3D Modeling in Virtual Reality with the HTC Vive and Kodon

Here is a demonstration of 3d modelling for 3d printing in VR environment with Kodon software.




The rabbit looks somewhat weird:

Kodon on Steam:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/479010

For other VR projects click on "virtual reality" tag beneath,

Advanced 3D Printing with Wire Deposition for Electrics Projects

Disney researchers developed a 5 axis 3d printer that can also lay metal wire for electric and electronic devices. Wires can be fixated by extruding plastics on it. Since it moves in 5 axis, it can make overlapping wire coils and other intricate geometry objects. 

Project description by Huaishu Peng:

We introduce a new form of low-cost 3D printer to print interactive electromechanical objects with wound in place coils. At the heart of this printer is a mechanism for depositing wire within a five degree of freedom (5DOF) fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer. Copper wire can be used with this mechanism to form coils which induce magnetic fields as a current is passed through them. Soft iron wire can additionally be used to form components with high magnetic permeability which are thus able to shape and direct these magnetic fields to where they are needed. When fabricated with structural plastic elements, this allows simple but complete custom electromagnetic devices to be 3D printed. As examples, we demonstrate the fabrication of a solenoid actuator for the arm of a Lucky Cat figurine, a 6-pole motor stepper stator, a reluctance motor rotor and a Ferrofluid display. In addition, we show how printed coils which generate small currents in response to user actions can be used as input sensors in interactive devices.

You can see it in action here:




project homepage with more information:

http://www.huaishu.me/projects/electromagnet.html


While this project looks interesting, wire deposition with 3d printer head is not new in DIY world. Spoolhead was a RepRap project in early 2010 that did something simillar.




SpoolHead homepage:

http://reprap.org/wiki/SpoolHead

How to make great 3d printable headphones

Shannon from Australia published this great tutorial on how to make easy DIY 3d printable earphones with cheap parts. Anyone can buy Beats and just follow the hype, but only few can claim they maid their phones by themselves. Great project!

Instructables page with all the files and step-by-step build guide:

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-3D-Printed-Headphones/

Quick and easy way to recycle failed 3d prints in an oven

Devon shows hot to recycle failed prints in an easy and cheap way using your oven only. Basically you just melt them to get a flat thick sheet of plastic and use it in molds to get something useful.

Even if you keep it in the brick or sheet form it is easier to store, transport or build with.





You can cut the sheet on a band saw:

Captive Nut in 3D Object Integration Tutorial

If you want to have a metal nut that fits inside 3d printed part perfectly here is a great tutorial. It also includes a part how to design it in a a CAD software.

From project description:

A captive part is a piece of hardware that is embedded or attached to another such that it's "trapped" inside. This is particularly useful in applications where you want to mount something like a tensioning nut or a leadscrew nut for linear motion. This can also be used to integrate other components, such as electronics or magnets.

Tutorial can be found at:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Seamless-Captive-Nut-in-a-3D-Printed-Part/

Teen Died in 3D Printer Related Accident

And the media is using it for fear mongering and demonizing the technology. It looks like the cause was not even a 3d printer ...

Here are the original news articles:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/03/teenage-boy-killed-in-3d-printer-explosion-during-school-art-pro/

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-37859495

Here are Joel's comments on the accident:



Here is a video from Barnacules:



Stay safe people!!!

3D Printed RC Boat Race in Red Hook

They say its world's first. Nice community event. I would like to see something similar on my town's lake.




Red Hook regatta:

https://re3d.org/the-red-hook-regatta/

Low Cost 3D Printable Eye Movement Tracker

Crazy Eyes. Is this art? Is this science? Is this just a joke? It could actualy have many uses ...

Project description:

The project consist in developing a lightweight wearable/portable animatronic system that track the user's eyes and moves in real time a pair of robotic eyes in response to the users eye movement, "looking" at the same place where the user looks. The device should be ultra low cost ( under $30 ), DIY-able, and easy to be included in costumes, cosplay, Halloween props or any crazy devices that the user can think of.

They are actualy working:



Project homepage:

https://hackaday.io/project/13156-crazy-eyes

Meme Monday

Here are some random 3d printing memes I saw on facebook :-)

3Drag Printing Chocolate

3DRAG (aka Velleman K8200) is still being used in some projects like this one where it extrudes chocolate paste. Omnomnomnom...

Here are some Halloween decorations:





Here is the general overview of chocolate printing ... mmmm ... chocolaaateeeeee  ...




Oh yes, bread and 3d printed nutella, breakfast of the champions!

TRENDi Maker V3 3D Printer

TRENDi Maker V3 DIY 3d printer follows the tradition of small machines with 3d printed parts. It is a RepRap essentially. It uses metal rods and other vitamins but there are no additional support elements lake lase cut parts other than 3d printed supports.

Project description:

This is my small 3D printer. It is not mini (A little bit smaller, than standard Prusa). No parts for laser cutting. Basic things You need to have in mind, if You want to make it:
6 mm smoth rods(relatively LM6uu bearings), M5 threaded rods for Z(2x 20mm M5 nuts), PC PSU 350W, E3DV5 (reworked) clone, Mega2560+RAMPs 1.4, Nema17 motors and Geeetech 152x152mm heated bed. My build size is XYZ 110x140x90mm. Z can be extended to 100-105 mm. X can be extended to 140 mm, if You want to lose 3 point bed leveling and to rework Y holder for heatbed.

Printer in action:




All files to make it can be found at:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1850976

Smartfriendz Smartalu 3D Printer

Smartfriendz from France have a new open source 3d printer design. It is the Smartalu based on aluminum frame and a large print area. It looks very sturdy.

Printer description:

Taking account of reprap evolution, we are sliding to all metal construction frames, bigger printable volume and better quality.
This printer is 27x26x25 cm printable size, with all modules made with 3mm aluminium lasercut and some printed parts.
The structure is still our 20x20 aluminium frame assembled with bosh torx 6x16 screws and drilled profiles. We can't find a better system to assemble a solid frame.

Smartalu in action:



All files and instructions to make it can be found at:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1846437

http://smartfriendz.dozuki.com/

You can also buy it as a kit for 645 euro:

http://smartfriendz.com/en/