The humble art of knitting takes on a whole new dimension; new software can convert any 3D model into a pattern to create knitted replicas.
Are you ready for a yarn of epic proportions? A team of researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University Textiles Lab have created software which can convert practically any 3D model into a knitting pattern.
In a pre-publication paper Automatic Machine Knitting of 3D Meshes, authors Vidya Narayanan, Lea Albaugh, Jessica Hodgins, Stelian Coros, and Jim McCann outline a methodology for converting 3D models into instructions that can be followed by a computer-controlled knitting machine.
Such machines are already common in textile manufacturing. Those flyknit Nikes on your feet, for example. So it should be pretty straightforward to apply them to making low-poly Pokemon and the like.
Check out the video below, where the approach is demonstrated on a wide range of 3D meshes.
Knitted Replicas of Thingiverse Models on the Horizon?
According to the paper, a human must instruct the software where the knitting machine should start and stop on a given 3D model. But everything else is handled auto-magically, generated from an analysis of the model’s complex 3D mesh. This includes the path the machine should take as it does the actual knitting.
The software also takes into account any limitations of the knitting machine’s capabilities. It won’t generate a pattern that could potentially jam its mechanism due to complexity, for example, or cause the yarn to snap or tear before the knitted model is complete.
Alas, while this development is very exciting for any knitting enthusiasts (and we count ourselves among them), the research at the CMU Textiles Lab is to date focused only on compatibility with knitting machines.
Stand down for the time being, grandma. It’s not yet ready to create patterns for anyone with a pair of knitting needles to start working on. But one can dream of a rosy bright future where we’ll all be knitting a 3DBenchy in water-repellent wool.
Defox has launched the 3D printed Periscope Case on Crowd Supply. The case is dubbed the working man’s Go Pro and can turn your phone into an action camera.
If you’re interested in photography but don’t want to spend thousands on equipment, you might be interested in this 3D printed Periscope Case. Recently launched on the Crowd Supply crowdfunding site, the case is being dubbed the working man’s Go Pro.
The way it works is to attach the case to your phone as with a regular protective case. An angled mirror positioned in front of the camera captures footage while the phone is secured flat. The resulting shots should be better quality than those taken with your phone’s camera by itself.
So far the campaign has only raised $306 of its $1,500 goal. However, there are still 42 days left. Behind the Periscope Case is Defox, a company which claims to specialize in 3D printed products for underserved markets.
“The inspiration came when I tried to live stream a crawlspace inspection of my house by strapping a smart phone to an RC Car. Getting it secured and at the right angle was impossible. A correctly angled mirror and some zip ties did the trick and I didn’t have to go under myself,” explains founder Trevor DeVos.
Become an Action Photographer for $28
No matter whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone, you’ll be able to use the Periscope Case. This is thanks to 3D printing technology. Each Periscope Case is 3D printed as a solid part on the Jet Fusion 3D Printer by HP.
Due to the fact that the case is 3D printed in one, the potential fail points are reduced. This means that, as well as being an action camera enabler, the case also works as protection.
“Just about everyone already owns a powerful camera, their smartphone. Inspired by the sharing economy, we designed the case to allow the casual mobile photographer to use the hardware they already own. It eliminates the need to buy an additional action camera such as a GoPro if you aren’t a hardcore action photographer,” said deVos.
To use the Periscope Case you need to fix the camera at a convenient angle, whether by holding it or strapping it to something. Then, use the mirror to point the camera and shoot.
Everything from the case, the loops, the grips and the mirror latches are also printed together as one part, simplifying assembly. Every aspect of the case is designed, manufactured and packaged in the USA.
“If it’s a little hard to stomach strapping your shiny new phone to the front of a friend’s four-wheeler, this is a great reason to dust off those old forgotten phones in your dresser. At least for these more extreme applications,” deVos adds.
Find out more about the Periscope Case by visiting the Crowd Supply site.
Researchers from Michigan State University have developed 3D printed smartphone device that is able to monitor the user’s blood pressure. The device uses a sensor that calculates blood pressure at the touch of a fingertip.
A team of researchers from Michigan State University have developed a 3D printed smartphone device that enables people to measure their blood pressure on the go. The device lets users monitor their blood pressure from anywhere, so long as they have a smartphone to connect it to.
Regular monitoring of blood pressure is critical for patients with hypertension or cardiac conditions. As such, the device particularly caters to 20 to 50-year-olds who are both tech-savvy and also health conscious.
Additionally, the monitor may offer major benefits to users in less developed countries or people that live in remote areas and can’t get to their doctor’s office easily.
“The idea is to try to make blood measurement so convenient that people will have the ability to readily make the measurement … and that way we might be able to reduce the incidence of strokes and heart attacks,” said the study’s co-author Ramakrishna Mukkamala.
The blood pressure measurement device is extremely easy to use. A user just presses his or her fingertip on the sensor and their blood pressure is calculated using an artery in their finger. Meanwhile, the user’s smartphone functions as a display to show finger pressure and blood pressure measurements.
3D Printed Smartphone Device Enables Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring
The device was developed by PhD student Anand Chandrasekhar and fellow colleagues from Michigan State University. The researchers used 3D printing technology to develop the prototype. In its final form, the case simply clips onto the back of a smartphone. The team also created an app to accompany the device, which provides instantaneous results.
Since blood pressure tends to fluctuate across the day, it is generally recommended that users take multiple measurements. This enables them to gain a more accurate assessment of their pressure.
Although the device has proven quite accurate, the research team cautions that it’s unlikely to offer the same quality readings as a proper arm measurement at a physician’s office. Additionally, the smartphone case will have to undergo more testing before its viability can be confirmed.
With around one-third of Americans showing signs of high blood pressure, the monitor offers a potential breakthrough for self-sufficiency in personal healthcare. With this 3D printed smartphone device, people may soon be able to keep track of their blood pressure with the same device they browse the internet or send text messages with.
The research team recently conducted a trial with 30 volunteers, and found that 90 percent were able to position their finger and get consistent blood pressure readings. The findings of their study were recently published in Science Translational Medicine.
Vitamix partners with The Technology House to use Carbon’s 3D printing technology to transform part design and production. The blending equipment leader will mass produce a micro-fluidic nozzle that is 10 times more durable, uses 30 percent less material, and is 33 percent more economical.
Earlier this week, a wide range of media outletscollectively clamored about a limited offer from the high-performance blending equipment company Vitamix. Usually priced at over $400, the Vitamix 5200 blender had been made available for just under $300, sending kitchenware consumers into a frenzy. (Unfortunately, that flash deal now seems to be null and void).
Whether you want to make a smoothie, mix frozen margaritas, or just granulate ingredients, Vitamix is known as one of the most renowned blender brands on the market. Now, the company is already back in the spotlight to announce a new partnership that will integrate 3D printing technology into its design and production process.
Working alongside The Technology House (TTH), a leading contract manufacturer in Ohio, Vitamix is using Digital Light Synthesis technology from Carbon to transform its products. The Silicon Valley 3D printing startup will help the blender equipment manufacturer reimagine part design and production.
Vitamix is using Carbon’s 3D printing technology to mass produce a micro-fluidic nozzle at that is 10 times more durable, uses 30 percent less material, and is 33 percent more economical. This pressurized nozzle is a critical part of a Vitamix system that is used to rinse and clean containers in commercial shops.
Vitamix Integrates Carbon’s 3D Printing Technology into Blender Production
As proven through an ongoing collaboration with Adidas, Carbon’s 3D printing technique is the first to offer true serial production capabilities. Traditionally, Vitamix would use injection molding to produce the nozzle in six different pieces. However, by partnering with The Technology House, a Carbon Production Partner, the blending equipment pioneer is able to manufacture the pressurized nozzle as a single piece.
“If you’re going to believe in something that isn’t yet possible, then you have to rethink possible. It’s the only way to get there,” said Jodi Berg, President and CEO, Vitamix. “Our partnership with Carbon is very exciting for us, because it’s helping us rethink the possible every day. Once you realize you can manufacture something differently, then you can think about how those components interact with other components, and how you can achieve an entirely different outcome. It’s about evolving the paradigm of engineering, and now we have a new tool in our toolbox that we’re learning, exploring, and evolving.”
If you’re going to believe in something that isn’t yet possible, then you have to rethink possible. It’s the only way to get there.
Vitamix is adapting Carbon’s complete manufacturing solution into its design and production process. Using the Speed Cell System–which consists of the M2 3D printer and Smart Washer–and durable Rigid Polyurethane (RPU) material, the blending equipment company is creating nozzles with complex geometries and channels with an excellent surface finish.
Since the nozzle must be able to handle high-pressure fluidics, the quality of this part is especially important. As it turns out, the nozzle produced with Carbon’s 3D printing technology surpassed the quality standards of those manufactured via injection molding.
Vitamix is now sending tens of thousands of these nozzles to stores across the country. On top of that, the collaboration proves once again that Carbon’s 3D printing technology reaches far beyond prototyping, and provides the speed and quality to outmatch traditional manufacturing.
A Kim Kardashian double has commissioned a baker to create a life-size cake of the celebrity. The cake took ten days to make and 3D printing was used to create Kim K’s face.
Whether you love or hate the Kardashians, you’ve got to be impressed by a life-size cake made to look exactly like her. It even stands up by itself. Made from Rice Krispies, chocolate and icing, the cake is almost identical to the celeb.
The cake is the creation of baker and couture designer Debbie Wingham who’s based in London and LA. She was commissioned by a professional Kim Kardashian lookalike’s partner ahead of the double’s birthday.
Although Wingham was initially hesitant to create a cake so similar to the celeb, she finally accepted the challenge. To make sure the cake was as accurate as possible, she used 3D printing technology to create the face.
She explains the process on her Instagram, saying: “I tried a pioneering technique and 3D printed KKW face in edible materials and used that as a foundation and built upon it with modeling chocolate mixed with @massa_ticino_sugarpaste to adapt the features to make my Kim K look alike client.”
It took ten days to create the edible version of the reality TV star. Wingham used 15 kilograms of icing sugar and even adorned the Kardashian cake with £1.2 million worth of diamonds from Cartier.
Keeping up with the Kardashian Cake
To create a Kardashian cake, ingredients you’ll need include; 30,000 baby marshmallows, 85 boxes of Rice Krispies, 15 kilos of Massa Ticino fondant, modeling chocolate, sugar eyelashes, edible metallic paint, color dust and real diamonds.
Wingham first mixed the Rice Krispies with the melted marshmallows and covered this in fondant. She used sugar to create the eyelashes and fingernails.
The Kim K cake also received a manicure using edible metallic paint. To make the cake’s skin appear more realistic, Wingham used edible color dust.
The 3D printed edible face template was then covered in modeling chocolate. However, the details of the exact “pioneering” 3D printing process technique are unclear.
Wingham thinks of her Kim K cake as a work of art. It’ll be a shame to eat the cake after all of her hard work. However, she explains that she’s now ready to model the rest of the Kardashians.
“I would love to make the whole Kardashian/Jenner clan only this time featuring the real Kim, not a lookalike, and with their permission entirely made of cake. I think they have such a fun family environment I can almost picture it as a segment on Keeping up with the Kardashians,” she told the Daily Mail.
Fittle is the world’s first 3D printed braille puzzle which is open source. It helps visually impaired people in India learn to read braille quickly and efficiently.
In India, 22 million people are visually impaired and many of them can’t find work. The ability to read braille offers them a chance to be more independent. In fact, by learning how to read braille, a visually impaired person can triple their chance of higher education and employment.
However, the tools to learn are expensive. A digital braille reading device can cost over $1,000 alone. This means the majority of people in developing countries go without or have to make do with outdated tools that are boring to the learner.
A project in India has devised a braille learning tool which is more accessible, cost-effective, and engaging. It’s called Fittle and is the “world’s first 3D printed braille puzzle”. accessible
To make the puzzle accessible to everyone, fittles are open source and freely available to download from the Fittle website. These files can then be printed for a cheap cost and are hollow to save on material usage.
Fittle Puzzle Feedback is Overwhelmingly Positive
How does Fittle work? Every part of the puzzle has a different letter, and connected parts spell out a complete word. But the ingenious thing is how the overall puzzle also takes the shape of what’s being spelled.
Marks on the pieces help the learner know how to fit them together and once they’re in place, it’s possible to read and learn the word.
Initially the first Fittle prototype was made from wood. However, 3D printing provided a cheaper alternative and enables people to more easily source the files for fabrication.
Fittle is the work of Indian designer Tania Jain. He has been collaborating with LVPEI, India’s leading eye institute, Ravensburger, the German educational toy company, and Serviceplan, the independent global communication group.
The puzzles are already being printed and distributed across India. Christoph Bohlender, Creative Director at Serviceplan Health & Life, says: “Feedback has been overwhelming so far. More and more children are learning braille better with Fittle.”
Fittle 3D prints puzzles on Ultimaker 2+ 3D printers and then distributes them to LVPEI’s regional centers. Here, braille learners can enjoy using the puzzle.
3D printing is saving a lot of money. For example, with $10,000 it’s possible to create 16,000 Fittle puzzles instead of only providing only 200 braille books or four digital braille readers.
You can find out more about Fittle by visiting the website and help support their work through donations.
Evelyn Hriberšek’s EURYDIKE interactive art piece puts you in the dark; figuratively and, at times, literally. We caught up with the artist after experiencing the extended run of EURYDIKE.
Evelyn Hriberšek is no stranger to the workings of augmented reality. An early pioneer of the technology, her efforts brought her to chair on the 2014 International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality.
In 2012 she debuted an interactive art space titled O.R.pheus, which encouraged its ‘players’ (we’ll refer to the experiences as players since a great degree of role-play and interaction is required) to explore a 1000-square-meter hospital in an underground bunker in Munich in search of camera readable codes. Finding them would unlock content tied to the narrative of O.R.pheus.
O.R.pheus relied on smartphones held in-hand to experience. For Hriberšek’s 2017 follow up, EURYDIKE, you go all in. With a VR headset, headphones and more, it all sums up to a wonderfully immersive experience.
O.R.pheus & EURYDIKE, mixed reality art by Evelyn Hriberšek. Image copyright Evelyn Hriberšek 2017.
You ‘play’ EURYDIKE alone. Pulled in to the preparation room one-by-one for your solitary 30-minute allotment of time, the immersion (and confusion) is immediate. Stumbling in the dark, you examine a scene and, like O.R.pheus before it, search for AR prompts that unravel snippets of content created especially for the experience.
It’s a curious thing, sabotaging your own vision in favor of a real-time video feed. For EURYDIKE, which strongly evokes a specific retro-futuristic aesthetic, this plays off wonderfully.
We won’t spoil the mystique of EURYDIKE by explaining further. But it‘s impressive enough, so it has been nominated for “Deutscher Computerspielpreis” in the category “Best Presentation”.
We did reach out to Hriberšek for her experiences and thoughts on working with augmented reality.
Without spoiling anything, please explain what EURYDIKE is?
Hriberšek: It’s difficult to nail down exactly what EURYDIKE is. It is a new hybrid art form if anything. But if I have to make it more concrete, then it is a new individual, immersive borderline experience within an interactive virtual-analog room installation.
What inspired the piece?
Hriberšek: EURYDIKE is dedicated to the backstory of Orpheus and Eurydike, this time putting the focus on the female part as well as the relationship of the couple. Did the artist sacrifice his wife for his own self-realization? Is there a retrogression of the female role to the Eurydice theme in a new but still reactionary, male-dominated high tech society — accelerated by mass media and new tech?
Really it creates a bridge between the classical Orpheus myth and our present times and provides important impetuses for the future regarding content and society as well as art and technology.
O.R.pheus mixed reality art by Evelyn Hriberšek. Image copyright Evelyn Hriberšek & Julian Rupp
Does augmented reality pose particular challenges over traditional filmmaking?
Hriberšek: The question can apply to both VR and AR. Its all about the content. If the content doesn’t fit the medium or tool, don’t do it. If you don’t have the right people or the budget, don’t do it.
There’s a lot of crap out there right now because people feel they have to use this new tech, but in reality, there are few specialists out there who understand how to work with the medium. Few who understand how to use the tech to create something more than a throwaway gag or gimmick.
I think the use of technology has to make sense. There has to be a need for it, for the form to follow the function, otherwise it you’re better off sticking with other traditional mediums.
How did you arrive at AR as a medium?
Hriberšek: During my studies, I get bored by using just one of a lot of ways to create art, I always believed in the combination of the different potentials. So I started to work interdisciplinary, combining the real/ analog and virtual/digital worlds from early on. This put me in contact with the technologies 10 years ago. I was always interested in the idea of bringing together multiple arts — visual arts, music, theater, film, and games — to explore their possibilities and push them to their limits — to find new ways of storytelling.
O.R.pheus mixed reality art by Evelyn Hriberšek. Image copyright Evelyn Hriberšek & Julian Rupp
I started with augmented reality in 2007 when I created the concept for the multiple awarded project O.R.pheus. A mix of art, opera and real-life game, it premiered in Munich in 2012. I had a clear vision of how I wanted to bring the real and virtual worlds together, but at the time the means to do so did not exist.
We ended up creating an AR app ourselves — 5 years before Pokemon Go even! O.R.pheus was already a forward-looking example of how technology and art can be combined in a mutually stimulating way.
And how do you view the use of augmented reality in your work?
Hriberšek: New media and tech are serious long-term engagements. As architects of the future, I feel we have a responsibility with what we create.
Again, it’s that form should follow function. The content of both O.R.pheus and EURYDIKE led me to the use of their chosen technologies and form of experience. Both are complexes about crossing borders, transformations and transcendence. AR and VR can be both — a transboundary medium and transcendental tool. That’s what I’m interested in.
A lot of it is about bringing the best of both worlds — the real and the virtual — together in a playful new way that creates the level of immersion that is needed for such complex themes. That they can be experienced physically and mentally to leave the pink scratches in the hearts and minds of their (normally otherwise incompatible) visitors.
You can now experience EURYDIKE in Stuttgart’s Theater Rampe, starting 18.4. to 1.5.2018. Tickets here.
More information and background can be found on eurydike.org.
EURYDIKE mixed reality art by Evelyn Hriberšek. Image copyright Evelyn Hriberšek
The California-based company 3D Hybrid Solutions is offering three metal 3D printing tools for CNC machines, including Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), Laser Metal Deposition (LMD), and Cold Spray toolheads.
Ever since 3D printing emerged onto the manufacturing scene, many have debated whether or not the technology could eventually displace CNC milling as the king of the production floor. As time has transpired, it’s become clear that these dueling manufacturing methods are at their best when used together. In fact, there are a number of hybrid machines that utilize both subtractive and additive manufacturing technologies.
The Los Angeles-based manufacturing company 3D Hybrid Solutions has recently unveiled three new metal 3D printing tools for CNC machines.
After experimenting with polymetallic alloy additive manufacturing for aerospace and research applications, the company decided to develop 3D printing tools based on electrical, optical, and kinetic energy. The trio of toolheads, which includes Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing, Laser Metal Deposition, and Cold Spray, are compatible with almost any CNC machine.
3D Hybrid Solutions has designed these complementary tools to lower the barrier of entry into metal additive manufacturing. The three different methods aim to optimize the functionality of current machines with increased speed and multi-material capabilities. The price of these metal 3D printing toolheads start at $50,000.
3D Hybrid Solutions Adds Three Toolheads for CNC Machines
Each of these metal additive manufacturing tools offer a unique approach to hybrid manufacturing. Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing uses a complex electrical discharge technology that is compatible with a wide variety of feed-stock alloys. This tool uses a patent pending co-deposition system that prints with both wire feed and metal powder.
The patent pending co-deposition system in the Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing toolhead
The Laser Metal Deposition tool is equipped with a laser beam energy source and a powder-gas spray nozzle. The laser is used to melt the substrate, while the powder converges into the beam and melt pool. The deposit material is then metallurgically bonded and layered to form metal 3D printed objects.
Laser Metal Deposition process in action
Lastly, the Cold Spray tool is fast-paced technique ideal for large scale metal 3D printing. As 3D Hybrid Solutions explains on its website, this technique “uses solid metal powders that are accelerated in a gas to supersonic speeds around 1600-3500 feet/second”. After incurring impact, these substrate particles deform and combine with the substrate as the toolhead moves above the surface.
The Cold Spray toolhead
3D Hybrid Solutions is aiming to amalgamate metal 3D printing into CNC machines. By doing so, the company is expanding manufacturing beyond a single technology. In a market where both versatility and affordability are major keys to success, 3D Hybrid Solutions is giving customers more opportunities to innovate with both additive and subtractive manufacturing at the same time.
American tire company Goodyear will debut a 3D printed tire concept this week at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show. Called Oxygene, the tire touts many potential environmental benefits, including improving air quality in cities and recycling old waste rubber.
Air pollution is on the rise but could car tires be the answer to the problem? In 2016, World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement explaining that more than 80% of people living in urban areas which measure pollution are exposed to poor air quality levels which exceed the agency’s limits.
Now, Goodyear, the American tire company, is unveiling a design concept for a tire which could improve air quality in our cities. The company is set to reveal the tire, called Oxygene, at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show. The show runs from 8th – 18th of March.
Goodyear’s aim is to produce a tire which can improve urban transport and provide cleaner air, safer vehicles and reduce material waste and energy loss. Better yet, the company is using 3D printing to create the tires from recycled materials.
“With more than two-thirds of the world population expected to live in cities by 2050, the demands on transport networks in urban environments will increase substantially. Smarter, greener infrastructure and transport will be crucial in addressing the most pressing challenges of urban mobility and development,” Chris Delaney, President of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa, explains.
Oxygene Tire: Clean Air, Recycled Parts and the Internet of Things
Goodyear is focusing on the principles of a circular economy — keeping materials in use for as long as possible — to create the Oxygene tire. Delaney continues:
“Like the concept designs Goodyear has presented at Geneva in the past, Oxygene is meant to challenge our thinking and help drive the debate around smart, safe and sustainable future mobility. By contributing in this way to cleaner air generation, the tire could help enhance quality of life and health for city-dwellers.”
Features of the Oxygene tire include:
Cleaner air – Oxygene does this by absorbing moisture from the road through unique treads. Moss sits on the sidewall of the tires which takes in CO2 and releases oxygen.
Recycle old tires – Goodyear make Oxygene using 3D printers and rubber powder from recycled tires. This creates a lightweight, shock-absorbing print which is long-lasting. The tire also has an open structure which absorbs water from the tread, improving wet grip.
Electricity Generation – energy is harvested via the moss’ photosynthesis process meaning Oxygene is able to power embedded electronics. Such electronics include, onboard sensors, warning light strips in the tire and an artificial intelligence processing unit.
Communication – the tire participates in the data exchange between vehicles and even with infrastructure, offering “smart mobility management systems”. This process works via LiFi, a visible light communications system.
Goodyear’s Oxygene tire is currently only a concept. However, it’s certainly an interesting indication of what cars could look like in the future. Check out the company’s previous concept tire from 2016.
Oregon State University’s College of Engineering researchers have made progress in the ability to rapidly manufacture flexible electronics and soft robotics.
Flexible computer screens would undoubtedly be a cool improvement to laptops, hopefully making them more difficult to crack. Amazingly, this isn’t an impossible dream. Researchers from Oregon State University’s College of Engineering are getting closer to making this a reality.
The researchers, from the college’s Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute, are getting closer to being able to 3D print stretchable electronic devices, soft robots, and flexible computer screens.
Using a highly conductive gallium alloy, the team is working on 3D printing tall, complicated structures. To make the liquid metal Galinstan suitable for 3D printing, they thicken it to a paste using nickel nanoparticles and sonication (the energy of sound).
“The runny alloy was impossible to layer into tall structures. With the paste-like texture, it can be layered while maintaining its capacity to flow and to stretch inside of rubber tubes. We demonstrated the potential of our discovery by 3D printing a very stretchy two-layered circuit whose layers weave in and out of each other without touching,” Yiğit Mengüç, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and co-corresponding author on the study.
3D Printing Gallium Alloys
The benefits of using a gallium alloy are that it has low toxicity, good conductivity, and is cheap. As a result, the alloys are already in use for flexible electronics as the conductive material.
However, before the researchers used sonication to mix nickel particles and the oxidized gallium to create a paste, printing was restricted to 2D. But, the team can now print structures up to 10 millimeters high and 20 millimeters wide.
The gallium alloy paste offers new features to the flexible electronics field. In fact, the alloys are “self-healing” which means that at breakpoints, they’re able to attach back together.
The researchers also add that it is quick and easy to make. Better yet, its structural change is permanent and the electrical properties are similar to pure liquid metal.
“Liquid metal printing is integral to the flexible electronics field… Additive manufacturing enables fast fabrication of intricate designs and circuitry,” said co-author Doğan Yirmibeşoğlu, a robotics Ph.D. student at OSU.
Yirmibeşoğlu adds that with the gallium alloy, “the future is very bright”. He explains that someday we should see soft robots coming out of the printer which are ready for action.
The researchers are now working on the exact structure of the gallium alloy paste. They’ll learn about how the nickel particles are stabilized. But, they’ll also continue to observe any changes in the paste as it ages.
In celebration of RapidPro trade show this week, colorFabb is knocking 10% off filament orders site-wide. Read on for full details.
RapidPro takes place in colorFabb’s native Netherlands this week, so to celebrate they’re offering up a tasty 10% discount code for use on the colorFabb website.
Customers placing orders on full spools of filament can use the code “RAPIDPRO2018” for a 10% reduction at checkout. Only valid until the end of this week (their words, not ours — we presume end-of-day Sunday CET), the discount also applies to filaments that on sale this week.
The discount code is not applicable to filament samples and 3D printers, nor will it combine with other discounts.
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. For the full spiel, check out our Terms of Use. All prices accurate at the time of publication.
Researchers from Purdue University and University of Michigan have developed a new 3D jet writer that allows them to print high-resolution polymer as microtissues. These tiny tissue structures are able to facilitate cancer cell growth, allowing for improved drug development and testing.
A team of researchers at Purdue University and University of Michigan have developed a 3D jet writer that can print high-resolution polymer as microtissues. Since the device is capable of 3D printing on an extremely small scale, the team is able to accurately model pore sizes and recreate a lifelike cancerous environment.
This breakthrough could offer significant opportunities for drug development and testing. Led by Luis Solorio, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering, the research team is aiming to provide better insight into how certain drugs could prevent cancer growth. Moreover, these structures can also improve our understanding of how cancer cells spread throughout the body.
Various researchers have previously experimented with 3D printing to create materials and structures that mimic biological tissues. However, few have been able to achieve the correct porosity to nurture cancer cells to grow and ultimately thrive.
Conceptual drawing of the 3D jet writer. (Image: Purdue University)
3D Jet Writer Produces Small-Scale Polymer Structures That Mimic Cancerous Environments
Essentially, 3D jet writing is a more evolved version of electrospinning. With electrospinning, the technique uses a charged syringe with a polymer solution to draw out fiber. Subsequently, researchers are able to arrange the fiber to form a scaffold that enables cell growth.
The 3D jet writer developed by the researchers acts similarly to a 3D printer, creating micro tissues from a polymer. However, it does so on a much smaller scale, mimicking the size of pores more effectively. In return, cancer cells can wrap around the structure and grow the same way as they would within a real body.
The team has already tested the viability of these polymer structures in mice. They were able to encourage cancer cell growth in tissues of the subjects, even in areas where cancer would not normally develop. In essence, the experiment demonstrates that the polymer scaffold provides a viable environment for cells to grow.
In the future, the researchers hope that they can utilize the new technique to develop and screen anti-cancer drugs more effectively.
“Ideally, we could use our system as an unbiased drug screening platform where we could screen thousands of compounds, hopefully get data within a week, and get it back to a clinician so that it’s all within a relevant time frame,” states Solorio.
Gift your printer a little self-awareness: MatterHackers’ rebadging of the eminently useful BLTouch automatic bed leveling probe in stock and shipping for $36.81.
We’ve all felt the pain of incessant 3D printer bed-leveling, which is why we’re huge fans of ANTCLABS, the brains behind this nifty little bed leveling probe.
Mounted to a hot end, the BLTouch gifts a 3D printer the wondrous ability to calibrate it’s own level bed — cutting out the hassle of micro adjustments to thumbscrews and Z-axis offsets. Perhaps best of all, it’s mechanically operated, meaning it works with whatever you have coating your print bed.
MatterHackers rebadges the BLTouch under its own name, the Orbit BLTouch, but assures us that it is the real deal from ANTCLABS. At the time of writing they have it in stock for $36.81, 47% off the list price of $69.
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. For the full spiel, check out our Terms of Use. All prices accurate at the time of publication.
Researchers from Western University have developed a functional prototype of a new tremor suppression glove. This device aims to provide more independence to patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.
Across the world, there are around 10 million people with Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that causes a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the area of the brain known as the substantia nigra.
This progressive disease greatly hinders a patient’s motor skills, causing uncontrollable tremors, loss of balance, among other debilitating symptoms. Unfortunately, those suffering from Parkinson’s disease struggle to perform everyday activities like eating or getting dressed.
Looking to improve the quality of life for Parkinson’s patients, a team of researchers from Western University have developed a new tremor suppression glove.
The device utilizes a series of motors and sensors to help distinguish between the voluntary motions of a patient and the involuntary tremors that stem from the disease. A number of the key components included in this functional prototype were 3D printed.
3D Printed Tremor Suppression Glove Aims to Provide Independence to Parkinson’s Patients
The 3D printed tremor suppression glove took four years to complete. The research team is currently waiting on ethics approval to test the assistive device on Parkinson’s patients. Western University has already developed the software that controls the glove. The software program was created with the help of research subjects with Parkinson’s disease.
“I believe that with a technology like this, could remain independent for longer. They could perform activities of daily living in a more effective manner for a longer amount of time,” said Ana Luisa Trejos, an assistant professor in Western’s department of electrical and computer engineering.
The 3D printed prototype is able filter out and suppress tremors, while still allowing the voluntary motions to transpire. This is advantageous over previous glove designs, which can only stop tremors by suppressing all motion in the hand and wrist.
Led by Trejos, the researchers designed the 3D printed glove prototype to fit the left hand of graduate student Yue Zhou. In the future, the assistive device will be customized to fit each patient’s hand and forearm. According to the research team, each tremor suppression glove should cost under $1,000 to create.
“Our goal is to really get it out there for people to be able to use it, so potentially if a company is interested in commercializing the product, then we’d be on board with supporting that,” Trejos adds.
Dr. Mazher Mohammed is working on a project with Deakin University and Plan International to use waste plastic and “ecoprinters” to help disaster recovery teams.
The Solomon Islands out in the South Pacific receive tumultuous weather, to say the least. As a result, this developing nation sees many aid and disaster recovery teams working to provide for affected locals.
Currently, one in five Islanders doesn’t have access to safe drinking water due to patchy infrastructure. As well as this, waste plastic is in abundance. However, Dr. Mazher Mohammed wants to use 3D printing to benefit the island and repair infrastructure while also recycling trash.
In January, the island was battered by cyclonic conditions. Caught in the middle of this was Mohammed. “All the stuff around me was just flying around — and I’m holding this printer down as it’s printing out the part we needed to fix the pipe. But a Yorkshire man never worries,” he explains.
Mohammed is working with a small team from Deakin University and charity Plan International. Together, the team is building 3D printers from materials scavenged at local dumps. To then print useful parts for aid workers, Mohammed is using waste plastic found on the island.
He calls this technique “ecoprinting”. However, he jokes that when it’s done in the middle of a cyclone, it should be named “extreme printing”.
Eco-printing in the Solomon Islands
The project’s 3D printers are perfect for repairing waterpipe parts. “When government or charities go and do maintenance in these remote towns, you often get out there and don’t have the specific parts you need in the right sizes. And the travel to these sites, it makes it really expensive. These waterpipe parts have been prohibitively expensive in the Solomons,” Plan’s program manager Tom Rankin explains.
Currently, 3D printers are being used for relief efforts in Haiti and Nepal. However, these projects require specialized plastic to be sent to them. However, Mohammed’s solution uses solar energy and waste plastic, making it a world first.
Mohammed began by improving the water pipe which supplied water to the town of Visale. Originally, locals had used whatever was on hand to create the pipe – this included bamboo, plastic piping and old bike tires. However, due to harsh weather, the water pipe leaked in multiple places.
To improve on this system, Mohammed foraged for as much waste plastic as he could find. The team ground this down to fine pellets which could be fed into the 3D printer. They designed connectors to fit the pipe and began printing.
“We wanted it to be rough and ready, and see if we could do it in real circumstances. You grind the plastic, throw it in the machine, feed it through, and then the printer just takes care of the rest of it,” explains Mohammed.
The team is now working on commercializing the printers for less than $10,000 per unit. They hope to eventually have a built-in library of parts so that it’s simply a case of feeding in the plastic waste and choosing a print.
The Mexican 3D printing service Moti Digital used a Massivit 1800 3D printer to create a 12-foot-tall skeleton structure. The installation was showcased during the Mexican Festival of Light celebrations in Guadalajara.
Known as the birthplace of tequila and mariachi music, the western metropolis of Guadalajara is a hotbed for Mexican culture and festivities. The most recent cause for celebration was The Mexican Festival of Light, a four-day event in the city that explores the harmony between light and artwork.
Last week, at the city’s popular Plaza Tapatía, thousands of visitors were greeting a lofty and lovable skeleton installation. The 12-foot-tall sack of bones was 3D printed by Moti Digital to celebrate the Mexican Festival of Light. The sculpture appears to be emerging out of the plaza fountain, and is illuminated at night for all to see.
This 3D printed skeleton measures a whopping 8.40m in length and 3.60m in height. Although the towering structure sounds quite intimidating, it has a warm and welcoming smile strapped across its bony face. Thousands of festival attendees sat in the arms of the display, sharing photos on social media and generating a large amount of buzz.
Moti Digital Uses Massivit 3D Printer to Produce Gigantic Skeleton Display
To produce the enormous skeleton structure, the Mexican 3D printing service used an in-house Massivit 1800 3D printer. This large-format 3D printer offers a build volume of 1800 x 1500 x 1200 mm. The company’s innovative Gel Dispensing Printing (GDP) technology uses a gel-like material that is rapidly cured with UV light.
Massivit’s 3D printing technique enables customers to create super-sized objects at fast speeds. In fact, the 3D printed skeleton took only four days to manufacture and assemble. The decorative structure is also painted to provide a friendly, animated look.
While The Mexican Festival of Light has already come to a close, Moti Digital won’t be burying this amicable skeleton anytime soon. The massive display will also be featured at this year’s Festival del Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which takes place throughout Mexico from October 31 to November 2.
Scientists from Manchester, UK are using 3D bioprinting to investigate and better understand the brain’s neurovascular unit (NVU) which will hopefully lead to improved treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Currently, there are no cures for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s and stroke. However, scientists from the University of Manchester, UK are using 3D bioprinting to help improve treatments.
So far, researchers know that the onset of neurodegenerative diseases is related to the dysfunction of the neurovascular unit (NVU). The NVU is composed of a vascular and a neural component. It’s vital that these two components can communicate properly. The NVU provides the brain with nutrients and oxygen while also removing harmful toxic compounds.
Therefore, the Mancunian scientists are using 3D models to mimic the NVU and investigate it more closely. To do this, they’re taking advantage of advances in 3D biomaterials such as hydrogels.
Along with the use of novel biomaterials and bio-inks, the researchers are using the 3D bioprinting method to create complex models and gain insight.
3D Bioprinting to Investigate the NVU
The 3D bioprinted models mimic interactions between the neural, vascular and extracellular matrix (ECM) which is combined by the NVU.
Currently, researchers already use animal models for research. However, the scientists Geoffrey Potjewyd and Sam Moxon (see above) at Manchester University explain that research greatly needs human cell-based models.
Recent progress in tissue engineering means it’s possible to create complex structures consisting of different cell types and materials. As a result, the researchers found that 3D bioprinting is extremely promising.
They can also choose whether to use bio-ink and 3D print directly to create a structure or to use molds. With bio-ink, it’s possible to tweak the materials so the resulting models are biochemically and mechanically similar to the real NVU.
The hope is that by understanding the NVU better, researchers will be able to find better treatments for the resulting neurodegenerative diseases. They also add that they can produce a large number of 3D bioprints easily which makes the technology a valid research tool and could even move the field a step forward.
You can find out more by reading the study by the University of Manchester team. It was published in the journal Trends in Biotechnology.
On display at the Super Bien! greenhouse for contemporary art (yes, that’s a thing) in Berlin is the sculpture Portrait of a Birch by artist Martin Binder. What’s special about this particular piece isn’t that it’s on display in a structure designed to grow vegetables — no, it’s that it is entirely drawn by hand using a 3D printing pen. Some 4 meters of hand drawn woodfill sculpture.
To make a point about digital media consumption, identity and originality as well as the difference between what’s real and what’s not, Martin Binder set about 3D printing a tree.
The project took 250 hours and was completed using a 3D printing pen and wood-plastic composite filament. The result is a 4-meter long sculpture which, when behind glass, looks completely realistic.
However, when you get up close, you can see the filament lines and that it’s only an imitation of a real tree after all. The sculpture is now being exhibited at Super Bien! Greenhouse for contemporary art in Berlin.
“I spend a lot of time on instagram, where I consume images behind a glass screen. This work is a three-dimensional equivalent to digital media consumption. A fragment of a tree can be visually experienced behind the glass walls of the unconventional exhibition space,” Binder explains.
Eyes for a 3D Scanner, Hands for a 3D Printer
While researching his design, Binder spent hours studying birch trees. He explains: “My eyes were the 3D scanner and my hands were the 3D printer.”
His design isn’t perfect and has broken branches and imperfections to make it look like a real tree, frozen still and conserved in time. But, when you look up close, the 3D print is extremely impressive and clearly meticulously created.
If you get the chance to see the birch, consider the questions Binder is asking, such as; what is real, what do we perceive, why do we perceive something?
The public can visit the design 24 hours a day at the greenhouse located at Schwedter Strasse 232, 10435 Berlin. The Portrait of a Birch appears to be floating in the exhibition space and will remain there until March 8th, 2018.
Want to know more about Binder and his work? He studied product design at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy. He also completed a degree in Art in Context at the University of the Arts, Berlin. Visit his website for more insight into his projects.
Metal 3D printing filaments are perfect for busts, figurines, and other 3D models. But in order to achieve that true metal look, you have to know how to properly post-process your metal 3D print. This weekend, get familiar with polishing and oxidizing techniques that will help your 3D print shine.
There are a wide range of 3D printing filaments out there, and each one offers its own unique aesthetic or mechanical value. One of the most popular exotic materials is what some call “metal-fill”, which consists of a mixture of metal powder and PLA.
The Dutch filament producer colorFabb has struck gold with its line of metal 3D printing materials, including bronzeFill, copperFill, brassFill, and steelFill. This filament is widely used to 3D print statues, figurines, and more.
Now, it’s important remember, there are other filaments that are metallic in color, but don’t actually contain any metal powder.
Right off the print bed, most metal 3D printing filaments lack the look and feel of true steel, although it is noticeably heavier than your average PLA. However, a little bit of post-processing will transform your 3D print into a shiny metallic object.
On this Weekend Project, we’ll show you how to post-process your metal 3D prints using polish and oxidization.
Polish & Oxidize Your Metal 3D Prints: What Do You Need?
First and foremost, you’re going to need to get your hands on some metal 3D printing filament. There are a few brands to choose from, but few are as reputable as colorFabb. Currently, the company offers four different types of metal 3D printing filament:
colorFabb steelFill
Check Price
colorFabb bronzeFill
Check Price
colorFabb brassFill
Check Price
colorFabb copperFill
Check Price
Aside from the material itself, here’s what else you need to start post-processing your metal 3D printing filament:
(Image source: Pinshape)
Polish & Oxidize Your Metal 3D Prints: It’s Post-Processing Time!
Now that you have your metal 3D printing filament and post-processing supplies, it’s time to polish up that 3D print. But first, let’s go over a few tips on how to optimize the 3D printing process for this material.
Since metal 3D printing filament has a hefty mix of metal powder in the formula, this material tends to wear down the nozzle of your 3D printer. So, if you have a higher quality and wear resistant nozzle, you might want to use that.
In order to prevent the metal 3D printing filament from clogging, you should reduce the number of retractions through your slicing software. Additionally, since this material is heavier than your average PLA, it oftentimes does poorly with overhangs and bridges. To alleviate this issue, you can reduce the number of overhangs and change the layer height to 0.1 or even lower.
Once you’ve printed your metal object, the first step of the post-processing technique is sanding. Start with 150 grit sandpaper to eliminate the layer lines, and continue to smooth the surface with 300 and 450 grit.
At this point, your 3D print should be smooth, but not yet shiny. Steel wool helps to unearth the metal particles in your object, giving it that metallic glimmer you’ve been searching for. Start with the more coarse steel wool, and slowly make your way to the fine grit. By now, your metal 3D print should be shimmering with a metallic glimmer.
If you want to take things a step further and provide a more rustic feel to your 3D printed object, you can also oxidize it with Brasso. This ammonia-based oxidizing agent will give your print the impression that it’s undergoing a chemical reaction.
Simply pick out the spots you want to oxidize and apply the Brasso. The appearance of oxidization should take place in about 30-45 minutes. This solution does pose some health risks, so be cautious when handling the Brasso. Conversely, you can also use a salt and vinegar mixture to oxidize your 3D print.
After you’re finished oxidizing your 3D print, you can use your steel wool to alter or remove some of the effect. Finally, use an acrylic spray or epoxy to seal the oxidization into the object. As you see, with just a few easy post-processing tricks, you can transform your 3D printed models into metallic relics.
Airbus is using artificial intelligence from IBM to create an AI robot that will live on the International Space Station. This 3D printed mission and flight assistance system is called the Crew Interactive Mobile Companion, also known as CIMON.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will soon have their own AI-based mission and flight assistance system to provide support to the crew. The European aerospace company Airbus is working in cooperation with IBM to develop CIMON (Crew Interactive MObile CompanioN). This is an AI-based assistant developed for the DLR Space Administration.
CIMON is the size of a medicine ball and weighs around 5 kg. Airbus uses plastic and metal 3D printing to create the structure of the AI robot. Using Watson AI technology from the IBM cloud, CIMON will have a face, voice, and loads of artificial intelligence.
“In short, CIMON will be the first AI-based mission and flight assistance system. We are the first company in Europe to carry a free flyer, a kind of flying brain, to the ISS and to develop artificial intelligence for the crew on board the space station,” said Manfred Jaumann, Head of Microgravity Payloads from Airbus.
This unique AI system will help astronauts with routine work, displaying procedures and even offering solutions to problems. Astronaut Alexander Gerst is planning to test CIMON on the ISS during the European Space Agency’s Horizons mission. This expedition will take place between June and October 2018.
Once CIMON floats its way aboard the ISS, crew members will have an assistant to make everyday tasks easier to complete. The AI-based mission and flight assistance system will aim to increase efficiency, facilitate mission success, and improve security. According to Airbus, CIMON will also act as an early warning system for technical problems on the spacecraft.
CIMON Astronaut Assistance System to Become the Latest Member of the ISS
The Watson-based AI trains itself with voice samples and photos of Gerst. The astronaut also played a role in selecting CIMON’s screen face and computer voice, making it easier for the duo to become friends. The AI system is also knowledgable about the procedures and plans of the Columbus module of the ISS.
CIMON is still learning how to orientate itself and move around. Additionally, it’s using WATSON AI technology to accumulate information and recognize its human co-workers. Once testing is complete, Gerst will take on three different space missions with the AI-based system.
Together, the astronaut and CIMON will experiment with crystals, work together to solve the Rubik’s cube, and also perform a complex medical experiment with an ‘intelligent’ flying camera. At first, the AI system will have a limited range of capabilities. Eventually, it will be used to examine social interaction between man and machine, or more specifically, between astronauts and AI systems equipped with emotional intelligence.
The project was commissioned by the Bonn-based DLR Space Administration back in August 2016. Currently, CIMON is being worked on by a project team of over 50 people, including members from Airbus, DLR, IBM, and the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich (LMU).
In the future, Airbus believes that this type of AI system can make an impact in hospitals and social care. For now, CIMON will focus on assisting astronauts with routines, and interacting with them on a social level. And, as long as the AI system doesn’t undergo some evil HAL 9000-like evolution, this intelligent robot should make life easier for those residing on the ISS.
re:3D’s Gigaprize for 2017 of a large format 3D printer has gone to Magic Wheelchair, an organization empowering handicapped children to follow in their heroes’ footsteps with incredible costumes that integrate wheelchairs.
Magic Wheelchair is an organization dedicated to creating mesmerizing costumes for disadvantaged children. The venture began for founder Ryan Weimar back in 2008, when he created a pirate Halloween costume (complete with ship) for his then three-year-old son, Keaton.
Diagnosed with Spinal Muscolar Atrophy at the age of 9 months, Keaton’s costume lit a fire for Weimar that has grown into an ambitious non-profit that aims to make as many costumes for children confined to wheelchairs as possible.
And now, augmenting Magic Wheelchair’s arsenal of wheelchair costume building tools, is a large format 3D printer courtesy of re:3D’s 2017 Gigaprize. For every 100 3D printers re:3D sells, the company gives one away to a worthy cause. Past winners of the award include the Tunapanda Institute in Nairobi, Kenya and Good Works Studio in Houston, Texas.
Weimer recalls the reception to that pirate costume:
“People seemed to look past his “disability;” they looked past his wheelchair and saw this cool kiddo cruising around in a pirate ship. Where normally other kids who didn’t know Keaton would stare from a distance, this costume created an immediate and intense level of inclusion.”
Magic Wheelchair collaborates with volunteers nationwide and has established a network of local teams. The charity offers a builder’s manual that explains the process of putting together a team.
Gigaprizes for Mega Makers
It took some years for Magic Wheelchair to get off the ground, with a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 campaign successfully raising funds for 5 costumes. That first year the charity created eight. The following year it produced 24, and 50 in 2017.
“The co-founders Matt and Erich both serve on the board of Magic Wheelchair, and as part of this amazing connection all of our volunteers get access to the school,” Ryan explains. “We have cream of the crop special effects artists helping our build teams! The school has completely changed how I take a build on.”
Despite the incredible creations the Magic Wheelchair’s network fabricates for children each year, the possibilities broaden a little more with the Gigaprize.
In addition to the costumes themselves, the 3D printer will enable the Magic Wheelchair team to up its inhouse production game, printing tools and kits for dissemination with its volunteers.
“3D printers are quickly becoming commonplace in fabrication and special effects, so it’s going to be incredible having such an amazing printer in our hands,” Ryan adds. “We have already had some 3D artists reach out to help, and we have a solid connection with Pixologic and the Zbrush community. Sky’s really the limit here!”
The impact of each costume created by Magic Wheelchair is huge for the recipient. Ultimately, it’s the experiences of the children that are driving the organization’s efforts. Thanks to Gigabot, the group will be able to continue bringing a smile to many kids’ faces.
If you’ve always wanted a cat, but happen to be allergic to feline friends, fear not as you can soon make your very own robotic cat.
Thanks to a design by Rongzhong Li, a programmer, the robotic cat combines artificial intelligence with some pretty exciting features. As part of his “OpenCat” project, Li designed a robot that combines an Arduino Pro Mini with a Raspberry Pi 3 model B. You can watch the artificial feline in the video below.
Robotic pets have been enjoying increasing popularity. For example, the Sony AIBO made quite a splash when it was launched 11 years ago. However, robots are still super expensive. The AIBO will set you back $1,800. And the most of the Wowwee robots that you can buy in a store aren’t exactly smart.
The OpenCat project might change that. It is available as part of a GPL3+ license. So far, there’s no documentation, but Rongzhong Li plans to have it ready as soon as his job at the University leaves him some time.
The Arduino is used to control the movement of the robot, whilst the Raspberry Pi enables the robot to have a personality – well, sort of. Li explained on Hackster.io:
“The Pi takes no responsibility for controlling detailed limb movements. It focuses on more serious questions, such as “Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going?” It generates mind and sends string commands to the Arduino slave. Motion instructions can still be sent to the Arduino in a slower manner.”
Robots for anyone thanks to open-source
If you cannot afford the Raspberry Pi or want a simplified model of the robot, Li has also added the plans for a cat with just the Arduino part.
Meanwhile, the full version provides enhanced AI perception and also includes an infrared, voice and night vision interface.
Li adds: “You can imagine it as a legged Android phone or Alexa that has an app store for third-party extensions.”
Robot cat in development. (Image: Rongzhong Li, Hackster.io)
The full version cat needs multiple precisely printed structures with various filaments. Add two day for printing and post-processing. The 3D printed part have to be assembled with specific accessories and tools. Some mechanisms are designed at
The final robot can run at 2.6 meters/sec for 60 minutes or stream videos for multiple hours.
Originally, Li created the OpenCat to test the Raspberry Pi and learn the coding hardware. He wanted to find out exactly what it could do. The final version, however, may even make it to commercial production as Li plans to start his own business.
In addition, Li is now using his skill set to teach a robotics class at university. He hopes to sell even more kits to generate the revenue necessary to keep the project rolling.
“I believe in the power of open-source if everyone could grab a robot and start to solder and code. Rather than a final product, it shows the potential backed by a growing maker community,” he added.
Robot versus real cat. (Image: Rongzhong Li, Hackster.io)
Um dir ein optimales Erlebnis zu bieten, verwenden wir Technologien wie Cookies, um Geräteinformationen zu speichern und/oder darauf zuzugreifen. Wenn du diesen Technologien zustimmst, können wir Daten wie das Surfverhalten oder eindeutige IDs auf dieser Website verarbeiten. Wenn du deine Einwillligung nicht erteilst oder zurückziehst, können bestimmte Merkmale und Funktionen beeinträchtigt werden.
Funktional
Immer aktiv
Die technische Speicherung oder der Zugang ist unbedingt erforderlich für den rechtmäßigen Zweck, die Nutzung eines bestimmten Dienstes zu ermöglichen, der vom Teilnehmer oder Nutzer ausdrücklich gewünscht wird, oder für den alleinigen Zweck, die Übertragung einer Nachricht über ein elektronisches Kommunikationsnetz durchzuführen.
Vorlieben
Die technische Speicherung oder der Zugriff ist für den rechtmäßigen Zweck der Speicherung von Präferenzen erforderlich, die nicht vom Abonnenten oder Benutzer angefordert wurden.
Statistiken
Die technische Speicherung oder der Zugriff, der ausschließlich zu statistischen Zwecken erfolgt.Die technische Speicherung oder der Zugriff, der ausschließlich zu anonymen statistischen Zwecken verwendet wird. Ohne eine Vorladung, die freiwillige Zustimmung deines Internetdienstanbieters oder zusätzliche Aufzeichnungen von Dritten können die zu diesem Zweck gespeicherten oder abgerufenen Informationen allein in der Regel nicht dazu verwendet werden, dich zu identifizieren.
Marketing
Die technische Speicherung oder der Zugriff ist erforderlich, um Nutzerprofile zu erstellen, um Werbung zu versenden oder um den Nutzer auf einer Website oder über mehrere Websites hinweg zu ähnlichen Marketingzwecken zu verfolgen.
![[DEAL] colorFabb Filament, 10% off](https://www.blogdot.tv/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/deal-colorfabb-filament-10-off.jpg)
![[DEAL] MatterHackers Orbit BLTouch Automatic Bed Leveling Probe](https://www.blogdot.tv/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/deal-matterhackers-orbit-bltouch-automatic-bed-leveling-probe.jpg)
