What you need to know about adding 3D printing as a new revenue stream

Originally Published in March 2015 Issue of Graphic Arts Magazine. Objex Unlimited worked with closely with Graphic Arts Magazine to write articles catering to a print media and graphic arts crowd to educate about 3D Printing. This is the first of this series of articles.

A look at the products, misconceptions and opportunities of taking your business from 2D to 3D printing.

3D printing is an exciting, emerging technology. From cars, to dental implants, to human organs… from customized works of art, to functional prototypes and tools… the list of what can now be printed on a 3D printer is constantly growing.

But what are the obstacles? Most importantly, how can you add 3D to your existing digital or offset products and services? To answer these questions, I asked Steve Cory, president of Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio, based in Toronto. This full-service Canadian firm is at the forefront of the 3D printing revolution, partnering with clients in developing and commercializing technologies, products and processes – from concept to final result.

“The demand for 3D services is already present, and your competition is likely already capitalizing on it. To match or exceed this, you must bring a new level of interest to existing and prospective clients by showcasing this cutting-edge technology to them in an affordable way. Traditional methods of producing a model are extremely costly, but 3D Printing has opened many doors,” says Cory. “What we believe to be most important is educating your customers about the technology and managing their expectations. There’s a plethora of machines in the realm of 3D and it’s a matter of finding the best software and equipment for the particular application. Whether you use our services, purchase from us, or simply use us as a resource, we are always here to help.”


The 3D process and the misconceptions

“With 3D Printing comes many pre-conceived misconceptions, the most common being that the 3D Printer is an all-in-one solution; you just push the “start” button and anything you imagine will materialize! The bulk of the work comes both before the print begins, and after the print completes. The 3D Printing champions are definitely 3D designers who do a bulk of the work before it even reaches a printer, and the model finishers who treat, finish, and make the model the best it can be.”

There are many steps in generating that ideal 3D Printed model. From the moment you have your idea, your next step should be to understand the different printing technologies and materials. For example, each printer (and each material used) has different properties that govern how you should initially design your file. You have to ask yourself a few questions:

  • Which material is best for your prototype? Are you looking for plastic, rubber, or a specific type of resin? Does it need to be medically certified?
  • What kind of strength and fit do you need? Like digital printers, 3D printers have different tolerances and strengths, which should be factored into initial design.
  • What is your desired end product? Are you going to make a cast or mold from the model? Will it be a display model? Or will it be a functional, ready-to-use part?
  • Do you need a specific colour or surface finish? Would you like your print to be full-colour CMYK? Or do you need something transparent?

 

The role of 3D scanners

You don’t always need to start from scratch! Perhaps you already have some kind of physical object or model you’d like to work with. 3D Scanners are an outstanding tool to give you a jump-start on your design, even if some kind of post-processing and 3D design work is often necessary. Maybe you’re looking to reverse engineer something you already have, and break it down into a digital design. Maybe you want to build a custom-fit part, like making a wing or part that fits your particular car, or a wearable item formed perfectly to your body. Maybe you want to scan of a person to commemorate a special occasion.

 

Again, you’ll be faced with a choice; which scanner is best for you? What’s your budget? Will you need a mobile scanner? Stationary scanning booths invariably render better accuracy and detail. Do you need to capture colour, or just geometry? Is the object you are scanning large or small?

 

Choosing a 3D printing partner

Today’s successful companies should provide more than just hardware. You need – and should expect – ongoing expertise and tech support for rapid prototyping, 3D scanning and digital imaging. This includes personal and professional service training, plus consulting and workflow management. Most importantly, your supplier should tell you how to capitalize financially on 3D printing opportunities by providing sales and marketing support – including lead generation, referral programs and even discounts on services and equipment.

 

Some cool new 3D printing options

So what 3D products are end-users buying? Full-colour, photo-realistic 3D prints continue to be big sellers. Photo-realistic 3D people models as well as 3D-printed pet models are also extremely popular. On the commercial side, rapid prototyping and custom personalized devices are on the rise. In the final analysis, you must determine what will your client base wants – both on a personal and business level. Giving them exciting new 3D ideas by promoting all that you can do and getting actual physical samples into their hands is a great beginning.”

Selftraits Featured on Front Page of Metro News

Yesterday, Objex Unlimited sister company Sculptraits was featured on the front page of Metro News Toronto. Founder of Objex Unlimited and Sculptraits, Steve Cory, spoke about the 3D Printed selfies, called Selftraits. In particular, Steve talked about the Projex Selfie Day promotion where customers can receive 10% off the 5″ Selftrait, and 20% off the 6″ Selftrait. In accordance to the Projex Selfie initiative, proceeds will be donated to the Paralympic Committee; an organization dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement.

Here’s an excerpt from Metro News Toronto:

“A Toronto company is taking selfies to the next dimension.

Sculptraits Studios will create a 3D model of you and turn it into a six-inch, full-colour figurine for $120.
“It began as a proof of concept. Could we scan and print a person?” said Steve Cory, Sculptraits founder and president of its parent company, Objex Unlimited.

Turns out, you can.

While other 3D selfie providers rely on handheld scanners or moving cameras, Sculptraits Studios (321 Davenport Rd.) opened in July boasting a booth equipped with more than 130 synchronized cameras. Not only does the technique allow Cory and his colleagues to capture subjects in motion, it also results in a surprisingly lifelike figurines….”

Read the full article here.

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3D Printed Pixel People! Perfect example of 3D Marketing Materials

Objex Unlimited recently had the opportunity to work with Conch & Media Creative Agency on developing some 3D Marketing Materials for a Campaign released by H&R Block.

The 3D Printed Pixel People campaign is an outstanding example of using 3D Design and 3D Printing to promote your brand in an exciting and novel fashion. See the awesome video below of the final product or check it out on Conch & Media’s Instagram.

The 3D Printed Pixel People were created using MagicaVoxel, and the printed on a 3D Systems ProJet 660Pro Full-Colour 3D Printer. The printer is excellent for creating colour displays, prototypes, showing abstract products, and product demonstrations.

3D Printed Pixel People 2

 

 

 

Printed on a 3D Systems ProJet 660Pro

 

The ProJet 660Pro

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Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a full-service 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We’re leading the 3D printing revolution to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes.  Authorized resellers of 3D Systems, Artec, MarkForged and LMI Technologies.

MarkForged Mark One – The World’s First Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, Fiberglass 3D printer.

Objex Unlimited is happy to announce that we are now certified resellers of the MarkForged Mark One, the world’s first and only Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, and Fiberglass 3D Printer.

Print Strong Parts.

Have you ever had a 3D printed part that wasn’t strong enough? The revolutionary Mark One prints with the strength of 6160 aluminum. With parts that are up to 30x stronger and 30x stiffer than ABS 3D Printed parts, now you can have the dependability of CNC parts with the flexibility of 3D printing.

How does it work?

The Mark One uses two print heads: One builds Nylon parts, and the other is a revolutionary new print-head that extrudes composite materials to reinforce the nylon to make solid, strong-as-aluminum 3D Prints. The composite materials used in the machine are Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass, and Kevlar.

The Materials

Composites made with continuous reinforcing fibers exhibit substantial increases in strength and stiffness compared to similar materials using discontinuous (chopped) fibers. Carbon Fiber has the greatest strength-to-weight ratio in the world. Kevlar is best for parts that require a degree of abrasion resistance. Fibreglass has the best strength-to-cost ratio, making parts nearly as strong as Carbon Fiber filament, but almost twice the weight.

You can also select pause points in your print to allow embedded components up to 10 micron accuracy.

The Software

The Mark One comes with it’s very own 3D Printing and slicing software, free of charge. Operating on the cloud, you can upload your files, collaborate and share with others, and clone multiple versions of a file for different print configurations. In addition, the software is extremely powerful, giving you the option to automatically choose the orientation of fibers, or specifying the orientation on a layer-by-layer basis.  The software was specifically designed to give users total control over fiber orientation in each layer and thus, directional strength.

Our Experience

We’ve been running the MarkForged Mark One since March of this year and so far it’s been an extremely smooth ride. The rock-solid construction of the milled aluminum makes for a very solid machine. It has travelled to trade-shows, demonstrations, and been through some rough conditions, but is still one of the few 3D Printers that just seems to work every time we go to switch it on and run a print. That is, of course, taking care to run the standard maintenance procedures such as bed levelling, head cleaning, and keeping nylon filament dry (we’ve heard of issues with nylon filament that gets moist under-extruding and causing print problems, but we have not run into this issue personally). The Carbon Fiber filament has a tendency to clog a little easier than other filaments, but there are tools to unclog your heads and Professional Kit ships with lots of spare nozzles.

In addition, we’ve been extremely happy with how the machine generates support materials for the prints, especially since MarkForged has released the firmware update with the improved support material algorithm. Updates seem to be frequent, bringing minor improvements to the operation of the printer each time.

The included Eiger software is by far one of the best slicing and 3D Printing software, giving you a very detailed view of the print and vast customization options for literally every layer of the print. Not only does the software do a great job at automatically generating the best setup and orientation for the Composite Fiber materials, you have the option to reinforce and change everything to your needs.

A fantastic option for those looking for a little more than the standard plastic-jet printers in the Consumer to Prosumer price range. The Mark One printer starts at $5,499 USD for a standard kit, or for $8,799 USD you can get the Professional Kit. If you have any questions, want to see the printers in action, or are looking to order, please don’t hesitate to contact Objex Unlimited 3D Print Studio.

Mark One Composite 3D Printer
$5,499.00 USD

  • Mark One 3D Printer
  • MarkForged software
  • Carbon fiber filament sample, 50 cm3 (3.05 in3)
  • Fiberglass filament sample, 50 cm3 (3.06 in3)
  • Nylon filament, 1000 cm3 (61 in3)
  • 1 x CFF Quick-change nozzle
  • 1 x FFF Quick-change nozzle

Mark One 3D Printer and Professional Kit
$8,799.00 USD

  • Mark One Composite 3D Printer.
  • MarkForged software. Premium software support.
  • Kevlar® filament, 300 cm3 (18.3 in3)
  • Carbon fiber filament, 200 cm3 (12.2 in3)
  • Fiberglass filament, 300 cm3 (18.3 in3)
  • Nylon filament, 2000 cm3 (122 in3)
  • 5 x CFF Quick-change nozzle
  • 5 x FFF Quick-change nozzle
  • 2 additional print beds


Reserve Your Mark One Today!




Meet the Mark One: the world’s first Carbon Fiber 3D printer

This Tow Hook, 3D Printed on a Mark One 3D Printer, Holds Up to a 3000lb Car

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Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We’re leading the 3D printing revolution to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes.  Authorized resellers of 3D Systems, Artec, Markforged and LMI Technologies.

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Artec Spider named the best hardware exhibited at SolidWorks 2015

Originally posted on Artec3d.com

Great news! If you’re looking for a 3D scanner for design, QA or engineering jobs, you now have another good reason to go for Artec Spider, and if you already own a Spider, here’s a fact confirming you made the right choice – the world’s #1 web portal for mechanical computer aided design, MCADCafé, has named Spider the best hardware showcased at SolidWorks World 2015 in Phoenix, AZ. The competition was really tough, with over 100 exhibitors bringing their products to the show, and this makes the award especially valuable.

 

Here’s what the editor-in-chief of MCADCafé, Jeff Rowe, who has over 35 years of experience in industrial design and engineering, has to say about Spider: “Although about a year old, we’d never seen this 3D scanner up close until this week at SolidWorks World. What impressed us most was the unit’s capture speed and quality, as well as its portability.”

To find out what else impressed Rowe about Spider and which product was chosen the best software, read Rowe’s review.

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ProJet 1200 Expands their Suite with New Materials and Applications

3D Systems has announced the expansion of its ProJet® 1200 suite with the arrival of five new materials engineered specifically for the desktop printing capabilities of its micro-SLA 3D printer. These five new materials join the previously introduced VisiJet® FTX Green material, expanding the capabilities of jewelers, dental labs, manufacturers, engineers, and 3D artists in the creation of casting patterns, small end-use parts, figurines and presentation models.

ProJet 1200 – Jewelry

Advancing the production capabilities and throughput of jewelry designers, the ProJet 1200 now has an advanced FTX Cast material, a wax/resin hybrid material developed specifically for compatibility with a wide range of jewelry casting methods and materials, and FTX Gold and FTX Silver for stunning jewelry samples and presentation models.

1200 Gold Silver

Jewelers can easily integrate FTX Cast, which casts much like traditional wax, into existing workflows with the added benefits of 3D printed parts.  Combined with the precision and fantastic surface quality of micro-SLA from the ProJet1200, FTX Cast can be used to create exquisite, detailed pieces from rings to pendants. With glimmering gold and silver particles embedded in the materials, FTX Gold and FTX Silver provide the wow factor that brings customer presentation models and counter samples to life.

ProJet 1200 – Dental

Dental labs use the ProJet 1200 with FTX Green for the production of highly accurate, casting-friendly wax-ups for a range of small dental prosthetics. The ProJet 1200 prints in 30-micron layers at 585 dpi resolution for the production of up to 12 high-quality wax-ups in an hour, right on the desktop. The ProJet 1200 and FTX Green combine for an accelerated workflow with the exceptional results of traditional methods.

ProJet 1200 – Engineering and Manufacturing

Along with the casting capabilities of FTX Cast, engineering and manufacturing customers can take advantage of the arrival of FTX Gray, a high-contrast gray material that’s perfect for prototypes and accentuating fine features, and FTX Clear, a transparent clear material that can be applied in end-use parts and components. As part of the reimagined engineer’s desktop, the ProJet 1200 and FTX Gray and Clear allow engineers a fast way to locally create precise design prototypes of small assembly or components. Micro-SLA parts in FTX Gray and Clear also combine the strength and precision necessary for end-use applications and final one-off custom components, such as electronic connectors, robotics components and more.

ProJet 1200 - 6 Materials

 

ProJet 1200 – 3D Artists and Designers

Many 3D artists, designers and professional model makers also require strong, precise micro parts for toys, figurines, model aircraft, cars, model trains and more. The expanded ProJet 1200 materials selection provides even more opportunity for creative expression. Precision FTX Gray parts are paintable and they accentuate the fine features for which the ProJet 1200 is known. On top of that, beautiful, transparent FTX Clear parts project a hint of iridescence for stunning clear parts, perfect for a range of sculptures and model components. For artisans creating small cast sculptures, FTX Cast provides a less work intensive way to make accurate casting patterns in the workshop.

“The addition of these five materials represents our commitment to revolutionizing desktop 3D printing and bringing new capabilities to dental techs, jewelers, artists and engineers,” said Buddy Byrum, Vice President of Product and Channel Management, 3DS. “Now a jeweler, for instance, can design a ring, prototype it in FTX Gray, print a customer sample ring in FTX Gold and FTX Silver, and create a final casting pattern in FTX Cast—all from the same machine.”

The expanded VisiJet FTX material range will be available in December 2014 and will be on display at EuroMold 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany from November 25-28, 2014, at the Messe Frankfurt in booths D69 and F90 in hall 11, along with 3DS’ latest 3D printers, advanced material options, cloud-sourced custom parts and digital thread of 3D capture, creation, print and inspection tools. 

projet-1200-main-new

About Objex Unlimited

Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We strive to be at the forefront of the 3D printing revolution and to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes. Objex Unlimited is an authorized reseller of 3D Systems, Artec and LMI Technologies.

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Join us on January 23rd to see Oasis Skateboard Factory’s Awesome Pop-Art Exhibit

Over the past couple months, Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio, along with Sculptraits Studios, had the opportunity to assist the talented and creative students of Oasis Skateboard Factory with a final graduation project they had been working on. Come check out some of the amazing creations these students have come with! The name of the event is “The Youth are Revolting” and will be hosted by OASIS SKATEBOARD FACTORY POP-UP SHOP.

Join us this Friday, January 23rd 2015, at 7:00pm EST for this Toronto Offsite Design Festival (TODO) Event. The celebraton will run until 10:00pm EST.  The event is located at Anomaly, 46 Spadina Ave. Suite #200, Toronto, ON.

OSF_coverphoto

 

Sculptraits took care of the 3D Scanning, utilizing their proprietary, state-of-the-art scanning technologies. Each student was given the opportunity to get scanned at Sculptraits Studios, and the 3D Scan data was then passed on to 3D designers for further processing and digital manipulation. Objex Unlimited then printed the manipulated designs on a Full-Colour Gypsem Printer. The end result is perfectly revolting… in the coolest way possible!

Various 3D Printed Bits - Skulls, Skateboards, & Discarded Textbooks

Various 3D Printed Bits – Skulls, Skateboards, & Discarded Textbooks

We don’t want to give away too much, so you’ll just have to come to the event to see the final product, and to congratulate these students for their hard work over the school semester!

About Oasis Skateboard Factory

OSF_sticker3x3rectangle

Since its opening three years ago, Oasis Skateboard Factory (OSF), founded by teacher Craig Morrison, has attracted considerable media exposure and received a Ken Spencer Award from the Canadian Education Association (CEA) for its innovative program. OSF is one of three programs offered by Oasis Alternative Secondary School, one of 22 alternative secondary schools of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Students design, build and market skateboards, along with paraphernalia for the skateboard culture, and earn academic credit. Students may enrol for as many as three semesters.

About Objex Unlimited

Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We strive to be at the forefront of the 3D printing revolution and to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes. Objex Unlimited is an authorized reseller of 3D Systems, Artec and LMI Technologies.

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Researchers Combine Artec Spider & Robotics for Unrivaled 3D Scanning of Complex Shapes

There is no denying the power and ease-of-use of the Artec 3D scanners. In fact, as we mentioned in an earlier post, the similar Artec Eva scanner (designed for slightly larger objects) was actually named the best 3D Scanner under $50,000. So when you have a product that already works great with a human operating it, imagine what happens when a robot learns how to use the scanner, and respond in real time to the feedback it’s getting?

The guys at Artec Group, along with engineers from the Visual Computing Research Center, Tel-Aviv University, the Memorial University of Newfoundland, the University of Konstanz, and Shandong University, asked the same question. They combined the Artec Spider with the PR2, a robot boasting a humanistic look and sense of movement. The PR2 holds the Artec in its ‘hand’ and puts it to use, rapidly scanning the most detailed and ornate objects from every angle. The double system captures 7.5 frames per second and processes 1 million points per second, meaning it gets the job done more expediently than a laser printer, and requires no post-processing.

According to 3DPrint.com: “The researchers found that the Artec Spider worked best with the PR2 in terms of high resolution and extreme accuracy regarding edges and miniature parts. In a completely automated scanning system, the PR2 is able to respond to analysis and data from the Artec Spider, moving it and the object strategically and precisely as instructed to complete comprehensive scanning. At each viewpoint, it takes a snapshot, which is merged with the last picture, until a whole object is completed.”

Because this project is focused on objects that are small, can fit into a hand, and have a high level of detail, the Artec Spider is the perfect tool for the job. The Spider was designed specifically for CAD users and perfect for reverse engineering, product design, quality control and mass production. It requires no calibration, no markers and offers real time scan alignment. It also boasts super high detail of fine objects and excellent texture capture.

 

“Artec’s Scanning SDK is responsible for the program running the Spider, which is able to make a “confidence map” that eliminates challenges with blind spots, recognizing the areas where more scanning is necessary to collect all the data. With the programming from Artec’s Scanning SDK, the system understands when total scanning is complete. During complete testing of Artec’s Scanning SDK, the Artec Spider, and the PR2 working together, researchers concluded that the algorithms responsible for visibility and boundaries were excellent, as well as algorithms regarding rounded edges and density.”

Different Scans Taken with Artec Spider

Different Scans Taken with Artec Spider

Although the Artec Scanners are very user friendly, it is extremely interesting to see how the object is scanned when the user, the PR2 robot, get’s direct feedback. Where a human would have to figure out what angles of the scan they are missing, the robot has a more instantaneous response to what part of the object’s texture and geometry are missing. And it’s great to see more and more ways we can apply the amazing scanning technology behind the Artec series of 3D scanners.

Artec-logo

 

About Objex Unlimited

Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We strive to be at the forefront of the 3D printing revolution and to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes. Objex Unlimited is an authorized reseller of 3D Systems, Artec and LMI Technologies.

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3D Systems Acquires 3D Printer Maker botObjects and Introduces CubePro C Full-Color 3D Printer

  • Strengthens 3DS consumer and prosumer product portfolio
  • First affordable, desktop, full-color plastic 3D printing capabilities
  • Sets new standards at 25-micron resolution and 175 mm/sec speed
  • New CubePro C will be on display at International CES 2015
Looks like 3D Systems has a brand new consumer 3D Printer to add to their Cube line up. On January 15, at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), 3D Systems announced that it acquired U.K. based 3D printer maker botObjects and plans to launch the CubePro® C, a new desktop full-color 3D printer powered by botObjects’ technology.
cubeproc1

With the announcement of the ProDesk3D printer last year, botObjects pioneered the first 3D desktop printer using PlasticJet Printing (PJP) that offers true full-color 3D printing, significantly expanding the palette of possibilities for what designers, artists and engineers create, from prototypes to products. botObjects also invented a proprietary 5-color CMYKW cartridge system, capable of mixing primary printing colors on the fly to generate vibrant color combinations and gradient transitions.

However, the ProDesk3D underwent delays, and rumours are the company had trouble meeting the huge demand for pre-orders for this amazing printer. 3D Systems’ acquisition will finally let the Printer see the light of day.

The botObjects ProDesk3D will immediately be folded into 3DS’s new CubePro C printer family and deliver a true full-color experience at the affordable price of $4,990, with greater accuracy and speed than any comparable desktop 3D printer on the market today. The new CubePro C is capable of printing down to 25-microns layers at deposition speeds of up to 175 millimeters per second using durable PLA and ABS print materials with PVA support material.

“Joining the winning team at 3DS couldn’t have come at a better time as orders for our revolutionary full-color desktop printer continue to outstrip our resources,” said Martin Warner, co-founder and CEO, botObjects. “Together we can bring this powerful technology to more users faster.”

“We are thrilled to add groundbreaking full-color with ultra thin-layer and high-speed technology from botObjects to our expanding consumer and prosumer 3D printing portfolio,” said Avi Reichental, President and CEO, 3DS. “We are even more excited to team up with botObjects founders, Martin Warner and Mike Duma, and together democratize the availability of this powerful 3D printer and accelerate its adoption globally.”

Under the capable and experienced leadership of Martin Warner, who was named Vice President, General Manager botObjects for 3DS, the company plans to fulfill all of its current backorders for the recently introduced ProDesk3D as it concurrently transitions to the new CubePro C line and substantially expands its desktop reach globally. Until the company expands its manufacturing capacity, the CubePro C will be available in a limited release, with plans to expand distribution later in 2015.  The CubePro C line joins 3DS’ desktop portfolio that includes the CubePro and Cube line of 3D printers and Sense 3D scanning products, which are ideal for a variety of professional desktops from engineers to designers and architects, as well as users at home and students at school.

Be sure to check back with us here at Objex Unlimited when we give our full review of the new 3D Systems Cube C Printer.

Here is a video of the original ProDesk3D in action.


About 3D Systems

3D Systems is pioneering 3D printing for everyone. 3DS provides the most advanced and comprehensive 3D design-to-manufacturing solutions including 3D printers, print materials and cloud sourced custom parts. Its powerful digital thread empowers professionals and consumers everywhere to bring their ideas to life in material choices including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. 3DS’ leading healthcare solutions include end-to-end simulation, training and integrated 3D planning and printing for personalized surgery and patient specific medical and dental devices. Its democratized 3D design and inspection products embody the latest perceptual, capture and touch technology. Its products and services replace and complement traditional methods with improved results and reduced time to outcomes. These solutions are used to rapidly design, create, communicate, plan, guide, prototype or produce functional parts, devices and assemblies, empowering customers to manufacture the future.

Leadership Through Innovation and Technology

•3DS invented 3D printing with its Stereolithography (SLA) printer and was the first to commercialize it in 1989.

•3DS invented Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing and was the first to commercialize it in 1992.

•3DS invented the ColorJet Printing (CJP) class of 3D printers and was the first to commercialize 3D powder-based systems in 1994.

•3DS invented MultiJet Printing (MJP) printers and was the first to commercialize it in 1996.

•3DS Medical Modeling pioneered virtual surgical planning (VSP) and its services are world-leading, helping many thousands of patients on an annual basis.

Today its comprehensive range of 3D printers is the industry’s benchmark for production-grade manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, patient specific medical device and a variety of consumer, electronic and fashion accessories.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

About Objex Unlimited

Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We strive to be at the forefront of the 3D printing revolution and to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes. Objex Unlimited is an authorized reseller of 3D Systems, Artec and LMI Technologies.

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iReviews names Artec Eva the best 3D scanner under $50,000

Blog originally posted on www.artec3d.com/news.

See the iReview review here: www.3d-scanners.ireviews.com/artec-eva-review

Scoring five stars for value, design, experience and price, the Artec Eva bagged Gold in the iReviews 2015 nomination for the best 3D scanner under $50,000.

The Artec Eva is a versatile 3D scanner that is handheld, which means that it is not bound by the restrictions of a tripod or stand mounted system. A wide variety of things can be scanned, including the human body, which broadens the applications significantly. With the ability to accurately and quickly scan people, we suddenly have a way to provide accurate and properly-fitting prosthetics, as well as support devices. We can also insert the scanned data into other images, creating decent quality special effects for movies and other entertainment media. It also opens up a world of possibilities in the research fields, which helps make the world a better place.
The handheld design makes the Artec Eva feel a lot like a video camera when used. An ergonomic handle keeps the process comfortable as well, which is important when scanning large objects that can take more than a few minutes to capture. The Eva captures up to 16 frames per second, automatically aligned by their powerful software package as you go, which makes scanning not only fast but accurate. This is critical in fields where not only speed but accuracy is important, especially when the scans are for forensic investigations, medical research or CGI animation. This can potentially save a life, prove someone’s innocence and even improve the quality of life for millions of people.The Artec Group, based in Luxembourg, is a company dedicated to designing and manufacturing innovative products. The team is composed of people who have worked together for over 10 years and who are experts in the fields of 3D image capturing and face recognition. They also have offices in Palo Alto, CA and in Moscow, Russia. Contact info for each office is provided on their website, as well as a form you can fill out to request a demo of any of their products.The Artec Eva is very easy to use. Simply press the button on the unit and begin scanning an object by moving the scanner around. There is no worry about doing something wrong. There are both audio and visual cues that guide you through the process should you need it. This alone helps reduce the learning curve significantly, making the odds of producing a top-quality scan on your first attempt increase significantly. Whatever you don’t pick up on the first pass you can return to and re-scan missed areas. Once the scan is done, the software goes to work. It aligns the scans, fuses them into a 3D model, and then allows you to smooth and optimize the data to fill in holes, increase definition, etc. If you have purchased texturing capabilities, you can apply texture to the scan as well. Once you are done, you can save the data in any number of compatible 3D file formats for export, which can accommodate a wide range of 3D applications.Overall, we found the Artec Eva to be innovative, affordable for a scanner in its class and very easy to use, producing top quality results without having to be an expert in 3D scanning and telemetry. With all the wonderful features included in this package, we are glad to award the Artec Eva the top spot on our list of iReviews 2015 best 3D scanners under $50,000. 

Price: $19,800

 

Pros:


1. Best overall value of any scanner in its class
2. Supports a wide range of file types
3. Long range scanning up to 1 meter
Cons:


1. Texture capture upgrade is expensive
2. Software not included in the price

 

Originally published at http://3d-scanners.ireviews.com/artec-eva-review.

About Objex Unlimited

Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We strive to be at the forefront of the 3D printing revolution and to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes. Objex Unlimited is an authorized reseller of 3D Systems, Artec and LMI Technologies.