In 2015, Makerbot is improving the overall 3D printing process to make it easier and more accessible for everyone. They are expanding what is possible with new composite filament to enable limestone, wood and metal objects to be 3D printed.
MakerBot PLA Composite Filaments, created in three categories: Metal, Stone, and Wood. These beautiful, realistic, and highly stabilized materials are slated to be released in late 2015, but were showcased at CES 2015.
You need to buy and swap extruder tips and have the composite filament
With these new materials, the potential of the swappable MakerBot Replicator Smart Extruder will start to be realized. In just minutes, you will be able to swap in a new extruder optimized for these innovative filaments. Then you will be ready to create prototypes that look and feel like the real thing so that you can accelerate Real-Time Prototyping—without purchasing a new 3D printe – See more at: http://www.makerbot.com/blog/2015/01/06/makerbot-ces-2015-growing-makerbot-ecosystem/#sthash.EZyIWqXK.dpuf
The filament is the thick wire like spools that are equivalent of printing ink in 2D printers.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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