Or should we say, “Strategies”. We’re having a very hard time keeping track of 3D Systems content products. They’ve been rapidly acquiring existing 3D content providers while at the same time developing their own. They’ve entered into partnerships with untold numbers of other 3D services as well. Why are they doing this? To promote… Continue reading 3D Systems’ Digital Content Strategy
Ideas
The Scoop on ABS and PLA
Most personal 3D printers use PLA or ABS plastic, but how much do you actually know about these materials? Aside from the fact that ABS’s melting temperature is somewhat higher than PLA, and that ABS is somewhat stronger than PLA, most 3D printer owners could be challenged to say more. Don’t fear: there is… Continue reading The Scoop on ABS and PLA
A 100% Plastic 3D Printer?
Many designs of self-reproducing 3D printers have been produced and built; that’s the goal of the RepRap project. But are they truly reproducing themselves? Not exactly; the machines are – so far – only capable of reproducing most of the major plastic components, such as the image above, which was apparently the very first… Continue reading A 100% Plastic 3D Printer?
Five 3D Printer Buying Decisions
When you’ve decided to buy a 3D printer there are some questions you should ask yourself before proceeding. The current array of buyable 3D printers is the largest in the history of the world, so having some parameters to make a decision is a good thing. The questions are actually not about 3D printers,… Continue reading Five 3D Printer Buying Decisions
The Boiling Cauldron of 3D Printing: China
For some time now we’ve been interested in detailing the 3D printing space in China, but it seems that it’s a lot harder to analyze. Every time we take a look there seems to be new 3D printers and new 3D printing companies. That’s the norm in China these days: huge competition and a… Continue reading The Boiling Cauldron of 3D Printing: China
The World’s First Snap Together 3D Printer
Designed in 2011 at a local machine shop in Fullerton, California, the modular Snap 3D printer has come a long way in the past few years. Originally constructed from wood and held together with store bought components, today’s Snap 3D has become a fully functional 3D printer capable of servicing the prototyping needs of… Continue reading The World’s First Snap Together 3D Printer
Thoughts on MakerBot’s Curious Replicator Z18
Of all the 3D printers marketed by MakerBot since its founding, we find the Replicator Z18 to be the most curious. While previous models (and even the new Mini and Replicator) seemed to be logical extensions and modifications of prior units, the Z18 is quite different: It’s in a completely different price range: whereas… Continue reading Thoughts on MakerBot’s Curious Replicator Z18
The Rise of Resin 3D Printers
There was something quite unusual about the 3D printer manufacturers exhibiting at CES 2014 versus those exhibiting the previous year. At the London 3D Printshow, for example, we saw dozens of plastic filament machines, typically regionally focused. At CES 2014 we saw multiple resin-based 3D printers. It seems that the expiration of patents has… Continue reading The Rise of Resin 3D Printers
Two 3D Printing Companies, Two Big Stars
Some outside the 3D printing community have a hard time connecting with the latest happenings. It can be quite technical at times and it’s even more difficult to relate that technology to one’s personal life. This connection is critical for 3D printing companies because that’s how you persuade the public to buy your products: find… Continue reading Two 3D Printing Companies, Two Big Stars
Finally, a 3D Printer Statistic
At CES 2014 MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis dropped a stat we’d been waiting to hear. Pettis claimed that MakerBot has sold and shipped over 44,000 MakerBot 3D printers so far. We’re excited because such information is very hard to come by from 3D printer manufacturers. While most manufacturers will claim (correctly) that their sales… Continue reading Finally, a 3D Printer Statistic
SLS 3D Printing: At Home?
Patents related to the SLS 3D printing process are about to expire. SLS stands for Selective Laser Sintering, a process where a layer of powder is selectively melted by a laser, gradually forming an object. Up to now, the technology has been exclusively used by 3D Systems, who owns the relevant patents. After Stratasys’… Continue reading SLS 3D Printing: At Home?
Keeping The Heat in 3D Printing
Most 3D printer owners quickly discover the perils of printing ABS plastic in a cold or even room temperature environment. The quirky material shrinks a small amount when it cools after emerging from the hot extruder. This often leads to warping, as the lower portions of the print shrink and the newer portions are still… Continue reading Keeping The Heat in 3D Printing
The Six Challenges of 3D Food Printing
Yesterday we wrote on TNO’s work towards the challenge of 3D printed food. They’ve been experimenting with various processes and even combined their work with that of traditional chefs to create unique high-end dishes. But from a 3D printing point of view, we see a series of rather difficult challenges that must be worked… Continue reading The Six Challenges of 3D Food Printing
Top 10 Handheld 3D Scanning Tips
At the Fabbaloo Lab we’ve performed 3D scans using a variety of handheld scanning equipment, ranging from el-cheapo Microsoft Kinect hacks to pricey USD$50K units. The experience can be both frustrating and elating; it’s normally a learning process of discovering what to do and what not to do. Today we thought we’d list a few… Continue reading Top 10 Handheld 3D Scanning Tips
What Will Happen at CES 2014?
This week is the annual Consumer Electronics Show, where in recent years the 3D printing industry has gained a foothold; many 3D printing companies now present their story at booths on the trade show floor. So many 3D printing companies now exhibit at the show that organizers have placed them all within a kind of… Continue reading What Will Happen at CES 2014?
Which 3D Designs Are Worth The Money?
While it’s easy (if you know how to search) find free 3D models for printing on Thingiverse, there are several sites offering pay-for 3D models. In a world where there are literally hundreds of thousands of free models, which ones would people purchase for cash? 3D model site 3DAGOGO offers a selection of free… Continue reading Which 3D Designs Are Worth The Money?
Four Possibly Crazy Predictions for 3D Printing in 2014
It’s that time of year again. The fresh new year has sprouted and we now must contemplate things that may come to pass in 2014. HP Enters the 3D Printing Marketplace – Again: Some years ago HP struck a deal with Stratasys to relabel and resell their uPrint line of (then) inexpensive commercial 3D… Continue reading Four Possibly Crazy Predictions for 3D Printing in 2014
Wait, How Big Will 3D Printing Become?
Market Intelligence company IDC forecasts 3D printing will grow “ten times” by 2017 and that “worldwide hardware value will more than double in the short term.” They suggest that 2D printer companies such as HP and Konica Minolta may enter the 3D market by partnering with existing 3D printing companies. The forecasted growth… Continue reading Wait, How Big Will 3D Printing Become?
3D Printing Tall!
Most 3D printers have a significant limitation: size. The build volume dictates much about the things you produce on your device. Typically stated as a three axis volume, and rarely in liters, your standard personal 3D printer likely has a build volume of between 100-200mm per axis. Some machines have a relatively small volume,… Continue reading 3D Printing Tall!
Something’s Going on at MakerBot
It finally hit us: something’s happening at MakerBot recently. We’ve noticed a couple of actual sales of their equipment, culminating with this rather striking Amazon deal. For the price of USD$2,799, you can obtain: A Replicator 2 A Digitizer Two spools of plastic filament Normally, this combination would sell separately for $3,695, but… Continue reading Something’s Going on at MakerBot
China Filament for your 3D Printer: Yes or No?
Owners of personal 3D printers require a supply of plastic filament to fuel their favorite device, but where should they purchase it from? The obvious and first answer is to simply buy it from the manufacturer of your printer. Most manufacturers, especially the larger manufacturers, often have a division that will sell you a… Continue reading China Filament for your 3D Printer: Yes or No?
Public or Private? How Ownership Affects 3D Printing Companies
There are two kinds of 3D printer companies these days: privately held or publicly traded. We believe the company type affects how they interact with the rest of the industry. Most small firms are privately held by the founders or a small group of investors. The largest companies, most notably Stratasys and 3D Systems,… Continue reading Public or Private? How Ownership Affects 3D Printing Companies
Lulzbot Simplifies Life for a Mouthguard Manufacturer
We’re reading a case study in which manufacturer Megalodon Sports managed to save considerable cash and time by 3D printing prototypes of their new mouthguard product. Now, we know you’re thinking that this is going to be one of those standard stories where a manufacturer saves thousands by moving their prototyping from expensive CNC… Continue reading Lulzbot Simplifies Life for a Mouthguard Manufacturer
The Growth of 3D Printing Stocks
This blog has a number of years under its belt. We first published on October 27th, 2007, a period when 3D printing was not well known outside of a small set of industrial users. Much has happened since then. At that time there were two major 3D printing companies, 3D Systems and Stratasys, who… Continue reading The Growth of 3D Printing Stocks
Who Will Stratasys Acquire Next?
While attending EuroMold the other week we happened to listen in to a media talk by Stratasys CEO David Reis, who spoke about Stratasys’ progress over the past year. But one part of his talk was more intriguing than the rest. Reis explained that Stratasys had issued shares several months ago to raise funds.… Continue reading Who Will Stratasys Acquire Next?
Continuum Fashion Speaks
Mary Huang, co-founder of Continuum Fashion recently spoke at a LeWeb event, where she described some of their work to produce ready-to-wear 3D printed shoes. Ms. Huang explained the basics of 3D printing, which is still new to many. It seems that 3D printing with desktop equipment is actually quite suitable for the production… Continue reading Continuum Fashion Speaks
Is 3D Hubs’ 3D Printer Report Accurate?
The other day we reported on 3D Hubs most recent statistical analysis, in which they provided a list of what they consider to be the most popular 3D printers – at least in their scope of operation. The report generated comments and criticism, as the results were believed inaccurate by some readers. They’re right… Continue reading Is 3D Hubs’ 3D Printer Report Accurate?
Making Stuff Beyond 3D Printing
Those new to personal 3D printing may still glow from the thrill of creating objects simply by pushing the “print” button. It is always amazing to see objects appear from nothing and then hold them in your hand. But is this the end of it? Will you simply print plastic items? Not necessarily.… Continue reading Making Stuff Beyond 3D Printing
Commercial 3D Printer Companies Focusing on Efficiency
At this year’s EuroMold trade show we were able to check out a number of commercial 3D printer companies. These are the organizations that produce the large scale devices capable of printing in exotic materials such as metal, nylon and even ceramics. They’re well beyond the price range of personal 3D printer owners, but the… Continue reading Commercial 3D Printer Companies Focusing on Efficiency
The Most Popular 3D Printers Are…
3D printer service 3D Hubs knows quite a bit about the state of personal 3D printers because it’s their business. They provide a service where folks with idle 3D printers can accept 3D print work for payment from the public. By tracking the changes in their population of 3D printer participants, 3D Hubs can… Continue reading The Most Popular 3D Printers Are…
How Good Can 3D Print Resolution Get?
Aside from research experiments in atomic-sized 3D printing, you might wonder what kind of ultimate 3D printing resolution could be achieved. Most personal 3D printers use a plastic filament-based process, which really doesn’t provide the best resolution. Typically prints are printed at a layer size no smaller than 0.1mm, simply because the visual appearance… Continue reading How Good Can 3D Print Resolution Get?
Could 3D Print Recycling Be Dangerous?
Recently several ventures have attempted to produce devices for producing your own 3D printer plastic filament. The idea is that you can purchase plastic pellets at a fraction of the price of filament, feed them into the filament machine, which then extrudes filament for you to spool. There’s another way to use these devices:… Continue reading Could 3D Print Recycling Be Dangerous?
The Fatal Paradox of Plastic Extrusion 3D Printing
There are several questions always asked by the public about personal 3D printing whenever they are exposed to the technology. They want to know: How big of an object can I print? Is there a way to get rid of those unsightly layer lines? Why does printing take so long?!! The answers have… Continue reading The Fatal Paradox of Plastic Extrusion 3D Printing
What 3D Printers Will Be Announced at CES 2014?
Last year at CES 2013 in Las Vegas we saw the start of a pattern: two significant personal 3D printers we announced. Both MakerBot and 3D Systems showed off new flagship devices. As they have not released any new machines since then, we suspect they both plan big announcements. But what could they be?… Continue reading What 3D Printers Will Be Announced at CES 2014?
Extending the Ban on 3D Printed Weapons
A story in the Guardian describes the work by New York Senator Chuck Schumer to extend the ban on “undetectable guns” before it expires on December the 9th of this year. Obviously this work was inspired by recent events where working guns were produced on 3D printers – although the weapons produced were by… Continue reading Extending the Ban on 3D Printed Weapons
The Ethical Filament Foundation
Do you know where your 3D printer plastic filament came from? Do you know who produced it, and how they did it? Is it possible you purchased 3D printer filament that was made by children, perhaps in dangerous environments? It seems that some filament is produced in third world countries by having the poor… Continue reading The Ethical Filament Foundation
Most 3D Scans are In Jail
Every few weeks we are bombarded with press releases from research organizations that are keen to tell the story of how they have captured in great detail a 3D scan of a building or property. Museums in particular are getting into the scanning business. It’s thought that the Smithsonian, for example, has hundreds, perhaps thousands… Continue reading Most 3D Scans are In Jail
The 3D Printing Patent Backlash Begins
It was inevitable, but the personal 3D printing community is not reacting well to the announcement by Stratasys that it was suing Afinia for patent infringement. It seems that the feeling is that other new 3D printer manufacturers might also become legal targets as patented technology could be found in their equipment. The image… Continue reading The 3D Printing Patent Backlash Begins
Apple Takes a Big Step Towards 3D Printing
Reports this week that Apple has purchased 3D sensor maker Primesense got us thinking about what this might mean in the future. But first, what happened? An Israeli news site broke the story of Israel-based Primesense in negotiations with Apple for an acquisition said to be in the more-than-USD$300M range. Primesense produces 3D sensors… Continue reading Apple Takes a Big Step Towards 3D Printing
The War on 3D Printed ABS
It was the first plastic used in personal 3D printers, but are ABS’s days coming to an end? The once popular plastic seems to be supplanted by PLA. In fact during the recent 3D Printshow in London we encountered many 3D printer manufacturers who simply dismissed ABS as something they didn’t want to support… Continue reading The War on 3D Printed ABS
3D Printed Robotic Futures
Michael Overstreet has written his thoughts on the future of robotics as affected by 3D printing on i.Materialise. He believes that 3D printing should encourage rapid creation of new forms of robotics over the next few years. Clearly, the first and most obvious point is that robotic models and associated ideas are accessible via… Continue reading 3D Printed Robotic Futures
3D Scanning and Lighting
MakerBot recently issued some tips and instructions on how to best use their new Digitizer 3D scanner, with a focus on lighting. We’ve been fiddling with 3D scanners in the lab and have to agree: lighting is critical. Regardless of the scanner used, be it MakerBot’s, a cheap Kinect or a USD$50K scanner, lighting… Continue reading 3D Scanning and Lighting
McDonald’s Considering 3D Printed Toys?
A report in The Register quotes the Director of IT for McDonald’s UK operation as stating at an event in Munich that the giant food mega-corp may be considering using 3D printers to produce small toys to be included in their popular (amongst youngsters) Happy Meals. We suspect the idea would be that customers… Continue reading McDonald’s Considering 3D Printed Toys?
University of Pennsylvania’s Take on 3D Print Liability Law
Nora Freeman Engstrom, Associate Professor of Law at Stanford has published a paper in which she examines some aspects of the legal implications of 3D printing. Many of us have been concerned about what may happen, but she states the problem eloquently: Following any significant technological breakthrough, legal scholars, practitioners, and policymakers must consider… Continue reading University of Pennsylvania’s Take on 3D Print Liability Law
3D Printing Not Ready for Disaster Relief
An article on Motherboard suggests that 3D printers may soon be a key part of disaster relief efforts. The idea is that if you had a “replicator” onsite that could rapidly produce whatever items are required (which obviously vary considerably from disaster to disaster), you could reduce delays in gathering up and sending specific… Continue reading 3D Printing Not Ready for Disaster Relief
3D Printed Horseshoes Opens Up Human Possibilities
Researchers at Australia’s CSIRO have 3D printed metal horseshoes – but there’s a lot more to this story. The titanium shoes were produced for a particular horse: its hooves were 3D scanned in detail with a handheld scanner. The 3D capture was used to engineer new horseshoes that fit the horse perfectly. Four shoes… Continue reading 3D Printed Horseshoes Opens Up Human Possibilities
Ancient 3D Printer Converted Into a Laser Engraver
Some months ago we proposed a list of things you could do with your now-expired ancient personal 3D printers. We said you could upgrade them; use them for simple prints; donate them; toss them out; or make them into a museum piece. At the time we considered museuming as the best option for our… Continue reading Ancient 3D Printer Converted Into a Laser Engraver
Stratasys Strategy in a Post-Patent World
Stratasys, one of the largest 3D printing companies in the world today, faces transition. While the company built itself upon the FDM (fused deposition modeling) process it invented years ago, the patent for that process has expired. With the expiration of the key patents, other organizations have replicated (no pun intended) the process and… Continue reading Stratasys Strategy in a Post-Patent World
Nine Crazy Features That Should Be Built Into Every 3D Printer
Anyone who owns a personal 3D printer begins to think up features that would make their life easier. A few innovative startup companies actually have implemented some of them, but we’d love to see a personal 3D printer with all of these radically useful capabilities. Failure Detector. The worst is to discover, the next… Continue reading Nine Crazy Features That Should Be Built Into Every 3D Printer
Thoughts on Stratasys Growth
We’re reading an interesting article on Investors.com that talks about the investment potential of 3D printing industry giant Stratasys. The author, Marie Beerens, seems keen on Stratasys because she sees their recent additions of Objet and MakerBot as “adding complementary systems to its portfolio” and “give Stratasys an even stronger foothold in the 3D… Continue reading Thoughts on Stratasys Growth
Three Ways to Embed Bolts in Your 3D Prints
Courtesy of industrial designer David Bernhardt, we’ve been able to examine this example of embedding bolts. Actually, the piece demonstrates not one, but three different ways to put a bolt in your print. The first way is visually obvious – the head of the bolt is inside the print, while the shaft is free. … Continue reading Three Ways to Embed Bolts in Your 3D Prints
An Overview of 3D Printing Intellectual Property Law
Patent attorney Bryan J. Vogel provides a reasonably brief overview of the legal aspects beginning to face the 3D printing industry in a post on Bloomberg Law. Vogel explains in simple terms the differences between patents, trade secrets, trademark and copyright where the legal battles will likely be fought in the future as 3D… Continue reading An Overview of 3D Printing Intellectual Property Law
Who’s Your 3D Printing Guru?
While 3D printing has become significantly less complex, it is still beyond the realm of casual consumer use. The workflow from digital model to physical print involves skills, experience and tools that are daunting to most consumers, even though they can be handled by techies. If this sounds like a familiar situation, you’d be… Continue reading Who’s Your 3D Printing Guru?
3D Printing for Math Professors and You, Too
We’re looking at a PDF, strangely stored on Thingiverse, where one normally finds 3D models. The PDF is an academic document entitled, “3D Printing for Math Professors and Their Students”. It’s exactly that: a paper taking the reader through the process of linking mathematics and 3D printing. Yes, this means generating intricate 3D models… Continue reading 3D Printing for Math Professors and You, Too
Should You 3D Print in ABS or PLA?
This is a question asked by almost all 3D printer owners at one point in their machine ownership: should I print in ABS or PLA plastic? Of course, the question could be implicitly answered if your machine is not able to print both plastics. Some machines, particularly recently designed units, are PLA-only units. If… Continue reading Should You 3D Print in ABS or PLA?
And The Top 3D Printing Country Is…
Brooklyn, London, Silicon Valley: Hot spots for 3D printing, correct? They are indeed, but there are other areas where you’ll find an unnatural amount of 3D printing manufacturers, operators and activity, like Israel or The Netherlands. We wondered how to find these hot spots. And then we figured out a way to do… Continue reading And The Top 3D Printing Country Is…
The 3D Printing Embedding Trick
Want to know a trick that could make your 3D prints a lot more useful? It’s called embedding. It’s a way to include alternate materials in your 3D print and it works on almost any 3D printer. It’s so easy you’ll wonder why you didn’t figure it out yourself. You simply stop the print… Continue reading The 3D Printing Embedding Trick
3D Printing in Tesco?
If you reside in the UK, it’s more than likely you’ve been buying groceries from your neighborhood Tesco. But soon you may be picking you your 3D prints there, too. In a report published by V3, Tesco’s IT Chief Mike McNamara postulated about a future world where Tesco shoppers could pick up 3D prints… Continue reading 3D Printing in Tesco?
Big Step to Reduce Materials in 3D Printing
One of the reasons 3D printing remains expensive is because so much material is required to create a structurally sound part. Soon, 3D prints might be getting cheaper due to a new technique that enhances a part’s structure while reducing material. A paper written by researchers at the University of Science and Technology of… Continue reading Big Step to Reduce Materials in 3D Printing
7 Success Factors For Your 3D Print Business
We recently listed three types of 3D print businesses you probably shouldn’t try to launch, but we thought we’d list some factors that we believe could make your 3D print business venture a lot more successful. Uniqueness. You can’t do the same thing as other companies; you must offer something different and unique to… Continue reading 7 Success Factors For Your 3D Print Business
Three 3D Print Businesses You Probably Should Not Launch
Over the past couple of years, interest in 3D printing has exploded. Today more than at any time in the past, more people are aware of 3D printing. It’s the perfect time to launch a new business in the 3D print universe, right? Not necessarily. We’ve seen so many new businesses… Continue reading Three 3D Print Businesses You Probably Should Not Launch
3D Printing Arrives in Argentina with Kikai Labs
3D printing is now inexpensive and this means its use can become widespread very rapidly. Argentina-based Kikai Labs hopes to carry 3D printing forward in South America, with their own locally produced 3D printer design. While their virtual store currently operates in Argentina, they apparently will open up sales in neighboring Uruguay soon. … Continue reading 3D Printing Arrives in Argentina with Kikai Labs
Watch: 3D Print Smoothing with Acetone
Bracken Dawson and James Bruton of So Make It, the Southampton Makerspace, demonstrate the acetone smoothing technique for ABS prints in a recent video. The technique is well-known, but can be tricky and is also potentially dangerous if you’re not careful. Nevertheless, the duo walk you through the acetone process, demonstrating issues such as… Continue reading Watch: 3D Print Smoothing with Acetone
3D Printer Vaporware
Tom’s Hardware has a thought provoking article on the notion of 3D printer “vaporware”. “Vaporware” originally referred to software that was splashingly announced, but didn’t quite come through with the goods later. Scott Dunham of Tom’s Hardware believes the same phenomenon is now occurring in 3D printing. It’s not happening at the corporate level,… Continue reading 3D Printer Vaporware
3D Printers at the Library
You can’t afford your own 3D printer, or are too timid to jump into the hardware to build one from a kit. You don’t want to use a 3D print service because you don’t quite understand what it’s all about. What do you do? Go to the Library! A growing trend is for local… Continue reading 3D Printers at the Library
The 3D Printer Cycle Time
At this time a new iPhone has been announced and is flooding stores in many countries. You’ll see people gleefully lining up to replace their 12-month old previous phone as fast as they possibly can. We don’t see this in the 3D printing world, but should we? A pattern of personal 3D printer… Continue reading The 3D Printer Cycle Time
The Zim 3D Personal Printer
It’s another week and obviously time for another new 3D printer launch on Kickstarter. This week the Zim 3D printer launched, hoping to raise funds for its first production run. With new 3D printers launch almost daily, it is very difficult for new entrants to distinguish themselves above the other offerings. What does Zim… Continue reading The Zim 3D Personal Printer
Pushing the 3D Printing Envelope
There’s a new 3D model pattern slowly emerging within the 3D print community that should lead to much more interesting printable objects. In the early years, 3D printers were not particularly reliable or capable. In fact, they still could be considered so, but they have improved somewhat in the past year as manufacturers tune… Continue reading Pushing the 3D Printing Envelope
The Thing Tracker Proposal
How many things are there? It seems like a silly question, but hear us out. There are many possible things. An infinite number of them, in fact. With the availability of 3D printers and 3D modeling software, it is now possible to create, literally, an infinite number of things. This is the problem facing… Continue reading The Thing Tracker Proposal
7 Things To Ask Yourself Before Buying a 3D Printer
You’re considering buying a 3D printer for your own use? There are things to think about before you take the plunge: Time. 3D printing anything takes much time. Not only the printing itself typically takes hours, but 3D model preparation and finishing also can take a lot of time. If you don’t have at… Continue reading 7 Things To Ask Yourself Before Buying a 3D Printer
Not Quite a Nuclear 3D Print
Some 3D models are lousy for 3D printing – they may be difficult to print, expensive or just plain dull. But this one is interesting. As you can see, it’s a mushroom cloud from a nuclear explosion. With an LED light installed in a version printed in plastic of the correct translucency, it looks great.… Continue reading Not Quite a Nuclear 3D Print
TTP’s Multimaterial 3D Print Head
Perhaps the most significant technology barrier in 3D printing today is the limitation of materials. Most 3D printers can produce only a single material at a time. Some manufacturers have short-circuited this problem slightly by adding additional print heads to enable more than one material, and only one (Stratasys) has the technology to mix… Continue reading TTP’s Multimaterial 3D Print Head
The Factors You Pay For In A 3D Printer
Shopping for a 3D printer? What should you look for? Everyone knows how to shop for common items, such as cars or computers (well, perhaps excepting your grandparents), but what do you look for in a 3D printer? What are the key characteristics that define the device? Process: How does the printer work? Is… Continue reading The Factors You Pay For In A 3D Printer
New Ventures Focus on 3D Printing
We’ve seen multiple examples of companies starting up that make use of 3D printing for a specific purpose, be it artificial legs, figurines or automotive items. But now we’re seeing design firms emerge that are dedicated solely to 3D printed designs. One such firm is Innovation Factory of Chicago, who can design, prototype, fund… Continue reading New Ventures Focus on 3D Printing
The 3D Printing Retail Scenario
Not that many years ago the personal 3D printing market was populated entirely by sales from obscure online websites, typically in kit form. At the time this type of sales approach matched the early adopters who used personal 3D printing at the time. However, as interest increased, some manufacturers sought to increase their sales… Continue reading The 3D Printing Retail Scenario
Four MakerBot Digitizer Implications
We’re certain most of you have heard of MakerBot’s latest device: The Digitizer. It’s a relatively inexpensive 3D scanner designed for prosumer use. As the first 3D scanner that could hit a mass audience, we pondered what it might mean. What happens when large numbers of people own a 3D scanner. Here’s our predictions: … Continue reading Four MakerBot Digitizer Implications
How Big is the Space 3D Printing Market?
At the moment there are no 3D printers in space, so you’d think there’s no market for such things. We disagree. It’s possible that one of the biggest future markets for 3D printers will be beyond mother Earth, in space where the future will be built. By 3D printers. The single, most important… Continue reading How Big is the Space 3D Printing Market?
3D Printing an Injection Mold?
The traditional process for making plastic parts is to first create a metal mold into which hot plastic is injected. After the plastic cools, remove the mold and you have your plastic part. This is called, “injection molding”. People owning a 3D printer have wondered how to print a injection-capable mold, but it’s obviously… Continue reading 3D Printing an Injection Mold?
Apple’s Tiny Step into 3D
Shortly after we suggested Apple won’t be 3D printing anytime soon, they took a teeny tiny step in that direction. According to a report on AppleInsider, Apple has patented a system for accepting 3D input. As you can see in the diagram (and much more available at AppleInsider), hand gestures would capture 3D movements… Continue reading Apple’s Tiny Step into 3D
A Visit to the iMakr 3D Printer Store
On our recent visit to the UK we happened to drop by the iMakr store, which is one of the very few, perhaps the only, true retail store focused entirely on 3D printing. It’s tagline is “The World’s largest 3D Printing Store”, and we think they could be right.
Unboxing a Type A Machine Series 1
Andrew Mazzotta from 3DHacker has released another video, this time of him unboxing the Series 1 personal 3D printer from Type A Machines. This printer is known for its relatively large build volume very high resolution.
The unit Mazzotta puts together is a pre-assembled version, otherwise the video would be a bit longer.
The unit Mazzotta puts together is a pre-assembled version, otherwise the video would be a bit longer.
Lexus Creates 3D Printed Car-Mice For iPads
This is one of the more unusual uses of 3D printing we’ve seen. Apparently car maker Lexus exhibited their current vehicles at the recent 2013 Seoul Motor Show in Korea. At their display was an “Interactive Table” holding several bolted-down iPads.
7 Things You Probably Won’t 3D Print At Home Any Time Soon
Some people, usually those just introduced to 3D printing, often believe the technology is capable of printing “anything”, in the manner of a Star Trek replicator. That, of course, is not the case. There are many limitations in the technology and indeed within each type of 3D printing process. This means there are things… Continue reading 7 Things You Probably Won’t 3D Print At Home Any Time Soon
A 3D Printing Workshop AND Cafe in Buenos Aires
The neighborhood of Palermo in Buenos Aires is known for its restaurants, but this one is somewhat unique: The 3D Lab Fab & Cafe offers patrons not only coffee and food, but also access to 3D printing technology. They say: In 3DLab Fab&Café we provide you the cutting edge technology of digital fabrication in… Continue reading A 3D Printing Workshop AND Cafe in Buenos Aires
HBO Clips a 3D Print Artist
HBO has squashed a new 3D printed product by nuPROTO 3D print artist Fernando Sosa. The product, “Throne Dock” is an iPhone/Android docking station inspired by the hugely popular HBO series, “Game of Thrones”. At first, it seems like a good idea: “Let your friends and coworkers tremble at the sight of your Throne… Continue reading HBO Clips a 3D Print Artist
3D Printing Spinal Implants
A new era of orthopedic surgery is taking shape at Peking University. Armed with an Electron Beam Melting (EBM) 3D printer, doctors are able to create titanium implants that fit perfectly with a patient’s body. Over the course of the last four years, Dr. Liu Zhongjun has been using EBM 3D printing to develop new… Continue reading 3D Printing Spinal Implants
Follow the White Rabbit, the 3D Printed One
In the classic movie, The Matrix, Neo is challenged by a mysterious online message to “Follow the White Rabbit”. Such a rabbit appears before Neo who follows it all the way to the famous quote from Morpheus: “You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole… Continue reading Follow the White Rabbit, the 3D Printed One
5 Things To Make With Your 3D Printer
You’ve got your first personal 3D printer. You’re excited to make things, and have already finished printing a few samples that came with the device. Now what? Here’s some ideas you might consider making: Art: There is a surprising amount of fascinating artwork you can 3D print at home. While we don’t know… Continue reading 5 Things To Make With Your 3D Printer
The Smells of 3D Printing
Everyone is fascinated by the process of 3D printing. Objects seem to appear (albeit slowly) right out of thin air. Beyond the visual experience, most people also note the sounds of 3D printing, which in today’s 3D printers are much less evident than earlier models. But there’s another experience: smell. While your 3D printer… Continue reading The Smells of 3D Printing
Will Apple Get Into 3D Printing?
We think no. Apple will not get into 3D printing anytime soon. There’s several reasons we take this view. First, remember that Apple’s mantra is to produce “insanely great” products, products that have an ease of use that is significantly better than previous offerings from competitors. Can Apple achieve this goal in 3D… Continue reading Will Apple Get Into 3D Printing?
3D Printed Hermit Crab Cities
It’s not a city “of” hermit crabs, it’s a city that a hermit crab can carry around. Japanese artist Aki Inomata developed a 3D printed replacement shell for hermit crabs that includes a tiny model city on its back. Thus, when the crab wanders, it takes the city with it. Inomata says: I… Continue reading 3D Printed Hermit Crab Cities
How To Deal With An Old 3D Printer
Personal 3D printing has been evolving at a very rapid rate over the past 3-4 years. It’s been proceeding so fast that you might find yourself equipped with a few older, obsolete models that idle powerless in the corner of your workshop. What should you do with these ancient, no-longer-useful 3D printers? Here’s some… Continue reading How To Deal With An Old 3D Printer
It’s Time For Filament Standardization
Some 3D printer manufacturers have moved to proprietary filament cartridges, but many 3D printers are still capable of using generic plastic filament. Why go proprietary? Aside from the obvious solidification of plastic revenue, manufacturers want to ensure a more reliable and consistent printing result by using filament that meets their requirements. Meanwhile, generic… Continue reading It’s Time For Filament Standardization
The Biggest and Fastest Growing Industry: 3D Printing?
An infographic from MyCorporation proposes a list of the “Biggest and Fastest Growing” businesses of 2013. Included on the list are: Green and Sustainable Energy Personal Care Social Network Games Mobile Apps Generic Pharmacy and, of course, 3D printing. The list makes sense to us. Everything points to green, especially those wind… Continue reading The Biggest and Fastest Growing Industry: 3D Printing?
Should Test-Tube Burgers Be 3D Printed?
Should the new test-tube hamburger meat be 3D printed? Short answer: yes. Long answer: hold on, what are we talking about here? This week marks the debut of lab-cultured meat. It’s real beef, but the difference is that it did not come from cattle. It was produced by growing beef muscle tissue… Continue reading Should Test-Tube Burgers Be 3D Printed?