3D Printing Flies High now. Articles on three-dimensional printers are popping up everywhere these days. And nowadays there are many 3D printer products. Some are small enough to fit in a briefcase and others are large enough to print houses.
Everything you ever wanted to know about 3D printing article tells that 3D printing is having its “Macintosh moment,” declares Wired editor -in-chief Chris Anderson in cover story on the subject. 3D printers are now where the PC was 30 years ago. They are just becoming affordable and accessible to non-geeks, will be maybe able to democratize manufacturing the same way that PCs democratized publishing.
Gartner’s 2012 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies Identifies “Tipping Point” Technologies That Will Unlock Long-Awaited Technology Scenarios lists 3D Print It at Home as important topic. In this scenario, 3D printing allows consumers to print physical objects, such as toys or housewares, at home, just as they print digital photos today. Combined with 3D scanning, it may be possible to scan certain objects with a smartphone and print a near-duplicate. Analysts predict that 3D printing will take more than five years to mature beyond the niche market. Eventually, 3D printing will enable individuals to print just about anything from the comfort of their own homes.Slideshow: 3D Printers Make Prototypes Pop article tells that advances in performance, and the durability and range of materials used in additive manufacturing and stereolithography offerings, are enabling companies to produce highly durable prototypes and parts, while also cost-effectively churning out manufactured products in limited production runs.
3D printing can have implications to manufacturers of some expensive products. The Pirate Bay declares 3D printed “physibles” as the next frontier of piracy. Pirate Bay Launches 3D-Printed ‘Physibles’ Downloads. The idea is to have freely available designs for different products that you can print at home with your 3D printer. Here a video demonstrating 3D home printing in operation.
Shapeways is a marketplace and community that encourages the making and sharing of 3D-printed designs. 3D Printing Shapes Factory of the Future article tells that recently New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg cut the Shapeways‘ Factory (filled with industrial-sized 3D printers) ribbon using a pair of 3D-printed scissors.
The Next Battle for Internet Freedom Could Be Over 3D Printing article tells up to date, 3D printing has primarily been used for rapid commercial prototyping largely because of its associated high costs. Now, companies such as MakerBot are selling 3D printers for under $2,000. Slideshow: 3D Printers Make Prototypes Pop article gives view a wide range of 3D printers, from half-million-dollar rapid prototyping systems to $1,000 home units. Cheapest 3D printers (with quite limited performance) now start from 500-1000 US dollars. It is rather expensive or inexpensive is how you view that.
RepRap Project is a cheap 3D printer that started huge 3D printing buzz. RepRap Project is an initiative to develop an open design 3D printer that can print most of its own components. RepRap (short for replicating rapid prototyper) uses a variant of fused deposition modeling, an additive manufacturing technique (The project calls it Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) to avoid trademark issues around the “fused deposition modeling” term). It is almost like a small hot glue gun that melts special plastic is moved around to make the printout. I saw RepRap (Mendel) and Cupcake CNC 3D printers in operation at at Assembly Summer 2010.
There has been some time been trials to make 3D-Printed Circuit Boards. 3D Printers Will Build Circuit Boards ‘In Two Years’ article tells that printing actual electronics circuit boards is very close. Most of the assembly tools are already completely automated anyway.
3D printing can be used to prototype things like entire cars or planes. The makers of James Bond’s latest outing, Skyfall, cut a couple corners in production and used modern 3D printing techniques to fake the decimation of a classic 1960s Aston Martin DB5 (made1:3 scale replicas of the car for use in explosive scenes). The world’s first 3D printed racing car can pace at 140 km/h article tells that a group of 16 engineers named “Group T” has unveiled a racing car “Areion” that is competing in Formula Student 2012 challenge. It is described as the world’s first 3D printed race car. The Areion is not fully 3D printed but most of it is.
Student Engineers Design, Build, Fly ‘Printed’ Airplane article tells that when University of Virginia engineering students posted a YouTube video last spring of a plastic turbofan engine they had designed and built using 3-D printing technology, they didn’t expect it to lead to anything except some page views. But it lead to something bigger. 3-D Printing Enables UVA Student-Built Unmanned Plane article tells that in an effort that took four months and $2000, instead of the quarter million dollars and two years they estimate it would have using conventional design methods, a group of University of Virginia engineering students has built and flown an airplane of parts created on a 3-D printer. The plane is 6.5 feet in wingspan, and cruises at 45 mph.
3D printers can also print guns and synthetic chemical compounds (aka drugs). The potential policy implications are obvious. US Army Deploys 3D Printing Labs to Battlefield to print different things army needs. ‘Wiki Weapon Project’ Aims To Create A Gun Anyone Can 3D-Print At Home. If high-quality weapons can be printed by anyone with a 3D printer, and 3D printers are widely available, then law enforcement agencies will be forced to monitor what you’re printing in order to maintain current gun control laws.
Software Advances Do Their Part to Spur 3D Print Revolution article tells that much of the recent hype around 3D printing has been focused on the bevy of new, lower-cost printer models. Yet, significant improvements to content creation software on both the low and high end of the spectrum are also helping to advance the cause, making the technology more accessible and appealing to a broader audience. Slideshow: Content Creation Tools Push 3D Printing Mainstream article tells that there is still a sizeable bottleneck standing in the way of mainstream adoption of 3D printing: the easy to use software used to create the 3D content. Enter a new genre of low-cost (many even free like Tikercad) and easy-to-use 3D content creation tools. By putting the tools in reach, anyone with a compelling idea will be able to easily translate that concept into a physical working prototype without the baggage of full-blown CAD and without having to make the huge capital investments required for traditional manufacturing.
Finally when you have reached the end of the article there is time for some fun. Check out this 3D printing on Dilbert strip so see a creative use of 3D printing.
2,037 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
How Desktop 3D Printing is Moving From Makers to Pros
https://www.designnews.com/content/how-desktop-3d-printing-moving-makers-pros/91578836858227
Thanks to a number of factors, desktop 3D printing is finally moving out of makers’ basements and into professional offices and factories.
We’ve all seen the results of desktop 3D printing. And let’s be honest, the results have often been less than impressive. Things like homemade toys and models have a certain cool factor, but once that wears off you have to ask yourself, is a desktop 3D printer just a $3,000 tchotchke maker?
That’s not to discount however the things being done by makers and the DIY movement. Armed with a 3D printer and a Raspberry Pi, a creative hobbyist can make all sorts of gadgets. But the question for the 3D printing community at large, as well as printer manufacturers, is how can desktop 3D printing move out of the hobbyist realm and deliver on its promise of becoming a professional tool as ubiquitous as a desktop PC?
“For years, even 10 to 20 years ago, we’ve talked about a 3D printer on every engineer’s desk. But it’s becoming more and more reality. When [desktop 3D printers] started they were for makers,”
The upside to all of this Kawola said, is that many makers are engineers in their day jobs. And this open-source community that has sprung up around 3D printing hardware, software, and materials is creating a natural ecosystem that is moving desktop 3D printing into offices and factories.
“I credit that to the open-source nature of desktop 3D printing,” he said. “The customers now have a range of materials they can use. There are now hundreds, maybe thousands, of entities developing filaments for desktop 3D printing. That wasn’t true two to three years ago and it’s part of why desktop 3D printing is becoming more useful in a professional environment.”
He continued, “At a $3,000 price point for a quality printer and the low cost of materials now, customers are saying, ‘Let’s try that.’ They’re not sure if it’ll work, but it’s such a low cost they try it anyway, and if it works they win.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Stratasys Mimics Real Organs With 3D-Printed Models
https://www.designnews.com/content/stratasys-mimics-real-organs-3d-printed-models/160478733158169
Stratasys has introduced BioMimics, a suite of 3D printing technologies that allow it to 3D print models of organs that look and feel like the real thing.
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printing of Metal Parts Is on the Rise, Expert Says
https://www.designnews.com/3d-printing/3d-printing-metal-parts-on-rise-expert-says/116054288058229
In applications needing light weight and intricate geometries, direct metal laser sintering is emerging as an alternative to traditional metal fabrication techniques.
3D printing is a viable solution for metal parts in applications where the geometries, production volumes, and end goals well are suited to the process, an expert told engineers at the Pacific Design & Manufacturing conference in Anaheim this week.
“Direct metal laser sintering has some huge advantages when the geometry is appropriate,” noted Jeff Schipper, director of special operations at Proto Labs. “But in those situations where traditional manufacturing is more appropriate, you’re going to find direct metal laser sintering to be a lot more expensive.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Water Cooling a 3D Printer
https://hackaday.com/2018/02/06/water-cooling-a-3d-printer/
It may seem like a paradox, but one of the most important things you have to do to a 3D printer’s hot end is to keep it cool. That seems funny, because the idea is to heat up plastic, but you really only want to heat it up just before it extrudes. If you heat it up too early, you’ll get jams. That’s why nearly all hot ends have some sort of fan cooling. However, lately we have seen announcements and crowd-funding campaigns that make it look like water cooling will be more popular than ever this year. Don’t want to buy a new hot end? [Dui ni shuo de dui] will show you how to easily convert an E3D-style hot end to water cooling with a quick reversible hack.
Water Cool a 3D Printer Nozzle for Cheap and Easy!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Water-Cool-Your-3D-Printer-Nozzle-the-Cheap-and-Ea/
Tomi Engdahl says:
CPAP Hacked into Super Charged 3D Printer Cooler
https://hackaday.com/2018/02/06/cpap-hacked-into-super-charged-3d-printer-cooler/
The Mother of All Print Cooling Fans
Remote print cooling using a centrifugal air pump from a CPAP machine.
https://hackaday.io/project/45993-the-mother-of-all-print-cooling-fans
Tomi Engdahl says:
DeWalt Flexvolt 60v Battery Adapter
https://hackaday.io/project/45999-dewalt-flexvolt-60v-battery-adapter
A 3D-printed adapter enables the 60 volt mode of the DeWalt Flexvolt batteries.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Upgraded cheap 3D printer into a high quality
https://hackaday.io/project/47044-upgraded-cheap-3d-printer-into-a-high-quality
I upgraded my cheap $154 3D printer into a high quality 3D printer with 3D printed parts which you can download for free.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Repairs You Can Print: Fixing a Rat-Attacked Mic Cord
https://hackaday.com/2018/02/05/repairs-you-can-print-fixing-a-rat-attacked-mic-cord/
https://hackaday.io/project/46069-3d-printed-universal-cable-fix
Tomi Engdahl says:
In the future we won’t edit genomes—we’ll just print out new ones
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/610180/why-redesigning-the-humble-yeast-could-kick-off-the-next-industrial-revolution/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2018-02-16&utm_campaign=Technology+Review
Why redesigning the humble yeast could kick off the next industrial revolution.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Water Cool a 3D Printer Nozzle for Cheap and Easy
https://www.eeweb.com/featured-projects/water-cool-a-3d-printer-nozzle-for-cheap-and-easy
This Water Cool a 3D Printer Nozzle for Cheap and Easy project is a way that prevents clogging at the nozzle of a 3D printer. It is a DIY 3D printer cooling system that helps to attain an efficient 3D printing.
This DIY water cooling system uses some basic materials such as zip ties, fittings, and tubings. An extruder that is running too hot far inside the nozzle comes with a big chance for the nozzle will clog up. This is due to the retraction during printing operation that the melted part will progressively goes up and up. Another thing is if it gets hot too long after being extruded, then it will end up with poor quality prints. Therefore, those basic materials and a 12V water pump are set on the part of 3D printer extruder that should be cooled down.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Repairs You Can Print Contest: Meet the Winners
https://hackaday.com/2018/02/28/repairs-you-can-print-contest-meet-the-winners/
Six weeks ago, we asked you to show us your best 3D printed repairs for a chance to win $100 in Tindie credit and other prizes. You answered the call with fixes for everything from the stuff everyone has, like zippers and remotes, to the more obscure stuff, like amazing microscopes scavenged from dumpsters.
It was hard to whittle down the entries we received into the top 20 because you came up with so many awesome fixes. A few of them had us thinking hard about the definition of repair, but are brilliant in their own way.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Arts & Culture turns to 3D Printed Vases
https://www.3dnatives.com/en/3d-printed-vases-050320184/
Google Arts & Culture is not just a platform to turn your selfie into a famous painting. It offers access to the world’s most famous art and tries to integrate historical art into our modern society. Google Arts & Culture has recently worked with an Indian museum to create 3D printed vases to become relics of the future.
Tomi Engdahl says:
This Team Built an ‘Absurd Machine’ That Blows Away 3-D Printing
https://stage.inc.com/magazine/201804/kimberly-weisul/bre-pettis-danielle-applestone-makerbot-othermill-3d-printer.html?cid=hmside1
Bre Pettis left MakerBot a wealthy man with a trail of enemies. Danielle Applestone was a PhD desperate for someone to save her company. Then the two found each other.
More sophisticated than both a laser cutter and a 3-D printer, the Othermill is a computer-controlled milling machine that can cut into aluminum, brass, wood, and plastic with incredible precision. Industrial mills can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and are the size of at least one refrigerator. Her team at Other Machine–now called Bantam Tools–had made a plug-and-play desktop version the size of a tall toaster that cost only $2,199. If a 3-D printer could let people make plastic objects at their whimsy, her milling machine could give people the power to produce the stuff that makes the stuff–anything from a circuit board to a gear.
“With a milling machine, the world is your Lego,” says Applestone. Those at the forefront of the maker revolution believe “desktop milling has the potential to be even more significant than consumer 3-D printing,” says Limor Fried, founder of Adafruit Industries, an open-source hardware company.
Tomi Engdahl says:
World’s Largest Search Engine for 3D Printable Models Launched
https://www.manufacturingtomorrow.com/story/2017/05/worlds-largest-search-engine-for-3d-printable-models-launched/9695/
What Google, Bing or Yahoo did for searching and finding content and information on the internet, new search engine IFind3D will do for printable 3D models. Users consider the launch of the search engine to be a huge step towards maturity of the consumer 3D printing industry.
https://www.ifind3d.com/
the world’s largest search engine for 3D printable models, containing 740.029 designs.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Arcus-3D-C1 – Cable 3D printer
https://hackaday.io/project/26938-arcus-3d-c1-cable-3d-printer
3D printable, Open Source Hardware, tripod kinematics, cable driven 3D printer
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printed Transmission Invented Again; This Time Continuously Variable
https://hackaday.com/2018/03/13/3d-printed-transmission-invented-again-this-time-continuously-variable/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Unbricking A 3D Printer The Hard Way: By Writing a Bootloader
https://hackaday.com/2018/03/13/unbricking-a-3d-printer-the-hard-way-by-writing-a-bootloader/
There’s a sinking feeling when a firmware upgrade to a piece of equipment goes wrong. We’ve all likely had this happen and bricked a device or two. If we are lucky we can simply reapply the upgrade or revert to a previous version, and if we’re unlucky we have to dive into a serial debug port to save the device from the junk pile. But what happens when both those routes fail? If you are [Arko], you reverse-engineer the device and write your own bootloader for it.
The offending bricked object was a Monoprice MP Mini Delta 3D printer to which he was foolhardy enough to apply new firmware after seeing a friend’s machine taking it without issue. Finding the relevant debug interface on its main PCB he applied the firmware upgrade again, only to realise that in doing so he had overwritten its bootloader. The machine seemed doomed, but he wasn’t ready to give up.
What follows in his write-up is a detailed examination of the boot mechanism and memory map of an ARM Cortex M0 processor as found in the Monoprice’s STM32F070CB.
Recovering a bricked MP Mini Delta 3D Printer
http://arkorobotics.com/blog/?p=161
Tomi Engdahl says:
Innovative 3D-printed stethoscope saves lives
http://news.westernu.ca/2018/03/innovative-3d-printed-stethoscope-saves-lives/
A 3D-printed stethoscope costs $3 to produce and can be a lifesaver in areas of the world where other medical technology is scarce. Dr. Tarek Loubani and his team developed open-source software that makes the technology both affordable and accessible.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Arduino 3D Printer | Homemade
https://www.eeweb.com/featured-projects/arduino-3d-printer-homemade
Arduino 3D Printer project is a DIY 3D printer design based on an arduino board. It features RAMPS 1.4 shield and Arduino Mega 2560 that handles majority of the 3D printer components. It has an aluminum frame that is particularly cut and set properly set for 3D printing operation.
This Arduino 3D Printer uses five stepper motors in which three of these motors are used for X-axis, Y-axis, and Extruder operation, while the remaining two motors are used for Z-axis operation. These five motors are driven by A4988 drivers in which an A4988 driver is a DMOS microstepping driver with translator and overcurrent protection. These drivers are connected to the RAMPS 1.4 shield in which this shield simplifies the connection between other components. The RAMPS 1.4 shield is stacked over the Arduino Mega 2560. The Arduino Mega serves as the main controller.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Ei-H2gQ48
Tomi Engdahl says:
Oasis 3DP
A powder and inkjet 3D printer based on HP45 inkjet technology
https://hackaday.io/project/86954-oasis-3dp
Oasis is a powder and inkjet 3D printer (3DP) that uses older inkjet technology to print an object. HP45 inkjet printheads jetting binder are used to bind powder locally. This part can then be cleaned and treated to create an 3D object.
3DP can print in several materials to get several results:
-Gypsum: For full color parts. Infiltrated with CA afterwards;
-Sand: For sandcasting molds;
-Sugar: For edible prints;
-Ceramics: For printing stoneware. Parts need to be fired afterward;
-Metals: With a lot of post processing
Tomi Engdahl says:
New 4-D printer could reshape the world we live in
https://m.techxplore.com/news/2018-03-d-printer-reshape-world.html
A powerful new 4-D printing technique could one day allow manufacturers to produce electronic devices and their wiring in a single process
Tomi Engdahl says:
Today, 60 percent of the 3D printing business’s turnover comes from manufacturing end products, says Wohlers Annual Report.
The growth in the relative share of serious finished product production is quite rapid. “Even ten years ago, just under 10 percent of the turnover in the industry was such a manufacturing activity,” says Jukka Tuomi , Aalto University Research Manager.
The latest 3D news in the 3D printing industry has been linked to end-product manufacturing applications, especially 3D metal printing. For example, Siemens has announced a $ 20 million investment in 3D printing of metal components in its Industrial Turbomachinery in Sweden.
Printer manufacturer HP is also coming up for 3D printing of metal components. The company started shipping 3D plastic printer components last year. The company is expected to report shortly on the 3D printing solutions of its metal components.
Source: https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2018/03/22/lopputuotteiden-valmistus-korostuu-3d-tulostuksessa/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Repurposing Inkjet Technology For 3D Printing
https://hackaday.com/2018/03/20/repurposing-inkjet-technology-for-3d-printing/
You would be forgiven for thinking that 3D printing is only about plastic filament and UV-curing resin. In fact, there are dozens of technologies that can be used to create 3D printed parts, ranging from welders mounted to CNC machines to the very careful application of inkjet cartridges. For this year’s Hackaday Prize, [Yvo de Haas] is modifying inkjet technology to create 3D objects. If he gets this working with off-the-shelf parts, this will be one of the most interesting advances for 3D printing in recent memory.
The core of this build is a modification of HP45 inkjet print heads to squirt something other than overpriced ink. To turn this into a 3D printer, [Yvo] is filling these ink cartridges with water or alcohol. This is then printed on a bed of powder, either gypsum, sugar, sand, or ceramic, with each layer printed, then covered with a fine layer of powder. All of this is built around a 3D printer with an X/Y axis gantry, a piston to lower the print volume, and a roller to draw more powder over the print.
Oasis 3DP
A powder and inkjet 3D printer based on HP45 inkjet technology
https://hackaday.io/project/86954-oasis-3dp
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printing And Modelling With A Robot Assistant
https://hackaday.com/2018/03/20/3d-printing-and-modelling-with-a-robot-assistant/
RoMA: Interactive Fabrication with Augmented Reality and a Robotic 3D Printer
http://www.huaishu.me/projects/roma.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
The End of the Candy Rainbow
https://hackaday.com/2018/03/28/the-end-of-the-candy-rainbow/
About a decade ago [Windell Oskay] and [Lenore Edman] spun out of Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories to work on CandyFab, an inexpensive 3D printer using sugar as its medium. Wondering what happened to CandyFab? It’s been nearly that long since we last wrote about their work and Maker technology has moved on. 3D printers run the gamut from very inexpensive to production ready. The CandyFab project and nascent company is now shuttered, but there is a epilogue with some interesting lessons.
First of all, the saga of the CandyFab series of printers
is worth a read. Some of what these machines were capable of is still quite impressive by modern standards.
CandyFab credits the rise of MakerBot coupled with the complexity of iterating from a pile of “surplus junk” (their words) to something kitable.
A spike of fantastic early publicity lead to the need to handle press while rapidly iterating from the aforementioned surplus parts to a reliable and manufacturable design. Then the complexity of balancing a day job and other side projects with the prospect of CandyFab as a business. Ultimately the need for the project in the first place (accessible inexpensive 3D printers) was alleviated by the market and the project came to a graceful close.
https://candyfab.org/#epilogue
Tomi Engdahl says:
Carnegie Mellon Engineers Release Open Source 3D Bioprinter Extruder Design
https://blog.hackster.io/carnegie-mellon-engineers-release-open-source-3d-bioprinter-extruder-design-d454c1681eb7
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bringing Fiction to Life with 3D Printing
https://hackaday.com/2018/04/02/bringing-fiction-to-life-with-3d-printing/
Getting the Model
Before you can print it, you need to model it. Or ideally, have somebody else model it for you. Generally speaking, when it comes to games or movies that have a considerable fandom, you should be able to find 3D models to work from fairly easily. Unless it’s something obscure that only you and your circle of friends are into, there’s an excellent chance somebody has already slaved away at a high-quality 3D model of it that you can base your project on.
If you’re lucky, you can find a suitable model in the “Prop” category of sites like Thingiverse or MyMiniFactory
If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the usual sites, and you’re serious about getting the thing made, you might expand your search to sites like CGTrader or Renderosity. But keep in mind that these models are not always suitable for printing.
Modifying STLs
In a perfect world, you’d find the exact model you needed and it would be printable without jumping through any hoops. But we don’t live in a perfect world, so more often than not you’ll need to fiddle with the STLs for the design you’ve found to get what you need. You’ll then discover if you didn’t know already, that modifying STL files sucks.
The problem is, STL files aren’t really meant to be modified.
Don’t Print What You Don’t Have To
That leads us to the next point: don’t waste time and material printing something you can otherwise source. Many of the designs you’ll find online will have nuts, bolts, and screw heads worked into the design.
Finish Work
Print striations barely visible under textured paint
The biggest part of creating a good-looking prop is unquestionably the finish work. Printing it, and even adding real hardware, will only get you so far. Unless you put the effort into sanding and painting the printed model, it’s never going to look like anything but extruded plastic and some bits of metal.
Tomi Engdahl says:
A True 3D Printed Weather Station
https://hackaday.com/2018/04/05/a-true-3d-printed-weather-station/
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2849562
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D-Printer Gets Hot-Swappable Hot-Ends
https://hackaday.com/2018/04/09/3d-printer-gets-hot-swappable-hot-ends/
3D printers can be hacked into a multitude of useful machines, simply by replacing the filament extruder with a new attachment such as a laser engraver or plotter.
However, [geggo] was fed up with re-wiring and mounting the printhead/tool every time he wanted to try something new, and set out to design a modular printhead system for next-level convenience. The result? A magnetic base-plate, allowing a 3D printer to become a laser engraver within a matter of seconds. This new base-plate mounts onto the existing ball bearings and provides a sturdy place for attachments to snap to – with room for two at once.
[3D-Print] Custom geeetech i3 printhead
http://www.g3gg0.de/wordpress/uncategorized/3d-custom-geeetech-i3-printhead-and-some-other-stuff/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Can You 3D Print an Axe?
https://hackaday.com/2018/04/06/can-you-3d-print-an-axe/
3D printers hit the scene in a big way in the last decade, and thanks to the constant improvements that we’ve seen since then you can now get a decent one, assembled or as a kit, for a reasonable price. The one major drawback is that almost all of these printers are limited to printing in plastic, which has its obvious limitations. Printing in metal seems like the next logical step, and a group from Michigan Tech has created something that is accessible to most of us. Spoiler: they used plastic and metal printing to print a functioning axe.
Applications of Open Source GMAW-Based Metal 3-D Printing
http://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/2/1/18
Tomi Engdahl says:
Giant F1 Car Is 3D Printed and Radio Controlled
https://hackaday.com/2018/04/02/giant-f1-car-is-3d-printed-and-radio-controlled/
The OpenRC F1 car is a radio control car you can 3D print and assemble yourself. You make the parts, glue them together, and then add your RC gear. That’s all well and good, but could it be done… bigger? [3D Printing Nerd] decided to tackle this one at 4x scale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgtqRAG2q-o
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fail Of The Week: Casting A Bolt In A 3D-Printed Mold
https://hackaday.com/2018/04/15/fail-of-the-week-casting-a-bolt-in-a-3d-printed-mold/
Here’s a weird topic as a Fail of the Week. [Pete Prodoehl] set out to make a bolt the wrong way just to see if he could. Good for you [Pete]! This is a great way to learn non-obvious lessons and a wonderful conversation starter which is why we’re featuring it here.
The project starts off great with a model of the bolt being drawn up in OpenSCAD.
Bolt Casting via 3D Printing
http://rasterweb.net/raster/2018/04/07/bolt-casting-via-3d-printing/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Laser SLA 3D printer with galvo
Get high-resolution 3D printing by building your own.
https://hackaday.io/project/19762-laser-sla-3d-printer-with-galvo
Description
A laser SLA 3D printer designed to give great print results without breaking the bank. It can go toe to toe with many commercial printers with a laser spot size is 70 micron and build volume of 13 x 13 x 18cm. It accepts Gcode as input and you can play with all the laser settings you want to get the perfect print.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Porsche will 3D print spare parts for classic cars
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/classic/porsche-will-3d-print-spare-parts-classic-cars
Broken clutch release lever for your 959 causing you sleepless nights? Fear no more!
Fear the lasers. True, we haven’t quite got to the stage of sharks with frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads, but we have got to the stage of Porsche using laser melting to rejuvenate your very old, and likely very lovely, um, Porsche. (As well as Bugatti 3D-printing a brake caliper.)
Yep, the Stuttgart carmaker has revealed that for rare, low volume spare parts for its older inventory, it is deploying 3D printing.
Let’s use the example of a release lever for a clutch on a Porsche 959. Naturally, it’s not readily available anymore. And only 292 Porsche 959s were ever built, so building a new one is a bit of a pain.
Step forward, the LASER MELTER. Here’s how Porsche itself explains it: “A layer of powdery steel tool less than 0.1mm thick is applied to a processing plate in a computerised process. In an inert atmosphere, a high-energy light beam then melts the powder in the desired locations to create a steel layer.”
Basically what this all means is that if you are lucky enough to own a classic Porsche and you can’t find a part for it, Porsche will deploy the lasers.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Custom aspheric lenses with sub-7-nm surface roughness are 3D-printed
https://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/2018/03/custom-aspheric-lenses-with-sub-7-nm-surface-roughness-are-3d-printed.html?cmpid=enl_lfw_lfw_enewsletter_2018-04-24&pwhid=6b9badc08db25d04d04ee00b499089ffc280910702f8ef99951bdbdad3175f54dcae8b7ad9fa2c1f5697ffa19d05535df56b8dc1e6f75b7b6f6f8c7461ce0b24&eid=289644432&bid=2078280
A new photocuring 3D-printing method makes low-cost, high-quality aspheric lenses quickly. Developed by researchers at Northwestern Engineering (Evanston, IL) after two years of research, the resulting custom optical component, which is 5 mm in height and 3 mm in diameter, can be 3D printed in about four hours.1
“Up until now, we relied heavily on the time-consuming and costly process of polishing lenses,” says Cheng Sun, an associate professor of mechanical engineering whose lab developed the 3D printing process. “With 3D printing, now you have the freedom to design and customize a lens quickly.”
The 3D-printed asphere was mounted to an Apple iPhone 6s and images were taken that included high-quality detailed photos of a sunset moth’s wing and a spot on a weevil’s elytra (wing cases).
Two-step process
To solve the challenge of making the surface smooth without slowing down the printing speed, Sun’s group developed a two-step process of layering and polishing. “First, we used grayscale images to create more transitions between steps,” Sun says. “Then, we coated the surface with the same photo-curable resin. That then forms the meniscus that further smooths the surface.”
The result: a transparent lens with a smooth surface.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cyber Risks in Additive Manufacturing Threaten to Unravel the Digital Thread
http://scnavigator.avnet.com/article/april-2018/cyber-risks-in-am-threaten-to-unravel-the-digital-thread/
Wherever data and information are transmitted, used, or accessed, companies must anticipate that someone, somewhere may try to exploit those data and information for personal gain, or to inflict harm or damage. For organizations deploying additive manufacturing (AM) technology, acknowledging this sad reality is not just a business imperative, but potentially a true matter of life and death.
AM is one area where cyber risk poses an especially significant danger. Potential uses for AM span numerous industries as a way to address supply chain challenges associated with unpredictable inventory and expensive-to-produce parts in remote locations. However, the very nature of additive manufacturing technology-with its reliance on digital data files and connectivity to transmit them-leaves it open to significant security exposures, from product malfunctions to intellectual property theft and brand risk, along with other new threats conventional manufacturers may not face.
The data generated about an object during the AM design and production processes, for example, can be considerable, generating a strand of information that runs through the AM object’s lifespan known as the “digital thread”.
“To maintain the integrity of the AM supply chain, organizations must recognize that the intrinsic value of their business may be shifting from the end product to the information that enables that end product.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Researchers Successfully 3D Print Circuits Directly on Human Skin
https://blog.hackster.io/researchers-successfully-3d-print-circuits-directly-on-human-skin-38d366995d32
While the idea of electronic body augmentation is nothing new, researchers at the University of Minnesota have taken things in a new direction, applying circuits to a person’s body using a 3D-printer. The device first places discreet electronics and a series of markers on a person’s skin, then scans them. From this model, computer vision is used to track a person’s movements, so that while a person is bound to move at least slightly during the process, the printer can still produce a usable circuit.
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printer Fire Safety
https://www.hackster.io/Milesnash_/3d-printer-fire-safety-448acf
Senses for smoke in the air near a 3D printer and will sound an alarm and turn off power to the printer if smoke is detected.
I now realize how dangerous running a 3D printer unattended is. The goal of this project is to detect, alert, and reduce the damage of any electrical fires. As well as to bring peace of mind to cautious 3D Printer owners.
3D Printer Safety is able to detect any possible hazards through the Sharp GP2Y1010AU0F Dust Sensor which can track particulate matter in the air and relay it to an Arduino. The Arduino Nano serves as the brain of the operation, it interprets the sensor data and initiates a response. If abnormal particle levels in the air are detected, the gadget turns off power to the 3D printer and sounds an alarm. The 3D Printer power is controlled with a relay and the alarm is sent through a 5v buzzer.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pellet Extruder for 3D PRINTER HOTEND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx7GugDZOx4
For 3D printing, the holy grail has been to print directly with AFFORDABLE pellets instead of the expensive rolls of filament. I found this pellet extruder On YOUTUBE of all places. Mahor Muñiz Cadenas (link to his channel below) had spent much time effort and investment developing his pellet extruder and my curiosity got the better of me (but in the good way). From what i have seen of this pellet extruder, it holds alot of promise, so my hopes are very high. build quality Appears great, but the kit had missing hardware and a few design issues that Mahor is still Working out.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How 3D printing is revolutionizing the housing industry
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/how-3d-printing-is-revolutionizing-the-housing-industry/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D-Printing Saves Collectible Lures from a Fishy Ending
https://hackaday.com/2018/05/14/3d-printing-saves-collectible-lures-from-a-fishy-ending/
Give a man a fishing lure, and he catches fish until he loses the lure. Give a fisherman a 3D-printer, and he can print all the fishing lures he wants, especially replicas of those that are too valuable to actually use.
It may seem strange that some people collect fishing lures rather than use them, but when you look at [Hunter]’s collection, it’s easy to see why. Lures can be very artistic
so rather than risk the originals, he and his dad 3D-printed replicas.
Gone Fishin’
http://www.hunterirving.com/blog/2017/gone_fishin/
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printing Air Quality Study
https://hackaday.com/2018/05/13/3d-printing-air-quality-study/
You’ll often hear about some study in the media and then — on examination — find it doesn’t really apply to your situation. Sure, substance X causes cancer in rats, but they ate 8 pounds of it a day for a decade. That’s why we were glad to see [Chuck] post a series of videos about 3D printing air quality based on his practical experience.
Not surprisingly, ABS was the biggest offender of throwing off hazard particulates. It also released formaldehyde unlike the PLA, HIPS, PETG, ASA, nylon, or TPU. Of course, some of those may release amounts too low for the meter to detect, but at least that is better.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Introducing Ceramic Resin for the Form 2
https://formlabs.com/blog/introducing-ceramic-3d-printing-form-2/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ceramic18
Today, we are pleased to announce that Ceramic Resin is now available in North America and Europe. This experimental material for the Form 2 makes 3D printed ceramics accessible outside of expensive industrial machines and high-tech research labs.
Using Ceramic Resin, you can 3D print parts with a stone-like finish and fire them to create a fully ceramic piece. Fabricate ceramic parts for engineering research, or create distinctive art and design pieces.
Ceramic Resin is a silica-filled photopolymer. After firing, the photopolymer network burns out to form a true ceramic part. The process is a bit different from other Formlabs materials and requires some additional trial and error.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.filamall.fi/kauppa/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2018/05/25/onko-tassa-vuoden-turhake-tutkijat-tyrmaavat-3d-kotitulostimen-hyodyton-ja
Tomi Engdahl says:
3D Printer Thermal Runaway Watchdog / Thermistor Tester © CC BY-NC-SA
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/binsun148/3d-printer-thermal-runaway-watchdog-thermistor-tester-4a0ebb
You should never leave your 3D printer unattended… but you do. This device will cut power to your printer when it senses thermal runaway.
Tomi Engdahl says:
HP and Siemens invest on color 3D printing
http://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/8114-hp-ja-siemens-panostavat-3d-varitulostukseen
Siemensin NX- and Solid Edge – software can be used to print parts with HP 3D printers (Jet Fusion 3D-series 300/500) using 3MF color format.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Unusual Properties of PCL 3D Printer Filament
http://www.fabbaloo.com/blog/2016/6/24/the-unusual-properties-of-pcl-3d-printer-filament
I’m looking at a plastic I haven’t seen before for 3D printing: PCL.
PCL, which stands for “Polycaprolactone”, is one of many polymers that have been attempted for use in 3D printing applications.
As you might expect, PCL has properties different than other commonly used 3D printing plastics, some of which make it quite unique and applicable for unusual applications.
The plastic offers good 3D printing qualities, such as layer adherence,
But the major feature of PCL is its melt temperature, which is only a mere 60C, far below commonly used 3D printer materials such as PLA and ABS, which have melt temperatures in the 200C+ range.
This means PCL can easily be 3D printed on most filament-based 3D printers with low hot-end temperatures.
However, this melt temperature offers some advantages and disadvantages.
You could, for example, dunk a PCL print in a pail of water that’s just under 60C to soften up the print. It can then be re-shaped slightly for fitting in ways it could not.
An example of this might be to 3D print a “rivet” that fits through a hole. By heating it slightly, you can reshape one end to lock it in place permanently. Another example might be to slightly resize a snap-on lid whose size was off slightly. Soften it up and it will fit!
Tomi Engdahl says:
Frozen Rat Kidney Shipping Container
https://hackaday.com/2018/06/17/frozen-rat-kidney-shipping-container/
The biggest allure of 3D printing, to us at least, is the ability to make hyper-personalized objects that would otherwise fall through the cracks of our mass-market economy. Take, for instance, the Frozen Rat Kidney Shipping Container, or maybe some of the less bizarro applications in the US National Institute of Health’s 3D Print Exchange.
The Exchange is dominated, at least in terms of sheer numbers, by 3D models of proteins and other biochemical structures. But there are two sections that will appeal to the hacker in you: prosthetics and lab equipment.
https://3dprint.nih.gov/
Tomi Engdahl says:
MRI to 3D Print Gets Much Faster
https://hackaday.com/2018/06/15/mri-to-3d-print-gets-much-faster/
A surprising use of 3D printing has been in creating life-like models of human body parts using MRI or CT scans. Surgeons and other medical professionals can use models to plan procedures or assist in research. However, there has been a problem. The body is a messy complex thing and there is a lot of data that comes out of a typical scan. Historically, someone had to manually identify structures on each slice — a very time-consuming process — or set a threshold value and hope for the best. A recent paper by a number of researchers around the globe shows how dithering scans can vastly improve results while also allowing for much faster processing times.
As an example, a traditional workflow to create a 3D printed foot model from scan data took over 30 hours to complete including a great deal of manual intervention. The new method produced a great model in less than an hour.
From Improved Diagnostics to Presurgical Planning: High-Resolution Functionally Graded Multimaterial 3D Printing of Biomedical Tomographic Data Sets
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/3dp.2017.0140