New 3D Printing Technologies
The Arburg Freeformer
ARBURG, who has a history in robotics has come up with a new commercial 3D printing technology called ARBURG Plastic Free forming (AFK), which produces items without support structures by moving the 3 or 5 axis carrier around the stationary discharge nozzle. You can see their video of it in action on their website.
Formlabs Form 1 3D Printer
Formlabs brings to the home what many have been using in the commercial industry for quite some time. Stereoloithography 3D printing or SL as Formlabs calls it is a process that makes items by focusing a laser beam of ultraviolet light onto a surface of liquid photopolymer. The laser traces a cross section of the part, turning a thin layer of the liquid plastic to solid. Stereolithography is capable of the highest resolutions in 3D printing. Formlabs Form 1 printer is able to make parts with a minimum thickness layer of .001 of an inch.