3D Printing News and Trends

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85567972695200935902026-09-19T12:37:01.181+01:003D Printing News and TrendsAn exploration of the exciting field of 3D Printing and 3D Printers in the fab shop, at work, at home and in school.Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-82482316956483945172015-02-19T16:14:00.000+00:002015-02-19T16:14:03.462+00:00Have you bought it, or have you made it?

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-33252316552307748372014-01-09T15:43:00.000+00:002014-01-09T16:35:46.313+00:003D Systems appoints will.i.am as Chief Creative Officer (CCO)

In a surprising move for will.i.am and for 3D Systems, the company has issued a press release stating: January 8, 2014 – 3D Systems today announced that will.i.am, global entertainer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, joined 3DS as its Chief Creative Officer. In this leadership role, will.i.am will inspire, shape and drive all of 3DS’ initiatives to mainstream the use of 3D printing through major

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-61163332593945549552014-01-09T14:25:00.001+00:002014-01-09T17:03:28.973+00:00Do consumers really want to 3D print?

It's far from clear whether the average consumer wants to 3D print. Take this trend as evidence: MakerBot industries started out making kits for 3D printers. They then discovered that the market for printer kits (i.e. a set of parts) was vanishingly small. So they started to produce pre-built 3D printers and eventually withdrew the kit market altogether. With 3D Printers, it appears, consumers

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-5075290440165869652014-01-09T11:47:00.005+00:002014-01-09T15:41:07.890+00:00The 3D printing acquisition juggernaut

Remember the merger of Stratasys and Objet? Or the acquisition of ZCorp by 3D Systems? As we observed, consolidation is not necessarily a sign of a perfectly healthy industry. It could mean companies are struggling to go it alone. It could also signify that the Additive Manufacturing industry is shifting from products to services, a process known as 'servitization'. When an industry shifts to

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-41915464072672374532013-12-04T10:59:00.002+00:002014-01-09T15:41:40.696+00:003D Systems announces 3D Printing 2.0

Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, announces his exciting new products and services at Euromold 2013 and CES 2014. Don't you just love how this guy asks his staff to present the new products, and then interrupts them and prevents them speaking .... almost giving them a 'Sales' lesson live on camera.

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-52879599751112190352013-11-13T20:01:00.001+00:002013-11-13T20:01:33.380+00:00Everything is a 3D printer these days

Our theory is that there is "No such thing as 3D Printing", but it appears that the media believe otherwise. To them, everything is a 3D Printer! This stance is fueling unrealistic expectations for Additive Manufacturing. The hype works like this: The more objects that are presented as able to be "3D Printed", the more a "3D Printer" sounds to the uninformed observer like a current day (not

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-80541970974420423412013-11-13T17:01:00.001+00:002013-11-13T19:00:13.399+00:00There is no such thing as "3D Printing"

We've said it before, and we'll say it again. There is no such thing as "3D Printing". What there is instead are over thirty different additive manufacturing (layer by layer) processes (the majority of which oriented in the field of rapid prototyping). They share little in common. We listed some of these in our article "Hype and Hope in 3D Printing". We also talked about the 3D Printing

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-75676335697317175862013-11-07T16:22:00.000+00:002013-11-07T16:22:32.623+00:00Randomized porosity grown into 3D Printed Object

Since our original post about Within Technologies the use of their software which models 3D Printable objects in ways that mimic nature (complex internal and external optimized structures) has expanded. In this video, EOS explain how they are working with Within Technologies to 3D Print parts with extreme degrees of structural complexity. Here, a heat ex-changer is shown designed for

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-68065696625226891292013-11-07T15:43:00.001+00:002013-11-07T15:57:26.466+00:00SolidConcepts 3D Prints Metal Gun using DLMS

Demonstration proves that 3D Printed metal parts are ready for 'end use' contexts Read the whole story on the SolidConcepts blog and see a demonstration and explanation of DLMS (Direct Laser Metal Sintering)

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-89172306728569543342013-11-06T19:48:00.000+00:002013-11-06T19:56:55.090+00:003D Printed Titanium Glasses

They may be pricey, but that may not last for long. Melotte, a 3D printing company in Belgium which specializes in metals, has teamed up with a Belgium designer Patrick Hoet, to develop the first 3D Printed eyewear in titanium. Customized versions can be delivered in a week from order. 3D scanning of the customer determines size. Orders can be placed through up market opticians. 3D Printing

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-76561782797487687192013-11-05T18:44:00.001+00:002013-11-05T18:44:40.462+00:003D Social Networks help find 3D Printers, Designers, Customers

The reality of 3D printing, in any material or process, is that you need skills in both 3D modeling and access to a suitable 3D printer. That means having skills in the 3D printing process, or outsourcing to a bureau service like Shapeways, iMaterialize or Sculpteo. As those companies have demonstrated, producing great prints of high quality in different materials and finishes is not so easy,

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-4469616106478814472013-11-05T10:47:00.003+00:002013-11-05T10:47:53.235+00:00Dad 3D Prints a prosthetic hand for his son

Sometimes a story is so good it's worth just passing it on and adding nothing: Also see Medics are printing in 3D today

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-78173506870178459072013-10-15T18:28:00.000+01:002013-11-06T10:03:55.243+00:003D Printing UAVs gets you closer to the customer

In this video, UAV Solutions, a small manufacturer who specialize in the design, supply and support for custom Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), explains how it uses Stratasys 3D Printers as part of its manufacturing mix. This case study illustrates one of the important futures for AM .... allowing small manufacturers to take control of the design and production process in order to better serve

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-9544871190587872182013-10-08T15:50:00.001+01:002013-10-14T14:08:11.139+01:00Liquid metal 3D Printing using magneto-hydrodynamics

If we've said it before, we'll say it again ... "3D Printing" is a set of niches within niches. Here is yet another emergent process .... liquid metal 3D printing using magneto-hydrodynamics  Think 'inkjet' with liquid metal. Start up Vader Systems believes it can bring this technology to market just as has occurred with RepRap style fused deposition modelling (FDM) of thermoplastics.

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-21491869483702154372013-10-03T14:13:00.000+01:002013-10-03T14:13:45.848+01:003D Printer market from $288m to $5.7b by 2017 - Gartner

Consumer and enterprise 3D printer shipments are growing at 95.4% and revenue at 81.9% from 2012 through 2017 according to IT industry analysts Gartner.  In a new report Gartner predicts that "The 3D printer market will grow from $288 million to more than $5.7 billion by 2017 as consumer 3D printing hype accelerates 3D printer purchases by enterprises worldwide".  Forecast: 3D

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-62122278171973684392013-10-02T09:43:00.003+01:002013-10-02T09:46:54.616+01:00A peek inside TCT Show + personalize 2013

Wonderful little film, courtesy of RepRap BCN3D with our thanks: More coverage from TCT Live

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-64738185238713511792013-09-30T12:53:00.001+01:002013-09-30T12:53:40.377+01:00GE hangout in the Future of 3D Printing

GE Global Research recently hosted a Google Hangout on the Future of Additive Manufacturing. Summary: GE is the largest user of metallic AM in the world - largest fleet of 3D Printers for prototyping, tooling, end user parts, 600 engineers signed up in AM programs Opens up a whole new world for designers, convergence of design, materials and manufacturing collaborations Kick starting

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-91699370487578905832013-09-04T16:42:00.001+01:002013-09-18T09:58:56.459+01:003D Systems still Acquiring

The 3D Printing industry is still consolidating. 3D Systems [NYSE:DDD], noted for their acquisitive nature, are still acquiring today. In August '13 the company acquired CRDM a UK provider of rapid prototyping services. Also in August DDD snapped up TeamPlatform a cloud based platform for managing 3D projects and services. And in July Phenix Systems were acquired. Phenix specialized in

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-86203653335986582422013-09-04T10:57:00.002+01:002013-09-04T16:08:43.833+01:003D Services or 3D Printers?

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers" is a remark attributed to Thomas J. Watson, chairman of IBM, in 1943. As we now know, computers turned out to be rather more ubiquitous. A similar quote was made in 1946 by Sir Charles Darwin (grandson of the famous naturalist), then head of Britain's National Physical Laboratory, where research into computers was taking place. He wrote:

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-7359163323728228842013-07-23T15:04:00.002+01:002013-07-23T15:04:38.848+01:00Is '3D Printing' a set of niches within niches? Roll on 3D Services

Analyzing the 3D Printing marketplace is not so easy. The term '3D Printing' is largely a media invention. As we have stressed before, '3D Printing' refers to a dizzying array of very different Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies (layer by layer, drop by drop, voxel by voxel) sharing little in common. It is not unreasonable to suggest that many of these techniques are still very much niche

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-71804185331193802282013-07-09T15:10:00.000+01:002013-07-09T15:10:06.918+01:00Who is right about 3D printing? Foxconn or GE?

We live in strange times. Just as Foxconn CEO Terry Gou says that "3D printing is a gimmick and has no commercial value", GE CEO Jeff Immelt says he would love to 3D print jet engines ... or at least some of their largest parts. “We make a turbine blade that is made of some of the most expensive high-heat material in the world,” Immelt said. “We put that blade through the fabrication process

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-26846998281201535582013-06-27T16:25:00.002+01:002013-06-27T16:26:48.932+01:00Windows 8 knows about 3D Printing - Native Driver Support in Win 8.1

It looks like Make Buttons really will be coming to a desktop near you ... Microsoft has even created a new icon for 3D Printer Devices in Windows 8.1 In among all the complaints about Windows 8, and Microsoft's efforts to counter the advance of Apple OS X, it appears they are staying true to their course and adding new APIs for new devices .... the latest being Native 3D Printer Driver

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-69524400573460445382013-06-24T16:43:00.002+01:002013-06-24T16:43:34.059+01:00Layer by Layer asks: Is the Personal 3D Printing Revolution Slowing Down?

While the debate rages about whether or not consumers will want 3D printers at home, start up LayerByLayer is making that assumption. The company is attempting to make it as easy as possible to source the best 3D designs for great 3D printable product and have them 'materialize' on your very own 3D printer.  As they say "Right now, the technology is too inaccessible for non-technical

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-19672467411062479702013-06-24T16:11:00.006+01:002013-06-24T16:22:19.504+01:00Stratasys buys MakerBot to counter 3D Systems Cube

Recently there has been rumors of Makerbot Industries being up for sale / acquisition. Now we know the facts: the company has been acquired by 3D Systems' rival Stratasys. I suppose it was obvious really. 3D Systems [DDD] has the Cube, now Stratasys [SSYS] has the MakerBot. There is space in the market for both of these lower-end systems. The acquisition of MakerBot by Stratasys however tells us

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556797269520093590.post-77411800055546820192013-06-17T14:42:00.004+01:002013-06-17T14:42:37.323+01:00GE Aviation to grow better fuel nozzles using 3D Printing

GE Aviation working with Sigma Labs are advancing quality processes in the Additive Manufacturing of jet engine components such as fuel nozzles.  A 3D Printed jet engine fuel nozzle can be 25 percent lighter and as much as five times more durable than the current nozzle made from 20 different parts, say GE. The nozzle can, for example, better resist carbon deposits and coking. 

Howard Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568310245826725480noreply@blogger.com0