Plastic recycling, while seemingly a good idea, has apparently had a difficult time. Dave Hakkens, a student at the Design Academy Eindhoven, has created an inexpensive way to do it yourself.
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3D Printing: What is it Good For?
Once the initial magic of being able to print things for yourself, how do you explain the need for 3D printers to friends? We have some ideas.
Some SketchUp Tips for 3D Printing
Some folks use Trimble’s SketchUp Make to prepare 3D models for 3D printing, but there are some tricks involved. We found a post that explains them.
Needed: 3D Printer Auto Ejection
Years ago the MakerBot Thing-O-Matic had a peculiar optional feature, the Automated Build Platform, which could automatically remove prints from the bed when complete. We need something like that today. But what was this amazing option? It was essentially a conveyor belt laid around the heated build platform. When the print was complete, it was… Continue reading Needed: 3D Printer Auto Ejection
Thingiverse’s Customizable Tree
Thingiverse has released a new customizable tree model generator that should prove out a new 3D printing concept.
How Many 3D Printers Do You Own?
In your home you’ll likely have one microwave, perhaps a car or two, one refrigerator, etc. But how many 3D printers do you have? We think it’s more than one.
The Tables Turn for 3D Printer Control Advocate
The California State Senator who introduced proposed legislation to regulate 3D printers for fear of uncontrolled 3D printed guns has been ironically charged with firearms trafficking.
Epson Acquires RepRap
It’s a blockbuster move and one printer manufacturer Epson hopes will enable them to catch up to competitor Hewlett Packard in the 3D printing space: Epson has fully acquired the RepRap open source project.
Build Your Own Ultimaker?
Looking for plans to build your own 3D printer? Now you can consider building an Ultimaker 2. While it’s for sale in assembled form, you can now inspect the plans for it.
Another 3D Printing Use Scenario: Enhanced Lighting
The combination of artistic 3D prints and computer-controlled LED lighting is opening up some new furniture possibilities.
Design of the Week: Gemini Lounge
This week’s selection is the Gemini Chaise Lounge, by 3D designer Neri Oxman.
The 2014 Extreme Redesign Contest
Each year Stratasys sponsors a terrific contest for students, designers and young entrepreneurs: the Extreme Redesign Contest. We’re awaiting the announcement of the winners.
Ultimaker Changes It Up – Again!
3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker has made a big change at the top, not too long after doing so once before. They’ve got a new CEO, but he’s not exactly new.
The Stoxx Global 3D Printing Pure Play Index
Increased interest in 3D printing has resulted in several stock index products, but this one is a little different.
Adafruit’s Cyberpunk Spikes
This is a fashion project you can build with your 3D printer. And it lights up!
Harvard Researchers Print Functional Heart Tissue
In a report delivered to the American Chemical Society, Harvard researchers state they’ve created a printed tissue that mimics natural heart muscle – working in a petri dish and when implanted in animals.
Questions To Ask When Buying a 3D Printer
You’re shopping for a personal 3D printer. What do you need to know?
The Brilliance of Post-3D Print Finishing
Most people who own a 3D printer are content when they pull the print out and admire it. But there’s much more that can be done.
An Examination of 3D Printing Patents
A new report from patent researchers Patent Insight Pro investigates the state of 3DP patents. We found some very interesting tidbits.
Repetier Goes Closed Source
One of the pillars of open source 3D printing, Repetier Host, has closed its source code.
Reproducing One Giant Leap with 3D Printing
A project has used original NASA pictures to reproduce a 3D representation of Neil Armstrong’s most famous footprint.
The Uncia DLP 3D Printer
Another resin-based personal 3D printer has appeared on crowdfunding sites: the Uncia DLP 3D printer.
Additively Assists Your Additive Manufacturing
A startup company hopes to simplify connecting with and selecting a 3D printing service provider for industrial parts.
Could The Secret of HP’s 3D Printing Venture Be Memjet?
Earlier last week HP CEO Meg Whitman revealed that HP would have some kind of announcement regarding 3D printing this June. We take a look at a possible technology they may use.
3D Printed National Gifts
British PM David Cameron knows a bit more about 3D printing than we imagined: He’s just presented a 3D printed gift to Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Spin Casting: A Required 3D Printing Accessory?
A new Kickstarter project has launched the RotoMAAK, a rotational casting machine. But what does this have to do with 3D printing?
What HP’s 3D Printing Venture Might Be: Some Speculation
Last week Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman was asked pointed questions about her company’s work in 3D printing. Her answers revealed an upcoming June announcement.
Meshmixer Updates With Cool New Features
If you aren’t yet using Autodesk’s free 3D model manipulation software Meshmixer, you should be. Two new features were announced that we think are pretty cool.
Design of the Week: 3D Printed Tape Measure
This week’s selection is the astonishing 3D printed tape measure by YouTube user angrymonk55.
Oh, Just a 3D Printed Boat
Jim Smith has made a habit of building massive 3D printers, but now he’s used them to create an even larger project: a 3D printed kayak. Several years ago Smith created a homebuilt extrusion-based 3D printer with a build volume of 403 x 403 x 322 mm. He’s been tuning and modifying it since, most… Continue reading Oh, Just a 3D Printed Boat
ITER’s 3D Printing Benefits Are Those Many Could Have
ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor involves work at many locations. One of them is the US Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where they’ve discovered some interesting uses for 3D printing.
Five Questions With The Robox CEO
We managed to pose five questions to Robox’s CEO, Chris Elsworthy regarding their new personal 3D printer. And he answered.
Taipei’s Mobile 3D Printer
Fabraft, a Taipei-based design company has combined 3D printing, trash picking and a bicycle to create something very unusual.
SLM Solutions Set for an IPO?
Germany’s SLM Solutions has hired Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse to prepare a potential initial public stock offering.
How Does XYZ Printing Do It?
New entrant XYZ Printing offers personal 3D printers at incredibly low cost, as low as USD$499 per unit. How do they do it?
3D Printed Barbie Armor In Development
A new Kickstarter project hopes to create a suit of armor for Barbie dolls that you will be able to download.
Piranesi’s Visions Brought To Life
An exhibition at London’s Sir John Soane Museum demonstrates a new capability enabled by 3D printing.
The New MakerBot’s Are Out
While MakerBot announced them in January, the 2014 Replicators haven’t shipped until now. What are people finding when they open the box?
Three New Amazing 3D Printing Filaments
A Kickstarter project hopes to launch not one, but three new filaments with properties we’ve never seen before.
Shapify’s 3D Body Scanning Service
There’s another 3D scanning service designed for consumers: Shapify.
New 3D Printer From LulzBot?
No, nothing’s been specifically announced, but we think LulzBot may be sending a signal they’re developing a new machine.
Win a Free 3D Printed Flexible Bag
Conventional bag-maker Kipling has done the unconventional: created a 3D printed bag – that you might get for free.
The Complete 3D Printing Conference
There’s a rather different type of 3D printing conference about to take place and those hoping to launch a 3D print-related business should consider attending.
MakerBot’s Ever-So-Slight Proprietary Move
With the release of their fifth-generation Replicator personal 3D printer, we noticed a feature that may portend a future move to proprietary filament.
A 3D Printing House Becomes Reality
We’ve written many times on the idea of building homes with large-format 3D printers, but now it’s really happening.
Design of the Week: Insides Neck Piece
This week’s selection is Hannah Soukup’s beautiful “Insides” neck piece.
Free 3D Printers!
There seems to be two approaches to selling personal 3D printers these days. We’re not sure which one will prevail.
ProtoCow Provides 3D Printing Quotes
We’re checking out a new service targeted at 3D print services: Protocow. But perhaps you could use the service, too.
The End of MakerBot’s First
This week MakerBot announced the ending of support for their very first personal 3D printers.
The Ultimate Ronin
While some may 3D print their own doorstops or coathooks, others use their 3D printer to produce incredible objects.
3D Printer Filament Recycling is Super Green
In a study recently released by the Michigan Technological University (MTU), Joshua Pierce and his group have found that recycling commonplace plastics into 3D printing filament consumes less energy than traditional recycling.
Authentise: 3D Printing IP Protection Rises
A new startup company hopes to provide DRM-like services for 3D printing. Authentise wants to solve the problem of “losing” 3D models by using two different approaches.
Amazon Pilots a 3D Printed Marketplace with 3DLT
The technology of 3D printing just got a bit more mainstream with an announcement from one of online retail giant Amazon’s sellers.
$40K In Prizes for the Singapore 3D Printing Contest!
If you’re a 3D modeler and want a chance at a big prize, you definitely should check out this contest.
Arabic Style Ceiling Produced With 3D Printing
123D member Mark Leonard created an amazing ceiling fixture using 3D printing technology.
3D Model Marketplaces
With the huge number of personal 3D printers being sold, one wonders where 3D models will be found to print on them.
The Lathon 3D Printer
Another 3D printer has appeared on Kickstarter, but we think the Lathon 3D printer has features you simply won’t find in other machines.
A Book on 3D Printing
Want to know more about 3D printing? There’s a ebook now available for download.
Stax: A Platform for 3D Printed Modifications
There’s lots of 3D printer projects on crowdfunding sites, but one involves 3D printing in a new way.
3D Printing Creates Napster for Fashion? Nope.
Mashable proposes that 3D printing will enable a “Napster for Fashion”. We don’t think so.
DiCaprio Gets a 3D Printed Oscar
The folks at CGTrader have solved Leonardo DiCaprio’s problem of not receiving an Oscar at this year’s Academy Awards.
A “Full Color 3D Printer”? Not So Much
A report in GigaOm touts a “a sub-$100 device that upgrades desktop 3D printers to print in a full rainbow of colors”. But is this actually true?
Design of the Week: Mazzo di Fiori
This week’s selection is the incredibly detailed Mazzo di Fiori by noted 3D print artist Joshua Harker.
The David 3D Scan: Fifteen Years After
In 1999 folks from Stanford University attempted a scan of an incredible sculpture: Michelangelo’s giant statue of David.
Artec’s Handheld 3D Scanners
There are now several inexpensive handheld 3D scanners on the market, but they just aren’t as good as commercial units that have been available for some time.
Omni3D’s Many 3D Printers
You may not have heard of Omni3D, but you should. They offer not one, but FOUR different personal 3D printers.
Buy a 3D Printer or Use a Service?
Sculpteo has done a detailed analysis of the costs involved in choosing whether to use a 3D print service or buy your own 3D printer. We believe their analysis misses one important factor.
Local Motors to Debut 3D Printed Car in September
Local Motors recently announced that it has agreed to produce a 3D printed vehicle for the Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT), which will debut at the International Manufacturing Show (IMS) this coming September.
Can ZBrush Be Used for 3D Printing?
There are a great many software tools that can be used to develop 3D models for printing. Is ZBrush one of them?
Sharebot’s NG 3D Printer
Sharebot released it’s latest personal 3D printer, the “NG” and we took a look at it.
Heated Build Platform Challenges
The bane of personal 3D printing is warped prints, usually solved by adding a heated build platform. But they don’t always solve the problem.
4 AXYZ’s 3D Potential
4 AXYZ CEO Samir Shah provided us with several incredible examples produced by their new process. When you see them and read his explanations, you’ll understand why we think this technology is so important.
3D Printed Heart Membrane
Researchers have developed a way to use 3D printing to create an implantable custom-fit heart membrane.
The Perils of Managing a 3D Print Fashion Show
3D printing technology is affecting everything. It even affects the way you produce a fashion show.
Uncovered: 4 AXYZ’s Secret 3D Wood Machine
For some time now we’ve been hearing rumors of a mysterious “wood machine” from a mysterious company called “4 AXYZ”. Now we know a lot more about it.
Hands on with the Geomagic Touch
We managed to get our hands on a Geomagic Touch Haptic Device and found it provides a surprising experience.
The Ultimate Ultimaker 3D Print?
While at the NYC 3D Printshow we took a close look at an incredible 3D print that you could print yourself at home.
What’s Up With Sketchup?
For many of us, SketchUp was our first encounter with 3D modeling. But what’s the latest from SketchUp?
Secured 3D Prints?
A new service could provide a secure solution for for securely 3D printing. But what does that mean?
Design of the Week: Stuck Together Pieces
This week’s selection is an unusual hybrid 3D printed piece, Stuck Together Pieces by Eric Goldemberg and Veronica Zalcberg of Monad Studio.
New BotObjects Video: The Color 3D Printer Revealed
Continuing with their stealthy media campaign, BotObjects have released another video showing their new ProDesk30 in action. What did we learn?
The Tall 3D Printing Pattern Emerges
What’s up with all the tall 3D printers that suddenly have appeared?
The Project That Wouldn’t Exist Without 3D Printing
We ran across a new product that apparently would not have happened were it not for the availability of 3D printing technology.
The MX3D: A Robotic 3D Printer
On the heels of its debut in May 2013, the MX3D-resin printer has already evolved from a machine only capable of building in plastic to one that can print in a variety of metals.
Ultra-Fast 3D Printing?
A surprise announcement from ORNL and Cincinnati Incorporated hopes to revolutionize 3D printed manufacturing. But how?
BigRep’s Big Implications for Industrial 3D Printing
Last week we reported on a rather huge 3D printer. This week we’re shocked by what it could mean.
Buildparts’s 3D Printed Miller Car
We managed to get a very close look at an incredible 3D print. It’s so good you’d never know how it was made.
Uformia’s UFormIt Could Change Everything
We got thinking about Uformia’s new Uformit service and realized something important. Something that could change everything.
Flexible and Functional: 3D Printed Kinetic Shapes
New research from Virginia Tech could lead to 3D printed fabrics, and much more.
Bhold’s Boutique 3D Prints
3D printers may permit the creation of almost any object, but what object? The key to success is now good design, such as we found in Bhold’s collection.
Uformia’s Fascinating Uformit
We received a tour of a breakthrough new 3D modeling service that we’re pretty sure you’ll like.
A Virtual Reality Future For 3D Printing?
A fascinating animated GIF shows what might be the future for for 3D printing.
3D Printshow on CNN
It’s been more than a week, but 3D Printshow’s NYC fashion extravaganza made it onto CNN.
Stick Your Head in that Digiteyezer
Person-scanning devices are suddenly sprouting everywhere, but there’s one that might have an edge on the others.
Design of the Week: Inmotion
This week’s selection is Antonis Kiourktsis’ elegant Inmotion figurine.