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MakerBot CloudPrint Software Makes Remote, Collaborative 3D Printing Seamless

Due to COVID-19, many more people are working remotely these days, which makes it imperative for employees to be able to print jobs, and manage them, remotely as well. That’s why MakerBot is launching a new workflow meant to make remote 3D printing collaboration easier. Not to be confused with Google’s CloudPrint or this open source factory, the new MakerBot CloudPrint software, formerly called MakerBot Cloud, is a next generation 3D printing platform that ensures all individuals and teams can collaboratively and seamlessly use 3D printing across multiple devices both onsite and remotely.

“We are experiencing a global phenomenon with more people working remotely than ever before. Without the right tools, this can lead to a disruption in work and, ultimately, a decrease in performance. We believe that MakerBot CloudPrint is an ideal solution for individual or team collaboration from anywhere,” stated MakerBot’s CEO Nadav Goshen. “MakerBot CloudPrint offers an all-in-one solution for users to prepare, queue, print, and manage printers. MakerBot CloudPrint aims to easily adapt to your workflow, no matter how many printers you have. This solution was built with productivity in mind, and we plan to continuously improve the fastest CAD-to-part benefits of the METHOD platform.”

By providing one centralized, cloud-based application, this new workflow software offers a faster, more advanced printing solution, and helps optimize 3D printer usage and collaboration as well. MakerBot CloudPrint marries cloud scalability with familiar software features to create a 3D printing workflow management solution that makes it easier for users to prepare, queue, print, manage, and monitor their jobs.

MakerBot CloudPrint provides users with more control, letting them reorder the queue if priorities suddenly change and share access to other connected MakerBot 3D printers. The new software solution can also reduce 3D printer downtime between projects, which helps streamline the workflow and ramp up productivity. It offers many other handy features as well, such as the ability to group printers into workspaces and shared in classrooms, production areas, or with teams. You can actually set permissions for different team betters for more access, or just create submission links so anyone can submit prints for approval.

The software solution’s full-featured print preparation view makes it easy to preview and position parts on the build plate, and allows users to slice prints right from their browser. A live camera feed allows users to add, monitor, and control access to other connected printers, as well as get live status updates on print jobs. Additionally, with the queue and print history features, it’s easy to track projects, and a dashboard offers a central place from which to view prints. You can generate reports to analyze printer performance, and optimized print modes can be used to access advanced settings, like custom and experimental print profiles, on the MakerBot METHOD platform. Finally, MakerBot CloudPrint allows users in need of more advanced print features to unlock expert METHOD settings, such as extra MakerBot LABS for METHOD user settings and all of the METHOD extruders and materials.

MakerBot CloudPrint already has one stamp of approval from NYC-based PENSA, an industrial design and invention consulting firm, uses the METHOD platform.

“Working remotely has meant a lot of changes to how we collaborate in a creative environment,” explained PENSA CEO Marco Perry. “While many digital tools have replaced face to face interactions, nothing can replace working with physical prototypes. MakerBot CloudPrint enables us to work with our 3D printers at a distance, removing one more barrier in the process.”

The software is integrated with Google products, and is also compatible with all MakerBot solutions, including the Replicator 3D printer series and SKETCH Classroom bundle. Additional MakerBot CloudPrint features include:

  • multi-model support
  • better slicing and preview options
  • speed optimizations
  • improved print performance
  • new UX/UI designs

MakerBot CloudPrint: 3D Printing Collaboration Everywhere | MakerBot

In the near future, additional features, such as custom print modes and improved monitoring and queuing, will be released for MakerBot CloudPrint, which is currently available to use free of charge. This is one major difference between the solution and Ultimaker’s subscription-based Ultimaker Essentials enterprise software platform, which was just launched last month. While MakerBot CloudPrint is compatible with its SKETCH Classroom bundle, Ultimaker Essentials includes a new eLearning platform, as well as access to three courses from the recently launched Ultimaker 3D Printing Academy. Ultimaker Essentials also comes with a catalog of verified plugins meant to improve the 3D printing workflow, while MakerBot CloudPrint appears to accomplish the same without the use of plugins. Test it out and see for yourself!

(Images courtesy of MakerBot)

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3D Printing News Briefs, July 25, 2020: MakerBot, ANSYS, Sintavia, Nexa3D & Henkel

We’re all business in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs! MakerBot has a new distribution partner, and ANSYS is launching a new product. Sintavia has acquired an additional Arcam 3D printer from GE Additive. Finally, Nexa3D and Henkel are introducing a new material for 3D printing medical and athletic devices.

MakerBot Welcomes New Distribution Partner

MakerBot announced that it has expanded its distributor network by entering into an agreement with the Distrinova division of the Unitum Group, which will distribute the MakerBot METHOD 3D print platform throughout Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This partnership will increase the availability of the entire platform, which offers industrial capabilities and engineering-grade materials, to more customers in the Benelux region who need professional, powerful 3D printing solutions. The METHOD platform consists of the METHOD and METHOD X printers, various accessories like an experimental extruder, METHOD Carbon Fiber editions, and materials like Nylon Carbon Fiber, ABS, ASA, SR-30, and PC-ABS FR, and Distrinova’s network of channel partners will distribute all of them, in addition to MakerBot’s educational 3D printing solutions.

“We are very proud to introduce MakerBot and the METHOD technology into our product portfolio,” said Guy Van der Celen, CEO of Unitum Group BV. ” With the METHOD range we can provide our resellers network not only reliable, state-of-the-art 3D printers, but also the opportunity to offer their customers high value-added solutions for a broad range of new application areas. In addition, the introduction of MakerBot corresponds perfectly with Distrinovas’ strategy to develop strong partnerships with the leading innovative global manufacturers of 3D printers.”

ANSYS Event to Launch Discovery Product

Engineering simulation software company ANSYS released its Discovery Live tool for real-time 3D simulation back in 2017, and will soon be introducing a brand new ANSYS Discovery product, kicking things off with a virtual launch event on July 29th. The company states that the  product can help companies improve their product design processes, increase ROI, and provide answers to important design questions earlier, without having to wait for the results of a simulation.

“This reimagining of the Discovery line of products aims to maximize ease of use, speed and accuracy across thermal, structural, fluids and multiphysics simulation all from within a single consistent user interface (UI),” Justin Hendrickson, Senior Director, Design Product Management, wrote in a blog post about the new ANSYS Discovery.

“Traditionally, simulation has been used during later stages of design when making corrections can be costly and time consuming. However, with the new Ansys Discovery, every engineer will be able to leverage simulation early during concept evaluation as well as during design refinement and optimization. This means that they will be able to optimize products and workflows faster and on a tighter budget.”

The launch event will feature a keynote address from Mark Hindsbo, Vice President and General Manager, Design Business Unit, a product demonstration by Hendrickson, two customer success stories, and several interactive breakout sessions, including one focusing on thermal simulation and another exploring the tool’s generative design capabilities. You can register for the event here.

Sintavia Acquires Second Arcam Q20+ 3D Printer

Tier One metal additive manufacturer Sintavia announced that it has acquired a second Arcam Q20+ 3D metal printer from GE Additive, bringing its total number of electron beam printing systems to three and its overall number of industrial metal 3D printers to nineteen. This additional Arcam Q20+ will be installed next month in Sintavia’s Hollywood, Florida production facility, where the other Q20+ is located with an Arcam A2X, a Concept Laser M2, three SLM 280 systems, a Trumpf TruPrint 3000, and nine EOS 3D printers – six M400s and five M290s.

“Over the past several years, we have worked to qualify the Q20+ for aerospace manufacturing and now have several aerostructure product lines that depend on this technology. Electron beam printing is an excellent option for complex titanium aerospace components, and this business line will continue to grow for us. Even in a difficult overall manufacturing environment, the demand we have seen for EB-built components is very encouraging,” stated Sintavia CEO Brian R. Neff.

Nexa3D and Henkel Commercializing New Material Together

Nasal swabs

Together, SLA production 3D printer manufacturer Nexa3D and functional additive materials supplier Henkel are commercializing the polypropylene-like xMED412, a durable, high-impact material that can be used to print biocompatible medical and wearable devices. Henkel is the one manufacturing the medical-grade material, which is based on its own Loctite MED412 and was designed to offer high functionality and consistent part performance—perfect for printing products like athletic and diving mouth gear, respirators, orthotic guides and braces, and personalized audio projects. The lightweight yet sturdy xMED412 material, which can withstand vibration, moisture, and impact, has been tested by Henkel Adhesive Technologies on the NXE400 3D printer, and is now also cleared to print nasal swabs.

“We are thrilled to bring this product to market in collaboration with Nexa3D. We developed and tested with Nexa3D’s NXE400 3D printer a multitude of approved workflows designed to unleash the full potential of xMED412’s outstanding physical properties and biocompatibility,” said Ken Kisner, Henkel’s Head of Innovation for 3D printing. “Nexa3D and Henkel have provided a digital manufacturing solution for a growing number of medical devices, athletic wearables and personalized audio products. Especially with regard to the current Covid-19 pandemic, we are pleased that nasopharyngeal swabs manufactured with xMED412 on the NXE400, in accordance with our published procedures, have already been cleared through clinical trials and are in compliance with ISO 10993 testing and FDA Class I Exempt classification.”

The post 3D Printing News Briefs, July 25, 2020: MakerBot, ANSYS, Sintavia, Nexa3D & Henkel appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

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MakerBot launches LABS extruder for METHOD to enable third party engineering material extrusion

Desktop FFF system manufacturer, MakerBot, has launched its new experimental LABS extruder for use with its METHOD 3D printer. The LABS extruder converts METHOD into an open materials platform, enabling the 3D printing of a range of third party engineering materials. Johan-Till Broer, VP of Product Development at MakerBot, stated: “By transforming METHOD into an […]
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INTERVIEW: Nadav Goshen on the new MakerBot METHOD X 3D printer

Less than 12 months after the launch of the METHOD, desktop 3D printer provider MakerBot has launched the METHOD X. A new addition to the METHOD line of machines, the METHOD X has been made to fill a niche in the market between desktop and industrial systems, identified by MakerBot as “Performance” 3D printers. Speaking […]
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HQ Visit: MakerBot launches Method performance 3D printer

Today, two years after the launch of the Replicator +, American desktop 3D printer manufacturer and Stratasys subsidiary MakerBot has released the Method. Designed as a mid-way point between the industrial FDM and personal desktop market, MakerBot is calling the Method “the first performance 3D printer.” Last week, 3D Printing Industry was invited to MakerBot […]
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MakerBot Introduces a New 3D Printer, the Method

MakerBot, which has been producing desktop 3D printers for years, is introducing its first performance 3D printer, described as “bridging the gap” between desktop and industrial 3D printing. The Method 3D printer offers features previously only available on industrial 3D printers at a much lower cost, using industrial technologies and expertise from parent company Stratasys.

“In an age of disruption, businesses are under pressure to innovate and bring products to market faster. Current desktop 3D printers derive their DNA from hobbyist 3D printers and are insufficient for many applications in the professional segment,” said Nadav Goshen, MakerBot CEO. “We believe that Method is the next step in helping organizations adopt 3D printing at a larger scale. Method provides a breakthrough in 3D printing that enables industrial designers and mechanical engineers to innovate faster and become more agile. It is built for professionals who need immediate access to a 3D printer that can deliver industrial performance to accelerate their design cycles. Method is developed to bring industrial technologies into an accessible platform, breaking the price-performance barrier and redefining rapid prototyping in the process.”

The Method 3D printer offers a level of precision that has previously only been available with industrial 3D printers: specifically, ± 0.2 mm dimensional accuracy as well as increased vertical layer uniformity and good cylindricity. The printer has dual extruders which, combined with water soluble PVA for supports, allows for excellent surface finish, as well as design freedom and complex geometries such as overhangs without scarring. A streamlined, user-friendly workflow enables users to quickly turn their CAD files into 3D printed parts, and the Method features print speeds that are twice as fast as typical desktop 3D printers. It’s also about a third of the cost of an entry-level industrial 3D printer.

Industrial-grade features include a circulating heated chamber, which controls the temperature and quality of each layer by providing full heat immersion during the entire duration of the print. The printed materials then cool at a controlled rate, providing higher dimensional accuracy, layer adhesion and part strength. A new lengthened thermal core is up to 50 percent longer than a standard desktop hot end, enabling faster, smoother extrusion. A rigid metal frame runs the full length of the body of the 3D printer to offset flexing and ensure more consistent prints.

Dry-sealed material bays form a seal to reduce moisture absorption in the filament, and built-in sensors monitor humidity and alert users to any changes in the environment, which is especially useful for water-soluble PVA filament, PA (polyamide) and also PLA. MakerBot offers two categories of materials for the Method 3D printer: Precision and Specialty. Precision Materials include MakerBot Tough, MakerBot PLA, and MakerBot PVA. The first Specialty Material available is PETG, with more to come. A Smart Spool provides information about the filament, such as type, color and amount of material remaining via an RFID chip directly to the software, while desiccant in the spool keeps moisture levels low. Its unclear at this point if this means that the Method is closed or if you can still run non-Stratasys materials on it.

The Method 3D printer also features a spring steel build plate that allows the finished part to pop right off, and a 5″ capacitive touch screen for easy updates and navigation. It uses MakerBot Print software, which easily integrates with 25 of the most popular CAD programs. Teams can also save 3D files as projects and share them via the native Cloud Management platform. A built-in onboard camera allows users to monitor the print remotely with MakerBot Print or the MakerBot Mobile app.

The MakerBot Method 3D printer has been tested by the company for more than 220,000 hours. It has a starting price of €6,499 and shipping is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2019. Pre-orders are now being taken. This system seems an exciting upgrade to the Makerbot lineup putting it below the F123 Stratasys printers. A lot of the features, especially material mateial bays and enclosure, seem to be solid wins for many customers. This would be a good option for companies while being too expensive for most makers. By raising performance and price Makerbot is chasing higher performing printers and the growing desktop enterpise market. This is a very important system for Stratasys and we will be watching the performance and acceptance of this system closely.

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