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 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.
3D Systems Acquires Paramount Industries to Advance Aerospace and Medical Device 3D Printing
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced the acquisition of Paramount Industries, a leader in product development and manufacturing solutions for aerospace and medical devices. This news comes on the heels of 3D Systems’s acquisition of My Robot Nation, and the $1.4 billion merger of Stratasys and Objet.
Abe Reichental, President and CEO of 3D Systems, made the statement, ”We are very pleased to add a proven direct manufacturing innovator of Paramount’s reputation, experience and scale to our rapidly growing, global network of on-demand parts services.”
This acquisition is the latest in a string of M&A deals by 3D Systems since the company went public in early 2011.
Paramount Industries itself is a 45-year-old company with deep expertise:
Paramount Industries is among the world’s most experienced manufacturers and providers of product development services, including product design and engineering, rapid prototyping, rapid tooling and direct manufacturing that produces custom parts direct from digital input.
Originally founded in 1966, Paramount has expanded its scope to apply advanced technology in all aspects of product development. Today, Paramount offers a comprehensive array of services. In addition to rapid prototyping and rapid tooling, Paramount sets the pace in direct manufacturing of precision parts from 3D CAD digital input, utilizing advanced Selective Laser Sintering technology. Paramount’s services also include injection molding, full-scale manufacturing from domestic and offshore facilities as well as assembly and packaging.
The video below showcases Paramount Industries’ high temperature laser sintering capabilities.
More information in the Press Release.
3D Printing Changes the Game for Scientific Experiments [Video]
Researches are leveraging 3D printing technology to conduct new types of experiments, specifically by turning the container used in the experiment into a reactive material.
Leroy Cronin, a chemist at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, published their work in the April 15 edition of Nature Chemistry, including the method of generating custom labware made to suit individual researchers’ needs.
Looking beyond this experiment, Cronin sees 3D printing playing a pivotal role in scientific progress:
In the distant future, Cronin envisions that researchers and perhaps even ordinary consumers could download 3D printing programs similar to smart-phone applications. Such applications might instruct the printer to create a vessel that has a pre-programmed and fully tested chemical reaction built in.
The video below highlights the work of Cronin and his colleagues.
Via Nature.
