Displaying items by tag: 3D Printing

CES 2014, Las Vegas, NV - We're all hearing a lot of buzz about the world of 3D printing.  It really is a remarkable technology, one of those few that come along that really do have the potential to change the world.  The ability to create parts on demand, choosing from thousands (or potentially millions) of patterns and several different materials, both conductive and non-conductive with a single machine makes that potential obvious.  If that machine is coupled with (or includes) a 3D scanner, the potential is even higher.  The 3D printer's versatility is what has created all the buzz.  From simple basic plastic shapes to functional firearms to human organs, the technology is incredible. 

British company Rolls-Royce is considering the use of 3D printer to print the lighter components in their jet aircraft engines.

3D printing is becoming more and more popular every day, and even though there are many controversions about it, looks like there is nothing to stop it. There are several 3D printer manufacturers on the market so it was just a matter of time when the first 3D copy machine will arrive, and that day has come.

The internet is awash with articles about the Defense Distributed Liberator and how the US Government had the plans pulled from the internet. Some of the articles are for the decision and others are very much against it. The funny thing is that both sides have a point, but neither have been very good at conveying them. On the one hand information should be freely shared, but the sharing should stop when it opens up the potential for injury.

Texas company Defense Distributed recently produced the Liberator - a gun that is almost entirely made with a 3D printer, and as such, owners of the 3D printer can produce it at their home. Only two components of the Liberator were are obtained from 3D printing: metal nail which serves as a hammer and a piece of steel that is here to activatethe  metal detectors so the gun as such would be in accordance with U.S. laws.

The company botObjects announced ProDesk3D, 3D color printer for home and business users. The printer uses PLA containers with five colors, and the company claims that like traditional inkjet printers can mix primary colors to help users obtain the desired final color of the "printed" object.

Until now, 3D printers were mainly present in engineering and geek domain, but now they have apparently become a part of the mainstream when it comes to a private fashion show at Ace Hotel in Manhattan where Dita Von Teese was wearing dress printed entirely in 3D printer. It is not exactly a dress someone would wear every day as it is made from a pure nylon material, but it is a concept that demonstrates that the 3D printing technology can create garments too.

Japanese company Fasotec, who specializes in creating and selling 3D object printers and creating printed medical educational tools shaped like organs or parts of human body has started a new business. In collaboration with Female clynic Hiroo, they have started making and selling 3D printed models of unborn fetuses that are made based on CT and MRI scans. All you need to do is bring them scan of your unborn child and for JPY100.000 ( around $1280 USD) you will have a unusual and original memory of your childs pre-birth time.