Models of everything!

There will soon be models of everything, everywhere. [snip] It's a defining moment in a parent's life: Seeing their unborn child's image on an ultrasound for the first time. Now pregnant women could have the chance to hold a life-size model of their unborn baby. Stunning new technology allows parents to hold a life-size model of their unborn child

MakerBot Industries, an open source machine that can (almost, nearly, well, getting closer, one day ...) print itself

Want to make a TinTin rocket?

"One Round Left" by Jessie Sasser, PictureBandit.com

Jessie Saaser explains the process of creating a 3D sculpture: PictureBandit.com

Consumer services are going to explode ...

Shapeways does it again .... 3D printed light sculptures (3D photographs). Watch and love. I need one. I do. I really do.

Inside thinglab.co.uk - skulls, color, face scans and more ...

Must visit these guys. One of the best videos I have seen showing the range of possibilities for 3D printing:

4 hours, 3 hours, 1 hour, less?

How fast will 3D printing need to be? How fast can it be?

Fused deposition modeling

Which 3D printing technology will 'win' in the market, or are different approaches going to find specific uses. Here's one way: fused deposition modeling. Durable, accurate, parts ... from your desktop. Slice the STL files and generate 3D support structure and extrusion paths. Solid material (thermoplastic) in filament form is heated to a less viscous state for extrusion. The model is built layer by layer, from the bottom up. Soluble supports are simply dissolved in a water based solution resulting in a part with smooth surface finish and fine detail in tact.