With the demise of many of Autodesk’s free 3D offerings, it seems they have been following an ingenious strategy all along.
Ideas
Is It Time To Consider an Affordable Laser Sintering 3D Printer?
I’m wondering if there is a product category being ignored by some 3D printer buyers.
Think You Can Keep Up With 3D Print Patents? Think Again
There’s a lot more going on in 3D printing than anyone would suspect.
Is a 3D Print Speed Benchmark Possible?
A reader asked if a print speed benchmark existed. I’m not sure such a thing could exist.
Stratasys’ Invisible Internal Transformation
Stratasys is one of the largest 3D printing companies in the world, and they mean to keep it that way.
In Germany, They’re Pulling 3D Printing, Not Pushing
A report from Germany shows an unusual development from a major firm demanding use of 3D printing.
Is 3D Systems Diversifying? If So, Why?
While perusing press releases, I noticed something about 3D Systems featuring one of their software products, GibbsCAM.
Startling Stats From GE Regarding Use of 3D Printing Technology
I listened to a talk by a GE representative who explained why they see so much benefit in 3D printing, and it’s quite startling.
Things Have Changed: 3D Printer Found in Bargain Bin
This could be the bookend to the consumer 3D printing craze of a recent years: a consumer-style 3D printer has been sighted in a bargain bin.
3D Printed Casting Tradeoffs
I’m reading a piece by VoxelJet explaining how they’re working with a client, but it occurred to me there is a tradeoff to consider.
Crazy 3D Idea of the Week: 3D Quality Control System
I’m reading a piece describing a 3D tracking system that’s being used for assisting delicate medical procedures and had an idea of how to apply something similar to 3D printing.
A Lesson on Pricing Artistic 3D Prints
I’m reading a brief post on LinkedIn by noted 3D designer Janne Kyttanen regarding his experience with a 3D printed light design.
3D Printer Security Woes Likely To Increase
I’m reading an interesting piece by David Gerwitz at ZDNet, who talks about 3D printers being vulnerable IoT devices.
The Importance of 3D Printer Product Names
There are tons of desktop 3D printer options out there, and it’s often hard to distinguish between models.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
3D Printed Hand Replicas – A New Security Concern
Digital technology gives us more capabilities and even lets us have a lot of fun.
“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.
Timing is Everything in 3D Printer Kickstarters
After observing a number of 3D printer crowdfunding fails, there seems to be an effect you should be aware of.
Could the World’s Most Heat Resistant Material Be 3D Printed?
Researchers at Imperial College London have identified incredible materials that can withstand temperatures up to 4,000C, but would it be possible to 3D print this stuff?
A Monstrous Implication from the Introduction of Production 3D Printers
I’ve been doing some thinking about what happens to the world when “production” 3D printers become widespread.
The Biggest Crime in 3D Printing
There’s always speculation about how crime can take place by leveraging technical aspects of 3D printing, but I believe the most crimes are of a more simple nature.
Six 3D Printing Things To Watch For in 2017
Yes, it’s the beginning of a new year and I had some thoughts on what might happen.
Why Is 3D Metal Printing So Challenging?
Those familiar with polymer 3D printing will recall the challenges of successful printing, but that’s nothing compared to the requirements of 3D metal printing.
In The Future, There Will Be Two Kinds of 3D Printers
I’ve been doing some thinking about the “Industry 4.0” concept and believe it may drive the style of future 3D printers.
A Time For 3D Printing Partnerships
In the past several years multiple 3D print companies have emerged and grown, but now they should consider partnering to grow further.
My Ongoing Struggles With The Idea of 3D Food Printing
I’m reading a story about consumer 3D food printing possibilities on Phys.org and am struggling with the concept.
Five Ways Machine Learning Could Help 3D Printing
You’ve likely been hearing a lot about something called “Machine Learning” lately, but could this affect 3D printing? Most definitely so!
Surprise: There Were Many 3D Printer Holiday Promotions After All
My speculation a couple of months ago turns out to be incorrect: 3D printer companies appear to be pushing holiday sales.
Crazy Idea of the Week: McDonalds Should Be 3D Printing
Sometimes you get ideas when in the shower, but I had one while obtaining some fast food recently.
The Particle Size Conundrum in Metal 3D Printing
As companies continue to explore the best ways to perform 3D metal printing, a question regarding materials has arisen.
How to Overcome 3D Printing Challenges for Aerospace
While there are all sorts of fun ideas and projects to be realized through modern 3D printing technology, engineers within the aerospace sector are currently researching its usage for reasons that are far more serious.
How to Price a 3D Printer Purchase
3D printer purchasing is easy: just look up the sale price and see if you have budget for it. Right? Yes?
Recycled 3D Printer Plastics: Possible, But Many Challenges Remain
I’m looking at a new startup focused on use of recycled plastics for the production of 3D printer filaments and have some thoughts.
Metal 3D Printing Buzz Attracts Entrants From Many Sources
If you haven’t noticed, there’s a small explosion of 3D metal printing equipment underway.
Can You Really 3D Print ANY Material?
The notion of buying a desktop 3D printer that is sufficiently flexible to print in many materials isn’t enough.
3D Printing Patents Can Be Amusing and Confusing
A reader pointed out an unusual patent claimed by one of companies on which we recently wrote a story.
Vendors Meeting the Need for New Plastic Filaments
In the past few weeks I’ve repeatedly seen desktop 3D printers of many brands attempting to print with unusual materials. Now it’s up to the filament vendors to meet that need.
Which is Faster? FDM or SLA 3D Printing?
A reader comment enquired about the general relative speed of the two major 3D printing processes, plastic extrusion and photocurable resin.
Should 3D Printer Companies Develop Their Own Resins?
There seems to be two kinds of resin 3D printer manufacturers: those supporting open materials and those who do not.
Siemens and Stratasys: More Than Just a Partnership?
I was very pleased to learn of Stratasys’ partnership with Siemens, but afterwards I’m wondering if there is more to this deal than meets the eye.
3D Printing: Shape, Check! Function, Not So Much
3D printing may be on the verge of a dramatic shift in focus as we’ve overcome one mountain, only to be faced with another.
APWorks’ LightRider Foretells Interesting New 3D Designs
APWorks has released a design for a fabulous 3D printed electric motorcycle called the “Light Rider”. But I think there’s a lot more to this project.
Challenging Times for 3D Printer Startups
Now is perhaps the most difficult time for a small 3D printer startup since patents started to expire in 2009.
GE Raises The Price of 3D Metal Printer Companies
The battle over control of 3D metal printer companies continues.
Will Shipbuilding Be the Next Industry to Take on 3D Printing?
A report from software company Shipbuilder suggests the ship building industry may be next up to take on 3D printing at scale.
Why Low-Priced 3D Printer Companies Often Fail
Last week we told the story of XMachines and their extreme financial challenges. The failure to deliver product is usually just a result of bad arithmetic and planning.
3D Printing May Foil Facial Recognition Systems
A piece in New Scientist describes how specially designed eyeglasses may be able to “confuse” digital face recognition systems. But could 3D printing do the same?
Another 3D Printing Materials Property You May Not Have Considered
Recently I had a discussion with a maker designing a handheld transmitting device, who insisted on 3D printing with ABS instead of PLA, but his reasons were not what you might think.
Microsoft’s 3D Plans and How They May Affect Everyone Else
It seems software giant Microsoft is going deeper into 3D technology, and I’m wondering how this could tilt the 3D printing landscape.
The Factory of the Future is Here. Are you ready?
At first blush, the factory of the future sounds like an airy concept. But the factory of the future is an idea that’s been around for a long time, and its actuality is being created right now.
Demonstration 3D Print Hack Proves Little
Researchers from Ben Gurion University successfully executed a hack on a 3D printing process, but I’m wondering what to make of it.
Tradeoffs With Dissolvable 3D Printer Support Materials
There are two major plastics used for dissolvable support structures in desktop 3D printing, but neither is perfect.
Is 3D Printing Necessary for the Luxury Watch Industry? (Answer: Yes)
I’m reading a story on the recent struggles of the luxury watch industry and wondering how 3D printing could assist.
What Jobs in 3D Printing?
Some believe the boom in 3D printing has led to new jobs, and indeed it has. But what kind of jobs are they? I made a list.
Can Small 3D Printer Filament Companies Survive?
Every week I receive multiple notices from small 3D printer filament companies looking for a way to promote their products.
Three More Reasons Industry Isn’t Picking Up 3D Printing
A concerned reader has suggested additional reasons why it’s so challenging for industry to adopt 3D print technology.
Does Airbus’ Stratasys Standard Indicate a Trend in Aerospace 3D Printing?
Stratasys announced that Airbus standardized their ULTEM 9085 material as a material for flight parts. But is there more to this story?
The Unrealized Potential of Ceramic 3D Printing
There have been a few ceramic 3D printing initiatives, such as that of 3D Systems (acquired from Figulo) and now apparently shut down.
3D Printing Hidden in New HBO Series
Have you watched the new HBO series, “Westworld”? If you have, the opening sequence features a very unusual 3D printing process.
3D Printed Longboard Illustrates the Best and Worst of 3D Printing
A 3D printing experiment demonstrates how both success and tragedy in the industry.
The HelmetHair Project Demonstrates a Key 3D Printing Application
It may seem to be a ridiculous application, but in fact this “HelmetHair” illustrates a perfect application for 3D printing.
Seven Reasons Why It Takes So Long for Industry to Catch on to 3D Printing
For some reason there are still an astonishing number of businesses that have not yet taken up 3D printing.
The Missing Step in Desktop 3D Printing
Folks using desktop 3D printers are missing s step that’s commonly used in manufacturing: measurement.
It Will Be A Quiet Holiday Season In 3D Printing
There’s something a bit different happening this year in 3D printing: lack of holiday season promotions.
This Robot Suggests 3D Printing Automation Applications?
I’m watching a video of a science-fictiony kitchen robot, but wondering how this concept could apply to 3D printing.
The Hidden Pain of Post-Processing 3D Prints
Rize3D has published a report detailing the often forgotten costs associated with 3D printing that occur AFTER the print is complete.
Did Apple Already Develop a 3D Printer?
I’m now thinking Apple might create a 3D printer – but not in the way you suspect.
Is Carbon Fiber Filament a Marketing Gimmick?
Running a small product design and 3D printing business, shookideas.com, I receive questions about carbon fiber filament almost every week.
Serious Implications to 3D Printing After GE’s Acquisition
A few weeks ago General Electric announced the acquisition of not one, but two metal 3D printing companies. The implications are quite serious.
Stratasys, a Materials Company? Of course!
I got a chuckle reading a post on Seeking Alpha proposing that Stratasys might be changing into a materials company.
3D Printing Cocktail Gadget Suggests New 3D Printing Technique
I’m looking at a curious 3D printing system called “Print A Drink” and wondering where this approach could go.
What’s a Good Set of 3D Printer Filament?
You have a desktop 3D printer capable of 3D printing many different materials. What should your filament supply look like?
The 3DP Pivot
How smaller 3D printing brands are shifting to thrive in the industrial market.
Beyond the New 3D Printing Materials
The era of extremely limited 3D printer material selection seems to be ending, but what might the next materials challenge become?
What Is “Industry 4.0” and How Does 3D Printing Fit Into It?
I’ve been hearing more mentions of “Industry 4.0” and “3D Printing” in the same sentence. What does this all mean?
Are Users Discovering Full Color 3D Printing?
Full color 3D printing is definitely not for everyone. There are those who do use it, but are there many more who don’t yet know they should?
Waiting for Transparent Aluminum 3D Printers
Among the infinite variety of materials in our world is a very peculiar substance known as Aluminium oxynitride, or as some call it, transparent aluminum.
Six Thoughts on Stratasys’ Blockbuster Industry Announcement
I’ve been thinking more about the implications of Stratasys’ industrial 3D printing announcement last week.
The Metal Powder Business Expands Due To 3D Printing, But Only So Far
It seems that metal producers have noticed this pattern and have been gearing up for more sales.
What Happens When Your 3D Printer Manufacturer Drops Support?
In an increasing number of cases, support ceases for aging 3D printers. What should you do?
The Case for Insuring Your 3D Print Operation
3D printing has continued to prove itself as a promising solution for many manufacturers/businesses, creating opportunities and prototyping capabilities that were once unavailable, while significantly expediting “time to market”.
Is 3D Printing Truly Green?
There’s been much ado made of the notion of “green” 3D printing, but is this really true?
The Frequency of 3D Content Violations is Astonishing
Earlier we wrote a story on LayerTrove, a new Scotland-based startup that happens to be selling unlicensed 3D content. But how often does this occur? It turns out to be astonishingly frequent.
The Newly Discovered Problem with All Large-Format 3D Printers
Recently we’ve written several stories about new, large-format 3D printers. While these machines can print large items, there’s a big problem with them.
The Confusing Paradox of 3D Printer Adhesion
One problem increasingly encountered by 3D printer operators is something one would have been solved a while ago: adhesion
Investing in Metal 3D Print Powders? Not So Fast!
I read a report proposing that it might be profitable to invest in metal powder production for 3D printers and concluded this might not be the best plan.