Print a Chocolate Brain!

They didn't actually print a chocolate brain, rather the team from Inition took MRI scan data from their founder Andy Millins and created a 3D model. Once you have a 3D model, as readers know well, you can do some 3D printing. 

 

In this case the team created detailed 3D model of the brain from the MRI data, which was then 3D printed on their ZCorp Zprinter 450 3D printer. A negative mold was created by painting the solid brain with latex - and then peeling it off. Finally, melted chocolate was poured into the mold and set for three hours in a refridgerator. Once completed, were only two tasks left to do:

 

• Post the entire procedure to Instructables (Done, Check!)
• Eat the brain (Done, Check!)

 

Along with 3D printing stuff with your name on it, there seems to be a fascination with printing body parts and eating them. No, we're not offering any further speculation on this matter!

 

Via LaughingSquid, Instructables and Inition

A 3D Printer, Lying Around The Office...

There is an increasing number of 3D printers found across the world today, as they spread from factories to offices and workshops. But that's the thing - they are found in designer studios, hobbyist labs, architectural offices, etc. But you don't find them in a typical random office setting. 

 

Or do you?  

 

Ricardo Geromel writes in Forbes of his visit to Google's offices in Tel Aviv, where, as you might expect from the IT giant, the office is equipped with a variety of perks designed to ease the life of their staff. Pinball machines, games and music among other capabilities encourage programmers to spend time at the workplace and, well, get more work done. 

 

But among the extensive list cited by Geromel was "a 3D printer". 

 

This might not be the first time it's happened, but it's the first time we've seen a reference to use of a 3D printer at an office not having a specific and direct business use for one. Could this be a scene we see often in the future?

 

How do you feel about this concept? Would you like your office to provide a 3D printer? 

 

Via Forbes

A Very Smooth Idea, Indeed

During our visit to Stratasys' RedEye On Demand facility the other day, we observed a fascinating finishing process that might be applicable to personal 3D prints, given the appropriate equipment. 

 

This process solves one of the flaws in objects produced by personal (and some commercial) 3D printers: layer visibility. If you look closely, it's often very easy to see the layers put down by your 3D printer. It's even more noticeable by touch. To some, this effect devalues the objects because they're not as smooth as you'd find from conventional manufacturing techniques, such as injection molding. 

 

The process used by RedEye is actually quite straightforward: printed objects are placed in a tub full of agitated pieces. The pieces rub against the object and gradually "shine it up". We examined objects finished with this process and found them to be completely smooth to the touch and any layering was entirely obscured. The objects appeared to have been made with injection molding, but weren't. Better yet, the technician indicated the process takes only an hour or so to complete an object. 

 

Obviously there are issues, such as selecting the right size of pieces to be able to infiltrate all nooks and crannies of a given object and the manual process of picking out pieces lodged inside corners and hollows. But it appears that RedEye has figured this one out through lengthy experimentation. 

 

We're wondering if an analogous process could be developed for personal 3D printers, which typically have dramatically visible layering. An agitation box could be designed to perform this work, although some experimentation would be required to determine the best practices and agitation materials. Perhaps this would be an excellent KickStarter project? 

Flat-Rate 3D Print Pricing From i.Materialise

3D print service i.Materialise is experimenting with a form of flat-rate pricing. Normally they employ the standard "how much material and what kind of material are you printing" approach, but perhaps this was seen as a barrier to expanding their business. They've been testing this approach throughout May, when the program ends.  

 

How does it work? It's actually very simple to understand. For any object that fits completely within a volume of 125 cubic centimeters you pay a mere €12. Should you want a few more copies, it gets even better: add more for only €4 each. 

 

Is this the right way to charge for 3D models? We don't know, but we do admire the simplicity. If the program works, i.Materialise will no doubt bring it back on a more permanent basis. 

 

Via i.Materialise

Finally: 3D Printer Recycling

We missed this one earlier this year, but it's still a terrific idea: The Filabot is a "plastic filament maker". The idea is straightforward, obvious when you think about it - and necessary. 

 

Any home 3D printer will tell you they end up with many unusable prints, perhaps due to printer failure of some kind, or perhaps the object is one of many iterations developed on the journey to the final version. What does one do with all these items? We keep ours in a box or on display for visitors, who are fascinated even seeing failed prints. 

 

But now there's another option. Filabot will grind your used prints, leftover short lengths of filament and any plastic scraps you may have lying around and melt it through a heated extruder into a brand new filament. It's 3D printer recycling! 

 

The Filabot can produce either 3.0 or 1.75mm filament from leftover ABS, PLA or even HDPE from milk jugs (just ensure you've used the milk first, please!) In fact, the Filabot can process HDPE, LDPE. PETE, Polymorph, Nylon, ABS, PLA, PVA and probably more once users start exploring. The device has three stages: Grinding the input material into tiny bits; extruding melted bits into a filament; finally spooling up the new filament for future use. 

 

Filabot was a Kickstarter project that closed earlier this year, raising over USD$32,000, far past its goal of USD$10,000. Dozens of supporters will receive do-it-yourself kits or assembled Filabots. We presume with this level of interest designer Tyler McNaney will take the product to market - and it appears so by looking at the Filabot website, which will offer the device for pre-order once the Kickstarter orders are processed. 

 

The Filabot could become a near-essential accessory for any filament-based home 3D printer, and not only for recycling plastic filament. Imagine the idea of mixing colored filament to produce new shades for specific applications. 

 

Finally there's a way to make that Tartan Filament! 

 

Via Kickstarter and Filabot (Hat tip to SymptomOfSociety)

You May Now Order Your Cube

First announced in January of this year, 3D Systems' latest personal 3D printer, the Cube, is now available for pre-order. 

 

The highly consumer-oriented device first came to light at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, where its ease of use features were very noticeable. The USD$1299 device was not available then, and actually isn't yet either - but you can pre-order it. Shipping evidently commences on May 25th, so the wait won't be that long.  

 

If you haven't heard of the Cube yet, it is a rather interesting device. While it has only a single plastic extruder (and thus prints in a single color at a time), it has several terrific ease-of-use features: 

 

• A solid yet friendly case that provides safety for internal workings and transforms the device's look into something families and children would resonate with.
• Easy to load print cartridges, which are available for USD$50 or less from a selection of very cool colors. They're called "EZ Load Cartridges", obviously. 
• WiFi capability to send print jobs to the device without having to get out of your chair. We like anything that keeps us in our chairs. You can also use the included USB stick if you need the exercise, however.
• A tube of glue to assemble multi-part prints. It's a small thing, but we think this is the only personal 3D printer that includes glue.
• They even include "25 Free Creations", which we suspect are digital files from Freedom of Creation that you can quickly print on your Cube. 

 

It sounds like a terrific entry-level 3D printer for less technically-inclined consumers. We'll find out for sure when the sales figures come in. 

 

Via 3D Systems

The BukoBot 3D Printer

Yet another 3D printer kit has appeared on KickStarter, the Bukobot 3D printer by Diego Porqueras of Pasadena, California. As there have been many such startups emerge in this manner, the challenge for any of them is to put themselves ahead of the pack. What makes the Bukobot different? 

 

There are several features Porqueras has included that separate the Bukobot from other 3D printer kits:

 

• Some models designed specifically for eco-friendly PLA plastic printing
• Z-axis simplified and quieted by using Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE)
• Belts replaced with stainless steal Syncromesh Cable
• Entirely 3D printable design, requiring no access to laser cutters or exotic materials
• Unique expandable frame permitting a larger build area
• High quality components throughout
• Low price of USD$599 for the base kit

 

The Bukobot's design is, of course, inherited from the RepRap project, but Porqueras has incorporated a number of unique design features based on his observations of problems he encountered using other 3D printer kits. 

 

There are several models under development, several of which are offered in the KickStarter project in either kit or assembled form. Porqueras hopes to raise USD$42,000 by May 23, and it looks like he might achieve that. It's a lot more likely to happen if you click the ilnk below, of course. 

 

Via KickStarter

3D Systems Picks Up FreshFiber

In yet another acquisition, 3D Systems has acquired FreshFiber BV, a maker of some very cool mobile phone covers - all using 3D printing techniques. Their tagline: "3D Designed, personal cases for your phone".

 

The Dutch company made headlines earlier when it became one of the first big-time 3D printed products to make product shelves worldwide. 

 

Now they're part of the 3D Systems family. But why would 3D Systems acquire this company? We suspect it adds more to the growing collection of products in their Cubify strategy. Cubify's printable model collection now seems to be focusing on specific artists and artist groups, such as Freedom of Creation, one of their previous acquisitions. We expect FreshFiber to appear on Cubify real soon. 

 

Via 3D Systems and FreshFiber (Hat tip to James)