6 Amazing 3D Printed Large Scale Construction Projects
3D printers are often associated with small, high-value, low-volume items. Since 1980s 3D printing has continually challenged the boundaries of what is possible – and how large a 3D printer can print. Groups of architects have set out to make history: they believe that 3D printing can transform the way buildings and monuments are made. They strive achieve large 3D printer projects such as houses, statues, cars, and furniture. So here are our 6 favorite large-scale 3D printing projects that are currently pushing the limits of what is possible.
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Animal Inspired 3D Prints
There’s nothing funnier than the human animal. – Walt Disney
Animals play an important role in the joys of everyday life. During our recent forray to Maker Faire New York, we connected with Makers who shared their lives with a diverse group of animal friends, including cats, dogs, snakes, and parrots! Animals inspire us to care, to imagine new monsters, and to connect with a deeper part of our own human nature.
It’s no surprise that 3D designers look to the animal kingdom for inspiration. In the premiere iteration of 3D Design Delights, we take a look at five designs inspired by animals…
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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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