The Italian 3D printing website, 3discover.it, has just broken the news that the two most important Italian companies from the world of makers and the world of 3D printing have formed a strategic alliance. The result of this alliance is the first Arduino co-developed 3D printer, which will combine the strength and brand recognition of the company created by Massimo Banzi, around the open source electronic boards most used throughout the world, with Sharebot’s extensive research and growing stature in the field of 3D printers.
Judging by the first images of Massimo Banzi’s participation on the RAI 3 national Italian TV network, Arduino’s 3D printer will be based on the open source Sharebot architecture and can thus leverage Sharebot’s familiarity with FFF technology. Since Sharebot has also developed 3D printers based on DLP technology and SLS for Arduino — and by extension the whole world maker world — this is definitely a highly significant evolution – or perhaps actually a revolution – in the desktop 3D printer and maker markets.
Furthermore, by aggressively implementing the high quality Arduino components in their future desktop 3D printers, Sharebot will be able to develop more advanced systems in the future, while the electronic board manufacturers will be able to discover new methods to optimize its systems and make them more easily adaptable to the 3D printers’ mechanical demands.
For Italy the global nature of this partnership may hold new hopes of economic recovery, after years of real economic turmoil in all sectors except those linked with technological innovation, it represents a great opportunity to be able to look with some pride as Italian companies are starting to stand out not just for their brands but also for their ability to innovate.
More details and specs on the 3D printer itself will follow soon….
This just keeps getting better.