WebProNews

Tag: Makerbot

  • MakerBot Helped To Make A 3D Printed Dress

    The 3D printed dress is nothing new, but they’re still certainly wild. The versatility of 3D printing has tapped into the wildest imaginations of fashion designers and we end up with dresses that defy reality. The latest comes from Francis Bitonti Studio and MakerBot.

    The dress, called the 3D Printed Bristle Dress, is a white gown that features an almost Disney villain-esque top and flexible skirt. It also fit perfectly the first time. The designer said that 3D printing allows them to print the design to specification so no fitting is required.

    As for the technology involved, the dress was printed on a MakerBot Replicator 2 3D printer. It doesn’t have that large of a build volume so the dress had to be printed in pieces and then assembled. The top took 160 hours to print and the skirt took an additional 135 hours for a total of 295 hours. That’s a long time to print one dress, but it certainly seems worth it.

    While the dress is certainly awesome, it’s even more awesome that the dress is available to download for free from Thingiverse. If you have the time and materials, you can make your very own Bristle Dress.

    Image via Thingiverse

  • MakerBot Opens Pre-Orders For Its Replicator Mini 3D Printer

    At CES 2014, MakerBot unveiled three new 3D printers – the Replicator, the Replicator Mini and the Replicator Z18. The Replicator Desktop 3D printer is already available, but the other two would launch later in the year.

    3ders reports that MakerBot Replicator Mini will presumably be available soon as the order page went live today. Those who are interested in a small, entry level machine can put in their order today. The Replicator Mini features a build volume of 10x10x12.5cm. While it’s certainly not big, it will be enough for the basic 3D printing tasks that hobbyists usually play around with.

    Perhaps the most exciting thing about the Replicator Mini is its price. Coming in at only $1,375, the Replicator Mini is one of the cheapest 3D printers of its quality yet seen. While there are certainly cheaper and bigger 3D printers on the market, it’s hard to match the quality of MakerBot which oversees its own manufacturing practices in Brooklyn.

    While previous videos have highlighted all three printers, MakerBot just released a video that focuses exclusively on the Replicator Mini. If you want to see it in action, now’s your chance:

    Unfortunately, there’s still no set date for the launch of the Replicator Mini. All MakerBot will say is that it’s coming this Spring.

    Image via makerbot/YouTube

  • MakerBot Partnering With Universities To Build Innovation Centers

    The Maker Space is one of the greatest resources any city can have. Within its walls, people can work with 3D printers and other innovative manufacturing tools to create and express themselves in ways they never thought possible. Now MakerBot is starting up its own Maker Space initiative, but it’s being aimed squarely at universities and businesses.

    MakerBot announced this morning that it wants to partner with universities and businesses to create what it calls Innovation Centers. Despite the name change, MakerBot is just setting up Maker Spaces with 30 plus 3D printers and scanners. The only difference is that Innovation Centers will receive support directly from MakerBot.

    “Having a MakerBot Innovation Center in a place of business or in a university can change the whole dynamic of the new product iteration and innovation cycle,” noted Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot. “Class projects can be brought to life through 3D printing and scanning. Product prototypes can be created, refined and finalized at a much faster and affordable pace. Schools can train future innovators and be ahead of the curve when it comes to preparing students for the real world. We believe that having a MakerBot Innovation Center in a university or workplace is an incredible opportunity for those using it to unleash the power of innovation and change the world.”

    As part of the announcement, MakerBot says the very first Innovation Center will open at SUNY New Paltz in New York on February 11. The Innovation Center will be open to the university’s science, math, engineering and fine arts programs.

    “Forging this partnership with MakerBot allows SUNY New Paltz to offer its students, faculty and local industry an accessible hub for innovation that will bring these three groups together in a creative environment with the latest in 3D technology,” said President Donald P. Christian. “We expect this environment to enhance our students’ preparation for high-tech careers that combine creativity and advanced manufacturing expertise, and to seed collaborations among academics, students, and regional industry that will further enhance our mission as the region’s public university and an economic driver in the Hudson Valley.”

    While SUNY New Paltz may be getting the first Innovation Center, MakerBot is working with College of the Ouachitas in Malvern, Arkansas on the largest Innovation Center in the country. MakerBot says the college has 47 MakerBot 2 Replicators, six MakerBot 2X Experimental 3D printers and six MakerBot Digitizers. The college will work with students and regional businesses to bolster its entrepreneurial programs. It will also work on the Robohand Project to help product prosthetic hands for those who can’t afford traditional prosthetics.

    “Having the largest MakerBot Innovation Center in the world at College of the Ouachitas is another of a series of advanced manufacturing innovations the College has brought to Arkansas and the Southeast region of the country and helps position our campus as a leader in technology,” noted Dr. Stephen Schoonmaker, president of College of the Ouachitas. “We are committed to using the Innovation Center to help change how our community sees and uses technology. By giving our public, students, and regional businesses the tools they need to innovate and create, we will help bring our graduates and our state to the forefront of potential jobs and careers in technology.”

    If you’re interested in setting up your own Innovation Center, you can get a quote from MakerBot here.

    Image via MakerBot

  • Here’s A Better Look At MakerBot’s New 3D Printers

    At CES 2014, 3D printers were generating some of the biggest buzz at the show. The two big guys – 3D Systems and MakerBot – were both showing off the new 3D printers that will define 2014. While 3D Systems has already given us a good look at its new products, MakerBot has yet to do so. That’s where Microsoft comes in.

    Microsoft was at CES this year and took time out to talk to MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis about his company’s new line of 3D printers – the Repilcator Mini, the Replicator Desktop 3D printer and the Replicator Z18. The first is intended for hobbyists and consumers thanks to its small build size and affordability. The Replicator Desktop 3D printer is the successor to the Replicator 2 and provides a solid 3D printer for hardcore hobbyists and professionals. Finally, the Replicator Z18 is a 3D printer for the professional that demands a massive build size.

    To learn more about these printers, check out the below interview with Pettis:

    Image via Windows/YouTube

  • Martha Stewart Shops For A 3D Printer At CES

    3D printers were out in full force at CES this year as companies from all around the world hoped to prove their worth to attendees and the media. Little did these companies expect that they would have to prove themselves to Martha Stewart, but it does make for some entertaining videos.

    TechCrunch teamed up with Martha Stewart at CES to help her find the perfect 3D printer for her office. Her position of authority on lifestyle, home decorum and cooking means that her choice could actually be pretty influential for the millions of people that follow her advice. It could also help give 3D printing companies a lot of mainstream exposure beyond what they usually get.

    While there were a lot of 3D printers on show at CES, Stewart focused on two companies – MakerBot and Formlabs. Both companies are darlings of the 3D printing scene for entirely different reasons. MakerBot helped to start the open-source 3D printer revolution and is now one of the largest manufacturers of affordable, professional-grade 3D printers, like the Replicator and Replicator 2X. Formlabs, on the other hand, proved that stereolithography was affordable with the most successful 3D printer Kickstarter ever.

    Here’s Stewart’s visit to MakerBot where she talks with CEO Bre Pettis:

    She then visits Formlabs to check out the Form 1:

    On a final note, here’s why Stewart is looking for a 3D printer:

    Image via TechCrunch/YouTube

  • These Are The Top 10 Trending 3D Printers Of January

    3D Hubs was arguably the greatest thing to happen to the Maker movement in 2013. Not only did it give makers an easy outlet to share their 3D printers with the community, but it also let us get a pretty good idea of what 3D printers were popular among said makers. In December, the Ultimaker 2 reigned supreme, and it looks like not much has changed in the new year.

    This morning, 3D Hubs published its monthly 3D printer trends report with the Ultimaker 2 once again taking the top spot among the most popular 3D printers. It’s important to note that this is only among 3D Hubs users and many of its users are from Europe where the Ultimaker is sold.

    Of course, it’s not like the Ultimaker is coasting at the number one spot. It’s having to fight some serious competition from the Up! Mini and Solidoodle 3D printers. 3D Hubs also notes that MakerBot’s Replicator and Replicator 2X are crawling their way up the top 10 list.

    These Are The Top 10 Trending 3D Printers

    Ultimaker may be big in Europe, but it can’t compete with the large variety of 3D printers available from its competitors. Stratasys, a company that owns both Objet and MakerBot, is the number one 3D printer manufacturer with the RepRap DIY kit in a close second. Ultimaker proves its popularity, however, by coming in third place and beating 3D systems for the placement.

    These Are The Top 10 Trending 3D Printers Of January

    As for the number of printers on 3D Hubs, the site reports that it now catalogues 2,500 3D printers from all over the world. That means there are 2,500 individuals, companies and maker spaces making their presence known on the Web. This will hopefully lead to more people getting access to 3D printers and bringing this transformative technology even more into the mainstream.

    These Are The Top 10 Trending 3D Printers Of January

    Read the full January report here if you want to see more info, including popular materials and a breakdown of popular 3D printers by region.

    Image via Ultimaker

  • MakerBot Announces Three New 3D Printers

    3D Systems kicked off CES this year with the announcement of its triple-head extruder CubePro 3D printer. MakerBot was expected to announce its own new 3D printer at the show, but nobody expected it to announce three.

    At CES, MakerBot announced three new 3D printers as part of its fifth generation MakerBot Replicator line. The three new printers represent a little something for everyone, from the hobbyists to the industry professionals who demand larger build volumes.

    First up is the MakerBot Replicator Mini – a smaller 3D printer that designed for beginners and professionals. As its name suggests, the Replicator Mini has a tiny build volume of 10x10x12.5. It’s definitely easy to use, however, as it’s a plug and play device. it also features a 200 micro resolution so objects will come out looking pretty good. It will be available this spring for $1,375.

    Next up is the MakerBot Replicator Desktop 3D printer. This is MakerBot’s middle of the road 3D printer that it will undoubtedly market as its flagship machine going into 2014. It features an 11 percent larger build volume over last year’s MakerBot Replicator 2 and has a 100 micron resolution. It’s available to order now for $2,899.

    As for the last 3D printer, MakerBot has finally decided to enter the large build volume market. Its new MakerBot Replicator Z18 features a massive build volume of 30.5×30.5×45.7 for those who want to build large objects or just multiple objects at once. Like the new Replicator, it sports a 100 micron resolution. It will be available this spring for $6,499.

    With these three 3D printers, MakerBot is entering 2014 with an incredibly strong portfolio of affordable and powerful 3D printers that will appeal to the hobbyists and industry professionals. Let’s just hope the new Replicator will lower the price of the already great Replicator 2 so even more people can get into 3D printing.

    Image via MakerBot/YouTube

  • The Cheap Asian 3D Printer Rivals Are Here

    Over the last few years, we’ve seen the price of 3D printers drop dramatically as key patents expire or the cost of components decrease. They still cost quite a bit of money, however, as much of the manufacturing and labor takes place in the U.S. Now Asian rivals, complete with cheaper labor costs, are trying to muscle their way into the market.

    New Kinpo Group, an electronics manufacturer out of Taiwan, has announced its first 3D printer – the da Vinci. It’s very similar to the Makerbot Replicator 2 and even has a similar build volume of 20x20x20 cm. Here are the full specs:

  • Technology: FFF (FUSED FILAMENT FABRICATION)
  • Maximum build volume (WxHxD): 7.8W X 7.8H X 7.8D INCH (20 X 20 X 20 CM)
  • Printing Mode: FINE: 0.1 MM (100 MICRONS); STD: 0.2 MM (200 MICRONS); SPEED: 0.3 MM (300 MICRONS);
  • ULTRA FAST: 0.4 MM (400 MICRONS)
  • Print Head: SINGLE NOZZLE
  • Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 MM
  • Print Speed: 150 MM/s
  • Filament Diameter: 1.75 MM
  • Print Material: ABS

    • The da Vinci’s similarity to the Makerbot Replicator 2 is no accident. In fact, New Kinpo Group explicitly called out Makerbot as its main rival and vowed to sell 100,000 units in 2014. If successful, it will beat out Makerbot in global sales of 3D printers.

    To beat Makerbot, the da Vinci is going to have be pretty affordable. Well, it certainly is that as the da Vinci only costs $499 in Taiwan and will remain at that price when it launches in the U.S. early next year. It also has a few more models in the works that will add even more functionality over what Makerbot currently offers at a price cheaper than the Replicator 2’s price tag of $1,299.

    While Kinpo may be the first Asian 3D printer manufacturer with global ambitions, it is not the first. As we move into 2014 and onward, expect to see more Asian electronics firms getting into 3D printing. These devices will be far cheaper than their American rivals and may help to get desktop 3D printers into even more homes. The only question now is whether or not these Asian-made 3D printers will be able to offer the same build quality as their American counterparts while keeping prices low.

    [Image: xyzprinting]
    [h/t: 3ders]

  • MakerBot Now Offers 3D Printer Services At Its Retail Stores

    MakerBot Now Offers 3D Printer Services At Its Retail Stores

    MakerBot, one of the most successful 3D printing startups of all time, has three retail stores in the Northeast from which it peddles its wares. Not everybody can afford a Replicator 2, however, so MakerBot is now going to let you use the printers they have in store for a small fee.

    MakerBot announced this week that its three retail stores in New York, Boston and Greenwich, Conn. are now offering 3D printer services. In other words, you can bring in a flash drive with a 3D design on it and have it printed at the store for a small fee.

    MakerBot notes that all designs will be printed in the company’s PLA filament. Objects can be printed in a variety of colors, including white, black, transluscent red, warm gray or natural. There are more colors than that available, but they will cost extra.

    So, how much is this going to cost? While most places charge based on the amount of material used, MakerBot is pricing prints on the amount of time it takes to complete them. For a print that takes less than 30 minutes, it will cost $10. The price goes up exponentially from there with two hours costing $35 and six hours costing $100. If the print takes more than six hours, you’ll have to get a quote from MakerBot.

    It should be noted that you’re not required to stay in the store while your item is being printed. In fact, the store may not be able to get around to it when you first put your order in. Instead, MakerBot will give you an estimate of when your print will be finished and contact you when it’s done.

    If you aren’t anywhere near a MakerBot retail store, you can still get your 3D printing on at any of the numerous maker spaces that are popping up all over the world. For locations, check out Makerspace or 3D Hubs.

    [h/t: 3ders]
    [Image: Wikimedia Commons]

  • These Are The Top 10 Trending 3D Printers Of December

    3D printers are starting to pop up all over the place, but not everybody has access to their own just yet. 3D Hubs seeks to rectify that by creating a place where 3D printer owners can list their own printers, and invite those who do not own one to use theirs. It’s quite elegant really, and it gives us a pretty good look at which 3D printers are popular as an added bonus.

    For the past few months, 3D Hubs has used its 2,000 plus list of registered 3D printers to give us the top 10 trending 3D printers of the month. While it’s not representative of every 3D printer on the planet, it does give us a pretty good idea of which 3D printers are being used by individuals and maker spaces around the world. It should be noted that a model is only included on the list once 20 are registered on 3D Hubs’ Web site.

    Here’s the full list:

    These Are The Top 10 Trending 3D Printers Of December

    It’s interesting to note that Makerbot is absolutely killing it among 3D Hubs users. The Replicator 2 and 2X have both seen explosive growth, and 3D Hubs predicts that that the Replicator 2 will usurp the Ultimaker 2 within the next few months.

    What’s even more exciting is that Kickstarter darling – the Form 1 – shows up in third place in its first month on the chart. As more Kickstarter backers receive their printers and register them on 3D Hubs, we should see its position grow as well.

    What’s nice about this list is that open-source 3D printers make a strong showing. The Ultimaker 2 – a completely open-source 3D printer – is in the number one spot. The RepRap – one of the original open-source 3D printers – makes a strong showing as well. It will get even better as more open source printers join the list.

    [Image: Ultimaker]
    [h/t: 3ders]

  • MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis Talks 3D Printers, Windows 8.1

    Over the past few years, MakerBot has quickly grown from a promising 3D printer startup to one of the biggest suppliers of desktop 3D printers in the world. The company’s success even led to it being acquired by Stratasys, one of the world’s largest 3D printer manufacturers, for $403 million. Now the company is making its next big move – building native 3D printer support into Windows 8.1.

    Microsoft’s Gavin Gear recently had a chance to chat with MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis to talk about his company, how it got to where it is today and why he decided to work with Microsoft to build the native 3D printing API for Windows 8.1.

    Speaking of Windows 8.1, Pettis says that his goal with the API was to make the 3D printer workflow as smooth as possible. With the API, you will be able to just open a program, hit print and the model you’re looking at it will be sent to your 3D printer. He’s also hoping that app developers work the API into their Windows 8 apps with one example being a hiker 3D printing the mountain he will be climbing.

    If you want to know more about 3D printing on Windows 8.1, you’ll want to check this out. If you want some hands on time with a MakerBot 3D printer, they’re available at a number of Microsoft stores nationwide.

    [Image: makerbot/YouTube]

  • Here’s What People Are Using 3D Printers For

    3D printers are no longer the playthings of industry. Hobbyists and regular Joes all around the world are now discovering the joys of 3D printing through the proliferation of cheap printers. That means 3D printers are now being used to create more things, but what kind of things?

    3D Hubs, a 3D printer owner community, has published a study using the data is has collected over the past year from 1,163 printers. Using this data, they have put together a report on how 3D printers are being used.

    To start us off, let’s look at what people are using 3D printers for. Unsurprisingly, most people are still using 3D printers to make prototypes. After that, gadgets, scale models, gifts and phone add-ons round out the top five. Interestingly enough, toys are being made the least despite 3D printers having proven that they can make excellent (if not creepy) toys.

    Here's What People Are Using 3D Printers For

    The color category is a little more interesting as there’s far more variety in the amount of colored plastics available. Despite the variety, the top five colors are white, blue, red, green and black. It’s not until further down the list that you start to see more unique colors, like glow in the dark materials.

    Here's What People Are Using 3D Printers For

    There may be a variety of colors available, but nothing can beat the variety of 3D printer hardware currently on the market. In this category, you can see that the big players like Ultimaker, MarketBot and RepRap dominate the playing field, but there are a lot of people rocking less established 3D printers as well.

    Here's What People Are Using 3D Printers For

    Finally, here’s a look at 3D printer distribution across Europe, North and South America. Most 3D Hubs users are based in Europe, but North America represents with a strong showing in MakerBot Replicator ownership.

    Here's What People Are Using 3D Printers For

    3D Hubs has some other statistics, including a breakdown of the kinds of plastic people use, in the study. You can check it out here.

    [h/t: 3ders]
    [Image: 3D Hubs]

  • Rubicon Wants To Be Your Cheap 3D Scanner

    Rubicon Wants To Be Your Cheap 3D Scanner

    For the past year, 3D printers have been in a race to the bottom to see who can offer the most sophisticated hardware at the lowest price. That race isn’t going to end anytime soon, but there’s another related race that’s just starting.

    Robert Mikelson of Latvia recently unveiled the Rubicon – a $199 3D scanner – on Indiegogo. It’s similar to the MakerBot Digitizer as it creates a 3D model of a physical object using a camera, lasers and a turntable, but at a fraction of the price.

    So, what are the pros and cons of the Rubicon versus the Digitizer? The most apparent win for the Rubicon is on price as it only costs $199 versus the Digitizer’s $1,400. Mikelson also claims that the Rubicon can capture texture where the Digitizer can not. It’s able to do this through a 13 MP camera compared to the 1.3MP camera used in the Digitizer. One more win for the Rubicon comes in with its scan speed as the device can complete a full scan in three minutes versus the Digitizer’s 12 minutes.

    Is there anything that the Digitizer can do that the Rubicon can’t? Well, the Digitizer’s main advantage here is that it can scan much larger items. The Rubicon can only scan objects up to 160mm in diameter and 250mm in height. The Digitizer can scan objects up to 8 inches in diameter and 8 inches in height. Mikelson says that the camera on the Rubicon can be moved to allow for larger objects, but we have yet to see that in action.

    Speaking of which, check out the video below to see the world’s cheapest 3D scanner in action:

    Mikelson is hoping to raise $25,000 to produce the Rubicon. He’s already a fifth of the way there with $5,180 raised in just a day. He has 44 more days left, and he will receive all funding received during the campaign period even if he doesn’t reach the goal.

    Of course, a 3D scanner is pretty useless without a 3D printer. For those who want both, a number of other competitors have entered the field with some very compelling hardware that combines a 3D printer and a 3D scanner into one machine. Both devices – the Zeus and the FABtotum – have already gone on to raise more than their funding targets in a matter of days.

    [Image: Rubicon/Indiegogo]

  • MakerBot Digitizer Goes On Sale For $1,400

    So, you bought a MakerBot Replicator 2 and you’re already printing out stuff that you find on Thingiverse. Now you want to start printing things that you find around the house. You can either painstakingly recreate the objects in 3D modeling software, or you can use a 3D scanner that costs thousands of dollars. Well, MakerBot now has a cheaper solution for those who choose the latter.

    MakerBot announced today that pre-orders for its Digitizer – a desktop 3D scanner – are now open. The device will retail for $1,400 and provide an easy platform to convert physical objects into high resolution 3D models when it ships in October.

    To demonstrate how it works, MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis scanned a tiger figurine and created an exact replica with a 3D printer:

    The MakerBot Digitizer can be used for more than 3D printing. With the Digitizer software, users can scan in objects, make some adjustments and upload their new creations to Thingiverse for the world to see.

    Of course, the Digitizer combined with Thingiverse does offer some new challenges in the world of copyright. Can MakerBot effectively police people scanning objects like copyrighted figurines and uploading them to Thingiverse? The Web site already does a pretty admirable job of removing this kind of content, but the Digitizer makes it much easier for people to share copyright protected physical objects.

    Regardless, the Digitizer is an exciting product that fits nicely within MakerBots ever growing portfolio of accessible 3D printing technologies. I would say that it has little to no competition from other 3D scanners, but AIO Robotics announced a three-in-one 3D printer combo that comes complete with a 3D scanner. With this recent revelation, I wouldn’t be surprised if MakerBot were to make their own three-in-one combo hardware as well.

    [Image: MakerBot]

  • MakerBot To Bring 3D Printers To More Microsoft Stores

    Microsoft made waves earlier this summer when it announced that it would include native 3D printer support in Windows 8.1. The 3D printer hobbyists were obviously excited, but it’s a little harder to get the layman excited about the future of manufacturing. MakerBot wants to change all that.

    MakerBot announced today that its bringing what it calls the MakerBot Experience to Microsoft Stores around the country. The 3D printer maker already had a presence in a number of Microsoft Stores on the West Coast, but the company said that it’s bringing its Replicator 2 Desktop 3D printer to 15 more stores.

    So, what is the MakerBot Experience? In short, MakerBot provides a hands-on demonstration of the Replicator 2 to those who visit participating Microsoft Stores. Those same visitors will also have the chance to buy a Replicator 2 and PLA filament. You’re going to need some money, however, as the Replicator 2 retails for $2,199. As for the plastic, spools of PLA filament cost $48 a piece.

    “We’re thrilled to offer the MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer and our MakerBot PLA Filament in Microsoft Stores,” said Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot. “We’ve seen tremendous interest and enthusiasm at the three initial ‘MakerBot Experience’ stores. Rolling the program out to 15 additional Microsoft Stores supercharges our mission to bring 3D printing to more people.”

    MakerBot has been one of the most vocal supporters of Microsoft’s move into 3D printing. At the annual BUILD conference, the company announced that it had worked with Microsoft to build a 3D printer driver for Windows 8.1. Offering the Replicator 2 at Microsoft Stores is just a natural extension of that partnership.

    “3D printing is a significant technological innovation, and we want all our customers to experience it first-hand, to learn how they can use and benefit from it in their own lives,” said David McAughan, chief operating officer for Microsoft retail stores. “The relationship with MakerBot has been very successful so far, and Microsoft looks forward to seeing the ‘MakerBot Experience’ rolled out into more stores.”

    The MakerBot Replicator 2 will be available at the following Microsoft Stores:

  • Scottsdale, AZ – Fashion Square
  • Costa Mesa, CA – South Coast Plaza
  • Mission Viejo, CA – The Shops at Mission Viejo
  • Palo Alto, CA – Stanford Shopping Center
  • San Diego, CA – Fashion Valley
  • San Francisco, CA – Westfield San Francisco Centre
  • Lone Tree, CO – Park Meadows Mall
  • Danbury, CT – Danbury Fair Mall
  • Atlanta, GA – Lenox Square
  • Oak Brook, IL – Oakbrook Center
  • Schaumburg, IL – Woodfield Mall
  • Bloomington, MN – Mall of America
  • Salem, NH – The Mall at Rockingham Park
  • Bridgewater, NJ – Bridgewater Commons
  • White Plains, NY – The Westchester
  • Houston, TX – Houston Galleria
  • McLean, VA – Tysons Corner Center
  • Bellevue, WA – Bellevue Square

  • These Are The 3D Printers You Can Use For Free At The Chicago Library

    The Chicago Public Library revealed in June that it was opening a maker space at its Harold Washington Library Center. The space officially opened on July 8, but we now only just got a good look at the kind of hardware the city will be using.

    The Chicago Tribune reports that the Harold Washington Library bought three MakerBot Replicator 2s. They’re top of the line consumer 3D printers that can print almost anything so those interested in the technology won’t run into many restrictions.

    The Replicator 2 may be able to print almost anything you can come up with, but the city will be restricting the kinds of things it allows you to print. Librarian John Christensen says that all designs must be approved by library staff, and they won’t allow anybody to print weapons or obscene items.

    Beyond that, the library staff wants its patrons to be able to express themselves in any way they want via the 3D printers. The hope is that it helps take 3D printing into the mainstream. In fact, Christensen told the Chicago Tribune that he thinks 3D printers are like personal computers. It started out as something only for hobbyists, but quickly evolved into a technology that everyone now uses.

    If you’re in the Chicago area and want to check out the maker lab yourself, it’s open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Friday and Saturday, and 2 pm. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. As expected, you will need a library card to use the machines.



    Library Shows Off 3D Printer

    [h/t: 3ders]

  • Stratasys And MakerBot Team Up To Make 3D Printing Even More Mainstream

    There were some rumors floating around earlier this month that 3D printer company MakerBot was interested in selling. Those rumors came to fruition Wednesday afternoon when Stratasys announced that it had acquired the company.

    Stratasys announced that it will merge with MakerBot in a deal worth $403 million dollars, or 4.76 million shares. It’s not your usual acquisition, however, as MakerBot will be allowed to retain its identity. Bre Pettis will also stay on as CEO.

    “The last couple of years have been incredibly inspiring and exciting for us,” said Pettis. “We have an aggressive model for growth, and partnering with Stratasys will allow us to supercharge our mission to empower individuals to make things using a MakerBot, and allow us to bring 3D technology to more people. I am excited about the opportunities this combination will bring to our current and future customers.”

    Stratasys’ acquisition of MakerBot means that it will be able to better target the growing consumer market segment for 3D printers. MakerBot’s Replicator and Replicator 2 are incredibly popular among consumers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and designers looking for a powerful 3D printer that’s not going to break the bank.

    “MakerBot’s 3D printers are rapidly being adopted by CAD-trained designers and engineers,” said David Reis, Stratasys CEO. “Bre Pettis and his team at MakerBot have built the strongest brand in the desktop 3D printer category by delivering an exceptional user experience. MakerBot has impressive products, and we believe that the company’s strategy of making 3D printing accessible and affordable will continue to drive adoption.”

    Of course, we can’t forget that Stratasys also gets MakerBot’s Thingiverse as part of the acquisition. Thingiverse is a platform for creators to upload their designs and share them with other makers. It’s one of the largest maker communities on the Internet, and Stratasys will undoubtedly benefit from it.

    Some fans of MakerBot might worry that the company will end up like Objet, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Stratasys is not going to change how things are done at MakerBot so we’re still going to get great 3D printers alongside the company’s excellent outreach programs that inspire young and old to take up 3D printing.

  • MakerBot Made A Documentary About The Boy With The 3D Printed Robohand

    The feel good story of January was when a designer used a 3D printer to create a prosthetic hand for a boy who never had one. The project has been progressing smoothly since then thanks to the free 3D printers sent their way courtesy of MakerBot. Now the 3D printer company has released a documentary showing how 3D printers are changing lives in the most positive of ways.

    As people are becoming increasingly concerned over 3D printed guns, it’s good to remember the incredible and undeniable good that the technology can enact. Without 3D printers, children like Liam wouldn’t be able to afford the prosthetics that give them an entirely new lease on life.

    If you want to learn more about Liam and the development of the robohand, check out the team’s official blog.

  • Printcraft Brings Minecraft Creations To Life With 3D Printing

    People are obviously proud of their elaborate Minecraft creations. Some may even want to create physical versions of their buildings to display for all to see. One company – FigurePrints – uses 3D printers to turn Minecraft creations into reality, but new software lets those who already own a 3D printer make their own.

    Printcraft, a multiplayer server for Minecraft, lets players build creations on an in-game representation of a build platform. Once the creation is complete, players can then convert their creation into an STL file that’s compatible with 3D printers. Even better, Printcraft has teamed up with MakerBot to allow direct uploads of creations to Thingiverse.

    Printcraft from Paul Harter on Vimeo.

    What makes Printcraft so amazing is that it has turned the often complicated 3D modeling software into Minecraft. Those with no knowledge of 3D modeling can instead build objects in Minecraft to have them printed on their own 3D printer.

    Granted, Printcraft is pretty limited in what it can do compared to traditional 3D modeling software, but it’s great for the hobbyists that just want to see their creations come to life.

    [h/t: 3ders]

  • Make Your Own Ouya Console Case With A 3D Printer

    One of the more interesting things about the Ouya game console is that its completely open source, including its design. To help things along, 3D printer owners will soon be able to print their own console cases.

    At the Game Developers Conference, Ouya announced that it has partnered with MakerBot to provide custom 3D printable Ouya cases via Thingiverse. Ouya will be showing off the 3D printed Ouya game console this week as part of the console’s official unveiling.

    Make Your Own Ouya Console Case With A 3D Printer

    “We are pretty excited to be able to provide a 3D Printing Development Kit on Thingiverse.com for OUYA,” noted Bre Pettis, CEO of MakerBot. “OUYA is one of the most exciting new developments in the gaming world, and MakerBot is thrilled to be a part of it. The custom 3D printed console cases are also really cool.”

    Future Ouya owners that have access to a 3D printer can download the files necessary to print the console case today. MakerBot has also made the .3dm file as well for those who want to create their own custom designs based on the initial design provided by MakerBot.

    Make Your Own Ouya Console Case With A 3D Printer

    MakerBot notes that the custom Ouya cases were made with its PLA filament, but says that ABS plastic should work just as well. Likewise, the cases were printed using MakerBot’s Replicator 2, but any 3D printer with a suitable build volume should work.

  • Nokia And MakerBot Team Up To Make 3D Printed Lumia 820 Cases

    Nokia and MakerBot are in Barcelona this week for the Mobile World Congress. The companies have teamed up to offer what it calls the “first live social 3D printing experience.” In short, MakerBot is creating custom Nokia Lumia 820 cases on the show floor for attendees.

    As you can imagine, this isn’t the first time 3D printers have been used to make smartphone cases. A quick search on Thingiverse for “iPhone case” returns 591 results. 3D printers have also been used to make some rather interesting designs, like a steampunk gear case or a sweater case.