3D Printers: Almost Mainstream

Link via PCWorld

SketchUp, SolidWorks, Rhino, and AutoCAD mentioned in this article on 3D Printers.

Smaller and cheaper

3D printing isn’t new. The manufacturing technique known today as 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing or direct digital manufacturing, has been used for rapid prototyping for decades. But over the last 24 months, prices have dropped to a level that makes it appealing to a wider audience.

The technology is more compact, particularly in the plastic jet-printing category. Cathy Lewis, vice president of global marketing at printer manufacturer 3D Systems Inc., says today’s models are “ideal” for personal use.

3D design gets easier

It’s relatively easy to use a free tool such as Google SketchUp to create simple objects for 3D printing. But for complex shapes and geometries, designers still reach for professional modeling tools like SolidWorks.

“Visualization software such as Google’s SketchUp provides a fast entry route” to 3D computer-aided design (CAD), says Nick Grace, manager of RapidformRCA, which acts as a 3D printing service bureau for students at the Royal College of Art in London and uses many different software design tools and 3D printer technologies.