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 »
Chris Anderson Clears the Air: 3D Printing Won’t Work for Making Guns
Former editor-in-chief of Wired Chris Anderson weighed in on the 3D printed gun debate with a simple rebuttal:
“3D printing is a terrible technology for the working components of a gun. There is no tensile strength. It would blow up in your face. You can buy guns in Walmart — they are not a scarce product. And if you want a good barrel you can go and get a bit of plumbing from the store.”
This comes after a wave of concern and paranoia about people 3D printing their own guns at home in the wake of school shootings that rocked the news. One such example was the “Wiki Weapon” from Defense Distributed, pictured below.
Hopefully this type of common sense will prevent regulation from hindering the potential of 3D printing to revolutionize our world.
Chris Anderson photo by Tom Foremski.
Via Wired.
Shapeways Offers Premium Silver Material for 3D Printing Fine Objects
3D printing marketplace Shapeways has introduced premium silver material for creating fine jewelry and other long-lasting items.
From the Shapeways blog:
Premium Silver is our 3D printed Sterling Silver taken to the next level with an incredibly smooth, glossy surface to give your designs a truly professional finish. We will be offering Premium Silver for a six week trial until Tuesday May the 14th, during which we will assess the pricing and design rules. If you love this new finish as much as we already do, we will keep it as a permanent material option on Shapeways.
Finished 3D prints are hand polished to give them that professional look.
During the trial, premium silver will be priced as follows:
- Handling Fee Per Model: $45 (up to 1.7 cm3), $78 (1.7 – 3.4 cm3), Free (above 3.4 cm3)
- Price Per cm3: $28 (up to 3.4 cm3), $75 (above 3.4 cm3)
This means:
- 1.0 cm3 item will cost $73.00
- 1.7 cm3 item will cost $92.60
- 1.8 cm3 item will cost $128.40
- 3.4 cm3 item wil cost $173.20
- 3.5 cm3 item will cost $262.50
More details at Shapeways.
Top 10 Countdown: Most Popular 3D Printing Stories in February 2013
Here are the top 10 most popular stories On 3D Printing brought you in February 2013.
10. 3D Printing Retail Store Hosts Open House in Denver, CO
9. Make: Where Do We Really Stand On 3D Printing?
8. Cornell Professor Develops Technique for 3D Printing a Human Ear
7. Details on the 3D Printing Institute from Obama’s SOTU Address
6. Accused of Stealing, 3D Printing Design Marketplace 3DLT Apologizes
5. NPR Discusses 3D Printed Guns on Morning Edition
4. Biofabrication: Scientists 3D Print Stem Cells to Create Human Organs
3. Video: The Best 7 TED Talks On 3D Printing
2. Must-See Infographic: How 3D Printing Will Revolutionize the Classroom
1. President Obama Calls 3D Printing “Revolutionary” in State of the Union
Thanks for reading in February!
3D Printing Drugs: Medical Miracle or Illegal Substance Enabler?
Among the many applications for 3D printing, scientists are researching how to enable patients to 3D print personalized medicine and drugs.
Vice.com recently interviewed Professor Lee Cronin from Glasgow University about how this technology will work.
VICE: Hi Lee. So firstly, can you briefly describe how the 3D printing of a drug works. You don’t just print out a little pill, do you?
Lee Cronin: OK, I will try. Imagine the following: 1) you go to an online drug store; 2) you decide what you need (with a prescription); 3) you buy both the blueprint and the ink; 4) the “ink” comes pre-sealed in a safe cartridge; 5) you print the drug with the special ink and the software; 6) you take the drug.
And what are the main benefits of this approach?
Well it’s nice, because it allows you to deploy the drug more widely and now the software is the value, not the chemical. It removes the problem of counterfeit drugs, for example, and also opens up the way for personal medicine.
Exploring this concept further, it seems that this technology could be used to print illicit drugs in addition to medicine.
And you won’t buy drugs either, you’ll download apps. These apps will give you access to the blueprints that will give you what you need. And you won’t even need to worry about the legality of drugs any more, because there won’t be any drug laws, because drugs will be so tailored it’ll be impossible for the state to keep up without resorting to selling them itself.
So, will 3D printing be used for good drugs or illegal substances? Or both?
Via Vice.com.
Top 3D Printing Headlines Last Week: 3Doodler, Chris Dixon, Nokia, Car
A roundup of the top news On 3D Printing brought you from February 25 to March 3:
Monday, February 25
Tuesday, February 26
