Digital Manufacturing and 3D Printers Today

Wohlers Associates 2012 report shows 30% growth for additive manufacturing

Wohlers Associates, Inc. published the Wohlers Report 2012, an in-depth analysis of additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing worldwide. This new edition marks the 17th consecutive year of its publication. The report is thorough and comprehensive; Its 287 pages have up-to-date and practical information that includes 30 charts and graphs, 55 tables, and 219 photographs and illustrations. The annual study was created with support from 71 service providers, 27 system manufacturers,... Read More


PTI Engineered Plastics Expands Facility and Add Jobs

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Executives at PTI Engineered Plastics announced the groundbreaking for expansion of their high-tech facility. The expansion will encompass 36,000 square feet and bring with it new technology and jobs. The expansion is scheduled to be completed by the Fall of 2012, and will provide the modern plant with an overall footprint of 150,000 square feet. According to Mark Rathbone, CEO, “Our continued commitment to be in the forefront of our customers’ needs and expectations spurred... Read More


From a Scanned Concept to a Parametric 3D CAD

Join Rapidform for a free Webinar on Tuesday May 15, 2012, 2:00 – 3:00 PM BST Reserve your Webinar seat now at: Here’s what you can expect: You have an existing 3D concept? You are looking for a flexible 3D scanner with dynamic referencing? You would like to get a parametric 3D CAD? This webinar explains how you can digitize fast, flexible and unique existing 3D concepts with a Creaform Handyscan 3D scanner. Then, you will see how the 3D scan data will be converted... Read More


An easier way to scan large objects

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So what do you do when you have really large objects that you need to scan?  Like a car or an airplane wing.  Creaform, leader in portable 3D measurement technologies, has come up with an interesting solution–network several of its devices together.  The company just introduced an improvement to its inspection systems: the C-Link function. Through C-Link, it is possible to network up to 4 C-Tracks and operate them simultaneously with a HandyPROBE portable CMM or a MetraSCAN... Read More


AMUG recognizes 3D printer/AM experts

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The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) is not the same conference it was last year, or even a few years ago. This is the conference you want to attend if you want to learn more about operating, using, exploring, specifying, or justifying the purchase of any SLA, LS, extrusion, inkjet or polyjet system. Of the more than 300 attendees this year, the majority, 90% at least, are highly experienced users. They included industry initiators, inventors, application engineers, and... Read More


Scale model tunneling machine wins Grand Prize at Roland DG’s 30th Anniversary Global Event

Roland Creative Awards grand prize entry - a tunneling machine prototype milled on the MDX-540. v2

Roland DG employees, affiliates, customers and friends from all over the world gathered last week at the company’s headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan to celebrate three decades of Roland innovation and creativity. The week-long 30th anniversary event focused on the 16 attending regional finalists in the company’s recent Roland Creative Awards international contest. The finalists work was recognized as the world’s most creative and innovative from 1,193 contest entries. Roland... Read More


Creaform introduces expanded and enhanced MetraSCAN 3D Optical CMM scanners

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Creaform, a leader in portable 3D measurement technologies, unveiled its new line-up of MetraSCAN 3D optical CMM scanners –accurate 3D scanners for demanding quality control and reverse engineering applications. Creaform claims that these 3D scanners are the most accurate on the market, whether in lab or on the shop floor. They are easy to master and use, and they take only a few minutes to set up. Featuring Creaform’s TRUaccuracy technology, the scanners ensure highly... Read More


Additive Manufacturing Users Group Recognizes Excellence

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The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) announced recipients of awards for excellence, service and technical skill. The awards were presented at the 24th annual users group conference in Costa Mesa, California. In its opening ceremonies, Charlie Norton, president of NCP Leasing, and Guy Bourdeau, sales manager at 3D Systems and AMUG treasurer, were honored with awards for years of support of the users group. Norton was recognized for his unsurpassed moral and financial backing... Read More


Additive Manufacturing Users Group Elects Board

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AMUG board (left to right): Todd Grimm, Tom Sorovetz, Brad Palumbo, Gary Rabinovitz, Tim Gornet, Vince Antewenter, Bret Border and Mark Barfoot. Photo credit: Ed Winters Photography                         The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) is a unique group consisting of originators and users of additive manufacturing (AM) systems, including 3D printers, SLA, extrusion, inkjet/polyjet, and laser sintering... Read More


Know your Intellectual property rights in 3D printing

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Intellectual property rights have been a much talked about subject in 3D printer and Additive Manufacturing circles. If you’re attending the RAPID 2012 show and conference this year, be sure to attend “Pathways to Innovation: Intellectual Property Rights in Additive Manufacturing,” where attorney William J. Cass at Cantor Colburn LLP will go over what you need to know to protect yourself. This session is brought to you by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)... Read More


Next Generation of Shop Floor CMMs Focus on Portability

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Hexagon Metrology recently launched the Brown & Sharpe 4.5.4 SF generation of shop floor coordinate measuring machines (CMMs). Designed to excel in harsh manufacturing environments, the SF series introduces a variety of new features. With a focus on portability, the new CMM has a small footprint of 52.2 in. x 32.8 in. x 79.5 in., which fits through a standard door. Its computer, controller, and interface boxes are integrated into one self-contained unit with locking wheels,... Read More


3D Systems Acquires Paramount Industries

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When will the buying stop? Apparently not anytime soon. (Queen’s song, Another one bites the dust, keeps ringing in my ears.) It looks like the 3D printing/additive manufacturing industry is going to be divided between two companies, 3D Systems Corp., and the new Stratasys Ltd. 3D Systems Corp. (NYSE: DDD) announced that it has acquired Paramount Industries, an experienced direct manufacturing and product development solutions provider for aerospace and medical device applications;... Read More


New automated 3D scanner

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Laser Design Inc., a leading supplier of 3D laser scanners for more than 25 years, unveiled its newest and most automated inspection-grade 3D scanning system, the SURVEYOR Auto Gage 3D. Laser Design President, C. Martin Schuster commented, “The SURVEYOR Auto Gage 3D Scanning System was developed to provide a totally automated, extremely easy to use 3D inspection-grade system for either shop floor or office environments with accuracy to 25 microns (0.001 in.).”   The Auto... Read More


Combining sight and touch—Geomagic acquires Sensable

Here’s an interesting development; Geomagic®, a provider of 3D software for capturing, creating and inspecting digital models of physical objects, bought the Sensable Technology Inc. ® 3D design and haptics businesses. Sensable®, of Wilmington, Mass., is the developer of volumetric CAD/CAM solutions, and the Phantom® force-feedback haptic devices that simulate the physical sensation of touch in the virtual world. According to Ping Fu, CEO of Geomagic, this acquisition will... Read More


3D Systems latest acquisition expands content for the Cubify 3D printer

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3D Systems Corp. (NYSE: DDD) announced that it has acquired My Robot Nation, MRN, a leading consumer technology platform that provides intuitive game-like content creation for 3D printing. The company expects to integrate the MRN platform and experience into Cubify.com, enhancing the Cubify 3D printer with hundreds of fun and easy 3D creation and printing applications, together with its growing developer community. My Robot Nation’s founders, renowned games industry veterans... Read More


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Reverse Engineering

From a Scanned Concept to a Parametric 3D CAD

Join Rapidform for a free Webinar on Tuesday May 15, 2012, 2:00 – 3:00 PM BST Reserve your Webinar seat now at: Here’s what you can expect: You have an existing 3D concept? You are looking for a flexible 3D scanner with dynamic referencing? You would like to get a parametric 3D CAD? This webinar [...]

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Machining / Milling

Additive “printing” of metal

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Sciaky, Inc. is a provider of an innovative form of additive manufacturing. Its Direct Manufacturing (DM) technology achieves near net-shape parts using state-of-the art electron beam welding. Its equipment produces production parts and functional prototypes at a fraction of the cost of traditional manufacturing methods. Starting with a 3D model from a CAD program, the [...]

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3D Printers

Creating materials on the fly with multi-jet 3D printers

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Multi-jet 3D printing is one of the available rapid prototyping technologies. Objet’s technology lets you print multiple photopolymer materials simultaneously, including ones created “on the fly.” With this technology, you can simulate the appearance, touch, and the function of your design. By Zehavit B. Reisin, Head of Consumables Line of Business, Objet and Sam Green, [...]

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Software

Rent CAD Software?

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In addition to renting a 3D printer system, would you also consider renting CAD software? Recently, Ashlar-Vellum offered their line of CAD programs under a number of licenses, including permanent, one-year, and monthly rental. Though Ashlar’s software is highly respected (especially by industrial designers), the company isn’t one of the big players in the CAD [...]