3D Printers

Forecast for 3d Printers

2009-08-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

3D printing is projected to be a $782 million dollar industry by 2013. Z Corp, of course, currently controls the lion share of the market. We're still in the infancy of the industry. It will be interesting to see other companies grow in the near future to challenge Z Corp.

The leading technologies in 3d printing are ink-jet, fused depositio modeling, selective laser sintering, and stereolithograph solid imaging.

3D printer prices will continue to decline although we're still a good bit away from seeing this technology enter into the cusumer market. Open source projects like RepRap and Fab@Home may shorten that time though. Who knows, by 2013, you may be seeing 3d printers at Best Buy.

The New High School Shop Class

2008-05-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Sherwood High School in Oregon bought themselves a $30,000 3D printer and now John Niebergall’s advanced shop class is covetted class to get into.

“We need to continue to educate our students that engineers are and will remain in very high demand in Oregon and the United States and that we are at risk of losing our edge in innovation in the global market if recent trends continue.”

Brooks says Niebergall’s program, which combines traditional shop classes like woodworking with high tech software and 3D printers “is a shining example of how you can get kids interested in the engineering field.”

“It is fun and remains very lucrative,” Brooks says of the field he chose for his own career path. “Especially for students that continue on to a four-year engineering college program.”

Last year, Jonathan Crompton of Sherwood High School won the Dimension 3D Printing Group Redesign contest. Now, Sherwood's Ben Foley is one of the 3 finalists in this year's competition. A $2,500 scholarship is the prize!

I believe this opens up a whole new market for Dimension 3D. Imagine if every high school across America gets one of their printers ... that's thousands of units!

Stratasys - Dimension Contest Finalists Videos

2008-05-10T23:46:00.000-07:00

3D Printing Challenge Finalists Video Shorts

Dimension 3D Printing Redesign Contest Finalists

2008-05-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Dimension 3D Printing Group, a business unit of Stratasys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSYS), announced today the nine finalists for its fourth annual “Extreme Redesign: The Ultimate 3D Printing Challenge,” a global design and 3D printing contest for high school and college students.

The nine finalists were chosen from a pool of more than 800 design entries worldwide. Entries fall in to one of three categories: High School, University and the newly added, Art and Architecture category. The three first place category winners will receive $2,500 scholarships. The remaining finalists each will receive $1,000 scholarships.

Finalists and Category Details

The final contestants from the high school category are Ashley Bredemus (Rubik’s Sphere for the Blind) of Grand Rapids High School in Grand Rapids, Minn.; Kyle Olbrich (The Eggcinerator) of Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; and in his second consecutive year as a finalist, Zach Stephens (Triple Play Light Bulb) of Westfield High School in Carmel, Ind.

Final contestants from the University category are Ashley Lemon (Public Seating) of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis, Minn.; Nate Moren (Flat Door Stop) of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis, Minn.; and George Suarez (Solar Powered Water Desalination Unit) of the University of California Davis in Davis, Calif.

Final contestants in the Art and Architecture category are Benjamin Foley (Redesigned Lave Lamp) of Sherwood High School in Sherwood, Ore.; Nicole Redcross (Mrs. Redcross 2226) of Metro Technology Centers in Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Essiah Underwood (Bfly Fan) of Metro Technology Centers in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Announcement of Winners

The three winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 20 at the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ (SME) Rapid 2008 Conference and Exposition in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The announcement will be made at the opening of the conference. Immediately following the May 20 announcement, an in-depth web video profiling the three winning students and their designs will be on Dimension’s Web site.

“Our fourth annual Extreme Redesign contest has again been an exciting competition with impressive designs coming from all categories,” said Jon Cobb, vice president and general manager of 3D printing for Stratasys. “I want to thank all those who participated in the contest and I look forward to May 20 when we announce the winners in each of the three categories at SME’s Rapid 2008.”

Stratasys Reports Record First Quarter Financial Results

2008-05-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

Q1 Operating Profit Increases 24%

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2008--Stratasys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SSYS) today announced record first quarter financial results. The results and financial guidance have been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split completed in August, 2007.

Revenues rose to $30.7 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008 over the $27.3 million reported for the same period in 2007. Revenue from proprietary products and services increased by 16% over the same period last year. System shipments totaled a record 577 units for the first quarter of 2008, the highest quarterly unit shipments in the company's history.

GAAP net income increased 20% to $3.8 million for the first quarter, or $0.18 per share, compared to GAAP net income of $3.2 million, or $0.15 per share, for the same period in 2007.

Stock-based compensation expense required under Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) 123R was approximately $261,000 net of tax, or $0.01 per share for the first quarter of 2008, and approximately $212,000 net of tax, or $0.01 per share, for the same period in 2007. The reconciliation between this non-GAAP adjustment and our GAAP financial measures is provided in a table at the end of this press release.

The first quarter of 2008 also included an impairment charge of approximately $257,000 net of tax, or $0.01 per share. This non-operating charge is an adjustment to the fair value of an auction rate security investment that became illiquid as a result of a failed auction.

"We are very pleased with our strong first quarter financial performance, especially in light of the prevailing concerns over a weakening global economy," said Scott Crump, chairman and chief executive officer of Stratasys. "Our margins improved significantly over last year, a result of strong sales of new products. Approximately 80% of our total system revenue was generated from products introduced since the start of 2007.

"Our first quarter system sales represented the highest level, in terms of units and revenue, for any quarter in our company's history. In addition, growth in operating profit of 24% was our fastest growth in operating profit within the past year. The first quarter results were led by the standout performance of our proprietary high-end system business, which grew by 29% over last year, our fastest growing business during the quarter.

"The high-end system business benefited from strong demand for our new products, driven in part by new opportunities from customers using our systems for direct digital manufacturing (DDM) applications, or the manufacture of end-use parts. DDM applications represent incremental growth to our traditional design applications. Our introduction of the FDM 900mc in December of 2007 directly targets this sizable new market opportunity, and we are increasingly excited about this emerging market.

"3D printer revenue increased by 19% during the first quarter, driven by the successful introduction of our premium-priced Dimension 1200es line in February, as well as the relatively strong demand for our higher-priced Dimension Elite. We were pleasantly surprised that our premium 3D printers represented approximately 89% of 3D printer units sold during the first quarter, a more favorable product mix than we had anticipated.

"Favorable product mix was a major factor in our margin expansion during the quarter, as higher average printer prices combined with relatively stable printer manufacturing costs. The success of the new 1200es and resulting product mix trends demonstrate an opportunity to expand the 3D printer market by improving system functionality and performance. These growth opportunities supplement our longer-term strategy of growing the market by making the systems more affordable.

"Although total order volume in our paid parts business increased by 26% in the first quarter, total revenue declined by 12% versus last year. The comparison to the first quarter of 2007 was exceptionally difficult for our paid parts business, as we generated several large orders, which enhanced revenue during the 2007 period. We continue to evaluate and improve upon our sales and marketing efforts for our paid parts service, and have seen a recent increase in first-time orders.

"Our proprietary consumables business grew by 14% during the first quarter. The new ABSplus material offered on the Dimension Elite and 1200es lines has improved the functionality of our 3D printers, and has been well received by our customers. Although quarter-over-quarter consumable growth can be impacted by the timing and shipment of distributor purchases, the growth trend remains the same. We expect the growth in consumable revenue will accelerate from first quarter levels as we move through the balance of 2008.

"Although we have observed some small signs of weakness in our domestic markets, overall we continue to experience strong global demand for our products. The trends are similar to the conditions that leading companies within the CAD software space have reported, suggesting the market for 3D products remains under penetrated and ripe for growth. It's worth noting that international sales of proprietary products and services increased 23% during the first quarter, versus a 10% increase in domestic sales.

"Following our first quarter performance, we remain confident in our ability to achieve our goals for 2008, as excitement surrounding our new products remains high. We look forward to a very successful year," Crump concluded.

Fab@Home

2008-02-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

You don't have the money to buy a 3D printer? Why not build your own. Check out this open source project

http://fabathome.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Z Printer

2008-01-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

Some time ago, I talked about the Z Printer 450. Now, Entrepreneur.com has named it one of the 15 revolutionary inventions of 2007.

Released in March, the ZPrinter 450 represents a giant step in making high-definition color 3D printing available to the masses. The machine is the first color 3D printer to break the $40,000 price point, the most highly automated, and the most compatible with contemporary office environments.

Entrepreneur.com editors sifted through hundreds of inventions that became available in the past year to compile the list of innovative, practical and fun products. The ZPrinter 450 was listed third after the iPhone and the Kindle electronic reading device.

According to Entrepreneur.com, "This technology could have a significant impact on many different industries that rely on models and landscapes."

Fabjectory

2007-12-19T11:54:00.000-08:00

Yet another player in the game. Fabjectory lets you develop SecondLife and Nintendo Mii models.

Generation C to Generation 3D

2007-12-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

CNET has got a great article talking about the future of 3D printing.

Key points:
1) 3D orinting is the fastest growth part of the rapid prototyping field.
2) Lack of manufacturing in America will fuel the drive toward 3D printing at home.
3) Make it yourself (MIY) is a key trend in culture

Glen Emerson Morris on consumer market 3D printing:
It will likely have an impact on society, politics, and business as great or greater than the Internet. So, fasten your seatbelts. This is going to be a really wild ride.

Cosmic Modelz

2007-12-19T11:24:00.000-08:00

The companies are starting to line up.

Cosmic Modelz is setting up a site for kids to create their own 3d models. They're site currently says "Coming Soon." Cosmic Modelz states they will be using a Z Corporation printer. I think 2008 will be a great year for Z Corp.

Another 3D Printer Application - JuJups

2007-12-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

Here's an opportunity to jump right into the 3D printing world but you got to do it before tomorrow. If you're looking for a unique Christmas gift, JuJups.com allows you to design a 3D picture frame for $30 right from their site.

They have a good number of templates and an easy to use graphics interface to get the job done. Just upload a jpg, gif, or png picture (2MB max) and “Voilà!”, you've got granny taken care of this Christmas. Better hurry, the deadline to get it before Christmas is Dec. 14th.

Try them out!

WOW 3D Printer Application - FigurePrints

2007-12-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

Now here is a startup company that is about to tap into the 3D printer market in a big way. I'm not talking about manufacturing 3D printers. I' talking about using them.

FigurePrints LLC gives you the opportunity to take your virtual World of Warcraft character and make him into a real figurine. With 9 million WOW players worldwide, the market potential is huge.
Each model costs $100 each (+ $15 shipping).

3D printing is starting to cross over into the consumer market. Yes!

3D Printer takes a Popular Science Award

2007-11-16T06:58:00.000-08:00

It's great seeing this budding industry take off. This is another example pointing to the bright future of 3D printers. The Desktop Factory 125ci 3D printer has been chosen by Popular Science Magazine for 2007's Best of What’s New Award. It's featured as one of the top "home" tech products. We're no longer just at the office. We're in the house now.

Here's the press release from Desktop Factory:

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Desktop Factory, Inc., a technology start-up with the mission to bring affordable desktop 3D printing to the masses, today announced that its Desktop Factory 125ci 3D printer has been selected to receive a 2007 Best of What’s New award from Popular Science magazine in the Home Tech category.

Until now, 3D printers have been large, expensive machines confined to the shops and design departments of major corporations and elite design firms. The Desktop Factory 3D printer, however, is about the same size as early laser printers measuring approximately 25 x 20 x 20 inches and weighing less than 90 lbs. The printer can be plugged into standard wall outlets, is fully network compatible, requires no special ventilation, and uses an inexpensive halogen light source and drum printing technology to build its robust parts layer by layer using low-cost composite plastic powder.

“We’re honored to have the editors of Popular Science recognize the Desktop Factory as one of the top breakthrough innovations of the year,” said Cathy Lewis, CEO of Desktop Factory. “It is clear that Desktop Factory will forever change the way we think of ‘printing’ — from an explosion in creativity to enabling simple home repairs with the click of a mouse. This award is a testament to the tremendous talent and dedication of our engineering team, delivering the power of printing in 3D to the masses.”

“For 20 years, Popular Science’s Best of What’s New awards honor the innovations that a make positive impact on life today and change our views of the future,” says Mark Jannot, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. “PopSci’s editors evaluate thousands of products each year to develop this thoughtful list; there’s no higher accolade Popular Science can give.”

The Desktop Factory 125ci is disruptively priced at $4,995, and the company is currently accepting 10% deposits ($495) for the first 1,000 reservation orders placed via the their web site: http://www.desktopfactory.com. The Desktop Factory 125ci is currently in beta with initial shipments planned for 2008.

About Best of What's New Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners — the Best of What’s New — are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of Best of What’s New in 1987. Best of What’s New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 10 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, Green Tech, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health and Recreation.

Dimension 3D Modeling Contest

2007-10-29T13:51:00.001-07:00

Unlock your 3D creativity and win big.

Dimension 3D Printing Group (Stratasys, Inc) has a 3D modeling contest running through the end of the year. (Dec 31st deadline!)

You must be a student and your model can't be bigger than 8"x8"x8".
Send your STL files (and submission form) to:

Dimension Printing
Extreme Redesign
7665 Commerce Way
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
USA

Prizes for each catagory:
1st place: $2,500 scholarship
2nd and 3rd: $1,000 scholarship

See http://www.dimensionprinting.com/education/contestrules.shtml for more details.

The Santa Claus Machine

2007-10-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

Stratasys has a cute video featuring their Dimension 3D printer ... just in time for Christmas! Check it out:

http://www.dimensionprinting.com/mv3dp/Dimension_3Dprinter3.mov

Thanks, George!

Z Printer 450

2007-09-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

3D prototyping has now been reduced to hours instead of days!
Z Corporation of Burlington, MA has got, I believe, the 1st 3D printer that will break into the mainstream market.

Key features
* $40,000 list price
* Office friendly
* No Hazardous liquid waste
* 300 x 450 dpi
* .1 layer thickness
* 2 to 4 layers per minute
* tri-color