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
Portland Made Launch Party: Mayor, Music, and MakerBot
Portland Made Launch Party
Craft, art, creativity, and innovation are alive and well in Portland. Manufacturing is back!
Portland Made is a collective of Portland based designers, local goods retailers, and manufacturers. Their mission is to connect consumers to unique, local, and high quality goods and help reconnect designers to the manufacturing process.
Last night, Portland Made hosted their official launch party. Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and State Representative Jules Bailey were in attendance to share their comments.
It was a great event with food from Salt, Fire & Time and beer brewed for the occasion by F.H. Steinbart will be provided. Merit Badge mixed cocktails with local liquors. DJ Leftovers provided the sounds to celebrate Portland’s creative and manufacturing economy.
We were there as well. There was a great vibe. It felt like old world manufacturing gets a MakerBot 3D printer and Arduino lab.
Watch their launch video below.
MakerBot Store Grand Opening in Manhattan: Photo Tour and Video
MakerBot held the Grand Opening of their new MakerBot store in Manhattan last week. In the store, they have their latest 3D printers – called Replicator 2 – printing away, they sell the special plastic spools to fit the printer, and they sell 3D printed goods. It’s as much of a showcase as it is a store.
The photo above is of a proud Bre Pettis manning the store. See the full photo tour at Engadget.
Fab Lab of the Week: – Fab Lab Portland at U of Oregon
This week’s featured Fab Lab is the Fab Lab Portland at the University of Oregon.
From the fab lab’s website:
The primary function of the lab is to support students and faculty members conducting research in Portland. Access is offered to patrons that are actively enrolled or teaching in the current term. The culture of the lab supports an open atmosphere of learning. Patrons are responsible for safely operating all equipment and tools themselves, and must first complete a basic safety orientation and sign a release waiver before working in the woodshop or spary booth. Patrons may also use equipment in the fabrication lab if they have received technical training and been approved to operate the machines. Workshops and courses are offered each term to provide patrons with opportunities to improve their protoyping skills and fabrication techniques.
Fab Lab Portland has 3D printers and other equipment for use.
The facility supports two laser cutters, a 3D printer, a CNC milling machine, and a CNC router. Prices and specifications for equipment are as follows:
| Laser Cutters: | Universal ILS 9.150D 100 watts 36”x24” $0.50/min |
Universal VLS 4.60 50 watts 24”x18” $0.30/min |
| 3D Printer: | Dimension 1200ES SST ABS plastic (natural) 10”x10”x12” max dimensions $8/cu.in. |
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| CNC Milling Machine: | Roland MDX-540 14”x14”x5” (9”x6”d.) travel dimensions *cost varies with material |
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| CNC Router: | ShopBot BT48 48”x96”x5” travel dimensions *cost varies with material |
MakerBot Introduces Replicator 2 and MakerWare Software
MakerBot announced its new MakerBot Replicator 2 3D printer, its 4th generation MakerBot and the best ever desktop 3D printer, according to CEO Bre Pettis.
Targeted at engineers and professionals, but priced closer to the consumer models, the Replicator 2 is a force. It is a major step forward from previous home 3D printers and features:
- 100 micron layer resolution – no more ridges
- PLA – renewable bioplastic 3D printing material takes less power to print
- It comes assembled, not a kit
The new printer is priced at $2,199, a slight increase from the original MakerBot, which costs $1,749.
In addition, MakerBot launched new software called MakerWare.
Introducing MakerWare™, the ideal software to drive your MakerBot—and not just because it’s pretty and simple to use. This Beta release of MakerWare™ includes an all new slicing engine that prepares models up to 20 times faster than before and improves print times by up to 30 percent. But wait, there’s more!
- Some clever code optimizations make for stronger, more consistant prints.
- MakerWare™ lets you open multiple models at once and arrange them on the build platform.
- You can easily scale, move, or rotate individual models or groups of models at once.
- Now you can work with both .stl and .obj files.
Here’s a video showing MakerBot’s new announcements.
Fab Lab of the Week: Fab Lab Adelaide in South Australia
This week’s featured Fab Lab is Fab Lab Adelaide in South Australia.
Fab Lab Adelaide is managed by ANAT (Australian Network for Art and Technology). ANAT supports artists and creative practitioners engaging with science and technology.
Fab Lab Adelaide is funded by the South Australian Government’s Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology.
Equipped with both MakerBot and UP! 3D printers, the Fab Lab will launch in October 2012. In the meantime, follow them on Twitter @FabLabAdl.
We are looking forward to seeing more.
Read about all of our featured Fab Labs in our weekly series.
South Australia photo by S.H. Photography used under Creative Commons license.
