Printing clothes in 2020? No way - here already!

Something great I just found at shapeways.com:

Yep ladies - a 3D printed bikini!

To stay flexible when moving the print is based on "circle patterning". Meaning that multiple different sizes of circles are printed in different layors to ensure flixibility and coverage.

Future clothing could ba also printed in this way...just imagine you scan your body and print out custom t-shirts at home! Cya later bring shopping trips with your girlfriend!

Here some more pics, that show how circle patterning works:

 Photography: Ariel Efron

3D Printing Contemporary Art

3D Printers are changing the way we approach fabrication and design, and they’re impacting art as well. Artists all around the world are producing masterpieces using this innovative technology. The cool part of 3D printing is that an artist produces a design, not the actual piece. This means you can replicate any artwork many times. This also means that others can change and modify the files you make public.  In the future, you can expect to see more open source online communities built around creating various works of 3D printable art.

I came across an interesting article about the M Museam in Leuven, Belgium. The museam recently ran an exhibition of sculptures created using 3D printers called the The Parallellipipeda Project. Check out the promotional video for the Parallellipipeda Project above.

3D Printer for Home Usage!

For decades 3D Printers have been used for rapid prototyping, but researchers have recently predicted that home usage of 3D printers may skyrocket in the near future. As 3D printing technologies emerge, 3D printers are becoming more compact and affordable for the masses. Check out the 3D printer designed by engineers from Vienna exclusively for home usage. This prototype desktop printer is no larger than a carton of milk! AMAZING!

http://www.thinq.co.uk/2011/5/18/vienna-engineers-create-home-friendly-3d-printer/

Objet Geometries Unveils Advanced 3D Printing Materials

Objet Geometries LTD. is the innovation leader in 3D printing for rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing. The company just launched numerous innovative materials for 3D Printing usage, the most interesting being Object ABS-like material:

"The Objet ABS-like is a photopolymer material that is tough and resistant to high temperatures. It enables manufacturers to employ the high accuracy and resolution of inkjet 3D printing for fit and form testing, and also simulate engineering plastics for functional testing. The ABS-like material is excellent for simulating snap-fit parts, durable and movable parts, and products requiring drop-testing."

This material launch is a huge success for Objet and the 3D Printing industry. Objet will also be unveiling an Objet30 Desktop 3D printer this week, which is designed for the office environment. Read more about these product launches and Objet Geometries at http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Objet-to-Unveil-New-Advanced-prnews-2634137813.html?x=0

2D to 3D

I have been asking myself the question if there are no easier ways to create simple CAD files if you don't have any skills in 3D-designing or don't have a 3D scanner.

Shapeways.com came out with something they call "Image Popper". It is supposed to take a 2D image and add depth to it, to generate a functional CAD file. 

I tried it out with a jpeg saying "The 3D Printing Blog". So all I did was take a screenshot of the text "The 3D Printing Blog" and uploaded it. Check out the results:

 AMAZING! Great for standard logos and stuff like that...obviously more sophisticated things will not work, but still - great! 

Unfortunately they dont allow you to download the CAD file...but I could order it 

Check this out! SLA goes homemade

This probably is the coolest thing I have seen for a long time:

Tinkerer Junior Veloso (www.3dhomemade.blogspot.com) created what most probably is the first homemade SLA printer - killer resolution, see yourself:

  



































See his baby in action:





Junior is aiming at developing a builder's guide and a commercial kit that allows everyone to replicate his printer at low cost - unfortunately he hasn't given out a rough estimate yet. He is planning on crowdsourcing his project via www.indiegogo.com, but hasn't set up a concrete project yet.

I'll keep this blog updated on his actions!

Want to contribute?

My wish is to make this an open blog to all who are 3D printing enthusiasts. I want everyone to be able to not only comment on existing posts, but actually contribute and post on their own!

So in case you would like to post, send me a message and I would be very happy to give you admin rights for this blog!

When will 3D printing become mainstream?

I guess a lot of enthusiasts are asking themselves, when 3D printing will become more conventional. 3D printing has been getting more and more attention in the past year - articles in newspapers and reports on TV are spreading.

I just read a post on fabballoo.com which dealt with the timeframe when 3D printing picks up among a wider audience. According to Olaf Diegel, Director of the Creative Industries Research Institute at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, 3D printing will be common in households in no more than 2 to 3 years:

" I would predict within the next two to three years, everyone that has an interest in design will have one of these at home, and it's only a matter of two or three years before they become mainstream."

I had a course at the University of Wisconsin past semester and a professor of mine, Aric Rindfleisch had similar expectations.

So what has to happen?

1. Probably most important: Printers have to either increase in quality (printers like makerbot or ultimaker) or more expensive printers (like from dimension) have to decrease in price. 
2. We definitely need some sort of more professional infrastructure where people can buy materials or co create designs. I know thingiverse is trying to do this...but I'm must say I am not a reaaal fan
3. CAD file conversion difficulties: STL is what is being used by makerbot and most other low cost 3D printers. This may work for prototyping...but I want more ;) Manufacturers will have to bring out printers that can work with other, more sophisticated formats. Consequently we need printers that can do more than print stuff in plastic

My thoughts on the timeframe - a lot of stuff happened in the last 2 years. But I doubt people like my mom and dad will buy a makerbot or a different low cost printer just cause they can print small objects in plastic...with to be honest, lacking quality. SLA is better in quality, but material costs are $$$. So I guess...2,3 years may not be realistic. More like 5 to 7 till it really kicks off. But I would be happy to be proven wrong.

What do you guys (and girls) think?

 

Introduction

Hi everybody,

this is a blog dedicated to all who are as excited as I am about the coming revolution of 3D printing!

I will regularly post the most coolest new stuff I find about 3D printing - PLEASE ALL FEEL FREE TO CONTRIBUTE!

All the best,

Sebastian