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
Sculpteo Cloud 3D Printing, iPhone Cases, and More – 3D Printing Conference (Part 6)
Sculpteo Launches Services to Grow their 3D Printing Marketplace
Sculpteo is a 3D printing marketplace that is innovating on 3D printing services. Sculpteo was formed in 2009 with operations based in France and San Francisco, CA. The majority of Sculpteo’s sales are outside of the US, but they are growing their US operations.
While much of the 3D printing media coverage focuses on 3D printers, guns, and organs, there are companies who are innovating on the very important concept of how do I 3D print and what can I 3D print today?
We sat down with the team at the Sculpteo booth at the Inside 3D Printing Conference to see their new services.
3D Printing for iPhone and iPad
Sculpteo published a free iPad and iPhone app that lets customers design 3D printable ideas, like iPhone cases and coffee mugs. The company partnered with designers to develop templates that can be easily customized by users. Cases cost $25 to $30 to produce.
The result (shown in photos in this article) are highly personalized and affordable goods that are accessible to the average consumer.
3D Printing Cloud Engine
The power of the cloud is coming to 3D printing with Sculpteo’s white label service, called Cloud Engine. Think of this as a “click to print” service that can connect your designs to a remote 3D printer connected by the Cloud. For users who want 3D printed objects but don’t own a 3D printer yet, this is an option. Websites and mobile apps can also embed the service.
For example, Autodesk embedded Sculpteo Cloud Engine in its 123D Creature app.
Showcase
Below is a photo gallery of custom iPhone cases and more.
Demo Exhibits Open-Source Complexity: 3D Printing Conference (Part 4)
3D Printing Conference: Complexity is Free, or Costly?
Brian Evans, Metropolitan State University of Denver professor and 3D printing educator, struggled to get a 3D printing demo to work at today’s Inside 3D Printing Conference in New York City. Showing conference attendees the multitude of open-source 3D CAD and slicing software available, he also exposed the complexity facing those choosing to go the low-cost, open-source route to consumer 3D printing.
“Fail early and fail often,” he sheepishly said to the crowd when his part failed to begin printing. “This is the challenge of using open-source,” he admitted. Mr. Evans also praised higher end consumer 3D printer MakerBot for its easy-to-use user experience.
When asked which slicing software he recommended for slicing 3D files for 3D printing, he responded, “It depends on how dedicated you are. If you really like to tinker, I’d go with Slic3r.” Otherwise he recommends finding another program that takes some of the complexity out.
Authored by Brian H. Jaffe, founder of Mission St. Manufacturing and contributor to On 3D Printing.
Keynote Declares “Complexity is Free”: 3D Printing Conference (Part 2)
3D Printing Conference Keynote: Complexity is Free
Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, the world’s largest 3D printing company, opened this week’s inaugural Inside 3D Printing Conference in New York City with the declaration “Complexity is free” in the world of 3D printing. For the first time in the history of manufacturing, he explained, “The machine doesn’t care how complex of an object it makes.” This was only one of many provocative and forward-looking declarations he made in his thirty-minute keynote to open the conference attended by over a thousand industry insiders, enthusiasts, investors and media followers.
Mr. Reichental’s address focused on the many industries that he sees being disrupted by 3D printing. In design and manufacturing, for instance, he said that two-thirds of professional engineers still do not use 3D printing at all, meaning there is considerable opportunity to further penetrate 3D printing’s traditional marketplace. However, in other industries ranging from medical devices to education to fashion to candy making, Mr. Reichental sees even more opportunity to expand 3D printing’s footprint and create fundamentally new and exciting products and businesses.
Other highlights from Mr. Reichental’s address:
- He predicts the 3D printing industry will grow by 8-10 times in the next decade.
- The combination of higher R&D spending, lower time-to-market, higher complexity, greater democratization, and increased focus on sustainability fuels the rapid expansion of 3D printing.
- No single 3D printing technology will address every solution; therefore multiple technologies need to be advanced.
- “Mass-complexity” of designs will fuel demand for 3D printers in industry as much as “mass-customization,” specifically in strength-to-weight concerned industries such as aerospace and automotive.
- Patient-specific medical devices will become the norm thanks to 3D printing.
While at times Mr. Reichental’s address was clearly promoting the achievements of his own company, he successfully made the point that 3D printing is expanding outward from its core in multiple directions and at a very high velocity. And at very least, he made the case for all the conference’s attendees that to better understand 3D printing is to better understand the future of multiple industries, and indeed a very worthwhile way to spend the next two days.
Authored by Brian H. Jaffe, founder of Mission St. Manufacturing and contributor to On 3D Printing.
3D Printing’s Apple 1 Moment: 3D Printing Conference (Part 1)
Inside 3D Printing Conference (Part 1)
We are in New York City at the Inside 3D Printing conference, where several thousand 3D printing professionals and enthusiasts are gathered to discuss what’s happening, and what’s possible, in 3D printing.
Cornell Professor Hod Lipson opened the conference, asking “How will 3D printing change our lives?” He continued, “In the last 2 or 3 years, it all took off.”
Lipson then welcomed 3D Systems‘ CEO Avi Reichental for the formal keynote. He provided some insights into where the technology is being used today and where it will go. Here are some of his insightful and powerful statements:
- “3D printing is going to disrupt everything around us.”
- “Complexity is free.”
- “3D printing means consumers will be able to co-create with their favorite brands.”
- “New and disruptive business models, [and] new retail opportunities ahead of us.”
3D Systems is also making several announcements today we’ll cover in a separate article. After Reichental’s keynote, Brian Evans took the stage. Evans is an assistant professor at the Metropolitan State University of Denver.
“I’ve never taught a class this large,” Evans joked as he kicked off. He then took the audience through a fundamental overview of desktop 3D printers, discussing topics from design to materials to current challenges. He walked through different design software in a hands-on demonstration using the Stanford bunny as an example for what’s cool and what’s hard about 3D printing.
3D Printing’s Apple 1 Moment
“3D printing is in its Apple 1 moment,” said Evans as he showed a photo of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (above). The first Apple 1 was just a circuit board. Customers had to build a plywood case around it. “Who knew that in 30 years we’d all be carrying iPhones?” Evans mused.
There’s an excitement in the room at the Inside 3D Printing conference today, probably best characterized by the concept that something created today, by someone at this show, could become as transformative as the iPhone in a few years.
Stay tuned for more coverage! #3dprintconf
Doodle3D Kickstarter Campaign: Design on iPad and 3D Print
Doodle3D: Design on an iPad and press 3D Print
Doodle3D is a new Kickstarter campaign to help kids and adults get creative with 3D printing. Not to be confused with 3Doodler, a recent project that raised over $2MM.
What is Doodle3D?
Doodle3D is a very simple sketching tool enabling everyone to make his own drawing come to life with a 3D-printer. This way people can get familliar with the 3D printing technique not just by seeing how the printer works, but by creating something themselves! And all this without needing any knowledge of difficult 3D design programs. It’ll allow you to create that much more with your 3D printer.
How does it work?
After creating a simple line drawing on an iPad or computer the user presses ‘print’. Layer by layer the printer creates a 3D object from the 2D sketch using plastic. This way you can print out your name, a symbol, just a simple doodle or anything you like within a few minutes.
But there’s more, you can make the 3D object more than just a stack of identical layers by sculpting and rotating the object. This way you can make a nicely designed 3D object without needing to make complicated blueprints! Works great for sharing your new 3D printer with the family!
Why are we doing this?
Although low-cost 3D printers are quickly becoming more available, low-entry barrier software is still quite uncommon. Even though 3D design programs are getting more user-friendly and accessible they still form a major barrier for widespread use of this technology.
The Doodle3D software is created by Rick Companje who works at FabLab Amersfoort and is a proud owner of a 3D printer. The idea of Doodle3D came forth out of his personal experience with the entry barriers of 3D design programs.
Doodle3D WiFi Box
The Doodle3D WiFi Box is a WiFi device connecting your iPad/iPhone/laptop or other devices to your 3D printer. Simply connect the 3D printer (currently Ultimaker, open-source MakerBots, Printrbot ) to the USB port of the Doodle3D box, connect to the WiFi network and start sketching and printing in 3D.
Below is the video of the Kickstarter campaign. Doodle 3D has raised just over half of their $50,000 goal with 33 days to go.
