HP to enter 3D printer market in mid-2014 says CEO Meg Whitman HP CEO Meg Whitman has told the Canalys Channels Forum in Bangkok that the company will enter the 3D printer market in the middle of 2014. "We are excited about 3D printing," Whitman said, adding that it is a natural business for HP to enter given its heritage in printers. "We want to lead this businesses. HP labs is looking …
"So will HP introduce jams to 3D printers? How about overpriced refills that has to be HP produced?"
I first read that as a suggestion that HP should use jam as the printing medium, but then I thought HP sauce would be more appropriate!
Mine's the one with the jam sandwich in the pocket ------------------------->
We've been 3D printing knees for ages (working in an orthopaedic surgery department) !
When we looked for 3D printers over 2 years ago, we looked at an HP model then (HP DesignJet 3D Printer) but went for an Objet printer in the end. Seems like HP got into the market (although I think with a rebadged printer), got out and now want to get back in again.
Seems like HP got into the market (although I think with a rebadged printer), got out and now want to get back in again.
Their initial entry was late to the party, then they found out uptake wasn't that great, beancounters decide to cut their losses, and after yet another reorg and after 3D-printing has become more visible to the average consumer, someone at HP thinks 3D-printing could be their next venture...
See also: WebOS.
"It is a big opportunity and we are all over it. We will have something by the middle of next year."
Personally, I prefer Apple's approach - which, for the most part, would be HP saying "Here's our new 3D printer and it's available now." (Ok - maybe a couple of weeks). Not "Just wait until the middle of next year woo-hoo!"
Everyone moans about hugely early announcements that are inevitably late. Or so vague ("We'll have something") that you could announce anything 'on-time' and be months or years away from a product release.
Who remembers Google's "We'll have an iPad killer by Christmas"? Didn't happen - it was months late.
All of you - announce the damm thing when it's ready to ship! None o this "Just wait a few months and don't buy anything else - we'll be brilliant - honest!"
I remember seeing an HP badged 3D printer a few years ago (I can't remember what they called it 3DJet probably). It used the Stratasys FDM system - don't know if it was just badged, semi-custom or a complete HP design.
As far a jams; no what the Stratasys FDM system does is it suddenly goes ape shit, and produces what looks like a birdsnest made out of extruded plastic goo.
One problem is that after moving on from Stratasys using extruded goo (0.3mm), to SLA using monomer resins and laser polymerisation (0.016mm), all the new desktop systems look like trying to make an Airfix kit using lego bricks.
Thank you Bristol Bachelor, memories seem to be short around here. They had some Stratasys machines at HP Labs Bristol.
http://investors.stratasys.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=697147
or, from Wikipedia:
In January 2010, Stratasys signed an agreement with HP to manufacture HP-branded 3D printers.[9] In August 2012, the HP manufacturing and distribution agreement was discontinued.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratasys
Regarding the difference between Fused Material Deposition, and Selective Laser Activation or whatever its called this week: you get what you pay for!
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