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World Maker Faire, Largest Showcase for 3D Printing
[September 26, 2012]

World Maker Faire, Largest Showcase for 3D Printing


(Marketwire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 09/26/12 -- Attendees at World Maker Faire, at the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) in Queens, N.Y. on Saturday, Sept. 29, and Sunday, Sept. 30, will get a chance in indulge their passion for 3D printing at two venues this year: the 3D Printer Village and the 3D Pavilion. The number of entries marked a new all-time high for 3D related projects, reflecting the enthusiasm for 3D printing sweeping the maker community. As more 3D printer startups enter the market and compete on price -- with new offerings under $1,000 -- the interest is going mainstream. In fact, attendees at World Maker Faire will be among the first to see the Replicator 2 from Brooklyn-based MakerBot, the latest offerings from Type A Machines and Solidoodle, also a Brooklyn company, and newcomer Formlabs.



"The hottest area at World Maker Faire this year is 3D printing. The number of entries we received for the 3D village and pavilion is a true indicator of the growing enthusiasm for 3D printing," said Sherry Huss, MAKE Maker-in-chief and co-founder of Maker Faire. "In the last two weeks, at least three new printers have hit the market which will be featured in our 3D pavilion. Maker Faire introduced the world to 3D printing like RepRap and increasingly has become the platform for the launch and announcement of hot new products." World Maker Faire attendees will be treated to a 3D extravaganza -- from three times the number of personal 3D printers to a diverse display of 3D printed objects including a 3D printed humanoid robot and 3D printed food. Type A Machines will be printing a geodesic dome at their exhibit. Other printer companies and their offerings include Afinia, B9Creator, Rapid Pro, Bukobot, Fablicator from K&L Services, UP!, Ultimaker, and Printrbot.

The 75+ 3D entries also include companies offering 3D design and scanning options, software for creating your own 3D designs, filament providers, accessories, and fun and functional 3D creations from motors and robots to jewelry and fashion, even performance art from ThreeForm.


"With 3D printers getting more reliable, the type of exhibit is moving from Makers coming to demonstrate their printers to people coming to show off the creative, incredible things they're building with these new tools," said John Abella, MAKE's 3D printing laureate. "To accommodate the growth and interest in 3D printing, this year the 3D printer vendors are moving to the new 3D Printing Pavilion where over a dozen of the latest 3D printer design vendors will be on-site demonstrating their newest gear." As more makers consider a personal 3D printer for their workshops and the interest in 3D printers becomes more consumer-oriented, MAKE magazine will help consumers figure out the landscape and which 3D printer is the best fit for their pocketbook and tech savvy. The MAKE Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing, roundup and review of 15 3D printers hits newsstands and retail outlets Radio Shack and Micro Center, just in time for the holidays on November 20.

"We think 3D printers are going to be the 'must-have' geek gift for this holiday season," said Gareth Branwyn, editorial director for MAKE magazine. "There's a great offering of 3D printers at various price points now, and certainly makers are going to feel it's a matter of street cred to have a 3D printer in their personal fab lab. We're going to help them choose and also offer a sort of 'state of the market' for them to consider in their purchase decisions." 2011 saw unprecedented growth in the personal 3D printer market of 289% year-over-year in unit sales, according to Wohlers 2012 Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing State of the Industry Report. Unit sales for 2011 alone were 23,265 with market leader MakerBot Industries and Bits from Bytes constituting 35% of the sales.

As the 3D market takes root, 3D printer startups are turning to non-conventional resources to fund their growth like crowdfunding website Kickstarter, the choice of 31 projects, making 3D printing the hottest category for Kickstarter. PrintrBot, marketed as "your first 3D printer," was funded to the tune of $830,800 exceeding their funding goal by 3,323%. B9Creator, a high-resolution 3D printer and Bukobot, a $599 printer, also sought funding through Kickstarter, receiving pledges well beyond their goals by 1,026% and 389% respectively.

About MAKE:MAKE is the first magazine and media company devoted entirely to the maker movement. Through a powerful combination of open source hardware, personal fabrication tools, and connected makers, MAKE and the maker movement are fostering sweeping changes, from the classroom to the boardroom. MAKE teaches and celebrates the personal and inspired use of technology through its flagship magazine (makezine.com/magazine), its wildly popular website (makezine.com), its online Maker Shed store (makershed.com), and Maker Faire, the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth (makerfaire.com). MAKE is a division of O'Reilly Media and based in Sebastopol, CA. "The maker movement has brought the pre-1970s world of basement workshops and amateur tinkering into the digital age." -- The New York Times Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine Media Contact: Bridgette Vanderlaan Email Contact 727.278.2888 Source: O'Reilly Media

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