Aleph Objects: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|American manufacturer of 3D printers}}

{{update|date=September 2020}}

{{infobox company

| name = Aleph Objects

| logo = Aleph_Objects_Logo.png

| type = [[Private company]]

| traded_as =
| fate =

| predecessor =

| fate =

| successor =

| predecessor =

| foundation =

| successor =

| founder =

| foundation =

| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->

| founder =

| location_city = [[Loveland, Colorado]]

| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->

| location_city = Loveland, Colorado

| location_country = United States

| ___location =

| locations =

| area_served =

| key_people = {{plainlist|

* Jeff Moe <small>[[Chief executive officer|CEO]]</small><ref name=AboutAlephObjects>{{cite web|title=The Minds Behind the Machines|url=https://www.alephobjects.com/about.html|website=AlephObjects.com|publisher=Aleph Objects, Inc.|accessdate=20 February 2015|archive-date=5 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005082348/https://www.alephobjects.com/about.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> <small>[[Chief technology officer|CTO]]</small><ref name=AboutAlephObjects/>

<small>[[Chief technology officer|CTO]]</small><ref name=AboutAlephObjects/>

* Steven Abadie <small>[[Chief operating officer|COO]]</small><ref name=AboutAlephObjects/>

}}

| industry = [[3D printing]], [[Manufacturing industry|Manufacturing]]

| products = 3D printing hardware

| services =

| revenue = $21 Million<ref name="Inc5000">{{cite web |title=Aleph Objects |url=https://www.inc.com/profile/aleph-objects |website=Inc 5000 |publisher=Inc.com |accessdate=13 October 2018}}</ref>

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| assets =

| equity =

| owner =

| num_employees = 8<ref name="Inc5000"/>

| parent =

| divisions =

| subsid =

| homepage = {{url|https://www.alephobjects.com|www.alephobjects.com}}

| footnotes = ={{url|https://www.inc.com/profile/aleph-objects}}

| intl =

}}

'''Aleph Objects, Inc.''' iswas a small manufacturing company based in Loveland, [[Colorado]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Aleph Objects |url=https://www.ics.com/success/aleph-objects |website=Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc. |access-date=14 February 2025}}</ref> Their business model focusesfocused around the development of [[Openopen-source hardware]] for [[3D printing]] with full support for [[Freefree and open-source software]].

==LulzBot==

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 3-D3D printable.<ref>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.</ref>

[[File:LulzBot Mini 3D Printer.jpg|left|thumb|150px|A LulzBot Mini, one of several models in the LulzBot line of 3D printers]]

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 3-D printable.<ref>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.</ref>

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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>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</ref> Similarly, Lulzbot 3-d3D printers are used in projects to create low-cost prosthetic hands.<ref>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. [httphttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Minas_Liarokapis/publication/270162328_How_to_Create_Affordable_Modular_Light-Weight_Underactuated_Compliant_Robot_Hands/links/54a423d90cf257a636071d45.pdf PDF] </ref>

Due in a large part to relative ease of maintenance and use, Lulzbot printers are one of several desktop 3-D3D printers have been recommended for libraries by reviewers.<ref>Griffey, J. (2014). 3-D Printers for Libraries. ''Library Technology Reports'', 50(5), 1.</reFref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

InThe itsTAZ 4 was released in early 2014 ''Ultimatewith Guideseveral key improvements to 3Dthe Printing''TAZ specialplatform issue,to [[Makemake Magazine]]it themore Lulzbotrobust TAZand wascapable. awardedThis forincluded havinga thenewly "bestengineered documentation"drive ofrod allsystem, theredesigned hobbyisty-gradeaxis 3Dheated printersbed mounts, a 400 W power supply, and a fully assembled electronics case that werewould allow compatibility with subsequently released dual testedextruders.<ref>{{cite web|title=MAKE’sAleph 3Dobjects Printertakes Testingit Resultsto the next generation with the TAZ 4 3D printer|url=httphttps://makezine3dprintingindustry.com/magazinenews/guidealeph-toobjects-3dtakes-printingnext-generation-taz-4-2014/3d-printer-overview26886/|website=3dprintingindustry.com|publisher=3D Printing Industry|date=6 May 2014}}</ref> Its release was met with reviews praising its new engineering.<ref>{{cite web|title=Review: TAZ 4 3D Printer |url=https://makezine.com/2014/11/22/review-howtaz-they4-compare3d-printer/|website=makezine.com|publisher=Maker Media, Inc|accessdate=15 April 2015|date=822 November 20132014}}</ref> The TAZ 5 iswas also rated higher than any other 3D printer on 3D Forged's list of best 3D printers.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Krassenstein|first1=Brian|title=Aleph Objects’Objects' LulzBot 3D Printers to be Featured on ‘How'How It’sIt's Made’Made' TV Show|url=http://3dprint.com/9037/3d-printer-how-its-made/|website=3dprint.com|publisher=3DPrint.com|accessdate=18 April 2015|date=13 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aleph Objects' Aleph Objects’ LulzBot 3D Printers Featured on How It’s Made|url=https://www.lulzbot.com/blog/aleph-objects-lulzbot-3d-printers-featured-how-its-made|website=lulzbot.com|publisher=Aleph Objects, Inc.|accessdate=18 April 2015}}</ref>

On May 17, 2016, LulzBot released the TAZ 6, which featured such upgrades over the TAZ 5 as, automated bed-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."<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

==Other Products==

In October 2019, due to cash flow problems, the company laid off 91 out of its 113 employees.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In November 2019, Aleph Objects announced that all of its assets have been acquired by Fargo Additive Manufacturing Equipment 3D (FAME 3D).<ref>{{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}}</ref>

<gallery caption="Lulzbot 3D printers" width="210" perrow="6">

Lulzbot AO-100.jpg|Lulzbot AO-100

File:Make Magazine 3D Printer Shootout Weekend (9430389868).jpg|Lulzbot Taz

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

3-D Printer and PC (cropped) LulzBot TAZ 6.jpg|Lulzbot Taz 6

</gallery>

==Other Productsproducts==

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

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[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Colorado]]

[[Category:Fused filament fabrication]]