D&H Distributing has signed an agreement with RoBo 3D, a manufacturer of 3-D printers with pricing below the $800 range. These “Fused Deposition Modeling” 3D printers make one of the most notable innovations in the printing industry affordable in areas such as K-12 and university settings or small to medium-size businesses, creating an accessible way to design and produce dimensional models from computer renderings. †
Three dimensional printing was named one of the top technology trends expected to be implemented in school environments in the next five years, according to the “Technology Outlook – STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)+ Education 2013 – 2018” sector analysis report. RoBo 3D’s printers have the potential to drive that adoption date forward, allowing districts to deploy a high-performance tool to realize dimensional printing now.
With 3D capabilities, users can create multiple iterations of prototypes and models quickly and cost-effectively. It will allow educational organizations to enhance their instructional programs and provide a “more authentic exploration of objects that may not be readily available” to teachers and students. In addition, commercial companies can accelerate their research and development phases and support patent applications through 3-D prototypes.
RoBo 3D is in the process of developing an ecosystem around its brand, offering a new website platform called Makable.com. Makable.com will allow individuals to share 3D printable files and to hire freelance 3D CAD designers to create specific items for printing on their RoBo 3D R1 machines.
“This is a watershed moment when it comes to the level of printing devices that are available through the non-enterprise channel,” says Jeff Davis, D&H’s senior vice president of sales. “RoBo 3D delivers an outstanding capability to the greater market. We’re proud to support this innovation and introduce it to our customer base, giving them a clear advantage in the form of a cutting-edge solution.”
“We are thrilled to partner with D&H because of the company’s outstanding reputation as a distributor, and due to its breadth of partners within education. For students, RoBo 3D can provide the tools, the skill sets, and the platform they need to help change the future,” says Braydon Moreno, CEO,†Robo 3D. “It is about bringing every subject matter to life.”
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