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
Startup Mixee Me Launches Beta: 3D Print Your Own Mini-Me Likeness
Mixee Me is a new 3D printing startup that lets you easily create a mini you and 3D print it. The company was founded in 2012 by Nancy Liang and Aaron Barnet. Nancy previously worked for Shapeways and Aaron is the software developer and architect.
Mixee Me launched its public beta today. You can visit the site at mixeeme.com.
How does it work?
Using a web-based character modeling tool, you can create a little buddy that looks just like you. Similar to designing a Mii on the Wii, you can pick the hair, eyes, clothes and accessories to suit your personal tastes. We found it really quick and easy to make a little dude.
Once you have completed your design, it is auto-uploaded to 3D printing marketplace Shapeways where you can purchase the physical object for $25 plus shipping.
The models are printed in full color sandstone and are roughly 2 to 3 cm tall. That may seem small but Mixee Me founder Nancy explains that this is a limitation of the early technology, “Because 3D printing is priced volumetrically, bigger prints are way more expensive. We want to make 3D printing accessible, and that includes the price of the final products.”
Here is our final model, which is now on order from Shapeways.
More about Mixee Me
What sets you apart from others in this industry?
Nancy: Right now, there are a lot of great companies focusing on making 3D printers. Before you can print anything though, you need 3D files that tells the printers what to do. When I first started modeling, it took me 3 hours to make a stick figure, because most 3D design tools are aimed at professionals. It then took me 2 more hours to rework my file so a 3D printer can understand it, because most 3D design tools are made for applications like injection molding and animation, not 3D printing. After all that work, my model was way too expensive to print. We don’t want anybody to go through that!
What about the industry excites you?
Nancy: We believe in a future where anybody can make anything they want. Instead of ordering stock products through Amazon, you can download virtual 3D files, maybe tweak them to suit your specific needs, and send them to the printers.
Each product can be customized to your specific needs. Holding something that you designed in your hands is a delightful, personal experience. It can really change the relationships people have with their stuff.
With 3D printing, designers can iterate on their ideas quickly. My friends in hardware often say that product design does not move at “internet speed,” where you can make tweaks just by clicking a button. 3D printing changes that.
What is your long term vision for Mixee Me?
Nancy: Mixee Me aims to make designing 3D printable objects accessible to anybody. Right now, we are focused on our character creator. Eventually, we want to expand the range of what people can make with Mixee Me to just about anything. It’s a tough problem no doubt, but a very exciting one to tackle.
Launch Promotion
MixeeMe is running a special launch promotion. To enter, follow these steps:
- Make a Mixee online: http://www.mixeeme.com
- Tweet @MixeeMe, link to your Mixee’s URL, tell us why your Mixee is awesome
- Every hour from 1 PM to 8 PM EST, we will pick one to give away for free!
Phantom Geometry Technique Wins Gehry Prize for 3D Printing Innovation
This is ‘Phantom Geometry’, a masters thesis in architecture by Kyle von Hasseln and Liz von Hasseln, developed in the Robot House at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI_Arc). It was awarded the inaugural Gehry Prize at the SCI-Arc commencement ceremony on September 9.
This work is centered on the development of a system for generating material volume from streaming information. The system uses UV light from a modified DLP projector to continuously and selectively cure photo initiated resin within a shallow vat system we developed for the project. The cured part is simultaneously and continually pulled away from the vat, allowing un-cured resin to flood in beneath it to be subsequently cured. The result is the material reification of streaming data that emerges along the motion path of the Staubli robot maneuvering the vat/projector apparatus.
This system of fabrication relies upon native real-time feed-back and feed-forward mechanisms, and is therefore interruptible and corruptible at any time. The streaming data input may be transformed or modified at any time, and such interventions impact emerging downstream geometry.
Watch the video below to see this technique in action.
Chris Anderson: 3D Printing Will Be Bigger Than the Web
Chris Anderson, visionary author and former editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, sees a future where 3D printing drives the next industrial revolution. “It will be bigger than the Web,” Anderson predicts.
Speaking at a Culturazzi event where he was also signing copies of his new book, Anderson drew analogies from the Spinning Jenny and today’s 3D printers. He also noted how the entire desktop publication industry eventually boiled down to one icon on a computer called “Print.” The next revolution will simplify to one icon: “Make.”
Anderson is so convinced of this future that he left his post as editor-in-chief of Wired to become a pioneer of 3D printing. We are excited to see what he comes up with!
Of course, 3D printers were on hand – along with wine – to inspire the Culturazzi guests. In the photo above, a Cubify printer shows off how simple 3D printing has become.
Full story via ZDNet.
Photos by Tom Foremski.
3D Systems Releases Mac Client for Cubify 3D Printer
Cubify is now Mac compatible!
ROCK HILL, S.C., Nov. 13, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced today the immediate availability of Cubify® Client Software for Mac OS, available for free downloads on Cubify.com.
Cubify Client Software for Mac OS opens up the world of at-home 3D printing to Apple users. The software allows users to bring their own .STL creations and make them real on the Cube 3D printer. Users can also download 3D print files directly from Cubify.com, from the Cubify marketplace and 3D creation apps, and quickly place, size, and send to print directly on the Cube 3D printer.
“We are excited to open the world of 3D printing for Apple users and invite all Mac lovers to play on Cubify and 3D print their creations at home,” said Cathy Lewis Vice President Global Marketing, 3D Systems.
Cubify Client Software for Mac OS is available for download on Cubify.com and is free for use with the Cube 3D printer.
Must-See Infographic: How Long Until the 3D Printing Revolution?
In this must-see extensive infographic, the emerging 3D printing revolution is profiled and detailed. Who are the players? Where is the industry going? Will there be a legitimate marketplace or will pirated 3D printed goods emerge? It’s all here.
