3D Printing In Antarctica?

Hundreds of thousands of readers from an amazing 185 countries and territories have visited Fabbaloo since our inception in 2007, but only two visits have ever originated from Antarctica. 

 

We're wondering whether 3D printing could play a significant role at the bottom of the world in the research stations, which are often cut off from the rest of the world due to inclement weather. Through strategic use of 3D printing tech, the stations could be able to recreate spare parts and other goods on site and not have to "wait until spring". 

 

This is a similar notion to something we've written about in the past, where the idea was to take a 3D printer into outer space, where FEDex deliveries of spare parts can be rather expensive. Instead, make the part directly on site and save yourself a lot of trouble. This approach is currently being tested by Made In Space. 

 

We're wondering if anyone in Antarctica already uses this approach? Perhaps there's a chilly machine shop in the back of lab at McMurdo Station that has a Stratasys or a 3D Systems unit in it? Let us know! 

 

Image Credit: US Embassy New Zealand

Astronomical Themed Prints

Sister site Mallyable has released a couple of interesting printable 3D models that have an astronomical theme. 

 

The Big Dipper Pendant and Constellation Pegasus Pendant both have pinholes in the same configuration as the actual stellar patterns. Adding simple string or chain of your choice makes the pendant wearable. 

 

These are not the first astronomical products at Mallyable; the Orion Pot (and lid) displays, of course, the constellation Orion on its side. 

 

Via Mallyable

The Two Titans of Personal 3D Printing

After CES it now seems we have a two-horse race for the lead in personal 3D printing: MakerBot and 3D Systems. Both announced new printers (the MakerBot Replicator and the Cube), while 3D Systems added a comprehensive 3D community/store/service to compete with MakerBot's Thingiverse. 

 

But that's about where the similarities end. MakerBot's philosophy revolves around the idea of personal making and open source, whereas 3D Systems is more focused on consumers less capable of making - and their approach is less open source and has more capitalism involved. Thingiverse's repository is full of items free for the taking, while 3D Systems' Cubify store requires varying levels of payment for the 3D models. Different approaches for different audiences. 

 

Which approach will win? In the short term we think both, simply because the 3D printing market is basically wide open. The number of personal 3D printers sold to date is only in the low tens of thousands, while literally billions of people have never even heard about it, let alone use one. In the long term it may be that 3D Systems' approach may overtake MakerBot's simply because there are far more "non-makers" in the world. 

 

Regardless of who's winning, it will be an interesting race to watch in 2012. 

Awesome Possibilities with 3D Printed Concrete

A provocative article on Construction Digital discusses the idea of matching 3D printing with modern construction. As anyone who wanders through big cities these days knows, the design of buildings is increasingly radical and complex. These amazing designs are wonderful to look at and work within, but they are becoming more difficult for engineers and construction crews to build. 

 

Enter 3D printing, specifically the work being done by the University of Loughborough in the UK on concrete 3D printing. That is, they've developed techniques for extruding concrete thru a moving spigot on a large scale, just as one might do with a small 3D printer. The results are impressive and kinda heavy. 

 

The embedded video shows the concrete extrusion process, which at first glance has not particularly fine resolution - but on the other hand it the building component is 50 meters in the air you won't notice the coarseness at all. 

 

There are huge benefits from concrete printing beyond the ability to create shapes unattainable with conventional concrete pours: you can design building components that include embedded features for cabling and piping and significantly save on construction costs. 

 

Perhaps someday we'll see complex buildings take shape as quickly as this skyscraper by using 3D printing ?

 

Via Construction Digital

3D Printed Exhibition at The Aram Gallery

If you happen to be in London before February 25th, you might want to drop by The Aram Gallery in Covent Garden to see their "Send to Print / Print to Send" exhibition. The exhibition features works by designers exploring the medium of 3D printing, including some folks whom we've written about such as Freedom of Creation and Unfold.be. 

 

The full list of participants also includes: 

 

• Assa Ashuach
• Riccardo Bovo
• Michael Eden
• FAT, Jump Studios
• Markus Kayser
• Dirk vander Kooij
• Chau Har Lee
• PearsonLloyd
• Chloe McCormick & Nicholas O’Donnell-Hoare
• Serie
• Superfusionlab
• Silvia Weidenbach

 

These designers represent a cross section of fields including "architecture, industrial design, fashion, and product design." The exhibition attempts to introduce people to the concept of 3D printing as a design medium by seeing such works as Serie's Mumbai Facade (image above, click for larger image). It should be quite interesting. 

 

Via The Aram Gallery

Want To Attend A 3D Printing Conference?

Having unfortunately missed this year's Consumer Electronics Show, we've been wondering what other conferences and trade shows exist that might include 3D printing content. Searches reveal what we think might be a fairly comprehensive list of major events involving 3D printing. We've not included numerous local events such as local Maker Faires. 

 

CES, January 10-13 in Las Vegas

RapidPro January 25-26 in Veldhoven, Netherlands

SolidWorks World February 12-15 in San Diego

AMUG (Additive Manufacturing User Group) April 22-26 in Costa Mesa California

Maker Faire Bay Area May 19-20 (Tentative) in San Mateo (Other Maker Faires will likely be held in Detroit and New York City later in the year)

Rapid May 22-25 in Atlanta

Plastics Design & Moulding Exhibition & Conference May 29-30 in London

SigGraph 2012 August 5-9 in Los Angeles

TCTLive September 25-28 in Birmingham UK

EuroMold November 27-30 in Frankfurt

 

These events tend to occur annually, thus this list is probably the set of 3D printing conferences you should always watch for product announcements. 

The Galileo 3D Printer

There is no shortage of 3D printer kits recently, as it seems everyone is now jumping on the RepRap model to develop improvements of one kind or another. We noticed yet another one today: The Galileo 3D Printer, featured on Instructables and designed by the KentStrapper team. 

 

While the Galileo is essentially a RepRap Prusa model, the improvements focus on "substantial changes" to the XYZ axes that permit both a larger print area and lowered implementation cost. Full instructions and parts lists are available at the Instructables link. 

 

There's more: on their website, the designers say (in Italian) they're now starting yet another 3D printer project called "Project Vertigo".  

 

Via Instructables and KentStrapper

Time to Enter The Extreme Redesign Contest

Stratasys' annual Extreme Redesign Contest for students is open - but only until the deadline of February 2. If you've been thinking about entering, think no longer because you'd better fill out the forms straight away. 

 

The contest enables students in grade school as well as university to enter a design (product, enhancement, art or architecture) for evaluation. Winners will receive scholarships and have their design actually printed. 

 

Via Stratasys