Category Archives: News
3D Printed Batteries Showcased as Future Energy Solution
In a recent Science Friday episode on NPR, the topic was “Aiming For ‘Wild and Crazy’ Energy Ideas“. The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, or ARPA-E, backs energy technologies that are too risky for investors, but offer a potentially huge payoff—if they work. The agency has gambled on flywheels, compressed air energy storage, lithium-air batteries, even wind-energy kites.
One of the profiled technologies was a 3D printed battery. “The concept is to integrate form and function,” said Jennifer Lewis, Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. “Our batteries 1000 times smaller than the smallest rechargeable Lithium Ion battery that you can find commercially.” They are so small, in fact, that each battery can fit on a grain of sand.
Now don’t get too excited yet. You can’t 3D print one of these batteries on your MakerBot, Lewis explained, “We’ve custom designed and built our own 3D printers as well as the inks that allow you print the anode and cathode in interdigitated fashion.”
Applications of these batteries include autonomous sensors, micro robots, and biomedical devices. For example, 98% of hearing aids are 3D printed, at least the plastic molding is. But you have to hand pot the electronics and replace the batteries every 7 days. With Lewis’ 3D printed micro battery technology, it’s possible to 3D print both the plastic and the electronics.
In the video below, 3D printing is used to deposit a specially formulated “ink” through a fine nozzle to build a microbattery’s anode layer by layer. Unlike an office inkjet printer that dispenses ink droplets onto paper, these inks are formulated to exit the nozzle like toothpaste from a tube and immediately harden into thin layers. The printed anode contains nanoparticles of a lithium metal oxide compound that provide the proper electrochemical properties.
You can learn more about this research at Harvard’s website and read the work published in the journal Advanced Materials.
Top 3D Printing News Last Week: Bukito, PhotoUpLink, MakerBot CEO
3D Printing News
A roundup of the top 3D printing news from July 1 to July 7:
Tuesday, July 2
- Bukito 3D Printer: Portable 3D Printer on Kickstarter
- iPhone App PhotoUpLink Launches 3D Printed Photo Frames
Thursday, July 4
Friday, July 5
MakerBot CEO Bre Pettis to Keynote Inside 3D Printing Chicago
MakerBot CEO to Keynote Industry Conference
Fresh off of MakerBot’s $403 million acquisition, CEO Bre Pettis has just joined this summer’s Inside 3D Printing Conference & Expo, July 10-11 in Chicago. Pettis will sit down with Stratasys Founder S. Scott Crump to discuss the future of these two powerhouse brands.
You can read our full analysis of the MakerBot acquisition.
Use our exclusive code ON3D to get a discount when you register for the conference.
Top 10 Countdown: Most Popular 3D Printing Stories in June 2013
Here are the top 10 most popular stories On 3D Printing brought you in June 2013.
10. Buttercup the Duck Gets 3D Printed Prosthetic Foot and a Facebook Page
9. 3D Printing Startup Mixee Labs Expands Portfolio with Artisan Jewelry Launch and Platform
8. Amazon.com Launches Extensive 3D Printing Category
7. MakerBot Celebrates Dads and Grads with 3D Printing Deals
6. SupplyBetter Launches 3D Printing Comparison Engine to Give Designers More Choice
5. Watershed Moment: Windows 8.1 Offers Native Support for 3D Printing
4. Full Analysis of the Stratasys and MakerBot 3D Printing Acquisition
3. Modibot Defeats All 3D Printed Action Heroes on Kickstarter
2. MakerBot Acquired by Stratasys for $403 Million
1. Buccaneer 3D Printer Closes Epic Kickstarter Campaign Raising $1.4 Million
Thanks for reading in June!
iPhone App PhotoUpLink Launches 3D Printed Photo Frames
Photo App Developer Publishes Designs for 3D Printed Photo Frames
Since 2006, independent software designer Mark S. Morris has been working on PhotoUpLink® for various platforms, first for Mac and Windows then for iPhone, allowing multiple photos to be conveniently uploaded by iPhone users to Tumblr photosets, Facebook albums, FTP sites and email attachments.
Morris has added to his repertoire by creating a 3D printed picture frame. Called the PhotoUpLink Picture Frame, users can download the files and print it themselves to serve as frames for their favorite photographs The PhotoUpLink Picture Frame is an answer for those who are always looking for that perfect picture frame to store their most memorable photographs – now both the frame and photo can be printed at home.
The picture frame will hold one wallet size 3” x 2” photo print. This frame size is built for compatibility with most 3D printers for personal use, and has been extensively tested to be home 3D printable with ABS, PLA and even wood FDM filament types. The frame files include desk stands for landscape or portrait photo orientation, and it 3D prints with rear holes for wall hanging.
The PhotoUpLink Picture Frame is a free download available now on MakerBot Thingiverse. The frame can also be purchased with no logo on Cubify as a 3D print in a variety of materials including color plastics, ceramics, sandstone or metals, then shipped to your door.
You can view photos of the 3D printed frame on Flickr.
The frame will take about an hour to print, each stand about 30 minutes at 50 – 70% fill. A higher fill percentage makes a sturdy frame with a good base weight. The stand slot is designed to be a tight fit, you may need to trim and manually finish the print. Wallet size photo prints are easily home printed or ordered online.
