Here’s the top 3D printing news from last week.

Although Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t win an Oscar, there’s still a chance for him to take home his own golden statue thanks to 3D printing. The designer community at 3D printing marketplace CGTrader came up with a number of designs for Leonardo DiCaprio Oscar statues, paying homage to his role Jordan Belford in Wolf of Wall Street.

Artec Group has announced a partnership with ScanSource, a value-added distribution company with more than $4 billion in sales.  Artec Group and ScanSource have signed a Master Distribution Agreement naming ScanSource as the main distributor for Artec Group in the USA.

3D printing marketplace Threeding has announced a partnership with the regional historical museum of Pernik, Bulgaria. Under the agreement, Threeding.com will 3D scan museum exhibits and sell the digital models on its website Threeding.com.

Matthew Terrell is a member of the Horizon research department at the University of Nottingham in the UK. Terrell is interested in the motivations of designers, animators and users of 3D modeling communities, inspired by the work of MIT Professor Eric von Hippel on lead-user theory. To further his research, Terrell is reaching out to the design community in an open questionnaire called Motivations in Online 3D Communities.

If you are at SXSW this year, try to find Shapeways. 3D printing marketplace Shapeways announced that they will be offering selfie scans at SXSW so you can 3D print your own mini-me.

Designers often look for inspiration from classic methods. A guest post profiles the latest bioprinting technique called “Block Cell Printing” which is inspired by centuries’ old Chinese woodblock printing.

3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) continued its acquisition path with the purchase of Digital PlaySpace (DPS), a proprietary, innovative and immersive digital play platform that connects brands, retailers and consumers to 3D printable play activities. This 3D printed dollhouse maker was profiled at CES 2014.

Artec Group launched Shapify.Pro – a new version of its 3D-selfie technology designed for Microsoft Kinect owners – and a way to monetize 3D prints. The figurines are exact replicas of what is scanned by Kinect, 3D printed in monochrome or color plastic at 1/20th actual height.

3D Printing Week

Here’s the top 3D printing news from last week.

3D printing filament is costly, so how will we get schools to start using 3D printers? Zeni Kinetic, a US-based filament manufacturer, launched a pilot grant program to provide free and low-cost American-made 3D printing filament for schools.

You can now invest your IRA in a 3D printing mutual fund! Outlook Funds Trust announced the launch of the 3D Printing and Technology Fund, the Trust’s inaugural fund and the first-ever mutual fund covering 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing. The Fund is managed by 3D Printing Fund Advisers, LLC, with Alan M. Meckler serving as Senior Portfolio Manager and John M. Meckler as Co-Manager and Chief Compliance Officer.

There’s just a few days left in Valentine’s Day design competitions. One is hosted by CGTrader and another by MyMiniFactory.

Looking to hire folks in 3D printing or additive manufacturing? Gravity Recruitment Ltd is a new special purpose UK-based recruitment firm, focused specifically on the 3D printing industry.

3D Printing Week

This past week featured two cool new projects for 3D printing your own mini figurines. One in the fantasy realm and one of the bobble head form.

Hero Forge launched a Kickstarter campaign that has raised over $200,000 with 20 days to go. The company is offering customized tabletop fantasy figurines that are 3D printed.

Mixee Labs, a 3D printing startup that has launched creators for  jewelry, cufflinks, dog bone tags, slim wallets, and figurines, now offers bobblers. It’s latest online creator lets your design a 3D printed bobble head doll that looks just like you!

Be sure to read our 3D Printing Year in Review 2013! It includes the top stories by month for 2013 and five predictions for 2014.

3D Printing Week

Here is a roundup of the top 3D printing news from last week.

In an industry first, On 3D Printing’s owner was scanned with a 3D Systems Sense handheld 3D scanner wearing Google Glass at CES 2014. It was like going into a vortex. Watch our exclusive video.

Music Icon will.i.am joined 3D Systems as Chief Creative Officer. We were there live at the announcement at CES 2014 with exclusive coverage and @iamwill tweeted to us about his announcement.

An eBay for 3D printing is emerging in Bulgaria. We spoke with Threeding founder Tony Kitipov. With a foothold in Eastern Europe,  Threeding is challenging incumbent 3D printing marketplaces.

MyMiniFactory launched a Valentine’s Day 3D printing contest. The grand prize is an all expenses paid break for two at a 5 star spa retreat, including travel and dinner, with a value of £1000.

Chicago-based artist Joshua Harker showed off his 3D printed “wearable art,” a headdress laser sintered on an EOSINT P 760 additive manufacturing (AM) system, at the 3D Printshow’s fashion show.

Be sure to read our 3D Printing Year in Review 2013! It includes the top stories by month for 2013 and five predictions for 2014.

3D Printing Week

Here is a roundup of the top 3D printing news from last week.

We are at CES 2014 in Las Vegas this week, where the 3D Printing TechZone is a crowded affair. You can read our CES preview and watch exclusive video interviews with 3D printing executives, such as Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot.

Last week, 3D Systems announced the acquisition of Gentle Giant Studios, an experienced Hollywood design firm with retail connections to bolster 3D Systems’ capabilities for the toy market.

Be sure to read our 3D Printing Year in Review 2013! It includes the top stories by month for 2013 and five predictions for 2014.