If you’ve been following the rise of consumer-friendly 3D printers, you have probably noticed that materials have been somewhat…limited. 3D printers focus primarily on materials that are very easy to heat and extrude, which often means sticking with very basic polymers, which are available in a variety of colors but always look a bit like a bad science fiction prop from the 1930s.
MakerBot used CES 2015 as an opportunity to announce a key evolution in the 3D printing process with the inclusion of new materials, including metal, stone and wood. These materials promise a new generation of 3D objects that can, hopefully look a little more natural.
The catch is that the materials still need to be extruded by the 3D printer, so we’re not talking about real stone, metal or wood (sorry). Instead, MakerBot is using composite materials that include filaments of the real deal – so traditional PLA plastics with a lot of wood strands, metal filaments, etc. MakerBot demonstrated creating a hammer, for example, with a wooden handle and a metal head – although it seems odd that a part-plastic hammer would be effective, as MakerBot claims. More effective may be a printable refrigerator magnetic, another possibility with the new materials.
The composites get a helping hand from the Smart Extruder, MakerBot’s latest technology that allows filament combination and quick swapping for different materials. The company specifically mentions that materials with maplewood, limestone, iron and bronze will be available by the end of this year.
Even though it’s not exactly the real thing, this still represents a huge step for mainstream 3D printers, allowing for a variety of different looks and textures that were not possible before. Of course, you still have to pay for the printer itself, which will run you around several thousand dollars depending on the model you pick.
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