As many of you know, 3D Systems has bought Sycode and now Print3D, both from Deelip Menezes. According to some reports, the company has also hired him to start up a 3D Systems office in India.

Sycode is primarily for CAD programs; the software consists of standalone applications or plug-ins that serve as translation utilities for all the major CAD software.  The as yet to be released Print3D software should function as a kind of “print to 3D” function that will be inside leading CAD software, effectively making it easy, (and transparent?) to slice CAD programs into layers for additive prototyping/manufacturing machines. So, will this software replace .STL?  Stay tuned.

And why is 3D Systems doing all of this? According to some sources, 3D Systems is altering its focus somewhat to sell to end users of additive manufacturing/prototyping equipment, with less emphasis on service bureaus and resellers.  Based on all the recent acquisition activity, such as Bits from Bytes, this analysis makes sense.

Stratasys and Z Corp and Objet have all released printers for individual end users in the last year or two.  3D Systems has joined the party.  It looks like the party is getting interesting.

Leslie