New Photos and Details Emerge About Rubicon’s Portable 3D Scanner

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Exclusive photos and details have emerged of the new portable system and it is starting to look like a very interesting product for a consumer 3D scanning sector that is practically begging for affordable innovation.

While there are no details yet on the possibility to use it as fully stand alone system, with battery and SD card, what we do know is that it will measure 180x130x35 mm and that it has a handle to hold it and scan around larger objects, a lot like the current portable scanner current market leader Artec EVA.

The Rubicon Portable will be able to capture data with a 200 micron precision level (while the Artec EVA goes to 100 micron, but the two systems will likely be in very different price categories), and it can be used at a distance between 200 and 500 mm from the object to be scanned. Its capturing technology will employ two lasers, one to generate the pattern and one to create the 3D scanning line.

Everyone who is entering the 3D printing consumer business is sooner or later faced with the question of which 3D scanner to buy, whether to make do with a Kinect (or the Sense, etc.) or invest in a more serious Artec, Geomagic Capture, or other scanner, knowing that they start at $10.000 and that the real professional 3D Scanners cost several tens of thousands of dollars. Currently the only mid-range offer is Fuel3D’s Scanify, but the Rubicon Portable might prove to be an even more affordable, intermediate-level solution.

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Infinity Heart - From scratch to a 3D printed product

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From scratch to a 3D printed product, to being announced as the most unique valentine days gift. After months of research and development we have finally finished our first 3D printed product called Infinity Heart. This whole new kind of production never seizes to amaze us, because the process is simple and produces astonishing results relatively fast.

Infinity Heart is the first item to be available in our online 3D shop Artmax. Using our imagination and vast possibilities of 3D printing technology we created a simple but yet unique pair of cups. The product is made out of two cups which can be used for drinking various types of drinks e.g. coffee and tea. One cup has a simple role, but once put together they form a lovely heart which sends a message of unity and love. At the same time the design of the cups is well thought through and as a result you can put your cups anywhere, from homes to offices, they will blend in. They are also a great gift for your loved ones or friends. The Infinity Heart can also be used to display your favourite jewellery, holder for various fragrances or just a decoration detail.

By creating a product that carries the theme of love and relationship we applied for Cg-trader Valentine’s Day challenge. Following the categories that the judges rated, which were model quality, uniqueness, innovation and clear presentation on Cg-trader we managed to win the challenge. Before presenting our product, we wanted to try something new and different by making our presentation professional including models, scene setup etc. Cg-trader immediately noticed our effort and quality which brought us to the first place with the Best 3DValentines Challenge Model title.

In the end Infinity Heart doesn't represent a product that is bought and left on some shelf to collect dust, but much more than that. Infinity Heart has the ability to make two human beings remember each other more often and makes them never forget that as one their love becomes infinitive.

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Go For a Ride in a 3D Printed Strati At NAIAS 2015 in Detroit

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This January 12-15^th at the Cobo Center in Detroit 3D printed innovation will be front and center at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), when the inaugural NAIAS Technology Showcase explores the integration of emerging technologies and the automotive industry during the Press and Industry Previews.  Many of the forward thinking technologies displayed will impact “connectivity, automation and efficiency in the next generations of vehicles.”  Of course this means 3D printed vehicles.

Attendees will be able to ride along in the world’s first full-size, working 3D-printed car, the Strati.  As 3DPI’s David Sher reported, Italian automotive designer Michele Anoèhe won Local Motors’ 3D Printed Car Design Challengeback in June of this past year. The judges chose Michele’s design, and Local Motors will premiere a mid-model refresh of the car after a live demonstration of the three-phased, micro-manufacturing process on the main show floor. They’ve broken down the fun into four phases.

Phase 1: 3D printing the vehicle structure.  This will take 40 hours of continuous printing on a Big Area Additive Manufacturing machine.

Phase 2: The vehicle is milled.

Phase 3: The car is rapidly assembled.

Phase 4: Ride in the awesome 3D printed car from the future.

That’s right, attendees will be able to ride in the made-from-scratch automobile on the Innovation Track located in the Technology Showcase in Hall E starting on Monday, January 12, 2015.

Students from the University of Michigan, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Michigan State University, Lawrence Technological University, Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies are participating in a variety of displays and demonstrations involving solar technology, racing performance, fuel mileage efficiency and automotive design.

Tickets are a little steep at $95 per day. They are available online at naias.com.

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Disney Develops Method to Simplify Animatronics with 3D Printable Parts

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Disney Research teamed up with researchers from Columbia University to develop a method for 3D printing animatronic models with realistic movements, using as few as a single, movable joint.

According to a paper recently published by Disney Research, the process creates functional animatronics that mimic realistic movements with simple mechanical manipulation. Essentially, it allows users to create an object, design the desired movement path, and then automatically reduce the amount of motors required to create that movement. Without the aid of this software, such a simplified design would be virtually impossible for most people; however, with the software, anyone can do it in a matter of minutes. Here is a video overview of the process:

Once a 3D model and its required movement path is input into the program, each joint on the model that would require a motor in order to produce the desired motion is generated. The program that Disney Research developed, allows the user to replace these motorized joints with rigid joints that are connected with a series of links between individual components that ultimately mimic the same movement path of the motorized joints.

First, users select the motor joint that they want to eliminate and then select two unconnected components to tie together. A link between the two components is then generated that mimics the movement of the mechanical joint. The program will create several different movement paths to couple the two components, each yielding a different aesthetic look. The user simply needs to select the option that is most suitable for their needs. The process is repeated until each mechanical joint is replaced, and, if any couplings are not satisfactory, users can simply select different components to join.

At this stage the program allows users to easily change the shape of each linked piece to better approximate both the aesthetic looks of the animatronic and the required movement. The program will allow users to even add additional links purely for aesthetic purposes that will not affect the movement path of the animatronic.

The end goal would allow each movement to be controlled by one motor point. The final result of this process may not be ideal at this stage, but the next step is intended to further refine the finished structure and align it closer to the desired movement path.

Not only does the program have obvious applications for many of the life-sized animatronics at Disney parks, but if integrated into 3D modeling programs it can help easily create objects with a much more dynamic range of motion than would be possible for most users. This could aid in designing extremely complex objects with multiple, movable parts that can be 3D printed in a single piece.

You can learn more about Disney Research and their study on their website, and you can download the full study called Computational Design of Linkage-Based Characters in order to see the complete process.

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Space 3D Printing Has Arrived with the First Print in Space

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At 9:28pm GMT on November 24th, the Zero G Printer from Made in Space completed its first print on the International Space Station (ISS), making it, not only the first 3D printer to make it to space, but also the first to actually function up/out/over there, as well.  This is the first time that a piece of hardware has been additively manufactured at the ISS and not just launched from the blue marble below.

The print is a part of the printer itself, the faceplate for the extruder’s printhead, symbolizing the possibility of, one day, 3D printing a 3D printer in space and embodying the mission of the RepRap 3D printer movement.  A small experiment in 3D printing in space, the part represents the potential to fabricate replacement parts on demand, without the need for rockets and the like.  Chief Strategy Officer for Made In Space, Mike Chen, explained, “For the first time, it’s no longer true that rockets are the only way to send hardware to space.”

The Made In Space Zero G Printer Installed in the ISS Glovebox.

CEO of Made In Space, Inc., Aaron Kemmer, said of the milestone, “When the first human fashioned a tool from a rock, it couldn’t have been conceived that one day we’d be replicating the same fundamental idea in space. We look at the operation of the 3D printer as a transformative moment, not just for space development, but for the capability of our species to live away from Earth.”  Chief Technical Officer for the company, Jason Dunn, added,  “This ‘First Print’ serves to demonstrate the potential of the technology to produce replacement parts on demand if a critical component fails in space.”

During this initial phase, marked by the formation of this print, astronauts on the ISS will 3D print test coupons, parts, and tools to validate hypothesis formed for the “3D Printing in Zero-Gravity Experiment”, a demonstration conducted by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in conjunction with Made In Space and funded through NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.  Once the prints have been completed, they will return to Earth to be matched against control prints fabricated on Earth.  While on Terra, the prints will tensile strength, torque, and flexibility tests, which will inform the development of Made In Space’s second generation 3D printer, to be flown to the ISS for government and commercial use.

Mike Snyder, Director of R&D for Made In Space and Principal Investigator for the study, contributed, “This project demonstrates the basic fundamentals of useful manufacturing in space. The results of this experiment will serve as a stepping stone for significant future capabilities that will allow for the reduction of spare parts and mass on a spacecraft, which will change exploration mission architectures for the better. Manufacturing components on demand will yield more efficient, more reliable, and less Earth dependent space programs in the near future.”

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Organovo & Yale to Begin 3D Bioprinted Organ Research

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Organovo has already made breakthroughs in 3D bioprinting, releasing the first commercial array of liver cells for pharmaceutical testing just last month.  With each advancement, we write something like “a small step towards 3D printed organs”, as a sort of method for quenching the thirst of our readers.  Today, however, the company has made an announcement that really does symbolize the first small step towards bioprinted organs.  Thanks to a gift from the Methuselah Foundation, Organovo is partnering with the Department of Surgery at Yale School of Medicine to develop bioprinted tissues for surgical transplantation research.

In order to spur bioprinted organ research, the Methuselah Foundation has developed the University 3D Bioprinter Program, donating $500,000 to be divvied up among several institutions to push Organovo’s technology further.  As Yale’s School of Engineering & Applied Science and Yale’s Department of Surgery are already at work combining tissue engineering with medical therapy, the donation will see them work with Organovo to begin work on 3D printed tissue for transplant.

CEO of Organovo, Keith Murphy, said of the partnership, “Developing organs for surgical implantation will take meaningful efforts and focused partnerships. This collaboration with Yale, which combines their expertise and technology with our own, is one important step in progressing towards implantable, therapeutic tissues. We are grateful to the Methuselah Foundation for their generous gift that gives those working towards significant breakthroughs in organ bioprinting an opportunity to use the NovoGen bioprinter and enable greater access to Organovo’s powerful platform.”

via New Organ.

On top of the funding given to Organovo and Yale, the Methuselah Foundation has launched the New Liver Prize, which will award $1,000,000 to the first of six teams that “creates a regenerative or bioengineered solution that keeps a large animal alive for 90 days without native liver function” by the end of 2018. Once this prize has been completed, the foundation will move onto to prizes for other organs.

All of this work has only just begun, but, given the Organovo’s track record and the partners involved, I believe that it will be fruitful.  This also signifies Yale’s growing presence in medical 3D printing, after having just partnered with medical printing firm Oxford Performance Materials to pursue ten medical 3D printing projects.  More importantly, if the two organizations can develop transplantable organs, the huge waiting list for organ transplants could be significantly reduced, saving lives and improving livelihoods.

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Bringing Back a Retro-Direct Drive for your Bike with 3D Printing

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Chances are that not many people remember the single chain retro-direct drive for bicycles — unless you’re a very serious bike historian. This late 1800’s French bicycle chain drive is a two-gear system that requires no need for a gear shifter, you simply have to pedal backwards.

Anyone who rode a bike as a kid remembers backwards peddling when you’re going down hill, it had no real purpose other than being fun. But with a retro-direct drive on your bike the backwards motion is essentially first gear, while traditional forward pedalling would be second gear. This type of bike drive system became unnecessary once more modern gear systems came into fashion, but it still looks like it’s a pretty simple way to get some extra boost without requiring a multi-speed bike.

Interestingly, the original retro-direct drives were reversed, you would pedal backwards if you needed more power and forward for easier riding. However modern bikers have opted to reverse that. Citing the difference in modern bike design from 1800’s bike design and the intuitive nature of pedalling backwards while cruising or going down hill. Personally it also seems like pedalling backwards while going uphill would feel awkward and uncomfortable, as well as looking pretty strange.

Here’s a brief video showing a modified bike with a retro-direct drive in action:

And If you’re a bike nerd you can go here and learn how to get the 3D printed parts to convert one for yourself. Just start by downloading and filling out a simple PDF form. Designer Scott Mayson will send you a plastic guide that will help you determine where to install the special retro-direct drive wheel mount. Once you send him back the dimensions of your bike he will design the stainless steel parts and send you a link via Shapeways. Have your parts printed out in 420 stainless steel and sent to you and then you can finish off your bikes customization.

Considering the very small pool of bike enthusiasts who would be interested in a strange bike conversion like this it’s pretty amazing how polished and well-designed the 3D printed parts are. This is a project that would simply not be possible without 3D printing. While, yes, someone would have been able to design the parts, manufacturing them with traditional methods would have priced this far out of most people’s budgets. But being able to 3D print parts to order has allowed hipsters everywhere to do silly things to their bikes and not have to go broke while doing it.

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Ultimaker 3D Prints Ronin, the Ultimate Action Figure

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3D printing has limits and among these, the ones mentioned most ofter are materials choice and the public’s familiarity with 3D modelling. Well, while it will be sometime until everyone will know how to 3D model their ideas, there already are many talented designers out there and 3D printing is giving them the opportunity to express their creativity and take it to new limits.

If you still have some doubts about that they will probably dissipate after checking out the Ronin Project by Aaron Thomas. Born in india in the 80’s and a graduate in Digital Media from the University of South Wales in Sydney, Australia, Aaron’s professional career took him to work on many important digital animation projects. His true passions, though, remain inextricably tied to 3D robots, sci.fi CGI and the Japanese Mecha Toys he grew up with.

So Thomas turned to 3D printing to make this passion into something real. He bought an Ultimaker. And he used it to produce a fully 3D printed, fully posable 10” tall action figure with more than 50 points of articulation and LED integrated electronics. I recently got a chance to see it up close during my visit to Ultimaker’s HQ. They have a prototype in their lobby and it is as incredible as it sounds.

The Ronin represents the culmination of six months of part-time development by Thomas. It began as a challenge for himself and his Ultimaker but rapidly proved to be a perfect pipeline to convert his 3D creativity into actual physical models. The basic original projects thus developed into a sort of “ultimate action figure”. If collectors spend hours posing their favourite action figures, with this one they could spend months.

The complex geometry and high details resulted in a total of 400 independent parts, each printed separately (though often as multiple print jobs on the same plate, thanks to Ultimaker’s Cura software advanced capabilities), then finished and assembled by hand. The LED components, that let the eyes (and the spine) of the Ronin illuminate — like the Terminator’s — represent the ideal finishing touch.

Thomas has subsequently decided that the Ronin should go into production and be made available to a wider audience of action figure enthusiasts. Times are not ripe for that to happen locally through 3D printing, so mass production will have to happen the old fashioned, injection moulded way, though it remains to be seen what the costs will be to produce such an intricate and complex character. There will likely be a crowd-funding campaign to make that happen but the fact remains that there might be more Aaron Thomas’s out there just waiting to give full physical form to their amazing 3D modelled ideas.

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