Could any 3D print service print in precious metals like gold, silver or platinum? Not unless special steps are taken.
printing
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.
The Importance Of Investment In Certain Types Of 3D Print Companies
Why do some 3D print services require so much investment? We analyzed the situation facing metal additive manufacturing services.
Prusa Sets World Record By Simultaneously Running 1096 3D Printers
How many 3D printers can you run at the same time? Prusa’s answer to that question is in the thousands, as they set a world record.
How To Save Your $25K Metal 3D Print From Failure
What happens when an expensive metal 3D print fails and no one is around? The Polysense Solutions sensor will detect and alert additive manufacturing operators in real time.
FORECAST 3D Increases Investment in HP 3D Print Technology
Why does FORECAST 3D have so many HP MJF 3D printers? There is a very good reason, and it has to do with volume production capacity.
Womp Provides On Demand 3D Services To The Public & Companies
A new 3D printing startup, Womp, is taking an unusual path to offer several 3D services to the public in an easy to use fashion.
Book of the Week: Fundamentals of 3D Food Printing
Want to learn about 3D printed food? This book contains pretty much everything you need to know about 3D printed food, including chocolate, dough, cheese and more.
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.
How Educators Can Choose Between a 3D Print Service and a 3D Printer
Should educational institutions use their own 3D printers or instead use 3D print services? We examine advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
Book of the Week: 3D Printing of Concrete
Where will concrete 3D printing lead? Will the construction industry undergo a revolution from computer controlled concrete extrusion? What will buildings look like?
3D Printing As Seismometer?
What happens to a 3D printer during an active earthquake? One 3D print operator found out the hard way.
Discovered: How To Eliminate Metal 3D Print Warping
Do your metal 3D prints warp? Spending too much effort planning for thermal effects? Researchers have found a way to dramatially reduce metal warping.
The Problem With Printer Profile Libraries
A new strategy by some vendors to provide 3D printer profiles may backfire.
Kodak’s 3D Printing Ecosystem Extends Farther
Kodak has introduced something very interesting into their 3D printing ecosystem: 3D design and print services.
Can 3D Print Services Serve Global Markets? Yes!
After an interesting discussion with Objectify, my thoughts on 3D print service regionality have changed.
LuBan: 3D Printing Very Large Objects
LuBan is a software tool to greatly assist when a very large 3D print is required.
Design of the Week: Printmaking Press
This week’s selection is the Printmaking Press by Martin Schneider.
The Incredible New Services From Prusa
A new and potentially game-changing 3D model repository has appeared: PrusaPrinters.
Between The Lines At Stratasys Direct Manufacturing
Stratasys announced some new equipment at their 3D print service, but what does it mean?
Book of the Week: Additive Manufacturing for the Aerospace Industry
This week’s selection is “Additive Manufacturing for the Aerospace Industry” by Francis H. Froes and Rodney Boyer.
3D Print Learning Series: Design Basics
This is an entry in our 3D Print Learning Series, focusing on Design Basics for 3D Printing.
Inside Senvol’s Machine Learning Additive Manufacturing Software
Senvol’s data-driven additive manufacturing analysis system is now less mysterious to us.
Is Ultimaker’s Print Profile System Taking Over?
Ultimaker’s powerful Material Alliance Program is growing rapidly, but what does this mean?
Rigid.ink Launches 3D Printing Educational Program
Rigid.ink has launched “The Institute of 3D Printing” to help those new to 3D printing become more successful.
Opening Eyes To Grander 3D Printing
I’ve been watching some 3D print videos from Fabbaloo friend Joel Telling, and realized something about how 3D print practices are changing.
Research Project Asks You To 3D Print A Test Object
A research project is investigating the effect of environmental conditions on 3D printing, and they need your assistance.
New Glass 3D Printing Technique Coming From Australia?
Researchers in Australia seem to have developed another technique for 3D printing glass.
Hands On With The BIQU Thunder And The MyMiniFactory App Part 3
Part 3 — the app. We had a chance to test an interesting 3D sprinter and software combination: the BIQU Thunder and MyMiniFactory’s new app.
Fictiv Raises Big Cash
Fictiv has raised a huge US$33M.
A Three-Way Partnership Focusing on Farsoon Technologies
Farsoon Technologies announced an interesting partnership with two related companies.
Another Use Case For 3D Print Services
During a discussion with Forecast 3D, we encountered a use case we hadn’t heard of previously.
3D Print Learning Series: Operations
This is an entry in our 3D Print Learning Series, focusing on 3D Printing Operations.
Unusual Reverse-Scanning 3D Printing Method Developed
Researchers at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed an unusual 3D printing process that mimics 3D scanning, except in reverse.
A Future 3D Printing Issue Looking For A Solution
It’s occurred to me that there is an upcoming issue that the 3D printing industry has yet to solve: print tracking.
Choosing The Right, Or Better 3D Printing Tool?
I’m reading a press release from Massivit describing a notable machine sale, and had a thought about choosing 3D printers.
Question of the Week: How Do I Get a 3D Model?
This week’s question delves into the mysterious world of 3D scanning and 3D modeling, typically unknown territory for 3D printing newbies.
Book of the Week: Rule 34
This week’s selection is “Rule 34” by Charles Stross.
FDM Is Not A Serious Industrial Application?
We received a provocative comment about 3D printing and had to reply.
MakerFleet’s Online 3D Printing Farm Concept
Today we’re looking at a new entrant to the low-volume manufacturing space, MakerFleet.
An Unusual Method Strengthens 3D Prints
Adrian Bowyer proposes a very unusual approach for strengthening 3D printed parts: embedding voids.
Wait, Is Consumer 3D Printing Back?
After thinking more about Prusa Printers’ astonishing production figures, I’m now wondering whether consumer 3D printing is back.
Is One-Click 3D Printing Possible?
We had a chat with a company that hopes to bring the concept of “one-click printing” to the world.
Something Interesting About Continuous 3D Printing
I’m looking at some material from Robotfactory and noticed that print quality challenges are quite different.
In 3D Printing, Temperature Counts
I’m watching a 3D printing video that shows a problem I’ve had all too often.
FabPilot: A Tool For Every 3D Printing Workshop
Sculpteo’s FabPilot service could supercharge operations at multi-3D printer workshops.
The Complex Matter of 3D Printing Color Figurines
One of the hardest tasks in 3D printing is the production of highly complex figurines in color material.
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.
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.
The Promise of High-Temperature 3D Printing
Interest in high-temperature 3D printing is now sufficient for specialized service providers.
Hope3D Hopes to Power Worthy 3D Printing Projects
A new non-profit venture hopes to unleash community 3D printing to power impactful initiatives.
What is LEO Lane and How Does It Allow Digital Inventory?
I’m looking at an ancillary additive manufacturing service that secures intellectual property.
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.
Metal 3D Printing Service Improves and Expands
The Fabbaloo team recently toured Precision ADM, a growing metal 3D print service.
Verashape’s New SOFTSHAPER 2019
Verashape has dramatically improved their 3D printing management system, SOFTSHAPER.
The Wonder That Is OctoLapse
I’ve been fascinated with a new plug-in called OctoLapse.
Mystery 3D Printing Problem: Solved!
At the lab we’ve solved a mysterious 3D printing problem that you might also encounter.
The Clean Evolution of Netfabb
I took a look at Autodesk’s latest Netfabb offering and reflected on how it’s changed over the years.
Incredible Simplify3D Resource Available
If you are a user of Simplify3D, you want to read this.
3D Printing “Directly” from Google Earth
Some folks found a way to 3D print full color cityscapes directly from Google Earth.
The Rise of the Flexible 3D Printing Plate
Sometimes it takes years for an industry to discover the best approach, and that’s what seems to have happened with 3D printing surfaces.
AMSC Seeks Additional Standards for 3D Printing
Work to develop additional standards for 3D printing continues.
Should Premade GCODE Be Used?
I’ve seen pre-made GCODE a few times recently, and I am a bit suspicious of it.
Solving Longer 3D Print Durations
One of the curses of 3D printing is extremely long print durations.
Is 3D Printing Getting Any Easier?
I’ve been reflecting on the history of 3D printing and had some thoughts about ease of use.
Book of the Week: Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer
This week’s selection is the practical “Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your 3D Printer” by Charles Bell.
Finally: Automatic 3D Print Material Optimization?
New research may show a path towards completely automated tuning for 3D printing.
Finally: Automatic 3D Print Material Optimization?
New research may show a path towards completely automated tuning for 3D printing.
Create it REAL Deals: Faster 3D Printers Coming
Danish company Create it REAL announced a series of partnerships that should result in several new high speed desktop 3D printers.
How to Reduce the Cost of 3D Printing
As 3D printing becomes more of a requirement for industries today, costs become a higher factor in production.
There is No “Best 3D Printer”, Unless There Is One For You
I read with amusement an investment piece proclaiming the “best 3D printers”.
Secrets of 3D Print Pricing
One of the trickier aspects of operating 3D printers for hire is that of pricing prints.
Try Before You Buy: The New 3D Printer Business Model
I’m reading a release from 3D printer manufacturer Intamsys that suggests a new style of business model is evolving.
3D Printing and Casting In One Step
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA have developed an unusual method of combining two manufacturing processes.
Book of the Week: Additive Manufacturing of Metals
This week’s selection is the exhaustive “Additive Manufacturing of Metals: From Fundamental Technology to Rocket Nozzles, Medical Implants, and Custom Jewelry” by John O. Milewski.
Book of the Week: Aurora
This week’s selection is the very entertaining Aurora, by noted Science Fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson.
Bombyx Prod Launches a New Kind of 3D Print Manufacturing Service
A French company has devised a different way to provide 3D print services to manufacturers.
Another Postal Service Deploys 3D Printing
That didn’t take long. After last week’s report on La Poste, Scandinavian PostNord is getting into 3D printing as well.
9 Things You MUST GET RIGHT Before 3D Printing
When 3D printing failure is a looming presence, but it’s appearance can be limited by taking several key steps.
The 3D Metal Printing Business Appears to be Very Good
A 3D metal printing service recently quadrupled its capacity.
All the Details on 3D Metal Printing Issues You’ll Ever Need
We encountered a lengthy video that details the challenges of 3D metal printing.
Convergence: The Changing Face of Manufacturing Services
There seems to be a pattern emerging in the world of manufacturing services, at least from a 3D printing point of view.
3D Metal Printing’s “Easy Button”?
There’s a dark secret about 3D metal printing that few want to talk about: print optimizations.
Exploring the Science of Big 3D Printing
While extrusion-based 3D printers have been around for decades, there is still the need for some exploration, especially when it comes to large-scale printing.
3DCompare: It Compares!
We’re looking at a new 3D print meta-service today, 3D Compare.
Take Sculpteo’s Survey, Please
Surveys are more important than you might think.
The Troubles with Some 3D Models
I had occasion to 3D print an aircraft 3D model and found a common problem.
Kwambio’s Back
Well, well, we hadn’t heard from Kwambio for literally years, but suddenly they are back.
The Family of the Future Project
In spite of considerable press coverage and increasing use, 3D printing technology is still a mystery to many businesses. A new project hopes to change that.
The 3DP365Project
If you’re wondering what Jeffrey Wright is doing today, he is 3D printing something.
5 Myths About 3D Printing That Some People Believe – Do You?
3D printing is still a mystery to some, with plenty of misunderstandings persisting.
MIT’s Laser Powered 3D Printer: Is This The Speed We’ve Been Waiting For?
Researchers at MIT have devised a method of dramatically speeding up plastic extrusion 3D printing, but is it enough to make a difference?
5 Tips For Setting Up Your 3D Printing Business
When 3D printing arrived, the public waited to see how it would change the world.