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 »
3D Printed Curves: How the N12 Bikini Fits Your Body Perfectly
We have seen 3D printing on the fashion runway before, but the N12 bikini from Continuum Fashion is bringing 3D printed fashion into the home.
Clothing-maker Continuum calls themselves “part fashion label, part experimental design lab,” combining emerging technology with high fashion.
In this case, Continuum’s designer Jenna Fizel wrote a program that generates a custom bikini swimsuit lattice pattern based on the contours of the customer’s body.
The N12 bikini is the world’s first ready-to-wear, completely 3D-printed article of clothing. All of the pieces, closures included, are made directly by 3D printing and snap together without any sewing. N12 represents the beginning of what is possible for the near future.
N12 is named for the material it’s made out of: Nylon 12. This solid nylon is created by the SLS 3D printing process. Shapeways calls this material “white, strong, and flexible”, because its strength allows it to bend without breaking when printed very thin. With a minimum wall thickness of .7 mm, it is possible to make working springs and almost thread-like connections. For a bikini, the nylon is beautifully functional because it is waterproof and remarkably comfortable when wet.
Watch the video below for details on how this bikini is custom designed and 3D printed.
MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis is 3D Printing’s First Celebrity
Congratulations to MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis for being called “3D Printing’s First Celebrity” by Bloomberg BusinessWeek! We are sure that fame is not his key driver, but it’s great to see him getting recognition for being a pioneer in consumer 3D printers.
MakerBot has received more than $10 million in venture capital from a huge variety of sources and has put that money to good work so far. Pettis is just about the only 3D printing celebrity—holding his own, for example, during an appearance on The Colbert Report last June. Using a hand-held laser scanner, Pettis captured a three-dimensional image of Stephen Colbert’s head and then printed it on the spot. “We no longer have to rely on the Chinese for our plastic pieces of crap,” Colbert said. “Because what’s cheaper than a Chinese worker? A robot.” Pettis also presented Colbert with a chimera, fusing Colbert’s head to the body of an eagle, perched atop the dome of the Capitol Building.
Read the full editorial at Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
Bre Pettis photo from bre pettis used under Creative Commons license.
Hey Red Sox Fans: 3D Print Your Own Fenway Park [video]
Objet, a leading provider of 3D printing systems and materials, has designed the dream of every Red Sox fan: a 3D printed replica of Fenway Park.
First featured on local news, this story has now been picked up by ESPN and other national press:
The 3-foot-by-5-foot model was printed at Objet North America’s Billerica, Mass., headquarters, less than 20 miles from Boston. The massive creation is about 1/200th scale, includes 40 separate printed sections and weighs in at around 105 pounds. The detail of the piece, however, is meticulous enough to capture not only the Green Monster, the Pesky Pole and the exact number of lights, but even the famous red Ted Williams seat in right field.
From the Objet blog:
- The 3D printed model itself was printed in 40 seperate interlocking pieces on the Objet Connex500 – Objet’s largest multi-material 3D printer.
- When put together the final assembly weights about 105 pounds.
- The final 3D model shows off the fantastic print resolution of the Objet machine to great effect. Some of the noticeable details include Pesky’s Pole, Ted Williams’ red seat, the Green Monster (including seats atop).
- The model also includes the exact number of lights, concourses, dugouts and bullpens.
Below is a video of the construction of the model:
MakerBot Looks to Occupy Wall Street’s Office Space
3D printing pioneer startup MakerBot has outgrown its headquarters and is moving to One MetroTech in Downtown Brooklyn’s tech triangle. It’s neighbors? Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
MakerBot founder Bre Pettis told the Wall Street Journal, ”We’re going to put the tech in Metrotech, literally,” in a feature that shared some of the company’s early history:
MakerBot was founded in a “hacking collective” called NYC Resistor, at 397 Bridge St. Mr. Pettis and his partners, Adam Mayer and Zach Smith, quit their jobs in 2009 and locked themselves in a room with caffeine and a case of ramen until they came out with a prototype for a 3-D printer.
Since that time, MakerBot has grown to over 125 employees and is now in need of new headquarters.
Our only hope is that MakerBot’s new Wall Street neighbors take the opportunity to visit and try out 3D printing for themselves. Maybe they will be inspired to help finance this revolutionary industry.
Via Wall Street Journal.
3D Systems Acquires FreshFiber for 3D Printed Electronics Accessories
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) has announced the acquisition of Amsterdam-based FreshFiber BV, a leading 3D printing consumer goods brand. The photo above showcases several custom iPhone case designs sold by FreshFiber, each depicting the landmarks of a different major city and manufactured using 3D printing.
From their press release:
3D Systems plans to integrate FreshFiber into its growing consumer business and leverage the FreshFiber brand and leadership position to expand its reach into individualized and personalized electronics accessories.
“This is an exciting development that will allow us to bring an expanded range of accessories and services to our customers,” said Christian Dijkhof of FreshFiber.
FreshFiber is the leading 3D printed consumer electronics accessories brand sold on-line and in retail stores today. Over the past two years, FreshFiber grew its product offering and presence globally through high-end retail stores like Apple, FNAC and Gravis.
“FreshFiber delivers extraordinary personalization and style through a wide range of co-creation APPS and choices that empower consumers to customize their accessories, including its flagship iPhone® cases,” said Cathy Lewis, Vice President Global Marketing for 3D Systems. “We plan to enhance FreshFiber’s portfolio through our technology and manufacturing infrastructure as well as our growing Cubify.com platform.”
This acquisition comes just weeks after the acquisitions of My Robot Nation and Paramount Industries, and Q1 results with record revenue.
