Beleaguered 3D printing firm MakerBot is attempting to put to rest the string of upsets and bad news that has plagued them for the past few years. From a rocky transition as paragon of the open source movement to a closed source vendor, from a proud-to-produce-in-America production line to offshore manufacturing, the company has lived through a major acquisition, management shake-ups (it went through four CEOs in four years), a class action lawsuit (now dismissed), and mixed reviews of its fifth-generation Replicator+ 3D printers. Today, though, the company hopes all that is in the past. MakerBot announced its Method 3D printer, in a category it calls "performance 3D printing," which it says "bridges the gap between desktop and industrial 3D printing by bringing features that were previously only available on industrial 3D printers to professionals at a significantly lower cost." The changing 3D printer market This is a story of both a company and a market in transition. … [Read more...] about Is MakerBot’s new Method 3D printer ready enough to save the company?
Industrial 3d printer reviews
Stratasys Rolls out Industry Certification Program in North America, Designed to Bridge the Additive Manufacturing Skills Gap
MINNEAPOLIS & REHOVOT, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 18, 2018--Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a global leader in applied additive technology solutions, today rolled out a new industry certification program in North America – designed to more effectively bridge the skills gap it observes in the additive manufacturing industry. Engineered in conjunction with a consortium of top colleges and universities, the program aims to enable students to secure accelerated additive manufacturing credentials to improve employability and workforce readiness.This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180418006006/en/Stratasys Additive Manufacturing-certified Jazmine Darden from Dunwoody College of Technology reviews the Fabrication Considerations module – and prepares on GrabCAD Print for the Stratasys F370 3D Printer (Photo: Business Wire)According to industry data, demand for certified additive manufacturing workers to … [Read more...] about Stratasys Rolls out Industry Certification Program in North America, Designed to Bridge the Additive Manufacturing Skills Gap
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact Review
The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is the newest in a series of Sony phones made for those who want a phone of an almost lost kind: a compact and easily pocketable one.The XZ2 Compact is also the first “Compact” Sony with a 2:1 screen and the first with a nearly bezel-less display, so in many ways, this is Sony’s best effort in making the most out of an already small phone.But don’t be fooled and think compact means less powerful: this mini phone runs on the latest and most powerful Snapdragon 845 system chip while also having the same 19MP camera with support for 4K HDR videos as the flagship XZ2.So, how does it feel to use such a small phone in 2018? And are there any worthy alternatives? Stay with us to find out.DesignAbout as compact as an iPhone 8, but much thicker and heavier. Plastic back is practical, but not as shiny or elegant.The Xperia XZ2 Compact is all about size and comfort, but how small and “compact” is it when compared to other phones?The … [Read more...] about Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact Review
Review: Ultimaker 3 offers high-quality 3D print jobs — s-l-o-w-l-y
Dutch 3D printer company Ultimaker BV has earned a reputation in the user community for building high-quality machines that produce highly accurate prints. With a price of $3,495 (through resellers), the Ultimaker 3 is aimed squarely at professionals and prosumers for rapid prototyping of both complex geometries (precision builds) and the use of multiple, industrial-grade polymer materials.At virtually any 3D printer conference, Ultimaker machines can be found on the exhibit floor being used by third-party service providers to demo their printable wares. Asked what they liked about the machines, users typically say they are easy to use and accurate.Online user community 3D Hubs has consistently rated Ultimaker printers among the very best over the past three years, and its review of the Ultimaker 2+, which included input from 89 users, placed that printer as the best in the "Prosumer" category.As a company, Ultimaker is among the top providers of "low-cost" desktop 3D printers, … [Read more...] about Review: Ultimaker 3 offers high-quality 3D print jobs — s-l-o-w-l-y
Fender FXA6 Pro in-ear monitors review: These earphones are something special
Fender Musical Instruments—yeah, the guys that build the Stratocaster guitar that Jimi Hendrix figuratively and literally lit on fire—have expanded into the in-ear-monitor business. Fender didn’t merely license its famous brand to some random manufacturer that will churn out dreck, but they didn’t start from whole cloth, either. Fender acquired boutique manufacturer Aurisonics last January, retained the original team, and tasked it with coming up with a new product line based on Aurisonics’ popular Bravo series of in-ear monitors. The crew delivered with five new models ranging in price from $100 to $500, including the next-to-the-top-of-the-line Fender FXA6 Pro ($400) in-ear monitors reviewed here.Choosing headphones, especially the type that you’re going to jam into your ear canals, is an intensely personal proposition. At the top of the market, you can purchase custom-fabricated in-ear monitors that are based on molds of your ear canals that you … [Read more...] about Fender FXA6 Pro in-ear monitors review: These earphones are something special