Rapid Ready Roundup: Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, MakerBot, 3D Medical and Zelda
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 this Roundup with an update from the US government about its manufacturing initiative. Apparently NAMII has been considered a success, as the White House has announced the launch of competitions for three new manufacturing innovation institute sites. This represents $200 million in additional funding for the project and President Obama has continued to call for congress to approve the investment of $1 billion to complete 15 sites nationally. 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: 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
Rapid Ready Roundup: PolyJet Over-Mold, Shapeways, Square Helper, and Pottery
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 begin today’s Roundup with a look at materials. Solid Concepts has released information about its new Polyjet Over-Mold process. Using an Objet Connex500, the over-mold combines PolyJet White with PolyJet Flex Black to create over-molded prototypes more quickly than is possible with the usual casting methods. A single object can incorporate shore hardness between Shore 27A to Shore 95A. Continue reading
SXSW Panel Talks 3D Printing
Every year thousands of people descend on Austin, TX for the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference. Spanning a week, SXSW showcases the newest movies, music and technology. The SXSW Interactive portion of the conference is kind of a hipper version of CES, with representatives from most major additive manufacturing (AM) companies.
This year’s opening keynote was presented by MakerBot’s Bre Pettis, and the show floor was littered with 3D printing demos, including guys from 3D Systems running around with Cube’s strapped to their chests. SXSW Interactive also featured a panel on “The Future of 3D Printing” with guests Scott Summit, founder of Bespoke Innovations; Avi Reichental, CEO of 3D Systems, and Alice Taylor, CEO of MakieLab. Continue reading
