Author Archives: on3dprinting
3D Printing’s Apple 1 Moment: 3D Printing Conference (Part 1)
Inside 3D Printing Conference (Part 1)
We are in New York City at the Inside 3D Printing conference, where several thousand 3D printing professionals and enthusiasts are gathered to discuss what’s happening, and what’s possible, in 3D printing.
Cornell Professor Hod Lipson opened the conference, asking “How will 3D printing change our lives?” He continued, “In the last 2 or 3 years, it all took off.”
Lipson then welcomed 3D Systems‘ CEO Avi Reichental for the formal keynote. He provided some insights into where the technology is being used today and where it will go. Here are some of his insightful and powerful statements:
- “3D printing is going to disrupt everything around us.”
- “Complexity is free.”
- “3D printing means consumers will be able to co-create with their favorite brands.”
- “New and disruptive business models, [and] new retail opportunities ahead of us.”
3D Systems is also making several announcements today we’ll cover in a separate article. After Reichental’s keynote, Brian Evans took the stage. Evans is an assistant professor at the Metropolitan State University of Denver.
“I’ve never taught a class this large,” Evans joked as he kicked off. He then took the audience through a fundamental overview of desktop 3D printers, discussing topics from design to materials to current challenges. He walked through different design software in a hands-on demonstration using the Stanford bunny as an example for what’s cool and what’s hard about 3D printing.
3D Printing’s Apple 1 Moment
“3D printing is in its Apple 1 moment,” said Evans as he showed a photo of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (above). The first Apple 1 was just a circuit board. Customers had to build a plywood case around it. “Who knew that in 30 years we’d all be carrying iPhones?” Evans mused.
There’s an excitement in the room at the Inside 3D Printing conference today, probably best characterized by the concept that something created today, by someone at this show, could become as transformative as the iPhone in a few years.
Stay tuned for more coverage! #3dprintconf
DesignX Show May 2013: 3D Printing, Digital Tools, Cloud-Based Apps
DesignX Show in May 2013
On May 18-21st, The Architect’s Newspaper and Mode Collective will host DesignX, four days of hands-on workshops and inspired dialog right on the showroom floor at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Industry experts will present courses on Digital Tools, Fabrication On-Demand, and Cloud-Based Apps–the technologies that are revolutionizing our designed world. More information can be found at http://designx.is.
“DesignX” w/ Gil AKOS, Andrew BACCON, Francis BITONTI, Ronnie PARSONS, Andrew PAYNE, Jesse ROSENBERG, Jessica ROSENKRANTZ, Duann SCOTT, Skylar TIBBITS, & Erik TIETZ
When: Saturday, 05/18–05/21 // ICFF 2013
Where: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
655 W 34th St.
New York, NY 10001
DesignX @ ICFF
ICFF
francis a. BITONTI, gil AKOS, modeLab, NOTHINGeverHAPPENS, ronnie PARSONS, Shapeways, skylar TIBBITS, workshop
NASA 3D Printing Initiative to Bring 3D Printers to Space
NASA 3D Printing Initiative
A NASA 3D printing initiative is embracing 3D printers and Maker technologies to prepare them for the future of space travel.
NASA has commissioned a company to build a 3D printer that can go into space. We reported about SpiderFab back in September 2012.
“If you’re going to explore Mars, or work on station, [and] you need to bring your own materials, then you really create a sustainable method of constructing a new habitat.”, said Matthew Reyes, Contractor at NASA Ames Research Center.
“Space Shop is our attempt to take the best practices and lessons learned from what we call the maker community,” said Dave Korsmeyer, the director of engineering at NASA Ames.
Learn more in the CNET video below.
Portland Made Launch Party: Mayor, Music, and MakerBot
Portland Made Launch Party
Craft, art, creativity, and innovation are alive and well in Portland. Manufacturing is back!
Portland Made is a collective of Portland based designers, local goods retailers, and manufacturers. Their mission is to connect consumers to unique, local, and high quality goods and help reconnect designers to the manufacturing process.
Last night, Portland Made hosted their official launch party. Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and State Representative Jules Bailey were in attendance to share their comments.
It was a great event with food from Salt, Fire & Time and beer brewed for the occasion by F.H. Steinbart will be provided. Merit Badge mixed cocktails with local liquors. DJ Leftovers provided the sounds to celebrate Portland’s creative and manufacturing economy.
We were there as well. There was a great vibe. It felt like old world manufacturing gets a MakerBot 3D printer and Arduino lab.
Watch their launch video below.
Doodle3D Kickstarter Campaign: Design on iPad and 3D Print
Doodle3D: Design on an iPad and press 3D Print
Doodle3D is a new Kickstarter campaign to help kids and adults get creative with 3D printing. Not to be confused with 3Doodler, a recent project that raised over $2MM.
What is Doodle3D?
Doodle3D is a very simple sketching tool enabling everyone to make his own drawing come to life with a 3D-printer. This way people can get familliar with the 3D printing technique not just by seeing how the printer works, but by creating something themselves! And all this without needing any knowledge of difficult 3D design programs. It’ll allow you to create that much more with your 3D printer.
How does it work?
After creating a simple line drawing on an iPad or computer the user presses ‘print’. Layer by layer the printer creates a 3D object from the 2D sketch using plastic. This way you can print out your name, a symbol, just a simple doodle or anything you like within a few minutes.
But there’s more, you can make the 3D object more than just a stack of identical layers by sculpting and rotating the object. This way you can make a nicely designed 3D object without needing to make complicated blueprints! Works great for sharing your new 3D printer with the family!
Why are we doing this?
Although low-cost 3D printers are quickly becoming more available, low-entry barrier software is still quite uncommon. Even though 3D design programs are getting more user-friendly and accessible they still form a major barrier for widespread use of this technology.
The Doodle3D software is created by Rick Companje who works at FabLab Amersfoort and is a proud owner of a 3D printer. The idea of Doodle3D came forth out of his personal experience with the entry barriers of 3D design programs.
Doodle3D WiFi Box
The Doodle3D WiFi Box is a WiFi device connecting your iPad/iPhone/laptop or other devices to your 3D printer. Simply connect the 3D printer (currently Ultimaker, open-source MakerBots, Printrbot ) to the USB port of the Doodle3D box, connect to the WiFi network and start sketching and printing in 3D.
Below is the video of the Kickstarter campaign. Doodle 3D has raised just over half of their $50,000 goal with 33 days to go.
