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. 

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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. 

A 3D Printing Mutual Fund?

Don’t want to miss out on the massive growth of 3D printing companies? Not sure where to invest your cash? There could be an answer for you. 

Stratasys to be Acquired?

Bloomberg speculates on the future of 3D printing giant Stratasys. They believe the company could be acquired by one of two existing 2D printing companies. 

Bow & Drape’s 3D Printing Venture

According to a report in the Wall St. Journal, New York startup Bow & Drape has raised USD$1.2M in new investment, specifically for developing new lines of customized fashion accessories using 3D printing. 

Credit Suisse Revises Their 3D Printing Projections

In light of new analysis, banking giant Credit Suisse has recalculated its 3D printing projection, stating that the manufacturing tech’s market will increase to $800M by 2016.   Led by market researcher Jonathan Shaffer, the revised projection is a startling 357% increase from Credit Suisse’s $175M market estimate late last year. Driving that claim is… Continue reading Credit Suisse Revises Their 3D Printing Projections

3D Systems is Cooking Up a Chocolate 3D Printer with Hershey’s

3D Systems has fully committed to a food 3D printing strategy. After the surprise announcements of the ChefJet 3D printers, which can print sugar structures in full color (and flavor, too), they’ve announced a joint deal with chocolate conglomerate Hershey’s to develop “innovative opportunities for using 3D printing technology in creating edible foods, including confectionery… Continue reading 3D Systems is Cooking Up a Chocolate 3D Printer with Hershey’s

How’s Afinia Doing After that Stratasys Patent Claim?

3D printing giant Stratasys made a claim against Afinia, saying the latter has violated not one, but four of their patents related to plastic extrusion-based 3D printing. Now, you’d think having the weight of a major patent suit against you would have an effect on sales. Would prospective customer be scared off by the legal… Continue reading How’s Afinia Doing After that Stratasys Patent Claim?

One of These 3D Metal Printers Will Be Acquired?

We speculated the other day regarding Stratasys’ lack of metal 3D printing capability and suggested that they have been raising money to execute a major corporate acquisition to put that missing tech in their portfolio. Several spy reports seem to confirm this type of acquisition is in the works.    But who will they acquire? … Continue reading One of These 3D Metal Printers Will Be Acquired?

3D Systems Names Will.I.Am as Chief Creative Officer

We were assembled in sardine-quality packed formation in 3D Systems’ massive booth at CES2014, awaiting some kind of event involving mega-recording star Will.I.Am. Some suspected the artist would play us some tunes, although it seemed quite unlikely as the only musical equipment in the vicinity was 3D Systems’ usual 3D printed band instruments, which are… Continue reading 3D Systems Names Will.I.Am as Chief Creative Officer

Formlabs Now Accepting Bitcoin

Formlabs, makers of the most popular resin-based personal 3D printer, announced they will now accept Bitcoin for purchases at their online store. While there may be other 3D printer manufacturers accepting Bitcoin, Formlabs seems to be the only big player doing so.    Bitcoin, if you somehow haven’t heard, is a new digital currency enabling… Continue reading Formlabs Now Accepting Bitcoin

The Staggering Implications of Afinia’s Countersuit

After last week’s blockbuster announcement of Afinia’s response to Stratasys’ allegations of patent infringement, we got thinking about what this might mean.    We’re anxiously awaiting further developments, that likely being a full-on court case where a judge and jury hear detailed technical arguments from both sides. That hasn’t even begun yet and we suspect… Continue reading The Staggering Implications of Afinia’s Countersuit

What Will 3D Systems Announce at CES 2014?

We knew 3D Systems was set to make significant announcements at CES 2014 in Las Vegas, but now we have a preview. In a press release they said they would make not one, but TWELVE announcements. This is startling, as they previously announced a dozen or so new items at last month’s EuroMold conference in… Continue reading What Will 3D Systems Announce at CES 2014?

Breaking: Afinia’s Startling Response to Stratasys’ Patent Claims

After appropriate time for attorneys to do their work, Afinia has formally responded in court documents to Stratasys’ claim of patent infringement. Readers may recall that Afinia is the target of a patent claim by Stratasys. The larger company claims Afinia has violated four of their numerous 3D printing-related patents.    In the response, Afinia… Continue reading Breaking: Afinia’s Startling Response to Stratasys’ Patent Claims

3D Printed Underwear?

A UK firm has revealed plans to produce a line of apparently 3D printed underwear. Tamicare has developed a new process that is said to enable 3D printed fabric, which they intend to produce underwear with, at least at first.    The fabric generated through this process is trademarked as “CosyFlex”. It’s not entirely clear… Continue reading 3D Printed Underwear?

Controversy Surrounds the Picaso 3D Printer?

We wrote earlier on the Russian-made Picaso Designer 3D printer. Now we’ve seen some evidence of strange goings-on in that company’s market. Picaso issued a press release stating (via translation):    Due to the spread of false information and the advent of the Internet many sites do not have permission to sell products Picaso 3D,… Continue reading Controversy Surrounds the Picaso 3D Printer?

The Village Plastics Acquisition: Explained

We stand corrected: today officials from 3D Systems informed us that in fact, Village Plastics has been supplying them with a very significant portion of the filament plastic used on their Cubify 3D printers. Yesterday we speculated that VP sold plastic only to 3D Systems’ competitors. Who knew?   Now the acquisition makes complete sense.… Continue reading The Village Plastics Acquisition: Explained

3D Systems Acquires Village Plastics

In a totally surprising move, 3D printing giant 3D Systems acquired Ohio-based Village Plastics. VP, best known by their sales outlet Filaco, manufacturers generic plastic filament for personal 3D printers.    The company is known for their high-quality, non-toxic filament and their penchant for experimenting with non-standard materials such as HIPS.    But we’re wondering… Continue reading 3D Systems Acquires Village Plastics

3D Systems Acquires Figulo

3D Systems has made another key acquisition, this time of a small but very interesting provider: Figulo. If you haven’t heard of them, they are perhaps the leading provider of glazed-ceramic 3D prints. We understand their services are used by some of the major 3D print services for outsourced ceramic work.    Why is this… Continue reading 3D Systems Acquires Figulo

3D Systems Explodes with Announcements

3D printing giant 3D Systems isn’t standing still. At the EuroMold exhibition today they announced not one, not two, but twelve products to bolster their already considerable portfolio of equipment, software and services.    They not only announced the products, but showed them at their massive booth at the Frankfurt trade show, staffed by what… Continue reading 3D Systems Explodes with Announcements

3D Systems Partners with Motorola

There are not a lot of details, but an agreement was reached between 3D Systems and Motorola, whereby 3D Systems would produce 3D printed “modules” to be used in Motorola’s modular smartphone venture, Project Ara.    Project Ara intends on devising an open source, “free, open hardware platform for creating highly modular smartphones”, in which,… Continue reading 3D Systems Partners with Motorola

Implications of the Stratasys – Afinia Lawsuit

By now you’ve no doubt heard that Stratasys has launched a major lawsuit against Afinia for alleged violations of several Stratasys patents. We examined these patents previously, but we believe there are implications that travel far beyond simply Afinia, as the patents describe methods commonly used in many personal 3D printers.    The concept of… Continue reading Implications of the Stratasys – Afinia Lawsuit

Details of the Stratasys – Afinia Lawsuit

We’ve been reading more about this week’s legal action by Stratasys against personal 3D printer marketer Afinia, who are alleged to have violated several of Stratasys’ patents.    We’ve obtained a copy of the “Complaint for Patent Infringement”  filed in the United States District Court, District of Minnesota (where Stratasys’ HQ is located, and, totally… Continue reading Details of the Stratasys – Afinia Lawsuit

Stratasys Sues Afinia

3D printing giant Stratasys launched legal action against Afinia, a marketer of personal 3D printers. The statement from Stratasys says:    Afinia’s sale, promotion and use of its Series H printer infringes patents directed to part porosity, liquefier structure, temperature control, and tool paths for constructing part perimeters. The most recent Stratasys patent that Afinia… Continue reading Stratasys Sues Afinia

Cubes In Harrods!

3D Systems’ Cubify division has made another notable retail move, this time sealing a deal with Harrods of London to display the Cube personal 3D printer at their flagship store in Knightsbridge.     Cubify has been rapidly expanding their network of resellers recently, but to be at Harrods is a big accomplishment. Harrods is a… Continue reading Cubes In Harrods!

Walmart Selling Cube 3D Printers – in Brazil

We know Staples sells Cubify’s entry-level personal 3D printer, the Cube, at an undetermined number of physical outlets in the USA. But now we learn Walmart also sells the Cube – but not in the USA; they’re available in Brazil.    The Cube is priced at R$5,758 (USD$2,478), quite a bit more than the standard… Continue reading Walmart Selling Cube 3D Printers – in Brazil

Ultimaker Reorganizes

You may have heard about Ultimaker’s new personal 3D printer, the not-so-surprisingly named Ultimaker 2, but that’s not all that’s going down at the Dutch manufacturer.    We listened to a talk by their new CEO, Henk van Gils at the London 3D Printshow 2013, in which he revealed some corporate moves at the growing… Continue reading Ultimaker Reorganizes

3D Printing Be Could Be Worth $8.41B by 2020

According to a recent study, the market for 3D printers could be worth nearly $8.5 billion by 2020.   The study, conducted by Indian research firm MarketsandMarkets, forecasts a compound annual growth rate of 23% for 3D printing technology over the next seven years. According to MarketsandMarkets, one of the motivations for this growth is… Continue reading 3D Printing Be Could Be Worth $8.41B by 2020

Stratasys Strategy in a Post-Patent World

Stratasys, one of the largest 3D printing companies in the world today, faces transition. While the company built itself upon the FDM (fused deposition modeling) process it invented years ago, the patent for that process has expired.    With the expiration of the key patents, other organizations have  replicated (no pun intended) the process and… Continue reading Stratasys Strategy in a Post-Patent World

Breaking: Formlabs Raises $19M

Formlabs announced today they’ve raised USD$19M investment to help grow their company. Formlabs produces the Form 1, the first popular resin-based personal 3D printer, which raised an amazing USD$3M on its first Kickstarter campaign just a few months ago.    The new funding, led by venture capital partner DFJ Growth, now enables Formlabs to embark… Continue reading Breaking: Formlabs Raises $19M

MakerBot’s Retail Expansion

MakerBot opened the first dedicated retail 3D printer store on New York City’s Mulberry street some years ago. While MakerBot continued retail operations by partnering with others, the lone MakerBot store stood alone at the tip of Manhattan Island.    Until now.    MakerBot has announced they will open not one, but two additional MakerBot… Continue reading MakerBot’s Retail Expansion

VoxelJet Begins Trading

Commercial 3D printer manufacturer VoxelJet began trading shares on public markets this past week and the results are, well, pretty spectacular.    VoxelJet produces large-scale commercial 3D printers for industrial use. We believe they produce the largest commercial 3D printer available today, the massive VX4000 (see above image), capable of 3D printing objects as large… Continue reading VoxelJet Begins Trading

Hammacher Schlemmer Offers 3D Printers

Another major consumer-oriented online retailer has begun sales of personal 3D printers. Hammacher Schlemmer, one of the world’s oldest mail order operations, is now selling 3D System’s Cube personal 3D printer.    The Cube is described as:    The printer extrudes 1/125″-thin layers of warm, viscous thermoplastic that hardens within seconds, forming a solid, three-dimensional… Continue reading Hammacher Schlemmer Offers 3D Printers

3D Printing in Tesco?

If you reside in the UK, it’s more than likely you’ve been buying groceries from your neighborhood Tesco. But soon you may be picking you your 3D prints there, too.    In a report published by V3, Tesco’s IT Chief Mike McNamara postulated about a future world where Tesco shoppers could pick up 3D prints… Continue reading 3D Printing in Tesco?

3DTin’s New Owners

One of the very few browser-based 3D modeling tools has changed hands. 3DTin has been acquired by Montreal-based 3D startup Lagoa.    Lagoa focuses on solving the problem of 3D requiring high-end computing power, which typically isn’t available on the increasingly frequent ultra-portable laptops. People love the portability, but 3D just doesn’t work so well… Continue reading 3DTin’s New Owners

Form 1 Shipping Update

The spectacular Kickstarter launch of Formlabs months ago was just the first part. A large number of orders merely indicates strong interest in a product. We reserved judgement until we saw that Formlabs was able to deliver the numerous Form 1 personal 3D printers. Now we have evidence of that success.    Formlabs has posted… Continue reading Form 1 Shipping Update

3D Printing Arrives in Argentina with Kikai Labs

3D printing is now inexpensive and this means its use can become widespread very rapidly. Argentina-based Kikai Labs hopes to carry 3D printing forward in South America, with their own locally produced 3D printer design.    While their virtual store currently operates in Argentina, they apparently will open up sales in neighboring Uruguay soon.   … Continue reading 3D Printing Arrives in Argentina with Kikai Labs

Singapore Investing $30M in 3D Printing

Singapore’s Prime Minister and the country’s Economic Development Board (EDB) announced that Singapore will set aside $30M of its $500M “Future of Manufacturing” fund to create a new 3D Printing center.   Housed at the country’s Nanyang Technological University the new $30M center will be a hub of innovation for students and industry alike. According… Continue reading Singapore Investing $30M in 3D Printing

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ExOne Under Fire After Scathing Report

In a recent article at Street Sweeper, Sonya Colberg has accused 3D Printer company ExOne of “diluting investors’ shares to raise millions just six months after its public offering”.   In the article, Colberg accuses CEO Kent Rockwell of mismanaging the firm and using it as his own “piggy-bank”. According to the report, within the… Continue reading ExOne Under Fire After Scathing Report

Exclusive: Inside the CubeX Factory

Hidden in the sleepy coastal town of Clevedon, UK, lies the secret factory that produces 3D Systems’ CubeX 3D printer. We recently toured the factory to find out how these popular machines are created.    Aside from a modest research and development unit, the entire facility is dedicated to production of CubeX’s. It is indeed… Continue reading Exclusive: Inside the CubeX Factory

Patent Issued for Digital Manufacturing

After years of process, US patent number 8,515,826 has been issued to Bryan Norman of KraftWurx fame. While there are billions of patents appearing, many of which are related to 3D printing, this one bears mentioning. Here’s the abstract of the patent:    Methods and systems for designing and producing a three-dimensional object selection of… Continue reading Patent Issued for Digital Manufacturing

3D Printing Stocks Get a Boost from CitiGroup

In early trading this week 3D Systems (DDD) and Stratasys (SSYS) stocks took a dramatic jump as analysts from Citigroup gave the two companies a “buy” ratings. By midsession on Monday 3D Systems’ stock was up 8% garnering a $52.41 price per share. Nearly mirroring DDD’s performance, Stratasys’ stock rose 5% to a whopping $111.07.… Continue reading 3D Printing Stocks Get a Boost from CitiGroup

3D Systems Acquires CDRM

Another week, another acquisition for 3D Systems. While last week they picked up TeamPlatform, a service for aiding 3D model projects, this week they’ve acquired CDRM, a 3D print service bureau located in the UK.    3D Systems has an extensive network of print service bureaus located across the world. These centers are integrated together… Continue reading 3D Systems Acquires CDRM

A Visit to the iMakr 3D Printer Store

On our recent visit to the UK we happened to drop by the iMakr store, which is one of the very few, perhaps the only, true retail store focused entirely on 3D printing. It’s tagline is “The World’s largest 3D Printing Store”, and we think they could be right.

A 3D Printing Workshop AND Cafe in Buenos Aires

The neighborhood of Palermo in Buenos Aires is known for its restaurants, but this one is somewhat unique: The 3D Lab Fab & Cafe offers patrons not only coffee and food, but also access to 3D printing technology. They say:    In 3DLab Fab&Café we provide you the cutting edge technology of digital fabrication in… Continue reading A 3D Printing Workshop AND Cafe in Buenos Aires

Stratasys Expects More Revenue

This is interesting: 3D printing giant Stratasys raised their revenue expectations for the year 2013 following the merger with MakerBot. The change moved expected full-year revenue from “only” USD$430-455M to a larger USD$445-480M, a rise of USD$15-25M.    We suspect a chunk of this new revenue is from MakerBot’s sales of personal 3D printers, as… Continue reading Stratasys Expects More Revenue

MakerBot Appears at Microsoft Stores

This is an interesting arrangement: MakerBot has partnered with Microsoft to display MakerBot 3D printing gear in select Microsoft retail stores across the USA.    MakerBot will be allocated a space within these stores to set up a “store within a store” concept, similar to what Apple did with certain big box stores before they… Continue reading MakerBot Appears at Microsoft Stores

Is Sept 3rd An Important Date for Formlabs?

We think it is. Why? First, some background. Formlabs launched one of the most successful new 3D printers in recent memory with their Form 1 resin-based 3D printer. It’s a device capable of 3D printing extremely high-resolution objects reliabily with a technique completely different from most of the other 3D printer manufacturers: photocuring resin with… Continue reading Is Sept 3rd An Important Date for Formlabs?

3D Systems Allies With Deloitte

3D printing giant 3D Systems has formed an alliance with big-time consulting company Deloitte “to jointly assist companies and industries adopt and integrate 3D printing design and manufacturing systems and solutions into their business for sustainable competitive advantage.”   One may wonder why such an alliance is required, because 3D printing technology now would appear… Continue reading 3D Systems Allies With Deloitte

3D Systems Completes Acquisition of Phenix

In June we reported that 3D Systems had struck a deal to acquire metal 3D printer manufacturer Phenix Systems. They’ve now announced that the deal has closed and Phenix and all their associated technology are now part of 3D Systems.    This continues 3D Systems’ habit of acquiring other 3D print-related companies. 3D Systems has… Continue reading 3D Systems Completes Acquisition of Phenix

i.Materialise Opens In Japan

3D print service i.Materialise has blossomed into a new location: Japan. They now offer their services in Japanese.    There’s a production change, too. The print service has long had operations in Belgium, its home base, but now can “partly” produce orders on the Japanese mainland.    Language and culture can be a significant barrier,… Continue reading i.Materialise Opens In Japan

Another 3D Printer Found in a Retail Store

First was MakerBot’s single retail store experiment in downtown NYC, then 3D Systems struck a deal with Staples to offer the Cube 3D printer in all Staples stores. Now we see another retail example: UK electronics retailer Maplin now carries a 3D printer kit, the Velleman K8200.    We’ll look at the Velleman another day,… Continue reading Another 3D Printer Found in a Retail Store

3D Systems Joins Planetary Resources

You may recall the announcement of Planetary Resources? They’re the futuristic company that intends on developing technology to capture asteroids and refine them for their mineral wealth. The company is backed by several notable entrepreneurs and explorers, including X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis and filmmaker James Cameron. Now they’ve added another major investor: 3D Systems.   … Continue reading 3D Systems Joins Planetary Resources

Skanect Under New Management

Skanect is now part of Occipital, Inc., according to an announcement by Skanect. Skanect produces one of the most powerful systems for capturing casual 3D scans with a Microsoft Kinect.    Occipital produces 360 degrees panoramas and related computer vision products, so acquiring Skanect seems like a logical extension of their existing business.    The… Continue reading Skanect Under New Management

How Will Stratasys and MakerBot Change?

After their acquisition of MakerBot, we’re expecting changes in StrataBot, or is it MakerSys? We’re just kidding; neither Stratasys nor MakerBot will change their name as a result of this week’s acquisition; there’s too much value associated with each brand. But what else will change?    The two companies have some similarities in technology –… Continue reading How Will Stratasys and MakerBot Change?

3D Systems Acquires Phenix Systems

3D Systems continues its acquisition run with the announcement they’ve agreed to take on Phenix Systems, a manufacturer of metal 3D printing devices.    France-based Phenix Systems uses the “Direct Metal Selective Laser Sintering” process, which uses high-powered lasers to fuse layers of metal powder into solid objects at very fine resolutions. The process is… Continue reading 3D Systems Acquires Phenix Systems

Amazon Is Selling 3D Printers

Surprise! Amazon is now selling 3D printers. The online retailing giant now offers a rather lengthy selection of 3D printer gear.    Included in Amazon’s extensive portfolio are:    FlashForge MakerBot Replicator 2 Afinia H-Series MBot Cube Airwolf FF3D JET Felix Robotics Fabbster  3D Systems Cube, RapMan and 3D Touch  LulzBot AO-101  BotMill Glide   … Continue reading Amazon Is Selling 3D Printers

Stratasys To Acquire MakerBot?

A report on TechCrunch proposes that MakerBot is in talks with Stratasys “regarding a possible acquisition”. The report says “persistent rumors of a sale or new funding have followed the company this year”.    The report also says MakerBot has been seeking investors with a goal to raise USD$25M by valuing the company at USD$300M. … Continue reading Stratasys To Acquire MakerBot?

MakerBot’s New Factory

As the rumors indicated, MakerBot has indeed opened up a brand new factory in a Brooklyn, New York neighborhood, close to MakerBot’s head office and original workshops.    The new factory’s massive 55,000 square feet will be used to build the company’s current products, the Replicator 2 and Replicator 2X, and we suspect future products… Continue reading MakerBot’s New Factory

Pirate3D Helps Africa

As if landing nearly half a million dollars in instant crowd funding isn’t sufficient, Pirate3D announced a significant charitable venture. They will provide 3D printing technology and training to “selected African institutions”.    The venture is within Pirate3D’s corporate social responsibility program and partners with Harvard’s Calestous Juma to promote sustainable development worldwide. Juma, Director… Continue reading Pirate3D Helps Africa

Pirate3D’s Buccaneer Sets Sail

Pirate3D released their incredibly inexpensive personal 3D printer for pre-orders last week and it seems to have been a massive success. Their Kickstarter fundraising goal was USD$100,000 – and it was met within mere minutes of the launch.    As of this writing, the project has raised well over USD$400,000, putting Pirate3D in the select… Continue reading Pirate3D’s Buccaneer Sets Sail

ExOne Stock Tumbles

The stock price of ExOne, makers of high-end commercial 3D printers specializing in sand and metal printing, took a 15% tumble yesterday – in sharp contrast to the few other 3D printing company stocks who continued to sail higher.    Why the tumble? Evidently ExOne missed analysts predictions for quarterly sales and per-share losses announced… Continue reading ExOne Stock Tumbles

Massive News: Staples To Sell The Cube

Truly spectacular news today: Staples, one of the leading office supply retailers in the USA announced it would begin selling 3D Systems’ entry level personal 3D printer, The Cube. This is quite simply the single largest 3D printer retail move to date by any 3D printer manufacturer.    The printer will be priced at USD$1299,… Continue reading Massive News: Staples To Sell The Cube

Shapeways Snaps Up $30M

Considering that Shapeways is located in New York City, it seems a little strange that they did not exhibit at the Inside 3D Printing expo last week. But they had a rather good excuse: they’ve raised another round of funding from their existing investors to the tune of USD$30M.    Shapeways Director of Marketing Carine… Continue reading Shapeways Snaps Up $30M