Sculpteo's iPhone Case Contest

3D print service Sculpteo has launched an interesting contest for those interested in designing unique cases for iPhone 4's. They're seeking "the best iPhone 4 case that you could ever imagine with 3D printing". Judging will be done by a panel composed of "design and 3D printing professionals and representatives of Sculpteo".  

 

Specifically they seem to be looking for designs that include personalized engraving, mathematically-generated designs and moving parts. These requirements should produce some very interesting designs. 

 

There are some constraints, as is customary in such contests. First, your design cannot exceed 40.0 cubic cm of volume. Second, you must use either Polyamide or White Detail Resin as your build material. Then, besides your imagination, you'll need to submit a form with several views of the design to Sculpteo by the close of the contest, June 10th.  

 

Why enter? Because there's prizes! First prize receives a €150 (USD$190) voucher for Sculpteo services, Second prize receives €75 (USD$95) and third prize receives €75 (USD$95) - but the third prize will be selected by Sculpteo visitors based on highest rating and most number of votes. 

 

Via Sculpteo

Human vs 3D Printer: The Sequel

It was only a few days ago that UK designer Dominic Wilcox challenged a 3D printer to a mano-a-mano duel to produce a model of a cathedral. In round one, Wilcox was able to defeat a MakerBot Replicator with his own two hands and a lump of clay. 

 

Now there's been another event, this time Wilcox challenging a Maxit 3D printer from A1 Technologies. The rules of the contest appeared to be similar to the first event: create a cathedral. 

You're probably wondering who won this contest? 

 

If you watch the video, you'll see that Wilcox dominated once again. But here's the thing: the winner seems to have been decided by audience reaction. And that audience was made entirely of humans. Biased, we think. 

  

Via A1 Facebook (Hat tip to Rachel)

The 3D4D Challenge

There's a new 3D printing contest about to begin, but this one is a little different. The 3D4D Challenge is focused on charity. Organized by techfortrade and sponsored by 3D printer manufacturer MakerBot and 3D printing consultants Econolyst, the contest commences on May 1st. 

 

We can't say much more about the 3D4D Challenge at this time, simply because the rules will not be posted until May 1st. However, the site does say: 

 

Do you have a transformational idea that could leverage 3D printing technologies to deliver real social benefits in the developing world?

 

If you have an idea for an ingenious 3D printed water pump or other useful item for the third world, you may want to enter this challenge. What is the prize? Ominously, the site says: 

 

Better still, could your idea steal the $100,000 prize in our international challenge?

 

Via 3D4D Challenge (Hat tip to Simon)

Extreme Redesign 2012 Winners Announced

The 2012 Extreme Redesign Contest is completed and the winners have been announced by sponsor Stratasys. Winners were selected in four categories: Middle/High School, College Engineering, Art & Architecture. Winners received USD$2500 scholarships and runners-up received scholarships of USD$1,000 each. 

 

As usual, the winning ideas (as well as those placing second and third) were totally brilliant. Of the nine First, Second and Third winners in each category, these caught our eye: 

 

• Scissors designed for both left AND right handed people!
• Diagonal Slice Rubik's Cube, providing many more possible solution scenarios
• A 3D printed flower model, suitable for giving to your mom
• Continuous Supply Handpump that provides water flow on both the upward and downward stroke

 

And there's many more. Please check the link below to see all the winners. 

 

Via Dimension Printing

A Call For A 3D Printing X-Prize

After re-reading our post on entrepreneur Peter Diamandis' new book, Abundance, we were reminded that Diamandis was the original proposer of the X Prize. The X Prize is now a foundation that pays for the development of amazing technological achievements. The most famous X Prize was the first one, which spurred the development of a private spaceship: Spaceship One. 

 

We wondered if 3D Printing should have an X Prize. 

 

Yes, we think so. While there are lots of people working on various forms of 3D printing today, the developments are typically incremental enhancements to current 3D printing tech. And to remind readers, today's 3D printing technology, while amazing, has significant challenges in material types, precision resolution, workflow complexity, color and especially the time required to print. Advances encouraged by an X Prize could dramatically overcome those limitations and bring 3D printing into the mainstream. 

 

Let's imagine a potential X Prize scenario for 3D printing, if one had a sponsor: 

 

The prize: One Million US Dollars to the first team to produce a 3D printer by Dec 31st 2015 that can produce: 

 

• A specified complex geometry object involving moving parts weighing at least 500gm and sized at least 300x300x300mm
• The object in completely finished form in less than 10 minutes
• The object in full color
• The object with a resolution of 0.005mm or better
• Functional basic electrical circuits embedded within the object
• The object in at least two materials of different hardness

 

And one more thing: the 3D printer's parts should in total cost no more than USD$2,000. 

 

Ambitious, but then so is a private spaceship.  

Extreme Redesign Finalists Announced

Stratasys sponsors the Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge each year and they've just announced the finalists in the three categories: Art & Architecture; Middle / High School Engineering; College Engineering. 

 

An inspection of the list shows a huge variety of entries from across the world. This challenge is not a US-only event by any means. We see entrants from Romania, South Korea, UK, Canada, Sweden, India and Germany as well. 

 

The contest began on September 8th last year and entries had to be received by February 2 of this year. Evaluation is underway but unfortunately Stratasys has not posted details of the entries other than the title of the work. Some sound straightforward, like the "Empire State Bird Feeder" or "Sand / Salt Spreader", while others appear mysterious like the "Booksphere" or merely incomprehensible, like the "Sungnyemun" or the "Accommo". 

 

Nevertheless, we're quite interested to see which projects are selected as winners. 

 

Via Stratasys and Stratasys (PDF)

Shapeways' Peek Into Imagination: Finds Apple's Siri

Popular 3D print service Shapeways often runs contests to stimulate creativity - and increase their print volume. This past week saw the conclusion of a rather interesting competition to answer the abstract question, "What Does Siri Look Like?" Siri, of course, is Apple's voice-powered omnipotent assistant. 

 

There were multiple entries to the contest, each portraying the imageless Siri. The winner, pictured above, is a fascinating design that not only shows a friendly Siri emerging from the device to enter the "real world", but also doubles as an actual iPhone case. Not one you'd put in your pocket, but certainly one that could prop up your 4S on the desk. 

 

We find this contest and its winners to be a little different than most contests in that the subject was completely abstract. The submitted designs were entirely drawn from the inner creative view of the entrants. It's much like being able to peek into someone's mind to see how they visualize a character in a novel.

 

3D printing can make your designs real, but it can also make your imagination real. 

 

Via Shapeways

The Useful iPod Nano Watchband

You've no doubt seen those squarish iPod Nano's in the Apple Store. They're so square that someone long ago thought they'd be easily transformed into a Dick Tracy-style watch by merely adding a band. And so it went, until Fernando Sosa decided to improve the design using 3D printing. 

 

Sosa has produced an Instructable that shows how to build a Nanoband that not only holds the Nano, but also the earpiece cords! The design has small knobs around which the cords can be wound and spots to snap in the earpieces themselves. 

 

The instructable is quite useful as it explains several "gotcha's" that you'd run into. Fortunately, Sosa has already done so and documented it all for you. Oh yes, he'd also appreciate your vote on his submission. 

 

Via Instructables (Hat tip to Snowbear)