3D printing is a candidate that will revolutionize production patterns and lifestyles, such as computing in the last century and the mobile communication currently. As was the case with computers and mobile phones, this shifting of gears will happen with 3D printing technology along with miniaturization, cost reduction and ease of use.

One such step forward in 3D printing has been made by Stratasys, which recently presented the first 3D printer capable of producing multi-material pieces and colorful with Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer.

According to Stratasys, the Objet500 Connex3 can combine base materials as well as mix rigid, flexible and transparent ingredients in one run that combines the ability to color printing and print materials with different properties.  It features “Triple-jetting” technology that allows for three base materials, reducing the need for separate runs to paint, thus decreasing the production time needed. Stratasys estimates that it can help to reduce the time that it takes to bring prototypes to market by 50 percent.

Stratasys 3D printed VeroMagenta and VeroCyanLa printer uses photopolymers Polyjet, with which you can get hundreds of brilliant color mixing, as well as the three primary colors: VeroCyan, VeroMagenta and VeroYellow and opaque, for use in automotive, sporting goods and fashion accessories, which will be available later this year.

With a price of $330,000, Stratasys is targeting industrial designers and manufacturers. The idea behind this multifunctional 3D printer is to speed up production, and cut down on the number of prototypes that manufacturers need before designs can be brought to market. Stratasys also reports that the Objet500 Connex3 Color Multi-material 3D Printer is aimed at designers and private companies that it can help to save time.

First carbon fiber 3D printer by MarkForged

The developer Gregory Mark of MarkForged presented as part of the SolidWorks World 2014 in San Diego unveiled a working prototype of world’s first carbon fiber 3D printer. The Mark One 3D printer allows the processing of carbon fiber, fiberglass, nylon, and PLA and can generate extremely stable, lightweight objects. The properties of carbon fibers include a strength that exceeds steel and allows the production of objects 20 times stiffer and five times stronger than ABS plastic.

The printer is 22.6″ wide, 14.2″ tall, and 12.7″ deep making it fit on a desktop easily. Using carbon fiber, the Mark One can print parts that are 20 times stiffer and five times stronger than ABS plastic. The parts also have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than CNC machined aluminum. That’s because, so Mark Forged claims, the printed objects are “packed with tens of thousands of full length, continuous carbon fiber strands.”

The maker aims to showcase the printer to many applications which would be well-served by the technology – from medical prosthetics to hobbyist drone manufacture.

“There are a bunch of people who are interested in the prosthetics side,” Greg Mark, founder of MarkForged told to Popular Mechanics. “There’s a whole fit component. It has to fit on your body. That’s something that’s more art than science, you want to print out a whole bunch of different versions and test them out. But then when you have your final version, you want to make exactly that, but really strong. [With] this printer‚ once you want to make it strong, you print it in composites.”

3D printing technology to edible foods

World famous chocolate makers the Hershey Company and 3D Systems just last week announced a partnership to explore and develop innovative opportunities for using 3D printing technology to edible foods.

This news followed days after 3D Systems successfully demonstrated its new 3D food printers at CES 2014. The announcement of this new series was accompanied by two specific models: ChefJet 3D printer, which prints in one color, and ChefJet Pro 3D printer, capable of producing full edible color.

The Hershey Company is the largest chocolate manufacturer in the US. The alliance aims to combine the experience in food manufacturing with Hershey’s potential and wealth of 3D Systems in 3D printing technology to provide new experiences to consumers.