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3D PRINTERS
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to a new consortium that would bring
together large players, including HP, to
work together on streamlining the 3D
printing process on everything from a $500
desktop machine to a $500,000 industrial
scale printer. 3DPB.com also reports that
Microsoft plans to bring out a new file
format specifically for 3D printing.
OEM 3D strategies
Not surprisingly, traditional print vendors
have become increasingly active in the 3D
print market, sometimes as OEM suppliers
of 3D printheads but more commonly as an
additional route to market.
HP plans to launch 3D printers based
on its PageWide printing technology
next year and, in September 2014, Ricoh
launched a new additive manufacturing
business.
A Battery Backup Power, Inc. 600 VA / 360 Watt line interactive pure sine wave
uninterruptible power supply protecting a FlashForge Creator 3D printer.
Accessories and add-ons
As well as revenue from the sale of printers and consumables,
3D printing offers scope for sales of multiple accessories, from
uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) to print management software.
US company Battery Backup Power says that UPSs are essential protection
for 3D printers that can take hours to complete a job, as any interruption or
interference to the power supply could result in defects to the print or damage to
the printer itself.
It says that conventional UPSs are unlikely to provide the durability and
capacity required by a 3D printer. Instead, it recommends systems that pack more
batteries for longer run times, have higher load capacities, pure sine wave output
(not usually found in less expensive UPS systems), direct USB communication with
certain professional 3D printers, metal enclosures and other attributes designed to
keep a 3D printer running smoothly.
Arron Fu of enterprise printing software solutions provider Uniprint points
out that although prices will have to fall significantly before 3D printers become
standard office issue, when they do IT will be responsible for making sure usage
is managed responsibly and billed accurately, and that means implementing the
same technologies already used to manage 2D printing.
“With the most sensitive development projects likely to reach 3D prototype
printing first, secure 3D printing should be considered now if companies wish
to protect IP from the outset. This will have to involve the use of a secure area
attached to the printer with a print appliance attached that will verify employee ID
access codes and provide true follow me secure printing,” he said.
Ricoh already has an established 3D
print head manufacturing operation, acting
as an OEM for a number of 3D printer
manufacturers, and is now broadening
its 3D printing strategy to include
research and development into
3D printing technologies and
applications. In Japan it has
opened two Ricoh ‘Rapid Fab’
facilities offering 3D print services
to customers.
In January, Ricoh became an
official reseller of Leapfrog 3D
printers throughout Europe. It
will initially focus on customers
in the education sector,
providing a complete support
package including consultation,
installation, training and the ability
to add 3D printers to an existing Ricoh
imaging print service contract. In time,
Ricoh plans to extend support to customers
in the engineering and manufacturing
sectors.
Last year, Konica Minolta Business
Solutions USA signed a distribution
agreement with 3D Systems, becoming the
first printer manufacturer in the US to sell,
support and service 3D printing products
through traditional printer and office
equipment channels. As yet, there are no
plans to replicate the arrangement on this
side of the Atlantic.
3D Systems
In the UK, 3D Systems has distribution
agreements with KYOCERA and Canon.
KYOCERA is offering CubePro and
ProJet printers, 3D scanners and the full
range of Cubify software to enable users
of all abilities to realise their projects. It
also plans to make 3D printing ‘office
friendly’, with out-of-the-box Green Button
Training for users. The CubePro family
was created for the education market and
offers Plastic Jet Printing (PJP) ideal for
schools and small businesses, while the
ProJet Colour Jet Printing range is suitable
for R&D, universities and small production
requirements.
KYOCERA Product Marketing Manager
Trevor Maloney said: “3D print is being
viewed increasingly as a must-have print
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The UK-made STEDI
Canon is selling
and supporting
3D Systems printers
