I imagine that if printing was available in the fourth dimension, or even the fifth dimension, no one would even ask the price. Sadly, stuck within the limitations of the fourth dimension, we have new technology available to make what we already know come to life. Madame Pickwick has been evaluating the pros and convicts of three dimensional printing, with the idea of Madame Pickwick offering the service. Basically, she likes what it does: you can replicate or bobble head dolls of your kids, reproduce a sample, a prototype of a new product and even make dentures it could be imagined.
—LAS VEGAS–With an updated Cube 3D printer, announced this morning, 3D Systems has demonstrated its commitment to improving the ease-of-use for consumer 3D printing.
The new Cube might look familiar if you recall the company’s original model, announced at last year’s CES. The new version is available in a few new colors now, but it otherwise largely looks the same. The biggest functional change on its exterior comes to the build plate.
Whereas before the Cube’s build plate was a heated piece of metal, the new build plate is glass, and is unheated. Traditionally, you heat the plate to help secure the plastic during the course of a print. With glass and a new customer-applied glue to roll on between prints, 3D System now has a more child-safe 3D printer.—click image for source…
However, the technology is new and with the most user friendly system at $1300 , it seems like a limited application for home consumer use. Plus all the ingredients such as the plastic to make the object means a stiff price to pay. Either 3D printing is going to die or one of these will sell or license the technology to a major who can bring scale and pricing to the market. Don’t bet the farm on the product, but it is a no-brainer that the 3D systems 850 is an impressive machine, one that can reproduce a basketball for example.
ZCorp is another maker, but they use a powder system. We spoke to the Canadian distributor last week and very of the machines have placed into service. The technology is impressive however…
This looks impressive.Aesthetically, it resembles more of a traditional copier. Again, ultimately, in combination with AI technologies and robotics, it can be an integral part of a renewal in manufacturing, but as a consumer fetish object, the appeal will be limited…
—2012 – 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) announced today the immediate availability of its new ZPrinter® 850, the largest format ZPrinter® with higher print volume, greater productivity and vibrant full color that empowers designers, engineers, and architects to create more and larger parts faster.—click image for source…
An excellent article on the company /D Systems for those interested: http://seekingalpha.com/article/1115531-3d-systems-a-sobering-reality
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