Aleph Objects

The company is most well known for its LulzBot 3D printer product line, which although using some extruded aluminum railing and other mass-production components still remains true to RepRap principles by having many components 3D printable.Pîrjan, A., & Petroşanu, D. M. (2013). The impact of 3d printing technology on the society and economy. Journal of Information Systems & Operations Management, 7(2), 360-370.

Due to its fully open source hardware and open source software design, the LulzBot Taz 6 has received "Respects Your Freedom" certification from the Free Software Foundation.{{cite web|last1=Gay|first1=Joshua|title=Aleph Objects|url=http://www.fsf.org/resources/hw/endorsement/aleph-objects|website=fsf.org|publisher=Free Software Foundation, Inc.|accessdate=2 April 2015|date=29 Apr 2013}} In addition, the Lulzbot printers are often used in open-source tool chains on open source projects. For example, Superior Enzymes used a LulzBot TAZ in fabricating an open source photometer for nitrate testing.Wittbrodt BT, Squires DA, Walbeck J, Campbell E, Campbell WH, Pearce JM. (2015) [https://www.academia.edu/14702947/Open-Source_Photometric_System_for_Enzymatic_Nitrate_Quantification Open-Source Photometric System for Enzymatic Nitrate Quantification]. PLoS ONE 10(8): e0134989. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134989 Similarly, Lulzbot 3D printers are used in projects to create low-cost prosthetic hands.Zisimatos, A. G., Liarokapis, M. V., Mavrogiannis, C. I., Kontoudis, G. P., & Kyriakopoulos, K. J. How to Create Affordable, Modular, Light-Weight, Underactuated, Compliant Robot Hands. [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Minas_Liarokapis/publication/270162328_How_to_Create_Affordable_Modular_Light-Weight_Underactuated_Compliant_Robot_Hands/links/54a423d90cf257a636071d45.pdf PDF]

Due in a large part to relative ease of maintenance and use, Lulzbot printers are one of several desktop 3D printers have been recommended for libraries by reviewers.Griffey, J. (2014). 3-D Printers for Libraries. Library Technology Reports, 50(5), 1. In its 2014 Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing special issue, Make Magazine awarded the Lulzbot TAZ "best documentation" of all the hobbyist-grade 3D printers that were tested.{{cite web|title=MAKE's 3D Printer Testing Results|url=http://makezine.com/magazine/guide-to-3d-printing-2014/3d-printer-overview-how-they-compare/|website=makezine.com|publisher=Maker Media, Inc|accessdate=15 April 2015|date=8 November 2013|archive-date=26 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326023449/http://makezine.com/magazine/guide-to-3d-printing-2014/3d-printer-overview-how-they-compare/|url-status=dead}}

The TAZ 4 was released in early 2014 with several key improvements to the TAZ platform to make it more robust and capable. This included a newly engineered drive rod system, redesigned y-axis heated bed mounts, a 400 W power supply, and a fully assembled electronics case that would allow compatibility with subsequently released dual extruders.{{cite web|title=Aleph objects takes it to the next generation with the TAZ 4 3D printer|url=https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/aleph-objects-takes-next-generation-taz-4-3d-printer-26886/|website=3dprintingindustry.com|publisher=3D Printing Industry|date=6 May 2014}} Its release was met with reviews praising its new engineering.{{cite web|title=Review: TAZ 4 3D Printer |url=https://makezine.com/2014/11/22/review-taz-4-3d-printer/|website=makezine.com|publisher=Maker Media, Inc|date=22 November 2014}} The TAZ 5 was also rated higher than any other 3D printer on 3D Forged's list of best 3D printers.{{Cite web|url=http://3dforged.com/best-3d-printers/|title=The Best 3D Printers for 2016 {{!}} 3D Forged|website=3D Forged|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407140223/http://3dforged.com/best-3d-printers/|archive-date=2016-04-07|url-status=dead}} On June 15, 2014, a film crew from the Canadian-produced television show How It's Made visited the company's headquarters in Loveland, Colorado. There, they filmed a segment featuring the LulzBot TAZ 4 3D printer, which aired in an episode of How It's Made on The Discovery Channel in 2015.{{cite web|last1=Krassenstein|first1=Brian|title=Aleph Objects' LulzBot 3D Printers to be Featured on 'How It's Made' TV Show|url=http://3dprint.com/9037/3d-printer-how-its-made/|website=3dprint.com|accessdate=18 April 2015|date=13 July 2014}}

On May 17, 2016, LulzBot released the TAZ 6, which featured such upgrades as, automated bed-leveling, automated nozzle cleaning, and an enclosed power supply, as well as improved firmware, support for new filament materials, a better heat sink, and more. In 3DForged.com's review of the TAZ 6, Brent Hale called the TAZ 6 "the best overall 3D printer I have ever used."{{Cite web|url=http://3dforged.com/lulzbot-taz-6-review/|title=LulzBot Taz 6 Review {{!}} 3D Forged|date=2016-05-17|website=3D Forged|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518060647/http://3dforged.com/lulzbot-taz-6-review/|archive-date=2016-05-18|url-status=dead}} However it was the less expensive model, the LulzBot Mini 2 that was named Best Intermediate Printer of the Year for 2019 by Tom's Guide. The Mediahq agreed, naming the Lulzbot Mini 2 the best 3D printer for enthusiasts in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-3d-printers,review-2236.html|title=Best Home 3D Printers 2019 - Reviews for Beginners and Enthusiasts|date=2019-10-21|website=The Mediahq|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-22}}

LulzBot expanded its innovation in the field of 3D printing by using collagen, as collagen makes up every single tissue in the human body. In summer 2019, Carnegie Mellon University created a functional 3D printed human heart tissue utilizing LulzBot's "FRESH" process.{{cite journal |title=3D bioprinting of collagen to rebuild components of the human heart |date=August 2, 2019 |journal=Science |doi=10.1126/science.aav9051 |last1=Lee |first1=A. |last2=Hudson |first2=A. R. |last3=Shiwarski |first3=D. J. |last4=Tashman |first4=J. W. |last5=Hinton |first5=T. J. |last6=Yerneni |first6=S. |last7=Bliley |first7=J. M. |last8=Campbell |first8=P. G. |last9=Feinberg |first9=A. W. |volume=365 |issue=6452 |pages=482–487 |pmid=31371612 |bibcode=2019Sci...365..482L |s2cid=199379918 |doi-access=free }}

In October 2019, due to cash flow problems, the company laid off 91 out of its 113 employees.{{cite web |url=https://www.reporterherald.com/2019/10/11/lovelands-aleph-objects-undergoes-significant-reduction-of-staff/ |title=Loveland's Aleph Objects lays off 80 percent of employees |date=October 11, 2019 |website=reporterherald.com |accessdate=2020-11-17}}

In November 2019, Aleph Objects announced that all of its assets have been acquired by Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D (FAME 3D).{{Cite web |url=https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/aleph-objects-acquired-by-fargo-additive-manufacturing-equipment-3d-164451/ |title=Aleph Objects acquired by Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D |date=2019-11-11 |website=3D Printing Industry |language=en-US |access-date=2020-02-21}}

Lulzbot AO-100.jpg|Lulzbot AO-100

LulzBot Mini 3D Printer.jpg|LulzBot Mini

Taz 4 3D Printer (14212758178).jpg|Lulzbot Taz 4

Taz 5 3D Printer (16929006905).jpg|Lulzbot Taz 5

Aleph Object's business is focused around their line of 3D printers, as such, they also sell plastic filament, printer accessories, and replacement parts.

• List of 3D printer manufacturers
• RepRap Project
• Slic3r

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Category:3D printer companies

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