Rapid Ready Roundup: 3D Systems, Mcor Partners with Staples, GE Aviation and the Evolution of the 3D Printed Wrench

In the course of my diligent efforts to keep you good people up to date on the state of additive manufacturing (AM), I come across many interesting news items. I’ll gather them up every so often and present them in a Rapid Ready Roundup (like this one). You can find the last Roundup here.

Let’s begin with a look at the newest versions of 3D Systems’ ProJet line of AM systems: the ProJet 3500 HDMax and CPXMax. Both printers have the same basic specs of the older models, but offer tablet and smartphone connectivity. Additionally, the HDMax has a new high speed setting (at a slight cost in potential resolution) and the CPXMax offers an improved net build volume at higher resolutions for its RealWax casting capability.

“3D Systems next generation ProJet 3500 Max printers are the best yet,” said Buddy Byrum, vice president of product and channel management. “We are excited to extend our print envelope for high resolution prints resulting in increased throughput and part size with feature detail and quality that is only possible with ProJet printers.”

Next up, Mcor Technologies has partnered with Staples to offer a new service called, “Staples Easy 3D.” Staples will use the newly released Mcor Iris to print objects. Customers can upload digital designs to the Staples Office Center and either drop by to pick them up, or have the prints shipped. The service will open its doors in Europe early in 2013, and then expand to other countries.

“Given our market leadership in commercial print, why would we ever stop at two dimensions?” said Wouter Van Dijk, president of the Staples printing systems division in Europe. “Customized parts, prototypes, art objects, architectural models, medical models and 3D maps are items customers need today, in a more affordable and more accessible manner. Mcor will help us to keep prices low, quality high and color brilliant as we meet the demand.”

Moving on, in a sign that big business has gotten the memo about the potential of AM, GE Aviation has acquired Morris Technologies, and its 3D printing service, Rapid Quality Manufacturing. This kind of move was bound to happen eventually, with the increasing importance of AM for the aerospace industry.

“Morris Technologies and Rapid Quality Manufacturing are parts of our investment in emerging manufacturing technologies,” said Colleen Athans, vice president and GM of the supply chain division at GE Aviation. “Our ability to develop state of the art manufacturing processes for emerging materials and complex design geometry is critical to our future. We are so fortunate to have Morris Technologies and Rapid Quality Manufacturing just minutes from our headquarters. We know them well.”

Finally, one of the first videos to bring mainstream attention to AM was the 3D printing of a working wrench using a ZPrinter. Other manufacturers soon followed suit, demonstrating how their process could replicate the feat. Now, Objet has upped the ante by printing a giant wrench almost 4 ft. in length using its new Objet1000. It’ll be interesting (and amusing) to see who tries to one-up that achievement.

Below you’ll find a video about Objet’s giant wrench.

Sources: Objet, PR Newswire, IMPD, 3D Systems