3D Printer Assisted Super Bowl Ads

We know that 3D printing was used extensively or partially in the production of several recent movies, including Iron Man and Coraline. But did you know that 3D printing was employed to assist the development of some of this year's Super Bowl advertisements? 

 

Objet reports that 3D printing was used in two Bridgestone ads and a Kia ad. The uses were not always onscreen, however. 3D printing was used to assist in the development by producing models of animations or visualizing the overall flow of the storyline. 

 

One such development aid, a baby-blue robot (image above), actually did appear in the ad for a few seconds, even though that wasn't its primary purpose. 

 

Via Objet and YouTube

3D Printing Video Controversy

A 3D printing video from National Geographic went viral on the interwebs last week and quickly generated some controversy among 3D printing enthusiasts. 

 

In the video, physicist David Kaplan visited ZCorp HQ to "find out whether they can print a crescent wrench". Kaplan was shown a selection of amazing items printed on ZCorp devices, including multicolored objects with moving parts, as well as the standard explanation of how 3D printing actually works. 

 

Then the interesting part occurred. Kaplan's substantial wrench was put under a hand scanner, capable of capturing highly detailed 3D information. It then appeared as if this captured data was then converted into a proper 3D model, "creating an image that will be sent to the printer". 

 

Then, just like you'd see on a TV cooking show, the printer was opened and a printed wrench was extracted from the powder. While the wrench was demonstrated to be strong enough for actual use, questions immediately arose. 

 

We're wondering how a hand scanner can discern moving parts, such as are found in a crescent wrench? We know of no technology that could do such a thing, particularly when the video showed no part motion during the scan. Viewers were left with the impression that you could simply wave your scanner at anything and hope to replicate it immediately - including hidden internal moving parts, and by extension even electronics! 

 

That's just not possible. This was noticed and challenged by several sources, including on Jon Udell's blog, where a discussion erupted (link below). 

 

Scan captures are usually nowhere near printable state, and always require at least minor if not major editing and conversion before printing can be attempted. Worse, a given object's geometry might not be printable on a given 3D printer - the right 3D print technology must match the object. 

 

Providing general awareness of 3D printing is a good thing, but leading people to unrealistic expectations is not helpful. We fear that a growing abundance of such memes will eventually cause a backlash towards 3D printing, as folks will soon discover that you can't simply replicate just anything. 

 

Correction: you can't replicate just anything - yet. 

  

Via YouTube and Jon Udell

The World's Smallest Stop Motion Video

Nokia Cellscope: a very simple combination of a Nokia phone and a microscope, capable of seeing very small things at low cost. The idea is to enable those in third world countries to perform basic microscopy - and then instantly transmit results for expert analysis elsewhere.  

 

To celebrate the development of the Cellscope, Nokia engaged Aardman to produce the "world's smallest stop motion video" using the Cellscope itself. Aardman's problem was making the very tiny stop motion characters, and they turned to UK-based IPF to produce the extremely tiny figurines that appear in the video. As you can see above, the figurines are incredibly small, only 9mm tall. Some fifty were made for the shoot. 

 

Two dimensional designs were converted into 3D models, which were then printed on IPF's 3D printers. As you'll see in the video, painting these figurines was a very careful process. And that's not all: the tedious stop-motion process yielded only four seconds of video each day.  

 

Via IFPL and YouTube (Hat tip to Gary)

MakerFaire Video

Take a look at a great video from the recent MakerFaire where: 

• Bre Prettis of MakerBot provides a brief explanation of their hobby 3D printer
• Jeffrey Lipton of the Fab at Home project explains the unique features of their printer, which is capable of printing electronics or even batteries. 
• Max Freeman of Alibre - demonstrates their USD$99 Windows-based 3D modelling software, which provides capabilities normally found in much more expensive software. 

 

Via YouTube and P2P Foundation

MakerBot Introduction Video

Yeah, we keep talking about MakerBot. But this wonderful video introduces the MakerBot concept and how it arose from Maker Culture. There's plenty of other highly interesting (but unrelated) videos to watch, too. Enjoy!

Via Babelgum

Prototek Manufacturing

CNBC and Fox Business News recently aired a segment of "21st Century Business" in which Prototek Sales Manager Dennis Rocheford explained a bit about his company. Originally in the sheet metal rapid prototyping prototyping business, they've been expanding their capability and now include stereolithography and 3D printing with ZCorp machinery.

Prototek is a large rapid prototyping company that provides a wide variety of rapid prototyping capabilities, including engineering, CNC laser/punch/form/bend/machining, shearing, graining, welding, finishing, etc.

Two interesting aspects to this: We can see a traditional manufacturing company starting to introduce new 3D manufacturing methods beside the traditional CNC equipment; Mainstream media is picking up on the technology once again.

Via Prototek

Radiohead Data Becomes a Head!

About a year ago, Radiohead released a great video of "House of Cards", much of which was singer Thom Yorke's face and head illuminated by teeny points of laser light. Very inventive, for certain, but they went a step further: Radiohead released CSV files the point cloud on Google Code for public access under a creative commons license.

It took a while, but recently Thingiverse user Serratiago used the data to print Thom Yorke's head! We're not quite sure what this means philosophically, when a music video becomes a physical object, but it's something to ponder.

And it's a great song, too.

Via Thingverse, Google Code and Creative Commons

The Metal Process - Revealed!

We found a great video from Shapeways that takes you through the entire process of producing a metal object. From initial printing in stainless steel powder (with organic binder), through curing and bronze infusion that leads to the final item, you'll see it all. Missing: the finishing stage. Get out the brushes and start polishing!

Via YouTube