Motorola Mobility, a Google company, is building a 3D printed modular phone, and has partnered with 3D Systems for commercial fulfillment. More »
The Captured Dimensions pop-up studio was located in the Smithsonian Castle and featured approximately 80 digital cameras all connected to 3D software. More »
Microsoft expanded their support for 3D printing by launching a Windows 8 app called 3D Builder. It includes a library of objects you can edit and 3D print. More »
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced the availability of the Sense 3D scanner, the first 3D scanner designed for the consumer and optimized for 3D printing. More »
With rumors circling that 3D Systems will be purchased by IBM, the stock soars. We look at why IBM might be interested in the 3D printing giant. More »
Yearly Archives: 2012
Fab Lab of the Week: Massey University Centre Hosts New Zealand Event
This week’s featured Fab Lab is Massey University’s College of Creative Arts and the Affect Research Centre, which is hosting a seminar in Wellington, New Zealand in collaboration with the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms.
Fab 8 NZ is the 2012 incarnation of the annual international Fab Lab meeting, bringing field practitioners and laboratory researchers from the international Fab Lab network and beyond, for a week of hands-on workshops and a one-day public symposium on the principles and applications of digital fabrication. For designers with some basic maker experience, there’s also a two-day “Fab Foo”, a chance to rub shoulders with the best in the world.
Expect talk on a mind-boggling array of subjects, from prototyping in outer space to 3D printing of human organs.
Among those attending the conference will be Fab Lab founder Professor Neil Gershenfeld, Director for the Center for Bits and Atoms at MIT. Professor Gershenfeld has been named one of Scientific American’s 50 leaders in science and technology, has been selected as a CNN/Time/Fortune Principal Voice, and by Prospect/FP as one of the top 100 public intellectuals.
Fab Labs were originally initiated as an outreach project from MIT, and provide widespread access to a modern means for invention through 3D printers that can make almost anything, and can be put to use in communities, businesses and industries around the globe.
Fab Labs have spread around the world from inner city Boston to rural India, incubating projects like solar and wind-powered turbines, thin-client computers and wireless data networks, analytical instrumentation for agriculture and healthcare, custom housing, and rapid-prototyping of rapid-prototyping machines.
Via idealog.
Vice President Joe Biden Shares the Vision for 3D Printing
In the commencent address at Cypress Bay High School in Florida, Vice President Joe Biden inspired the students with a vision of the future where hunger was ended and traumatic injuries could be healed by regenerating tissue and body limbs.
Imagine a day, when in your, doctors are able to regenerate entire body parts and limbs that have been damaged and lost, not only saving tens of thousands of lives, but restoring the thousands of our Iraq and Afghan veterans coming back in need of prostheses, so they will be able to live a full and ambulatory life.
As an aside, in the future, just one example, using 3D printers, we’re going to be able to restore tissue after traumatic injury or burn; restore it back to its original state. It’s literally around the corner.
Imagine a world in which hunger is vanquished by crops that don’t depend on the soil, water or fertilizer, or pesticides to thrive; they’re just around the corner.
He encouraged the graduating high school students to think big.
“You are going to lead those changes as you leave this school, so don’t sell yourself short,” Biden said. “Don’t think small. Don’t give into cynicism, don’t give into the negativity that pervades our public discourse. And imagine.”
Via 3dprinter.net and Miami Herald.
3D Printing Silver Jewelry: Perfect Fit, Unique Designs, All Glamorous
We have featured silver jewelry designs before, but we are continually impressed with the new designs that can be 3D printed. On the Shapeways marketplace, 4 silver jewelry pieces were featured as part of a summer catalog.
Silver is one of the more expensive materials to use for 3D printing, so prices for a small piece might be $30 to $100, while a larger piece might be $175 or more. But is the price worth it knowing that you can customize a unique design?
See the full feature on the Shapeways blog.
3D Systems Announces “Smarter 3D Printing” Seminars for Entrepreneurs
3D printer maker 3D Systems today announced a new way for entrepreneurs and professionals to experience and learn about 3D printing: a seminar series called “Smarter 3D Printing”.
From their press release about the new program:
“Smarter 3D Printing” simplifies the complex 3D printing landscape, highlighting the power of accessibility, affordability and choice. 3D Systems offers the broadest range of 3D printing solutions, removing sourcing and integration complexity and delivering substantial time and cost savings. The seminar series is ideal for design and manufacturing professionals as well as business leaders and entrepreneurs seeking to infuse innovation and competitive advantage into their operation. Participants will learn:
- How to choose the right solution for virtually any application
- The capabilities and affordability of ZPrinter(R) and ProJet(TM) 3D printers
- The inside scoop on next-gen ZPrinter(R) 850 and ProJet(TM) 3500
- How to complement in-house 3D printing with Quickparts(R) on-demand services
- How to save money with unified training and support across all products
“Summer is a great time for professionals to catch up on emerging trends, network with local colleagues, and make strategic investments that offer a solid financial return,” said Michele Marchesan, 3D Systems Vice President, Global Sales, Personal and Professional 3D Printers. “We’re making it easy by bringing “Smarter 3D Printing” to you.”
Photo by 3D Systems Corp used under Creative Commons license.
Autodesk Shows off 123D Catch Software and 3D Printing at Google I/O
At the Google I/O conference in San Francisco this week, 3D printing was a popular theme. We reported earlier about the 3D Systems Cubify team hosting a printing station. Also at the conference was the Autodesk 123D team.
They were showing off their design software called 123D Catch, software for your laptop or iPad that lets you import a series of photos of a physical object and create a precise 3D model from those photos. The software is powered by the cloud and takes about 10 to 15 minutes to produce a model. In the example they were showing, the team had taken 30 photos of a marble statue in a museum and the software created a rich 3D model that was ready to print.
The Autodesk team was also printing objects on the MakerBot replicator.
Read more about Autodesk and 123D in our previous coverage.
Photos from Google I/O by on3dprinting.com.
