On 3D Printing

Motorola Mobility, a Google company, is building a 3D printed modular phone, and has partnered with 3D Systems for commercial fulfillment. More »

The Captured Dimensions pop-up studio was located in the Smithsonian Castle and featured approximately 80 digital cameras all connected to 3D software. More »

Microsoft expanded their support for 3D printing by launching a Windows 8 app called 3D Builder. It includes a library of objects you can edit and 3D print. More »

3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced the availability of the Sense 3D scanner, the first 3D scanner designed for the consumer and optimized for 3D printing. More »

With rumors circling that 3D Systems will be purchased by IBM, the stock soars. We look at why IBM might be interested in the 3D printing giant. More »

Yearly Archives: 2012

Are You At the 3D Print Show? RT or Comment!

October 20, 2012 News

The 3D Print Show, taking place today and tomorrow at The Brewery, Chiswell St, London, will include:

Performances from the world’s first 3D printed band, with specially composed scores from Dave Marks
3D printed fashion show including bespoke work from world renowned fashion, jewelry, footwear and millinery designers, such as Daniel Widrig, Bryan Oknyansky and Amelia Agosta
3D art gallery showcasing up to 50 different artworks ranging from sculpture to animation and interactive design. The show will host works from renowned designers such as Neri Oxman, Ted Noten and Assa Ashuach
Workshops from leading experts including Jason Lopez, who created 3D printed body armour for the film Ironman 2
3D printed “mini me’s” using body scanning technology to produce an exact replica of yourself
Design bar giving attendees the chance to learn the fine art of 3D design
Cinema showing reels from the 3D4D Challenge, a charity that seeks to provide low-cost 3D printed solutions to help communities in the developing world
Medical and archaeological zones demonstrating the applicability of 3D print to modern medicine and historical preservation
3D printed living room from chairs to table lamps
And much, much more!

The show plays host to some of the biggest names in 3D printing including 3D Systems, MakerBot and Ultimaker, who will be on hand to demonstrate the technology and scope of 3D printing.

Some of the most forward thinking minds from the worlds of technology, design, art and fashion will come together to showcase truly innovative works that have only been made possible through the medium of 3D print.

If you are there, RT or comment!

Via The Manufacturer.

Video: NASA Engineers Use 3D Printing to Design Mars Rover

October 18, 2012 Video

NASA engineers use 3D printing to build a next-generation rover to support humans exploring other worlds, such as asteroids and, eventually, Mars.

Stratasys 3D printers were used for rapid prototyping to help keep costs down and get the parts designed perfectly. Watch the video below.

Design: Nintendo Wii U Controller Prototyped Using 3D Printing

October 17, 2012 News

Nintendo designers iterated on dozens of prototypes to get the perfect shape for the Wii U gamepad controller. How? 3D printing.

Hardware developer Masato Ibuki commented: “I made such a huge amount that I don’t even remember how many! (laughs) This time, instead of using the designs as it had come out of the 3D printer, we actually received approval for design with something that all the team members including myself whittled by hand to make fine adjustments to the 3D printed objects in the company workshop.”

Below is a virtual tour of the Wii U GamePad.

Via The Examiner.

3D Printed Bioscope: New Design Reinvents the Old Film Camera

October 17, 2012 News

Inspired by an early movie projector of the same name, the Bioscope is a medium to experience memories in relative time. It consists of a hand-held device, to be viewed with one eye, resembling an old film camera.

Simon de Bakker and Jon Stam, who designed and 3D printed their ‘Bioscope’ at i.materialise are pushing the boundaries of photography, film and technology. The Bioscope is a digital movie viewer in the shape of a Fisherprice camera.

Designers often use 3D printing for accessories and interior design, but there is another market that reaches 3D printing more and more: the one with digital gadgets like the Bioscope: you look with your eye through the ‘lens’ and then, by moving the red button forward or backward you can see your home movie frame by frame which creates a very retro like effect.

The Magical Experience – Interview with Jon Stam

“For this project, I wanted to recreate the magical experience of those old projectors but adjusted to our modern times by using movies on USB sticks. The Bioscope is interactive and allows the user to move through time with the turn of the crank. Moving forward and backward, as fast as slow as you want. You’re invited to pause at your favorite moments and reflect. This way people get manual control over digital information and it allows them to transform every viewing into something entirely new and personal.”

3D Printing and the Bioscope

Through traditional manufacturing it was hard to bring this idea to life, so Jon Stam and Simon de Bakker decided to try 3D printing: “We were thinking about how we could take old technology and adapt it for the modern world. Going to the traditional manufacturing route of making a mold and going into full production was not only too expensive, but it also made it impossible to customize the Bioscopes the way we wanted.”

“Luckily, there is 3D Printing. By using this technology, we could create the bioscope digitally and together with i.materialise, repair any errors in the file and find the best material and printing technique to bring the bioscope to life in polyamide. Quickly and affordably. Plus, when I am not completely satisfied with how the bioscope feels – not a problem. I change the digital file, contact i.materialise, and presto…a new and improved Bioscope!”