On 3D Printing

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 »

Venture Capitalists Looking Closely at 3D Printing Deals

May 23, 2012 News

Why are venture capitalists looking closely at 3D printing deals? This discussion highlights the interest of Brad Feld and the Foundry Group.

MakerBot is probably the most well-known venture-backed 3D printing startup, with nearly $11 million in funding and 125 employees. It also helps that MakerBot’s CEO Bre Pettis is 3D printing’s first celebrity.

One of MakerBot’s investors is Foundry Group, based in Boulder, CO. Foundry Group is investing out of two $225 million funds and has made over 70 investments. The group is composed of four managing directors with cultural leader Brad Feld.

Brad recently published a blog post about what he is obsessed with as an investor.

As the endless stream of emails, tweets, and news comes at me, I find myself going deeper on some things while trying to shed others. I’ve been noticing an increasing amount of what I consider to be noise in the system.

My best way of categorizing this is to pay attention to what I’m currently obsessed about and use that to guide my thinking and exploration. I took a break, grabbed a piece of paper, and scribbled down a list of things I was obsessed about. I didn’t think – I just wrote. Here’s the list.

Startup communities

Hci

Human instrumentation

3d printing

User-generated content

Integration between things that make them better

Total disruption of norms

Note that 3 of his 7 themes are: HCI (human computer interaction), 3D printing, and user-generated content. As the software and hardware for 3D printing becomes more accessible to the masses, these 3 ideas go hand in hand.

At Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, Brad spoke at a “Hardware Innovation Workshop” and relayed his thoughts about the Maker movement and 3D printing. As reported by VentureBeat:

“We don’t give a shit about hardware, and we don’t do hardware investments,” said Feld, whose Foundry Group has invested in several hardware companies, including MakerBot Industries, Spheero, and Fitbit. “What we love is software wrapped in plastic.”

Later, Feld moderated his statement, acknowledging that he does care about hardware. But what matters to Foundry, in this case, is whether the company fits into one of its major themes: In this case, human-computer interaction, or the ways in which humans feed data to machines. For that to work, hardware depends on software to help it interface with its human users.

“The maker movement … has really shifted this dynamic,” Feld said. “Users can create stuff that they care about.”

We look forward to seeing more startups focused on HCI, user-generated content and 3D printing – more “software wrapped in plastic” - getting support from renowned investors like Foundry Group.

Brad Feld photo by Rocky Mountain Joe used under Creative Commons license.

Objet Launches Most Versatile Desktop 3D Printer and Catchy Promo Video

May 22, 2012 News

Objet, the Israeli 3D printer manufacturer that recently merged with Stratasys, has announced a new professional Desktop 3D printer priced at $19,900.

From the Objet press release:

Objet Ltd , the innovation leader in 3D printing for rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing, has today launched the new Objet30 Pro – the most versatile professional in-house desktop 3D printer available on the market. Unveiled at RAPID, the new desktop 3D printer offers 7 different materials, including, for the first time on a desktop system, clear transparent material and high temperature resistant material.

The Objet30 Pro is positioned as the ultimate rapid prototyping solution for designers and engineers, ranging from industries such as consumer goods and consumer electronics to medical devices and design consultancies.

The Objet30 Pro takes its place as the new top-of-the-line addition to Objet’s existing desktop 3D printer line which starts at $19,900. With a small footprint, professional 28 micron print quality and wide ranging material versatility, the Objet30 Pro produces high quality prototypes with a choice of 7 different materials and functional properties, offering designers and engineers a world of possibilities:

Objet clear transparent material (Objet VeroClear) for simulating PMMA/glass;
Objet High temperature material for heat-resistant static functional testing;
Objet polypropylene-like material (Objet DurusWhite) for simulating snap-fit parts; and
Four rigid, opaque materials for standard plastic simulation (Objet Vero Family in black, white, gray, and blue).

“Having the correct tools and resources to advance our product development is critical for our organization,” said Gregory Janice, Engineering Manager at Princeton Tec. “The Objet30 Pro’s ability to print parts made with a clear transparent material on a desktop 3D printer combined with its ease of use and versatility made the Objet30 Pro a sound investment for our team.”

“The Objet30 Pro is the next evolution in desktop 3D printers developed specifically for professional users”, said David Reis, CEO of Objet. “This desktop 3D printer provides outstanding print quality with a choice of seven materials that until now could only be found in much larger, high-end 3D printers. The Objet30 Pro is the perfect combination of professional, versatile in-house 3D printing at an attractive price point,” concluded Reis.

Objet released a catchy video to showcase the printer capabilities.

About Objet

Objet Ltd., is a leading provider of high quality, cost effective inkjet-based 3D printing systems and materials. A global company, Objet has offices in North America, Europe, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and India.

Objet’s 3D printing systems and 3D printing materials are ideal for any company involved in the manufacture or design of physical products using 3D software or other 3D content. Companies using Objet’s solutions can be typically found in sectors such as consumer goods & electronics, aerospace & defense, automotive, education, dental, medical and medical devices, architecture, industrial machinery, footwear, sporting goods, toys and service bureaus.

Founded in 1998, the company has thousands of customers worldwide including a substantial share of the relevant Fortune 100 and Fortune 500. Its award-winning technology (13 awards in 8 years) is based upon over 110 patents and patent pending inventions.

Objet’s advanced 3D printing systems and range of about 70 materials enable professionals to build prototypes that accurately simulate the true look, feel and function of an end-product, even complex, assembled goods. The Objet Connex™ line of multi-material 3D printers features the world’s only technology to simultaneously jet 2 materials. With this, users can print many different materials into a single part and print various mixed parts on the same build tray. Users can also create advanced composite materials, or Digital Materials™ featuring unique mechanical and thermal properties. Objet’s range of about 70 3D printing materials simulate properties ranging from rigid to rubber-like, transparent to opaque and standard to ABS-grade engineering plastics, with a large number of in-between shore grades and shades.

Objet’s 3D printers are available in a range of form-factors, from cost-effective desktop 3D printers ideal for entry-level professionals all the way to industrial-scale multi-material machines for front-line designers and top manufacturers. Objet’s 3D printers feature the industry’s highest-resolution 3D printing quality, based on 16-micron (0.0006 in.) super-thin layering, wide material versatility, office friendliness and ease of operation.

Via MarketWatch.

3D Printing Vending Machine: Print on Demand at Virginia Tech [Video]

May 22, 2012 News

3D printers, such as the MakerBot Replicator, are currently priced at over $1,700 and out of range for the typical student. Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering has devised a unique solution to giving students access to 3D printers without the associated costs.

The folks over at Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering are taking 3D printing to a whole new different level. Enter DreamVendor, a set of four MakerBot Thing-O-Matics that is enclosed in a glass. It’s not really your typical vending machine, but boy, the DreamVendor does one special thing – it turns Computer Aided Design or CAD into a physical object. The DreamVendor is the brainchild of Dr. Chris Williams, Director of Virginia Tech’s DREAMS Lab, and student Amy Elliot, who led the design. “We wanted an experience where someone could walk up and use a 3-D printer without having to worry about anything besides loading a file and selecting ‘Print,’” Williams said.

In order to use it, you’ll have to insert an SD card that has your CAD design file stored on it. Then, the Makerbot Thing-O-Matic 3D printers will fabricate your design and dispense the finished product into the bin for your taking. Although the DreamVendor 3D machine may not appeal to all, it’s perfect for tech students and designers who want to quickly fabricate their own prototypes for their projects. To learn more about DreamVendor and how to use it, you can visit Virginia Tech’s DREAMS Lab.

Watch the video below as Amy Elliott gives us a tour of the DREAM Vendor.

Via Ubergizmo.

Shapeways Introduces Flexible 3D Printing Material: Elasto Plastic

May 21, 2012 Design

Most 3D printed products today are created in firm plastic, giving a bland and sterile feel. Other materials available have included stainless steel, glass, and ceramics. Shapeways is now testing a new material called Black Elasto Plastic, which has a rubberized look and feel.

This material would be great for a variety of applications. We’ve seen designs in jewelry, tech gadgets, erasers (yes it can function as an eraser), stress toys, gloves and so much more! Let your creativity shine and please give us feedback to help us learn about this awesome experimental material!