion dollars in business in 2012, and that by 2025 it could reach four billion in total sales. In the study, titled “3D Printing 2013-2025: Technologies, Markets, Players,” IDTechEx argues that 3D printing sector growth… Continue reading Demand for 3D Printers Continues to Grow
MakerBot’s First Post-Stratasys 3D Printer?
What will be the next personal 3D printer from MakerBot, post acquisition by Stratasys? We believe MakerBot’s next 3D printer could be significantly different from previous Replicators. Why? Because there will be huge synergies between the two companies technologies, as both use plastic extrusion processes. Extruded plastic 3D printing was invented by Stratasys… Continue reading MakerBot’s First Post-Stratasys 3D Printer?
MakerWare 2.2 Released
MakerBot has the good habit of continually releasing improved versions of their software to make their hardware work even better. The latest release of MakerWare, software to drive MakerBot’s Replicator 3D printers, showed up last week. We’re particularly interested in this release because it offers significant improvements in handling overhangs. 3D printer operators are… Continue reading MakerWare 2.2 Released
I Will Not Print You A Gun!
The headline is not exactly what is said on a piece now appearing on Thingiverse. The “guns are bad” 3D model by Gecko is a desktop sign that actually says: NO! I will not print you a f***ing gun 3D printed guns are obviously controversial, so much so that the mandarins at Thingiverse… Continue reading I Will Not Print You A Gun!
BREAKING: Stratasys Acquires MakerBot
Call us wrong on this one. The other week we suggested it didn’t make much sense for Stratasys to purchase MakerBot, in spite of rumors. Regardless of our analysis, simultaneous press releases from both companies this afternoon say a deal has in fact been made. The deal, set to close in Q3, is a… Continue reading BREAKING: Stratasys Acquires MakerBot
Autodesk Battles Bad Design
3D software giant Autodesk has released an infographic portraying the need for, guess what? 3D design software. (Click on the image above to see the fine details). It may be in their self-interest, but they have a valid point. The infographic indicates that a surprising amount of newly released products are subject to recall… Continue reading Autodesk Battles Bad Design
There’s Something About 3D Printed Shoes
One of the most interesting items to 3D print on a high-power color 3D printer turns out to be shoes. We were blown away when we first encountered a color 3D printed shoe last year – the visual realism is only broken when you pick up the shoe and realize its made of sandstone. … Continue reading There’s Something About 3D Printed Shoes
3D Printed Sports Logos: Illegal?
Boston, Massachusetts is the original home of ZCorp, now owned by 3D Systems. It’s also the home of the Boston Bruins NHL hockey club, currently battling the Chicago Blackhawks for the championship Stanley Cup. In 2011 the Bruins won the cup and the folks (or perhaps fans) at ZCorp printed out the Bruins official… Continue reading 3D Printed Sports Logos: Illegal?
3D Systems Acquires Phenix Systems
3D Systems continues its acquisition run with the announcement they’ve agreed to take on Phenix Systems, a manufacturer of metal 3D printing devices. France-based Phenix Systems uses the “Direct Metal Selective Laser Sintering” process, which uses high-powered lasers to fuse layers of metal powder into solid objects at very fine resolutions. The process is… Continue reading 3D Systems Acquires Phenix Systems
A Dad Meets a 3D Printer
We’ve been working with 3D printers for so many years it’s sometimes hard to recall what it was like when first encountering a 3D printer. That’s why we’re reading a post on GeekDad by Brad Moon, who decided to dive deep into 3D printing by purchasing a 3D Systems Cube personal 3D printer. Moon… Continue reading A Dad Meets a 3D Printer
The Incredibly Inexpensive Nautilus 3D Printer
A fundraising campaign has launched for the Nautilus 3D printer. It’s a resin-based DLP printer, using a process similar to that used by Formlabs and 3D Systems. The Nautilus uses a DLP projection system to fuse each layer of photo-curable resin. The Nautilus was developed by a team of four from Beijing who were… Continue reading The Incredibly Inexpensive Nautilus 3D Printer
Digital Grotesque: A 3D Printed Room
In July of this year Digital Grotesque will launch. It’s a project to produce “an elaborate, fully-enclosed room that is entirely 3D printed.” Computational architects Benjamin Dillenburger and Michael Hansmeyer designed Digital Grotesque and exhibited a 1:3 scale prototype at the recent 2013 Swiss Art Awards in Basel. They hope to produce a full… Continue reading Digital Grotesque: A 3D Printed Room
3D Printing Price Check Update
What is 3DPrintingPriceCheck? It does exactly that. Jonas Neubert, creator of the online service, just released a significant update to the service, which now includes STL upload, instant quotes from some 3D print services, more materials and even lead time estimates. The service makes shopping for the best deal easy. You simply drag and… Continue reading 3D Printing Price Check Update
Design of the Week: Mask 3
This week’s selection is Mask 3 by artist Stuart Wade. Wade has developed a series of 3D printed masks inspired by “native masks and patterns”. The others in the series are, of course, Mask 1 and Mask 2, both similar in style but very different. At first glance, the design of the Masks seem… Continue reading Design of the Week: Mask 3
3D Printing to Change the Shoe Industry?
James Shorrock writes on Hypebeast his thoughts on how 3D printing could change the future of the shoe manufacturing industry. He proposes that while shoe prototyping has already led to much more rapid shoe design, eventually shoes could be 3D printed directly, based on current experiments with different materials. Once the correct cushioning and… Continue reading 3D Printing to Change the Shoe Industry?
More Fashion Designers Moving to 3D Printing
We may be past the pioneering stage in 3D printed fashion. While there have been several experimental forays into 3D printed clothing and accessories, we’re now seeing more fashion designers join the 3D printing movement. Today we’re reading of designer Catherine Wales, who previously worked on projects for Yves Saint Laurent, has developed an… Continue reading More Fashion Designers Moving to 3D Printing
A Collectable Rubber Duck in Hong Kong
Eddie Tsai of Hong Kong’s Fung Academy researched the adoption of 3D printing by consumers and came up with the concept of “hyperlocal promotions, the ability to respond to events around the world with meaningful relevant products quickly.” An interesting concept certainly, but it quickly became reality for Tsai, who was contacted mere days… Continue reading A Collectable Rubber Duck in Hong Kong
An Interview with Shapeways Bart Veldhuizen
Andrew Mazotta of 3D Hacker posted a video interview with Shapeways’ Bart Veldhuizen, recorded at Shapeways’ European headquarters in Eindhoven. In the interview Mazotta goes through the basics, starting by examining the history of Shapeways. Veldhuizen, European Community Manager for Shapeways, has been with the company for five years and has witnessed the tremendous… Continue reading An Interview with Shapeways Bart Veldhuizen
World’s Largest 3D printer built in China
Dalian University of Technology has announced the development of the world’s largest 3D printer. The massive laser sintering 3D printer has a build volume of 1.8m3 and can reduce print processing time by some 35%. In addition, the printer’s “contour scanning” printing technique can also reduce manufacturing costs by 40% when compared to other… Continue reading World’s Largest 3D printer built in China
Could the Buccaneer Raise USD$1M?
The launch of Pirate3D’s inexpensive and classy Buccaneer personal 3D printer on Kickstarter was explosive, raising their initial funding goal within mere minutes. Now, weeks later into the campaign, they’re approaching USD$900K in funding and seemingly within reach of the magic USD$1M mark. Will they make it? We think so. The… Continue reading Could the Buccaneer Raise USD$1M?
Organovo 3D Prints a Human Liver
In a video report on CBC, Organovo CEO Keith Murphy describes his company’s latest achievement: 3D bioprinting portions of a human liver. Even more amazing is that the liver cells actually exhibit partial function. Murphy says: “Today we can print tiny parts of these organs… About half a millimeter to a millimeter thick”.… Continue reading Organovo 3D Prints a Human Liver
3D Printing: It’s A Local Thing
We’re reading a post on BlogTO, a publication focused on events in Toronto, which talks about the sudden popularity of 3D printing in that city. They describe 3D printing technology for those who are not familiar and relate local 3D printing events. They list places in the region where people can get exposed to… Continue reading 3D Printing: It’s A Local Thing
Ford Predicts 3D Printed Spare Parts
A recent Wall Street Journal article describes Ford and General Electric’s experiments in 3D printed prototypes and production parts. While that’s not new, we observed an interesting quote: The auto maker sees a future where customers will be able to print their own replacement parts. Theoretically, a customer could log onto the Web, scan… Continue reading Ford Predicts 3D Printed Spare Parts
How Many Things at Thingiverse? Lots!
3D printing is taking off, if one believes the signals seen this year. Another milestone was reached last week by popular repository Thingiverse, who declared they now have over 100,000 3D models available. Thingiverse also released several interesting statistics. Apparently the number of models rose by 20,000 in just the past month. At this… Continue reading How Many Things at Thingiverse? Lots!
Battle of the 3D Printer Manufacturers
The opening of MakerBot’s new factory has us wondering about their main competition’s manufacturing capability. 3D System’s Cube is now selling at Staples online shop, with intentions of being sold in each physical store location. We suspect the Cube is manufactured overseas in China, where large-scale manufacturing is commonplace and inexpensive. It also provides… Continue reading Battle of the 3D Printer Manufacturers
Win a Replicator 2X In Manchester
A 3D modeling contest has been launched that offers a complete MakerBot Replicator 2X as first prize. The sponsor is unlikely for a 3D contest: 2D print cartridge company CartridgeSave.co.uk. Nevertheless, a contest is a contest. This one involves producing a figurine of an “original 3D character”, “your ultimate action hero”. The organizers will… Continue reading Win a Replicator 2X In Manchester
HYREL is 3D Printing Clay
New 3D printer manufacturer HYREL has developed an extruder capable of 3D printing clay. In the video below you’ll see it printing a pyramid. A simple print indeed, but one that proves it’s possible. The HYREL line of 3D printers includes an interesting feature: “multiple hot-swappable extruder head options.” If the clay extruder is… Continue reading HYREL is 3D Printing Clay
Seven Things You Must Know About 3D Printing
Many Fabbaloo readers are new to the idea of 3D printing. You may have been attracted to the technology because you’ve seen it on the web, or perhaps someone told you about it. But not having experienced it directly, there are some things you should know. It’s Slow. Do not expect Star Trek Replicator… Continue reading Seven Things You Must Know About 3D Printing
Amazon Is Selling 3D Printers
Surprise! Amazon is now selling 3D printers. The online retailing giant now offers a rather lengthy selection of 3D printer gear. Included in Amazon’s extensive portfolio are: FlashForge MakerBot Replicator 2 Afinia H-Series MBot Cube Airwolf FF3D JET Felix Robotics Fabbster 3D Systems Cube, RapMan and 3D Touch LulzBot AO-101 BotMill Glide … Continue reading Amazon Is Selling 3D Printers
Free 3D Scans Of Famous Sculptures?
Cosmo Wenman is well-known for his incredibly realistic and large-size 3D prints of ancient sculptures. How does he do it? He visits museums to capture 3D scans later offered online at no charge. Now he’s taking the concept to a much higher level: a Kickstarter project hopes to raise funds for him to scan numerous… Continue reading Free 3D Scans Of Famous Sculptures?
Design of the Week: Milk Splash
This week’s selection is an arty yet practical 3D model: Milk Splash by CGTrader modeler GrafxBOX. Billed as a “pens holder”, the Milk Splash is also very attractive and seemingly animated. This model is available for purchase at CGTrader at a price of only USD$15. For that price you’ll receive the STL, suitable… Continue reading Design of the Week: Milk Splash
Stratasys To Acquire MakerBot?
A report on TechCrunch proposes that MakerBot is in talks with Stratasys “regarding a possible acquisition”. The report says “persistent rumors of a sale or new funding have followed the company this year”. The report also says MakerBot has been seeking investors with a goal to raise USD$25M by valuing the company at USD$300M. … Continue reading Stratasys To Acquire MakerBot?
MakerBot’s New Factory
As the rumors indicated, MakerBot has indeed opened up a brand new factory in a Brooklyn, New York neighborhood, close to MakerBot’s head office and original workshops. The new factory’s massive 55,000 square feet will be used to build the company’s current products, the Replicator 2 and Replicator 2X, and we suspect future products… Continue reading MakerBot’s New Factory
How Many Personal 3D Printers Exist?
With recent furor over 3D printed guns, we started wondering exactly how many people could actually produce them on their 3D printer. In other words, how many personal 3D printers exist? It’s very difficult to cite any specific number, mainly because the major manufacturers are very tight with statistical information. MakerBot used to leak… Continue reading How Many Personal 3D Printers Exist?
More Advanced 3D Interfaces Brewing
California-based Atheer is developing an advanced wearable 3D visual display that should be available in 2014. The as-yet-unnamed product appears to be a set of North Korean-style glasses that display 3D information to each eye. You might think Atheer is repeating Google’s Glass product, but they’re not. Atheer’s product will be completely standalone and… Continue reading More Advanced 3D Interfaces Brewing
Finland Looks to Enter the 3D Printing Market
In a recently announced partnership, the Institute of Photonics at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and Dutch company LUXeXceL will partner together to create a photonic 3D printer. Started only a few shorts days ago, the UEF’s Institute of Phototonics has hit the ground running, grabbing its first large industrial partnership within a… Continue reading Finland Looks to Enter the 3D Printing Market
3D Printing Retail Store To Open In Illinois
We’ve seen MakerBot pioneer 3D printing retail deep in New York City and then in London at the iMakr store. Now there’s another retail venture taking place in Evanston, Illinois – which is just north of Chicago, for those unfamiliar with the area. GetPrinting3D is a showroom where visitors can take a look at… Continue reading 3D Printing Retail Store To Open In Illinois
Human Faces 3D Printed From Stray DNA
In another truly science fiction moment, PhD student Heather Dewey-Hagborg has developed a technique for transforming found DNA into a 3D model of the DNA owner’s face. This, of course, can be 3D printed. Studying Information art at Troy, NY’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Dewey-Hagborg has been involved in a wide variety of similarly unusual… Continue reading Human Faces 3D Printed From Stray DNA
China Turns to 3D Printing
Apparently some 40% of 3D printer installations are in the United States, while other countries lag significantly behind. China is positioned at only 9% despite being the world’s leader in manufacturing. That may change as a new conference specifically focused on 3D printing took place in Beijing. The World 3D Printing Conference, which concluded… Continue reading China Turns to 3D Printing
The Sugar Lab’s Sweet Prints
A pair of graduate students from Los Angeles created The Sugar Lab, a new business producing highly creative 3D printed sugar cake toppers. The two, Kyle and Liz, embarked on their journey by attempting to 3D print a cake for a friend. After much experimentation, they produced a cake topper made from 3D printed… Continue reading The Sugar Lab’s Sweet Prints
Orange County Choppers 3D Prints A Dragoncycle
The gentlemen at Orange County Choppers (yes, those guys) happen to own a Stratasys Fortus 400mc large commercial 3D printer and they’ve been using it to create some very unique motorcycles. A Chinese client requested a dragon-themed bike from OCC team, who designed and built the magnificent vehicle you see above. The 3D printed… Continue reading Orange County Choppers 3D Prints A Dragoncycle
Pirate3D Helps Africa
As if landing nearly half a million dollars in instant crowd funding isn’t sufficient, Pirate3D announced a significant charitable venture. They will provide 3D printing technology and training to “selected African institutions”. The venture is within Pirate3D’s corporate social responsibility program and partners with Harvard’s Calestous Juma to promote sustainable development worldwide. Juma, Director… Continue reading Pirate3D Helps Africa
Sad Keanu: A 3D Printed Meme
In 2010 paparazzi snapped a pic of actor Keanu Reeves sitting on a bench and looking a bit dejected. The image quickly exploded into an internet meme, generating thousands of images, captions and sites dedicated to the concept. The meme continues. Shapeways creator neuralfirings developed a 3D model of the Keanu pose and offered… Continue reading Sad Keanu: A 3D Printed Meme
3D Printing Your Thoughts – Literally
This isn’t science fiction. ThinkerThing’s goal is to develop a system for actually reading your thoughts and sending them directly to a 3D printer for production. They say: We have built a machine that will allow you to make real objects with your mind. Incredible as this sounds, it does seem doable by… Continue reading 3D Printing Your Thoughts – Literally
A Resin for 3D Printed Microelectronics
Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and C-MET have developed a specialized resin that is suitable for 3D printing electronics at a microscopic scale. The goal was to develop a material usable to create micro-sized electrodes. Apparently a “carbonization” stage is required to create electrical conductivity, but current materials could not withstand that… Continue reading A Resin for 3D Printed Microelectronics
A 3D Printer From Togo
Yes, Togo. It’s the home of Afate Gnikou of WoeLab, a technology incubator in the small African country. Gnikou has launched a crowdfunding project on Ulule to raise funds to begin building a Togo-designed personal 3D printer. The goal of the project is to design a 3D printer that can be built from commonly… Continue reading A 3D Printer From Togo
Pirate3D’s Buccaneer Sets Sail
Pirate3D released their incredibly inexpensive personal 3D printer for pre-orders last week and it seems to have been a massive success. Their Kickstarter fundraising goal was USD$100,000 – and it was met within mere minutes of the launch. As of this writing, the project has raised well over USD$400,000, putting Pirate3D in the select… Continue reading Pirate3D’s Buccaneer Sets Sail
Design of the Week: Hyphae Lamps
This week’s selection is Nervous Systems’ Hyphae Lamp collection. Nervous System is well known for producing startling designs using generative 3D modeling techniques. The Hyphae Lamp collection is a set of 13 unique lamp designs created using these techniques, but inspired by nature. They say: The Hyphae lamp is a series of organic… Continue reading Design of the Week: Hyphae Lamps
It’s Time To Inventory Cubify’s Apps
Over the past year Cubify has periodically released web apps for you to create customized designs. Some of the apps permit download of STL files for printing on your home 3D printer, and we suspect Cubify is hoping you’ll do it on your Cube 3D printer, even though the STL models could print on other… Continue reading It’s Time To Inventory Cubify’s Apps
Shapeways Flexes Its Materials
3D print service Shapeways has made a history of pioneering new 3D print materials for makers. Typically they experiment with a new idea and if it proves popular and feasible, they’ll add it to their growing list of material options. This week they announced a rather unusual material: “Elasto Plastic”. If the name makes… Continue reading Shapeways Flexes Its Materials
BBC: “3D Printing Is Not Going To Change The World”
BBC correspondent Peter Day says “3D printing is not—according to one of the prophets of the new personal manufacturing age—going to change the world on its own” in a recent piece. His notion parallels our thinking, and by extension, the thought process everyone must go through. It’s something like this: Wow! 3D Printing… Continue reading BBC: “3D Printing Is Not Going To Change The World”
Who Should Disney Sue for 3D Printing Mickey?
There’s an interesting piece at Intellectual Property Brief by Brianna Ford that looks at the legal scenario involved when copyright, trademark or patent items are illegally reproduced on a personal 3D printer. We strongly suspect this situation will occur; in fact, it’s probably already occurring. Disney-related items are appearing at Thingiverse and they will… Continue reading Who Should Disney Sue for 3D Printing Mickey?
X-Box One Prototyped with 3D Printer
At its Redmond, Washington, headquarters, Microsoft unveiled its next generation video game console the X-Box One. The console, which will feature 15 exclusive titles, Skype video calling, and a voice and gesture command feature, came with one other surprise; it was prototyped using 3D printers. Admittedly, Microsoft isn’t a new comer to the world… Continue reading X-Box One Prototyped with 3D Printer
Get a Buccaneer 3D Printer for Only USD$247!
Pirate3D is launching their super-inexpensive 3D printer today through Kickstarter. The startup company’s first product, the Buccaneer, is a filament extrusion machine they bill as the “world’s most affordable 3D printer”. The list price of the Buc’ will be USD$347, but a “very limited number” of them will be available for only USD$247, which… Continue reading Get a Buccaneer 3D Printer for Only USD$247!
3D Printing Hits USD$2.2B in 2012
According to the annual Wohler’s Report, the 3D printing industry broke the USD$2B annual mark for the first time in history during 2012. Apparently the industry grew by a staggering 28.6% over 2011, far more than the overall economic growth rate. (Is it actually growing at all? We’re not sure.) This demonstrates a… Continue reading 3D Printing Hits USD$2.2B in 2012
BioHacking Leads to 3D BioPrinting?
A report on TechCrunch describes the work of two bio companies, Genome Compiler and Cambrian Genomics. They are developing hardware and software to design and print (the DNA) of new life forms. The idea is to provide software (that’s Genome Compiler’s part) that allows a designer to combine different gene sequences together into a… Continue reading BioHacking Leads to 3D BioPrinting?
3D Printed Walls Offer Unique Designs
Paris-based In-Flexions has produced one-of-a-kind residential room designs using 3D printing. The “Printed Habitat”, created by designers François Brument and Sonia Laugier, used parametric design to develop a complete set of 3D printed blocks that, when assembled, create a complete set of interior walls. The blocks are individually designed, each generated using a parametric… Continue reading 3D Printed Walls Offer Unique Designs
Hands On With: High Impact Polystyrene
Our friends at Filaco sent us a spool of their new High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) filament for testing. Accordingly, we spent many hours at our lab checking it out. The HIPS filament comes in only a pure white color, which actually isn’t much of a problem; the objects printed in this spectacularly white material… Continue reading Hands On With: High Impact Polystyrene
3D Printed Fireworks? Yes, Please!
No, you can’t 3D print gunpowder, as far as we know, but you can actually make fireworks. Christophe Hermanns of Belgian-based Vigo Universal used 3D printing to create several devices used to hold live fireworks in Les Orryflammes’ pyrotechnic shows. The artistic troupe employs handheld fireworks apparatus to produce a highly animated stage show,… Continue reading 3D Printed Fireworks? Yes, Please!
The Public Emotions of 3D Printing
We’ve been covering 3D printing for quite some time now, perhaps six years, and in that time we’ve seen many promising developments and a gradual progression towards a mythical, ultimate personal 3D printer. We’re not close to such a Star Trek-like device by any measure, but progress continues. The public, on the other hand,… Continue reading The Public Emotions of 3D Printing
Made In Space To Really Go To Space
They made the 3D printer, now they send it into space. Made In Space, the startup who have designed a compact 3D printer suitable for use in the weightless environment in space, now have a flight date for their machine. In August 2014 their 3D printer will be carried aloft to the International Space Station… Continue reading Made In Space To Really Go To Space
Hands On With The FinishingTouch Smoothing Station
If you’re 3D printing with plastic filament, you’ll be familiar with the layered effect, where progressive extrusions accumulate into an object. The object has the correct shape, but has unsightly ridges. What to do? You can eliminate ridges with the Acetone technique, but it’s relatively dangerous, as acetone is flammable and generally not very… Continue reading Hands On With The FinishingTouch Smoothing Station
MakerBot – Autodesk Discount Available
If you happen to be interested in purchasing a MakerBot Replicator 2 personal 3D printer and a premium membership in Autodesk’s highly useful 123D apps, you’re in luck: there’s a discount available. If you upgrade from the free version of 123D to premium level, you’ll receive a USD$40 discount on purchase of a MakerBot… Continue reading MakerBot – Autodesk Discount Available
Let Yeggi Find Your 3D Models
Unless you’re a capable 3D designer, you’ll have to find pre-made 3D models to send to your 3D printer. This can be problematic for a couple of reasons: searching for non-textual items is always difficult; there are an increasing number of 3D model repositories to search. The latter is partially solved by the strangely… Continue reading Let Yeggi Find Your 3D Models
Design of the Week: Helix Wireframe
This week’s selection is the Helix Wireframe with ball by Shapeways creator Wainstain. The design is precisely what it is named: a twirly helix with a ball inside. Here’s the trick: This is a four sided helix with a wireframe ball inside that can move freely in any direction you choose. Like… Continue reading Design of the Week: Helix Wireframe
Cubify Releases “Draw”
Yet another easy-to-use Cubify app has been released: Draw. It’s actually an iOS app where you can simply “draw” a shape with your finger. The shape drawn is a 2D trace, but the Draw app expands its thickness and extrudes it into a solid shape. You’re permitted to either email the corresponding STL file… Continue reading Cubify Releases “Draw”
A 3D Printed Smart Watch
An Indiegogo campaign by Brooklyn’s Dominic Prescod hopes to raise funds to purchase a commercial 3D printer for production of his smart watch design, the 6th Relic. The 6th Relic, so named as it is designed to fit a 6th generation Apple iPod Nano, is an integrated, multi-size wristwatch band and case that holds the… Continue reading A 3D Printed Smart Watch
Mataerial Offers a New Way to 3D Print
Virtually all 3D printers today use a layered approach, where the object being printed is “sliced” into layers, or horizontal planes, which are printed using whichever technology is at hand. But a project by researchers from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia and Joris Laarman Lab proves there is another way. The Mataerial… Continue reading Mataerial Offers a New Way to 3D Print
BotObjects Tells More – But Not Enough
You may recall the mysterious launch of the ProDesk30 from BotObjects the other week? It was said to be an amazing Full Color personal 3D plastic extrusion printer. Many observers were highly skeptical of this claim, particularly because little evidence or even specifications had been released by BotObjects. Now that’s changed. A bit. … Continue reading BotObjects Tells More – But Not Enough
Emerging Objects 3D Prints Architectural Materials
Oakland-based Emerging Objects isn’t your normal design firm. Rather than designing homes, interiors, furniture or products from common materials, the four-person group is trying to create materials for tomorrow’s 3D printed objects. Self-described as a “a pioneering design and research company that specializes in designing and 3D printing objects for the built environment using… Continue reading Emerging Objects 3D Prints Architectural Materials
The Zortrax M200 3D Printer
Zortrax is launching their new M200 personal 3D printer on Kickstarter, with a focus on ease of use and aesthetics. They say they “want 3D printing to be a great experience.” Unlike typical filament-based 3D printers that use ABS and PLA plastic, the M200 is specifically designed to print ABS, PC-ABS and Nylon. … Continue reading The Zortrax M200 3D Printer
Michigan Tech’s 3D Printers for Peace
The recent development of 3D printed weapons has caused others to strive for more peaceful uses of the technology.Michigan Technological University, a.k.a, Michigan Tech, has launched a new competition: 3D Printers for Peace. The contest requires you to design a 3D printable object that is peaceful. Wait, what does that mean? They explain: … Continue reading Michigan Tech’s 3D Printers for Peace
3D Hacker’s Many Services
We were contacted by Andrew Mazzotta, who, with Adam Pirie, have created “3D Hacker”, a multipurpose website serving the needs of the 3D printing community. The website acts much like a “3D Printing Kijiji”, where members can add listings in several categories, such as: parts, kits, printers, software, tools, tutorials, jobs, events, clubs and… Continue reading 3D Hacker’s Many Services
FabFabbers Opens
Yet another 3D model sharing site has opened: FabFabbers. Like many such repositories, FabFabbers permits members to upload models, showcase them in listings for download by visitors. But what differentiates this repository from the rest? There are two features we found particularly interesting: uploaded models can actually be stored on GitHub, which is a… Continue reading FabFabbers Opens
Platige Image’s Astonishing 3D Printed Sculpture: Biostagog
A collaboration of artists and technicians has created one of the most amazing 3D printed sculptures ever attempted. Polish company Platige Image required a “statement” for their headquarters in Warsaw and we believe this massive sculpture delivers. They say: The installation was supposed to be an interactive, “living” element in the building, a phenomenon… Continue reading Platige Image’s Astonishing 3D Printed Sculpture: Biostagog
3D Printed Bullets?
A new video has surfaced of experiments with 3D printed bullets. The video, produced by popular gun video enthusiasts Taofledermaus, shows three actual firings of said bullets. One firing involves 1/10 of an ounce (3g) of powder, another is 1/2 an ounce (14g) and the third shows a very unusual shape, which fails miserably.… Continue reading 3D Printed Bullets?
Voronoization
You may have seen those fascinating 3D models that seem to have replaced the normal shape with a strange, smooth skeletal networked form. The complex structures seem impossibly difficult to design with conventional 3D modeling tools, and indeed they are. Perhaps they’ve been made with mathematical 3D model generation tools operated by a PhD? Sometimes… Continue reading Voronoization
3D Printing The Enterprise
There’s more 3D printed Star Trek with a view of this video by PC Magazine, who took on the task of 3D printing the Starship Enterprise on their 3D Systems Cube personal 3D printer. It’s a time lapse video, obviously, as 3D printers simply are not fast. This shows one of the main challenges… Continue reading 3D Printing The Enterprise
CGTrader’s Massive 3D Print Competition
There’s a lot of 3D print competitions lately, but this one seems to involve more prizes than we’ve seen before. CGTrader’s “3D Printing Competition” seeks fully 3D printable models to be uploaded before June 30th, when they will be judged by CGTrader staff. What makes this competition different is the quantity and quality of… Continue reading CGTrader’s Massive 3D Print Competition
Now You Can Go Where No One Has Gone Before
Cubify launched a new dynamic 3D model service specifically for Trekkies: Personalized 3D Printed Star Trek Figurines. If you never had a chance to appear on the show (and who could have?) you now can put yourself in a Star Fleet uniform. The USD$69.99 offer requires a bit of input from you, as do… Continue reading Now You Can Go Where No One Has Gone Before
3D Systems to Acquire Arcam?
Last week 3D Systems did something unusual: they sold off 7,500,000 shares of their stock at a price of USD$40 each. Around 17.5% of these shares were held by “certain selling stockholders”, while the rest were owned by 3D Systems itself. This raised company coffers by a massive USD$300M. Companies just don’t do this… Continue reading 3D Systems to Acquire Arcam?
Design of the Week: Memorial Bust of a Woman
This week’s selection is Memorial Bust of a Woman by artist Sophie Kahn. What appears to be a relic-like representation of a woman is actually much more. It’s a self-portrait, obtained using 3D laser scanning to obtain a rough 3D model. But it’s an inaccurate capture, as the artist moves very slightly during the… Continue reading Design of the Week: Memorial Bust of a Woman
Tinkercad Lives!
Our beloved Tinkercad lives again. The very popular web-based 3D modeling service was used by many due to its ease of use, web availability and inexpensive pricing. But in a move shocking everyone, the owners of Tinkercad announced it was closing as their business moved off into other ventures. But now, in a rather… Continue reading Tinkercad Lives!
The Form 1 Ships!
Formlabs has now shipped its first actual production units of their breakthrough resin-based personal 3D printer, the Form 1. The USD$3,299 high-resolution device was launched on Kickstarter some months ago and raised close to USD$3M, a record amount for a technology item. Based on this alone, the Form 1 is a highly desired machine… Continue reading The Form 1 Ships!
Kees 3D Printed Cases
We’ve run across a new 3D print service called “Kees”, which specializes in personalized mobile phone cases. While there seems to be oh, a zillion iPhone case options out there, the Kees service permits significant customization, as you can see in the image below. Each option offers many different choices, with dozens of backgrounds and… Continue reading Kees 3D Printed Cases
Augmented Realty 3D Printing with UltimARker
Industrial Designer Joris van Tubergen and augmented reality artist Sander Veenhof have invented something we’ve not seen previously: a way to view your 3D printing operation using augmented reality. Wait a sec, what does that mean? Watch the video above to see what we mean, but it is a way to observe the final… Continue reading Augmented Realty 3D Printing with UltimARker
U.S. Losing its Edge in Additive Manufacturing?
For the last few decades, American companies have dominated and advanced the field of additive manufacturing to its current state. However, in a recent report from industry analyst Terry Wolhers, America’s dominance in additive manufacturing could be waning. In preparation for Wohlers Associates annual Wohlers Report,the analysis firm hase released some data that might… Continue reading U.S. Losing its Edge in Additive Manufacturing?
Are 3D Printers Scary?
We’re reading a post by Shelly Palmer of Huffington Post entitled, “3D Printing is Way Scarier Than Plastic Guns”. Palmer describes the recent 3D printed gun scenario that we’ve covered in several posts and then goes on to suggest that the knee-jerk reactions of various politicians are misguided, sensational and “like putting a Band-Aid on… Continue reading Are 3D Printers Scary?
Intricate 3D Printed Mobiles
Everyone loves mobiles – those delicately balanced sculptures that hang and swing. Artist Marco Mahler, in collaboration with fellow artist Henry Segerman, has released a collection of 3D printed mobiles this week that we find fascinating for several reasons. First, Mahler explains that: After an extensive Google search, it appears that these are… Continue reading Intricate 3D Printed Mobiles
ExOne Stock Tumbles
The stock price of ExOne, makers of high-end commercial 3D printers specializing in sand and metal printing, took a 15% tumble yesterday – in sharp contrast to the few other 3D printing company stocks who continued to sail higher. Why the tumble? Evidently ExOne missed analysts predictions for quarterly sales and per-share losses announced… Continue reading ExOne Stock Tumbles
3D Printers: Banned?
That could be the outcome of a proposal from California state senator Leland Yee of San Francisco. Upon reviewing recent reports of 3D printable weapons, Yee became concerned about the possible outcomes and has proposed that the technology must be regulated. He says: Terrorists can make these guns and do some horrible things to… Continue reading 3D Printers: Banned?
NASA Developing a 3D Food Printer
According to a report in New Scientist, NASA is funding research that could lead to 3D printed food technology. Texas-based Anjan Contractor of Systems and Materials Research Corporation obtained funding from NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program to develop a “fully functional” 3D food printer. The goal of this program is to creat te… Continue reading NASA Developing a 3D Food Printer
Stratasys Solves Those Troublesome 3D Print Seams
If you’re using an extrusion-based 3D printer, you’re likely familiar with the problem of seams. It’s an annoying strip right up the side of your object that disrupts the otherwise smooth surface of your 3D print. The seam is actually composed of the vertical accumulation of start / end points from each layer’s perimeter.… Continue reading Stratasys Solves Those Troublesome 3D Print Seams