On May 22nd, IDTechEX released a report predicting the global market for 3D printing is set to reach $7 billion by 2025. The report outlines how 3D printing processes are being used in various industries today and how industries will be using the technology in the future. This outstanding growth is no surprise to us; we have barely scratched the surface in terms of what is possible with 3D printing technologies. Although it is difficult to predict just how fast it will grow, and which new product areas will develop the fastest, it is clear that companies increasingly turn to 3D printing to create new products because it is fast, efficient and it cuts costs. You can purchase and read IDTechEX’s full report here.
“Sectors covered include aerospace, automotive, architecture, art, consumer, clothing, education, gadgets, hobbyist, justice, medical and sport as well as prototyping. Applications involving the 3D printing of thermoplastics, photopolymers, metals, ceramics, foods, plaster and concrete are described.”
IDTechEX pointed out the huge potential of 3D printed electrical components, a relatively new application of 3D technology:
“Many potential applications of 3D printing are still in the lab. 3D printed electronics has huge potential but is still embryonic in terms of development, with main players taking their first steps by 3D printing conductive and insulating materials into a single object. 3D printed electronics, including 3D printed transistors, will not be fully realised within ten years but some emerging medical applications will be commercialised well before 2025. With huge markets and minimal competition, these applications will grow very fast and quickly displace traditional engineering applications of 3D printing.”
The report covers 101 different companies involved in all existing 3D printing applications and contains the results of many new interviews with different institutions providing exclusive information about their current and potential uses of 3D printing.
For more details see www.IDTechEx.com/3Dapps and also attend IDTechEx’s event 3D Printing LIVE! USA 2014.
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced today that its recently unveiled Cube® 3 and CubeProTM 3D printers will commence commercial shipments in the second half of June 2014 and are now available for pre-order on Cubify.com and through Objex Unlimited. Previewed at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, the Cube 3 and CubePro take consumer 3D printing and desktop engineering experience to a new level, with multi-color and multi-materials, the highest resolution available at 70 micron layers, faster print speeds and printing on the go, directly from a smartphone with the new Cubify mobile app, to be released when the printers ship.
Both the Cube 3 and CubePro are designed to fit any lifestyle or workplace with 3D printing made easy and pro. Whether you are an engineer or a fashionista, a kid or a hobbyist, the Cube series can fulfill your complete range of 3D printing needs with expanding materials and design tools that are complemented by 3DS’ Cubify.com, the ultimate destination for users to co-create with brands, stylize printable content added daily and share what they’re making in the Design Feed.
Cube 3 is the only dual material, plug-and-play, kid-safe certified 3D printer that is also the easiest and most affordable to own at $999. Cube comes with two starter cartridges in neon green and white, and 25 designs to get printing quickly.
Cube 3 Features:
Print Fast, Print More – Cube 3 delivers up to 2X faster print speed and accuracy than competitors for printed parts up to 6” cubed. 70 micron-layer thinness gives prints smoothness and fine detail for textures at the highest resolution available in consumer 3D printing today. Full tech specs are available here.
Simultaneous Dual Color + Multi-Material = More Choice – Cube now prints in two materials and up to two colors, simultaneously using compostable PLA and recyclable ABS plastics. Both materials are available in 23 different color cartridges. Cube offers a choice of print mode fill density: hollow, strong and almost solid in both PLA and ABS plastics with optional, easy breakaway supports for the most complex prints.
Instant Load Cartridge – Instant material loading is now easier than changing an ink cartridge. The new non-clog technology and moisture-lock cartridges ensure extended shelf life and total material usage, improving print quality and sustainability. The printer detects material type automatically based on the cartridge, eliminating the need to change print settings. The cartridges are easy to load and store while preserving the life and quality of the materials.
Kid-Safe for Everyone – Cube meets all IEC 60950 Printer Safety Requirements, making it the only consumer 3D printer that is kid-safe for the home and classroom.
Convenience in the Palm of Your Hand – Enjoy the freedom of mobile printing directly from the Cubify app for iOS and Android. Find new things to print in the curated brand collections or browse the Design Feed for inspiration to add to your Shelf. Prep and print from your smartphone direct to Cube.
Easier to Use, Sleeker Design – Building on its iconic design, the new Cube features a color touchscreen with an intuitive user interface and sleek LEDs highlighting prints in action, and is equipped with faster Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, an auto-leveling printpad and easy support removal on complex prints.
Sustainable Systems – 3DS is committed to making consumer 3D printing affordable, safe and sustainable. Send back empty cartridges to designated 3DS locations for reuse in exchange for a discount on new cartridges and return used ABS and PLA prints for responsible recycling or composting by 3DS. All Cubes will be shipped from local distribution centers reducing freight. Cube comes with a proprietary print pad that conserves power compared to other 3D printers.
The professionally capable CubePro is the only triple material, controlled print chamber, engineer’s desktop 3D printer, that starts at $2,799 making it an affordable tool for the garage entrepreneur at home, independent designer and engineer’s desktop.
CubePro Features:
Print Big, Print Fast – Print more and faster with the largest-in-class print platform, high-resolution prints and quick set up. With prints 2.5 times larger than any other desktop prosumer and hobbyist printer (10.8” x 10.45” x 9.5” or 275 mm x 265 mm x 240 mm), and guaranteed faster, more precise prints with easy feed cartridges for prolonged material life.
Print Precise, Print Professional – Ultra high-resolution settings of 70-micron thin print layers, professional quality printing has never been so easy and fast. Choose automated slicing settings for quick draft prints or utilize Advanced Mode to set custom infill patterns, inner and outer surface layer sizing and outer wall thinness. Full technical specifications are available here.
Controlled Print Chamber – Controlled process environment ensures true to CAD prints and delivers professional quality every time. Automated settings deliver safe home printing in your mancave, on your workbench and at your desktop.
Triple Color + Materials = Thousands of Options – Available in three print head configurations, CubePro allows users to get more expressive with 3D printing in up to three simultaneous colors and more color options. In addition to ABS and PLA plastic, CubePro also supports a new engineering grade nylon material, perfect for end-use applications, making it a very versatile engineering and hobbyist printer.
Connect Better– Connect intuitively through an easy-to-use color touchscreen display and WiFi capability.
Sustainable Systems – 3DS is committed to making prosumer 3D printing affordable, safe and sustainable. Send back empty cartridges to designated 3DS locations for reuse in exchange for a discount on new cartridges and return used ABS, Nylon and PLA prints for responsible recycling or composting by 3DS. CubePros will be shipped from local distribution centers reducing freight. The new CubePro comes with a proprietary print pad that conserves power compared to other 3D printers.
Which room in your home will your Cube live in? Learn more about 3D printing made easy for your lifestyle here. Watch a video of the new Cube 3 and CubePro.
- Get There Easy and Print Pro with 3DS’ 2014 desktop Cube printers
- Beautiful, high-definition 70-micron layer thinness for finer-res prints
- Instant material loading that is easier than changing an ink cartridge
- Faster speed with simultaneous multi-material and multi-color printing
- Cube 3 is priced at easy-to-own $999
The Chinese government has found an amazing new application of 3D printing and scanning technologies: preserving as well as replicating the famous Qianshou Guanyin sculpture, which is carved into Mount Boading in the Dazu District of China. The 3D printing of historical artifacts seems to be a growing trend, reminding us the power and flexibility of eternalizing any object with a scan, a design file, and a 3D model.
“Engineers have 3D scanned the 12.5 X 7.7 meter statue, which was carved into a cliff during the reign of the Southern Song Dynasty from 1127–1279. From the 3D scans they have printed out a replica of the famous sculpture, which is about 33% the size of the real thing. This has been a great way to preserve the sculpture digitally, so that generation after generation can appreciate the work, even as the original continues to corrode. This is the first of many restoration projects that the Chinese government has planned on using this technology for.
In addition to the printing of a replica, the Chinese are also engaging in a major project to restore the beautiful piece, which over the centuries has been the victim of nature. The replica gives engineers a wonderful model to use as a reference during the restoration process. Many of the fingers on the hands, making up this large piece of art are missing. Traditionally, restoration specialists would use molding and casting to reproduce the missing pieces. However, with the help of 3D printing, they can now save time and money, while restoring the sculpture in a much more accurate way.” –3DPrint.com
This is a great example of how 3D printing and scanning can be applied in new innovative ways. With the knowledge that nothing lasts forever in the physical world, combined with the fact that a picture can only show so much, it becomes clear just how powerful 3D printing and scanning technology can be as means of preservation. A 3D model, whether in CAD design or 3D printed, gives a much deeper story, and doesn’t degrade over time.
Original article posted here by 3DPrint.com
Watch the “3D Printing Designs in Full Color” Webinar here: [hs_action id=”5248″]
On Thursday April 24, 2014, Objex Unlimited and 3D Systems hosted the “3D Printing Designs in Full Color” live webcast, demonstrating the amazing full-color printing capabilities of the ProJet® x60 series and the ProJet® 4500 (the world’s first full-color plastic 3D Printer). The webinar demonstrated to users the amazing potential of 3D Systems’ new ColorJet Printing (CJP) technologies.
If you missed the webinar or would like to view it again, you can view a recording by clicking the “Watch Webcast Now” button above, or by clicking here.
Attendees of the webinar were given the chance to learn, interact and ask questions all about ColorJet Printing. Objex Unlimited took part in demonstrating how they integrate ColorJet Printing technology to help their clients acquire new and recurring business, speed-up product development, and significantly cut ongoing costs.
ColorJet Printing is the only 3D printing technology capable of printing solid, realistic plastic parts in up to 6 million colors for eye-popping, photorealistic models. ColorJet can speed up product development cycles, bring to life demonstration and concept models, and introduce new methods of model-making for architecture, entertainment, and medical field applications. In addition to producing models full-color, CJP is one of the fastest methods of 3D printing, at a speed of one vertical inch-per-hour, without compromising high-resolution, size or complexity.
The ProJet 4500 is the first ColorJet Printer to print in plastic, offering the additional benefits of increased durability and flexibility of models. Objects printed by the 4500 require minimal post processing to look great, and can survive fully submersed in water. A unique feature of the 4500 is the ability to easily map textures onto the models, which not only reduces the amount of work for designers, but allows for unique designs and color gradients on the surface of models.
Objex Unlimited provides 3D printing and scanning services for jewelry design and casting, geospatial prototyping, medical modeling, architectural models, and archaeological modeling, to name a few.
To recap, the webinar explored:
- Latest developments in ColorJet 3D printing – now in durable plastic with the ProJet 4500
- ProJet x60 series’ versatile range of full-color 3D printing applications
- How physical color models help communicate designs more effectively
[hs_action id=”5248″]
Complimentary Live Webcast
Endless Applications with ColorJet 3D Printing
Explore how Objex Unlimited integrates ColorJet Printing (CJP) technology to help their clients acquire new and recurring business, speed product development schedules and cut costs. Objex Unlimited provides 3D printing and scanning services for jewelry design and casting, geospatial prototyping, medical modeling, architectural models, archaeological modeling.
3D Systems‘ ColorJet Printers set the standard for true, full-color printing, speed and affordability. See how CJP printers can be used to produce exceptional high-resolution, large architectural models, industrial molds and castings, product design concepts, single-piece scale prototypes and more.
In this live webcast, you’ll learn:
- ProJet® x60 series’ versatile range of full-color 3D printing applications
- Latest developments in ColorJet 3D printing – now in durable plastic with the ProJet 4500
- How physical color models help communicate designs more effectively
If you’re a product designer, engineer, architect, manufacturer, animator or educator, don’t miss this inside look at how 3D Systems and Objex Unlimited engage 3D printing to Manufacture the Future.
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Date:
April 24, 2014
Time:
11 AM EDT / 8 AM PDT
5 PM CET
Duration:
1 hour
Presenters:
Tom Charron – VP Product Marketing – 3D Systems
Steve Cory – President – Objex Unlimited
Make Sense for the Mac
We have great news for all of you Tech-Savvy Mac users who love 3D Printing and 3D Scanning. All of you Mac users can now enjoy Sense, an at home 3D scanner, fully integrated with Cubify.com and the Cube 3D printer. The Sense allows users to upload their scans directly for 3D printing either at home or through the cloud. It releases the scans in STL files and PLY files.
Mac users should get excited for the newly announced support for 3D Systems. The Sense is the first 3D Scanner that is specifically designed for easy customer use and optimized for 3D printing. It is now easy and fun to capture priceless moments in 3D at a cost of only $399.
The Sense software V1.1 features Mac support and many other feature upgrades. The feature upgrades include: improved scan tracking and stability, upgraded auto-enhancement for correct brightness and colour. These features build on the very easy-to-use interface that allows anyone to focus, crop, delete, and share colour 3D data.
Sense 3D Scanner Tech Specs
Supported operating systems
Windows 7® (32-bit or 64-bit)
Windows 8® (32-bit or 64-bit)
Mac OS X 10.8 or later
Maximum power consumption
2.25 watts
Scan volume
Min: 0.2m x 0.2m x 0.2m
Max: 3m x 3m x 3m
Dimensions
17.8cm x 12.9cm x 3.3cm
Operating range
Min: 0.35m
Max: 3m
Depth image size
240(w) x 320(h) px
Field of view
Horizontal: 45°
Vertical: 57.5°
Diagonal: 69°
Spatial x/y resolution @ 0.5m
0.9mm
Depth resolution @ 0.5m
1mm
Operating temperature
10-40° C
Data interface
USB 2.0/USB 3.0
Data format
16 bit
Maximal Image Throughput
30 fps
USB Cord Length
213cm
Color Image Size
240(w) x 320(h) px
Hardware recommendations
Intel® Core i5™ or equivalent processor
RAM: 2 GB minimum
1280 x 1024 minimum screen resolution
Color: 32-bit
4 GB available hard disk space
Warranty
1 year
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The Manhattan Project
In early 2014, Vick Art Advisors tasked Sparks, a brand experience company talented at creating vibrant environments and activations, to create a sculpture that abstractly depicted Manhattan. The problem was that the deadlines were tight thus demanding a quick turnaround.
Sparks’ 3D design team got together to brainstorm an art installation that would truly depict Manhattan in a unique manner. The team then thoroughly explored options on how this art installation could be physically created. They researched hand fabrication and CNC technology, but realized that 3D printing was the only logical option for the complex full-colour 3D project they had in mind. However, getting 3D prints made quickly was still a critical factor so they turned to Quickparts on-demand 3D printing serviced from 3D Systems.
“Quickparts has a wide range of 3D printing options for different types of projects . However, we needed to print very large models very quickly and in full CMYK color, so their ColorJet Technology was the one option that made this even feasible,” said senior designer David Shamlian.
Said Shamlian, “The last models arrived from Quickparts on the Wednesday. All the pieces were prepped and pre-hung by Sparks craftsmen on Thursday. It was shipped to New York and installed to the delight of the client on Friday.”
In the end Quickparts completed the project in record time on deadline. Its also amazing to keep in mind that this was done while parts were printed on a full-colour Projet 860 3D printers that were thousands of mils apart and on different continents.
Full-Colour Projet 860 3D Printer
- Most productive professional 4-channel CMYK full-colour 3D printer
- Featuring largest build volume and highest resolution
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Staples Launch in-store 3D Printing Experience
3D Systems has announced that it has partnered up with Staples, Inc. to start a pilot program in which two staples stores in New York City and Los Angeles offer 3D printing services.
Each of the staple stores will feature an immersive 3D printing experience center where consumers and small businesses can create personalized products and use 3D printing hardware. Customers will also be able to bring in their own 3D print-ready files to have them printed.
“3D printing offers enormous potential for small businesses, and by using Staples, they can print with the technology without having to invest in it,” said Damien Leigh, Senior Vice President of Business Services for Staples, Inc. “The test with 3D Systems will help us learn about our customers’ needs for a local 3D printing service, and how Staples can help them make more happen for their business through 3D printing.”
“Staples’ established reputation as a leader in home office and small business solutions makes them an ideal partner for testing out live, consumer-facing 3D print services,” said Rajeev Kulkarni, 3DS’ Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Products Division. “We have been thrilled with the retail experience and response from our audience, and the difference it makes being able to see, touch and experience 3D printing.”
With these new 3D printing experience centers customers can learn more about 3D printing through demonstration areas where they can use design software and see 3D Systems printers in action. Each store will also include the 3DME® Photobooth from 3D Systems to capture customers’ facial images for the purpose of personalizing 3D products like figurines, and customers can also print personalized smart phone cases.
3D Systems on-site experts, along with trained Copy & Print associates from Staples to help guide customer on their 3D printing journey will be available at each store. The items can be printed on site or through 3D systems and shipped directly to the customer’s office or home.
Staples previously announced that it would be the first major U.S. retailer to carry 3D printers, with the launch of the Cube® from 3D Systems on Staples.com. Staples has since rolled out 3D printing hardware and accessories in a limited number of stores, and expanded its overall product selection.
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3D Printing Cures Tracheobronchomalacia
Tracheobronchomalacia (TM) is a rare condition where a person can only take shallow breaths or struggle to breathe at all and in worse case can lead to death. This occurs when the trachea (the main trunk of system of tubes by which air passes to and from the lungs) is weak due to soft cartilage in a certain area or throughout the trachea and the mainstem bronchi (the main passageway into the lungs) are involved as well.
Glenn E. Green, MD, and Associate Professor of Pediatric Otolaryngology and Scott J. Hollister, PhD, a professor of Bioengineering partnered up and were determined to find a cure for tracheobronchomalacia with some help from 3D printing along the way. “Severe tracheobronchomalacia has been a condition that has frustrated me for years,” says Green. “I’ve seen children die from it. To see this device work, for a second time, it’s a major accomplishment and offers hope for these children.”
Above is a picture of the second baby who’s life was saved with a new, bioresorbable device developed at the University of Michigan by Dr. Green and Dr. Hollister.
“It is a tremendous feeling to know that this device has saved another child. We believe there are many other applications for these techniques, but to see the impact living and breathing in front of you is overwhelming.”- Scott Hollister, Michigan Engineering professor
Together they attended TEDxUofM to talk about their work.
Click Here to Watch Them at TEDxUofM
Click Here to Watch a Baby Saved By 3D Printing
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