3D printing technologies are assisting new efforts to curb light pollution worldwide.
Ideas
Is This Really 2D Printing?
A mass-produced 3D printed chocolate operation is incredible, but is it really 3D printing?
RepRap Central’s Unusual Challenge
RepRap Central is launching a difficult challenge to the 3D printer world.
3D Printed Homes Offer Interesting Possibilities
After this week’s revelation of 3D printed buildings in China, we had some thoughts of what this could mean for homeowners.
An Explosion of Mini 3D Printers
What did we see a lot of at the 2015 CES? Mini 3D printers, that’s what we saw.
Everyone Needs an Ancestro3D
Mexico-based Ideaz 3D is attempting to develop a very unique 3D print application, Ancestro3D.
The Logic Behind The botObjects Acquisition
Last week 3D Systems announced they’d acquired botObjects, but many could not understand why 3D Systems would do so. We found out why.
Six Thoughts on 3D Printing at CES 2015
We’ve finished our tiring tour of the annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, focusing on the 3D print gear, of course.
3D Systems Workflow Improvements
3D Systems released new software for their ProJet 1200, but the features indicate something deeper.
Digital 3D Models to be Blocked at the Border?
A fascinating report on Techdirt explains the how digital goods could become subject to border control. This has implications to 3D printing.
Is 3D Printer Filament a Commodity?
While most 3D printer manufacturers would prefer you use their in-house plastic filament in their equipment, we’re wondering whether filament is nearing “commodity” stage.
What Will 2015 Bring to 3D Printing?
After our 2014 wrap up, we thought we’d put down some crazy ideas for what might happen in 2015.
The Big Moments in 2014 for 3D Printing
This past year was the biggest in 3D printing history with several notable trends.
Can Small 3D Print Services Survive?
It seems there are an awful lot of 3D print services available today – but can they all survive?
A Solution to Corrupted Filament?
One 3D printer owner has devised a simple method of solving the “wet filament” problem.
inbu’s 3D Modeling Approach
A UK-based service offers a way to transform an idea into a printed 3D model. This is the way it’s going to be for quite a while.
Design for Purpose
People who are new to personal 3D printing sometimes learn the hard way that you must design for purpose.
Gartner Identifies The Big Barrier to 3D Printing
A comprehensive survey performed by industry analysts Gartner have identified the key barrier to investment in 3D printing technology by companies: Cost.
Does Color Make That Much Difference to 3D Prints?
3D prints typically are monocolor; white, black or grey, fluorescent nuclear green if you’re lucky. But does full RGB color add much?
VoxelJet Discovers New Manufacturing Angle
VoxelJet are well-known for their massively-sized industrial 3D printers. But the size actually enables lower cost manufacturing.
Safety Challenges Coming for 3D Printing Operations
We wrote the other day about UL’s examination of 3D printing safety. When they finish, there could be significant trouble for many companies.
Stratasys’ Strategic Reaction to HP’s 3D Printing Technology?
We were initially puzzled by Stratasys’ peculiar lack of equipment announcements at this year’s EuroMold, but then it suddenly made a lot of sense.
Challenges Coming for 3D Printing In Space
NASA has launched an experimental 3D printer into orbit, but what challenges lay ahead? We believe there could be significant challenges to overcome.
MCOR’s Desktop 3D Paper Printing Aspirations?
For a few years now, MCOR Technologies has marketed a unique commercial 3D printer that uses paper. But what if they made one for personal use?
EuroMold 2014: Year of The Metal 3D Printer
When we first attended EuroMold, the 3D printers by and large were plastic. Now that’s changed. Significantly.
Three (Or More) New 3D Figurine Services
We noticed three new 3D printed figurine services, but we think there’s a lot more than just three.
David vs. Goliath in 3D Printing
Big companies face increasing pressure from lesser vendors as patents expire. How will they survive?
Is Black Friday The Day To Buy a 3D Printer?
In the United States, there’s this thing called “Black Friday”, the day when (apparently) everything is on sale. But is it a good day to buy a 3D printer?
What To Make With Metal 3D Printers?
Earlier this week we saw a 3D printed branding iron. Could this be the beginning of a new class of 3D prints?
3D Printing … On Sale Now at Walmart
Personal 3D printing has come a very long way in the past couple of years, touching the public increasingly frequently.
Easy Overmolding For Your 3D Prints
SolidSmack details a terrifically simple solution to apply overmolds to your 3D prints.
3D Printing Will Not Revolutionize the Food Industry
We’re watching a short video from MSN/CNN entitled, “3D Printing to Revolutionize the Food Industry”. We disagree.
3D Printed Robots from The Poppy Project
Robotics and often 3D printing go together and now there’s a project specifically for that.
There’s Something Curious About 3D Printer Stores
We’ve been informed of the opening of the fifth The 3D Printing Store in Houston. But is this part of a larger pattern?
Modio: Design Articulated 3D Models
Printed figurines can be amazing, but what about making them move? You can do so with Modio.
Gartner: Worldwide Shipments of 3D Printers to Reach More Than 217,000 in 2015
Worldwide shipments of 3D printers (3DPs) will reach 217,350 units in 2015, up from 108,151 in 2014, according to Gartner, Inc.’s latest forecast.
The Fabulous Dorito 3D Printer
Print Doritos in any shape!
Thoughts on HP’s Big Announcements Today
We’re still thinking through the two big HP announcements today and have some random thoughts of the implications.
The Case for Multiple 3D Tools
Isn’t there a single software tool that can do all 3D operations you need? No. Definitely not.
What is 3D Printing’s 0.5 Seconds?
In computer interface design, there are rules of thumb about response time. Are there similar rules for 3D printing?
Concerning the Weight of 3D Print Material
How much filament should you buy for your personal 3D printer? A kilo? Wait, that doesn’t work anymore.
The Lifecycle of a 3D Printing Company
The personal 3D printing space has now existed for at least five years. What stages do 3D printing companies move through as they grow?
There’s Too Many of These 3D Printing Things
Once in a while someone comes up with a new 3D printing concept. Then a great many others do the same thing.
3D Hubs Becomes Infrastructure
This is interesting: manufacturers use 3D Hubs as a 3D printing infrastructure provider.
Near-Instant Product Manufacturing via 3D Printing
WHYcase demonstrated the true power of 3D printing by creating a brand new manufactured product in only 7 days.
Personal 3D Printing Safety Concerns
You’ve bought and installed a 3D printer in your home. What should you be worried about?
Are 3D Printers Really Suitable for Homes?
A post in New Scientist is entitled, “3D printing’s future is the high street, not the home.” Is this true?
Stratasys to Replace the Mojo?
A few short years ago Stratasys introduced the “Mojo”, their lowest cost professional 3D printer. But is it about to be replaced?
3D Printing Stereotypes in Media
We’re looking at an animated video featuring a 3D printer, but not just to be entertained.
Did The Personal 3D Printing Market Suddenly Mature?
There’s been a change in how personal 3D printers are marketed; we think it could be because of market maturity.
Ultimaker Takes Over MakerBot’s Position?
In 2009 the champion of DIY 3D printing was MakerBot. In 2014 there could be a different champion.
Tom’s Reviews Popular 3D Print Services
Tom’s Guide recently reviewed four major 3D print services to gauge their pricing and service quality.
Stop Comparing 3D Printing to Mass Production!
It’s time to make it clear to everyone who asks: 3D printing isn’t mass production.
It’s October. What Will HP Announce?
Rumors continue to swirl regarding HP’s long-awaited entry to the 3D printing market.
The Blind Can See With 3D Printing
3D printing cannot restore eyesight, but it can provide tactile aids for those without sight.
Who Buys 3D Printer Kits, Anyway?
Is there still a market for 3D printer kits?
3D Printing Reawakens The Maker In You
100 years ago, people knew how to make things. They weren’t necessarily complex things, but they made them. Today, we’ve largely forgotten those skills.
A Bump on the 3D Road for Dremel?
With this week’s announcement that Dremel has launched a personal 3D printer to be marketed through major retail chains, we speculated on issues they may encounter.
iMakr’s Unique Retail Concept
While in London recently we were able to visit the iMakr store, one of the few dedicated resellers of personal 3D printer gear.
A Different Approach to 3D Printed Buildings?
We’re watching a fascinating video of a robot building a brick wall. But is this 3D printing?
The Challenges of Self-Made 3D Printer Filament
3D Hubs has been doing some experiments with their Filabot to prepare their own 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.
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.
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?
Afinia Releases an eBook
Most 3D printer manufacturers release, well, 3D printers. But Afinia is bucking the trend by releasing their own eBook.
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”.
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?
3D Printer Crowdfunding Suicide?
Daniel Brown created a very detailed analysis of crowdfunded 3D printer startups on his blog, 3D Prototypes and Models.
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.
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.
How Much 3D Printer Filament Do You Need?
There’s a slight trend emerging in the 3D printer filament market: volume shipments.
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.
3D Printing and Outsourcing Solves Innovation Dilemma
3D printing saved the day by enabling an innovative product to be developed in record time.
The Two Business Models of 3D Printing
We’re reading a post on The Motley Fool focusing on MCOR’s paper-powered 3D printer. It got us thinking about how 3D printing companies make their money.
What are the Odd Things To Look For in a Personal 3D Printer
Suppose you’re shopping for a personal 3D printer, like many folks seem to be doing these days. What features do you look for beyond the normal specs?
3D Printing UAVs Onboard Aircraft
Future 3D printers may be much more advanced than we see today, but that hasn’t stopped engineers at BAE Systems from imagining what one could do with them.
Interesting Color 3D Printing Capabilities with the ProJet 4500
We’re reading an interesting account of complex color 3D printing on the new 3D Systems ProJet 4500.
A Sports Opportunity for 3D Printing?
Some major sports teams have official products, such as an official drink or service. But why not have an official 3D printer?
Personal 3D Printing: A Billion Dollar Market?
A new report from SmarTech suggests the personal 3D printing market will soon exceed one billion US dollars.
What Does “Experimental 3D Printing” Mean, Anyway?
The phrase “experimental 3D printing” has been used by several manufacturers, but what does it really mean?
The Pros and Cons of Proprietary 3D Printing Filament
Some folks have very strong feelings regarding the use of proprietary filament by some 3D printer manufacturers. Are those feelings warranted?
The Lix 3D Pen Printer Controversy
We wrote about a new Kickstarter project last week, the Lix 3D Pen Printer. But now some believe it cannot actually work.
Is 3D Printing Technology’s Rapid Progress Hurting the Industry?
We’re wondering if the constant and rapid developments in 3D printing technology could hinder growth. But how could this be? There has never been a time in history when more 3D printing technology can be purchased at such low prices?
Is Google or Apple Developing a 3D Printer?
Rumors echo through the interwebs suggesting that Google AND Apple are developing 3D printers. But are they really?
A Recursive 3D Printer?
People have worked on the idea of self-replicating 3D printers for years now. But what would happen if that goal were achieved?
Autodesk’s Spark Causes Collateral Damage?
Last week Autodesk announced Spark, an initiative to standardize things 3D printing, and a “reference 3D printer” using those specifications. We think this could be trouble for some.
More 3D Printed Airplanes?
3D Systems announced they’ve shipped a huge number of machines to the aerospace industry. What could this mean?
Making Long Duration 3D Prints More Reliable
The most spectacular 3D prints are often those that take a significant length of time to print. But how do you ensure the print completes?
Tokyo Man Busted for 3D Printed Weapons
According to a report on NHK and BBC, Tokyo resident Yoshitomo Imura has been arrested by Japanese police.
Who are the Leading Personal 3D Printing Companies?
With the seemingly weekly arrival of new personal 3D printers and manufacturers, one has to wonder which companies are “winning”. We’ll take a stab at it.
3D Printing’s Fascination With Vases
What’s the most frequently produced item on personal 3D printers? We don’t know – and probably no one knows – but we wouldn’t be surprised if it was Vases.
Why So Few 3D Print Filament Recyclers?
Every once in a while we see a “filament recycler” product emerge. But you don’t hear much about them. Why is that?
Todd Grimm on 3D Printing’s Future
In the Additive Manufacturing User Group conference’s first keynote, industry expert Todd Grimm laid out his view of the 3D Printing landscape, highlighting many of the technologies and trends that are driving the industry.
Will the Cheap 3D Printers Succeed?
It used to be that to spend USD$500 on a 3D printer, you’d expect to receive a bag of parts and spend your time building it yourself. Not so anymore – or not?