Objet video features 107 different 3D Print composite materials

Last year we proposed an X-Prize for 3D Printing. But sometimes we doubt whether one is necessary, as the technologies of 3D Printing continue to astound via the rapid pace of development under the spotlight of intense competition and media interest in this high growth sector positioned by some as part of a Third Industrial Revolution.

The short video below features the art of the possible with an Objet Connex 3D printer. Each part of the model classic car has inter-changeable elements that are 'filled' with a range of different material parts. With this, designers, engineers and manufacturers can simulate the precise look, feel and function of virtually any complex, finished product. In addition, Objet printers can create prototypes made with up to 14 different materials at a time, including numerous opaque/transparent clarities, color shades, rigid/flexible properties, ABS-like toughness, high temperature resistance and more...

 

Lux Capital invests in Shapeways after 1 million 3D Printed custom objects

Is this a milestone? Shapeways have printed 1 million 3D Printed objects. The creative commerce site, platform and community has now attracted new investment led by Lux Capital.

Forbes Contributor, Josh Wolfe, of Lux Capital, notes what others have said before, that "... what’s special about 3D printing is what it enables. Because objects are built additively, complexity is essentially free, allowing for intricate designs and geometries that were never before possible. When manufacturing an object is as simple as pressing 'print,' there's no cost for customization – every object can be unique."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshwolfe/2012/06/19/3d-printing-shapeways-and-the-future-of-personal-products/

CSC presents 3D Printing at TBSC 2012

Vivek Srinivasan of CSC, a provider of technology enabled business solutions and services, has presented 3D Printing at the company's annual Technology and Business Solutions Conference (TBSC) in New Orleans. From the abstract: "Imagine if you could manufacture any part, appliance or tool cheaply from your home in a range of materials from plastics to metals. You would simply create a 3D model and hit print, just like you do when printing a 2D graphic on paper. While it sounds like science fiction, producing physical 3D printed, highly custom objects at home is already a reality. Admittedly, 3D Printing isn't going to take over the bottling plant that churns out 100,000 bottles per hour. Its value lies in short run production applications (quantities from one to one thousand) of highly custom prototypes, products and parts. In low volume situations 3D printing provides a faster and cheaper price against traditional methods. The most exciting prospect for 3D printers is their potential for non-manufacturing sites such as shopping centers, schools and hospitals. This session examines how this fascinating breakthrough technology can spark innovation and bring about new prototyping methods and a new generation of DIY manufacturers."