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 »
Search Results for: 3d printer
Robox Raises the Bar for 3D Printers and Closes in on $300K Kickstarter
“This means perfect parts every time.” — Chris White, Robox Design Engineer
Robox might be the 3D printer you have to buy this year. With only days to go in its Kickstarter campaign, the innovative 3D printer has already raised $300,000 in crowdfunding.
Robox offers a combination of plug-and-print capability with high resolution. “Never before has something of this specification been available at such a low price,” said Chris Elsworthy, CEO of design studio CEL, the company that makes Robox.
With plans to be readily available for purchase in early 2014 at just under $1,400, the Robox is also one of the more affordable 3D printers available, without compromising on functionality or quality.
Robox 3D printers have a nozzle system with needle valves which means more precise shutoff from layer to layer.
“No more bumps on the outside,” said Chris White, Design Engineer for Robox. “This means perfect parts every time.”
Key benefits of Robox include:
- AutoMaker™ software so users can just select the design they want to print and press start;
- A proprietary dual-nozzle system that improves print speeds by up to 300% compared to other printers. This means one nozzle is designed to print a detailed surface, while the other is able to fill in larger areas at a much higher speed;
- A needle-valve system that stops ‘ooze’ and ‘stringing’ from the nozzles, ensuring speed and a high quality finish;
- A unique HeadLock™ system that allows different heads to be assembled to perform a range of different functions, including an additional second extruder that allows dual-color printing or the ability to print in different materials simultaneously.
The company plans to expand their 3D printing platform to include 3D scanning and other vital technologies for the ecosystem.
Watch their video below and go to Kickstarter to pledge with just a few days left.
Top 2013 3D Printer and 3D Printing Black Friday Cyber Monday Deals
Happy Black Friday!
Here’s a roundup of the top deals for 3D printers and 3D printing from around the web.
3D Printers
MakerBot is offering the Replicator 2 3D printer for $1,999 ($598 off) at MakerBot retail stores, located in New York City, Boston, and Greenwich, CT.
Microsoft also had a deal running for the MakerBot Replicator 2 but is now sold out.
The Isis One desktop 3D printer is on sale for $1,999 through the weekend.
The Solidoodle 2nd and 3rd generation 3D printers are both discounted, each is under $700.
LulzBot is running a big sale on Cyber Monday for the LulzBot TAZ 2, reducing to $1,995 from $2,395, along with other discounts on filament and supplies.
Octave is selling discounted bundles for the Afinia 3D printer. And you can save $200 on the 3D printer from Afinia itself.
And you can always check out the 3D printer category at Amazon for deals on the UP! and FlashForge desktop 3D printers.
Other 3D Printing Sales
Besides 3D printers, there are discounts on other 3D printing shopping.
3D-filaments.com has discounted its stock of 3D printer filament.
Mixee Labs, a site that lets you design your own jewelry and figurines, is offering 10% off orders with the code BLACKFRIDAYMIXEE2013 during checkout.
3D printing service bureau Sculpteo is offering 20% off all prints with the code “black-friday”.
Shapeways is offering tiered discounts depending on how much you spend. Use the codes ”save10″, “save25″, or “save50″ at checkout.
Do you know of another discount? Add it in the comments or tweet it!
Happy shopping!
How NASA Plans to Use a Zero-Gravity 3D Printer in Space (Video)
NASA has announced that it will be sending the first 3D printer to space in August 2014. It’s not just a PR stunt, NASA sees real utility in having 3D printing capabilities on the International Space Station (ISS).
One benefit is creating replacement parts onsite. It is hard and expensive to send parts up to the space station. When something breaks, it may take months or years to replace. With a 3D printer, this can be shrunk to hours and digital designs can be sent from ground control.
Another project that is creating excitement is the KickSat cube satellites. Instead of sending full satellites up to space, astronauts can 3D print small, cube-shaped satellites, fit them with circuit boards, and literally toss them out the window of the space station.
3D printing in space is not easy, though. The way that plastic, or other materials, extrude and bind in zero gravity is different than on Earth. NASA has partnered with Made in Space, an organization that is composed of 3D printing experts and engineers, to develop the custom 3D printer for NASA. Made in Space has already tested their 3D printer on a parabolic flight and is scheduled to send it to space in August 2014.
Read: NASA and Made in Space Launch 3D Printing Space Experiment
Watch this new video from NASA to learn more and get a glimpse of the 3D printer model, which itself was 3D printed.
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MakerBot Academy Campaign to Put 3D Printers in Every School
MakerBot Announces MakerBot Academy: 3D Printers, Supplies and Curriculum for Schools
MakerBot wants to put a 3D printer in every school in America.
The company has partnered with DonorsChoose.org, America Makes, and Autodesk on this initiative. “To get this done, we are going to have to do it together,” said Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot.
MakerBot was inspired by President Obama’s call to action to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. In the most recent State of the Union address, the President said, “a once-shuttered warehouse is now a state-of-the art lab where new workers are mastering the 3D printing that has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything.”
MakerBot Academy is the company’s answer to this call. Beginning this week, individuals and corporations interested in helping put MakerBot Desktop 3D Printers in schools can visit DonorsChoose.org, a crowd funding site for teachers, and pledge to financially support the program. Teachers then register on DonorsChoose.org for a MakerBot Academy bundle.
Each MakerBot Academy bundle contains a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer, three spools of MakerBot PLA Filament, and a full year of the MakerBot MakerCare Service and Protection Plan. MakerBot will also support the teachers with the development of ongoing 3D printing curriculum that teachers can participate in and utilize in the classroom. MakerBot will leverage Autodesk’s software and educator curriculum as well.
Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot, has personally pledged to put a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer in public high schools in MakerBot’s hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y. In addition, Ralph Crump, original inventor of FDM 3D printing technology and founder of Stratasys, has pledged his support.
“As a former teacher, I believe strongly in creating a new model for innovation. A MakerBot is a manufacturing education in a box,” said Bre Pettis. “We need to encourage our teachers and our youth to think differently about manufacturing and innovation. When you have a MakerBot Desktop 3D Printer, you see the world differently. Instead of waiting for someone to create a product for you, you can create your own. It can change the whole paradigm of how our children will see innovation and manufacturing in America.”
Pictured above, Bre Pettis and Scott Crump.
The White House has responded positively to this initiative. “We are thrilled that MakerBot and America Makes are joining a growing coalition of citizens working to give American students the ability to design and make almost anything,” said Tom Kalil, deputy director for Technology and Innovation, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “As the President has said, we all need to think creatively about giving our young people the tools to be ‘the makers of things, and not just the consumers of things.’”
MakerBot is also launching a MakerBot Thingiverse Math Manipulatives Challenge. Math Manipulatives are one of the most requested items on DonorsChoose.org and are an item that can easily be 3D printed in the classroom. The MakerBot Thingiverse website will hold a week-‐long design challenge, from November 12 through 18, 2013, for its members to quickly develop a variety of different math manipulative 3D designs that can then be available immediately to teachers that receive the MakerBot Academy 3D printing package.
For more information on MakerBot Academy, visit makerbot.com/academy. For more information on supporting or registering for the program, visit DonorsChoose.org.
Buccaneer 3D Printer Opens Pre-Orders After Closing $1.4M Kickstarter
$500 3D printer boasts its product design and quality
In June, the Buccaneer 3D Printer closed an epic $1.4 million Kickstarter campaign. The Buccaneer takes an Apple-like approach to product design, and hopes to be the most elegant and easy to use 3D printer on the market.
Just this week, the breakthrough 3D printer was made available for pre-order, and Pirate3D, the company behind the device, has released technical specs for the Buccaneer.
The Buccaneer 3D printer bundle sells for $497. It includes the 3D printer and 1 cartridge of filament. You can order additional filament bundles, each with 5 colors, for $60. There is a delivery fee of $100 for each order.
Technical Specs
The Buccaneer is manufactured in Singapore and boasts high precision and quality control. The FDM-style 3D printer has a resolution of 85 microns per layer and a build area of 145 x 125 x 155 mm (or about 5″ x 6″).
The system has a patented unibody extruder for filament flow, meaning that you should not experience any jams with your filament.
The build platform is removable, making it easy to access your 3D printed objects. “Getting your hands on a freshly printed item is simpler than taking a cake out of the oven,” says Pirate3D.
The company also publishes SmartObjects software for editing 3D models and accessing their Treasure Island store.
Go to Pirate3D to learn more or order your own 3D printer.
