An overlooked premiere that could upset Stratasys
The Atomic Layers: S4E27 (00113)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
In the general perception, the core of Stratasys remains FDM technology, even though the company’s portfolio includes virtually all additive methods except for metal 3D printing. While FDM is the foundation on which the company was built, its second most important branch is the photopolymer-based PolyJet technology, developed by Objet, which merged with Stratasys in 2011 (and whose original owners shared control of the company).
Stratasys takes great pride in PolyJet and continues to invest heavily in its development, both in hardware and materials—perhaps even more so than FDM. This was clearly evident at last week's Formnext trade show.
Until now, PolyJet technology has faced little competition. For several years, 3D Systems was a contender in this area but has recently lost momentum. Mimaki offers something similar, but the companies target different markets.
However, at Formnext, a machine was unveiled that could cause significant disruption next year: the Flashforge CJ270—a full-color PolyJet printer priced at $10,000.
I bet many of you who visited the trade show overlooked this 3D printer standing at Flashforge booth. It appeared quite modest, resembling a large inkjet printer. Its build area is 180 x 120 x 100 mm, but it supports over 10 million colors. The market launch is scheduled for mid-next year.
Ten thousand dollars is far too expensive for personal use. On the other hand, dropping to the price level of desktop FFF 3D printers isn't feasible due to the high cost of printheads. Even with future economies of scale, significant price reductions seem unlikely.
However, $10,000 is a fraction of the cost of any color machine from Stratasys. If the Flashforge CJ270 proves functional, many service and production companies might be tempted to buy it. This would be yet another blow to Stratasys from China, following Bambu Lab.
It's worth keeping an eye on this device, as it could signal a new direction for 3D printer development.
11-27-2012: Mcor announced availability of the IRIS.
News & Gossips:
Ah, I know that feeling… You publish 2-3 articles in a row that turn out to be big news, and to keep the momentum going, you start diving into expert speculation—even when you don’t have anything new. Michael Petch had three solid stories: the first about Forward AM's restructuring, the second featuring a statement from a former Autodesk manager and would-be VoxelDance CEO alleging that Chinese software is a copy of Netfabb, and the third with Reichental's official statement that Nexa3D is still alive. So today, he ventured into speculation. The thing is, it’s quite silly. Petch “asks” who might buy Nexa3D. Could it be Stratasys? Formlabs? Maybe Nano Dimension (they seem to buy everyone...). But if Michael spoke to people like me, he’d know that Nexa3D has been looking for a buyer for a long time—and no one wants it. No one is going to rescue a company run by a man who... well, you know what I mean. So no, Nexa3D won’t be bought by anyone.
Meanwhile, the Australian manufacturer of large-format metal 3D printers, AML3D, secured $20 million in funding. They plan to use this money to expand their global distribution channels.
Creality showcased the long-awaited K2 Plus at Formnext—their flagship copy of Bambu Lab. It'll be interesting to see if it’s as "efficient" as the K1.