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: G. Wiz Science Museum in Sarasota, Florida
This week’s featured Fab Lab is the G. Wiz Science Museum in Sarasota, FL.
The Faulhaber Fab Lab was established at G. WIZ in May 2011. There are currently only 150 fabrication labs in the world and Sarasota’s Fab Lab at G. WIZ is the first to appear in the southeastern United States. The Fab Lab concept was originally conceived at MIT by Professor Neil Gershenfeld.
“If you think it, we can create it here in the Fab Lab” says Eric McGrath, foreman at the Faulhaber Fab Lab at the GWIZ Science Museum in Sarasota. The museum’s mission is to serve as a “gateway for lifelong adventures in science,” and was founded in 1990. The Fab Lab at the GWIZ museum came into being through the generous donations of Dr. Fritz Faulhaber who through the Faulhaber Family Foundation donated $400,000 to GWIZ to launch the project. It is a champion of science education not only in Sarasota County, but the entire state of Florida. What defines the fab lab is “personal manufacturing.” It is “custom creation” at its best. Its main purpose is to make one of a kind product rather than mass manufactured products.
Via FLATE.
The Third Industrial Revolution – The Economist Publishes a Special Report on 3D Printing
The Economist has published an in-depth special report on 3D printing and the macro-economic impact this technology will have on our global supply chain. The introduction of this report reads:
The first industrial revolution began in Britain in the late 18th century, with the mechanisation of the textile industry. Tasks previously done laboriously by hand in hundreds of weavers’ cottages were brought together in a single cotton mill, and the factory was born. The second industrial revolution came in the early 20th century, when Henry Ford mastered the moving assembly line and ushered in the age of mass production. The first two industrial revolutions made people richer and more urban. Now a third revolution is under way. Manufacturing is going digital. As this week’s special report argues, this could change not just business, but much else besides.
The report features include:
- A third industrial revolution
- Back to making stuff
- The boomerang effect
- Forging ahead
- Solid print
- Layer by layer
- All together now
- Making the future
Be sure to read all of this great analysis by The Economist.
3D Printing Earns Top 10 Fastest Growing Industries, Beats Hot Sauce Production
IBISWorld produced its April 2012 special report on the Top 10 Fastest-Growing Industries. 3D Printer Manufacturing was #6.
Full ranking:
- Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- Solar Panel Manufacturing
- For-Profit Universities
- Pilates & Yoga Studios
- Self-Tanning Product Manufacturing
- 3D Printer Manufacturing
- Social Network Game Development
- Hot Sauce Production
- Green & Sustainable Building Construction
- Online Eyeglasses & Contact Lens Sales
Named companies for 3D Printing were:
- 3D Systems Corp.
- Stratays Inc.
- Z Corporation
The report below suggests that 3D printer manufacturing will be $1.7 billion in 2012 growing to $3.3 billion in 2017. Read the full report below.
A Look Back at the History of MakerBot, 3D Printing Pioneer [Video]
MakerBot TV has kicked off its second seasons with a look back at the history of MakerBot Industries. Ramen noodles and pure adrenaline were the keys to early perseverance in 2009. As the first 3D printer units shipped, the team scaled from borrowed space and 1 employee to a dedicated office with a team of 85.
Watch the video below hosted by Annelise Jeske (@MakerBotTV).
Rebuild (or Clone) the Forbidden City with 3D Printing
3D printing is being used to restore ancient artifacts from Beijing’s Forbidden City. Through a process of high resolution optical scanning, relics are being digitized and reprinted so that they are not lost.
The team is capturing the shape of the original objects using laser or optical scanners then cleaning up the data using reverse engineering techniques. This allows damaged parts of intricate artefacts to be restored in the 3D model before being 3D printed. This has been possible for some time, but Zhang has developed a formalised approach tailored to the restoration of historic artefacts. The teams is working on the ceiling and enclosure of a pavilion in the Emperor Qianlong Garden.
This technique has also been used to “clone” artifacts so that every museum can host the most valuable collections for its patrons.
The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.has over 137 million artifacts in its collection but only two per cent are exhibited to the public at any one time. Now, the organisation hopes to make more available by sharing its objects with other museums - or at least 3D-printed copies.
It’s interesting how techniques that previously could be considered akin to piracy are now being used to preserve cultural icons.
Via Wired.
