Cytosurge Improve their FluidFM µ3Dprinter with Pinpoint Accuracy Tech

I wrote about Cytosurge technology before. They developed a 3D printer that can print metal on the micro-scale. A true technological wonder. Just imagine small robots floating in your bloodstream to repair your body or extremely complex and fine electronic parts like micro-antenna arrays. Star Trek stuff. This is a technology that makes a large step towards that future. 
The company has now improved their machine with ability to print directly and precisely on complex surfaces like existing electronic component boards or microchips. 

Tech description:

The new pinpoint metal additive manufacturing process is made possible by two high resolution state-of-the-art cameras integrated into the FluidFM µ3Dprinter. The cameras enable automated loading of the print tips (FluidFM iontips), printer setup, calibration and computer-assisted alignment to print on already existing structures as well as the visualization of the finished structures. The bottom view camera is mainly used for internal system processes, like controlling the automated gripping of the FluidFM iontip. The top view camera images the object or surface to print on. With the high-resolution live video, the exact position of the object or surface to be printed on can be manually chosen and set as starting point for the printing process.

This procedure allows the user to print metallic objects on contact pads that are pre-defined on the surface of an integrated circuit, on micro-electromechanical-systems (MEMS) or on other components.

This unique capability of the FluidFM μ3Dprinter to add 3D printed structures directly onto existing objects or surfaces with pinpoint accuracy opens the door to a new world of additive manufacturing of complex metal objects.

You can learn more about this amazing tech at: http://cytosurge.com/

LBRY 3D Printing and Design Contest - Win some Cryptocurrency!

I wrote about LBRY before as a great possibility to decentralize your DIY projects and keep them out of corporate controlled platforms. Here is one example of archery project uploaded by Juleah.

LBRY just announced a small 3D printing and 3D design contest with cryptocurrency rewards. Here is the summary:

Design a chess set that sparks our imagination & win $100 in cryptocurrency. Upload your chess set design (use a zip folder for multiple files) in either STL or OBJ format to the LBRY (library) network. Once finished, email the lbry:// address (automatically receive 10 Library Credits for your first upload) to james@lbry.io by July 4th.

You can win 100 USD for the first place and 50 USD for the second place paid in LBC cryptocurrency. 

Here is the link to the full post with detailed contest rules: https://lbry.io/3d-contest

Good luck!

LulzBot Cluster 3D Printer Manufacturing Farm

Lulzbot presents their Lulzbot Cluster for manufacturing of 3d printed parts. It's an interesting video that shows the technology and how it evolved and scaled up.

New versions of GCodePrintr and GCodeSimulator Just Released!

3dprintapps.de just released a new version of their 3D printing apps GCodePrintr and GCodeSimulator.

Version v3.0 comes with many improvements and several new features, which will help to maximize the capabilities of your 3D printer.
GCodeSimulator App is the free sibling of the paid GCodePrintr App. Both together have been downloaded from Google Play more than 50000 times and are actively used by more than 6000 users.

The new version is available on Google Play now (staged rollout just started).
GCodePrintr on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.dietzm.gcodesimulatorprinter
GCodeSimulator on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.dietzm.gcodesimulator

Most important changes:

v3.0 comes with dual extruder support!

• Dropdown list to quickly select an extruder
• Show temperature for each extruder
• 3D view colored by extruder
• Calculate extrusion by extruder
• and more

GCodePrintr v3.0 comes with several improvements to the UI interface:

• Customizable button to quickly access your favorite macro.
• Dialog to enter customer step size for manual movements
• Dialog to control Fan speed (long press on Fan button)
•  New status dislog to see status of printer connection, web interface, network receiver...

The web interfaces design has been refreshed and is now using a responsive web design. Additional functions added:

• upload gcode through the web interface and start a print remotely.
• use the build-in camera to show a picture of the print
• manual axis movement and homing  
• and more   

Extend the list of supported 3D printers and printer electronics:

• New printers added to supported list (e.g. Tevo Tornado)
• Better print time estimation by taking M201 acceleration into account
• Add fallback for unsupported USB devices (e.g. unknown VendorID)
• Send line numbers and checksum to the printer  
• Gbrl improvements

Many usability improvements (e.g. new help dialogs) to simplify the 1st time use of the App.

See http://3dprintapps.de/version30.html for a full list of changes.