Fabbaloo Blog

Fabbaloo BlogFabbaloo Bloghttp://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013-05-21T16:00:11ZSquarespaceCGTrader's Massive 3D Print Competitionhttp://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/5/21/cgtraders-massive-3d-print-competition.htmlGeneral Fabb2013-05-21T16:00:11Z2013-05-21T16:00:11Z

There's a lot of 3D print competitions lately, but this one seems to involve more prizes than we've seen before. CGTrader's "3D Printing Competition" seeks fully 3D printable models to be uploaded before June 30th, when they will be judged by CGTrader staff.

What makes this competition different is the quantity and quality of prizes. Winners receive: an Ultimaker 3D printer, multiple 3D print services, filament coupons, retail shelf space for sales, publicity and CGTrader credits.

Prizes are awarded for the "Best 3D Printable Portfolio", based on submissions from a designer's uploads during the competition as well as for the individual "Best 3D Printable Model". Two runners-up in each category will also be selected and will receive smaller, but still substantial prizes.

Who will win? The judges will decide based on quality, innovation, uniqueness, presentation and of course, printability.

If you're a designer with cool ideas, you should check out this competition.

Via CGTrader

]]>Now You Can Go Where No One Has Gone Beforehttp://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/5/20/now-you-can-go-where-no-one-has-gone-before.htmlGeneral Fabb2013-05-20T18:00:28Z2013-05-20T18:00:28Z

Cubify launched a new dynamic 3D model service specifically for Trekkies: Personalized 3D Printed Star Trek Figurines. If you never had a chance to appear on the show (and who could have?) you now can put yourself in a Star Fleet uniform.

The USD$69.99 offer requires a bit of input from you, as do all dynamic model generators. You'll need to provide images of your face as well as a choice of gender, pose (including "tricorder", vulcan salute, phaser, at attention, etc), shirt color (Don't Pick Red whatever you do!) rank, weight, height and a message.

The new Cubify service will take those parameters and automatically create your own figurine with their color 3D printers. After a short trip in the mail, you'll have it in your hand.

At this stage the service only offers uniforms from the original Star Trek series - but they may be offering more in the future as there is a poll on the site asking which uniforms visitors prefer: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager.

No word on "Enterprise", for some reason. Hm.

Via Cubify

]]>3D Systems to Acquire Arcam?http://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/5/20/3d-systems-to-acquire-arcam.htmlGeneral Fabb2013-05-20T17:00:11Z2013-05-20T17:00:11Z

Last week 3D Systems did something unusual: they sold off 7,500,000 shares of their stock at a price of USD$40 each. Around 17.5% of these shares were held by "certain selling stockholders", while the rest were owned by 3D Systems itself. This raised company coffers by a massive USD$300M.

Companies just don't do this for fun. They do it to raise money to spend on something.

What costs USD$300M?

We suspect they're shopping for another company, as does a report in Seeking Alpha. The report by contributor Mikko Dahlbom suggests 3D Systems could benefit by picking up Swedish Arcam AB, currently with a market capitalization at over USD$1B according to Google. The USD$300M would go a long way to purchasing a big chunk of Arcam, especially when combined with stock swaps or other arrangements.

But why Arcam? Arcam's technology portfolio includes "Electron Beam Melting" for 3D printing metal, a technology (and material) not currently available to 3D Systems. 3D Systems is well known for their strategy of holding patents for as many 3D printing processes as possible, and this theoretical acquisition would support that strategy. Arcam's slogan, "From CAD to Metal", could belong to 3D Systems soon.

Why now? A glance at Arcam's stock price may tell the story. Their price continues to rise strongly and buying now would likely be less expensive than doing it in the future.

Via 3D Systems, Seeking Alpha and Google Finance

]]>Design of the Week: Memorial Bust of a Womanhttp://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/5/20/design-of-the-week-memorial-bust-of-a-woman.htmlGeneral Fabb2013-05-20T16:00:55Z2013-05-20T16:00:55Z

This week's selection is Memorial Bust of a Woman by artist Sophie Kahn. What appears to be a relic-like representation of a woman is actually much more. It's a self-portrait, obtained using 3D laser scanning to obtain a rough 3D model.

But it's an inaccurate capture, as the artist moves very slightly during the scanning process to introduce a kind of 3D motion blur. The model is then "fragmented" into pieces and 3D printed. Finally, they are assembled into the completed piece.

We've seen (and performed) many human scan-to-prints, but this one is very different. It's a unique 3D style that continues to explore the capabilities of 3D printing technology.

Khan is currently exhibiting this work and several other similar works at the Art Institute of Chicago until June 7th.

Via Sophie Khan and SUGS Galleries

]]>Tinkercad Lives!http://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/5/19/tinkercad-lives.htmlGeneral Fabb2013-05-19T16:00:40Z2013-05-19T16:00:40Z

Our beloved Tinkercad lives again. The very popular web-based 3D modeling service was used by many due to its ease of use, web availability and inexpensive pricing. But in a move shocking everyone, the owners of Tinkercad announced it was closing as their business moved off into other ventures.

But now, in a rather sudden move, they've announced they've sold off the assets of Tinkercad to Autodesk, makers of much fine 3D software. According to their press release:

The shutdown plan has been rolled back and effective immediately new users are again able to sign up for the site. Even better, at the request of Autodesk, we have supercharged the free plan. You can now create unlimited designs, all import and export functionality is enabled and ShapeScripts are turned on for free accounts. We have automatically upgraded all existing free accounts to this new powerful plan. This account will be offered for a limited time only so make sure you sign up as soon as possible.

And it gets better. Apparently: "Autodesk has some very exciting plans for Tinkercad." We obviously don't know what they might be, but saving Tinkercad alone is certainly good. You'd best resurrect your Tinkercad account or sign up as soon as you can.

We have one slight concern: it appears that Autodesk is intent on cornering the market on low-cost 3D modeling services, as they've already provided a number of free tools such as 123D Design. Will there be any competition?

Via Tinkercad

]]>The Form 1 Ships!http://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/5/18/the-form-1-ships.htmlGeneral Fabb2013-05-18T16:00:29Z2013-05-18T16:00:29Z

Formlabs has now shipped its first actual production units of their breakthrough resin-based personal 3D printer, the Form 1.

The USD$3,299 high-resolution device was launched on Kickstarter some months ago and raised close to USD$3M, a record amount for a technology item. Based on this alone, the Form 1 is a highly desired machine and soon people will finally get their hands on it.

We're anxious to see reports of user reactions to the Form 1. While it's clear that the machine does work, we don't know much about the reliability, software ease of use, resin lifetime or other longer-term usability features.

For those of you that are fortunate to receive one, please let us know how your experience goes.

Via Formlabs

]]>Kees 3D Printed Caseshttp://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/5/17/kees-3d-printed-cases.htmlGeneral Fabb2013-05-17T18:00:26Z2013-05-17T18:00:26Z

We've run across a new 3D print service called "Kees", which specializes in personalized mobile phone cases. While there seems to be oh, a zillion iPhone case options out there, the Kees service permits significant customization, as you can see in the image below. Each option offers many different choices, with dozens of backgrounds and images. Push the button, pay USD$45 and you'll receive a personalized case.

We understand that in addition to the customizable designs, Kees will also offer fixed options from notable designers:

For our next step we will be offering specially designed Kees from various designers. These special editions will not be customisable, they are specially produced to the designers specifications. The first design studio to participate in this will be Dutch design studio 310k. 310k are based in Amsterdam and have a recognizable but undefinable style, of course we are very enthusiastic about this new direction.

Via Kees

]]>Augmented Realty 3D Printing with UltimARkerhttp://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/5/17/augmented-realty-3d-printing-with-ultimarker.htmlGeneral Fabb2013-05-17T17:00:15Z2013-05-17T17:00:15Z

Industrial Designer Joris van Tubergen and augmented reality artist Sander Veenhof have invented something we've not seen previously: a way to view your 3D printing operation using augmented reality.

Wait a sec, what does that mean? Watch the video above to see what we mean, but it is a way to observe the final appearance of your 3D print overlaid on the actual in-progress 3D print.

This process seems strange and unnecessary at first, but then we realized that we're always doing this at the lab. Looking at an in-progress print to see where it's at, how much is left to do, how the current layer's shape will fit into the final appearance.

van Tubergen says:

Although the techniques share a similar vision, they are opposites as well. Whereas augmented reality is instant and infinitely customizable, 3D printing takes time and the output is static. But what is the result when both are combined?

Now you can do this automatically with UltimARker. At this time it's only available for the Ultimaker and a particular vase, but we imagine a service could be made for any commonly available personal 3D printer that has an open case. Perhaps this should be a standard feature of personal 3D printers, at least until they get a lot faster.

Via SNDRV

]]>U.S. Losing its Edge in Additive Manufacturing?http://fabbaloo.com/blog/2013/5/17/us-losing-its-edge-in-additive-manufacturing.htmlGeneral Fabb2013-05-17T16:01:04Z2013-05-17T16:01:04Z

For the last few decades, American companies have dominated and advanced the field of additive manufacturing to its current state. However, in a recent report from industry analyst Terry Wolhers, America’s dominance in additive manufacturing could be waning.

In preparation for Wohlers Associates annual Wohlers Report,the analysis firm hase released some data that might surprise a few people. Of all the manufacturers of professional grade 3D printers out there, 16 of them are from Europe, 7 are located in China, 5 call the US home and 2 reside in Japan. Compare that with data from a decade ago when 10 companies found there base in the US while Europe and Japan both had 7 companies and China rounded out the group with 3, and you’re beginning to see a change in the additive manufacturing landscape.