3D printers were one of those technologies that were going to change the world and have become something very niche. However, many people own one, whether it is to create prototypes, manufacture products or other uses. Well, then, Laboratory bamboo, an important one 3D Printer Manufacturer has been respondent In USA by the company Stratasys.
There are currently many 3D printer manufacturers. Many are based on Prusa designs that are open source, but others are creating their own solutions based on these designs, such as Bambu Lab.
One of the largest manufacturers of industrial 3D printers in the world is Stratasys, which has been offering its own solutions since 1988. Recently, they accused Bambu Lab of copying some of their creations. This is a major issue in the industry, as it could lead to a series of patent infringement lawsuits.
Are the days of 3D printers numbered?
The lawsuits filed by Stratasys all involve six companies associated with Bambu Lab. The company is demanding a jury trial in all cases. If these lawsuits are successful and the claim is accepted, the consumer 3D printing market could change forever.
Specifically, we have a total of two lawsuits referencing six patents owned by Stratasys. Two of the patents were originally owned by MakerBot, a company Stratasys acquired in 2013. In 2022, it merged that subsidiary with Utilimaker, retaining ownership of all the patents.
In the first trial, it was established that the following patents were infringed:
- US9421713B2: Additive manufacturing method for printing three-dimensional parts with purge towers.
- This system is used by Bambu Lab for easy multi-color printing. The print stops mid-process, delay the filament usage, then insert another color filament to continue printing. To prevent leakage of the old filament, a purge tower is placed before continuing the process.
- US9592660B2: Heated platform and build system for three-dimensional printing methods.
- In simple terms, it is the heated bed used by a large number of 3D printers on the market. This mechanism ensures that the first layers always remain in place for a better quality print.
- US7555357B2: Method for constructing three-dimensional objects with extrusion layer deposition systems.
- US9168698B2: Three-dimensional printer with force sensing.
- US10556381B2: Force-sensing three-dimensional printer.
As for heated beds, I built a few Prusa-type printers with heated beds over a decade ago, so these systems are not entirely new, so it would be a problem if they were found to be infringing on a patent.
Regarding the other three patents, they refer to the methods of forming the three-dimensional object and to the sensors for precisely calibrating the extrusion.
The second claim addresses much more specific issues. They accuse Bambu Lab of violating the convenience issues related to wireless communication of 3D printers and the use of RFID tags that allow the 3D printer to know which filament is installed. Specifically, here are the patents:
- US10569466B2: Labeled building material for three-dimensional printing.
- US11167464B2: same as above.
- US8747097B2: Network 3D printer with 3D scanner.
- US11886774B2: Detection and use of printer configuration information.
- US8562324B2: Three-dimensional network printing.
The second round is not relevant at the general level and only affects the products of the two companies. The first batch of patent applications could cause serious damage to the industry. Are we facing the end of 3D printers?
