Category Archives: News
Team Great Britain Olympic Cyclists Fitted with 3D Printed Helmets
Team Great Britain has an edge above other teams, at least in cycling, thanks to 3D printing. UK Sport and British Cycling commissioned the design and production of custom cycling helmets, bespoke to each Olympic cyclist. Using laser scanning and 3D printing technology, the helmets were designed and prototyped in no time.
According to the company, the prototypes were physically used as part of the helmet fitting process; giving the athletes confidence that their helmet fit would be flawless.
Extensive testing found that aluminium honeycomb, often used within the aerospace industry, worked well as a material for the helmet core. When combined with the unique dual shell, it was said to outperform previous designs in terms of absorbing impact energy efficiently and ensuring deceleration forces weren’t transferred to the wearer.
Dr Scott Drawer, head of research and innovation at UK Sport, said: “Our job is to ensure our athletes make it to the start line among the best prepared and most feared in the world. Britain has a wealth of expertise in science, engineering and technology and by working with companies like Crux Product Design we can tap into a much wider network of skills and abilities from other industries to ensure we are leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit of sporting excellence.”
Via Eureka Magazine.
Top 10 Countdown: Most Popular 3D Printing Stories in July 2012
Here are the top 10 most popular stories On 3D Printing brought you in July 2012.
10. America Will Lead the Future of Manufacturing, China Will Follow
9. Infographic: Go On, Print a Liver – The Evolution of Bio 3D Printing
8. Enter the 3D4D Challenge to Win $100K and Change the World
7. Come to London for the Olympics, Stay for the 3D Print Show
6. Always Wanted Your Own Action Figure? 3D Print Your Face [Video]
5. 3D Printing Architecture From the Cloud with 3D Model-To-Print Service
4. Shapeways Opens NYC 3D Printing and Distribution Center
3. 3D Printing Industry Will Reach $3 Billion by 2018 – Report
2. Designed to Win: 3D Printing Could Help Athletes Break World Records
1. 3D Printed Rocket Fuel Espresso Cup Goes Viral, Boosts Sales
Thanks for reading in July!
Creepy 3D Printing: Get a Replica of Your Unborn Fetus
And now for something extremely creepy.
Japanese firm Fasotec is offering expectant parents “Shape of an Angel,” a miniature 3D print of their unborn fetus.
The fetus is first photographed using MRI and the resulting image data processed using special 3D software. A 3D printer is then used to construct the model, using clear resin for the mother’s body and white resin for the fetus. The position, posture and appearance of the baby appear exactly as it does in the mother’s uterus.
Parents looking to have their own “Shape of an Angel” taken will need to visit the Parkside Hiroo Ladies Clinic and should be prepared to pay the 100,000 yen (US $1,230) price is costs for a single 90x60x40mm model.
Via RocketNews.
With Sites Set on LEGO, 3D Systems Cubify Launches Robot Toy Line
3D Systems’ consumer brand Cubify has announced a new toy line called Cubify robots. This move follows the acquisition of My Robot Nation and launch of the Cube consumer 3D printer.
We have published several features about the toy industry and how 3D printing will disrupt it, including the father who printed the Rosetta stone for toys.
Now 3D Systems is taking a page from LEGO and other popular toy manufacturers by making collectable toy robots whose parts are interchangeable.
From the 3D Systems press release:
3D Systems Corporation announced today the immediate availability of its new Cubify® toy robots designed specifically for printing on Cube®, the world’s first home 3D printer. The entire collection can be downloaded and printed at home on your Cube 3D printer.
Starting at just $4.99, Cube printed robots are also available for home delivery through Cubify and come individually packaged or in sets of three with exciting options to choose from like ray-guns and rocket-packs.
Cubify® robots are moveable, poseable and printable in colorful, lego-like plastic. Printed parts can be snapped together, swapped and colors mixed to create an amazing new robot, or an entire crew. With thousands of possible combinations, Cubify robots provide hours of educational and creative fun for kids and adults alike.
“We are thrilled with these cute, playful new Cubify robots. Kids of all ages can collect the entire series as they create unique configurations to amaze their friends,” said Cathy Lewis, Vice President of Global Marketing for 3D Systems. “Our excitement continues to build with each new toy and app we make available to our growing Cubify community.”
Stratasys and HP Part Ways on 3D Printer Manufacturing
Stratasys and HP have discontiued a manufacturing and distribution agreement for 3D printers. This either means that HP is preparing its own line of 3D printers, or is opting out of the 3D printing market entirely. Stratasys does not see this as a hit to their financial projections, but the market reacted by initially lowering their share price.
From the Stratasys press release:
Stratasys, Inc., a leading manufacturer of 3D printers and production systems for prototyping and manufacturing applications, today announced that Stratasys and HP have agreed to discontinue their manufacturing and distribution agreement for 3D printers, effective at the end of 2012. Stratasys does not expect the termination of its agreement with HP to have a material impact on its financial results for the current year and intends to work closely with HP to ensure a smooth transition for customers.
“Stratasys has enjoyed a productive relationship with HP, and moving forward, we will continue working towards our goal of achieving broader 3D printer usage worldwide,” said Scott Crump, chief executive officer and chairman of Stratasys. “As the market for 3D printing technology grows, Stratasys is focused on further developing our independent channel distribution initiatives to expand our distribution reach even further. Our recently-announced merger with Objet will help grow customer awareness of the many opportunities to deploy 3D printing and rapid prototyping techniques and will allow us to implement an even broader distribution channel with a more extensive geographic reach.”
Under the terms of the definitive agreement signed in January 2010, Stratasys developed and manufactured for HP an exclusive line of 3D printers based on Stratasys’ patented Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM(R)) technology. Later that year, HP began a phased rollout of the 3D printers in the mechanical design (MCAD) market in select European countries.
HP CEO Meg Whitman photo by TechShowNetwork used under Creative Commons license.
