Inside 3D Printing Conference: Day 1

Day 1 of the Inside 3D Printing Conference was a big success, with great networking and inspiring speakers. Here are the top stories from Day 1.

3D Printing’s Apple 1 Moment: 3D Printing Conference (Part 1)

“3D printing is in its Apple 1 moment,” said Brian 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.

Keynote Declares “Complexity is Free”: 3D Printing Conference (Part 2)

Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, opened this week’s inaugural Inside 3D Printing Conference in New York City with the declaration “Complexity is free.”

3D Systems: Geomagic Design to Advance CAD and 3D Printing

3D Systems announced availability of Geomagic Design, a new suite of affordable CAD design solutions.

Invest in Bioprinting to Get a 3D Printed Ear or New Hip: 3D Printing Conference (Part 3)

Two well-respected speakers in the medical 3D printing field presented today at the Inside 3D Printing conference on bioprinting.

Demo Exhibits Open-Source Complexity: 3D Printing Conference (Part 4)

In a demo at the Inside 3D Printing conference, Brian Evans exposed the complexity of low-cost, open-source consumer 3D design and 3D printing.

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.

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