3D Systems’ Digital Content Strategy

Or should we say, “Strategies”. We’re having a very hard time keeping track of 3D Systems content products. They’ve been rapidly acquiring existing 3D content providers while at the same time developing their own. They’ve entered into partnerships with untold numbers of other 3D services as well. 

 

Why are they doing this? To promote use of their 3D printers. For each 3D model, so the theory goes, there will be 3D prints produced. We think that’s generally true. 

 

Recently, for example, they acquired Gentle Giant Studios, who produce licensed 3D printed content from highly recognizable brands, such as the Walking Dead characters in the image at top. 

 

Another example is the dollhouse project, where they offer a large selection of 3D-printable dollhouse items. 

 

We’ve seen 3D Systems vastly increase their online content within their Cubify operation as well, and with such devices as the 3DMe Photo Booth to deploy content, we believe they’re in a great strategic position. 

 

The Sweet ChefJet 3D Printers

3D Systems announced not one, but two edible food 3D printers last week, creating an entirely new genre of commercial 3D printing. 

 

The two models are the ChefJet and the ChefJet Pro. As you might imagine, the “Pro” version has more functions than it’s lesser sibling. 

  

The base ChefJet is a monochrome 3D printer that uses sugar as its material (image at top). The ChefJet includes the ability to mix one single color/flavor when printing, meaning you can punch out sugar objects flavored (and colored) with (so far) chocolate, vanilla, mint, sour apple, cherry and watermelon. These are simply regular food coloring and food flavorings that are injected into the object structure as printing proceeds. You’ll be able to 3D print sugar objects up to 203 x 203 x 152mm, although we strongly suggest smaller objects as the sugar structures are not particularly robust - and they have to fit into your mouth, anyway. The ChefJet is expected to be released in 2H2014 and will cost under USD$5,000. 

 

The Pro ChefJet is different, although its standard 3D Systems style makes it almost visually indistinguishable. It is a multi-color 3D sugar printer, with full RGB color and multiple flavors available. The Pro is larger than the base ChefJet, having a huge print volume of 254 x 355 x 203mm. We suspect the Pro includes CMYK-like food coloring cartridges to produce the colors, plus additional cartridges to inject flavors. Apparently 3D Systems will offer chocolate, vanilla, mint, sour apple, cherry and watermelon “recipes”. The Pro will also be available in 2H2014 but will cost under USD$10,000. 

 

Both machines use a powder process, similar to 3D Systems’ other color 3D printers. Powder (sugar) is spread over a bed and infiltrated with binder (water? food coloring). It doesn’t look like much when printing in the above image, but when extracted from the print bed, you’ll be amazed at the results in the image below. 

 

It’s our understanding that 3D Systems will be preparing a series of pre-made 3D models suitable for printing (and eating) with these devices. We also expect 3D modeling software specifically designed for food preparation to emerge later this year. 

 

Will you use such a machine in your home? We think not - although some well-off folks might be able to afford the $5,000 price of the base ChefJet, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find many of those people with 3D modeling skills and sufficient interest to purchase the machine. Nope, these machines are likely destined, at least initially, for professional food kitchens where chefs will prepare unique and stunning cake toppers and candy delights for specific events. 

 

Take a close look at the cakes and candies during next year’s holiday parties. 

The Amazing 3DMe Photo Booth

We got a close look at 3D Systems’ new “3DMe Photo Booth” at CES and found a lot more than we bargained for. The system is set up to transfer a 3D representation of a subject’s face onto any of several pre-made fun 3D character models. 

 

We’ve seen the functionality of this before; 3D Systems and others have offered this type of service for over a year. But the 3DMe Photo Booth puts it all in a physical device.

 

It’s definitely a “photo booth”; you climb inside and sit in front of these six digital cameras, which take a simultaneous image of your face from slightly different angles. The software within the booth converts the images into a 3D model of your face - color included. This happens within minutes. 

 

Then the interesting part happens. You get out of the booth and visit the back side where you’ll see a touch-screen control panel. You’ll see your 3D scan among others that have recently been completed. You can then select which figurine you’d like to paste your face on, with some ability to select poses, colors, hair style, etc. Then by entering your contact information, an order for a physical 3D print of the model is completed and the data is sent to 3D Systems’ cloud 3D printers for production. 

 

The 3DMe Photo Booth provides a controlled environment where lighting and image quality are predictable, yielding terrific results every time. Often when submitting one’s own images to such services, results are not always great due to bad photography. 

 

When discussing the market for the machine with 3D Systems’ CEO Avi Reichental, it became apparent that this is not intended for homes or industry. It’s really a device for shopping malls or events. It seemed that it would be offered for lease or purchase in the future. 

 

We imagine the booth being pre-loaded with 3D character models specific to a situation, then setting up the booth at that event. The models match the situation. 

 

3D Systems is Cooking Up a Chocolate 3D Printer with Hershey’s

3D Systems has fully committed to a food 3D printing strategy. After the surprise announcements of the ChefJet 3D printers, which can print sugar structures in full color (and flavor, too), they’ve announced a joint deal with chocolate conglomerate Hershey’s to develop “innovative opportunities for using 3D printing technology in creating edible foods, including confectionery treats”. 

 

That sounds like a chocolate 3D printer. 

 

It’s totally possible. We have already seen the ChocEdge 3D printer, which does just that. It is the most notable chocolate 3D printer available today, but we suspect 3D Systems may build something even more comprehensive. 

 

We asked 3D Systems CEO Avi Reichental whether they’d considered hiring food scientists to assist in the development of the flavor aspect of food printing, and he indicated they had indeed done so. What we didn’t expect was a joint project with a company full of food scientists, Hershey’s. 

 

We cannot understate the importance of taste in the development of food printing. It’s relatively easy to produce 3D structures; that’s been done for decades in a variety of ways. What’s new is the requirement for the printed objects to taste good. 

 

Taste is a science. It requires careful consideration of ingredients, temperature, timing and texture. These are new characteristics for 3D printing that must be investigated and solved. 

 

It seems that 3D Systems has obtained a partner capable of doing so. 

 

Via 3D Systems

3D System’s Color 3D Printers

3D Systems recently made a couple of announcements regarding their full-color 3D printers, releasing the new ProJet 4500 and the CubeJet. Both 3D printers are capable of producing full-RGB color solid objects. 

 

They’re both evolutions of the technology 3D Systems obtained when they acquired ZCorp some years ago. ZCorp offered various models that printed color objects, but each required finishing with an “infiltrate”. That’s a fancy word for dipping it in something that makes it harder. In fact, ZCorp prints can be incredibly fragile when first emerging from the printer. They’re made much more rigid (and colorful) by soaking them in various solutions, such as salt water, wax or glue-like liquids. 

 

The new ProJet 4500 does away with this. It’s new print heads and liquid binder actually perform the “infiltration” while printing, so the printed color objects emerge from the printer ready to go - although they still require a two hour “bake” to solidify them after printing. That alone should reduce the time required to produce full color objects. It’s also less expensive to use because the increased rigidity means you need less material to make equivalently strong objects. 

 

If you don’t happen to have the USD$69,000 for a ProJet 4500, you might consider the other color 3D printer announced by 3D Systems: the CubeJet. It’s a somewhat smaller, tabletop device that uses the original ZCorp process (which requires infiltration). But the advantage here is the price: under USD$5,000 for a full-RGB color 3D printer. 

 

That makes it the first color 3D printer affordable by consumers. 

 

Via 3D Systems

Two 3D Printing Companies, Two Big Stars

Some outside the 3D printing community have a hard time connecting with the latest happenings. It can be quite technical at times and it’s even more difficult to relate that technology to one’s personal life. This connection is critical for 3D printing companies because that’s how you persuade the public to buy your products: find a useful purpose for 3D printing and then successfully explain it to the market. 

 

For years MakerBot’s secret weapon in this regard has been and still is Bre Pettis, their dynamic CEO. Pettis’ frequent appearances on mass media, his down-to-earth explanations of 3D printing and seemingly boundless energy have made MakerBot the most well-known 3D printer company to the public today. 

 

Meanwhile, MakerBot/Stratasys’ most notable competitor, 3D Systems, has had a more difficult time delivering their message to the public as they did not have a spokesperson with equivalent charisma to Pettis. 

 

But that’s changing, and changing very quickly. As we mentioned earlier, recording artist and philanthropist Will.I.Am was announced as 3D Systems’ Chief Creative Officer. You might suspect this is merely a celebrity endorsement arrangement, but it isn’t. Will.I.Am is truly interested in 3D printing - and is already engaging on the topic with some of his 11M+ Twitter followers. We’re certain that even a mere mention of 3D printing by Will.I.Am will generate new members of the 3D printing community. 

 

Will.I.Am’s massive reach into consumerland immediately provides 3D Systems a public platform at least equal to Pettis. 

 

3D Systems Names Will.I.Am as Chief Creative Officer

We were assembled in sardine-quality packed formation in 3D Systems’ massive booth at CES2014, awaiting some kind of event involving mega-recording star Will.I.Am. Some suspected the artist would play us some tunes, although it seemed quite unlikely as the only musical equipment in the vicinity was 3D Systems’ usual 3D printed band instruments, which are perhaps somewhat less capable than Will.I.Am’s normal gear. 

 

Instead 3D Systems’ CEO Avi Reichental announced the star is now, officially, 3D Systems’ Chief Creative Officer. 

 

Yes, this is true. 

 

Apparently Reichental and Will.I.Am met due to a mutual interest in children’s education, which they intend to work on together within the new arrangement. Among his duties will be to assist the development of unusual designs, such as this incredible 3D printed metal piece worn during the announcement. 

 

Is this appointment simply another less-than-meaningful celebrity endorsement? Will.I.Am vigorously disagreed, saying that he fully intends to leverage the appointment for the betterment of all. Specifically, the announcement says he will: 

 

Inspire, shape and drive all of 3DS’ initiatives to mainstream the use of 3D printing through major collaborations with creative brand partners, innovative global campaigns and educational grand challenges designed to grow the popularity of 3D printing.

 

While watching the announcement, we couldn’t help contrasting the two major players in 3D printing: 3D Systems and Stratasys. Stratasys has, with their acquisition of MakerBot, a media star with one Bre Pettis. His dynamic presence has massively assisted the rise of MakerBot, but 3D Systems hasn’t had a similar media magnet. 

 

Until now. 

 

Via 3D Systems

3D Systems Announces… Everything!

Yesterday as CES 2014 opened we had to drop by the 3D Systems booth as they had just that morning released information on multiple new products and services. It’s not the old days when one or perhaps two products appear; today they arrive in batches. 

 

We were toured through the new products by a very excited 3D Systems CEO Avi Reichental, who was and is genuinely proud of the set of innovations his company unleashed on the 3D printing world this week. 

 

Like MakerBot’s release of multiple products the previous day, we are only able to merely summarize the announcements today. All deserve a deeper look, and two in particular require significant analysis. 

 

What was announced? Let’s take a look: 

  

A vastly improved version of their entry-level personal 3D printer, the Cube. Aside from the much more attractive styling, this unit now includes TWO extruders. We observed several units printing multicolored objects with them. We also learned the new Cube has a never-need-to-level print platform. Reichental describes the platform as “very clever”, while we would say “finally!” Why should leveling ever be required? It will never happen again if you have a new Cube, either a black or white unit. 

 

The Cube also includes brand new side-mounted filament cartridges that have a foolproof loading procedure that completely eliminates manual threading. The audiojack-like filament holder is simply pushed in and given a quarter turn. Even better, the new cartridge is powered from the spool’s hub - the PLA or ABS filament is NOT pulled, it is PUSHED. We expect to have far fewer incidents of broken filament with this cartridge. Another incredible feature is the resolution; this Cube can print layers as small as 0.075mm. Oh, one more thing: the price of this unit will be less than USD$1000. For a fully-assembled, dual extruder device! 

  

The one-year old CubeX appears to be have been replaced by the CubePro. Externally this unit seems quite different from the prior model, as its new case matches the now-standard style of 3D Systems devices. We were curious about the innards and took a quick look inside. While we were not permitted to take any images of the interior, a quick glance showed few if any differences from the original CubeX. Reichental indicated the machine has a sealed build chamber, leading to more reliable and less warpy prints with its “Controlled Print Environment”. Even better, the CubePro can now print in 0.075mm layers for even finer results. 

 

The CubeJet is another amazing innovation. 3D Systems has taken their ZCorp-originated technology and adapted it for a very low-priced entry-level full RGB color 3D printer. Yes - you can actually print full color objects with this unit for less than USD$10K, although it will become available for purchase later this year. 

 

The Touch is a haptic-enabled 3D mouse for “intuitive 3D sculpting” using 3D Systems’ Cubify Sculpt software. The mouse can be moved in 3 dimensions as if you were physically sculpting in clay. The difference is that the device provides force-feedback as you bump into solid surfaces in your design. We’re hoping to test this USD$499 (with included software) device soon. 

  

A completely surprising announcement was the release of the CeraJet - a 3D Ceramic printer. The CeraJet is a powder-based device that uses, not surprisingly, a proprietary ceramic powder and liquid binder. Like other powder 3D printers, the CeraJet gradually builds the object layer by layer. 

 

Once complete it is removed from the powder-filled build chamber and a traditional firing and glazing process proceeds from there. We inspected sample output and found them to be indistinguishable from normal ceramics - with the exception being the intricate designs possible only with 3D modeling software. The CeraJet is set to be delivered in the second half of 2013. 

 

The ChefJet and ChefJet Pro are real, no-foolin 3D FOOD PRINTERS! The ChefJets are a commercialized version of the technology 3D Systems obtained with their acquisition of The Sugar Lab. The base model is suitable for use in kitchens and is entirely food safe. It can print edible 3D models in “sugar, chocolate or candy with an added single flavor”.

 

We were able to sample the somewhat fragile ChefJet output and were surprised at not only the taste, but the texture. You’ve never eaten candy quite like this; it is very light and almost instantly melts in your mouth. Reichental confirmed our suspicion that 3D Systems now has official food scientists on staff who successfully worked this out.  

 

The ChefJet Pro is a much larger machine that’s intended for use by professional kitchens. It also prints in sugar using a powder process, but has the added ability to print in FULL COLOR! 

 

We inspected several awesome edible 3D food prints emblazoned with brilliant colors. With such a machine in the kitchen, a 3D-minded chef could produce unimaginable cake toppers, displays or desserts. Of all the innovations from 3D Systems, this one has the most open-ended future. Both ChefJets should be available for purchase later in 2014. 

 

You probably won’t believe us, but there were even MORE announcements of other incredible products and a slew of new 3D services. Stay tuned for another post to describe them. 

 

Meanwhile, the two announcements we thought of most significance are, of course, the CeraJet and the ChefJets because they are not only new 3D printers, but in fact create not one, but TWO entirely new categories of commercial 3D printers, available to anyone: Food and Ceramics. It’s very clear why Reichental is so excited. 

 

3D printing will never be the same. Yum!

 

Via 3D Systems

What Will 3D Systems Announce at CES 2014?

We knew 3D Systems was set to make significant announcements at CES 2014 in Las Vegas, but now we have a preview. In a press release they said they would make not one, but TWELVE announcements. This is startling, as they previously announced a dozen or so new items at last month’s EuroMold conference in Frankfurt. 

 

While 3D Systems did not reveal any deets on the new items, they did publish this tantalizing meta-list: 

  

Previews a dozen cutting-edge consumer products and experiences

Unveils B-2-B-2-C powerful merchandising and licensing platforms

Reveals 3 new product categories: edibles, ceramics and full-color models

Launches at home and in-store physical photography products and services   

Participates in CES SuperSession and keynotes ‘3D Printing Uncovered’

 

Ok, what does all this mean? Let’s take a look at some of these statements: 

 

• Ceramics: This is likely the fruit of their recent acquisition of Figulo, the leading ceramic 3D printing service. 
• Full-Color Models: This might be their new ProJet full color machine. 
• Physical Photography: 3D Systems has long delivered image-to-3D model services. We suspect they will announce a vastly improved system for doing so. 

 

And there’s that word, “edible”. 

 

We think chocolate. 

 

Via 3D Systems

3D Systems Steps Into Multi-Material 3D Printing

3D Systems offers a very large suite of 3D printers, from personal to industrial, but none offered before has the capability of their new ProJet 5500x. What’s so different about it? 

 

The ProJet 5500x can print in multiple materials. 

  

To put that in perspective, the only other manufacturer that’s offered such a capability is Stratasys, through their Objet line that uses the Polyjet process. 3D Systems now includes MultiJet Printing (MJP) capability in the 5500x. 

 

This means that you can load two different kinds of materials into the 5500 and the print head will “precisely mix” them at the instant of printing. You can print mixes of hard and soft parts, mixes of colors, etc. This is a significant capability that is now offered by two companies. 

 

The 5500x currently can use three different materials: 

 

• A rigid, ABS-like white material
• A flexible, black rubber-like material
• A Clear, polycarbonate-like material

 

This car was printed on the 5500x, including the soft tires. 

  

This is an example of mixing clear with a rigid plastic. 

  

Choose any two and start mixing! That is, if you can afford the USD$250,000 price tag on the 5500x. 

 

Via 3D Systems

Who Will Stratasys Acquire Next?

While attending EuroMold the other week we happened to listen in to a media talk by Stratasys CEO David Reis, who spoke about Stratasys' progress over the past year. But one part of his talk was more intriguing than the rest. 

 

Reis explained that Stratasys had issued shares several months ago to raise funds. This, we knew already. The public offer closed on September 18th and apparently raised some USD$463M. That's a lot of money, and we assumed it was to fund the MakerBot acquisition. 

 

Apparently this is not the case. Reis explained that the offer was to raise money to "fund future acquisitions". 

 

Now the question is, who, exactly are they intending to purchase? Our guess is that Stratasys will pursue a company able to produce metal 3D printers, as that is: 

 

• A capability not currently in Stratasys' arsenal
• Is a capability of their competitor, 3D Systems, who recently acquired Phenix Systems

 

In fact, 3D Systems made a big splash showing off their five-ton metal 3D printer at EuroMold (image above). Stratasys doesn't have anything like it. 

 

Yet.

 

The Village Plastics Acquisition: Explained

We stand corrected: today officials from 3D Systems informed us that in fact, Village Plastics has been supplying them with a very significant portion of the filament plastic used on their Cubify 3D printers. Yesterday we speculated that VP sold plastic only to 3D Systems' competitors. Who knew?

 

Now the acquisition makes complete sense. 3D Systems is simply solidifying their supply chain, continuing to build a 3D Systems ecosystem, as 3D Systems' CEO Avi Reichental recently told us, the 3D "digital thread". 

 

We still find it fascinating that VP will continue to supply filament to non-3D Systems equipment, although perhaps their position is similar to MakerBot, who will gladly sell you filament regardless of whether you own one of their machines. 

  

3D Systems Acquires Village Plastics

In a totally surprising move, 3D printing giant 3D Systems acquired Ohio-based Village Plastics. VP, best known by their sales outlet Filaco, manufacturers generic plastic filament for personal 3D printers. 

 

The company is known for their high-quality, non-toxic filament and their penchant for experimenting with non-standard materials such as HIPS. 

 

But we're wondering why 3D Systems would acquire a company that (as of now) doesn't make any filament for any 3D Systems printers? In fact, virtually all the filament produced by VP is used by 3D Systems' competitors. Lily Gerstenslager of VP says: 

 

We are thrilled to join 3D Systems, combining our know-how and expertise with 3DS’ innovation, scale, and industry leadership, we believe we can accelerate advanced materials developments and fast-track the delivery of new filaments for the benefit of our customers worldwide.

 

Our speculation is that 3D Systems wanted to gain a high-quality, reliable source of filament for their own filament-based machines from Cubify. We're therefore expecting to see a small explosion in filament color choice on the Cubify online store soon. 

 

But will VP continue to sell filament for non-3D Systems machines? They say: 

 

Yes we are. 

 

Via 3D Systems

3D Systems Acquires Figulo

3D Systems has made another key acquisition, this time of a small but very interesting provider: Figulo. If you haven't heard of them, they are perhaps the leading provider of glazed-ceramic 3D prints. We understand their services are used by some of the major 3D print services for outsourced ceramic work. 

 

Why is this important? We think because it means 3D Systems has now acquired another different 3D printing process. Currently they have perhaps a dozen different processes under patent, most recently including the acquisition of metal 3D printer manufacturer Phenix. 

 

Their strategy is to offer as many different processes as possible, because each process can only be used for particular purposes in specific scenarios. Their feeling is that the more tools in the toolkit, the more scenarios they'll be able to service. 

 

Via 3D Systems

We. Touched. It.

The rather simple plastic item shown above happened to be in the possession of certain individuals at 3D Systems' booth at EuroMold 2013. 

 

What is it, exactly? We don't really know or care, because that's not its important characteristic. 

 

It is the very first 3D printed object. Ever. 

 

Made some 30 years ago by 3D Systems founder Chuck Hull, inventor of the SLA 3D printing process, the item still survives to this day and is closely guarded by 3D Systems, who keep the precious object in a special padded case. 

 

The awesome object reminds us that 3D printing is not new. The recent change has been that everyone can 3D print. 

 

Will you save your first 3D printed object? 

  

3D Systems Explodes with Announcements

3D printing giant 3D Systems isn't standing still. At the EuroMold exhibition today they announced not one, not two, but twelve products to bolster their already considerable portfolio of equipment, software and services. 

 

They not only announced the products, but showed them at their massive booth at the Frankfurt trade show, staffed by what seemed to be at least hundreds of black-shirted 3D Systems specialists. 

 

The announcements are a mix of: new products; improved existing products; products rebranded from previous acquisitions. Here’s our take on some of the major announcements.  

 

The ProJet 4500 3D printer is the latest iteration of a color printing tech 3D Systems acquired from ZCorp a few years ago. Since the acquisition, the packaging, materials and finished results have improved. To this day, this technology is the only 3D printing process that can produce true full RGB-color objects. [EDIT: Oops, this is incorrect. We somehow forgot that the MCOR Iris, a 3D printer tha uses common paper as print material, can also produce full color objects.]

 

The ProJet 5500X is a new 3D printer with a capability not seen from 3D Systems previously: multimaterials. The printer can produce objects that are a mix of two materials with different properties. As an example, you can produce objects that have hard and soft areas. You can produce objects that have mixes of color - although you can mix only two at this time. The new multimaterial capability now competes directly with Stratasys’ PolyJet tech, which up until now had been the only way to produce multimaterial objects. 

 

The gigantic ProX 950 SLA 3D printer is the state of the art in SLA tech, able to produce objects “ten times faster than other 3D printers”. It also has dramatically increased resolution, enabling the creation of one-piece prints such as the huge V8 engine block shown above by 3D Systems’ chief Avi Reichental. The accuracy is sufficient to use the piece for molding a final metal version. 

 

The ProX 500 SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D printer is a more compact version of 3D Systems’ SLS tech, but it is not only smaller, but is able to work “7 times faster than comparable technologies”. This machine is simply a far better SLS machine than they’ve ever had. The pieces made on it are wonderfully smooth, strong and light. 

 

 

The ProX 300 is 3D Systems’ first metal-capable device, along with its smaller cousins, the 100 and 200. Based on tech obtained from the Phenix acquisition, the new machine is massive, apparently 5 tonnes in weight. Regardless of its size, it can produce amazing metal output. We suspect the corporate integration of Phenix is still not quite complete as we caught a glimpse of a “Phenix” logo on the side of this machine. 

 

Moving from large to small, 3D Systems also introduced a very small 3D printer - perhaps the tiniest unit we’ve seen from a major manufacturer. The toaster-sized ProJet 1200 is a “micro-SLA” 3D printer capable of producing very small yet precise objects in material suitable for medical and jewelry applications. The price? Only USD$4900, the lowest price of non-consumer 3D printer from 3D Systems. 

 

There’s more, but this post is getting long - as is the product list from 3D Systems. 

 

Via 3D Systems