Doodle3D Makes CAD Easy
A number of skeptics still don’t think 3D printers will become a ubiquitous piece of home electronics. Although the quality and cost of a home additive manufacturing (AM) system have both improved tremendously, naysayers are certain that the machines are too complicated and don’t offer enough variety in materials from a single printer.
Of the two, the materials argument is the stronger. I don’t think complexity is as big an issue. Most people have no idea how a computer works, but that hasn’t stopped sales. Complexity in CAD design is a bigger hindrance, though this can be overcome by simply downloading stuff to print. Even better, CAD programs meant for home use continue to get easier to use. Such is the case with Doodle3D. Continue reading
The 3D Printer Experience Opens in Chicago
Rather than being hidden away in back rooms or the depths of the production floor, 3D printers are making their way into the light of public consciousness, and possibly into your living room. The number of additive manufacturing (AM) systems available to home users has never been higher, with each new product jostling with the likes of MakerBot or 3D Systems’ Cube for each hobbyist dollar.
While everyday consumers are becoming more aware of the potential of AM, a 3D printer still isn’t something you see every day. Giving people a firsthand view of an AM system at work is the best way to further educate, and a number of stores specializing in 3D printers have begun to spring up. MakerBot has one in New York, 3D Creations has opened its doors in Milwaukee, and now Second City is getting The 3D Printer Experience. Continue reading
Rapid Ready Roundup: NAMII, Geomagic Design, a Word of Caution and GlaDOS
In the course of my diligent efforts to keep you good people up to date on the state of additive manufacturing (AM), I come across many interesting news items. I’ll gather them up every so often and present them in a Rapid Ready Roundup (like this one). You can find the last Roundup here.
We’ll start today’s Roundup with a NAMII update. Hot on the heels on a recent announcement that seven AM projects have received $4.5 million in funding from NAMII, comes news of further funding from the research and development center. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), a member of NAMII, has been granted new funding to develop two different AM-related projects. Continue reading
mUVe 3D Offers Open Source UV Resin Based 3D Printer
It wouldn’t really be fair to say that material extrusion printers are commonplace, but you can’t swing a spool of filament on a crowd funding site without hitting two or three. Systems that offer other types of processes at a cost most individual users can afford are far less common. One such 3D printer is the Form 1, which brings stereolithography to the desktop.
Startup company mUVe 3D is also bucking the trend by offering a UV resin based 3D printer, called the mUVe 1, via funding from Indiegogo. While dedicated hobbyists can find plans for other open source resin additive manufacturing (AM) systems by digging around, mUVe is presenting potential customers with all the tools necessary, including materials, to get up and running in a single location. Continue reading
Rapid Ready Roundup: Kinect, Modular Lamp, Custom OUYA Console Case, and Really Old Cups
In the course of my diligent efforts to keep you good people up to date on the state of additive manufacturing (AM), I come across many interesting news items. I’ll gather them up every so often and present them in a Rapid Ready Roundup (like this one). You can find the last Roundup here.
Let’s start today’s Roundup with some 3D imaging news. In the land of hacked hardware, the Kinect is royalty. One common hack is to use the Kinect to record 3D images that can then be used in a number of ways, including 3D printing. Rather than fighting against this use, Microsoft has released Kinect for Windows SDK 1.7, which supports more accurate 3D capture. Continue reading
