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 »
Wall Street Journal Features 3D Printing [Video]
The Wall Street Journal launched a feature on 3D printing. Video below:
Winners Announced in Global 3D Printing Design Competition by Stratasys
In the eighth annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge hosted by Mineapolis-based Stratasys Inc. (NASDAQ: SSYS), students were asked to redesign an existing product or create an original work of art or architecture. Submissions were received from around the globe, including India, Sweden, Romania, and across the US.
Dimension 3D Printing, a division of Stratasys, awarded the winning students cash prizes. Below is a summary of the winners:
1st Place: Pravaah – A Continuous Supply Handpump
Jabalpur, India
Indian Institute of Information Technology Design & Manufacturing
A hand-pump design which not only provides a continuous supply of water and a saving in your utility bills but also provides water during both the phases of pumping.
2nd Place: Diabetic Testing Station
Dearborn, MI
Wayne State University
The main purpose of the DTS is not to replace the users’ current glucometers and lancet pens, rather to provide a product that will house all of their devices. The overall goal is to take the job of the amputees’ caregivers so that the users can be more self-reliant.
3rd Place: Scissors for Right & Left-Handed Users
Lulea, Sweden
Lulea University of Technology
Now, families or schools with both right and left handed people can finally buy universal good working pair of scissors.
It’s exciting to see students driving forward product innovation, and incredible to think that these students truly can dream up any new product they like thanks to 3D printing technology.
Check out all the winners, including Art & Architecture and Middle School submissions at Dimension Printing’s challenge coverage.
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) Acquires Startup My Robot Nation
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) is a public company with a $1.14 billion market cap. Today, the company announced the acquisition of startup My Robot Nation, founded in December 2011 with the mantra “Robots are just the beginning.”
Describing the acquisition in a press release, 3D Systems wrote:
The acquisition of MRN underscores 3D Systems’ Cubify commitment to democratize 3D content-to-print access for kids and adults alike, unleashing creativity and allowing individuals to express themselves easily in 3D. My Robot Nation brings to Cubify proven video game principles to provide a simple, fun and amazingly flexible creative experience. Within minutes, anyone can quickly and easily create their own, unique collectible from billions of possible combinations then make it real with 3D printing.
Read more at 3D Systems.
Old Refrigerators Recycled to 3D Print Modern Furniture [Video]
Designer Dirk Vander Kooij has taken industrial recycling to a new level. With his “Endless” process, old refrigerators were melted down and then used as raw materials to 3D print modern furniture.
His website describes the process:
It took 54 prototypes before we achieved the optimum comfort the chair now offers. After an intensive process of research and development into the engineering technique, we are now capable of producing tight lines and rounding off curves. Thanks to this rounding off technique, the chair has a distinct similarity to a thoughtfully wound up ball of string. This can only be done with the “Endless” production technique.
Below is a video of his industrial robot printing new furniture from old materials.
Via Mariella Moon
Explaining the Future: The 3D Printing Revolution by Christopher Barnatt [Video]
Christopher Barnatt of ExplainingTheFuture.com discusses 3D printing of today and where the technology is headed in this primer video.
Key topics in the video:
- Additive product creation
- 3d printing applications: eyewear, shoes, chocolate
- Digital designs marketplaces
- Local manufacturing and reduced shipping costs
- Reduced waste in the manufacturing process
- Decomposition and digital recycling
- Open-source hardware designs and DIY
- Low-cost 3D printers targeted at mainstream consumers
