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The Best 3D Printers & 3D  Scanners | Biggest Range of 3D Printing Filaments & Resins | Expert Training & Support

Buy Professional 3D Printers that offer End-Use quality 3D Prints from NZ’s #1 3D Printing Specialists with over 10 years experience

We’re passionate about helping you implement a 3D printing solution that is best suited to your needs.
We offer Training, Implementation, Consulting & Support services all under one roof.
Our 3D printers & 3D Scanners can help you make the most out of today’s additive manufacturing technology.

Consult us on 3D Printing Strategies available in today’s additive manufacturing technology to improve your rapid prototyping as well as learn how 3D Printing can be used to manufacture items on demand.

We help some of the Biggest Names in New Zealand Accelerate their Product Development & Manufacture End use parts using Additive Manufacturing..
..We would love to help you too..

Our solutions help New Zealand & Australian Dentists & Orthodontists get the Edge in Dental Practice ROI with our Digital Dentistry Solutions.
We also offer the widest range of 3D systems under 1 roof for the New Zealand & Australia Dental & Othodontic market.
From Chair side Intra Oral Scanners to Lab 3D Printers, & farms for Thermoforming Aligners, we’ve implemented it all.
We help with Certified Materials, Training & Support
For the next frontier in your dental 3D printing journey, let our experience guide you.

Check out our Latest Additions & the newest in Additive Manufacturing Technology.
3D Printer Store has a consistent track record to be the first to bring many exciting products backed with product knowledge & support.

We are authorised distributors and resellers for the worlds most reputed 3D printing brands in New Zealand including EnvisionTec, Einscan, Shining 3D, Creatbot, FlashForge & Phrozen.

For professional and commercial grade FDM 3D printing, we are the authorised distributor of CreatBot 3D Printers with Free Training in NZ. Entry level & enthusiast 3D makers will appreciate our FlashForge 3D Printers available at very affordable prices. All our 3D printer brands are well reputed worldwide, & can be found in schools, universities & Engineering companies all around New Zealand.

For Industrial & Dental customers, we now offer a range of professional DLP 3D Printers including EnvisionTEC Advanced DLP Resin 3D Printers in New Zealand. We also have the new Continuous Layerless CDLM 3D Printers. DLP 3d printers are perfect for Digital Dentistry, & Jewellery casting.
We offer a full suite of Industrial Additive Manufacturing options for every industry from Automotive & Aerospace through to Medical, Dental & Jewellery 3D Printing.

We are proud to carry Einscan 3D Scanners made by Shining 3D. Engineered in Germany, Shining3D is a world leader in all types of 3d scanners from Professional White Light Scanners & Hybrid Laser Scanners through to Metrology grade scanners. We also offer the Einscan RED Reverse Engineering bundles using Geomagic Essentials to greatly stramline your Scan to Cad, measurement, & Data validation / QA applications. Call us today to learn how 3D Scanning can optimise your product development.

We sell only the very best, high quality 3D Printing Filament in New Zealand. All our 3D Printer Filaments are tested in house.
We sell some of the worlds best brands & are often the first to bring kiwi 3d printers the newest advanced materials.
Check out our blog to learn more on how to use a vast array of our exciting materials.

We were the First Company to introduce low-cost desktop resin 3d printers in New Zealand many years ago.
We have always believed in the future of resin 3d printing technology & have brought cutting edge resins at the best prices into New Zealand.
We presently have NZ’s biggest collection of LCD Resins in stock, ready to ship, & at possibly the best price in the country!
Check out our blog to learn more on how to use our vast array 3d printing consumables.

Buy 3D Printers & 3D Filament direct from our 3D Printing Store based in Auckland.

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Specialist in 3D Printing PEEK, PEI Ultem, Nylon Carbon Fibre, PolyCarbonate etc

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3D Printer not working right? We can service & repair 3D printers for a very reasonable price.

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printingserv2020-06-01T15:43:03+12:00

What is an IDEX 3D Printer & why would you want it

printingserv2020-06-01T15:43:03+12:00May 30th, 2020|0 Comments

So what is IDEX technology & why is it such a big deal in Dual Extruder 3D Printers? First lets explore what Dual Head 3D Printers actually refers to Common 3D Printers with 2 [...]

printingserv2020-05-27T05:41:16+12:00

3D Print Not Sticking to Bed FAQ

printingserv2020-05-27T05:41:16+12:00May 27th, 2020|0 Comments

Why is my part not sticking to the 3d printer bed while being 3d printed? The Most common issue people experience when they first start 3d printing is that the plastic is not sticking [. ..]

printingserv2020-05-27T06:18:06+12:00

TV3 News features 3D Printer Store for Project Face Shield NZ

printingserv2020-05-27T06:18:06+12:00April 1st, 2020|0 Comments

TV3 News Hub Features 3D Printing Services as a Major Supporter of Project Face Shield New Zealand

printingserv2019-08-16T12:25:50+12:00

How to 3D Print Wood Filament

printingserv2019-08-16T12:25:50+12:00August 16th, 2019|0 Comments

Firstly, what is Wood Filament ? All Wood filaments are actually made by adding Wood Fibre into a base plastic, most commonly PLA. Thus, most wood Filaments are called Wood PLA. Most cheap Wood filaments [...]

printingserv2019-08-16T13:04:45+12:00

Esun PLA+ – Why exactly would you want it?

printingserv2019-08-16T13:04:45+12:00March 30th, 2019|0 Comments

Lets Review Esun Pla+ Why exactly would you want it & not standard PLA? . .and when should you use standard PLA? Is there ever a need? (yes there is.. please read on..) Our Esun [...]

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We help some of the Biggest names in New Zealand Accelerate their Productivity using 3D Printing Technology – We can help you too.

Why Choose Us

Andy I

Feb 21, 2022

 by Andy I on Esun ePACF Carbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon 3D Filament

The best Carbon Fiber Nylon filament I have found. Strong enough that we use it to 3d print end use parts to supply to customers. And really easy to print!

Michael C

Feb 3, 2022

 by Michael C on F430 PEEK 3D Printer

The F430 is the best professional desktop FDM 3d printer we have ever used. The 3D Prints quality is better than anything else in the market for every single material we have ever 3d printed with it. Since there aren't very many reviews on this machine online, we visited the shop & were amazed & what this machine printed, we just couldn't believe the accuracy of the gears & fully working screws & nuts. I am glad we bought this machine & not one of the other reviewed models.

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Popular 3D Printing Companies In New Zealand

3D printing is rapidly gaining popularity, and almost every country now has a number of 3D printing companies offering 3D printers, materials, components, and services. This article looks at some of the most popular 3D printing companies in New Zealand.

Contents

  • 1 3D Printing Companies in New Zealand
    • 1.1 RAM3D
    • 1.2 Zenith Tecnica
    • 1.3 Marvle3D
    • 1.4 QOROX
    • 1.5 Optimal3D
    • 1.6 3Design
    • 1.7 Palmer Design & Manufacturing
    • 1.8 AddLab
  • 2 A Few More 3D Printing Companies
    • 2.1 Clone 3D Print & Production
    • 2.2 3Duke Engineering
    • 2.3 3DPrint-NZ
    • 2.4 Kiwi3D

3D Printing Companies in New Zealand

RAM3D

Above: Titanium suppressors for Oceania Defence/Source: RAM3D

RAM3D, headquartered in Tauranga, is a metal AM service provider in Australasia. It is one of the most widely known 3D printing companies in New Zealand. And has played a significant part in spreading the word about the technology throughout New Zealand by making metal components for a wide variety of clients and putting a strong emphasis on education and publicity. The business has also aided in the transition from prototyping to production by teaching many people the value of Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM).

It offers services in a range of sectors including Aerospace, Defence, Marine, Food Manufacturing, Industry & Specialty, Cycling and more.

Eight metal AM machines, seven by Renishaw, are currently in use at RAM3D. The materials 15-5 PH and 316 stainless steel, Inconel 718, titanium (Ti6Al4V), and maraging tool steel can all be found in the form of individual components.

Some of its esteemed clients include Oceania Defence, Autodesk, Victory Knives, Aeromotors Ltd. etc.

Zenith Tecnica

Above: Satellite bracket produced by EBM/Source: Zenith Tecnica

Zenith Tecnica is one of largest 3D printing companies in New Zealand and Australia. They offer metal 3D printing services of Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion. It was an early adopter of the Arcam EBM machines in the region and now operates three Arcam Q10 Plus and two Arcam Q20 machines. Zenith Tecnica is the name to rely upon when it comes to titanium additive manufacturing.

It produces titanium components and has already sent over 400 into space. An additive manufacturing materials testing lab is being set up by Zenith Tecnica in conjunction with Massey University.

It offers services in a range of sectors including Space & Aviation, Marine & Composites, Medical and Veterinary, High Performance & Specialty. Maxar Technologies, OSSIS, and Skrunkwerks are some of its clients.

Marvle3D

Castiot Limited, with headquarters in Auckland’s Papakura Central Business District, owns and operates Marvle3D. It sells all kinds of 3D printing products including 3D printers, filament and resins, 3D Scanners, 3D printer components, or a 3D printing service in New Zealand.

Marvel3D sells popular brands like Creality, Flashforge, EinScan, ESUN, SUNLU, Elegoo, and others.

QOROX

Above: QOROX is a pioneering 3D construction printing company in New Zealand/Source: QOROX

QOROX is a leading-edge tech firm that is inexpensively introducing additive manufacturing and Construction 4.0 to the New Zealand construction industry. It is a 3D construction printing company from

QOROX’s building processes and systems are revolutionising the construction industry by drastically cutting down on building times while maintaining the highest levels of quality, efficiency, effectiveness, and adaptability.

The construction 3D printing process employed by QOROX to make printed structures is quite efficient to save time, cost and materials. When compared to conventional building methods, it is 75% quicker and generates 70% less waste. QOROX provides the building sector with a robust alternative to traditional construction. It provides an array of services, including commercial, residential, landscaping, roading, and full customization and scalability.

Optimal3D

Optimal3D is an innovative New Zealand rapid prototyping company specialising in 3D printing and CNC machining. Its aim is to give New Zealanders a stress-free experience that is not only of high quality but also affordable. The company uses a wide range of technologies, to cater to a wide range of industries.

Optimal3D offers CNC Machining and 3D Printing services. It boasts of 18 CNC Machines, 32 3D Printers and 4 Metal 3D printers (including Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), to deliver parts in close to 100 different materials.

This family run business can build anything from prototypes to high volume production parts.

3Design

The Tauranga-based studio of 3Design specialises in 3D printing solutions and 3D printer sales. Founded in 2014, 3Design is an authorised reseller of truly revolutionary and feature-rich 3D Printers that deliver high-performance 3D printing unlike anything else you’ve seen. 3Design sells 3D Printers from the most reputable manufacturers, including Wanhao, Cubicon, CreatBot, Photocentric, and Carima.

It uses a range of 3D printing technologies like Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), Digital Light Processing (DLP), and Stereolithography (SLA) to service their orders.

Palmer Design & Manufacturing

Above: One of top 3D printing companies in New Zealand/Source: Palmer Design & Manufacturing

Palmer Design & Manufacturing, based in Waihi, Hauraki, New Zealand, was founded in 2011 by Andrew Palmer, who has 25 years of experience in high volume manufacturing and concept design. The company has grown year after year, and we is now one of top 3D printing companies in New Zealand providing 3D printing service providers, with SLA, FDM, and DLP printers.

Its expertise lies in transforming customer concepts into professional working prototypes and then into production.

AddLab

Above: AddLab is an AM Facility operated by Callaghan Innovation/Source: Callaghan Innovation

AddLab is an AM Facility operated by Callaghan Innovation, a government of New Zealand agency. Though not a 3D printing company, this is worth the mention as the lab allows companies to explore new business opportunities and find new solutions to their R&D problems. The lab is equipped with a range of metal and polymer manufacturing processes and provides access to Callaghan Innovation’s wide range of research expertise. In 2019, it produced a monitor bracket for Air New Zealand that reduced weight by 40% compared to the conventionally manufactured part.

Related Read: Popular 3D Printing Companies in Australia.

A Few More 3D Printing Companies

Clone 3D Print & Production

Clone 3D Print & Production is an Auckland-based 3D printing service provider. It offers a wide range of service using its 3D printing technologies like Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA) and Multi Jet Fusion (MJF). Through Clone 3D Print and Production you can fulfil your rapid prototyping, visual models, functional parts and short-run production needs.

3Duke Engineering

3Duke Engineering is an Auckland-based service provider. It is one-person company led by Richard Duke Barnes operated from his workshop home. He operates multiple high-end desktop 3D printers as opposed to expensive commercial grade printing machines. The desktop printers are capable of servicing a large clientele.

Though this is not a full-scale 3D printing service bureau, it is a problem-solving company that works on limited number of projects at a time and believes in delivering high-quality results for each of its clients.

3DPrint-NZ

3DPrint-NZ, short for 3D Print New Zealand, is a 3D printing service provider that delivers country wide. It has a state of the art additive manufacturing centre installed with Trump Precision Machinery Elite P3600 Selective Laser sintering (SLS) 3D printer. With this printer, it is able to deliver superior quality parts in Nylon 12.

3DPrint-NZ hires expert local staff on site to service customer orders, that are printed and couriered via Fedex priority to ensure that customers receive their parts promptly.

Kiwi3D

Kiwi3D is the official reseller of Creality 3D printers in New Zealand. This means that Kiwi3D also offers customer support and service for these printers in the country. Customers can directly shop printers and materials from their website.

In addition to Creality 3D printers, the company also sells Anycubic 3D printers, FDM filaments, resins and 3D printer components like build surface, nozzles, stepper motors, fans, etc.

Related Read: Popular 3D Printing Companies in Australia.

Note: This list is based on the popularity of 3D printing companies in the country based on their online presence, ease of online search, metrics as obtained from SEO software, etc.

About Manufactur3D Magazine: Manufactur3D is an online magazine on 3D printing. which publishes the latest 3D printing news, insights and analysis from all around the world. Visit our 3D Printing Education page to read more such informative articles. To stay up-to-date about the latest happenings in the 3D printing world, like us on Facebook or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

3D-printed rocket launched in New Zealand - Business - Kommersant

3K four 2 minutes. ...

The American company Rocket Lab launched its super-light Electron rocket into space. This launch was the first in the world in several ways at once - Electron became the first rocket printed on a 3D printer, in addition, the rocket was launched for the first time in New Zealand, from a private spaceport. So far, the rocket has not been launched into orbit, but this year Rocket Lab is going to conduct several more rocket launches. The use of a 3D printer can significantly reduce the cost of manufacturing rockets - an Electron launch costs $5 million, which is cheaper than the usual cost of rockets.

Photo: Reuters

On Thursday, US company Rocket Lab launched the first 3D-printed Electron launch vehicle. Electron belongs to the class of ultralight rockets. Its length is 17 m, its diameter is 1.2 m, it can deliver loads weighing up to 225 kg into orbit. “It was a fantastic flight, and we are really pleased with the performance of the rocket,” Peter Beck, founder of Rocket Lab, said after the launch. However, during today's launch, the rocket did not reach orbit, as its creators had hoped. According to Mr. Beck, in the coming weeks, his team will find out why the rocket failed to reach the desired height. Electron was originally scheduled to launch on May 22, but the launch was pushed back several times due to weather conditions. The second rocket has already been built, it will take several more months to launch it.

The rocket was launched from a private spaceport owned by Rocket Lab and located on the Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand. This is the world's first rocket launch from a private spaceport, which is designed to launch ultralight rockets into low orbit. Last week, Rocket Lab received approval for three rocket test launches. The company hopes to begin commercial launches this year and subsequently be able to launch one rocket a week.

The Electron rocket is made of carbon fiber and uses an electric motor. Making a rocket using a 3D printer significantly reduces the cost of its production. As Rocket Lab previously reported, launching Electron costs $5 million. This is not the first example of rocket launches becoming cheaper. For example, SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, is testing the Falcon 9 return launch vehicle, which, unlike conventional rockets, can be used several times.

The launch of Electron was a major success for New Zealand: it was the first rocket launch from its territory, the country has never had its own space program. “Today's successful launch is a major milestone in the development of New Zealand's space industry,” New Zealand Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges said. According to him, New Zealand is now one of 11 countries that can launch satellites from its territory, and "the potential benefits for the country's economy from this are very significant."

Yana Rozhdestvenskaya

SpaceX is getting better and better at landing

In early May 2016, SpaceX successfully landed the first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket on an offshore platform for the second time. The first time a successful descent to the offshore platform was made in April of the same year. The use of returnable rockets, which SpaceX is developing, can significantly reduce the cost of launch. Read more

Picture of the day

Whole tape

Masters Movement, IP Litigation and Legal Reform

October 2019

Author: Matthew Rimmer * Professor of Intellectual Property and Innovation Law, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia

underlying the traditional manufacturing industry). 3D printing is also associated with the Craftsmen Movement, a social movement whose main idea is to develop designs for various products and share them.

Currently, the development of 3D printing is in a transitional phase. While the consumer “3D printing revolution” has failed, other varieties and categories of 3D printing have seen growth. (Photo courtesy of Queensland University of Technology)

3D printing is currently in transition. The consumer "3D printing revolution", which aimed to have a 3D printer in every home, has failed. MakerBot, a pioneer in 3D printing, is having trouble with its changing approach to intellectual property (IP) issues, disrupting its ties to the open source software community, and the user audience turned away from it. As former MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis said in an interview, "The open source community has kicked us out of their paradise." As a result, MakerBot was acquired by Stratasys, a leader in the 3D printing industry, which restructured and repurposed it.

Some other key players also went bankrupt. In particular, TechShop, a membership-funded and open-to-all network of studio-workshops for home craftsmen, went bankrupt. Maker Media, which publishes Make magazine and hosts craft festivals in the United States, has gone under external control. Make magazine founder Dale Doherty is trying to revitalize his project with a new structure he created called Make Community LLC.

Industrial 3D printing continues to grow

While personal 3D printing has not developed as expected, there has been growth in a number of other forms and categories of 3D printing. Along with robotics and big data, 3D printing has become one of the promising technologies in the manufacturing industry. Companies specializing in information technology and design are working to improve the way 3D printing is used. Significant investments, especially from transport companies, have been attracted by the technology of 3D printing of metal products. In addition, there have been large-scale experiments related to the application of 3D printing in the healthcare sector, including 3D printing in dentistry, 3D printing in medicine, and bioprinting.

As technology improves and develops, there have been several cases of lawsuits being filed in the courts, as well as certain political developments regarding the regulation of the 3D printing industry. Our recently published book 3D Printing and Beyond explores some of the major developments in IC and 3D printing. In particular, it analyzes the issues of 3D printing in relation to areas such as copyright law, trademark law, patent law, and trade secrets (as well as some of the broader issues related to the regulation of 3D printing). In addition, the book highlights the use of open licensing mechanisms in the field of 3D printing.

3D printing and copyright law

A few years ago, there was a panic that the widespread use of 3D printing would lead to a wave of large-scale infringements of authors' rights, similar to the situation that arose with the advent of the Napster file-sharing network . Although such fears have not yet materialized, there have been various conflicts related to copyright and 3D printing. For example, Augustana College (United States) objected to 3D scanning of Michelangelo's statues, even though they were not subject to copyright protection and were clearly in the public domain. The American cable television network HBO has blocked the sale of an iPhone stand in the form of an "iron throne" from the TV series "Game of Thrones", made according to the drawings of designer Fernando Sosa using 3D printing. United States singer-songwriter Katy Perry has demanded a ban on the sale of a 3D-printed "shark on the left" figure by the same designer (nevertheless, this product subsequently reappeared in the Shapeways 3D Printing Systems catalog). The heirs of the French-American artist Marcel Duchamp opposed the production of a 3D-printed set of chess pieces based on the works of this artist.

“There have been large-scale experiments with 3D printing applications in healthcare, including 3D printing in dentistry, 3D printing in medicine, and bioprinting,” says Rimmer. (Photo credit: Stratasys)

3D printing was also subject to the on-demand removal of content under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (USA). Shapeways and a number of other 3D printing firms have raised concerns about the implications of this regime for online platforms and 3D printing intermediaries.

In addition, discussions took place on issues related to the use of technical protection measures in the context of copyright law and 3D printing. For example, the US Copyright Office has confirmed a limited technical protection exception for 3D printing stocks.

3D printing and design law

Developments in 3D printing have also raised the issue of product repair rights.

Efforts have been made across the European Union to recognize the right to repair in order to support consumer rights and develop a circular economy. In this regard, one of the important factors in achieving changes in the behavior of companies and consumers has become the European Greening Directive (Directive 2009/125/EC).

In July 2019, the United States Federal Trade Commission held a Hearing on "Can't be Repaired: A Workshop on Product Repair Restrictions. " Significant differences remain between IP owners and right-to-repair advocates in the United States. Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has called for legislation to secure the right to repair for the benefit of farmers in the agricultural regions of the United States.

Significant and first-of-its-kind litigation has taken place in Australia regarding the right to repair under Design Law ( GM Global Technology Operations LLC v S 6 . - S - Auto Parts Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 97). The Australian Treasury is considering policy options regarding the practice of sharing vehicle repair information.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Consumer Affairs Minister Shane Rettenbury called for recognition of the right to repair from the rostrum of the Consumer Affairs Forum, which includes ministers from both Australia and New Zealand. Federal Minister Michael Succar asked the Australian Productivity Commission to look into the matter.

Calls for right-to-repair laws, both at the provincial and federal levels, are also being heard in Canada. As Laura Tribe, Executive Director of Open Media, noted in this regard, “We are committed to ensuring that people have the opportunity to be the real owners of the products they own.”

3D printing and trademark law

3D printing also brings uncertainty to trademark law and related legal regimes, including product substitution, identity rights, commercial use of characters, and trade dress. The legal conflict surrounding Katy Perry's trademark application for the "shark on the left" image provides some insight into some of the issues that arise in this regard.

Regarding bioprinting, Advanced Solutions Life Sciences sued Biobots Inc. In connection with the alleged violation of its trademark rights ( Advanced Solutions Life Sciences , LLC V Biobiots MAY 201. Advanced Solutions Life Sciences owns and uses the registered trademark Bioassemblybot for 3D bioprinting and tissue growth.

3D printing and patent law

According to the 2015 WIPO Global Intellectual Property Report "Breakthrough Innovation and Economic Growth", 3D printing patent filings are on the rise. Some industrial 3D printing companies, including 3D Systems and Stratasys, have managed to build large 3D printing patent portfolios. Large industrial companies, including GE and Siemens, have also accumulated significant patent assets in 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Information technology companies, including Hewlett Packard and Autodesk, also play an important role in the 3D printing industry.

With the growing commercial importance of 3D printing in the manufacturing industry, there have been a significant number of litigations related to 3D printing of metal products. In July 2018, as part of the “Desktop Metal Inc.” v. Markforged, Inc. and Matiu Parangi (2018 Case No. 1:18-CV-10524), a federal jury found that Markforged Inc. did not infringe two patents owned by rival Desktop Metal Inc. (See Desktop Metal Inc. v. Markforged, Inc. and Matiu Parangi (2018) 2018 WL 4007724 (Massachusetts District Court, jury verdict). In this regard, the CEO of Markforged Inc. .” Greg Mark stated, “We are pleased with the jury's verdict that we have not infringed patents and that Metal X technology, which is the latest addition to the Markforged 3D printing platform, is based on our own Markforged's proprietary designs." For its part, a spokesman for Desktop Metal noted that it was "satisfied that the jury recognized the validity of all claims in both Desktop Metal patents, which were discussed in a lawsuit against the company "Markforged"

In 2018 (after the above verdict) Desktop Metal Inc. and Markforged Inc. entered into a confidential financial agreement that settled all other litigation between them. However, in 2019 Markforged Inc. filed another lawsuit against Desktop Metal Inc. due to the fact that, according to her, the latter violated that part of the agreement, which concerned non-disclosure of negative information.

3D printing and trade secrets

In addition, the first litigation regarding 3D printing and trade secret legislation took place. In 2016, Florida-based 3D printing startup Magic Leap filed a lawsuit in federal court for the Northern District of California against two of its former employees for misappropriation of trade secret information within the meaning of Trade Secret Protection Act (" Magic Leap Inc ." v Bradski et al (2017) case no. 5:16-cvb-02852). In early 2017, a judge granted the defendants' request to stay the case, stating that Magic Leap had failed to provide "a reasonable degree of specificity" to the disclosure of alleged trade secrets. Subsequently, the judge allowed Magic Leap to amend the text of its submission. In August 2017, the parties entered into a “confidential agreement” in connection with this issue. In 2019Mafic Leap sued the founder of Nreal for breach of contract, fraud, and unfair competition (Magic Leap Inc. v. Xu, 19-cv-03445, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco)).

With the growing commercial importance of 3D printing in the manufacturing industry, there have been a significant number of litigations related to 3D printing of metal products. (Photo courtesy of Stratasys)

3D printing and open licensing

In addition to proprietary IP protections, 3D printing has a widespread practice of open licensing. Companies with a free distribution philosophy include Prusa Research (Czech Republic), Shapeways (Netherlands-US) and Ultimaker (Netherlands). Members of the Craft Movement used open licensing mechanisms to share and distribute 3D printing files. As noted in The State of the Commons 2017, the Thingiverse platform was one of the most popular platforms using Creative Commons licenses.

Other issues arising from the development of 3D printing

In addition to IP issues, the development of 3D printing also raises a number of other legal, ethical and regulatory issues. In healthcare, regulators have faced challenges with personalized medicine. The United States Food and Drug Administration and the Australian Health Products Administration held consultations on the development of a balanced set of regulations for medical 3D printing and bioprinting. The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for a comprehensive approach to the regulation of 3D printing.

Litigation regarding 3D printing of firearms is also ongoing in the United States. Several state attorneys general have sued the current administration to obstruct an agreement between the federal government and Defense Distributed. Several criminal cases have been filed in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan in connection with attempts to 3D print firearms. Legislators are debating the feasibility of criminalizing crimes related to possession of digital blueprints for 3D printed firearms.

Footnotes

* Dr. Matthew Rimmer is Head of the KTU Research Program on Intellectual Property Law and Innovation and is also involved in the KTU Electronic Media Research Center, the KTU Australian Health Law Research Center and the KTU International Law Research Program and global governance.

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