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Additive Manufacturing Takes a Step Closer to Mainstream at SOLIDWORKS World 2018 3D Printing Events

SOLIDWORKS World 2017 saw the introduction of SOLIDWORKS CAM and the start of SOLIDWORKS doing manufacturing. SOLIDWORKS World 2018 featured a “shop floor experience” showing the Design to Manufacturing workflow that SOLIDWORKS enables, manufacturing parts live in the Partner Pavilion. But cutting material to make parts is not the only way to make things anymore. Additive Manufacturing, or 3D Printing, is reaching a maturity where it is not just for prototypes anymore. This has never been as evident as at this year’s SOLIDWORKS World.

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New Matter Is the Next Low-cost 3D Printer Manufacturer to Shut Down Consumer Products

Just last week we reported on low-cost 3D printer manufacturer Type A Machines shutting down. We asked ourselves if it would be an isolated case or the first of a series of closures as certain unsustainable business models meet their fate. Apparently, it may be the latter. This week another low-cost system manufacturer, New Matter, is announcing the imminent ceasing of operations.

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Brainwavz Audio Use 3D Printing for Production of High-end Ergonomic B400 Earphones Consumer Products

Good news: 3D printing is disappearing. As many have predicted, for 3D printing to become a true mass customization process, it needs to disappear. Companies and users need to be able to make and buy 3D printed products not because they are 3D printed, but because those are the best possible products and they can only be made by 3D printing. This is now happening and the latest B400 Brainwavz earphones represent a clear indication of this trend.

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3D Systems Introduces New 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS AM Software

At SOLIDWORKS World, 3D Systems introduced 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS. By combining the tools that designers need from 3D Systems’ 3DXpert with SOLIDWORKS from Dassault Systèmes, 3D Systems provides a distinct and exclusive advantage to all SOLIDWORKS users. The new 3DXpert for SOLIDWORKS product enables SOLIDWORKS users to prepare and optimize designs for both plastic and metal additive manufacturing.