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3D Printing News and Trends
The Future of Open Fabrication
As 3D printing lowers the cost of engaging in a production run, it will bring both opportunities and perils. For one thing, it is likely to encourage the production of substandard goods—what some may see as frivolous production. Surely, the world is awash in low-quality mass-produced goods today. But several aspects of 3D printing and open fabrication could reinforce this trend. A world of physical spam? Source: Flickr user MaskedRetreiver First, the diffusion of 3D printing will present a fairly steep learning curve for both pro-am designers and consumers. Additionally, there is the scenario of “physical spam,” where people simply use 3D printers with abandon, producing a large number of objects of infinitesimally small value. Next: Opportunities: A World of Totems Prev: From Production Line to Manufacturing Web to Fabrication Cloud
Kids and 3D Printers
A technology center in Wahpeton, North Dakota, USA, now offers students the use of a 3D printer. We're quite certain this isn't the only school doing so, but we suspect a trend is beginning. In fact, it isn't the only one. Thorpe St Andrew School in Norfolk, UK is also installing a 3D printer, specifically to: offer cutting edge design and technology to its students As more and more schools expose students to 3D printing, we will soon see a wave of young adults entering business who are quite familiar with the concept of 3D printing. Via Norwich Evening News and Wahpeton Daily News
USA: fabriquer un pistolet avec une imprimante 3D est désormais possible
Fabriquer son pistolet avec une imprimante 3D est désormais possible, comme l'a démontré son inventeur sur un site internet, au grand dam lundi des militants anti-armes aux Etats-Unis. Le pistolet Liberator à un coup de calibre .380, en plastique, peut être fabriqué, par petites pièces qu'on assemble ensuite, avec une imprimante 3D, assure Defense Distributed, une association qui milite pour la fabrication de ce genre d'armes en utilisant la technologie 3D. Il faut rajouter néanmoins un tout petit percuteur en métal et une autre pièce de métal de trois centimètres pour être en conformité avec la loi américaine en étant détectable dans les portillons de sécurité. Sur le site internet, les instructions sont en anglais et en chinois. Le magazine du monde des affaires Forbes a posté une vidéo sur son site dans laquelle on voit un essai être effectué près d'Austin, au Texas (sud), la semaine dernière, avec un engin de plastique blanc et bleu. Avec
3D Models
As readers will know, any new 3D print service these days must specialize in a niche to succeed, and Moddler has chosen digital entertainment. From their site: Moddler is the premier 3d printing company for today's digital entertainment creators, including digital film studios, visual effects companies, video game companies, and individual artists. We specialize in turning your digital models into incredibly detailed physical models to be used as maquettes for design validation, high-end swag for clients or team members, or physical props. These models are printed through a digital process, just like inkjet printing, that results in the creation of very fine detail with a high degree of accuracy. Moddeler offers a 20 x 15 x 8 inch build envelope, which is fairly large. Via Moddler
3D robots
This past August we learned of a new specialized 3D print service under development, My Robot Nation. It specializes (obviously) in printed robots. The service works much like 2D web-based composition tools and games, where you select parts from a library to build up your robot. My Robot Nation provides a variety of stickers, colors and other bits (rivets, plugs, eyes, hearts, switches, hats, etc.) you may attach to your personalized robot. They don't explicitly say, but it appears they're using a ZCorp color 3D printer behind the scenes to produce these cute robots. Once you've finished designing your robot you select a size (ranging from 2 inches high for USD$17.99 to a big but not huge six inches at USD$169.00) and hit print.
