Rapid Prototyping: From Art To Part

News about the technologies you turn to when time isn\'t on your side--everything from rapid prototyping machines and high-speed machining to rapid tooling and rapid manufacturing.

Scanning for Fraud

Posted by Regina Lynch on August 8, 2008

Art and technology have started to come together in an unlikely place–under the gaze of 3D digitizers. The VanDuzen Archives of Dallas has built a growing business around the use of imaging hardware and digital shape sampling software as tools to authenticate and conserve works of art. And in one recent job, the company helped ferret out a forged copy of Picasso’s Tete de Fernande, a ...... Read More

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Industries: Rapid Manufacturing and the Factory of the Future

Desktop Modelers For Sale

Posted by Joseph Ogando on April 11, 2008

To the growing list of low-cost desktop modeling systems that you might actually be able to buy, add the V-Flash from 3D Systems. The company early this month began shipping this $9,900 machine, bundling it with Alibre Design Software. The V-Flash marks the company’s first use of its new Film Transfer Imaging technology, which you can read about in this earlier post. One promising use for t ...... Read More

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The Art of 3D Printing

Posted by Joseph Ogando on April 4, 2008

The most important debate taking place in the additive fabrication circles today involves the role that direct digital manufacturing technologies will play in the everyday life of consumers. When, if ever, will significant amounts of our material goods be “3D printed” rather than molded, machined, cast or stamped? Will there be a desktop manufacturing system in every home, turning ou ...... Read More

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Rapid Injection Molding Gets Big

Posted by Joseph Ogando on January 29, 2008

With the ability to turn CAD models into real molded parts in as little as a day, Protomold’s rapid injection molding service is undeniably fast. Still, the service has never been a cure-all for the long lead time blues because Protomold’s automated tooling and molding systems impose size and geometry limitations that rule out some plastic part designs. Earlier today at the Pacific D ...... Read More

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3D System's New Desktop Modeler

Posted by Joseph Ogando on January 15, 2008

Though best known for its high-end prototyping machines, 3D Systems has now created a new low-cost desktop modeler aimed at design engineers who want to build their own prototypes. And thanks to the machine’s compact size and low cost, those engineers may soon be able to build those models without even leaving their cubicles. This new V-Flash modeler, which comes in versions for general pur ...... Read More

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Stratasys’ Latest Direct Digital Manufacturing Move

Posted by Joseph Ogando on December 6, 2007

Suppliers of additive fabrication systems have been touting the potential for direct digital manufacturing for years. Now more of them are starting to walk that walk–by using their own additive machines to make parts for their new machines. The latest example comes from Stratasys, which this week revealed that 32 of the parts on its latest large-format fused deposition modeling (FDM) system ...... Read More

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Prototypes Speed Festo's Endurance Testing

Posted by Joseph Ogando on October 11, 2007

For an idea of just how far additive manufacturing technologies have come–and how far they have to go–consider the experience of Festo. This supplier of advanced pneumatic and electric automation systems, recently revealed some of its successes and struggles with additive fabrication during an International Media Day held Germany. Festo’s in-house additive production ca ...... Read More

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A Piece of the Prototyping Action

Posted by Joseph Ogando on July 27, 2007

What do rapid prototyping machines have in common with private jets? Alex Linde sums ups the connection in two words–“fractional ownership.” Linde is the president of Tangible Express, a new company that offers the first fractional ownership program for rapid prototyping machines. Tangible’s facility in Utah currently hosts a line-up of machines from 3D Systems. ...... Read More

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Industries: Rapid Manufacturing and the Factory of the Future

Low-cost 3D Printing From Desktop Factory

Posted by Joseph Ogando on May 11, 2007

If you've struggled in vain to get your manager to sign off on a 3D printer for your engineering team, don't give up just yet. Desktop Factory, an Idealab start-up company, has come up with a system that costs just under $5,000. And in time, the system may cost far less. "Our intention is to bring the price down to $995 by 2011," says Cathy Lewis, Desktop Factory's CEO. With a housing that measur ...... Read More

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Industries: Rapid Manufacturing and the Factory of the Future

Stratasys Dives (Deeper) Into Manufacturing

Posted by Joseph Ogando on May 2, 2007

Just how popular will rapid manufacturing get? Stratasys CEO and founder Scott Crump believes that its impact will huge. “I expect it will be bigger than 3D printing and rapid prototyping,” he says. “We have some pretty high expectations.” And the company is backing up those expectations with new materials and machines designed for rapid manufacturing—or “ ...... Read More

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Industries: Rapid Manufacturing and the Factory of the Future

3D Printing and Rapid Manufacturing In the Spotlight At Rapid 2007

Posted by Joseph Ogando on May 1, 2007

Rapid 2007, the annual conference and show for the rapid prototyping industry, began today in Detroit with an emphasis on two technology trends that will increasingly change how design engineers do their jobs. One is the huge growth of relatively low-cost 3D printers, which continues to make rapid prototyping accessible to a broader range of engineering organizations. The other has to do ...... Read More

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Rapid Tooling At the Hannover Fair

Posted by Joseph Ogando on April 17, 2007

A new rapid tooling system capable of producing stamping and die-casting tools turned up at this week's Hannover Fair. Tucked away in a booth dedicated to the winners of the 2007 Swiss Technology Awards, this new process from Tschopp Technical Engineering GmbH creates the tools from stacked layers of steel sheet. Like most rapid tooling systems, Tschopp's Metal Laminated Object Manufacturing ...... Read More

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Industries: News from the Hannover Fair

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