Items tagged with 3D-printer
Typically, when a major automaker like Ferrari or Lamborghini learns that someone is creating an unauthorized version of one of their cars, the immediate reaction is to send out a cease and desist letter to force them to stop. That's, very surprisingly, not what has happened with the father and son team trying to build a 3D printed version of a Lamborghini Aventador. The man building the project is a physicist named Sterling Backus. His 11-year-old son, Xander Backus, is a Forza fan and asked his dad if they could build an Aventador. Instead of blowing the boy off with a laugh, Sterling said yes, and the project began. For months the elder Backus has worked on the project to design, 3D print,...
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Traditional 3D printing that is commonplace today can often take a very long time to create an object. This is because the printer must complete one layer at a time, sometimes requiring hours or at times days to complete the entire printing process. However, a team of scientist and engineers led by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed a new 3D printing process that uses lasers said to be hologram-like to create an entire 3D object in just seconds. The lasers create the objects inside a tank of liquid resin, and the new technique is called volumetric 3D printing. The team working on the project believes that volumetric 3D printing can overcome many of...
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A company called New Matter has developed an inexpensive 3D printer called the MOD-t that aims to bring 3D printing into the average home. It will cost just $249--although if you snag an Indiegogo bundle you could pay as little as $149 or $199--and it’s designed so that you have to do essentially zero calibration on your own. However, New Matter has bigger aims than simply a cheap 3D printer; the company is trying to build an end-to-end vertical integration ecosystem around its MOD-t. The paradigm it’s using looks very much like what Apple did with the iPhone and App Store years ago. There will be a curated library of apps, and designers and artists can add their work and make money...
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MakerBot has a whole new line of 3D printers, and the littlest sibling in the bunch, the MakerBot Replicator Mini Compact 3D, is now shipping. “As soon as we announced the MakerBot Replicator Mini, we received calls and orders from customers who couldn’t wait to purchase this easy and affordable 3D printer,” said Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot, in a press release. “We see the MakerBot Replicator Mini as a turning point in the 3D printing industry.” Specifically, Pettis sees the Mini Compact 3D as a true home 3D printer instead of the larger devices that are better-suited for the office or workshop. The Mini Compact 3D costs $1,375, and you can get your own from Makerbot’s...
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3D printing is quickly evolving, and a group called Rabbit Proto is pushing that evolution onward with its 3D printer attachment that lets you print 3D electronic circuits on or within an item while that item itself is being printed. Put more simply, Rabbit Proto makes it possible to print electronic devices and their cases simultaneously using capacitive “ink”. What they’ve developed is a print head add-on that plugs into your 3D printer (with software and documentation to go along with it). The team says that the Rabbit Proto works with RepRap printers that have dual-extrusion boards, a Rostock Max, and a Mendel Prusa V2, although it can certainly work on other 3D printers,...
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Remember that neat little Micro 3D printer that we covered a few days ago? The one that was looking for $50,000 in funding via its Kickstarter campaign? It was doing well out of the gate, nabbing about $1 million on its first day, but that frenetic pace has not abated much. The current total in pledges is at $2.28 million and counting, and the campaign still has 25 days left to go. The Micro 3D Printer’s appeal is obvious. It promises incredibly simple functionality, at least reasonable quality, a small size to fit comfortably in the home or office, and--most importantly--a relatively low price point. It appears that the Micro 3D Printer could cost as little as $299, but that number is...
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In the race to drive down costs for and increase the capabilities of 3D printers, the team behind the Micro 3D printer believe they’re among the frontrunners. The Micro is designed to be inexpensive and incredibly easy to use while also offering reliability and consistency. “It is the most affordable 3D printer that can be used right out of the box. Perfect for beginners and experts alike, just plug in the printer, download or create models, hit print, and watch your custom creations form right before your eyes,” reads the team’s Kickstarter pitch. The Micro features auto leveling and auto calibration with a Micro motion chip; it’s quiet and consumes little power;...
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The smallest member of MakerBot’s 3D printing platform, announced at CES, is now available to order at MakerBot’s website or at one of the company’s three store locations in New York, Boston, and Greenwich, CT. The Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer (the build volume is 10x10x12.5 inches) is designed to be easy to use with features such as One Touch printing, plug-and-play capabilities, a no-leveling build plate, and included free software. The printer offers a 200 micron resolution and is optimized for MakerBot PLA filament (available in 17 colors) and connects easily to Thingiverse and the MakerBot Digital Store for plenty of printable 3D designs. It’s also designed...
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Stratasys’ Connex technology has previously allowed users to 3D print using two different base resins, but with the new Objet500 Connex3, you can use as many as three--PolyJet photopolymer, Digital ABS, and “another material of your choice”. What that means is that you can mix a variety of different types of materials in the same print job, including materials that are rigid, rubbery, and clear with “hundreds of composite materials”. On top of that, this 3D printer offers full color support. There are 10 different color palettes you can use, and a single prototype can have up to 46 colors in it. The palettes include opaque colors and translucent ones alike. The Objet500...
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We've suspected that 3D printing would be the next underground technology to emerge on the mainstream scene, and it's nuggets like this that continue to support that belief. With a major showing at CES this year, the 3D printing world is poised to make a serious impact in Main Street, and even Adobe can't ignore it. The famed software giant has just announced 3D printing capabilities within Adobe Photoshop CC. It's available right away to cloud-based customers, enabling them to "easily and reliably build, refine, preview, prepare and print 3D designs." With today’s release of Photoshop CC, designs can be printed to a locally connected 3D printer or via built-in access to popular online...
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While MakerBot brought some pricey 3D printers to CES, another company is looking to undercut such offerings with a $499 3D printer called the da Vinci. "da Vinci is the ultimate 3D printer for consumers and entrepreneurs because it's easier and safer to use than anything else out there," said Simon Shen, the chairman of XYZprinting, Inc. in a press release. "With da Vinci we are moving 3D printing to the mainstream market by satisfying a need in the consumer and SMB segment for a 3D printer that delivers on affordability and usability." XYZ Printing da Vinci 3D printer The latter part of that statement is true; whether da Vinci delivers is up for debate. The da Vinci, built with fused filament...
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If you have creative kids that like to build things, there’s a new app that will keep them occupied for hours called Blokify. Simply put, Blokify starts you out with a Minecraft-looking “construction kit” featuring themed environments and textured blocks, along with models and background music, and your kiddos can either construct the model or use their imaginations to build their own creation. The touch-based design environment is simple and intuitive, so kids can start using the iOS app immediately without any real learning curve. When they’ve made something they like, they can print the project on a 3D printer, or--in the absence of a 3D printer in your home--they can...
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The 3D printer market is wide open, particularly as it pertains to innovation, and a gang of college kids from Brooklyn are sticking their collective foot in the door with a unique 3D printer design that promises simplicity, fast print speeds, and inexpensive expandable print volume. Instead of the box design that most 3D printers on the market employ, the Deltaprintr has an open air construction with a trio of tall aluminum poles with attached arms that control the printer head. The machine uses 65-lb fishing line instead of belts to control the carriages, and there’s a 10-inch diameter build platform and a small LCD display with an SD card slot. The 0.4mm tip can handle printing...
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3D Systems can lay claim to some compelling projects, including the handheld Sense 3D scanner, and you can add a new full color printer to that list. The ProJet 4500 is a professional 3D printer that can print in continuous CMY color with a layer of 0.1mm. The ProJet 4500 uses a plastic print material called VisiJet C4 Spectrum, which boasts high flexibility and strength and, with the ProJet 4500’s capabilities, can produce over a million unique color possibilities. The printer is designed with a feature to recycle its materials, making for a greener overall product (and one that’s ostensibly less expensive to use). The device offers a vertical print speed of 8mm/hr, and the net build...
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A British company called CEL has developed a 3D printer that portends to offer extraordinary ease of use without sacrificing high-end features. The stylish Robox 3D Printer will cost $1,364 when it launches in the U.S. early next year, and it includes CEL’s AutoMaker software that’s designed to let users simply choose the design they want and print--no fuss, no muss. The Robox doesn’t skimp on features, though; it has an auto-leveling system to ensure that the build platform is always flat, and the extruder system features a dual pinch wheel and closed feedback loop to ensure even distribution of print material. Because of the dual-extruder system, the Robox can also print two...
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As we mentioned earlier today, Microsoft is really on board this whole 3D printing thing, loading Windows 8.1 with native 3D printing capabilities and working closely with MakerBot to develop a driver for the latter’s Replicator 2 3D printer, but that’s not all. Microsoft also now has an app called 3D Builder that lets users more easily set up a design for 3D printing. 3D Builder, which is available for free in the Windows Store starting today, lets users manipulate existing designs stashed in the app’s library or upload their own designs made in other applications. Features include the ability to scale, arrange, rotate, and adjust objects and even stack or push designs together...
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When Microsoft announced its eagerly anticipated Windows 8.1 update, the company promised native 3D printing support. MakerBot worked with Microsoft to develop its own 3D printer driver for the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D printer, which is now available via the Windows Update Service. The MakerBot 3D Printer Driver will enable users to print in 3D from within capable software applications just as you’d print any document. MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis said that the company worked closely with Microsoft to produce a driver that would be plug-and-play ready. It sounds like Microsoft got something out of it, too. “Working with MakerBot on creating the 3D printer driver has been a great...
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Ultimaker is releasing its latest 3D printer, the Ultimaker 2, and the new machine features significant redesigns from the first iteration of the Ultimaker. The company says that the new version is more accurate, more efficient, and it’s even quieter at 49dB. Specifically, the Ultimaker 2 has a new CNC-milled case (that’s all white with glowing sidewalls) with an OLED display, and its glass and aluminum build platform is designed to cool quickly so you can peel completed projects off more easily. The Ultimaker 2 can print with multiple materials, including PLA, ABS, and PVA, and it’s WiFi-compatible so you can print from a mobile device or computer (so long as the printer is...
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Back in April, botObjects sent word that it was developing a full-color 3D printer called the ProDesk3D, a device that would use a 5-color PLA cartridge to print mulitcolored items and offer a huge array of color options. At the time, there wasn’t apparently a working prototype, and preorders weren’t even available for two months hence. Fast forward a season, and botObjects does indeed have a working prototype, and the video of the thing in action is amazing. The FDM/PLA ProDesk3D can print at a 25 micron resolution with 1.75mm filament at 175mm/s, and botObjects now has translucent colors available, as well. Note the smooth transition between colors on the vase below. The ProDesk3D...
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A company called AIO Robotics announced that it will be launching a Kickstarter campaign on September 4th to raise money for a 3D printer that also offers 3D “copying” (i.e., 3D scanning), and 3D faxing. (Yes, 3D faxing, as in you could “fax” someone a 3D file that would automatically print on their 3D printer. The use case on that seems quite narrow, although we suppose that if it’s perfected, it could have some benefit over time.) The printer may be given the name “Zeus”. More notable features of this prototype include that it will run on its own ARM-based onboard computer that you can navigate with a 7-inch touchscreen. Thus, it wouldn’t need...
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How much would you pay for a desktop 3D scanner that let you recreate, via your 3D printer, anything that could fit on it small turntablet? MakerBot thinks you’ll be willing to cough up $1,400, plus another $150 for its MakerCare service and support program, to have a MakerBot Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner on your desk. For hobbyists, that might be stretching it too much, for makers and designers, it sounds like a bargain--at the end of the day, the machine only costs as much as a well-appointed laptop. The Digitizer Desktop 3D Scanner works by using a camera and two lasers to capture a rotating object and creating a 3D file out of it using the included MakerWare software. It’s designed...
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We’re seeing 3D printing incorporate itself into the mainstream rather quickly, from a sudden presence on Amazon, eBay, and Staples to driver support in Windows 8.1. The latest indication that 3D printing is the Next Big Thing is the fact that Microsoft is carving out space in its retail outlets to showcase MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D printers. 18 total Microsoft stores in states including California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Washington are now offering a “MakerBot Experience” that lets customers see 3D printing in action. You can buy a Replicator 2 and the filament you need right...
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