Impulse 3D printing Can we print a better tomorrow?
3D printing is often touted as a technology that will reduce waste, reduce carbon emissions and make the world a greener place. But, we’re capricious covetous monkeys and I worry that any gains made by the technology will be eroded by our greed for more and better stuff. I’ll confess to something terrible now: I once bought two HP printers on sale because the second would be cheaper than an additional cartridge. I promptly tossed the first once its cartridge was empty. Imagine the callous destruction we could accomplish with the wholesale commoditization & democratization of manufacturing through 3D printing. So, what should we do? Is there anything we can do to guard ourselves against ourselves?
A while ago Matt Forsythe asked a question on Twitter: “What will be the 3D printer equivalent of office-jerks printing out all their emails?” I replied, “people will impulse 3D print 20 pairs of sunglasses, pick one and toss the rest.”
Impulse 3D printing has been a real worry for m
3D printing commercial aircraft parts (and burning them with a Crème brûlée torch)
One of the biggest problems with 3D printing materials is that they’re basically built to fail. Traditionally materials have been chosen specifically because they have low melting temperatures or are weak. 3D printing is now entering a phase whereby the parts used increasingly must be strong, robust and functional for use in the real world. Delicate prototypes still have a place but increasingly the market will have to cater to direct digital manufacturing whereby final parts are produced on demand. One material showing us where thing are headed is Ultem 9085. This material, made by Saudi firm Sabic, is made for use on Stratasys FDM machines.
The combination is a powerful one. Ultem has been certified for use on commercial aircraft, is strong, very light, has very low toxicity when burned, high melting temperature and is actually flame retardant. It is a portent of a new class of materials with advanced properties that are certified for advanced uses. To show you just how awesome
Show your true colours : reduced prices during summer
We noticed that 3D printed multicolored models are most appealing to you,
but that users regularly have to compromise between price and color.
This is a pity, certainly now, when more and more 3D software packages are making it the designer easy to add colors or textures to the models, giving it the expression it deserves.
i.materialise is already offering a sharp price for specific architectural and bookend products in multicolor.
Now we are happy to announce that from today till the 30th September we will extend this sharp pricing for multicolor material to all your designs.
Below you find an example of the difference in pricing between the old and new price for this lovely model.
Have fun and color your summer !
Tags: 3Dprinting summer action reduced multicolor pricing model3D Printed Logos
2010-09-08 09:11:38
