Objet 1000 - The Big Daddy of 3D Printers
December 2012

The Objet 1000, for giant 3D Printing - well big anyway, with a 1000x800x500mm build tray.

This is an industrial machine which pushes the benchmark, the video sums it up pretty well.

Close up look at Objet 1000 at EuroMold 2012

We've included the following video for pure comedy value, one of the cheesiest promo videos we have ever seen - still it get's the message across!

Although this is a biggie we're sure that in years to come this will be just a run of the mill baby as 3D Printing moves into larger print jobs like building houses, cars, robots, etc. Or perhaps things will get smaller, no need for a large frame, perhaps a 3D Printer combined with climber robotics - it continually climbs up the structure it's printing then jumps off when it's at the top. Or, perhaps a hover version, hmmm, even better - only time will tell how this will industry will evolve! :)

UPDATE (December 2012): We've just come across one bigger! :) The Voxeljet VX 4000, capable of 4000x2000x1000mm!

Is there a bigger one still somewhere out there? :)

Kind of - we also came across this one, currently just a concept however, nicknamed SpiderBot - such a cool name so extra points just for that ;) This is a new type of large scale 3D Printer which uses cables to suspend a print head, the cable are supported by large surrounding structures such as poles, trees or buildings. The huge advantage of SpiderBot is obviously build size, however it's also printer size - it can be much smaller than current large scale printers however print much larger structure. One disadvantage currently is due to the cabling setup it will only be able to print light weight materials, so not concrete or metal (I'm sure they'll find a solution, perhaps some spider legs? ;). The project is being undertaken by Ben Peters of MIT Media Lab, we would love to see this go into production, I'm sure we will see this or something similar in the not so distant future.

This SpiderBot story is covered in more detail on the following websites:

Spiderbot: Large Scale 3D printer
(Website: BNPeters.com - Ben Peters website *****

SpiderBot Concept May Greatly Expand 3D Build Volumes
(Website: Engineering.com)

Scaling Up With the Spiderbot 3D Printer
(Website: 3DPrintingIndustry)

Teeny Weeny 3D Printing!
November 2012

Very exciting to see we're already in this territory, that territory being printing itsy bitsy teeny weeny things! Nanotechnology is an extremely exciting area and this demonstration by researchers from the Vienna University of Technology just goes to show we are well on our way to making it a reality. The implications of nanotech are extraordinary, truly 'magical' and 'unimaginable' things are possible, can't wait! 3D Printing will only accelerate the nanotech race...

This story is covered in more detail on the following websites:

3D Printer Cranks Out Exquisite Structures Smaller Than Dust Mites And Sets A New World Record
(Website: Singularity Hub)

Advanced 3D Printer Creates Nano-Indycar
(Website: Popular Mechanics)

Team develops faster method of creating microstructures
(Website: The Engineer)

Staples to Roll Out In-Store 3D Printing Service 2013
December 2012

Yes, that warehouse size stationary company is moving into the 3D Printing game - and we think they are well placed to take advantage of this too. With their size, brand, reach,and customerbase it should be easy for them to add this service to their stores. The service will be called 'Staples Easy 3D', customers will upload their designs from home then come into store to collect their printed item. They plan to initially roll out to Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg from January 2013.

The printers used instore will be Mcor and will create their prints from paper! Perhaps like an advanced papier-mashe? - the examples we've seen online so far look very good, we would be very keen to see one upclose. An advantage of this paper type of 3D Printing is the colour variations that can acheived, far more variation that is currently possible through resin 3D Printers..

As the 3D Printing revolution evolves we expect to see many new high street 3D Print shops popping up allowing customers to walk in with a memory stick or item in their hand and have it reproduced - like your photos, come back in an hour and it's done! These shops we believe will be similar in rise & stabilise to the internet cafes that popped up many years ago. These will bridge the gap before 3D Printers enters the home in a mainstream way.

This story is covered in more detail on the following websites:

Staples to launch 3D printing service in early 2013 beginning in the Netherlands and Belgium
(Website: The Verge)

Staples to bring 3D printing into stores with Mcor IRIS printers
(Website: Hexus)

Staples to start offering 3D printing services
(Website: ZNet)

Staples to offer in-store full color 3D printing service
(Website: The Register)

Staples Will Offer In-Store 3D Printing
(Website: Business Insider)

New paper-based IRIS 3D printer to be used in new Staples 3D printing service
(Website: Ponoko)

Staples Steps Into the 3D Printing Industry With Its Own Print Service
(Website: Print Country)

Alternate Mechanism: Rostock 3D Printer
November 2012

The evolution of consumer 3D printers is accelerating, both in terms of quality, minutae of layers, and mechanisms - here's one we love at it's motion reminds us of 1980's sci fi movies :)

The Rostock, created by Johann Rocholl, breaks away from the common x,y,z-axis machines, instead is uses 3 diagonal arms to control the print head. This setup allows for higher speeds of build and more importantly for us geeks it looks great! :)

Check it out in motion (NB this is actual speed, not sped up)

There's also a chunkier Rostock Max version - but the video wasn't that exciting so we've not included right now!

Rostock Wiki
(Website: RepRap)

Is the Rostock the coolest 3D printer yet?
(Website: 3D Printer)

New Printing Material: Carbomorph
November 2012

Now things are getting interesting in the evolution of 3D Printing, a team at Warwick University (led by Dr Simon Leigh, Warwick School of Engineering) have developed a new material nicknamed 'Carbomorph' that can be used to create electronic tracks and sensors within a 3D printed material itself.

As part of their research they have successfully printed gloves with embedded flex sensors and console game controllers with touch sensitive buttons.

Carbomorph was created by combining Carbon Black filler and polymorph modelling plastic - hence the name.

This is a great new addition to the adventure that is 3D Printing, allowing engineers to get involved and build new types of interfaces and electronic gadjetry. We'll be keeping a close eye on this one, perhaps in a few years time we can print the new iPhone 17? :)

This story is covered in more detail on the following websites:

Now you can 3D print a WORKING games controller: Revolutionary material that lets you print electronics created by British team
(Website: Daily Mail)

"Carbomorph" material could enable 3D printing of custom personal electronics
(Website: Physics News)

“Carbomorph” material to enable 3D printing of custom personal electronics
(Website: GizMag)

A Substance Called Carbomorph Is The Key To 3-D Printing Entire Electronic Gadgets
(Website: Popsci)

3D-printed consumer electronics just became a reality
(Website: ExtremeTech)

Hypnotic 3D Sculpting
November 2012

While this is not the same as 3D Printing as this is not additive manufacturing, in fact the reverse we still thought it worthy of inclusion as it's beautiful to watch the ease at which this machine carves a solid block of aluminium like butter but also illustrates the complexity and detail achieved from a solid lump of metal - enjoy!

007 'Skyfall' Movie & 3D Printed Aston Martins
November 2012

Why blow up an expensive real Aston when you can blow up a 3D Printed 1:3 size Aston? Er, because there's not many left and they're very expensive? :)

3D Printing company Voxeljet created 3 x 1:3 size replicas for the new James Bond movie so that they could be utilised in the epic chase sequences.

Watch a quick behind the scenes featuring the real Aston (not the 3D Printed one!)

We believe we'll see a lot more 3D Printing in movie special effect, as audience tire of over-the-top CGI and miss that old school reality of those amazing stunts for real, 3D Printing offers a perfect solution as the technology is already cabable of creating complex and intricate designs with ease, that combined with 3D scanning and 3D software packages means it's possible to recreate almost anything you can see or imagine. 3D Printed prosthetics with flexible resins, it's probably been done already, else it's only a matter of time ;)

This story is covered in more detail on the following websites:

Skyfall makers 3D printed Bond's DB5
(Website: The Register)

Voxeljet Builds Aston Martin Models for James Bond Film Skyfall
(Website: 3Ders)