Researchers in Singapore have developed new elastomeric materials that could be used in 3D printing applications.
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!
Is 3D Metal Printing Hyping? Yes, It Is
I’m beginning to think there’s a bit of a hype cycle peak occurring in the 3D metal printing world lately.
#3DTalks Goes Global
A 3D print chat series is branching out.
Brandeis’ Annual Printathon: 2017 Edition
Brandeis University’s “Deis3D” 3D printing club is once again producing a “Printathon” for students. Why doesn’t every university do this?
New 3D Print Materials Now Possible: 3D4Makers Develops Air-Cooled Filament Production System
Netherlands-based 3D4Makers seems to have broken through a major barrier to producing unusual 3D print filaments in engineering materials with a new production system.
Lani Labs’s Different Take on 3D Print Networking
A small Canadian startup has developed a somewhat different concept for 3D printer networks.
Design of the Week: Kame House from Dragon Ball
This week’s selection is the popular Kame House by product designer Pepe Aliaga.
Metal 3D Printing Options Just Got Tighter
Germany-based 3D metal printer manufacturer Realizer was just acquired by DMG Mori AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT.
3D Printer Manufacturers Take Note: How Stratasys is Guiding Their Machine Design
Stratasys is using a well-known manufacturing methodology to guide the development of their new equipment.
3D Printing Management Lessons: BigBox Ceases Production
The highly anticipated BigBox 3D printer project has ceased production, providing a wealth of advice for others contemplating marketing 3D printers.
Have a Non-Profit 3D Print-Related Project? We Can Help!
If you haven’t heard, Fabbaloo offers a free service to qualified non-profit initiatives in the 3D print and related space.
Cutting Through 3D Printing Parameters: Finding Your Priorities
The parameters for slicing 3D models for printing can be ridiculously complex, but here’s a way to simplify things.
What’s Really Going on at MakerBot?
MakerBot, unsurprisingly announced a reduction in force of a huge 30%. Here’s why it makes sense.
3D Print Post Processing Also Includes Color
When some 3D prints are completed, they are painted; others are dyed.
Avoiding Crowdfunding Fizzles: A Checklist
Recently there have been numerous and spectacular 3D printing failures. Can they be avoided?
Makness Offers a Different Take on Consumer 3D Printing
A new 3D printer project on Kickstarter hopes to capitalize on consumer 3D printing with a new approach.
W2P’s Unusually High-Rez DLP 3D Printers
Austria-based W2P offers a couple of resin-powered desktop 3D printers that offer the possibility of larger high-resolution objects.
A Deeper Look at the Amazing Rize 3D Printing System
This week I managed to get a closer look at the new 3D printing system from startup Rize.
Monitor Your 3D Print Via Smartwatch
Maker Victor Noordhoek has developed a way to monitor live 3D prints on his smartwatch.
German RepRap’s Surprise: Silicone 3D Printing
In a big surprise, at least for me, German RepRap showed off a demonstrator 3D printer able to produce very strong silicone prints.
Interesting Technical Features in Hage’s 3D Printers
Austria-based Hage markets a pair of powerful professional 3D printers with some unique features.
The Transformable Optimus 3D Printer / Laser Engraver / CNC Combo
Today Febtop Tech launches the Optimus, one of the few combo machines that combines 3D printing with other making processes.
Something Interesting Happening at Desktop Metal
The mysterious Massachusetts-based Desktop Metal company has attracted a very large investment, yet little is known about their technology.
Design of the Week: OTF Comb
This week’s selection is the snappy OTF Comb by Thingiverse contributor Framingr.
Low Temperature Metals for Casting in 3D Printed Plastic Molds
It’s entirely possible to cast metal in plastic molds you’ve 3D printed; just not with the metals you’re used to.
ALMOST Hands on with the Stratasys F370 Prototyping 3D Printer
Ok, we did not get an F370 in the mail to test, but we did speak at length with someone who actually runs one. The machine is the largest model in a new line of professional 3D printers just announced by Stratasys.
Color Printing: A Useful Post-Printing Feature for 3D Print Services?
While wandering the aisles of Solidworks World earlier this week, I came upon a vendor whom I’d spoken with many times previously, and they had some equipment that gave me an idea.
Implications of Stratasys’ New F123 Series Prototyping 3D Printers
Yesterday I described the details of the new Stratasys F123 line of prototyping 3D printers. Today let’s look at what it means.
Sindoh Releases the DP201 Entry-Level 3D Printer
I’ve been a fan of Sindoh’s desktop 3D printer equipment for quite a while, and now they’ve announced their second model, the DP201.
Explosion: A Lesson in 3D Printer Filament Storage
The image you see here is of a real situation where a spool of aging PLA filament literally exploded.
U-Dimensions Tackles Gaming Figurines in a Different Way
Canada-based U-Dimensions is about to launch a service specializing in 3D printed game figurines, but there’s something a bit different about their approach.
Here’s Something More Kickstarter Projects Should Do
With the growing list of crowdfunding failures recently, it seems to me that these projects should have been taking steps to provide more assurance to their backers.
Evy Wilkins – “The Human Body Is Unique. Any Device That Sits on or in the Human Body Should Be Personalized!”
Evy Wilkins is the VP of Marketing at UNYQ, a company delivering personalized non-invasive orthopedic devices that improve quality of life and celebrate the user fashionably.
EnvisionTEC Celebrates 15th Anniversary, But Big Challenges Ahead
EnvisionTEC is one of the premier vendors of high-resolution 3D printing equipment, having done so since 2002.
Strange New Motions from AIO Robotics
Discussions with AIO Robotics reveal they’re working on some interesting motion systems for their ZEUS equipment.
Do Ya Think 3D Systems is Pursuing the Medical Market?
An announcement this week from 3D Systems has, for me, settled the debate about 3D Systems’ strategy going forward.
Stratasys’ New F123 Series Make 3D Print Operations Far Easier
Yesterday Stratasys made what might be their biggest announcement of the year: an entirely new line of 3D printers for prototyping.
Sinterit Scores a Million!
Poland-based Sinterit has raised one million euros to assist their growth.
3D Print Trade Show Wars: AMShow Europe Cancelled
We’ve just been informed that AMShow Europe has been cancelled, but what does this tell us about 3D print focused trade shows in general?
Professional 3D Printers from 3Dfactories
I’m looking at a line of professional 3D printers from Germany-based 3Dfactories.
What is Trinckle’s Growth Strategy?
Berlin-based 3D print service Trinckle has made another announcement, and I’m beginning to see an interesting growth strategy at their company.
Design of the Week: Fidget Star
This week’s selection is the wild Fidget Star by Brooklyn-based Laura Taalman.
The Problem with Industrial 3D Printing is The Cost of Materials
With strong and growing interest in using 3D printing in industry, what’s holding things back?
XMachines Falls
An announcement from XMachines on their Kickstarter page this week revealed the company will not manufacture desktop 3D printers as promised.
AddUp’s Heavy Metal 3D Printer
We’re looking at AddUp’s FormUp 350, a 3D metal printer that’s attracting some attention.
Flashforge’s New Hunter DLP 3D Printer
Everyone’s getting into the resin 3D printer business.
An Expandable 3D Printer? Does This Make Sense?
A project just underway seems to offer the ability to “expand” your 3D printer.
One on One With Mcor’s Conor MacCormack, Part 2
We had the rare opportunity to sit down with Mcor Technology’s CEO, Conor MacCormack at CES and find out what’s been happening with the company in recent months.
A Visit to a 3D Metal Printing Shop
We had the opportunity to tour Precision ADM, a new service specializing in 3D printed metal parts.
One on One With Mcor’s Conor MacCormack, Part 1
We had the rare opportunity to sit down with Mcor Technology’s CEO, Conor MacCormack at CES and find out what’s been happening with the company in recent months.
3D Print Community: Handsmith
This month’s community support selection is the Handsmith project by Lyman Connor.
A Conference on 3D Printed Construction: Too Early?
We’ve learned of a new conference focused on 3D construction printing, but I’m wondering whether it’s too early for such an event.
Another Presumed Kickstarter Disappointment: 3D Simo
It appears that yet another 3D print-related Kickstarter campaign is struggling: 3D Simo.
Corporate: ExOne Changes Things Up
A sudden announcement from 3D printer manufacturer ExOne describes some changes in the company’s approach to their US operations.
A 3D Printer Did Not Kill a California Couple
Rampant news stories are circulating suggesting that a 3D printer “killed” a California couple, but it can’t be true.
A Look at the M3D Pro Desktop 3D Printer
We took a look at the new M3D Pro desktop 3D printer.
What Up With Robo?
We had a chance to talk with Robo CEO and founder Braydon Moreno recently to find out the latest on this interesting desktop 3D printer manufacturing company.
Sculpteo un-Beta’s Their Smoothing System
3D print service Sculpteo announced testing of their mysterious smoothing system is now “out of its beta phase” and available to all.
Design of the Week: RYST
This week’s selection is the fascinating RYST wearable iPhone stand by designer Cal Craven.
Can Automobiles Be Made More Efficient With 3D Printing: Yes and No
A report from the University of Nottingham proposes ways to make automobiles more fuel efficient through the application of 3D metal printing.
Anyone Can CAD Online With CAD.ai
A startup company provides a set of CAD APIs that can be embedded on any website.
Making Your Own PEEK Filament
I’m looking at the results of an experiment done by 3devo to extrude PEEK plastic into usable 3D printer filament.
One on One With Formlabs’ Max Lobovsky, Part 2
Fabbaloo had a chance to sit down with Formlabs’ founder and CEO Max Lobovsky and find out what’s happening at Formlabs.
Controversial NexD1 Project Suspended by Kickstarter
To the surprise of few, the highly controversial NexD1 desktop 3D printer project was suspended permanently by Kickstarter last night.
3ntr Pushes the Envelope on Filament 3D Printing
We examined samples from 3ntr’s equipment and found them very capable.
One on One With Formlabs’ Max Lobovsky, Part 1
Fabbaloo had a chance to sit down with Formlabs’ founder and CEO Max Lobovsky and find out what’s happening at Formlabs.
EOS’s Strong Focus on Industrial Operations
EOS is well known as one of the few true industrial 3D printer manufacturers around, and we examined some of their latest upgrades.
3D Printing at a Disadvantage for Retail Thrills
I’m watching a video showing how retailers are using a variety of technologies to attract shoppers to their establishments.
Stefani Pellinen-Chavez – “It Helps if You Try to Look at How You Can Bring Value and Prove to Others, but More Importantly to Yourself, That You Have What It Takes”
Stefani Pellinen-Chavez is a co-founder and the Chief Operations Officer of Ivaldi Group.
B9Creations’s Core Series 3D Printers
The new B9Creation Core Series provides several interesting advantages.
The Filament Roller: A Flexible Solution to Dastardly 3D Printing Problems
Today I’m looking at something called, “The Filament Roller” that just launched on Kickstarter.
StilNest Enlarges?
A 3D print retail operation intends on hiring quite a few new staff, suggesting they’ve been very successful.
Leapfrog Has an Important Point
Leapfrog 3D Printers has introduced a minor, but important feature: auto power down.
Support Structures Eliminated with this 3D Printing Concept?
Swiss students have invented a new twist on 3D printing without support material.
Controversy Erupts Over the NexD1 3D Printer Campaign
Multiple readers have contacted us asking for advice on the now-controversial launch of the NexD1 jetting 3D printer.
Design of the Week: $30 3D Scanner
This week’s selection is the interesting #30 3D Scanner 3D model by UK-based designer Dave Clarke.
Kühling&Kühling’s Two Powerful 3D Printers
Germany-based Kühling&Kühling now offer two very powerful 3D printers suitable for professional use.
3D Printed Filtration Systems: Possible Or Not?
There’s some interesting research on the ability of 3D printing technologies and their ability to produce unusual membranes.
Reading Between the Lines of 3D Hubs’ Latest Trends Report
I found it interesting to see some long term patterns appearing in 3D Hubs’ monthly trends report.
MakePrintable Launches!
Cloud-based 3D model repair service MakePrintable launched version 1.0 today.
Uniz’s Sideways 3D Printer
Sometimes companies come up with a new angle on 3D printing. Now Uniz has literally developed a 90 degree angle on their new prototype.
Just Because That 3D Printer Company Stock is Rising Doesn’t Mean They’re Successful
You’d think that the stock price of a company indicates its success, but that’s not always the case.
Things Looking Good For Prusa Research
After the “consumer crash” of desktop 3D printing there remains the surviving companies. One that’s far beyond mere “surviving” is Prusa Research.
There’s Still Time To Enter The Additive World Design Challenge
Every year a significant design contest takes place in Eindhoven
Executive Shifts at MakerBot are a Huge Signal of Their Intentions
MakerBot CEO Jonathan Jaglom is now the former CEO of MakerBot Industries.
The Strange “Nix…” Color 3D Printer
I’m looking at a recent Kickstarter launch for a machine billed as “The World First High Resolution Full Color 3D Printer”.
If MCOR Was Not Exhibiting At CES, Why Were They There?
This year’s CES exhibition in Las Vegas was notable in the 3D space primarily by the missing presence of several large industrial vendors. Except one, sort of.
MakerBot’s Interesting 2-For-1 Deal May Indicate Changes
This week I received an interesting deal offer from MakerBot: Buy two machines and get one free. But is there more to the story?
Questionable Ratings Plague Amazon 3D Printer Listings
Shopping for a 3D printer on Amazon? Watch out for twisted product ratings.
Something Very Interesting is Going On at Something 3D
The curiously-named Something 3D company has figured out a way to actually 3D print color objects with a filament extruder.
What’s Behind Sculpteo’s AI Venture?
Last week 3D print service Sculpteo announced a series of AI-based tools to simplify use of their system. But what’s driving them to this?
Design of the Week: Assembled Catapult
This week’s selection is the well-designed “Assembled printed catapult without support” by France-based Genapart.
3D Printed Weapons to be Produced by US Department of Defense
A very curious solicitation from the US DOD requests “explosive” 3D printer materials.
Unusual 3D Metal Printing Services by Smit Röntgen
If you want 3D printed metal parts, you buy or use a 3D metal printer, correct? Not always, it turns out.
“There Doesn’t Seem to Be Anything Interesting in 3D These Days”
The title of this story is an actual quote I heard during last week’s CES exhibition. And it sucks.