When was the first 3D printer invented again?
Kerry Stevenson
Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!
Formlabs’ Form Cell Strategy Working
Formlabs announced the installation of one of their new Form Cell systems at a health care provider, demonstrating the viability of their strategy.
Six Ways Food 3D Printing Can Be Advantageous
How exactly should food 3D printers be used for an advantage?
3D Printing Waste Becoming A Thing
A new contest highlights the growing problem of 3D printer waste.
Advanced 3D Printed Fiber Concept
A paper from the University of Surrey details a new materials concept, but perhaps this could be done with advanced 3D printers.
Sculpteo Now 3D Printing Apartments
Sculpteo has made arrangements with a French property developer to 3D print selected apartments.
Ultimaker Hiring, And Hiring A Lot
Netherlands-based 3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker has posted a large number of jobs for hire.
What Happens When the 3D Printing Dream Ends?
Many 3D printing companies have emerged since 2009, and almost as many have since shut down. What happens then?
Book of the Week: Getting Started With 3D Printing
This week’s selection is “Getting Started With 3D Printing” by MAKE.
Shapeways Tackles The Price Challenge
As of 22 Oct Shapeways is changing their pricing model.
Aurora Labs Maintains Pace Towards 1,000Kg Per Day Metal 3D Printing Goal
Aurora Labs announced they’ve made additional progress on their impressive metal 3D printing project.
Who Really Invented 3D Printing?
We all know that 3D printing was conceived in the mid-1980s, but the person who did so first is probably someone you’ve never heard of.
Design of the Week: 3D Printed Moire Illusion
This week’s selection is the visually mesmerizing Moire Illusion by Instructables contributor Dushyant Ahuja.
11,500 Unique 3D Printed Figurines
This is a bit old now, but I just noticed it this week: a company 3D printed thousands of 3D models for their conference attendees.
A Real Water 3D Printer?
Is it possible to 3D print water? While sounding entirely ridiculous, it may be possible to do so.
An Airbrush-Style 3D Printer Nozzle?
There may be a far better way to 3D print small, finely detailed objects.
Forbes Predicts Massive 3D Printing Boom, and They’re Right
A provocative article in Forbes discusses how 3D printing could explode in future years.
Frustum Releases GENERATE for Windows
3D software maker Frustum released a Windows version of their powerful GENERATE tool.
The LumiFold TB Is Coming
Lumi Industries is set to release a new desktop 3D printer.
Cura 3.5 Goes Full 3MF
Ultimaker has released Cura version 3.5.
3D Printer Filament from Garbage?
Toronto-based Genecis has apparently developed a means of transforming organic trash into usable thermoplastics.
Paradigm Change in Construction 3D Printing?
New research from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore may signal a shift in how construction 3D printing is done.
miniFactory Announces the Ultra
Finland-based miniFactory Oy Ltd announced their latest 3D printer, the miniFactory Ultra.
Making 4D Prints Using 3D Tech
Researchers have developed a very interesting method of actuating 3D prints.
MakePrintable’s Strategic Moves
MakePrintable has leaked two interesting strategic changes to their 3D model repair business.
The Promise of High-Temperature 3D Printing
Interest in high-temperature 3D printing is now sufficient for specialized service providers.
Another 3D Printing Certification Achieved
Metal 3D print service Precision ADM announced they’ve completed another important certification.
Book of the Week: Operational Cybersecurity Risks
This week’s selection is “Operational Cybersecurity Risks and Their Effect on Adoption of Additive Manufacturing in the Naval Domain” by the US Government.
The Challenge of Making Replacement Parts
I’m reading an interesting case study by 3D Hubs and have some thoughts about 3D printing spare parts.
Design of the Week: Supermarine Spitfire
This week’s selection is the incredibly beautiful 3D printed Supermarine Spitfire MKIX RC aircraft by Flite Test.
New 3D Printing Application: Architectural Restoration
I’m reading an interesting case study about an application for 3D printing I’d not seen before: architectural restoration.
What is a Jig and Why are They Important to 3D Printing?
One of the most important applications of 3D printing is the production of jigs.
BIgRep Takes BigStep Towards Production 3D Printing
Berlin-based BigRep announced a relationship with Bosch Rexroth to allow their 3D printers to work within industrial production operations.
Underway: Developing a Practical Way to 3D Print Truly Functional Objects
Research is underway to identify ways to 3D print fully functional objects.
Are Lattices Becoming A Standard Build Feature?
More and more we’re seeing use of lattice structures in component design.
A New Construction 3D Printing Company: COBOD International
3D Printhuset announced the creation of a new construction 3D printing company, COBOD International.
How Do You Open Source 3D Printer Filament?
It seems there is another open source filament available for 3D printing, but how exactly is this done?
Combining 3D Printing with Shape Memory Alloys
After watching a fascinating video about shape memory alloys, I realize there are many possible 3D print applications.
A Jolly Trip Through the Fabbaloo Mailbag
It’s that time once again to review the unusual, erratic and confusing messages received at our office.
Hope3D Hopes to Power Worthy 3D Printing Projects
A new non-profit venture hopes to unleash community 3D printing to power impactful initiatives.
Is 3D Printing Green? Could It Be Green?
I’m reading a piece on the greenness of 3D printing and realized there is so much more to the sustainability picture of 3D printing.
Pitch Us Your Best 3D Printing Applications
There are many applications of 3D printing that few know about. How do you discover them?
Prusa Introduces Filament Line with Powerful Process
Prusa Research has done something few, if any, 3D printer manufacturers have done: develop their own in-house produced filament.
Book of the Week: 2.5D Printing: Bridging the Gap Between 2D and 3D Applications
This week’s selection is the informational “2.5D Printing: Bridging the Gap Between 2D and 3D Applications” by Carinna Parraman and Maria V. Ortiz Segovia.
Thoughts on Prusa’s New SL1 Resin 3D Printer
Prusa Research announced a new resin-based 3D printer. What will this mean?
Design of the Week: Solar System Mini Set
This week’s selection is the Solar System Mini Set by AstroReality.
What is LEO Lane and How Does It Allow Digital Inventory?
I’m looking at an ancillary additive manufacturing service that secures intellectual property.
Surprise: Prusa Announces Resin 3D Printer, The SL1
Long time non-resin 3D printer manufacturer Prusa Research announced a resin 3D printer.
The Unusual Science of 3D Printed Motion
Researchers at MIT have come up with an ingenious new approach for motion studies using 3D printing.
New LCP Concept Could Provide Ultra-Strong Filament
I’m reading a paper describing a new way to 3D print with molecularly oriented liquid- crystal polymers.
Alternatives to Thingiverse, 2018 Edition
There are plenty of sites to find fabulous pre-made printable 3D models.
Crane WASP: The Infinite 3D Printer?
The WASP Project is set to announce a large-scale construction printer.
The Enormous Modix X120 3D Printer
There are large-sized 3D printers and then the really big ones. The Modix X120 is one of the latter.
Stratasys’ Manufacturing Strategy Becomes More Real
Stratasys announced a deal with Siemens for 3D printing, but I think there is much more behind this arrangement.
21st Century Technology Shut Down by 6th Century Beliefs?
In an amazing story from Kuwait, a 3D print service has been ordered shut because of “Idolatry”.
ACEO Starts 3D Printing Silicone in the USA
ACEO has made arrangements to provide regional silicone rubber 3D printing services in the USA.
Royal DSM’s New “Low” Carbon Fiber Filament Raises Questions
Royal DSM announced a new 3D printer filament that has an unusual statistic: lower carbon fiber.
Aurora Labs Now Within Sight of Target Metal 3D Printing Speed
Aurora Labs marked a milestone on their journey towards large-scale industrial metal 3D printing.
Metal 3D Printing Service Improves and Expands
The Fabbaloo team recently toured Precision ADM, a growing metal 3D print service.
Thoughts On 3D Hubs’ Demise – Or Is It Rise?
You’ve probably heard that 3D Hubs is about to shut down their DIY community 3D printing network, as we wrote the other day.
Shapeways’ Big Integration and More
Shapeways 3D print service announced today an integration that could be a significant boost to their operations.
Book of the Week: 3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals
This week’s selection is “3D Printing of Pharmaceuticals” by editors Abdul W. Basit and Simon Gaisford.
Zortrax Developing Resin 3D Printer
Zortrax described details of their upcoming “Inkspire” 3D printer.
voxeljet’s Thermoplastic Strategy Unfolds Further with TPU and PP Materials
The latest news from voxeljet suggests the company is going full power towards a thermoplastic strategy.
Design of the Week: Windmill-Powered Music Box
This week’s selection is the practical Windmill-Powered Music Box by designer Niklas Roy of Berlin.
IKEA Settles into 3D Printing with Custom Butt-Fitted Stool
A fascinating arrangement between IKEA and UNYQ will produce custom fitted stools for gamers.
Kickstarter Launches 3D Print Test, But That’s Only Part Of The Story
Kickstarter announced a new set of tests for 3D printers that appear on their site.
The Selectra Multi-Material 3D Printer Add-On
A new Kickstarter project offers a means of 3D printing in multiple colors.
3MF Specifications Now Entirely Public
The 3MF Consortium has finally released ALL of its specifications to the public via GitHub.
Seven Sketchy 3D Printing Business Practices
There are some practices that are just not good.
Cazza No More?
It appears that construction 3D printer manufacturer Cazza may have disappeared.
BEEVERYCREATIVE Reveals All About Their New B2X300
BEEVERYCREATIVE was BEINGVERYSECRETIVE about their new B2X300 desktop 3D printer, but now not so much.
Prusa Finally Releases MultiMaterial Upgrade
Prusa Printers finally released their long-awaited second version of their multmaterial upgrade.
Where Do You Find Spare 3D Printer Parts?
3D printers are inherently full of moving parts, and thus they tend to break. Then what?
Robo Scoops Up MyStemKits
3D printer manufacturer Robo has completed acquisition of educational lesson provider MyStemKits.
Generating 3D Models from Video?
Have you heard of “continuous-time structure from motion”? You may hear a lot more soon.
Afinia Announces H400+ 3D Printer
Afinia announced a new 3D printer, the H400+.
BCN3D Technologies Updates Sigma and Sigmax 3D Printers
Spain-based BCN3D Technologies released significant updates to their desktop 3D printers, now the Sigma R19 and Sigmax R19.
NASA Testing Antibacterial 3D Print Materials, But Should You?
It appears that NASA is testing some antibacterial 3D printing materials for potential space use.
An Easy Solution For OctoPrint Security?
Last week we wrote on the problem of OctoPrint security, and this week we found a very good solution.
Book of the Week: Make It, Wear It: Wearable Electronics for Makers, Crafters, and Cosplayers
This week’s selection is “Make It, Wear It: Wearable Electronics for Makers, Crafters, and Cosplayers” by Shahrye Cohen and Hal Rodriguez.
Autodesk Consolidates Fusion 360 Tiers
Autodesk is making very significant changes to their Fusion 360 product offerings.
Implications of HP’s Metal Jet Technology
HP announced a new metal 3D printing process today, and there are some interesting implications.
HP Announces New Metal Jet Technology
HP is at long last entering the metal 3D printing market with their new Metal Jet process.
Design of the Week: Hychair
This week’s selection is the Hychair by Thiele + Wagner.
SpectroPlast: High Rez Silicone 3D Printing Coming
A Swiss startup has invented a rather interesting method of 3D printing silicone objects.
The Dazz 3D SLA 3D Printer Has Some Surprises
I’m looking at a new SLA 3D printer that just appeared on Kickstarter, the Dazz 3D L120.
Desktop Metal to 3D Print Metallic Glass?
A research paper discusses methods of 3D printing metallic glass, and their findings are quite startling.
Finally: A Nozzle Swap Tool
There’s a new Kickstarter project with a tool that many desktop 3D printer operators could use.
Does Carbon’s New Material Suggest a Change in Direction?
Carbon announced a new material this week, as they often do, but this one is a bit different.
To Sand Or Not To Sand: An Experiment
Sanding 3D prints can be very tedious – but it turns out you may not need to in some cases.
Optomec Announces New Line of Inexpensive Hybrid Metal 3D Printers
Optomec announced a new line of hybrid 3D metal printers, the large format Machine Tool Series of LENS systems.
Is Your OctoPrint Safe?
A fascinating article at OctoPrint.org shows the right – and wrong – ways to use OctoPrint remotely.
Partnership Shows How to Open a New Industry to 3D Printing
One may ask why this industry or that isn’t using 3D printing, but there’s one group that seems to have figured out how to get it going.
A Dire Warning for Museums from Brazil
An unbelievable cultural catastrophe occurred in Rio de Janeiro, when the country’s national museum caught fire and destroyed all.