Our review of the year in 3D printing continues with a look at March, a month where bleak news saw 3DPI delve into entropy before Spring arrived with new hope.
3D printing frustrations
In March 3DPI confirmed the news that, “the days of Solidoodle are over.” A perfect storm of factors led to the 3D printing manufacturer suspending operations, a situation that angered many customers left without refunds.
Kickstarted 3D printing companies made the news during March with SLASH raising over half a million for their claims of a CLIP beating SLA machine. The most recent update from the company in November this year shows that backers were growing frustrated as the company had not delivered before Christmas as was hoped.
Joris Laarman used direct metal laser sintering to produce some intricate chairs. Laarman is perhaps best known for his ambitious plans to 3D print a bridge, a project that we hope to see come to fruition and will mark another milestone in the progression of 3D printing for construction.
A 3D printed sundial led 3DPI to ponder profound questions about time including the concept of an, “elusive measurement of entropy that ticks away our moments until death (and possible rebirth?)” The full story is available here.
How to 3D print a car
The promise of 3D printing to democratise manufacturing was kept alive by Local Motors who provided a helpful guide on how to 3D print a car. Meanwhile, Wevolver walked away with the SXSW award for “interactive innovation.” At 3DPI we’re looking forward to hearing more from this Open Source Hardware venture who have already created some fantastic projects.
In March 3D printing demonstrated that it could never be accused of aiming low with news of Rocket Labs plans to reach space using Arcam AB 3D printers. We also took a look at HP’s Multi Jet Fusion plans and the launch of the 3D printing enabled Atlas V rocket.
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