14 DAY TRIAL // If there's one thing that can be said about the 3D printing industry is that it's disparate. Segmented. And it looks like Marvell didn't like to see that go on.
That's why the communications, storage, networking, wireless, and semiconductor chip maker has expanded its purview to include 3D printer processing platforms.
The first chip intended to act as a central driving force for 3D printers is as yet unnamed, but it will be based on the 88PA6120 SoC. It will be a full hardware and software development kit based on Linux.
Marvell hopes that this will provide some common ground for all the companies out there that make 3D printers. A way to create newer and intercompatible models.
Providing a basis on which 3D printer apps could run isn't out of the question either. There seems to be a lot of love for printers that can work independently from a PC, at least in a crisis.
Motion control will be provided by the platform as well, regardless of technology: SLA, FDM/FFF, SLS, etc.
The Marvell 3D printer platform will be introduced officially at the 2015 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2015).
Here are the bare specs: a 533MHz ARM v7 compatible processor, Integrated 10/100 PHY, USB, DRAM, eMMC storage, multiple motor controls and print head interfaces, HW encryption support for IPSec & SSL, wireless technology (Wi-Fi / Bluetooth).
