In your shoes, in your car

It’s everywhere! Mass-manufactured 3D printed products are finally getting into customer hands… or onto their feet and into their garages. That’s because adidas’ long-anticipated Futurecraft 4D shoes with 3D printed midsoles finally dropped this week. And MINI announced that in 2018, customers can personalize their rides through the new MINI Yours Customized program. Hopefully, this will show everyone what we already know: that 3D printing CAN MAKE (almost) ANYTHING.

Carbon tech, adidas hype

The Greatest Show on Earth (but not the only show in town)

CES is paradise for geeks, futurists, audiophiles, 3D designers — basically, anyone who is really into any technologies available to consumers. That’s why it’s a good place to spot the kind of 3D technology that could one day (soonish) be in your house. There were a couple of standouts at this year’s CES, which ended last Friday: Ethereal Machines’ “5D printing,” a 5-axis 3D printer with a rotating build plate, and the HP Z 3D Camera, which turns an easily-mountable camera into a scanner and facial-recognition tool. Some very cool news also came from outside the consumersphere: Another rotating 3D printer part, this time the printhead, was demonstrated by Harvard researchers to increase the strength, stiffness, and resistance of 3D printed parts. And in another leap forward for really, really big 3D printers, a new printer from CEAD is already contracted to print ships. We’ll see that one in action at CES 2030.

The HP Z 3D Camera (source)

Breathe easy and break a leg

It might not solve all our problems, but I mean, 3D printing can now print structures that could regrow lung and brain tissue, plus titanium bone replacement meshes that are often better than bone grafts. It’s not a license to live dangerously, but it might just be there for us when we inevitably do.

3D Print Your Medical Needs

Learn how you can utilize 3D printing for medical use. Contact us today to let us know how we can help.

The post The Week in 3D Printing: Kicks and Cars, New Tech Alert, and Medical Miracles appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The Scanners are Coming

Replicating items without having to learn 3D modeling software is going to be a breeze very soon. Personal 3D scanners are poised to be as common as smart phone cameras.

This technology allows you to create a 3D model of just about anything in seconds. While Shining3D demonstrated their super high resolution handheld 3D scanners, Intel showed off their new line of RealSence cameras that can be found in the next generation of PC’s, tablets and drones. Depth perception technology lets you create a 3D model in seconds. Online clothing sites can then use your model to make sure your next pair of pants or your new shirt is a perfect fit.

Drones Everywhere

Big drones. Little drones. For work or for play, drones are here to stay. The number of drone manufacturers is overwhelming. Industry leaders like DJI stay ahead of the competition with drones that fly farther, faster and longer with higher resolution cameras. Smaller companies are racing to make drones more affordable as this industry develops.

With so many drones out there, being able to create custom pieces for your aircraft with Shapeways will help you stand out from the crowd.

3D Printing Medical Applications Are Making a Difference

UNYC exhibited a scoliosis brace based on a 3D scan of a person. This makes the brace less bulky and more comfortable, and encourages consistent wear which can reduce the need for surgery by 80%.

Wearable Wonderland

Wearable items are now available in various shapes, sizes and colors to match any style. Smart watches and fitness trackers are hitting the mainstream to keep us up to date while our smart phones stay safety in our pockets. There is even a kid friendly wearable designed by Doki to keep parents connected to their children. It’s exciting to see this industry continue to move forward because the tie-in with 3D printing is so natural. From fun accessories to functional add-ons, anyone can customize their wearable to make it even more personal.

Mini-me Nation

The longest line at CES was for the The Artec Shapify Scanning booth. The booth does a fast scan of your entire body and transforms it to a 3D model file that can be 3D printed. We are excited for big developments in this area for 2016 as we’ve already started offering 3D printing services for many scanning points.

Custom is Comfort

From 3D printed custom insoles to sunglasses made just for you, scanning technology will change the way you shop for clothes. Wiivv Wearables lets you scan your feet using your smartphone to 3D print an insole that fits the specific contours of your feet. 3D Systems has partnered with pq by Ron Arad to create custom glasses that fit perfectly AND look good.

At-Home 3D Printing Still Has Growing Up to Do

There are a ton of home 3D printers available and more coming on the market every month. Being able to compare the printers side by side at CES shows that the industry still has a long way to go before consumers can own a 3D printer that produces products in various materials, with a higher quality finish. For now, 3D printing services are the best bet for anyone wanting to be a part of the 3D printing revolution.

Did you attend CES this year? Let us know what new technology you’re most excited about below!

The post What CES tells us about the year to come appeared first on Shapeways Blog.