3D Printers: Banned?

That could be the outcome of a proposal from California state senator Leland Yee of San Francisco. Upon reviewing recent reports of 3D printable weapons, Yee became concerned about the possible outcomes and has proposed that the technology must be regulated. He says: 

 

Terrorists can make these guns and do some horrible things to an individual and then walk away scott-free, and that is something that is really dangerous. 

 

We think that while guns are inherently dangerous, regulation of 3D printers would be not only extremely difficult to implement, but place an unnecessary burden on this new, emerging industry that still has to find its way to a functional and successful future. 

 

Why would 3D printer regulation be difficult? We were asked if 3D printers could automatically detect weapons in a manner similar to how photocopiers can detect currency counterfeiting. The answer, we said, was that currency has strictly defined forms that can be detected, while a weapon can take on infinite shapes. Not Easy To Detect. 

 

Meanwhile, we thought the best comment on this proposal came from Fabbaloo reader John Bear Ross, who said: 

 

I bet Mr. Yee would freak if he knew what some folks could do with a standard 3- and 4-axis CNC milling machine in their garage. Or a few items from the hardware store. Or a pointy stick. Or a rock. 

 

Watch out for pointy sticks. 

 

Via CBS

Image Credit: Wikipedia

NASA Developing a 3D Food Printer

According to a report in New Scientist, NASA is funding research that could lead to 3D printed food technology. Texas-based Anjan Contractor of Systems and Materials Research Corporation obtained funding from NASA's Small Business Innovation Research Program to develop a "fully functional" 3D food printer. 

 

The goal of this program is to creat te a way to produce nutritious food, while storing the ingredients compactly, during a lengthy Mars mission. We suspect another major benefit sought is to introduce variety and change into food preparations. If you're stuck in a tiny spacecraft for over a year, you'd like some variety, too. 

 

The food printer will store food material in powder form, adding liquid during printing to enable extrusion. Apparently they've already printed "noodles, turkey loaf, basil paste, bread and cake". 

 

While the shapes the food can be printed into will vary considerably, we hope the taste will be equally varied. 

 

Via New Scientist and Explore Mars

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Stratasys Solves Those Troublesome 3D Print Seams

If you're using an extrusion-based 3D printer, you're likely familiar with the problem of seams. It's an annoying strip right up the side of your object that disrupts the otherwise smooth surface of your 3D print. 

 

The seam is actually composed of the vertical accumulation of start / end points from each layer's perimeter. The diagram above shows what happens on each layer. Typically they're in the same place on each layer and visually this leads to a seam.

 

While we've all suffered from this phenomenon, Stratasys has solved the problem, at least partially. In a process they've patented published on April 18 of this year, they describe a way to avoid or at least reduce unbecoming seams. 

 

Their solution is to place the start and stop points for each layer's perimeter on the interior of the print, not on the perimeter itself. You can see how it works in the image above. Stratasys has included several variations of this approach in their patent. They have or will incorporate this solution into their slicing software, which works only on their own 3D printers: the Mojo, uPrint and FORTUS lines. 

 

Although this looks like a great solution - you can't use it! It's only available for Stratasys equipment and software. As they've just patented this process, this precise feature cannot be included in any open source (or any) slicing software without risk of committing patent infringement. 

 

Via Google Patents

Dynamic 3D Model Apps: Open or Closed?

It's become apparent that dynamic models are a lot more fun than static models for 3D printing. Wait, what's a dynamic model? 

 

A static model is simply a digital 3D model that is the same for  everyone. A nice bracelet, for example. 

 

A dynamic model is one that's created for you at the time you request it, using information you provide to alter the model to your specifications. A nice bracelet, for example, that's sized exactly to your wrist and has your name on it. 

 

People like dynamic models more than static simply because they offer the possibility of creating a totally unique model just for them and no one else. The First and Only. 

 

More and more of these dynamic applications are emerging, but most of them are tightly associated with 3D print services. Closed systems such as Shapeways, Sculpteo and Cubify all offer quite imaginative apps, but the resulting model can only be 3D printed on that service's printers. You can't take the model home and print it yourself.   

 

There are some exceptions. Cubify does have some apps that permit downloading of the model. 

 

The place to go for take-home dynamic models is currently Thingiverse, who recently offered a capability (the "Customizer") for generating models dynamically.  As of this writing, there are hundreds of "customizable" models. However, the quality varies considerably and it can be difficult to find something you want. 

 

The question we're wondering is, what would attract high-level designers to create magnificent dynamic models for download? 

More 3D Printing Investment Possibilities

When you're interested in investing in 3D printing, there doesn't seem to be a lot of options at first glance. The publicly traded 3D printer manufacturers are few: Stratasys, 3D Systems and most recently, ExOne. 

 

Is that all the choice you have? No! There's more ways to catch the 3D printing boom. 

 

Aside from privately investing in the numerous 3D printing startups, there are several big companies that have key stakes in the 3D printing industry whose stock price should rise as interest increases. 

 

They're software companies. Companies who provide the software tools needed to make use of 3D printing. Here's a few publicly traded companies you might consider checking out: 

 

• AutoDesk, NASDAQ:ADSK. Among the major 3D modeling software makers, AutoDesk seems to be the one addressing personal 3D printing most clearly. 
• Siemens AG, NYSE:SI. While Siemens is a gigantic company, they also make Solid Edge, one of the leading 3D design tools. 
• Trimble, NASDAQ:TRMB. Trimble focuses on navigation tools, but recently took over management of SketchUp from Google, possibly indicating a move into the 3D space. 
• Faro, NASDAQ:FARO. Faro makes a line of accurate 3D scanner hardware, essential to many 3D printing workflows.

 

One notable investment that's not available for public trading is Dassault Systèmes, makers of SolidWorks and several other 3D modeling tools. 

 

There's even more opportunities if you dig deeper. 

 

Are others considering these companies? Yes, indeed. Seeking Alpha had a recent piece promoting investment in AutoDesk. 

 

Via Seeking Alpha

Image Credit: Wikipedia

iMakr's 3D Print Service

iMakr opened a large 3D print retail store in London earlier this year. The store sells various types of 3D printers and offers the public a chance to see the technology first hand. 

 

Even though they haven't been open very long, they've now added a new service: 3D prints on demand. 

 

It works in a simple manner: bring in a 3D model (presumably STL format on a USB stick) and their staff will inspect the model to ensure it's printable. Then if so, they'll print it off on one of their Up! personal 3D printers. If you cannot physically get to their location, you can email your model instead. 

 

There's no word on pricing for this service, but they say it will be "affordable".  

 

Via iMakr

3D Print Yourself in Carbonite At Disney

Disney is re-opening their D-Tech Star Wars experience at their Hollywood Studios part on May 17th. Why are we so interested in this? Because among the Star Wars-y stuff on display will be two 3D print services that you can be personally involved in. 

 

One service, which they had last year, involves taking a high-resolution facial scan and printing you out on a slab of "carbonite", just as had happened to Han Solo in the film years ago. 

 

The other service is new. With the same facial scan Disney will put your head on a Star Wars Stormtrooper figurine. 

 

Both services take about ten minutes to complete, cost USD$99.95 and have a shipping delay of 7-8 weeks. 

 

This could be the best Disney souvenir ever.

 

Via Disney

Design of the Week: Phytome

This week's selection is another practical item, particularly at this time of year: the Phytome by Zheng3. While this piece looks like a rather sparse-looking upside down cup, it actually has a very useful purpose: 

 

It’s a 3D-printed seedling cage that’s designed to keep mid-sized varmits from disturbing one’s sprouts while allowing rain and sunlight to pass through its webbing.

 

This example is 15cm tall, the largest size possible on Zheng3's Replicator 1. There are numerous overhangs in this design, but if your 3D printer's settings are set carefully, you may be able to print the Phytome without support material. 

 

Oh, did we mention this 3D model is freely available for download at Zheng3's site? Start printing before your plants get too tall. 

 

Via Zheng3