3D Printing Blog

3D printing is a broad topic. Deciding which technology to use can be difficult – there are many variables between 3D print companies when it comes to turnaround time, cost, and parts production. Often, the best way to make the decision is to look at the capabilities and qualities that are nee...

3D printing is a viable option in today’s world of manufacturing processes. It has become a growing competitor to injection molding as it advances in technology and becomes more cost effective. Some manufacturers may be hesitant to leave traditional injection molding behind, but there are bene...

The advances made in 3D printing technology over the past decade are nothing short of astounding. What began with the most simplistic 3D printed designs, has evolved in ways that now allow individuals and companies from every walk of life to create products and prototypes that are remarkably detaile...

RIT facility among proving grounds for new technology Download RBJ Article here Inside a machinery-laden production space at Eastman Business Park, Ian Finn dredges a clear plastic container into the wide mouth of a 3-D selective laser sintering (SLS) machine. He loads up the containe...

Did you know that Finnovation Product Development, LLC provides full contract manufacturing services in Rochester NY? Yes, it's true!  Finnovation now offers full contract manufacturing services world wide and 100% MADE IN THE USA.    Traditional Technology and Services incl...

Finnovation Product Development, LLC located in Rochester, NY now offers full color 3d printing services available nationwide.  Full color 3D printing is an excellent way to prototype for the following industries: Consumer products Medical Models Automotive Components The Stratas...

The medical community took immediate notice recently, when it was announced that Australian-based Anatomics successfully created a human rib cage using an electron beam Arcam 3D printer.  Based on the success of this landmark design, coupled with the 1.3 million dollar cost of the machine used...

Each year thousands of children lose or are born without the use of a hand or fingers, and as anyone can imagine, this can be can have an unfathomable negative impact on their self-confidence, development and ability to socialize with others.  And while the science used to design and manufactur...

Visitors to this year's Detroit Auto Show will be among the first to witness just how far 3D printing has come over the past few years.  The maker of this truly innovative electric car, Local Motors, recently introduced their new Strati at the 2015 auto show in Detroit.  And while it m...

The potential for 3D printing reached entirely heights this week, when a 3D printer was activated on the International Space Station.  Developed by Made in Space, a startup firm based out of Silicon Valley, the highly-innovative zero-gravity printer was carried into space by the SpaceX Falcone...

There is simply no argument over the fact that 3D printer technology has revolutionized the way today's leading manufacturers do business.  In a marketplace where success is often determined by timing, full-color 3D printing allows engineers and product developers to create stunningly reali...

If you're like others who rely on 3D printing for conceptual models and rapid prototypes, there's a good chance that you've been wanting to incorporate more color into your designs.  The ProJet X60 Color 3D Printer series was designed to make color 3D printing easy, quickly and cost...

I was recently contacted by Mr. Stephen Archer of Archer Airguns who had the idea to create custom parts for the Benjamin Marauder Air Rifle manufactured by Crosman.  Stephen saw the opportunity to modify stock parts to streamline the firing of the various pellet sizes available for the Benjami...

Finnovation Client Profile: Idea Boxx, LLC www.theideaboxx.com I have had the pleasure of working with many startup companies who require 3D printing and additive manufacturing technology to speed up their design process. One company that stands out in particular is Idea Boxx, LLC.  Located...

One industry which truly stands to benefit from the advancements made in 3D print technology, is undoubtedly the manufacturing sector.  Not only can prototypes and finished products be completed in more expedited timeframes, the reductions in cost and less downtime is just as impressive. Fin...

3D printing has come a long way from its experimental roots, and is today being used by businesses from an increasingly diverse range of industries.  Not only does 3D printing technology allow for more cost effective rapid prototypes, they also open up entirely new creative possibilities, while...

If you think that 3D Printing technology is just used for rapid prototypes here's an application that demonstrates the true potential of today's modern 3D printing technology. Recently, a two-year old girl born with a rare form of the disease AMC (a disease characterized by limbs that l...

Full Disclosure: I didn't actually create a "battle-tech style" robot and shoot ED-209 with real bullets. It was actually all done on the computer to showcase the abilities (both virtual and real) of Finnovation Product Development. That being said, 3D printed materials have come a lon...

Despite being known as the new kid on the tech block, 3D printers have already emerged as one of today's most exciting types of product innovations.  And while it's been made abundantly clear that 3D printing and rapid prototyping can be used to create everything from facial implants an...

Even if you've never had the joy of working on a 3D printer, you've certainly heard about them on the news, among your more creative colleagues, and in other various snippets.  For those in the 3D printing circles, it's well known that the most common practice of creating models, in...

Just about 6 months ago, I got a phone call from Peggy Rajski inquiring about Finnovation's 3D printing and rapid prototyping ability.  Peggy needed assistance in creating 3D CAD models of her designs to be used for 3D Printed prototypes as well as for use in manufacturing via injection mol...

The advancements being made by 3D printers, in just a few short years, is nothing short of mind-boggling.  One of the latest stories to come from the 3D printing industry, is simply too warm and fuzzy  not to share. Because, of all the fast prototype innovations made thus far, this one is...

3D Printing might still be enjoying the thrills of its infancy, but that can't take away from the feats it has already managed to pull-off.  In just a short span of time, 3D printers have already accomplished the production of food, clothing, plastic guns, and a prosthetic face implant for...

It sounds like something out of a good sci-fi flick, but this is no Hollywood screen play.  An Austin TX research company was recently awarded a $125,000  six-month grant from NASA, to develop a 3-D printer capable of "printing" real food.  According to company sources and p...

A 60 year-old British restaurant manager who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, has become the first person to receive a prosthetic manufactured exclusively on a 3D printer.  Since the recent introduction of fully-functional 3D printing capabilities, this represents the first time...

*** FPD does not condone using 3D Printers to print weapons *** Under increasing pressure from the US State Department, blueprints for the production of a plastic gun made with the use of 3-D printers, have been removed from the internet. Just two days after publishing the blueprints for making p...

I received a phone call from a gentleman representing WITHIN.  He inquired about setting up a meeting to show me his companies software that is helpful to 3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing).  Specifically the SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) and DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) process...

Joshua Lepley is a custom woodworker and innovator who lives and works in Williamsport Pennsylvania.  Yes, that’s right, the home of Little League Baseball.  Joshua is a hardworking family man who works as a construction and interior design contractor.  Joshua works with cli...

It has always been human nature (or so it seems) to create weapons with whatever items one can find.  From hand carved arrows and arrow heads, to prison shanks, humans have always come up with a way to “Macgyver” some sort of weapon. Considering that with CAD software and a 3D print...

In my previous blog, I discussed the 2 basic genres of 3D CAD files and their uses in diverse applications.  These 2 file types are (in concept) the organic model and the engineered model, aka the mesh model and the solip part.  The following is a compilation of some helpful resources to h...