Human Races 3D Printer. Who Won?

Are robots (and 3D printers) taking over the world? Perhaps not yet, but the signs are clearly visible. Some may be concerned with this development, and one person, UK designer Dominic Wilcox, decided to challenge the evil machines with his bare hands!

 

At the Milan Design Week, Wilcox challenged The Machines via Twitter and ended up against a MakerBot replicator in a timed challenge to build a cathedral. The Replicator used a 3D model and printed it in the usual way, while Wilcox used his hands and a hefty chunk of clay to form a similar cathedral. 

 

Who won the contest? Humanity triumphed.  

 

For now. 

 

Via BostInno and YouTube

The Digital Manufacturing Analysis, Correlation and Estimation Challenge

One of the hugest proponents of innovation challenges has been the US military, and we've just uncovered a challenge sponsored by DARPA that's underway right now. The prize: USD$50,000. The challenge: devise an algorithm to reliably predict the strength of digitally manufactured objects based on a series of input parameters. Here's their description of the task:

 

DARPA will digitally manufacture several complex structures and then conduct a series of structural load tests upon them. Data from the manufacture and load tests will then be posted on this website. Participants will be challenged to develop a correlation model that accurately correlates DM machine inputs to output structural test data. Participant models will then be evaluated by their ability to predict the test results of the final DM structures. The model that most accurately predicts the final test results wins the Challenge!

 

Why do this? DARPA wants to reduce the cost of manufacturing by simply getting it right the first time, or at least increasing the frequency of that happening. Winners will be announced on December 6th.  

 

We're hoping that some of the findings might eventually lead to improved 3D printer designs that can produce stronger objects. 

 

Via DMACE

Jon Seeks a Service

Fabbaloo reader Jon writes:

I have a pair of orthotic shoe inserts that are maybe a foot long and 4 inches wide. They are made out of a hard plastic. Do you think they can be scanned and "printed" in a softer, more rubbery plastic? … I switched health insurance companies and my new provider doesn't cover orthotics. Podiatrist says it costs $550!

Our immediate thoughts were:

• You'd need access to a 3D scanner, 3D modeling software and 3D printer. For a one-time consumer like Jon, a service would be a far better option than purchasing
• The printer must have a fairly large build chamber, due to the size of the object and because it should be in one piece rather than assembled from multiple pieces
  
• The 3D printer must be able to print a "soft rubbery material"
• The print resolution would not have to be terribly precise, because the object is going to be hidden in Jon's shoe. It just has to be smoothish
• The "soft material" would have to be fairly robust, as it's going to be trodden upon by Jon every day

Now what? We issue a challenge to Fabbaloo readers: what is the best combination of services (scan, tweak and print) that can do the job for Jon? Is this possible to do at all (we're wondering most about the rubbery material)? Or is it possible but not for less than US$550?

Please post your answer in the comments.