Category Archives: News
Robox Raises the Bar for 3D Printers and Closes in on $300K Kickstarter
“This means perfect parts every time.” — Chris White, Robox Design Engineer
Robox might be the 3D printer you have to buy this year. With only days to go in its Kickstarter campaign, the innovative 3D printer has already raised $300,000 in crowdfunding.
Robox offers a combination of plug-and-print capability with high resolution. “Never before has something of this specification been available at such a low price,” said Chris Elsworthy, CEO of design studio CEL, the company that makes Robox.
With plans to be readily available for purchase in early 2014 at just under $1,400, the Robox is also one of the more affordable 3D printers available, without compromising on functionality or quality.
Robox 3D printers have a nozzle system with needle valves which means more precise shutoff from layer to layer.
“No more bumps on the outside,” said Chris White, Design Engineer for Robox. “This means perfect parts every time.”
Key benefits of Robox include:
- AutoMaker™ software so users can just select the design they want to print and press start;
- A proprietary dual-nozzle system that improves print speeds by up to 300% compared to other printers. This means one nozzle is designed to print a detailed surface, while the other is able to fill in larger areas at a much higher speed;
- A needle-valve system that stops ‘ooze’ and ‘stringing’ from the nozzles, ensuring speed and a high quality finish;
- A unique HeadLock™ system that allows different heads to be assembled to perform a range of different functions, including an additional second extruder that allows dual-color printing or the ability to print in different materials simultaneously.
The company plans to expand their 3D printing platform to include 3D scanning and other vital technologies for the ecosystem.
Watch their video below and go to Kickstarter to pledge with just a few days left.
3D Printing Week: Victoria’s Secret, Student Satellite, Christmas
3D Printing Week
Here is a roundup of the top 3D printing news from last week.
Victoria’s Secret supermodel Lindsay Ellingson donned 3D printed wings at the annual fashion show.
My Mini Factory opened voting for its 3D printing Christmas design contest.
Cuboyo launched a 3D printed personalized iPhone case business.
Kentucky students launched a 3D printed satellite into space.
And much more!
All News
Monday, December 2
Thursday, December 5
Friday, December 6
Saturday, December 7
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Features 3D Printed Lingerie
3D printing took center stage at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show last month. Victoria’s Secret turned to architect Bradley Rothenberg to design the wings for supermodel Lindsay Ellingson to wear on the catwalk.
In an interview with Shapeways, Rothenberg explained his inspiration:
My first thought was to come up with a system for generating fractal snowflakes. We used processing as a tool to sketch different organizations of snowflakes & how different fractal organizations allow a shift from small textile-like snowflakes to larger structural snowflakes. We needed to come up with our own underlying system for making 3D snowflakes.
Rothenberg thinks 3D printing can be a game-changer in fashion in general.
“I think that 3D printing has a big possibility to change the industry as a whole,” he said. “Specifically what we want to do is make wearable 3D-printed stuff available to fashion designers,” Rothenberg told TechCrunch.
Here is supermodel Lindsay Ellingson wearing the 3D Printed creation.
You can see more of Bradley Rothenberg’s work on his website.
Kentucky Students Successfully Launch 3D Printed Satellite into Orbit
Student-Created Satellite Features Windform Technology
CRP USA announced the successful launch of Windform as part of the collaborative KySat-2 project, a 1U CubeSat, by students at the University of Kentucky and Morehead State University.
The collaborative team of students from the University of Kentucky and Morehead State University, along with Kentucky Space, launched the KySat-2 into orbit as part of the NASA ElaNa IV mission out of Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
35 minutes after deployment from the launch vehicle, KySat-2 began beaconing its telemetry data and was almost immediately heard by amateur radio operators. Since then, the KySat-2 team began performing system checks for each of the various subsystems that make up the satellite. According to the KySat-2 team, all systems have been performing nominally.
“Congratulations to the KySat-2 team on a very successful launch. We are excited for the KySat-2 team, and are looking forward to following their mission,” said Stewart Davis, Director of Operations CRP USA. “As part of our overall work to expand the use of Windform beyond motorsports, this launch is another successful project that continues to add to our growing space flight heritage.”
“There were several 3d printed components on the KySat-2 made by CRP USA from CRP Technology’s proprietary material Windform XT 2.0,” explains Twyman Clements, KySat-2 Project Manager, Kentucky Space. “One of the subsystems, is the camera systems that acts as an attitude determination system called Stellar Gyro. The 3d printed parts, were produced using the additive manufacturing technology Selective Laser Sintering and Windform XT 2.0 material. The additive manufactured process 3d printed the mounting hardware for the camera system, extensions for the separation switches, clips for holding the antennas in their stowed position, and the mounting bracket for the on board batteries. The process and the material were critical to achieve the right components for KySat-2.”
Related story: First Performance Italian Electric Motorcycle Designed and 3D Printed
KySat-2’s main mission is to be an educational tool and demonstration for the students working on the satellite. KySat-2 was designed, built, and tested entirely by students and engineers, with most of the subsystems designed in-house.
This video below offers a glimpse at the development, payload and launch of KySat-2.
3D Printing and Materials for Space Applications
CRP USA together with CRP Technology produced five Windform XT 2.0 parts that are incorporated into the deployable solar panels on the KySat-2; camera annulus, lens cover, deployable extensions, antenna clips, and battery holders.
One of the highest levels of Windform materials, Windform XT 2.0 is a high performance material filled with carbon fiber and offers maximum mechanical performance for 3D printed parts. The material combines maximum toughness and robustness, yet produces an extremely light, final part that doesn’t impact the overall production weight of the KySat-2 unit. Utilizing the additive manufactured technology, Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and Windform XT 2.0 material final parts for small productions can easily replace parts that are usually produced with traditional technology, or are otherwise unmanufacturable.
This makes Windform a material that can stretch the limits of SLS applications, even in space applications.
Related Story: Do The Mutation: 3D Printed Masks Take Art to a New Level of Personal
Project Update
KySat-2 was launched on board a Minotaur I rocket built by Orbital Sciences. Typically, operational lifetime for a CubeSat is around 1 year due to radiation exposure and damage to the batteries. The KySat-2 will remain operational as long as the team is able to make reliable contact to the satellite. Testing has already begun on the subsystems and the team is hopeful they will be able to take pictures and download them from the spacecraft in the next few weeks.
Follow the progress at @KySpace
Bespoke by Cuboyo Personalized iPhone Cases with Swiss Quality
3D Printing Platform Cuboyo Launches High Tech Smartphone Cases
We have smartphones, what about “smart” phone cases?
Bespoke by Cuboyo introduces 3D printed personalized smartphone cases.
These decorative and functional cases let users choose a case pattern and color, then add their own custom text, logos, and colors online. The cases are then manufactured using high quality Swiss standards and shipped to the user. Cases cost around $50.
Cuboyo is marketing these cases to corporate customers and consumers alike. Bespoke is the newest venture from Cuboyo.com, a 3D printable file sharing platform launched in June 2013.
Cuboyo LLC was created in Switzerland in 2013 by three 3D Printing enthusiasts. They felt that there was not an accessible marketplace for buyers and sellers to exchange 3D printable files to fully realize the revolutionary possibilities of 3D printing.
Learn more at Bespoke by Cuboyo.
