Pellets are slowly becoming a more popular 3D printing material, but there is one surprising reason this is so.
Ideas
A Brilliant Solution for 3D Scanning
If youāve even used a handheld 3D scanner, you know whatās going to happen.
Bricks: A Different Kind of Voxel
Iām looking at an Australian company that seems to have produced a 3D printer, but don’t call it one.
What’s After Voxel Level 3D Printing?
There is another level of 3D printing that no one has yet attained.
3D Print Education – In All Forms
Across the world, we are now seeing the seeds of the future for 3D printing.
Should You Participate In A 3D Printer Beta Program?
Sometimes youāll hear about a ābetaā program. Whatās that all about, and should you participate?
There is No “Best 3D Printer”, Unless There Is One For You
I read with amusement an investment piece proclaiming the ābest 3D printersā.
Intelligent 3D Scanning Could Open Up New 3D Printing Applications
Some interesting research at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 3D scanning may offer some very intriguing possibilities.
Try Before You Buy: The New 3D Printer Business Model
Iām reading a release from 3D printer manufacturer Intamsys that suggests a new style of business model is evolving.
The Temptation of Non-Foodsafe 3D Prints
There is a problem that I see unfolding everyday.
What are “Digitally Augmented Additive Manufacturing Parts” and How Could They Work?
Rize announced something they call āDigitally Augmented Additive Manufacturing Partsā and while very promising, faces a steep path to adoption.
Insurance May Be The Key to 3D Printing Safety
Yes, it apparently happened again. Someoneās house burned because of a 3D printer.
Could Voice Ever Be A 3D Interface?
Iām giggling over Xometryās April Foolās joke, but then had a thought.
3D Printing Is a Game Changer for Dentistry
Replacement teeth and dental appliances arenāt new technology
When You Can’t 3D Print It
There are times when complex objects cannot be 3D printed.
What Happens When Flexible Gets Large
BigRep announced a new material that has my mind buzzing about what might happen.
Could Dedicated 3D Print Factories Be The Future?
As manufacturing moves more strongly into 3D printing, there is a question about how it will be implemented.
Are Robots the Answer for 3D Printer Operation? Probably Not
A video from Mashable shows a robotic prototype operating MakerBot 3D printers.
Is Mass Customization To Take Over?
There is now another form of manufacturing becoming available: mass customization. But will it become ubiquitous?
It’s Time For An Adapter Generator
Thereās something Iād like to see: a universal adapter generator.
A Proposal to Prevent 3D Printed Weapons?
Iām reading a research paper that proposes a machine-learning approach to stopping the evils of 3D printed weapons.
Why Is It So Hard To Buy 3D Printer Filament?
Sometimes it is just too difficult to buy 3D printer filament from some companies.
Automated 3D Printing: How Industrial Additive Manufacturing Is Evolving
For years, science fiction has portrayed images of robots and appliances catering to every need and whim of human managers completely automatically.
The Competitive Path of Resin 3D Printers
The more things happen, the more things are the same.
How to Use TELEPORTATION to Speed Up R&D in Global Manufacturing
If youāre involved in the engineering of products manufactured globally, chances are youāve been personally affected by SNAFUās on an epic scale.
The Spectrum of 3D Printer Operators and Why It Is Important
I have a suspicion that many people donāt recognize there are some very different types of people using 3D printers, each with unique characteristics.
3D Printed Buildings and Real Estate: Is the Development Space due for Disruption?
Now that weāre no longer confined to printing in two dimensions, the opportunities are almost endless for many businesses that rely on manufacturing and design.
3D Print Services and Certifications
Thereās an interesting story at Sculpteo about how they provide certifications for their materials.
A Rhino Upgrade Signals Industry Change
Robert McNeel & Associates, makers of the popular Rhinoceros 3D CAD tool, have shipped V6, but with a very intriguing change.
That 3D Dental Attraction
This week thereās an important conference for 3D printing: LMT LAB DAY.
Software is Often Greater than Hardware in 3D Printing
Iām reading a press release from SMARTTECH and noticed a common pattern in the industry.
We Are Seeing The 3D Printers of the Future Now Emerging
Sometimes itās hard to figure out what might happen in the future, but perhaps we there is something now visible.
Exploring the Science of Big 3D Printing
While extrusion-based 3D printers have been around for decades, there is still the need for some exploration, especially when it comes to large-scale printing.
Could the End of STL be In Sight?
The venerable STL file format for describing 3D models has been around for far too long. But now the end could be finally appearing.
More on 3D Printed MetaMaterials. A Lot More
Last week we posted a story about metamaterials, but it seems there is far more to the story.
3D Printing’s Color Problem
Most 3D printing is done without regard to color, but what happens when it is truly important?
8 3D Printing Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2018
Since the relatively recent start of the rise of 3D printing, the industry has gone through many changes and improvements.
Is Voice Control Really Useful For 3D Printers?
Iāve now seen at least two 3D printers with voice systems, but is this something we need?
The New Future for 3D Printing: MetaMaterials?
Iām reading more about the concept of metamaterials, and believe this is a lot more important than I imagined.
New Normal: The Permanent Beta
Thereās a very powerful implication of the Carbon / Adidas shoe project that could change everything in the near future.
The Third Way to Sell 3D Printers
Selling commercial 3D printers is an unusual business, but there seems to now be another way to do so.
3D Printing Predictions for 2018: Industry Leaders Weigh In
What does 2018 hold for the world?
Education is the Key to the Future of 3D Printing
Iām reading a fascinating post from GE on their experience with 3D metal printing, but it occurs to me a change must be made.
A 3D Printed Faucet Demonstrates Integration Possibilities
A new project by 3D Systems made me realize something interesting about 3D metal printing.
What Might We See in 3D Printing in 2018?
I hate making predictions because they may turn out wrong. But letās do so anyway.
ā3D Printingā Will Eventually Disappear. Maybe
I often write on the phenomenon of 3D printing and hereās more thoughts for you.
A Culture of Making “Anythings”: More 3D Printing Misunderstandings
I noticed a tweet from Mashable that got me a bit riled.
The Next Target for 3D Printing: Worldwide Inventories
Iāve been hearing this from a number of directions lately, but letās put it all together: parts inventories are going to die.
Niche 3D Printers Are Feasible
With big companies moving into the 3D printer space, is there any room left for the small guys?
Is 3D Printed Furniture Practical?
With the advent of large-scale 3D printers, one is tempted to 3D print furniture.
WARNING: No 3D Printed Weapons!
The College of Charleston in South Carolina does not want you to 3D print any weapons.
3D Printed Soft Robots Could Be “A Thing”
Eindhoven-based 3D print aficionado Joris Peels makes the case for 3D printed soft robots.
3 Essential Industries Currently Incorporating 3D Technology
The past several years have seen 3D technology change from a niche specialized tool to an entirely new method of manufacturing and pivotal experimentation.
What Are the Environmental Impacts of 3D Printing?
Is 3D printing positive or negative to the environment?
Why So Many Polish 3D Printer Companies?
At this publication we are fortunate to see the myriad of new 3D printing ventures launching across the world.
5 Myths About 3D Printing That Some People Believe ā Do You?
3D printing is still a mystery to some, with plenty of misunderstandings persisting.
Why Would You Ever Want to Make Your Own 3D Printer Filament?
There has never been a better time to buy 3D printer filament. Why would you make your own?
Does 3D Printing Secrecy Imply Something?
Thereās something odd happening with an increasing number of 3D printer companies.
The Promise of Full, Actual, Internal 3D Printing
Stratasys announced something profoundly important this week, but I donāt think many people understand exactly how important this is.
The HP Garage: Symbol of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Spirit.Ā
Located on a quiet, tree-lined residential street near Stanford University, the HP garage is a symbol of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. In this very garage college friends Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard built their dream. which eventually became the giant we know today as “HP”. Their company was founded in 1939 and named “HP”, rather… Continue reading The HP Garage: Symbol of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Spirit.Ā
The Arrival of the Big Guys in 3D Printing Shakes Things up
Something quite interesting was observed at the recent FormNext exhibition.
Know What Youāre Doing Before You Get Into 3D Printing, Please!
Sometimes there are people that simply should not be 3D printing.
Designing for production parts
How do we get to tomorrow, to use 3D Printing for true Manufacturing applications through to production?
Was 3D Printing Really Invented in the Victorian Age?
A startling piece suggests that the concept of 3D printing may have been first conceived in Victorian England, almost 160 years ago.
Is the Personal 3D Scanning Business Viable Long Term?
There was a time when it was thought that 3D Scanning businesses might be a big thing. Is that still the case?
Desktop 3D Printer Enclosures: A Hint of Things to Come?
A new 3D printer enclosure product portends a change in the future.
About Those Voice Commands For Your 3D Printer
The current craze for intelligent voice commands is getting more sophisticated, but what happens when it works with your 3D printer?
What Dangers Face 3D Printer Set Top Users?
With the increase in set top options for desktop 3D printers, Iām wondering what might go wrong.
Weāre Now in the Second Generation of 3D Metal Printing; What About the Third?
Thereās an interesting long term pattern emerging now in 3D metal printing, and Iām wondering where it might be going.
Behind the Scenes GEās 3D Metal Printing Farm
GE is deep into 3D metal printing, as readers know, but now we can get a glimpse of whatās going on inside their workshops.
Are Major 3D Printer Manufacturers Prisoners Of Their Technologies?
Iām thinking about how new 3D printing processes can affect existing companies, and itās not pretty.
Another Angle on Graphene 3D Printing?
Iām reading a fascinating report on a new way to work with miracle material graphene.
There Really Are Professional 3D Printers
In the past year or so weāve been referring to something we call āprofessionalā desktop 3D printers.
Profound Implication of That 3D Face Reconstruction Service
I realized something utterly fascinating about the 3D Face Reconstruction project we wrote on this week.
The Critical Importance of Certifications in the 3D Metal Market
An announcement today triggered some thoughts about the importance of certifications for companies in the 3D metal printing market.
Guess What? Standard HEPA Filters May Not Solve 3D Printer Emissions
Thereās been much ado about nanoparticle emissions from desktop 3D printers, but one solution may actually not be one.
What Happens When 3D Printing From Smartphones Becomes Common?
Iāve been contemplating the implications of a world in which anyone can 3D scan anything and print out a replica.
Do You Need A Service Plan For Your Desktop 3D Printer?
An increasing number of manufacturers offer longer-term maintenance plans, but do you need one?
The Curse of the Wrong-Sized Spool
Thereās a very common problem encountered with desktop 3D printers: spool size mis-match.
Blockchain-Powered 3D Assets?
A development in 3D asset management may assist the control of 3D models for printing.
Childrenās 3D Printing: Is There Something There?
Yesterday we wrote on a new 3D printer for kids, but is this really a serious market?
2 Ways 3D Food Printing Could Actually Work
There have been 3D food printing experiments for as long as weāve been publishing, but it really hasnāt taken off.
3D Print Application Idea: On Demand Museum Pieces?
Iām always interested to see new applications of 3D printing, and have one that may not have been implemented yet.
Is 3MF Actually Making Progress?
Is anyone actually using 3MF?
When 3D Printing a Model Doesnāt Make Sense
Sometimes 3D printing simply doesnāt make sense.
Outsourcing Your 3D Printing? Or Should You Insource?
A question that is sometimes not even asked, let alone answered, is the question of outsourcing 3D printing.
Should We 3D Print PVC?
There are an increasing number of thermoplastics that can be 3D printed recently, and one of them is PVC.
Donāt Miss These 10 3D Printing Benefits! Save Time & Money Today
There are so many benefits to 3D printing.
Whoās 3D Printing Those Unavailable Replacement Parts Now?
A report suggests that Daimler is now 3D printing replacement metal parts for some of their obsolete models.
Laser Cutting or 3D Printing? Which is Appropriate?
Iām reading an Instructables on how to laser-cut a 3D printer spool holder and had a thought.
Do Manufacturers Really Not Understand 3D Printing?
Thereās something odd about how 3D printer companies are marketing these days.
Household 3D Prints: Handy, but Unaccessible
Two seemingly unbreathable barriers hold back 3D printing from general use in homes around the world.
Six Odd Reasons Why 3D Printed Buildings May Actually Work
Iāve been skeptical of attempts to 3D print buildings for years, although many have attempted to do so.
Will 3D Print Access Generate More Product Sales?
Iām reading some interesting statistics on the use of 3D display on websites that might have an analogous effect on 3D printing.
Tech to Replace Low-Skilled Jobs. STEM Included?
Well, the future is looking bleak folks. BLEAK.