Category Archives: News
Top 3D Printing Headlines Last Week: Stocks, Cloud, Virality, Children’s Books, Olympics
A roundup of the top news On 3D Printing brought you from July 9 to July 15.
Monday, July 9
Tuesday, July 10
- Designed to Win: 3D Printing Could Help Athletes Break World Records
- Moddler is Making the Market in High-End 3D Printing [Video]
Wednesday, July 11
Thursday, July 12
Friday, July 13
3D Printing Architecture From the Cloud with 3D Model-To-Print Service
Cloud-based architecture 3D printing service 3D Model-To-Print announced availability of its service in North America after 3 years of development.
3D Model-To-Print (3DMTP USA and 3DMTP LTD) today announces the industry’s first affordable cloud-based service available in North America (www.3DMTPusa.com). Released after three years of development and rigorous testing, 3DMTP’s revolutionary, cloud-based patented technology prepares models to be 3D printed by automatically converting commonly-used architectural software files into 3D printable models, all without the need for costly and time-consuming manual preparation.
3D printing is used in architecture for a more effective and efficient design cycle, and improved visualization between the architect and their audience. The challenge of 3D printing for architects and designers has been the complexity, time, and cost required to prepare 3D design files for printing. With 3DMTP, architects and designers can see a return on investment in about one hour, compared to the traditional manual process.
“The solution that 3DMTP provides is one that has long been needed for our architectural customers,” states Kevin Carr, General Manager of Imaging Division of Mastergraphics — a a 3DMTP USA user, 3D print network member, and both an Autodesk and 3D Systems reseller with locations in Wisconsin, Chicago and Minneapolis. ”Not only does it save hours–even days–in the process of preparing 3D architectural design for 3D printing, it also significantly reduces the cost to prepare the designs, making 3D printing a more usable and affordable option for those wanting to make models of their architectural designs.”
How It’s Done
3DMTP is dedicated to making 3D scaled models printable and available to every architect, developer, and designer at a reasonable price. The innovation is based on cutting-edge algorithms which study the geometric structure of the model, then identify and automatically fix problems that would have prevented it from successfully printing.“We are committed to providing a state of the art experience that will simplify and enable seamless execution of 3D architectural scale model creation,” comments Ilan Sidi, CTO of 3DMTP and the pioneer of the technology.
How to Get Started
First, log in to the 3DMTP Portal. Once you are ready to turn your design into a 3D printable model, upload your design file and set your parameters: scale, profile, and desired 3D printer. 3DMTP automatically processes the file without any additional operator interface. 3DMTP also fixes holes between polygons and facets, repairs reverse surfaces, changes the thickness of walls to minimum print tolerance for the selected printer, fixes non-volumetric geometry (making objects “watertight”), and fixes many other problems of degenerated geometry that otherwise would prevent the model from printing successfully.Become a Member of the 3D Print Network
3DMTP USA is now cultivating a 3D print network in the US and Canada, comprised of 3D printer dealers, BIM/CAD dealers, and 3D print providers such as architectural model shops and reprographics service bureaus.“We are creating this professional network to help support the anticipated demand for printing 3D architectural models, due to the reduced time and cost to ready AEC models. This increased demand will be a direct result of the introduction of the 3D Model-to-Print™ automated technology into the North American markets,” explains Phil Magenheim, Director of 3DMTP USA.
Those interested in learning more about converting their 3D architectural designs into printable 3D models, or those interested in learning more about becoming a member for the 3DMTP print network member, should visit 3DMTPusa.com or contact 3DMTP USA by emailing info@3DMTPusa.com or by calling 301-637-5900.
About 3DMTP
3D Model-To-Print (3DMTP) develops and offers a unique, innovative, patented cloud-based processing service and studio software that can make every architectural 3D CAD, BIM, or SketchUp design a scaled printable model. 3DMTP is a privately owned and funded venture founded by a group of software entrepreneurs and architects who identified a novel and cost-effective solution for automatizing and optimizing the creation of 3D architectural scale models using 3D printing technologies.
Via 3dmtpusa.com.
3D printed architecture photo by post-apocalyptic research institute used under Creative Commons license.
3D Printing Presents Long-Term Threat to Otherwise Healthy Toy Stocks
Back in April, we discussed how 3D printing could disrupt the toy industry, and in May featured a story about a father printing the Rosetta stone for kids toys.
The analysts at Seeking Alpha have put together an interesting perspective of how an otherwise appealing dividend growth stock might be a failed investment because of the emergence of 3D printing. The stock is Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS), the owner of brands such as Tonka, G.I. Joe, Transformers, and My Little Pony.
As an investor who is interested in dividends, I look at these metrics to begin my analysis.
- Dividend: $1.44
- Yield: 4.1%
- 5 yr. DGR: 17.2%
- Payout Ratio: 44%
- Debt Coverage Ratio: 6.1
This is just a quick peek at a few data points, but upon deeper analysis, the company looks relatively healthy with plenty of room to increase its dividend in the near term. Additionally, the recent success of the Avengers movie is expected to translate into revenue for Hasbro. What has me worried is the future of the company five to ten years out. Why? 3-D printing.
The analyst goes on to say that once 3D printing becomes ubiquitous, it will become a threat to traditional toy makers, and we won’t be able to get the genie back in the bottle. He cites some examples of 3D printed substitutes and complements.
- The following is a video of a student at a community college who created a STAR WARS TIE Fighter. There are 2 important additional points to note: Hasbro owns the rights to sell STAR WARS toys, etc. I don’t believe that this is an exact/scanned replica because it is not as detailed as the real one would be.
- Soon, owners of Microsoft’s (MSFT) XBOX Kinect will be able to use it to scan objects and create 3-D models. This will make it very easy to create the schematic (instructions) that the printer needs.
- Also, the Pirate Bay (an illegal file-sharing website that has successfully fought against being shut down) recently created a section for sharing the 3-D schematics. There are already a number of possible cases of patent infringement. The Huffington Post notes one case where someone has shared a file that is probably a copy of a “Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine Dreadnought.”
In my eyes, this is just the first evidence of what will be gaining speed throughout the next couple of years.
Read the full article at Seeking Alpha.
Read more coverage about 3D printing and toys.
Hasbro booth photo by Gage Skidmore used under Creative Commons license.
Enter the 3D4D Challenge to Win $100K and Change the World
3D printing is revolutionizing the way we create products, by enabling the factory to be within the community.
Do you have a transformational idea that could leverage 3D printing technologies to deliver real social benefits in the developing world? If so, submit your idea to the 3D for Development Challenge, or 3D4D Challenge. The final winner announcement will be made the 3D Print Show on October 19.
In the developing world, internet retailing is in its infancy. Could 3D printing fill the gap?
The Challenge aims to find transformational uses for additive technology that deliver real social benefit in the developing world. We want to encourage collaboration between the ‘tech’ community and individuals and organisations trying to address major social challenges in the developing world.
The winning idea will be the one that stands out because:
- It clearly and measurably addresses a significant social need e,g, improving the incomes of some of the world’s poorest people or improving access to clean water or energy.
- It demonstrates real technical innovation. In other words, it brings together leading edge thinking across mobile, web, manufacturing and solar technologies.
- It clearly demonstrates that there is a sustainable business model that underpins the idea; not simply a reliance on continual donor funding.
In order to enter the 3d4d Challenge, you must submit a concept statement outlining your idea. Your concept statement must cover the need to be addressed and the evidence that you have available to demonstrate the need exists. The application should also explain what makes the use of 3D printing technology innovative in the context of this need. Finally, the application should explain how the project could become sustainable and over what period of time.’
The closing date for applications is 31st July 2012. We will let you know if you have been chosen as a finalist for the Challenge shortly after the entry deadline date. If you do not hear from us within one month of that date, please assume that your entry has been unsuccessful.
Watch the video below for full details behind the challenge.
Developing world photo by PhOtOnQuAnTiQuE used under Creative Commons license.
Moddler is Making the Market in High-End 3D Printing [Video]
John Vegher, founder of Moddler, is making a market in high-end 3D printing. His clients are from all industries: medical devices, industry designers, film studios, fine artists, students, architects, and more.
His team receives a digital file and then 3D prints the design on an Objet Eden 500V, which costs about $250,000 and can print high-resolution in 16 micron layers. They clean up the print and ship it back to the customer.
Where does Vegher see big changes coming? In material science. You can print in glass, metal and more.
Watch the video below to see what Moddler is cooking up in 3D printing.
Via VentureBeat.
