3D Printer Reviews

Solidoodle Review

2012-04-26T12:21:00.001-07:00

The Solidoodle 3D Printer has officially launched, and wow did it make a media impact!

Finally a sub $500 printer for the masses. The company is led by COO Samuel Cervantes, known from the MakerBot.

The printer comes fully assembled and all you need to do is plug it in and attach a computer.
It has a 6x6x6 builod area, which is decent.
The pricetag alone makes this a milestone in 3D Printing, it will certainly broaden the market and bring 3d printing into the homes of thousands of hobbyists and enthusiast all around the world

Compared to the RapMan or the BFB 3000 it's fairly limited, but it's still cheap as hell and well worth the buy.

It comes in 3 different alternatives: Base, Pro and Expert. The Pro and Expert has a heated build platform, which might be useful for avoiding warping issues, they also have a better power supply and might be worth the upgrade. The Solidoodle should be able to handle overhangs up to 45 degrees without difficulty, but printing at low temperature let's you print overhangs 60+.

Full Description:

Now with a bigger 6x6x6" build area!

Clean lines and easy operation - the Solidoodle 3D Printer is the right machine to turn your imagination into reality. Upload a 3D file and watch as the Solidoodle 3D Printer magically creates your part, right before your eyes. This is the printer for people who just want to print, not assemble a machine. The printer comes fully assembled with everything you need to get started - all you need to supply is a computer and power.

As anyone who has assembled a 3D printer from a kit can tell you - the process can be overwhelming... taking weeks and even months before you can even print your first object. At Solidoodle, we take the hassle out of 3D printing by shipping every machine fully assembled and ready to print -- right out of the box.

World Class Engineering

Aside from being fully assembled, what makes Solidoodle great? The Solidoodle 2nd Generation 3D Printer is designed by aerospace engineers to be extremely strong and precise at the same time. The all-steel frame is so strong, in fact, that a 200lb man can literally stand on top of the machine while it's printing. The Solidoodle's moving parts are designed so that they will move smoothly and never bind.

***Now Accepting Pre-Orders***

In order to get you the latest bleeding edge technology at the best price, we're currently accepting pre-orders. Your printer will ship in approximately 6-8 weeks after you place your order. Your credit card is charged at the time you place your order to reserve your spot in line. We work hard to ship your printer as soon as possible while still maintaing our rigid quality control standards.

Standard Features:

Creates plastic parts up to 6" x 6" x 6" - NEW!
Uses 1.75mm plastic filament (ABS recommended)
11.5" x 11.75x 11.75" case footprint (LxWxH)
Durable metal frame
Fully Assembled & Tested

We're offering three different levels of 3D printing experience:

Base Model $499:

Everything you need to print - just add a computer!
Acrylic Build Plaform - good for doing small prints
70W power supply
Open design (no outer cover/door)

Pro Model $549:

Heated Build Platform - allows you to build large prints up to 6x6x6" without bottom warping. 1/8" aluminum plate.
Upgraded power supply
Spool holder to hold filament (makes unattended printing much easier)
Interior lighting
Open design (no outer cover/door)

Expert Model $599:

All the features of the Pro model plus an outer cover & front acrylic door to give your printer a finished look with clean lines

Software:

Open-source software downloadable on our website, see our guide on How To Install Software
Simple, intuitive graphical interface
Windows, Mac, Linux compatible

What's in the box?

Solidoodle 3D Printer, fully assembled & tested
Small roll of starter filament
Power supply
USB Cable

Tech Specs:

Technology: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) a.k.a Thermoplastic Extrusion
RepRap Sanguinololu v1.3a Electronics
Nichrome powered extruder
Extruder moves in XY, build platform moves in Z
Trouble-free custom acrylic extruder with stepper motor, .35mm nozzle
Spring loaded extruder drive virtually eliminates the need for adjusting the extruder - no thumb screws to adjust or release filament
Weight: 17 lbs
ABS filament recommended, but using PLA is possible
Accuracy: about .3mm (layer height) or 84dpi
Power Supply Works on US Voltage (120V) or European Voltage (240V)

Precision:

The resolution of the printed part is determined by the height of each layer
Typically we print at a layer height of .3mm, which gives nice surface finish and quick print time
It's possible to print hi-resolution parts at a layer height of .1mm, which gives top-notch looking prints

solidoodle.com

3D printer services

2012-04-16T12:57:00.002-07:00

Just a list of the most reputable 3D printing services available now.

Shapeways.com

Shapeways is about the most well known 3D Printing service available today.
A huge customer base that creates, sells and buys through their own webshops on the site.
A lot of material choices and affordable prices.

With a growing online community and marketplace, we’re a NY start-up that harnesses 3D printing to help you make, buy and sell anything you want.

By providing a platform for our community members to share ideas and gain access to cutting edge technology, we’re bringing personalized production to everyone—whether you’re already designing in 3D or are just looking to buy something completely unique. We print everything on-demand, which means that every order is customized and personalized.

Headquartered in New York with offices in Eindhoven and Seattle, Shapeways is a spin-out of the lifestyle incubator of Royal Philips Electronics. Investors include Union Square Ventures in New York and Index Ventures in London.

We’re working to democratize creation by making production more accessible, personal, and inspiring. Our team of passionate, creative Shapies is growing! Want to join us?

i.materialise.com

Very nice site, with a good interface. 3D print lab helps you upload and configure your model.

i.materialise offers all people with an eye for design and a head full of ideas the possibility to turn these ideas into 3D reality.

We empower them to create designs that enrich their life and to share their sense of beauty with the people around them, by adding unique touches to their environment, by creating a truly personal gift for the ones they love, by taking the opportunity to crystallize ideas they can truly be proud of.

With twenty years of experience, we bring high-quality 3D printing within everybody’s reach.

ponoko.com

A really simple system for creating, buying and selling 3D models.

Welcome to the world's easiest making system.

Ponoko is an online marketplace for everyone to click to make real things.

It’s where creators, digital fabricators, materials suppliers and buyers meet to make (almost) anything.

We kicked off at TechCrunch40 at the end of 2007 with a vision to reinvent how goods are designed, made and distributed worldwide.

The core of this vision is the trade in product designs – kinda like the trade in music (iTunes), photos (Flickr), movies (YouTube) and software apps (iPhone) before us.

We host tens of thousands of user generated product designs, ready to be customized and made into real things with the click of a mouse.

But hosting designs is only a part of the puzzle. Importantly, we also provide the world’s first digital making system that means these product designs can be priced instantly online and made locally, as close to the point of consumption as possible.

3dproparts.com

A service directed more towards the professional/business market.

3D Printing is your ideal choice for hard plastic or cast-friendly wax parts in a wide variety of applications ranging from realistic concept models to final part manufacturing. 3D printed parts are precise and ultra detailed enabling you to create your designs with confidence.

3D printed parts enables you to eliminate expensive tooling cost and drastically reduce your time and cost of your product development or production.

At 3Dproparts, we use state-of-the-art high definition, 3D Printers from 3D Systems, a global leader in three dimensional office and desktop solutions. Choose from a selection of materials and processes and get beautiful, ready-to-use, quality parts today.

printo3d.com

A small personal 3D service, expect super customer service.

Print To 3D is a small home business based in North Eastern Pennsylvania (NEPA). We believe that 3D printing technology should be available to anyone who may need it, whether it be a Fortune 500 company or a entrepreneur trying to develop a prototype product. Our printing services are available to anyone within the United States and in the future we hope to have customers in all 50 states. We were founded by Bradley Rigdon on 2/9/2007 when he decided to purchase this domain, adopt the name Print To 3D and bring his idea to reality.

sculpteo.com

Sculpteo offers a fast 3D printing service which is open to all. We start from your 3D design to manufacture a specific object: interior decoration, figurines, robots, miniatures, scale models...

Our community platform gives you access to 3D designers, allowing you to share models, upload your own 3D designs, and make them real thanks to 3D printing.

Your items are then shipped directly to your home or office for immediate enjoyment!

redeyeondemand.com

RedEye by Stratasys provides rapid prototyping and direct digital manufacturing (also known as rapid manufacturing) services to a wide variety of industries. With a global network of more than 100 systems, RedEye builds functional parts with production-grade thermoplastic materials.

As a business unit of Stratasys, RedEye’s primary technology is fused deposition modeling, an additive manufacturing process that offers unparalleled repeatability, meaning that your first part looks and functions exactly like the next.

RedEye customers also have access to a number of premium services, such as Ready Part– a part smoothing process designed specifically for RedEye by Stratasys.

RedEye became ISO 9001:2008 Certified in January 2011, the first company in the additive manufacturing industry to become ISO certified. With quality systems and processes in place, we understand and can address your needs quickly.

The industries we serve include: aerospace, architecture, automotive, business machines, consumer products, electronics, medical devices, entertainment, interior design, toys and many more.

In addition to FDM technology, RedEye also offers PolyJet, a process similar to stereolithography (SLA) in that it uses a photosensitive resin. However, PolyJet builds each layer at about 16 microns, which makes it more accurate than SLA.

BFB 3000 Plus Review

2012-02-28T12:55:00.001-08:00

Bits from Bytes are a part of the 3D Systems corporation who also owns Z Corp, Botmill and Vidar Systems and are the makers of the renowned BFB3000 3D Printer.

BFB 3000 Plus

They were founded in 2008 and has been kicking ass since.
The BFB3000 is perhaps the most popular 3D Printer on the market today, considering it's price tag which makes it affordable for the hobbyist and it's build quality which is suitable for professionals.
The look alone is enough to get my blood pumping, it looks almost like I would imagine an Apple 3D Printer would look.

The BFB3000 Plus printer is based on the original RepRap but it's not easily seen in the finished product.
It boasts a double head extruder for use of support material and a print-area of 275 x 275 x 210mm.
It reads directly from USB or SD Card and is (in 3D printer terms) very easy to operate.
The sleek user interface works nicely and makes the operation a more user-friendly experience.

It comes with the Axon2 software and is bundled with TurboCAD Pro 18

Jamie Mantzel has made a few good videos on his experience with the BFB3000:

Jamie Mantzel Youtube Channel

If you don't know who Jamie is, he is a expert DIY, Robotics engineer, inventor, mad scientist, toy maker and 3D Printer enthusiast.

Jamies tips on printing extra large models on the BFB 3000

Also check out our BFB3000 unboxing video.

Rapid prototyping bike frame

2012-02-26T13:41:00.003-08:00

Shoes, houses, PCB's, pretty much anything you can think of can be made (at least partly) on a 3D printer today. That also goes for bikes. Ralf Holleis diploma thesis was on making a custom bike frame with 3d printed stainless steel lugs glued together with carbon fiber tubes.
VRZ 1. a tack bike frame with 3d printed lugs from Ralf Holleis on Vimeo.
The fork is 480 g and the frame weight is 1100 g and it certainly looks good! On the topic of structural integrity of the contraption Holleis says:

I did a FEM analysis and from that point i started modelling. The parts are printed in stainless steel. The melted powder in the end is 99.5 % - 100 % solid. That means the material density is better than it is for castings. Because of that i am able to remove material on some points. Yes it is ridable:)

Holleis completed his thesis at: http://www.coburg-designlab.de/ And the 3d printed parts are lasercut on a concept laser machine from concept-laser.com

The Galileo 3D Printer (Reprap Prusa fork)

2012-01-22T09:55:00.000-08:00

There is no shortage of 3D printer kits recently, as it seems everyone is now jumping on the RepRap model to develop improvements of one kind or another. We noticed yet another one today: The Galileo 3D Printer, featured on Instructables and designed by the KentStrapper team. While the Galileo is essentially a RepRap Prusa model, the improvements focus on "substantial changes" to the XYZ axes that permit both a larger print area and lowered implementation cost. Full instructions and parts lists are available at the Instructables link. There's more: on their website, the designers say (in Italian) they're now starting yet another 3D printer project called "Project Vertigo". via Instructables.com

Ultimaker PICK-n-PLACE

2012-01-13T06:15:00.000-08:00

Assembling medium quantities of PCBs was never within the reach of a home based manufacturer. It requires expensive equipment, but most of these parts can actually be 3D printed, and you can use your existing 3D printer, such as the Ultimaker, to do pick-and-place operations. See http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7291

Ultimaker 3D printer netfabb combo

2012-01-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

I'm quite amazed with the quality this combination Ultimaker/Netfabb produces. It is printing at 325% the standard speed, this reduces quality a bit though compared to standard, but it saves a few hours. Material ABS, layer size 0.17mm more pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/martijne/UltimakerWithNetfabb

Geek Tool: Slashdot Video of Award Winning 3D Printer From CES

2012-01-13T06:11:00.000-08:00

The Makerbot Replicator is a personal 3D printer, which can create three-dimensional objects through connecting and layering successive cross sections of material. The new version is bigger, better, and easier to set up than earlier MakerBots. In this video Tim made at CES, MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis shows us how wonderful a device it is, and tells us why every child (and most adults) should have a MakerBot.

MakerBotting 101 – How Does It Work

2012-01-13T06:09:00.001-08:00

Are you coming across the MakerBot Replicator for the first time? Are you still trying to wrap your head around how a MakerBot works? Are you trying to explain to a friend what a MakerBot is, but frustrated because they still don’t get it? Well stop being frustrated and confused and WATCH THIS VIDEO! This is where MakerBot CEO and Co-founder Bre Pettis explains it all! See the MakerBot Replicator in action for the first time ever! And be amazed!

Cubify from 3D Systems - Beta release in January 2012!

2012-01-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

Cubify.com combines coloring book simplicity with cloud gaming excitement to deliver a vivid 3D create-and-make experience through a fully integrated, fluid interface. With intuitive 3D apps, rich 3D printable content libraries of games, puzzles and collections, Cubify.com turns any mobile device, tablet or Kinect® into a powerful, digital canvas that unleashes creativity and brings ideas to life in 3D. Compelling content creation, capture and customization apps make it simple and fun to personalize creations and Cubify them at home on a Cube™ 3D printer or have them Cubified using our online 3D printing service. Now everyone can unleash their creativity and earn money by marketing their own 3D creations or by developing new apps for Cubify.com.

To get engaged, 3D Systems will be demonstrating a new Kinect-To- Print app powered by Geomagic and a variety of Tablet-To-Print content creation and manipulation apps powered by its 6000+ strong developer community. The company will showcase its new Cube™ 3D consumer printer and make available 3D collection libraries as downloads. 3D Systems calls on all aspiring 3D app developers and designers to become part of its groundbreaking Cubify.com community.

3D Systems Press release

Skeinforge 40+ Tutorial

2011-12-06T14:44:00.001-08:00

15 min. Skeinforge 40+ Tutorial for RepRap, Makerbot, Makergear Prusa, Ultimaker, or any other machine that uses Skeinforge

Ultimaker 3D Printer Assembly Time Lapse Movie

2011-12-06T14:43:00.001-08:00

Here is a time lapse movie showing the assembly of our Ultimaker 3D printer. We used the "TimeLapse Camera HD" software for iPhone 4, setting the interval to 10 seconds and the output to 25 FPS. When editing the movie (using Final Cut Pro), we cut it down from approximately 9 mins to 90 seconds. Enjoy!

New BotMill Glider 3D Printer with Upgrades Included!

2011-12-02T12:31:00.001-08:00

New BotMill Glider 3D Printer with Upgrades Included!

Solido SD300 Pro Multi-color 3D printing

2011-12-02T12:30:00.001-08:00

http://mysd300.blogspot.com/ Demonstrating how I build 3D-printed models on my Solido SD300 Pro with multiple colors (or transparency) in the same model by swapping materials during the build process. FDM machines build multi-color models in much the same way.

Minecraft.Print() - Printing Minecraft Creations via 3D Printer

2011-12-02T12:28:00.001-08:00

http://www.minecraftprint.com Music: Revolve by hisboyelroy Thanks to... Yazpanda for the Companion Cube map (http://www.youtube.com/user/yazpanda) halnicholas, swax, RoosterDragon, and the whole team for the Enterprise map (http://www.c0re.net/minetrek/index.php/Main_Page)

iModela 3D Printer Introduction

2011-10-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Roland DG Corporation, a leading worldwide provider of 3D milling and engraving technologies, today introduced the new iModela iM-01. Incorporating 25 years of Roland’s proven 3D milling technology, the iModela is an inexpensive, easy-to-use desktop device that mills wax, foam, balsa wood and plastic materials commonly used in craft and hobby projects.

“Digital devices have transformed the way we do so many things, and continue to play an important role in the lives of people everywhere,” said Midori Sugiyama, Roland DG product manager. “With iModela, artists around the world can bring their most innovative design ideas to life, adding dimension and style to creative projects, whether or not they have any previous experience with 3D technologies. iModela makes it easy to create a physical model from an artist’s 3D rendering, using powerful 3D modeling technology to sculpt shapes, drill holes, create reliefs, smooth surfaces and engrave designs. With iModela, 3D modelers and hobbyists can affordably produce even the most complex designs with precision.”

iModela Creator Design Software Included

With the iModela Creator design software, iModela is a complete system for producing a wide range of items, from charms, pendants and key chains to small figurines and accessories for doll houses and model train sets.

iModela Creator allows users to create and mill shapes, holes, textures and patterns with precision right out of the box. Free-hand drawing tools are available so users can sketch out more complex ideas. With iModela Creator, users can either download a file or create original 3D models and designs right on a personal computer. Intuitive menus and icons make design and production easy, even for novice users. Once the milling material is loaded, the iModela produces the design in precise detail.

Roland iModela iM-01 Features:
• Precisely mills 3D shapes, patterns and designs out of foam, wax, balsa wood and plastic
• iModela Creator, Roland’s 3D design software, is included, allowing users to accurately mill shapes, holes, textures and patterns right out of the box
• Affordable, easy-to-use platform for exploring creativity
• Easy to setup and operate, with just a power switch, simple LED display and external control panel for adjusting computer settings
• Compact, desktop device stores in a dedicated carrying case and travels easily
• A specially designed spindle motor*1 unit supports a variety of milling tools*2 commonly available at model shops and do-it-yourself (DIY) retailers
• iModela artists can share projects and learn from others around the world by joining the online community at http://icreate.rolanddg.com

Solidoodle 3D Printer printing

2011-10-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

Updated post: Solidoodle Review

Finally a sub $500 printer for the masses. The company is led by COO Samuel Cervantes, known from the MakerBot.
The printer comes fully assembled and all you need to do is plug it in and attach a computer.It has a 6x6x6 builod area, which is decent.The pricetag alone makes this a milestone in 3D Printing, it will certainly broaden the market and bring 3d printing into the homes of thousands of hobbyists and enthusiast all around the world

Compared to the RapMan or the BFB 3000 it's fairly limited, but it's still cheap as hell and well worth the buy.

It comes in 3 different alternatives: Base, Pro and Expert. The Pro and Expert has a heated build platform, which might be useful for avoiding warping issues, they also have a better power supply and might be worth the upgrade. The Solidoodle should be able to handle overhangs up to 45 degrees without difficulty, but printing at low temperature let's you print overhangs 60+.

The Solidoodle 3D Printer creating a bottle opener in about 13 minutes.
The Solidoodle 3D Printer is a new fabber in the line of affordable 3D printers such as the RapMan and the BFB 3000
At a price of $499 for the basic model, it has already made a big impact in the media. A great first machine for hobbyists and enthusiasts.

For more information, visit www.solidoodle.com

How It's Made 3D Metal Printing

2011-05-24T12:18:00.002-07:00

Discovery / Science Channel's "How It's Made" 3D Metal Printing episode

Shapeways 3D Metal Printing

2011-05-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

Turn your 3D model into a metal object! Shapeways 3D metal printing service makes it possible. This video shows the production process. Also check out inspiring samples of models that can be 3D printed in metal, or buy a Stainless Steel model in our gallery at http://www.shapeways.com/themes/stainless_steel_3dprinting_gallery

3D printing demo -- ball bearings!

2011-05-24T12:17:00.001-07:00

This video shows and describes the operation of the Z-corp 310 printer. It is fully functioning part with ball bearings!

What Can You Make With a 3D Printer?

2011-05-24T12:16:00.001-07:00

Pretty much anything these days!

Here are some sample parts I have made using an FDM 3D modeler.

The open source world of MakerBot & Thingiverse: objects for free

2011-01-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

Now that the open source concept has migrated from software to hardware, it's the right time for a hackable robot that can make "nearly anything", even copies of itself. The MakerBot Cupcake CNC is a computer numerical controlled machine that "prints" things in plastic. It's creators are self-described open source nerds who have kept all their work open- design files, board files, schematics for the electronics- so that their work can be improved upon. Original story here: http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/makerbot-open-source-self-replicating-stuff-making-robot/

[AWESOME VIDEO] Makerbot test printing a mustache

2011-01-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

The printable mustaches posted by gianteye on Thingiverse (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1503) caught my attention and I couldn't help printing them. I think it was not the most clever idea to print the grid under the mustache but this was my third print using the Makerbot.

Shapeways White, Strong & Flexible 3D Printing

2011-01-16T12:24:00.002-08:00

This video shows the 3D Printing process of 'White, Strong & Flexible' - the strongest thermoplastic material that we have at the moment. The material is a polyamide 12, powder. The machine used is an EOS Formiga P100 SLS machine. SLS stands for Selective Laser Sintering and this is the 3D printing process used by the Formiga.

3D printing in 4 simple steps: Shapeways

2011-01-16T12:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wanted to turn your 3D designs into reality? Enter Shapeways! Just upload your design, we print it and ship it to you - it's easy. Within ten working days you'll hold your own design in your hands. Website: www.shapeways.com