3D Design Software Lifehacks: Basic 3D Printing Features Every Designer Should Know About
There are common software tools that make it easier to 3D print a design— and that all designers should know about. 3D Design software can be categorized according to how it works and is used: “sculpting,” “building,” “scanning,” etc. But a designer’s project needs might overlap, so there are commonly available tools that all designers can use and benefit from: wall thickening, subdivide (i.e. smoothing), symmetry, sculpt, and “boolean”/“hole making.”
These tools aren’t available in every 3D design software package, but just knowing that they exist saves time. Once you know what type of tool you need for a project, you can seek out the design software that has it— just as you would “seek” pizza at a pizza parlor, and sushi at a sushi bar.
Read on for how wall thickening, subdivide (i.e. smoothing), symmetry, sculpt, and “boolean”/“hole making” work— and for free software packages with those features.
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Three Finishing Options, Shorter Lead Time and Improved Detailing: Introducing New Bronze!
Bronze is an affordable and strong metal that has been used by mankind since antiquity. But now ours has become ALL NEW. We’re excited to unveil our improved Bronze today, now with three finishing options! And the good news continues: our new Bronze production method – wax 3D Printing and lost-wax casting – makes it possible to 3D Print smaller details with higher accuracy, in a shorter turnaround time. What more could you ask for?
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2014 New York Maker Faire Wrap-up: Our Favorite Moments!
Maker Faire New York 2014 ended on Sunday, September 21, topping off one of the biggest 3D printing and design events of 2014. The i.materialise outreach team joined over 85,000 attendees to connect with makers from around New York and across the world!
Among them were the winners to our free ticket giveaway, who received VIP 3D print goodie bags! At least 500 people visited our Touchable 3D Printed Art exhibit, featuring 3D printed metal, ceramic, and plastic art. We were proud to connect with some of New York’s finest designers, engineers, programmers, and families— and to share our passion for 3D printing with you.
Read on for our Maker Faire New York 2014 summary and some of our favorite moments! For more photos, see our Facebook gallery here. For a list of official exhibitors for 2014, go here.
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A 3D-Printed Mood-Logging Tech Dress: Anouk Wipprecht’s Wearables Just Got Smarter
Changing your appearance with your mood is a topic that’s no longer reserved for New Age followers or sci-fi fans. By embedding Intel’s super versatile, small-in-size-but-large-in-processing-capacity micro-controller called “Intel Edison”, Anouk Wipprecht created “Synapse”, a smart dress based on bio-sensors that takes user experience to the next level, as it acts on the wearer’s behalf! (more…)
i.materialise 3D Printing Roundup: Week of Sept 15
Welcome to the i.materialise 3D Printing Roundup, where we highlight the stories most clicked, shared, and reweeted by our community! Every week, we share the top 5 posts.
Our community is passionate about 3D printing. This week’s top 3D Printing stories include a titanium bicycle, highlights from the London 3D Printshow, and much more!
Let’s dig in.
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Win a Customised iPhone 6 Case: Send us Your Selfie!
The iPhone 6 just launched— and we want to 3D print you a custom iPhone 6 case!
And not just any case: a limited edition 3D printed polyamide case with your name on it, in a color of your choice. Your case will be created and 3D printed entirely by our design team, one of whom recently released this free iPhone 6 case template file. Even if you don’t have an iPhone, this prize makes a great great gift, giveaway, or charity auction donation— the name on the case does not have to be your own!
Enter to win by sending us your selfie! We’re using them for our upcoming gallery project, “Maker Selfies” (#makerselfie), which aims to highlight the diversity within the global Maker Community.
Read on for rules and details.
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3D Printing With Meshmixer: A Beginner-friendly Introduction to 3D Sculpting and Combining Meshes
Meshmixer is a free 3D sculpting-based CAD (Computer Assisted Design) program created by Autodesk as part of their “123D” software line. Autodesk is best known for releasing premium-rate professional-grade software like Maya and 3Ds Max, and their “123D” free line can be seen as a simpler, beginner-friendly version of those professional programs. This Meshmixer covers how Autodesk Meshmixer can be used to intuitively sculpt designs, hollow them out, cut them apart, and combine parts together without wrecking your mesh’s internal or external geometry. It also covers how to prepare your design for 3D printing.
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Who Are (Y)our 3D Printing Programmers and Engineers?
3D printers and printing service websites cannot run without programmers and engineers. They provide the crucial link between human needs and machine capabilities, and make it possible to use use our API, order from our website, and ship orders across the world.
What does an engineer or a programmer look like in the 3D printing field? And what do they do for Materialise and i.materialise?
Part of our engineering team resides in the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev, and we have your “sneak peak” into their lives. They code, program, use software, and help refine 3D printing-related technology that we will use for years to come. Here is a look into their work and life in Kiev.
Read on for details.
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The Secret Sensuality of Trees: Michael Winstone’s Globe-trekking Race to Scan and 3D Print Trees Lost to Deforestation
For the past 20 years, Michael Winstone has traveled the world’s forests to scan and 3D print trees that are in danger of being cut down. His work is currently on display in museums, galleries and private displays around the world. His most famous work is 41°40’00’’N.00°54’30’’W, and other permanent public works include “N1-53-32-8:132º42′.34º45′.JA” in Takamiya, Hiroshima, Japan and “IGN.185: iv.269.904, Coto Redondo, Pontevedra, Spain.”
His sculptures feature human-like plant forms and simple fractal elements. These join together to create complex organic-shaped structures that feature “self-similarity” in anatomic texture, body and construction.
Winstone’s 3D printed trees preserves the bark striations and forms of real trees that no longer exist, as well as current trees that may be lost to disease, old age, or ongoing deforestation.
Read on about his life’s work.
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8 Things to Do at Maker Faire New York 2014
The 2014 New York Maker Faire, sponsored by Disney, is coming to New York September 20th and 21st. The i.materialise outreach team will be there, and we’ve compiled our top eight must-see parts of the Faire!
We also have free tickets to give away! To enter to win your free Maker Faire New York ticket, comment on this entry telling us what why you want a free ticket! This ticket has a value of over $40, and cannot be resold.
The i.materialise outreach team will be there to greet all winners, and give you a free i.materialise goodie bag (while supplies last.) If you didn’t win, we still have some goodies for you.
Read on for details about the eight must-see exhibits of the world’s greatest “show and tell.”
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