Chocolate, Gold, Solar Power & Going Viral — A Week in 3D Printing. Not Forgetting it's getting a tad Naughty!

So much is happening in the world of 3D printing. Social media tools and staying in touch with my contact network are great for keeping abreast of all the latest developments — I love that aspect of my work. But perhaps the thing I love the most is getting different pieces of the puzzle and fitting them together in a bid to establish a clear picture. I remember when (I sound like my Grandma) getting one significant announcement for the next issue of TCT was a big deal. Right now the announcements are coming thick and fast and 3D printing is going viral.

Thanks to a fabulous video from ZCorporation this week, which was posted on YouTube [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZboxMsSz5Aw] 3.5 million people (and counting) have watched 3D printing in action. While the 3D printing process itself is quite clearly the central focus (hurrah), it is almost certainly the enthusiasm of David Kaplan, Theoretical Physicist at John Hopkins University, that has caused the video to go viral. The way he encapsulates the "wow" factor of 3D printing on film is definitely contagious. I, like many other 3D printing ambassadors, (that's what I am apparently) have seen the wow factor expressed when explaining the process to someone for the first time. It's always a great moment. But while we are able to share these experiences, and enjoy the knowledge that one more person has discovered the potential of 3DP, it is a hard one to convey with words alone — spoken or written. The fact that ZCorp has caught this on film and shared it, is momentous. Every single convert to 3DP is a valuable asset to the industry, but to be introducing, and possibly converting, millions in one hit is truly a watershed moment. It doesn't even stop there. The success of the video has seen numerous news crews gaining access to ZCorp's facilities and reporting on the technology.

The other three notable announcements recently are much more process development oriented.

First, a collaborative research project between the University of Exeter, the University of Brunel and Delcam software has resulted in a 3D printer producing chocolate products. Although not commercially available yet, the premise is that this easy to learn and use printer will appeal to a mass market, with future plans to introduce other materials for consumer products such as jewellery and accessories. I am looking forward to the time that I can replace my chocolate fountain centre-piece with a chocolate 3D printer. Naive & overly optimistic? Possibly.

Another significant development has come from quality 3D printing service provider i.materialise in Belgium. Users of the service are now able to get their designs printed in gold and/or silver. This has been in development for some time, but it is just fantastic to see these popular and sought after materials available for consumers via a 3D printer. This will definitely up the ante for 3D printing within the jewellery sector. I know what will be on my Christmas list this year.

Solar energy is currently a hot topic, and it has collided — fairly spectacularly — with the 3D printing sector. Markus Kayser has released information on his Solar Sinter project, which "explores the potential of desert manufacturing, where energy and material occur in abundance." Using the sun (in the Sahara Desert) as the energy source and the bountiful sand available at this location as the raw material,  his 3D printer is based on the the sintering process. [http://www.markuskayser.com/]. The potential here is vast, but right now I am just loving the office space.

And finally, this made me laugh yesterday morning. Naughty, but funny!!
http://xkcd.com/924/

AMF File Format Approved - Users Are Itching to Try It Out!

The announcement that the new file format for 3D printing has been approved by the ASTM F42 committee went live a few weeks ago. The successor to the widely used STL format, AMF — dubbed by some as STL 2.0 — has been two years in development, and the process has been an inclusive one. Over this time I have watched the mailing list that was set up inviting anyone involved with additive manufacturing and 3D printing as well as 3D CAD to take part in the initial survey and the subsequent discussions, drafts and revisions, which at times got highly technical and occasionally contentious.

All of this bodes extremely well for AMF. It has been a carefully managed process that has taken into account the requirements and opinions of a wide user base. Hod Lipson, of Cornell University & Chairman of the ASTM Subcommittee overseeing the development process of the AMF file format deserves particular recognition for his contributions and management skills.

Since the announcement, I have put out a few feelers to see what people that use AM & 3D printing think. The general consensus is that they are excited about it, believe it will make their lives easier and can't wait to get their hands on it. All of my contacts have indicated that they are not downloading it for themselves, but they are waiting for the CAD vendors and/or AM system vendors to incorporate it into their products and provide upgrades for existing equipment. Fair enough, but who's responsibility is it to get it out there and working for people? There has been little filtering through from the vendors as to when we will see it but I imagine since the announcement, which they will have been aware of ahead of time, there is a race on to get it to market within the product ranges. After all, the first to market could gain a competitive advantage.

Now where have I heard that line before ...... ?

3D Printing, The Press & The Future of Manufacturing

The last few weeks & months have moved breathtakingly fast around the world of 3D printing. Particularly since the Maker Faire event in San Francisco in May, the buzz has been tremendous as more and more people are confronted by the reality of 3D Printing. The Maker Faire event is itself a growing phenomenon, but one that fits perfectly with the advent of 3D printing for the individual maker.  Couple this with the advent of simple, easy-to-use 3D design software and the explosion of interest that has been predicted excitedly — and often unrealistically — for many years is materialising in front of our very eyes.

It is also exciting to report that I have lost count of the number of articles, blog posts and references that I have read recently, about 3D printing, in a wide cross section of the press. The Telegraph, the BBC, the NY Times and the Economist are just a few that spring to mind as I write.  It is not that long ago that anyone in the right place at the right time would see me dancing around a room, jumping up and down in delight, if just one reference to 3D printing (or RP, or AM, or Fabbing) appeared in an obscure technology section of a trade magazine. I would then proceed to wax lyrical about it. I think those days can now be confined to the annals of history.

Many of these articles are talking about 3DP hitting the mainstream but I don't think we are quite there just yet. Although I do believe that we are right on the cusp — and, contrary to my own musings even within the last few months, I think I will be around to see it. I'm glad I was wrong too.

The other critical area for 3D technologies that is also being much more widely debated and discussed is that of education. Many western economies are facing a skills shortage, specifically for engineering and manufacturing, the UK among them. There are numerous reasons and contributing factors for this, which the bureaucrats will contemplate until kingdom come, but action is needed. Advanced 3D technology, including 3D printing, is a real — and accessible — solution.  It is gratifying to see that there are growing numbers of champions that are forcefully promoting the advantages of getting 3D digital technologies into schools and into the hands of children. By doing so, I fully believe that the future of 3D printing — right across the board — will be secured and that the strength of western manufacturing can grow once again and continue to return from the East.

Is it all starting to make sense?

As I wrote my post last week on 3D Systems’ latest acquisition (Freedom of Creation - FoC), the shock factor was still in play as I pounded this keyboard. There was a marked difference in this genre of company to 3D Systems’ other acquisitions and corporate announcements.

Now the dust has settled somewhat, even taking into account that there have been four more announcements to process from the company since. None of these four are acquisitions, rather they include a distribution agreement with Voxeljet, the move of stock to the NYSE, a partnership agreement with 3D CAD company Alibre and the resulting bundle of products. From this, and some digging around the online news room on 3D Systems’ website I believe I am starting to understand the overall strategy.

Throughout last year as the acquisitions mounted, apart from the question of funding and how deep those pockets must be, I kept asking myself how the strategy would play out and how would it all fit together. A logistical nightmare even for the most organized of companies there would have to be some standardisation and some form of quality control implemented to bring all of these companies together under the same brand.  

The internal workings of 3D Systems have perplexed me for a long (long, long, long) time, and I don’t pretend to have the answers now. However, for years I have advocated a holistic approach to product development — stating that no one technology could be the silver bullet, and that an integrated approach with 3D software, 3D output and a positive culture was the way forward.

From everything that we are seeing, it seems to me that this is precisely the mantra that 3D Systems has bought into and is pursuing aggressively. The company took this live at the end of last year with a subtle change in its public profile, because somewhere between the 2^nd December 2010 and 6^th December 2010 the company went from labeling itself as  “a leading provider of 3D printing, Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing systems and parts solutions”; to “a leading provider of 3D content-to-print solutions.”

From its core competency of developing additive systems I believe the strategy is to build a portfolio of products AND services that covers every single angle of the market that is springing up around 3D printing and positioning itself as the go-to company for the sector and the world at large. And they have to do this BEFORE all the patents expire. It’s a medium term strategy and the likes of me; among many, many others; are helping with the marketing and google rankings.

It’s a strategy that is not without risk, the source of funding has not been established and the logistics are yet to be ironed out, but the shares are doing ok. But if it comes to fruition the payoff will be huge because 3D printing is going to be huge.

3D Systems is at it again, 2nd time this week.

After a 10 day break over Easter I have had a monster couple of weeks, working silly hours and the blog has, unfortunately, been low down on the list of priorities to fulfil.

Anyway, woes aside, it has been pretty easy to follow the comings and goings with twitter etc. And much tweeting has been dedicated to the antics of 3D Systems. Over the last two years, this Additive Manufacturing company has seriously upped its game — acquiring competitive and related companies left, right and centre. So much so, that it has almost become a joke between many of the commentators focused on this space. But the latest acquisition, announced earlier today by Deelip Menzies, whose own companies were recently acquired by 3DS, was not one that could have been predicted easily. Shock is reverberating all round.

3D Systems has now acquired Freedom of Creation. A company synonymous with depicting the capabilities of additive manufacturing by way of a gallery of high-end (and very expensive) products manufactured with AM processes. The products from FoC are invariably inspirational, aspirational and, quite simply, gorgeous.

I can easily see the gains from 3D Systems' side by bringing this brand into its fold, what I am struggling with is what on earth were Janne et al thinking? Probably money. Personally, I'm not convinced it will help the brand, but then, I've been wrong before - happy to admit it.

And ....

From my knowledge of FoC, I'm pretty certain that selective laser sintering (EOS) is (or rather, was) their preferred process. I wonder if this motivated 3D Systems in any way?

Quality Resin Parts from a Self-Build 3D Printer

The issues and the debates that surround the 3D printing domain are interesting — and important — but it is fundamentally exciting when a new development emerges, in terms of the capabilities of the tech, that really push the technology closer to mainstream adoption. When that development is part quality on a machine that is destined to be in the self-build, possibly open source, lower-end of the market it makes the wow factor even sweeter.

Junior Veloso, whose blog depicting his development of a new resin-based 3D printer can be found here: http://3dhomemade.blogspot.com, has most recently posted his results using imagery that is startling. The noteworthy results illustrate parts that are built with 50 micron accuracy on a machine that will compete with RepRap, Makerbot and BfB, all deposition machines.

Judging by the comments on his posts, Mr Veloso has a flourishing number of followers, with most offering enthusiastic support. A minority, however, proffer cynicism, which, in my opinion, is disappointing but unsurprising.

The aim is to get this project sponsored through Kickstarter following planned improvements, which Junior documents in his March 31st post.

This is one to watch and I wish Junior every success as he brings this project to fulfillment.

3D Printing — 'IP'so Facto the Lawyers are Arriving

Competition has always been strong between the additive machine manufacturers and for many years patent infringements on technology rights have been submitted and challenged in various courts of law. These have been noteworthy, up to a certain point, in terms of monitoring technology development and market dynamics and, sadly, it is an inherent part of any technology sector.

However, as additive manufacturing and 3D printing continue to grow in popularity as a means of production, a more compelling angle on the legalities of intellectual property (IP) is emerging. 

The twitter-sphere is awash with the news that conflict has arisen within the 3D Printing world over rights to IP pertaining to a 3D design made available online for 3D printing. The full story is documented well by Peter Hanna, here: http://goo.gl/fb/8C1xS.  The problem seems to have been resolved with minimal pain but one can't help but think this is just the beginning. Furthermore, the feral nature of the legal profession (it won't take long for the $$ signs to light up their eyes) will not aid online 3D printing organisations, who will need to take serious measures to avoid being taken down by threats of real (or perceived) IP infringement. In real terms, this will increase the costs for the supplier and, therefore, the purchaser of 3D printed goods. You only need to consider your motor insurance premiums to see how that particular scenario can play out. 

Protecting intellectual property is important, I am not dismissing the issue in any way, but it will be a precarious balancing act for burgeoning organisations, which could well inflict limitations on how the market develops.