3D printed materials that change shape and color may be coming to market sooner than previously thought.
A team of researchers at Dartmouth College recently presented a new smart ink which induces shape and color changes in 3D printed objects.
The innovation may be the beginning of 4D or intelligent printing. Applications could include a wide range of consumer products, biomedical utilities, and the energy sector.
“This technique gives life to 3D-printed objects,” explained Chenfeng Ke, an assistant professor of Chemistry at Dartmouth. “While many 3D-printed structures are just shapes that don’t reflect the molecular properties of the material, these inks bring functional molecules to the 3D printing world. We can now print smart objects for a variety of uses.”
The Dartmouth team employed various printing techniques to reduce the size of objects to just 1% of their original size. However, the creations gained 10x in resolution.
Thanks to the smart ink, objects can expand and contract in size through supramolecular pillars. In addition, the team added fluorescent trackers, which enable the color swap in response to light.
The ink is based on a polymer vehicle that transforms objects from nano- to macro scale. As part of the printing process, materials are not all-together hardened but instead locked in place to retain their form. The final object is then able to morph shape upon stimulation by light or chemicals.
The conceptual outline for the smart ink 3D printing process. (Image: Angewandte Chemie)
Molecules rearrange after printing
The innovation also opens the door for designers to print high-resolution object with low-cost 3D printers. What previously required a $100,000 printer, can now be achieved using a $1,000 model.
The smart ink can print at a resolution of 300 microns, whilst the final product has a line width of 30 microns.
“This is something we’ve never seen before. Not only can we 3D print objects, we can tell the molecules in those objects to rearrange themselves at a level that is viewable by the naked eye after printing. This development could unleash the great potential for the development of smart materials,” Ke added.
Although the development has some way to go, it is the first step toward a wholly new range of 3D printed objects.
The team at Dartmouth believes that the approach could “initiate the development of small molecule-based 3D printing materials and greatly accelerate the development of smart materials and devices beyond our current grasp that are capable of doing complex tasks in response to environmental stimuli.”
Fluorescent color-change of 3D printed smart ink object. (Image: Angewandte Chemie)
Now in its second year, Autodesk and the Urban Arts Collective continue their collaboration on Hip Hop Architecture Camps, inviting local middle and high school students to re-imagine their communities and introduce STEAM education through the lens of hip hop culture.
Maker of computer aided design (CAD) software Autodesk — whose products are used in both architecture and 3D printing industries — seeks to bring about positive change through their sponsorship of the Hip Hop Architecture Camp. Now in its second year, the camp will travel to 17 American cities this spring and summer.
Hip Hop Architecture Camp sprang from the Urban Arts Collective, an organization that teaches underrepresented communities about careers in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). The camps are targeted at select students aged between 10 and 17, where they’re introduced to architecture and concepts such as urban planning.
The kids will study rap music for elements such as structure and rhythm, and then develop ideas for how they could inform designs. They’ll also get to use Tinkercad 3D modeling software, and 3D printing models for their projects. At the end of the camp, students present their projects by writing a rap. They stage a rap battle and the winner makes a music video.
Hip Hop Architecture in Action in Detroit
“My experience at The Hip Hop Architecture Camp showed me a variety of ways to help my community, and allowed me to connect with architects who want to see young people grow and design better communities for future generations,” says former camp participant Brianna White, now aged 18 years.
“I’m now enrolled at the University of Houston as an early high school graduate and I’m having an amazing time learning new things and meeting amazing people as I prepare to start the architecture program this summer. The Hip Hop Architecture Camp helped me discover the impact I can have on my community and I’m looking forward to returning as a volunteer.”
During a recent camp in Detroit, participants generated schemes in response to the Michigan Department of Transportation’s proposal to remove the I-375 highway and restore it to a surface street.
The initial planning of I-375 was highly controversial as it was constructed through the historic African American neighborhood known as Black Bottom. The camp included special guests ranging from former residents of Black Bottom, local hip hop artists, and leadership of the city planning department.
For more information on the camps, visit hiphoparchitecture.com, and see below for the list of 2018 locations:
Lake City, South Carolina: April 18, 2018
Kansas City, Missouri: April 26, 2018
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: April 28, 2018
Bronx, New York: May 17, 2018 – May 21, 2018
Cleveland, Ohio: June 11- June 15, 2018
Portland, Oregon: June 11- June 15, 2018
Detroit, Michigan: June 25 – June 29, 2018
Madison, Wisconsin: July 9 – July 14, 2018
Evansville, Indiana: July 9 – July 13, 2018
Toledo, Ohio: July 9 – 14, 2018
Toronto, Canada: July 16 – July 20, 2018
Oxon Hill, Maryland: July 23 – July 27, 2018
Dorchester, Massachusetts: July 23 – July 27, 2018
Professional musicians and audiophiles may soon be able to benefit from custom-fit, 3D printed in-ear monitors, if this Kickstarter campaign by HW Audio is successful.
HW Audio are a British company that specializes in making custom in-ear monitors for musicians and audiophiles. Now they’ve turned to Kickstarter to raise funds for a new range of customizable in-ear monitors that can be easily fabricated using stereolithographic (SLA) 3D printing.
“At HW Audio we have taken the scans of hundreds of ear impressions to develop our new ultimate fit universal range of in ear monitors,” is the campaign pitch.
“Due to the design, standard methods of manufacturing such as injection moulding were impossible. Instead we have chosen to 3D print the shells that house the same balanced armature drivers as our custom in-ear monitors for professional musicians.”
The current production process at HW Audio is for technicians to handcraft their custom in-ear monitors using a reverse moulding technique. This limits them to manufacturing only 25 pairs of in-ear monitors per day. That, plus the need to take physical ear impressions to make the IEMs.
The plan is to incorporate SLA 3D printing into a more refined production process. All universal and custom in-ear monitors can be produced in-house, and HW Audio will be able to take 3D scans of ear impressions rather than physical moulds.
“This will allow us to manufacture on a much larger worldwide scale,” says the campaign, “and also greatly reduce human error in the process to make the product much more reliable.”
In-Ear Monitors Feature Innovation called The Govnor
But this isn’t the only innovation being packed into these in-ear monitors. The monitors will also include a unique pressure valve called “The Govnor”.
It’s designed to address two problems, say the team at HW Audio. First is the occlusion effect, which creates a hollow sound as you hear the speech vibrate through you rather than you would normally.
The second issue is the possibility of the seal in the ears creating a build-up of pneumatic air pressure that could, if left unchecked over the long term, result in hearing fatigue and even hearing loss.
Trivia buffs may be intrigued to learn that The Govnor is inspired by British engineer named James Watt, who in 1788 devised the same pressure valve for steam engines in the Industrial Revolution.
The HW Audio in-ear monitors are available to back on Kickstarter with pledges starting from £299, although the tier with 3D printing rewards starts at £434. If successful, worldwide shipping is expected to take place in September 2018.
Designer Kiriakos Christodoulou has created the 3D printed Credit Card Chess Set, now available on Shapeways for $11 to $13. This pocket-sized game is quite impractical, but hey, it’s also a pretty cool concept too.
Widely recognized as the most historically significant board games in the world, chess has pitted people in intensive mental battles for over a thousand years. The rise of 3D printing has made it possible for makers to create their own customized chess boards and pieces, a number of which you 3D print yourself.
Now, you can challenge your friends to a pocket-sized game with the Credit Card Chess Set. Designed by Kiriakos Christodoulou, also known as Innovo, this miniaturized 3D printed chess set is meant to fit right into your wallet. The individual chess pieces and chessboard come grouped together in a single frame.
Take one look at this 3D printed chess set and you’ll realize it’s completely impractical, but it’s also an incredibly neat concept nonetheless. The Credit Card Chess Set is available on Shapeways, priced around $11 to $13 depending on the color of plastic you want.
How to Checkmate Your Friends with the 3D Printed Credit Card Chess Set
To play the game, the user has to snap off the 32 pieces and remove the frame. Then, insert the 3D printed pieces into the board, which is made up of pegs instead of the traditional checkered layout. Since both sides have the same colored pieces, half of the chess pieces are equipped with tiny holes in the center.
Unfortunately, once you snap the pieces off, there’s no getting he set back into the credit card-sized form (hence, why this chess set is a bit impractical). However, if you have some super glue or a safe place to stash the tiny pieces, you’ll be able to play a teensy game of chess whenever you please.
The Credit Card Chess Set is available in a wide range of colors, including white, blue, purple, red, pink, yellow, green, orange, and black. You can learn more about this 3D printed miniature board game by visiting Innovo’s Shapeways store.
Are you a diehard fan of the Metal Gear video game franchise? Now you can use your 3D printer to cosplay as Solid Snake with a Solid Eye that is equipped with a working LED light.
For over 30 years, generations of gamers have been captivated by Hideo Kojima’s massively popular action-adventure stealth video game franchise Metal Gear. The first iteration of the game was released way back in 1987, and earlier this year, the developer Konami is released the 23rd title from the series, entitled Metal Gear Survive.
Each game stars a special forces operative, usually named Solid Snake or Big Boss, that is tasked with finding the super-weapon called “Metal Gear”. Those who completed Metal Gear Solid 4 might recall a special eyepatch that helped Solid Snake defeat Liquid Ocelot.
This device is called the Solid Eye, capable of combining “Enhanced Night Vision Goggles” light amplification and imaging technology, while also doubling as binoculars.
Well, if you’ve been preparing to take on a top-secret mission of your own, you can gain some of the stealth that has made Solid Snake so successful over the years.
Designer Cristian Esalini recently shared his 3D printed version of the Solid Eye, which is even equipped with a red LED light. This 3D printable prop is perfect for Solid Snake cosplay, or even just showing off your fandom and knowledge of this classic series.
Here’s what you need to know in order to 3D print your own Solid Eye!
3D Printed Solid Eye: What Do You Need?
The casing of the Solid Eye accessory is 3D printed, but you’ll need a few other components to get the LED flashing. The STL files for the 3D model are freely available on Thingiverse.
Here’s what else you need to build your own 3D printed Solid Eye:
3D Printed Solid Eye: Putting it Together
Now that you’ve got all the components needed to build the Solid Eye, it’s time to put it all together. The print itself takes about four hours to complete, and should only have support material from the base of the model.
Esalini recommends sanding, priming and spray painting it black once it’s finished. Don’t be shy while sanding the 3D print, as the designers claims that this post-processing method requires some “insistence”. There’s also white lettering on the front that states “SOLID EYE SYSTEM”, which can be done with stickers or a stencil.
For the strap, Esalini suggests finding one that measures between 10 and 15mm, depending on who will be wearing this contraption. The inner side of the 3D printed Solid Eye casing is where you’ll mount the electronic components. You can look at the photo of the circuit above. The assembly process looks quite simple, but comprehensive instructions are not available, so it’ll definitely be helpful to have some experience with soldering and electronic circuitry.
Once you finish connecting everything, you should have a wearable Solid Eye with a leering red LED light. Show your friends that your the stealthiest Solid Snake in town, the Big Boss of gaming, and someone who knows how to make use of their 3D printer.
This year’s keynotes have been announced for RAPID + TCT 2018 in Forth Worth, Texas. The diverse group of speakers will cast a wide net on 3D printing technology, ranging from current use in Hollywood movies to the bright future of additive manufacturing.
Recognized as one of the most prominent additive manufacturing conferences in the world, RAPID + TCT has become the ultimate arena to show-off the latest in 3D printing products and technologies. This year, the North American trade show is taking place in Forth Worth, Texas, from April 23 to 26.
As the 3D printing industry continues to expand towards new frontiers, so does the overall scope of RAPID + TCT. The trade show has just announced the feature keynotes that will take place at the upcoming event, and the group of speakers are more eclectic and diverse than ever.
From the Hollywood big screen to the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, RAPID + TCT has put together a wide array of keynotes that showcase just how expansive the field of additive manufacturing technology has become. Over the four-day event, attendees will be treated to a daily dosage of innovation from some of the brightest minds in 3D printing and beyond.
Each day, the keynotes will focus on a different subject, covering mainstream innovations, medical improvements, and the future of additive manufacturing. Here’s a quick recap of the recently announced keynotes at RAPID + TCT 2018.
RAPID + TCT 2018, April 23: From Hollywood to the Olympic Games
On Day One, the RAPID + TCT Kick-off will host the very first keynote of the conference. Entitled “From Hollywood to the Winter Games – Making Additive Manufacturing the Competitive Advantage for Innovation”, the discussion will focus on how pioneers in sports and entertainment are using 3D printing technology to spur innovation in their respective industries.
Attendees will hear about the USA Luge team’s partnership with Stratasys, which helped 3D print tools to manufacture racing sleds for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. The talk will also focus on how the world-renowned animation studio LAIKA, responsible for films like Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, uses additive manufacturing to achieve award-nominated visual effects.
The keynote will feature a number of accomplished speakers, including Jon Owen, USA Luge Technical Programs Manager and former Olympian; Brian McLean, the Director of Rapid Prototyping at LAIKA Studios; Rich Garrity, President of Stratasys Americas; and Phil Reeves, Vice President of Strategic Consulting at Stratasys.
(L to R) Brian McLean, the Director of Rapid Prototyping at LAIKA; Jon Owen, USA Luge Technical Programs Manager and former Olympian; Rich Garrity, President of Stratasys Americas; and Phil Reeves, Vice President of Strategic Consulting at Stratasys.
RAPID + TCT 2018, April 25: Medical 3D Printing and the Impact on Patients
After the glitz and glamour of Hollywood movies and Olympic sports winds down, RAPID + TCT 2018 will shift its focus onto medical 3D printing and the impact that innovation has had on patients. Entitled “Rise of Point-of-Care Manufacturing: Impacting More Patients with 3D Printing,” the keynote for this day will feature two representatives from Mayo Clinic; Jonathan Morris, MD and Amy Alexander, BME, MS.
The Mayo Clinic has a 3D Printing/Anatomic Modeling Laboratory that produces over 700 anatomical models per year. These patient-specific models are used to help with complex surgical care, multidisciplinary care, pre-surgical simulations, custom device creation, as well as medical and patient education.
Dr. Jonathan Morris is the co-director of this lab and a member of the Division of Neuroradiology, and has been involved with medical 3D printing since 2001. The other speaker, Dr. Amy Alexander, is a biomedical engineer in the Department of Radiology’s Anatomic Modeling Lab. Her job is to convert 2D radiological images into 3D models and also to design custom surgical to improve efficiency in the operating room.
Together, the pair of medical professionals will discuss how point-of-care manufacturing is providing patient care advantages, presenting unique obstacles of engineering within a hospital, creating the need for collaboration across disciplines, and impacting the lives of many patients and their families.
(L to R) Amy Alexander, BME, MS; Jonathan Morris, MD
RAPID + TCT 2018, April 26: “Printing the Future” with Terry Wohlers
Last but certainly not least, RAPID + TCT 2018 will wrap up with a keynote from 3D printing pioneer Terry Wohlers, entitled “Printing the Future”. Wohlers will address a number of important topics, including where companies should invest effort, as well as the various opportunities and challenges related to material pricing, supply chains, quality, and infrastructure development.
Wohlers, the principal consultant and president of Wohlers Associates Inc., has worked as a consultant to more than 240 organizations in 24 countries, including some of the biggest names in manufacturing. He’s also the lead author of the annual Wohlers Report, the industry leading study on additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology for 19 consecutive years.
Terry Wohlers
Needless to say, RAPID + TCT 2018 is shaping up to be the most expansive and informative additive manufacturing conference to grace North America. The organizers also have a special keynote planned for Tuesday, April 24, so stay tuned to see who else is added to this star-studded lineup!
If you want to register to attend the upcoming event, you can do so here. The trade show will take place from April 23 – 26 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
The US Army is exploring ways to convert discarded plastic bottles into recycled PET filament. Soldiers will become even more self-sufficient in the battlefield by 3D printing useful spare parts from waste material.
A collaboration between the US Army Research Laboratory and the US Marine Corps has resulted in the discovery of using waste plastics — such as water bottles, milk jugs and yogurt containers — for 3D printing parts that soldiers may need on the battlefield.
Recycled plastics could be a valuable source of material for additive manufacturing in the US Army. Not only would it improve the self-reliance of service members on forward operating bases, it would also cut costs and reduce demand for the resupply of parts.
“The potential applications for additive manufacturing technologies are extensive,” says ARL researcher Dr. Nicole Zander. “Everything from pre-production models and temporary parts to end-use aircraft parts and medical implants.”
Additive manufacturing offers many advantages over traditional manufacturing, including increased part complexity and reduced time and cost to produce one-off items, such as a bracket for a radio.
The research by Zander and Captain Anthony Molnar from the U.S. Marine Corps generated filament from 100 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from bottles and plastics without any chemical modifications or additives. This filament can then be used in fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers.
Work is also underway to generate filament from other recycled plastics and reinforced filaments. Zander says that while PET is widely used in many applications, it is not widely used as a “feedstock” for FDM because of difficulties like high melting temperature, moisture absorption, and issues with crystallization.
US Army Developing Mobile Recycling Facility for Battlefield 3D Printing
Molnar, project officer with the mobility and counter mobility team in Quantico, Virginia, argues that PET plastics such as water bottles and packaging are one of the most prolific wastes found on the battlefield.
Both US and coalition forces produce large volumes of this waste, and being able to repurpose this on location will reduce the logistic burden of transporting parts to forward operating bases. Not to mention the additional costs of disposing of the recyclable material.
To this end, Zander and Molnar are in the process of building a mobile recycling facility so that soldiers will be able to repurpose plastics into feedstocks for 3D printing.
“The MRF will be a plastic processing laboratory housed in a 20-foot ISO container, with all equipment and tools needed to fabricate 3D printing filament from plastic waste,” Zander says.
The researchers have determined that recycled plastics have shown to be suitable material for 3D printing, provided the material is properly cleaned and dried. The tensile strength of printed parts from recycled PET was equivalent to printed parts made from commercial off the shelf PET pellets and commercial filaments. But the work will not stop here.
Zander said blending with other plastics, or the addition of fillers such as reinforcing or toughening agents, may further improve the mechanical properties of the recycled plastic filament and expand the realm of applications in how it may be used.
“Ultimately, we’d like to produce the best possible feedstock we can from recycled plastics and waste materials,” Zander explains.
“Future work will involve testing select 3D printed long-lead parts against original parts to determine if they can be a suitable long-term or at least a temporary replacement.”
Together with CEO Maxim Lobovsky, the directors listed on the document include Barry Schuler, a partner with DFJ Growth which led Formlabs’ $19 million Series A funding round in 2013; Brad Feld, co-founder of Foundry Group which led Formlabs’ $35 million Series B funding round two years ago; and Carl Bass, the former CEO of Autodesk (who also invested in the Series B round).
With this latest development, Formlabs has attracted more than $90 million in venture capital.
(Also of note is that Desktop Metal and Markforged are currently locking horns in a lawsuit, as we reported last month.)
Formlabs Prepping Two Big Product Launches in 2018
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Formlabs has been steadily building an 3D printing empire since it was founded in 2011 by three plucky graduates from the MIT Media Lab. Their earliest days were recorded in the Netflix documentary Print the Legend.
Stereolithography (SLA) is their specialism; this is a 3D printing technique that uses a laser to cure liquid resin, forming a solid object layer-by-layer. Their flagship product is the Form 2, which is supported with an ecosystem of materials, software and accessories to optimize the 3D printing process.
The Fuse 1 represents a new dimension and new technology for the company, a Benchtop SLS (selective laser sintering) 3D printer which creates objects from nylon plastic by fusing powder particles with a laser.
Form Cell, meanwhile, is all-in-one 3D printing farm combining multiple Form 2 printers, software and robotics to automate the SLA process.
Both products are being prepped for launch this year, so that extra $30 million will certainly come in handy. Stay tuned for further updates, when we’ll be reporting from the Digital Factory hosted by Formlabs on 14 May in Munich.
The 2017 Shapeways Transparency Report shines a light on how the world’s biggest 3D printing marketplace handles accusations of infringement of intellectual property.
For those folks studying the shifting dynamics of the 3D printing marketplace, the Shapeways Transparency Report 2017 is as good a place to start as any. Published in March 2018, it provides detailed information on how the company handles requests to remove, modify, or disclose information.
The largest portion of the report, according to Shapeways legal counsel Michael Weinberg, covers how they handle accusations of infringement of intellectual property.
“We received 1,622 such accusations in 2017, up slightly from 2016,” he says.
“The report breaks down these accusations by the type of right alleged to have been infringed (copyright, trademark, patent, and right of publicity). It also documents how the counternotice process works in our community.”
The key takeaways from the 2017 Shapeways Transparency Report are:
The number of requests that combine trademark and copyright claims (a practice that can complicate compliance) has remained steady as compared to last year.
16% of all accusations of trademark infringement were withdrawn by the rightsholder after a negotiated settlement between the accuser, Shapeways, and the targeted Shapeways user. Often this involves modifying the terms of a product listing.
50% of all accusations of trademark infringement were withdrawn after being challenged by Shapeways for overstating the rights of the accuser.
All 4 DMCA counternotices submitted by users were successful.
Weinberg says how the company handles accusations of trademark infringement is perhaps the most striking information in the report.
“Unlike copyright, in the United States there is not a statutory safe harbor for sites like Shapeways when it comes to allegations of trademark infringement,” he expains.
“Without such a safe harbor, we cannot easily allow users accused of trademark infringement to challenge accusations leveled against them.”
This means that Shapeways has to review every accusation of trademark infringement to confirm that they have a strong basis in law. If they believe that the accusation can be resolved without completely deactivating the listing (for example, by modifying the title, description, and/or tags), they attempt to broker a solution between the accuser and the accused.
However, if they believe that the accusation does not have a strong basis in law they may refuse to comply with it entirely. In these instances, the shop owner targeted by the accusation might never know about it in the first place.
Either way, the process can take weeks and sometimes months to resolve.
Would Donald Trump regard 3D printed models like these as a trademark infringement?
Data Distortions in Shapeways Transparency Report
A key incident from the 2017 Shapeways Transparency Report is that a single, unidentified rights-holder targeted over 600 models for removal from the site on the grounds of trademark infringement. This led to a significant data distortion, as Weinberg elaborates.
“Upon review, Shapeways believed that a number of the models in dispute were not using the mark in a way that violated the rights of the rightsholder,” he says.
“Shapeways and the rightsholder entered into ultimately unresolved discussions seeking a resolution. Over half of the originally accused models remain in the Shapeways marketplace pending its eventual resolution.”
While those discussions continued, the rightsholder also submitted a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DCMA) takedown request targeting the media or images accompanying the listing. In response, almost 250 models had some descriptive media removed from the listing while the model itself remained.
“Since this was an unprecedented response by a rightsholder and one that Shapeways believes is unlikely to be used in the future,” writes Weinberg, “those models will be counted as targets of unresolved trademark claims but not copyright claims for the purposes of this analysis.”
What becomes clear from the report is that Shapeways would benefit from a streamlined process where their users can challenge accusations of trademark infringement directly.
Something like the DMCA process, which allows rightsholders and users to resolve their disputes without resorting to formal litigation. This would mean that any trademark dispute could be resolved without entangling Shapeways as an intermediary.
One other important (and good) thing to note about the 2017 Shapeways Transparency Report is that their “warrant canary” is still present and correct. This means that Shapeways users have not been targeted by requests for data from government entities.
Keen to learn more? Find the 2017 Shapeways Transparency Report and previous years archived here.
With a 3D printed model showing the iconic red tie and blonde toupee, that’s definitely President Man-Baby. But would he call in the lawyers?
The new Pro Flex filament is a world first for the large-scale FDM industry, according to 3D printer manufacturer BigRep.
BigRep is a large-scale FDM 3D printer manufacturer based in Berlin, and today they announce a new “innovation” in filaments that many users of standard desktop printers may find rather quaint. It’s called Pro Flex, and it’s a flexible material with engineering grade properties for variety of applications.
So yes, tinkerers with modestly sized fused deposition modeling machines will have probably experimented with flexible materials for a while now. But BigRap is confident that this is a world first for the large-scale FDM industry. Given the generous square meter build volume of a BigRep ONE, fabricating something like a bouncy castle with Pro Flex is a distinct possibility.
But of course, the new TPU-based material Pro Flex is meant for more serious applications, providing manufacturers and customers with a flexible engineering material that has been developed and tested to work in tandem with a standard BigRep ONE and a 1 mm extruder.
“Printing elastomers is clearly one of the biggest challenges in the FDM AM industry, so we are proud to have found an industrial-grade solution,” says BigRep Chief Technology Officer Moshe Aknin.
“In terms of applications with Pro Flex, we see high potential for 3D printing in fields like footwear, custom vibration dampers, and seals, due to its high chemical resistance.”
Potential Applications for BigRep Pro Flex Filament
In terms of physical properties, Pro Flex has high temperature resistance and low temperature impact resistance. BigRap claims their new material is durable, has excellent damping behavior and dynamic properties, and will enable companies to explore a broader range of manufacturing opportunities.
For the automotive industry, for example, it can be used for prototyping for gear knobs, door handles, cable sheathing and more. The sporting goods industry is another industry that could benefit, where Pro FLEX can be used for prototyping skateboard wheels, sporting shoe shells, ski tips and ends.
In developing their thermoplastic elastomer, which is a Shore 98 A on the Shore Hardness scale, BigRep studied how elastomers behave in their printers’ extruders. They adapted their material evaluation procedure accordingly.
A note of caution, however. BigRep advises that customers must be experienced in handling extrusion of flexible materials. This is because achieve consistent results can be more challenging than standard filaments.
To this end, BigRep plans to provide a guidance document to all Pro Flex customers. And as part of the BigRep 360-degree service, customer service technicians are also on hand to assist where necessary.
A Reddit user 3D modeled and printed a replica comscanner from Star Trek inspired TV series The Orville without having anything to base his dimensions on other than screenshots from the show.
Any fans of The Orville, the American sci-fi comedy-drama inspired by Star Trek, will know the difficulty of procuring memorabilia. The show, which was created by and stars Seth MacFarlane (known for the “Family Guy”), was premiered in the fall last year. By some, it is considered to be truer to the lore and legacy of Star Trek.
But, it’s not yet as popular as Star Trek… meaning there are no collectibles, replicas or souvenirs available other than those which have been made at home.
One such impressive DIY replica is from Reddit user JohnSmallBerries who created the Orville communicator from scratch using Blender, a 3D printer, some paint and a few LEDs. This feat is particularly impressive considering the fact that John had no official measurements to go off.
His work is based entirely on screenshots from the show. John jokes, “Had to guess at the scale, since they inconsiderately failed to write an episode that required a character to hold a ruler next to a comscanner, but it looked about the size of a large cellphone.”
From 3D Printed Parts to Realistic Comscanner
John used Blender to model the design, Cura for slicing and an Ultimaker 2+ for 3D printing his parts which he describes as “pricey, as FDM-style 3D printers go, but fantastic print quality and reliability”.
He printed with 0.12mm layers to save time on printing. But, he adds it’s possible to go down to 0.02mm layers to minimize sanding time. However, he was on a time crunch as he wanted his Orville communicator ready for C2E2, the 2018 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, which is taking place from the 6th to 8th of April.
After printing, John smoothed and painted the parts. Just sanding the outer surfaces smooth took over 20 hours. He adds: “If I had a resin printer, I probably wouldn’t have had to do any sanding, but they’re a bit out of my price range.”
The device uses two LEDs for the scanner screen and four for the main screen. To power the LEDs, he used a 12-volt A27 battery. The interior also has a spring-assisted retractable display and a screen-accurate user interface.
However, John adds that the assembly of the interior is messier than he’d hoped but “at least it works”. He also designed a holster to make the comscanner practical to carry around. The holster is also based on the show and lined with felt to prevent it from scratching the scanner’s paintwork.
John explains that, in total, he spent under $30 for parts and materials. However, it’s a time intensive project taking around a week to complete. He’s now in the process of tweaking the design and will then make it available for download on Thingiverse.
A new quarterly report from the organization Women in 3D Printing takes an in-depth look at diversity in additive manufacturing, focusing on the employment distribution between genders, the different perceptions on professional opportunity, and the views of women who are pioneering the industry.
We’ve all seen the various reports that boldly predict the future growth of the additive manufacturing market, but it’s not too often that we take a deep look at the inner workings of industry. This is especially true when it comes to diversity in the 3D printing workplace, which, like many other manufacturing sectors, is predominantly made up of men.
A new quarterly report produced by the organization Women in 3D Printing presents a multi-faceted view at diversity within the additive manufacturing workplace. Entitled “Diversity For Additive Manufacturing: First Quarter 2018 Report”, the study is “a resource for understanding the shape and scope of diversity in the 3D printing industry”. It was authored by Sarah Goehrke, Editor-in-Chief of 3DPrint.com; and presented by Nora Touré, Founder of Women in 3D Printing and General Manager at Sculpteo.
The study presents a data-driven examination of diversity in the additive manufacturing sector, as well as subjective discussion that showcases the unfiltered perspective of women in the industry.
A Data-Driven Discussion on Gender Diversity in Additive Manufacturing
After a brief introduction to the state of additive manufacturing as a whole, the report takes a deep, data-driven dive into gender diversity within the industry. The author presents the issues involving diversity (or lack thereof) right at the outset of the report.
“Objectively, the additive manufacturing industry is growing, comprising a more than $6 billion industry. At one estimate, the workforce is made up of 87% male employees and 13% female employees. Public companies’ executive leadership structures can be observed to be made up of a majority male management structure,” Goehrke writes.
Before showcasing the direct impact this imbalance has on the additive manufacturing sector, the study presents statistics that focus on a bigger picture. The author sources a recent study from Northwestern University that suggests that career perceptions are changing among younger generations. A 2016 LinkedIn survey is also quoted within the text, which found that 23% of employees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) were female.
Although this sourced research indicates significant growth for women in tech, other studies shine a glaring light on the problems that women in tech constantly face. For instance, the 2017 McKinsey Women in the Workplace study shows that women are significantly underrepresented in automotive and industrial manufacturing.
As for the 3D printing industry, the report turns to a recent salary survey published by Alexander Daniels Global, which is a UK specialist recruitment company that works in the additive manufacturing field. Looking at every professional aspect across the regions of North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific, the survey found that a whopping 87 percent of employees are male, while just 13 percent are female.
The report digs even deeper into this data, providing a breakdown of the different jobs women hold in the 3D printing industry. The survey found that 29 percent of women in 3D printing worked in marketing, followed by 16 percent in sales, and 14 percent in application and consulting.
Another aspect that the quarterly report looks at is the public employment records of Stratasys and 3D System, two of the largest additive manufacturing companies. In regard to executive positions, the study found that only two of the eleven reported directors and senior management positions at Stratasys are held by women. Out of the five executive officer positions at 3D Systems, none of them are held by a female employee.
Nora Touré, Founder of Women in 3D Printing and General Manager at Sculpteo.
A Personal Perspective of Women in the 3D Printing Industry
After presenting these telling statistics, the quarterly report takes a subjective approach on the subject, as the author herself is a prominent female figure within the 3D printing media scene. Goehrke talks about her own perspective as a woman working in the field of additive manufacturing, explaining certain experiences and epiphanies that transpired at various trade shows. At one point, the author shares a realization she had at CES 2018 in Las Vegas.
“At CES 2018, shortly after the dawn of this new year, thousands gathered in the desert for the neon spectacle that is the massive consumer electronics show. This year was my second time attending, and it seemed to me, primarily focused in as I was on the 3D Printing Zone, that more women were present in 2018 than I had seen in 2017. I took great heart from this — and then noticed an anomaly. Any woman can tell you that in a packed public space, be it an opera house or a baseball stadium, there are always lines for the bathroom. Queuing here is often a built-in part of any experience, and is less a surprising aspect of these events than an exasperating one. At CES, the line out the men’s room door wrapped around a corner in one crowded hallway between event halls; I walked straight into the ladies’ room, no queuing required. Realizing this had me look again at the makeup of attendees; while through efforts such as Women in 3D Printing it becomes clear that there are a significant number of women working in tech today — much of the visibility is clear to those inclined to look. Because I was looking for women in the crowd, I saw them. In absolute numbers, though, women still comprised a significant minority of the total attendance,” Goehrke states in the report.
Utilizing more than 100 interviews conducted by the Women in 3D Printing organization, the report also shares statements from some of the most accomplished females working in the additive manufacturing sphere. The study focuses on a number of questions, including what the subjects think of the 3D printing industry today, the challenges they’ve faced as women in STEM, and how to encourage more women to get involved with 3D printing.
At the end, the report offers a conclusion packed with actionable steps towards making the industry a more diverse space. Goehrke writes:
“Actionable steps toward evening the field of employment include establishing relationships with mentors, visibility of role models, and encouraging educational and training initiatives. Through sharing the stories of industry participants, visibility of experience is rising, positioning the next generations of the workforce to enter a more level field and creating a more complex, rich industry built upon wider-reaching creative problem solving, inventive approaches, and breadth of resources.”
Industrial 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys has spun off a 3D printing operation into a new independent company called Vulcan Labs, specializing in powder-bed fusion technology.
Stratasys, a leading producer of large commercial 3D printers, is launching a new company called Vulcan Labs, which will specialize in power-bed fusion additive manufacturing. The new entity is based in Belton, Texas.
Powder-bed fusion is a process which uses thermal lasers to fuse together powder particles. The new company will strive to improve the technology for speed, consistency and finish, among other things, with an emphasis on production in metals.
Originating from Stratasys’ acquisition of the service bureau Harvest Technologies in 2014, solutions from Vulcan Labs are currently being developed to include:
Optimized build environments and unique multi-laser scan strategies
Closed loop melt pool quality control
Detailed Data Logging and Integration to the factory floor
Automated powder handling and in-situ powder quality characterization
Automated calibration and build set-up capabilities
“We’re extremely excited to continue our long-standing collaboration with Stratasys that began back in 2014. Together, we’ll continue to explore unique solutions that strengthen the production ecosystem across additive manufacturing,” said David K. Leigh, CEO of Vulcan Labs, Inc.
“Our team will bring a unique perspective to solving many of the issues from an end-user perspective. We’re looking forward to delivering new solutions for customers to take control of their applications, while having the tools in place to manage their own quality.”
“Vulcan’s best-in-class team has both the experience and technical know-how necessary to bring PBF into real-world production – a vision perfectly aligned and complementary to our other activities in this space, including Stratasys Direct Manufacturing and our investment in LPW,” said Stratasys CEO, Ilan Levin.
“To provide Vulcan with the best path to achieve its vision, we decided to form a new and independent entity, with Stratasys as an equity stakeholder. We are delighted to continue supporting this team and look forward to collaborating with them and their partners to achieve this vision.”
“The future is custom” according to award-winning software company Caboma. Their software SpecifX allows companies to instantly personalize their products and create bespoke solutions through 3D printing.
Founded in Montreal, Canada in 2015 by co-founders Jean-Philippe Carmona, Jonathan Borduas, and Julien Arnaud, Caboma has been honing its software to bring personalized products to the masses.
“It used to take a CAD specialist up to 6 hours to customise a knee brace,” said CEO Jean-Phillipe Carmona. “Imagine doing that 60 times per week. With SpecifX, customization takes 10 minutes.”
This automation is very scalable, allowing Caboma to make tens of thousands of customized products for a fraction of the current time and price.
“The biggest gap in additive manufacturing is between 3D scan data and the 3D product, and our software solution bridges this gap,” said Mr. Carmona. “As far as we know, SpecifX is the only mass customization software in the world.”
How does it work?
You design a product in any modeling software and import it into SpecifX. You also scan your user’s individual anatomy, for example the knee. The software then digitally molds the product to the scan data to create a custom fit, based on your specified parameters.
In the medical device industry, Caboma worked with the company OssKin to customize and 3D print the orthotic Evoke, claimed to be the world’s lightest bespoke knee brace.
Caboma works with the client company to understand the product parameters that need to be custom. They then develop a bespoke set of tools to mass customize the product.
The software price varies due to its modular nature. Companies can specify the amount of customization they require, and a solution will be developed for them within a few days or weeks.
The team partners with 3D scanning and 3D printing providers to offer a complete end-to-end manufacturing process to their industrial clients.
According to research, customers are willing to pay up to 30% more for personalized products. Imagine walking into a store and getting a scan of your foot to identify your custom size and fit. A shoe that fits the scan perfectly is then generated and manufactured on-demand using 3D printing.
Caboma started as an additive manufacturing consulting company, but were often approached by medical companies to create personalized solutions that leveraged 3D scanning and 3D printing. Realising that making personalized devices manually was expensive and a barrier for some companies, Caboma made the switch to automation software.
The team of 12 people, the majority engineers, is currently in talks with the fashion footwear and sportswear industries to establish strategic partnerships and bring custom items to more consumers.
“Our vision is to be the interface between 3D scanners and 3D printers. We’re passionate about what we do, and we envision a bright future for this technology. We are not looking for any shortcuts.”
CaloriSMART is an advanced model system that uses magnetocaloric materials to achieve refrigeration cooling. The system, that even could help you get a better fridge, was designed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory.
Gas compression refrigeration is a 100-year-old energy inefficient technology which needs updating. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory are working on new technologies to do just this.
Using 3D printing, they built an advanced model system that reaches refrigeration level cooling by using magnetocaloric materials. It was specifically designed to rapidly evaluate materials in regenerators and cut down manufacturing time and costs.
They call the contraption the CaloriSMART (short for Small Modular Advanced Research-scale) Test System. It could lead the way in developing energy-efficient cooling systems.
To test the system, they began by taking a sample of the chemical element gadolinium and subjecting it to sequential magnetic fields. The sample alternated between cooling down and heating up. Timed pumps circulated water during these cycles and the system delivered a cooling power of 10 watts. The gradient between hot and cold was 15 degree Celsius (just under 30° F). This process used just three cubic centimeters of gadolinium.
“Despite predictions, we would fail because of anticipated inefficiencies and losses, we always believed it would work… but we were pleasantly surprised by just how well it worked. It’s a remarkable system and it performs exceptionally well. Magnetic refrigeration near room temperature has been broadly researched for 20 years, but this is one of the best systems that has been developed,” said Vitalij Pecharsky who is CaloriCool project director and Ames Laboratory scientist as well as Anston Marston Distinguished Professor in the Iowa State University Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Creating a 3D Printed Manifold for the CaloriSMART Test System
To create the system, project scientist Julie Slaughter and her team spent five months designing and building. They used 3D printing to create a manifold. This is the part of the system which holds the sample and circulates the fluid.
Therefore, this 3D printed part harnesses the cooling power of the system. By using 3D printing technology, the team was able to custom build the part to make sure it perfectly fit their needs.
As well as a 3D printed manifold, the system also has customized neodymium-iron-boron magnets. These magnets deliver a concentrated 1.4 Tesla magnetic field to both the pumping system and the sample.
“The main reason we conceived and built CaloriSMART is to accelerate design and development of caloric materials so they can be moved into the manufacturing space at least two to three times faster compared to the 20 or so years it typically takes today,” added Pecharsky.
The researchers have big plans for the future including upgrading the system to work with electrocaloric materials. Visit the Ames Laboratory and the Caloricool website to find out more – and let’s hope that your next fridge is more effective thanks to this technology.
At Art Basel Hong Kong, two artists created a backdrop for Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet’s lounge. Their work uses modern technologies to evoke the watchmaker’s home in Switzerland.
Art Basel Hong Kong is one of a series of annual Art Basel art fairs around the globe. This particular edition — Hong Kong’s sixth — came to an end on March 31st. It features works from 32 countries, with (for us) perhaps the most notable being from Chilean artist and designer Sebastian Errazuriz and Italian artist Davide Quayola.
These duo developed installments to be displayed at the mini-lounge created by Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet. Both used modern technologies to create their pieces.
Errazuriz has now worked with the watchmaker three times and this year’s work he explained is “the final part of a trilogy.” It is called Foundations. Each year his pieces were inspired by the watchmaker’s home, the Vallée de Joux in Switzerland.
Quayola also offered a beautiful backdrop for the watchmaker to demonstrate its craft. His work is called Remains: Vallée de Joux and is a photographic series. He was also inspired by the harsh weather conditions the valley faces.
Davide Quayola’s Remains: Vallée de Joux
Errazuriz’s installation focuses on iron ore which is at the heart of steel and a principal resource for watchmakers. The artist 3D scanned, printed and hand molded 500 rocks from the valley. These were then suspended in the lounge to move and rotate and evoke the Vallée de Joux.
Errazuriz spent a week in the valley and learned that long ago, the area was often cut off due to ice and snow. “So, I thought, well, these guys are known for the complexities of their mechanisms. It’s logical that you could focus on that sort of craft if you can’t go anywhere. I see a connection to being an artist: I’m stuck in the studio for months or a year before I’m finished with a work and you don’t want to show it until it’s ready,” he explains.
Meanwhile, Quayola’s beautiful backdrop evokes snow covered trees. This series “unifies the natural roots of Audemars Piguet with his own visual artistry,” according to watchmaker’s website.
However, Quayola’s large black and white images are actually high-precision laser prints. To create these, he used advanced software, computer technology and programming.
“It’s almost like taking the eye of the machine to look at these primordial places and rediscover them from a different perspective,” Quayola explained.
Unfortunately, Art Basel Hong Kong has shut up shop for the year. However, you can find out more about Errazuriz’s Foundations and Quayola’s Remains: Vallée de Joux on the Art Basel website.
MX3D has finally finished building the full span of its long-awaited 3D printed steel bridge! For the next step, the Dutch company is working with the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction to install a network of sensors on the bridge.
Back in 2015, right around the time when additive manufacturing hype was at its peak, the Dutch company MX3D announced an ambitious project involving a 3D printed steel bridge. The plan, which entails placing the footbridge over a canal in Amsterdam’s Red Light District, has encountered a few setbacks, but the team is making great progress as of late.
MX3D has worked with a number of innovative partners to bring this 3D printed bridge to reality, including the Joris Laarman Lab, Autodesk, The Alan Turing Institute, Imperial College London, among others. The 12-meter footbridge will reportedly be the largest metal 3D printed structure in the world. In fact, MX3D recently announced that the full span of the bridge is finally complete.
It has also been revealed that MX3D is collaborating with the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) to install a network of sensors onto the bridge. The sensor network will be designed and installed on the bridge by a team of structural engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, and statisticians. Using this system, MX3D will be able to measure, monitor, and analyze the performance of the 3D printed structure.
Sensor Network Turns 3D Printed Bridge into a “Living Laboratory”
The sensors will collect data and input it into a living computer model of the bridge, which was developed by a group from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. This digital version will imitate the physical bridge in real-time, which will enable MX3D to analyze and test the performance and behavior of both the physical and digital version.
“The sensors collect data on structural measurements including strain, displacement and vibration and measure environmental factors such as air quality and temperature. This enables engineers to monitor the ‘health’ of the bridge in real time and observe and record how it changes throughout its lifespan. The sensor network provides a ‘nervous system’ for the bridge and creates a living laboratory for the researchers and engineers,” said Dr. Mohammad Elshafie, Co-Investigator with CSIC.
With this sensor network, the team believes that they can obtain valuable insight into how to optimize the design for future 3D printed metallic structures. It will also allow MX3D to refine and modify the design of its 3D printed steel bridge in order to ensure maximum safety for pedestrians.
According to the company’s timeline, MX3D is planning to install the 3D printed bridge across an Amsterdam canal sometime in 2019. The next steps are to conduct load tests, which will verify structural integrity, and use the sensor network to build a digital twin.
You can keep up-to-date with the project by following along on MX3D’s website.
During Milan Design Week, engineering firm Arup and Massimiliano Locatelli of architecture studio CLS Architetti are 3D printing a house called 3D Housing 05, near the Duomo cathedral.
A 3D printed house just five minute’s walk away from Milan’s most famous landmark has got to be one of the most extraordinary homes on the planet.
At this year’s Milan Design Week, Massimiliano Locatelli, Italian architect of CLS Architetti, is working with engineering firm Arup to 3D print a one bedroom house called 3D Housing 05. Located at Piazza Cesare Beccaria, a square near the Duomo cathedral, the prototype will be printed and showcased all within one week in April.
Unfortunately after printing, however, the house will be moved to another lot on the outskirts of the city. But, the attention it will receive in the center of Milan will hopefully change perspectives on 3D printed homes.
“We want 3D printing to be taken more seriously… Its potential to disrupt the construction industry has been seriously underestimated… Our ultimate aim is to bring about a shift in the way the construction industry operates – for us all to move away from a ‘make, use, dispose’ mentality,” explained Guglielmo Carra, Arup’s materials consulting lead for Europe.
CLS Architetti, Arup, Italcementi and Cybe Construction’s house printing process in action ahead of Milan Design Week.
3D Housing 05 Offers Four Rooms and Spectacular Views
The house will be single-story and feature four rooms. Packed into the 100-square meter dwelling will be a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
The architects took sustainability, affordability and creativity into consideration when printing the house.
To print the home, a Cybe Construction robot is being deployed. This printer uses concrete from Italcementi Heidelberg Cement Group. This cement has been mixed to ensure the extrusions cure quickly during the home’s construction.
“The peculiarity of the concrete mix is to be made so that the curing time is much faster than in traditional cases, so as to allow the bottom layers of any printed part to withstand the load created by top layers,” explains Carra.
Of course, the faster the house cures, the quicker the 3D printing process is.
Once Milan Design Week is over, the team will be conduct a series of tests on the home to see how it fares over time. Locatelli’s (and the others’) work will be on show for the duration of Milan Design Week, April 17 – 22, 2018, in Milan, Italy.
Researchers from MIT are using 3D printing and an art form called kirigami to make plasters which actually stick to your elbows and knees.
Everyone knows the irritation of hurting a joint, applying a plaster and it falling off just a few minutes later. If it’s not falling off, a plaster on your knee or elbow is restricting your movement. It’s a well-known truth that, whether you’ve scraped your elbow or cut your knee, plasters won’t stick unless you remain completely still.
However, researchers from MIT are using 3D printing and a paper folding art form to create working joint plasters. The method is inspired by kirigami. This art form which is based on origami but allows small cuts and glue.
The new and improved bandages can withstand over 100 joint bends as a result of the cuts.
“Currently in the soft electronics field, people mostly attach devices to regions with small deformations, but not in areas with large deformations such as joint regions, because they would detach. I think kirigami film is one solution to this problem commonly found in adhesives and soft electronics,” said Ruike Zhao, a postdoc in MIT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and lead author of the paper.
3D Printing Meets Art to Make the Perfect Plaster
To create thin kirigami films, the researchers poured a rubber solution, called a liquid elastomer, into 3D printed molds. These molds had offset grooves and various spacings.
After the solution was cured, the researchers took the thin elastomer layers out of the molds. They then added the important cuts. Although the researchers chose to use elastomer, they explain that it’s possible to use many different materials. For example, anything from soft polymers to hard metals.
To make the elastomer layer stick, Ruike added a thin adhesive coating. Then, she stuck it to a volunteer’s knee.
The volunteer was asked to move about and Ruike took note of how well the layer would stick. It stuck for 100 knee bends.
Although that may not sound like a lot if you’re wearing a plaster for the whole day, comparatively, a layer without slits fell off after just one bend cycle.
“In most cases, people make cuts in a structure to make it stretchable. But we are the first group to find, with a systematic mechanism study, that a kirigami design can improve a material’s adhesion,” Ruike adds.
The researchers have now filed a patent for this technique. They are also working with a medical supply company so we may soon see kirigami plasters on our shelves.
Instructables content creator Becky Stern shares her latest 3D printing project: LED Mason Jar Lanterns. This beginner-level project will help you improve your design and DIY skills, and you’ll have some lovely new lanterns to light up your home!
If there’s one type of container that has become synonymous with the stereotypical hipster, most people would probably put their money into mason jars. But these popular receptacles aren’t only good for holding your neighborhood bar’s newest cocktail, you can actually do a lot with them.
Becky Stern, a Brooklyn-based content creator for Instructables and Autodesk, recently shared a how-to guide for LED Mason Jar Lanterns. This unique 3D printing project is perfect for beginners, and will help you improve your design and DIY skills.
These DIY LED Mason Jar Lanterns are a simple, yet stunning project that will fill your house with decorative light. The lanterns contain a simple LED, a battery circuit, and whatever ornamental touch you decide to put on them. Not only will you get more familiar with your 3D printer, Stern’s project also connects you with TinkerCAD, basic circuitry, and artistic creativity.
Here’s what you need to know to get started on your own 3D printed LED Mason Jar Lanterns.
LED Mason Jar Lanterns: What Do You Need?
Aside from your 3D printer, you’ll need a few other components and tools to create your own LED Mason Jar Lanterns. Luckily, the parts on required for this Weekend Project are easily obtainable. Here’s what you need:
LED Mason Jar Lanterns: Putting it Together
Once you have your materials ready, it’s time to start digitally crafting your LED Mason Jar Lanterns. For those who want to take an easier path, you can simply download Stern’s lid model. Conversely, you can also customize your own lid using the Glow Circuit Assembly in TinkerCAD. This 3D printable lid is designed to hold and connect the battery and LED together.
On her Instructables post, Stern shares the TinkerCAD files for two different sized lids, both of which fit the common mason jar. After finding the 3D model that fits your jar, it’s time to 3D print the 3D printed lid and incorporated Glow Holder. The content creator states that she prepared her model on Autodesk Print Studio. In Stern’s example, the lid model is 3D printed with 20 percent infill, no supports or rafts required. If you want to design your own lid, Stern also supplies easy-to-follow TinkerCAD instructions on her post.
Once the 3D printed lid and Glow Holder is ready to go, it’s time to insert the LED and battery into the mount. To do so, you must trim the leads of your LEDs, and then insert the battery and LED into the holder (place the positive side/leg facing the + on the 3D printed holder). Finally, fit the lid into the mason jar and secure it into place with the metal band.
After the assembly process is complete, it’s time to get creative. Stern suggests decorating your lantern with paper cutouts, and even provides some instructions on how to make a Jack-O-Lantern design. All you have to do is cut the paper to match the inside of the mason jar, fold it, cut out a design, and voila! The Instructables content creator states that you can use the LED color and paper color to enhance the design of your lantern.
You can also achieve a striking visual effect by painting the inside of the mason jar with glitter glue, or filling it with translucent beads, seaglass, or any other ornament that will help disperse the light throughout your DIY lantern. Feel free to experiment with other decorative ideas, and be sure to share your 3D printed LED Mason Jar Lanterns on Stern’s Instructables post!
It’s never too early to start learning the basics of making: the latest Humble Book Bundle features a plethora of introductory book for learning hardware hacking, Arduino, electronics, JavaScript and more, all from No Starch Press.
The folks at Humble Bundle have done it again. This time piecing together a cracking assortment of maker-geared books, the proceeds of which will benefit the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
This time in the pay what you want Humble Book Bundle we see titles from No Starch Press covering Python, general computer science, electricity (via the eclectic medium of manga!), JavaScript, Arduino, Raspberry Pi and more.
An array of 22 hands-on guides for kids and adults alike, these DRM-free digital books give the fundamentals to pick and and run with hardware hacking and all manner of making.
As ever, getting access to the full 22 titles means stumping up enough — Humble Bundle operates on a tier basis, with a minimum donation of $1 unlocking access to 7 of the books. The rest are unlockable after the $8, $15 and $20 marks.
The Makerspace Humble Book Bundle is available until 8pm CET April 9, 2018.
All3DP is an editorially independent publication. Occasionally we need to pay our bills, so we affiliate some product links through which we may receive a small commission (though the links on this page are not). For the full spiel, check out our Terms of Use.
Ready to scarf down lots of chocolate this holiday weekend? Exercise some portion control with a 3D printed Easter Egg Dispenser Bunny.
This weekend, you may be indulging in a traditional Easter Egg hunt in your garden. Or perhaps you’ll be kicking back with a Martini. Whichever leisure activity you pursue, make it extra special with an Easter Egg Dispenser Bunny.
What’s so special about this bunny? For starters, it’s made with 3D printing. And it poops out mini chocolate eggs from between its paws. And it has a flip-top head for the quick loading of more chocolate goodies. We like!
From maker Murray Clark in New Zealand, this is a simple and functional print for the holiday season. The way the mechanism works is simplicity itself; load the eggs into an internal channel that runs from top to bottom, with some assistance from gravity.
According to Clark, “it has been designed to be an easy one piece print with two components. The clearances applied are intentionally loose so it should print well regardless of the slicing app or machine used.”
Easter Egg Dispenser Bunny is Ready to Serve
Printed at standard scale, the Easter Egg Bunny Dispenser will measures 150 x 105 x 35 mm. It can handle mini chocolate Easter Eggs measuring up to 28 x 22 mm, with a rolling clearance between 1.5 to 2 mm.
A little step at the bottom will prevent the Easter Eggs from rolling straight through, so they are dispensed one at a time. When the foremost Easter Egg is picked up (and devoured), the remaining eggs shuffle down the line until the next one comes to a rest against the step.
If you have a bigger build plate on your 3D printer, the design can be scaled up to accept larger Easter Eggs. Or even just normal, hard-boiled eggs. The best way to do this, advises Clark, is to the measure the Easter Eggs to be dispensed before printing, to ensure they can roll freely in the internal channel.
Another piece of advice is to ensure you roll your Easter Eggs in sideways so they roll through the internal channel. And you may need to hold the first egg in place at the bottom during loading, otherwise the momentum of the next egg to be be loaded may knock it out.
Ready to print an Easter Egg Dispenser Bunny of your very own? Let us know how you get on. And if you love the result, don’t forget to tip the designer for their efforts.
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