Ideas Archives « Page 11 of 20

Can You Really 3D Print ANY Material?

The notion of buying a desktop 3D printer that is sufficiently flexible to print in many materials isn’t enough.

3D Printing Patents Can Be Amusing and Confusing

A reader pointed out an unusual patent claimed by one of companies on which we recently wrote a story.

Vendors Meeting the Need for New Plastic Filaments

In the past few weeks I’ve repeatedly seen desktop 3D printers of many brands attempting to print with unusual materials. Now it’s up to the filament vendors to meet that need.

Which is Faster? FDM or SLA 3D Printing?

A reader comment enquired about the general relative speed of the two major 3D printing processes, plastic extrusion and photocurable resin.

Should 3D Printer Companies Develop Their Own Resins?

There seems to be two kinds of resin 3D printer manufacturers: those supporting open materials and those who do not.

Siemens and Stratasys: More Than Just a Partnership?

I was very pleased to learn of Stratasys’ partnership with Siemens, but afterwards I’m wondering if there is more to this deal than meets the eye.

3D Printing: Shape, Check! Function, Not So Much

3D printing may be on the verge of a dramatic shift in focus as we’ve overcome one mountain, only to be faced with another.

APWorks’ LightRider Foretells Interesting New 3D Designs

APWorks has released a design for a fabulous 3D printed electric motorcycle called the “Light Rider”. But I think there’s a lot more to this project.

Challenging Times for 3D Printer Startups

Now is perhaps the most difficult time for a small 3D printer startup since patents started to expire in 2009.

GE Raises The Price of 3D Metal Printer Companies

The battle over control of 3D metal printer companies continues.

Will Shipbuilding Be the Next Industry to Take on 3D Printing?

A report from software company Shipbuilder suggests the ship building industry may be next up to take on 3D printing at scale.

Why Low-Priced 3D Printer Companies Often Fail

Last week we told the story of XMachines and their extreme financial challenges. The failure to deliver product is usually just a result of bad arithmetic and planning.

3D Printing May Foil Facial Recognition Systems

A piece in New Scientist describes how specially designed eyeglasses may be able to “confuse” digital face recognition systems. But could 3D printing do the same?

Another 3D Printing Materials Property You May Not Have Considered

Recently I had a discussion with a maker designing a handheld transmitting device, who insisted on 3D printing with ABS instead of PLA, but his reasons were not what you might think.

Microsoft’s 3D Plans and How They May Affect Everyone Else

It seems software giant Microsoft is going deeper into 3D technology, and I’m wondering how this could tilt the 3D printing landscape.

The Factory of the Future is Here. Are you ready?

At first blush, the factory of the future sounds like an airy concept. But the factory of the future is an idea that’s been around for a long time, and its actuality is being created right now.

Demonstration 3D Print Hack Proves Little

Researchers from Ben Gurion University successfully executed a hack on a 3D printing process, but I’m wondering what to make of it.

Tradeoffs With Dissolvable 3D Printer Support Materials

There are two major plastics used for dissolvable support structures in desktop 3D printing, but neither is perfect.

Is 3D Printing Necessary for the Luxury Watch Industry? (Answer: Yes)

I’m reading a story on the recent struggles of the luxury watch industry and wondering how 3D printing could assist.

What Jobs in 3D Printing?

Some believe the boom in 3D printing has led to new jobs, and indeed it has. But what kind of jobs are they? I made a list.

Can Small 3D Printer Filament Companies Survive?

Every week I receive multiple notices from small 3D printer filament companies looking for a way to promote their products.

Three More Reasons Industry Isn’t Picking Up 3D Printing

A concerned reader has suggested additional reasons why it’s so challenging for industry to adopt 3D print technology.

Does Airbus’ Stratasys Standard Indicate a Trend in Aerospace 3D Printing?

Stratasys announced that Airbus standardized their ULTEM 9085 material as a material for flight parts. But is there more to this story?

The Unrealized Potential of Ceramic 3D Printing

There have been a few ceramic 3D printing initiatives, such as that of 3D Systems (acquired from Figulo) and now apparently shut down.

3D Printing Hidden in New HBO Series

Have you watched the new HBO series, “Westworld”? If you have, the opening sequence features a very unusual 3D printing process.

3D Printed Longboard Illustrates the Best and Worst of 3D Printing

A 3D printing experiment demonstrates how both success and tragedy in the industry.

The HelmetHair Project Demonstrates a Key 3D Printing Application

It may seem to be a ridiculous application, but in fact this “HelmetHair” illustrates a perfect application for 3D printing.

Seven Reasons Why It Takes So Long for Industry to Catch on to 3D Printing

For some reason there are still an astonishing number of businesses that have not yet taken up 3D printing.

The Missing Step in Desktop 3D Printing

Folks using desktop 3D printers are missing s step that’s commonly used in manufacturing: measurement.

It Will Be A Quiet Holiday Season In 3D Printing

There’s something a bit different happening this year in 3D printing: lack of holiday season promotions.

This Robot Suggests 3D Printing Automation Applications?

I’m watching a video of a science-fictiony kitchen robot, but wondering how this concept could apply to 3D printing.

The Hidden Pain of Post-Processing 3D Prints

Rize3D has published a report detailing the often forgotten costs associated with 3D printing that occur AFTER the print is complete.

Did Apple Already Develop a 3D Printer?

I’m now thinking Apple might create a 3D printer – but not in the way you suspect.

Is Carbon Fiber Filament a Marketing Gimmick?

Running a small product design and 3D printing business, shookideas.com, I receive questions about carbon fiber filament almost every week.

Serious Implications to 3D Printing After GE’s Acquisition

A few weeks ago General Electric announced the acquisition of not one, but two metal 3D printing companies. The implications are quite serious.

Stratasys, a Materials Company? Of course!

I got a chuckle reading a post on Seeking Alpha proposing that Stratasys might be changing into a materials company.

3D Printing Cocktail Gadget Suggests New 3D Printing Technique

I’m looking at a curious 3D printing system called “Print A Drink” and wondering where this approach could go.

20 Product Designers You Should Follow on Instagram Right Now

Love ’em or just plain don’t have time for ’em, social media platforms are here to stay.

What’s a Good Set of 3D Printer Filament?

You have a desktop 3D printer capable of 3D printing many different materials. What should your filament supply look like?

The 3DP Pivot

How smaller 3D printing brands are shifting to thrive in the industrial market.

Beyond the New 3D Printing Materials

The era of extremely limited 3D printer material selection seems to be ending, but what might the next materials challenge become?

What Is “Industry 4.0” and How Does 3D Printing Fit Into It?

I’ve been hearing more mentions of “Industry 4.0” and “3D Printing” in the same sentence. What does this all mean?

Are Users Discovering Full Color 3D Printing?

Full color 3D printing is definitely not for everyone. There are those who do use it, but are there many more who don’t yet know they should?

Waiting for Transparent Aluminum 3D Printers

Among the infinite variety of materials in our world is a very peculiar substance known as Aluminium oxynitride, or as some call it, transparent aluminum.

Six Thoughts on Stratasys’ Blockbuster Industry Announcement

I’ve been thinking more about the implications of Stratasys’ industrial 3D printing announcement last week.

The Metal Powder Business Expands Due To 3D Printing, But Only So Far

It seems that metal producers have noticed this pattern and have been gearing up for more sales.

What Happens When Your 3D Printer Manufacturer Drops Support?

In an increasing number of cases, support ceases for aging 3D printers. What should you do?

The Case for Insuring Your 3D Print Operation

3D printing has continued to prove itself as a promising solution for many manufacturers/businesses, creating opportunities and prototyping capabilities that were once unavailable, while significantly expediting “time to market”.

Is 3D Printing Truly Green?

There’s been much ado made of the notion of “green” 3D printing, but is this really true?

The Frequency of 3D Content Violations is Astonishing

Earlier we wrote a story on LayerTrove, a new Scotland-based startup that happens to be selling unlicensed 3D content. But how often does this occur? It turns out to be astonishingly frequent.

The Newly Discovered Problem with All Large-Format 3D Printers

Recently we’ve written several stories about new, large-format 3D printers. While these machines can print large items, there’s a big problem with them.

The Confusing Paradox of 3D Printer Adhesion

One problem increasingly encountered by 3D printer operators is something one would have been solved a while ago: adhesion

Investing in Metal 3D Print Powders? Not So Fast!

I read a report proposing that it might be profitable to invest in metal powder production for 3D printers and concluded this might not be the best plan.

Could 3D Systems Become a Healthcare Company?

Several recent happenings suggest 3D Systems might be considering changing their business focus. As you may have heard, 3D Systems (and other major incumbent 3D printing players) have had a very challenging time financially in the past two years. Quarterly financial reports from both 3D Systems and Stratasys show only modest gains this year, and… Continue reading Could 3D Systems Become a Healthcare Company?

What is the Ideal 3D Printer Material? Is It PLA? ABS?

There is always a discussion taking place: Which is the best 3D print filament material to use? I think this question is distracting from the real question.

Ultimaker is Taking This Portability Thing Seriously

When we met with Ultimaker last month the company was excited to explain one of their customers had discovered a new 3D print use case: portable 3D printing.

Please Make It Stop: “3D printers are never going to be a thing”

A piece yesterday in Mashable made myself and no doubt many others in the 3D print world upset.

And After You Learn 3D CAD…

I’m reading an interesting post on GrabCAD by Khadija Ouajjani that discusses the testing of a 3D design.

3D Pens are NOT 3D Printers

For several years now, we’ve all seen those inexpensive “3D Pens” that are for some reason thought related to 3D printing. I think not.

3D Printing Needs Clean, Constant Power

You might think you need to fuel a 3D printer with plastic or resin and you’re good to go. But there’s something else you should be very concerned about: power.

Negative 3D Printing Hype is Highlighting Burst Bubbles, A Dying Industry and A Dire Threat

Over the last month or so I have found myself once again increasingly frustrated at the nonsensical hype being spouted from some quarters about ‘3D printing’.

Creative Commons Investigating Ways To Better License 3D Designs

Creative Commons recently held a workshop to identify ways to move forward in providing better ways to license 3D content.

Proven: 3D Printing is Easy, if You Let Kids Try

For many adults, 3D printing is a challenging process to attempt, but this isn’t so if you introduce the technology at an early age.

The Bottom to Top Chase in 3D Printing is Closing

For years there has been a significant gap in quality between industrial and “hobby” 3D printers, but it’s becoming a more difficult to measure.

The Thing That Happened to 3D Printing

I’m reading a piece in TechCrunch by Signe Brewster entitled “Whatever happened to 3D printing?” and have some thoughts.

Implications of Höganäs’ Digital Metal Process

Yesterday I described about Höganäs’ incredible Digital Metal 3D printing process, but I believe there are some strong implications here.

The 3D Printer Filament Stats We Really Want

Buying some 3D printer filament? Did you check anything other than the price and color first? Maybe there’s more you should look at.

What Could a True Ceramic 3D Printer Actually Do?

Yesterday I wrote about Olivier van Herpt’s amazing ceramic 3D printer, but I’ve been wondering what the implications of such a machine could be. They are huge.

Sometimes Extra Detail on 3D Prints is Not Helpful

Often 3D printer operators seek machines capable of printing ever-more-detailed objects, with finer resolution. But sometimes that’s a problem.

Idea: Human Drone Scanning

Just a possibly crazy idea, but why couldn’t we perform high resolution scans of humans using drones?

Predicting 3D Printers by the Spool

An industry report has been published that talks about the prospects for growth of 3D printing plastics. But what does this mean?

When to Take the Plunge: van Straaten Seeks Own Color 3D Printer?

Long-time 3D print artist Eric van Straaten of the Netherlands is attempting something unique for artists in this field: obtaining his own color 3D printer.

Could Brexit Affect 3D Printing? Oh, Yes!

This week an important referendum takes place in the UK. But could the “Brexit” hurt or harm the world of 3D printing?

Life After Death: How To Support Aging Industrial 3D Printers

This week we proposed the idea of buying used 3D printers instead of new, but how can you keep them running?

Stratasys Contemplates New 3D Printer Configurations?

Recently I observed an online survey from Stratasys whose questions may suggest something about their ideas for future 3D printers.

Want to Finish Your 3D Print in Vantablack, the World’s Darkest Material?

Monocolor 3D prints are so dull-looking; that’s why many people paint or finish them. But what if you could do so with the world’s darkest material?

Why Not Buy a Used 3D Industrial Printer?

A very practical method of acquiring a high-power industrial 3D printer is to buy one on the used market.

Searchers of Google Tell a Pessimistic Attitude Toward 3D Printing

For fun I used Google’s famous search autofill to see what people are searching for when specifying a number of 3D printing companies. The results are very clear.

The Commercial Dangers of Open Source 3D Printers

While an open source business approach is desired by many, there are certain existential threats that may result.

Are Boutique 3D Print Shops the Correct Path for Artists?

What’s a 3D print artist to do? Bury their works in a gigantic 3D print service? Or is there another route to sales and exposure?

How Can We Solve the 3D Model Search Problem?

There’s an insidious problem growing in the 3D model marketplaces: search. And it sucks.

Let’s Add More To ZMorph’s List of 3D Printing Misconceptions

ZMorph listed three common misconceptions about 3D printing. I’m adding three more to their list.

Reading Between the Lines in 3D Hub’s Latest Report

Community network 3D Hubs has once again released their monthly report, but I realized something very interesting when reviewing it.

Here’s Why 3D Printing Patents Don’t Mean Much

Oh! Look! Someone’s patented SOMETHING about 3D printing! This changes EVERYTHING!

How To Survive Short Filament Spools: Keep Those Empties!

If you’re like me and 3D print a lot, you may find your work area piling up with empty filament spools. My advice: Keep Them!

Are 3D Printed Cars A Sensible Thing?

I’ve heard a few stories about folks developing 3D printed cars, and I must say I’m a bit skeptical.

A 3D Printing Sideline: Industry Reports

One of the growing ‘sidelines’ in the 3D printing industry is that of industry reports.

A Reminder To 3D Scan BEFORE Disassembly

A 3D model of the now-mostly-destroyed Temple of Bel in Palmyra, Syria suggests action be taken to capture 3D objects before they’re torn down.

No Change: The Risks Continue For 3D Printing Usage

A piece in Forbes entitled, “When 3D Printing Gets Into The Wrong Hands”, discusses the risks and challenges enabled by 3D printing. It’s all true and it’s the same as it ever was.

The Maker Revolution “Failed To Deliver”, But It Did

A piece in The Awl comments on the seeming demise of the maker movement through 3D printing by following the story of MakerBot.

Will Small Scale Desktop Production Tools Hurt or Further Enable Design Professionals?

Going back to the introduction of desktop publishing tools that allowed everyday Joes and Josephines to “design” and print documents with relative ease, the perceived value of professional design services has continued to decline as skills and processes that previously required years of training continue to be simplified and automated for nonprofessional users.