Many small businesses don’t yet use 3D printing, but probably could benefit from the technology. We list seven ways to help get that process started.
Ideas
Clariant’s Zero Emission Production: The Beginning of a Trend?
Clariant’s production plant is now running on entirely green energy, making it possible for them to boast of green products. Is this a PR move, or a real trend?
Adding A “3D” To Your Company Name Is Sometimes Required
There’s some fun patterns in 3D printing company names if you look closely at their corresponding domain names.
Don’t Be Fooled by Low 3D Printing Stock Prices
It’s now much harder to get a handle on the current state of 3D printing merely by looking at stock prices. There’s a lot more to the story.
Will There Be Many Seismic Shifts Enabled By 3D Printing?
While there are breakthroughs occurring in several industries as a result of additive manufacturing, how many other industries could be affected?
Filament Drying: The Quest For Perfect 3D Prints Continues
There seems to be a burst of 3D printer manufacturers offering filament drying equipment. We have some ideas why this is happening.
The Right Way To Market Commercial 3D Printed Designs
Mixed Dimensions used the correct approach for licensing and using 3D models from EVE Online for their printing service.
Gaming Chairs That Sit Well With 3D Printing
Charles Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi look at the potential for 3D printed designs in gaming chairs.
What Is Consumer 3D Printing, And Does It Really Exist?
In response to recent controversy over the notion of “consumer 3D printing”, I propose some alternate ways to look at the situation.
Reviewing Xometry’s 3D Printing Trends
Xometry’s Greg Paulsen examines recent trends in additive manufacturing, and we provide some additional thoughts.
3D Printing Comes to Davos for the First Time
Charles Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi have some thoughts about the unexpected appearance of 3D printing technology at the annual Davos summit.
Are Quiet 3D Printers A Good Thing?
Many new 3D printers seem to be using specialized motor drivers that provide for silent operation. But are quiet 3D printers a good thing?
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing and 3D Printing
Charles Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi look at the portrayal of 3D printing in the ESG market.
Big Changes Coming: Essentium Survey Reveals Significant Issues With Closed Material 3D Printing
A new survey of large-scale 3D printing operations from Essentium reveals what could be a fatal flaw in the strategies of most major 3D printer manufacturers who hope to move towards production additive manufacturing.
The 3D Printing Market Will Exceed US$50B By 2026: So What?
Fortune Business Insights predicts a massive growth in the 3D printing market by 2026. We have some thoughts on what that means for existing and new 3D printing ventures.
Manufacturing Makerspaces Push the Growth of 3D Printing
Charles Goulding and Greer Veon examine the benefits of using an internal makerspace for corporate or manufacturing innovation.
How 3D Printing Can Weigh-In on the New Shipping Threshold Rate Hike
Charles Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi determine ways in which 3D printing could help with recent hikes in shipping rates by FedEx and UPS.
We Will Never 3D Print A Car; We Will 3D Print Car Parts
The application of multiple 3D printing processes to help build parts for a concept electric vehicle hints at how future automobiles might be 3D printed.
The Race To The Bottom: Effects On 3D Printing
With the availability of a functional desktop 3D printer for only US$89, we had some thoughts on what this means and what happens next.
Avoiding 3D Printing Legacy Technology Status
Charles R. Goulding and Andressa Bonafe look at how “legacy” companies make a transition into 3D printing.
Space-Based Manufacturing Project Hints at Digital Manufacturing Constraints
Some thoughts about in-space manufacturing suggest a slightly different view of what digital inventory projects could or could not achieve on the ground.
A Benchmark Object For Metal 3D Printing?
The difficulty in 3D printing a particular type of industrial part suggests an idea for a type of benchmark object for metal 3D printing.
Cartier, Tiffany, and 3D Printed Jewelry
What might happen when the major jewelry companies make advanced use of 3D printing?
They Don’t Make 3D Printer Kits The Way They Used To
There seems to have been a distinct change in the nature of desktop 3D printer kits over the years. We propose a new naming convention to indicate this.
Four Far Out Predictions For 3D Printing In 2020
General predictions of the future are easy, mere extensions of existing trends. Here we provide some very specific — and unlikely — predictions for 2020.
Will 3D Printing Truly Reshape Retail?
Singularity Hub’s Peter Diamandis makes some predictions about how the retail market may be affected by 3D printing in the future. We have some counter-points.
British Airways’ Holiday Gift to 3D Printing
British Airways unexpectedly published a list of possible 3D printing applications for their future. We took a look at what it means.
Rize All-In On Bio-Friendly 3D Printing
It seems that RIZE is placing a bet on a future 3D printing world with increased emphasis on safety. We found out some details.
Securing Medical Data, Patient Privacy, And 3D Printing
Charles Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi review the possibilities of data privacy concerns slowing the advancement of 3D printing in the healthcare market.
3D Printing Innovation in America and the R&D Tax Credit
Charles Goulding and Greer Veon examine how 3D printing is affecting the progress of innovation.
How Would You Like Your 3D Printed Steak Cooked?
Charles Goulding and Greer Veon examine the possibility of 3D printed steaks.
Five Unending Myths About 3D Printing
There are five myths about 3D printing that just won’t go away. We list and explain all of them.
Could 3D Printing Save The Automotive Industry?
HP’s metal 3D printing work with Volkswagen portends a 3D printed future for automakers seeking to catch up in the race to produce electric vehicles.
3D Printing and the $35 Billion Sales Industry
What happens if the 3D printing industry actually grows to the extent predicted by forecasters? What kind of additive manufacturing opportunities exist?
Production Additive Manufacturing Means Quality Assurance Is Far More Important
What happens when 3D prints change from being prototyping devices to production machines? A lot more quality control, that’s for sure.
More Thoughts On Use Of HP 3D Printers For Prototyping
One HP MJF owner/operator has some direct thoughts on use of HP’s 3D printing technology for prototyping.
Giant DIY 3D Printer Demonstrates The Challenges Facing 3D Printer Manufacturers
What happens to large-format 3D printer manufacturers when any enthusiast can quickly build a similarly large device? We have some ideas.
3D Printer Emissions Are Everywhere
Did you know there are increased levels of 3D printer emissions even at trade shows? We found a measurement to prove this happens.
Another Solution To Stray Oxygen Buildup During Metal 3D Print Jobs
It’s not well-known, but there are often quality problems when 3D printing metal parts caused by oxygen contamination. We describe two approaches for resolving the problem.
Using VR In 3D Printing
Aurora Labs has been experimenting with using VR for working with their metal 3D printer. We speculate on how this could work.
24 Hour 3D Printed Housing: This Has To Stop
Mass media continues to be fooled by the fake news of “3D printed homes in 24 hours”. We vent our thoughts on this ongoing debacle.
You Need A Different Slant on 3D Print Layer Lines
Those unsightly layer lines are really not unsightly, and are a product of your unconscious bias. We found a story that explains the truth about 3D print layer lines.
When Is A 3D Printer Feature Actually Feasible?
When is a 3D printer feature worth buying? We have some tips on how to evaluate situations, and the answers will sometime surprise you.
What Will Be The Fate of AMUG?
The Additive Manufacturing User Group, or AMUG, is quite popular, but now that they’ve ventured into vendor sponsorships, confusion emerges.
Large Object Printers Bring Visibility to 3D Printing
Charles Goulding and Preeti Sulibhavi of R&D Tax Savers review the applications of large-scale construction 3D printing.
That 3D Printer Will Never Exist
What you see at a 3D printer trade show is not necessarily what you will get. We have some ideas on what’s really going on at 3D printing exhibitions.
Thoughts on LulzBot’s Near-Demise
With the near-demise of LulzBot 3D printers, I am now wondering about the future of open source 3D printer companies. Can they ever succeed again?
The Challenge of Finding 3D Printer Resellers
There are many kinds of equipment resellers, but some are not appropriate for 3D printing [Source: Fabbaloo]
Certain Desktop 3D Printers Suddenly On Sale
Suddenly there are several desktop 3D printers on sale through online mass market outlets. Why is this happening? I have some ideas.
3D Printing Automation and Avoiding the Technology Trap
3D printing is a form of automation, but is it contributing to struggles in the economy? Charles Goulding has an opinion on how this is part of Industry 4.0.
Designing and Preserving Sculptures Creates 3D Printing Opportunities
What opportunities exist for 3D scanning and 3D printing for ancient sculptures? It turns out there are many possibilities, ranging from tactile models to deeper analyses.
Where Is Autodesk’s 3D Printing Assessment Tool?
Autodesk provides a self-assessment tool for the construction industry; should they also provide one for 3D printing?
UPS and Anduril Drive Drone Sales and 3D Printing Opportunities
Could the coming huge increase in drone demand cause more opportunities for 3D printing?
Why The Rush To Metal 3D Printing?
Why are so many new metal 3D printing companies and services emerging? There are three main reasons for this growth in additive manufacturing.
More 3D Print Resellers Needed!
3D printer safety cabinet seeks resellers for their products, but it seems there are some barriers in the way.
Slow Sculpture: Is 3D Printing Really Creating The Future?
Is 3D printing technology helping us sneak through the 21st century without much notice? Will we be surprised when we suddenly find ourselves in flying cars?
New Opportunities To Recruit 3D Printing Expertise
Charles Goulding and Lara Tomiko of R&D Tax Savers examine opportunities for careers in 3D printing in today’s employment environment.
Watch Out For 3D Print Financial Scams
Is the 3D printing community immune to email fraud? Most definitely not. We point out how scams could happen and what you can do about it.
What Is An Educational 3D Printer?
What makes up a 3D printer for education? What features are best for 3D printing in the classroom? We made a list.
What Is A Consumer 3D Printer?
What is a consumer 3D printer? Is it a DIY device? What characteristics might describe a 3D printer for hobbyists? We have a list of features.
What Is An Industrial 3D Printer?
What exactly is an “industrial” 3D printer?
Trends In 3D Printing Today: Application-Specific Solutions, Training
Two of the biggest conversations in 3D printing today have a lot in common.
Golden 3D Printing Problems
Could any 3D print service print in precious metals like gold, silver or platinum? Not unless special steps are taken.
PostProcess Releases First Ever Post-Processing Survey Results
Finally we have a glimpse at the 3D print post-processing market, due to a survey performed by PostProcess Technologies.
3 Things I Like About The 3D Printing Industry
There’s just something about 3D printing that keeps me coming back for more. Here are the 3 things I like most about the 3D printing industry after a decade of working in this field.
What Makes a 3D Printer “Production”?
Is that a “production” 3D printer? What characteristics make a 3D printer “production”? We present a list of features to help classify additive manufacturing machines.
What Does It Take To Work At A 3D Printing Startup?
While the 3D printing industry is incredibly attractive for job seekers due to its growth, innovation and limitless potential, it is essential for job applicants to understand what it means to work for a 3D printing startup.
How 3D Printing Can Really Bring Back Jobs
Could 3D printing bring back jobs? We think it can, but not necessarily in the way you might think.
3D Printing Weapons of Mass Destruction? Inevitable or Controllable?
Could 3D printing be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction? Is additive manufacturing dangerous? We have thoughts.
Is Traditional Manufacturing Feeling The Heat From Additive Manufacturing?
Traditional manufacturing is a well understood major global industry. But will it be replaced by additive manufacturing? We do some analysis.
A Funny Thing Happened When Filament Shopping
What is the key factor for buying 3D printer filament? It is not cost and we tell you why.
The 3D Printing Cloud Can Be A Lot Bigger Than You Think
How important is Ultimaker’s cloud infrastructure? I think it is a critical part of their growth strategy to sell 3D printers to large enterprise clients.
How Has 3D Printing Changed?
How has the 3D printing industry changed over the last decade? Perhaps more importantly — what changes still need to happen? A workforce perspective.
The Final Word on 3D Printing vs Additive Manufacturing?
There is a way to make sense of the terminology of 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing. We propose some rules.
XtreeE: One of Many Construction 3D Printing Consultants To Come
Why do construction 3D printing? It seems that there is a big need for consultants to help architects, builders and others discover concrete 3D printing.
What Will No-Deal Brexit Mean For 3D Printing?
The UK leaves the EU on October 31st. What might this mean for companies involved in 3D printing? We look at a long list of issues.
Reducing the Hype in 3D Printing
3D printing has been subject to plenty of hype, including from marketers. We take a look at three solid ways to reduce the hype around 3D printing.
Analysis: Is It “3D Printing” or “Additive Manufacturing”?
What’s the right terminology, 3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing? We investigate this issue using Science.
Stuck In the Doghouse Of The Future: Why Some Companies Can’t Do Additive Manufacturing
Why don’t companies adopt additive manufacturing? There are cultural, organizational and financial barriers to overcome that could block incorporation of 3D printing.
What To Do With Thingiverse?
Thingiverse is the largest printable 3D model repository on the planet, but it doesn’t seem to be progressing. We know why.
Who Really Made Your 3D Printer? The Secret Manufacturers You Don’t See
Who actually built your 3D printer? In many cases it was not the vendor you bought it from, and in fact was made by a contract manufacturer.
Connecting 3D Printing With The Rest Of Industry
How do engineers and designers know about new developments in 3D printing that could potentially revolutionize products in industry?
Are 3D Printer Machine Specifications Changeable?
Is it possible to buy a 3D printer with custom specifications? It turns out you can obtain custom built 3D printers from some manufacturers.
It’s Nice To Be First In 3D Printing; It’s Better To Be Best
Is it more important in 3D printing to be first to market or unique on the market? As 3D printing grows as an industry, it’s more important to have an ‘only’ to offer, as a marketing expert points out.
Are Your Parts ADfAM?
What kind of parts are in your digital inventory? Are they ADfAM? We propose a new class of 3D printable parts.
The Business/Ethical Quandary Of 3D Printing Weapons
Should 3D printing companies be taking a stance regarding the production of weapons? Companies like Materialise and Carbon are well known for their no-weapons policies; others welcome defense contracts.
Janne Kyttanen Explains How Design Is Fundamentally Changing
Veteran 3D designer and artist Janne Kyttanen argues that no one really “owns” a 3D design file, including the designer. This interview explores his stance.
Counterpoint: Nobody Owns Their Ideas
We recently published an article based on a well-known artist’s experience in seeing her work stolen and sold without permission; now we’ve heard from another well-known artist who essentially says there’s no such thing as design theft.
It Should Be Obvious: Don’t Steal 3D Files
Designer Melissa Ng of Lumecluster recently saw her own design files for sale on a 3D design repository. The problem was she has never sold her files.
Can 3D Printing Overcome New Tariffs For Overseas Products?
Tariffs have raised the prices of overseas parts. Could 3D printing be used to locally print equivalent parts? We investigate.
Bowyer Proposes Revolutionary Electric 3D Printing Concept
Adrian Bowyer proposes an incredible 3D printing process that could 3D print objects instantly in many materials, including copper and titanium.
When Should You Combine 3D Printing and CNC Machining?
Here’s a look at when it might be necessary to CNC machine a 3D printed part, plus some tips for machining parts after you’ve created them.
How Universities Can Accelerate Our Next Generation of Innovators
As with other leaps forward in science, technology, industry and culture, universities will play a central role in driving the Industry 4.0 disruption by transforming the entire culture of design and creating a new breed of 3D innovators.
What Does A 3D Printer Really Cost?
What’s the true cost of a 3D printer? An accidental email spills the beans on how much resellers actually pay for 3D printers, and it’s less than you think.
Good News: 3D Print Technology In The Clear After SpaceX Incident
Is 3D print technology to blame for the SpaceX anomaly? It turns out no, and that portends a bright future for metal additive manufacturing in aerospace.