Make Parts Fast

Purchase the consumer-style 3D printer, the Replicator, from Saelig

Saelig Company, Inc. offers the Replicator™, an affordable, personal 3D printer that prints objects in 1- or 2-colors. The Replicator runs open-source 3D-printing code and is compact enough to fit on a desktop. Ready within minutes to start printing right out of the box, it turns raw feedstock, such ABS or PLA, into prototypes as large as a loaf of bread. The Replicator is a precision-made... Read More

3D printing—an industry in flux

The initial question from the early developers of rapid prototyping (RP) technology (now known as 3D printing) was, “Is there a better way to prototype?” The answer became stereolithography, fused deposition modeling, and other technologies now labeled 3D printing. That question has now shifted to, “Is there a better way to make?” And the answer here will likely be the personal... Read More

3D Systems begins next-day shipment service

3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) announced that it will begin next-day shipment service for its popular 3DTouch™ printers in response to growing customer demand. The 3DTouch™ printer is a personal 3D printer equipped with up to three print heads and a wide choice of print materials and colors. It can mix up to three different print materials and colors during its print cycle... Read More

Have we reached an agreement on what to call this industry?

Did you miss it? Todd Grimm, long time follower and analyst of the Additive Manufacturing/3D printing industry recently declared that the term 3D printing, by popular usage, is the official name of this industry. Two years ago, ASTM attempted to establish an official name and sort of settled on Additive Manufacturing. But, due to the popular hobby/maker style of 3D printers and... Read More

A simple scanning tool for personal 3D printers

In the personal 3D printer field, one concern is whether the average user not trained in CAD will get any benefit from these devices sufficient to sustain the growth of this nascent  industry. If you’ve never designed anything in your life, how do you go about doing it? And, despite their simplicity, the current group of personal 3D printers does assume that users have some familiarity... Read More

Can open source 3D printing be more than a hobby?

Back in the 1960s, when Gene Roddenberry was developing his ideas for the Star Trek series, one of his thoughts was that we would live in a society without money. His vision was that we would be more focused on self-actualization, which would drive our decisions on occupation, education, and contribution to humanity rather than on the accumulation of money for either its own sake... Read More

The 3D printer home market takes shape

It looks like the big players in the additive manufacturing market are taking the potential of the 3D printing home market seriously with the introduction of a new 3D printer from 3D Systems specifically geared to the home market, and rumors of a possible entry into this market by Stratasys. Research firm IBISWorld forecasts that by 2016, 3D printing sales could reach $3 Billion.... Read More

3D printing’s stellar, amazing year

What a year 3D printing technology had in 2011! This approximately 25 year-old industry is enjoying a second round of “good buzz” thanks in large part to what have been labeled personal sized, hobby, or Maker units and the media fascination surrounding them. The BfB™ 3000 3D printer from 3D Systems in partnership with MADE IN SPACE in a zero gravity test flight While MakerBots,... Read More