Although today’s 3D printers have different variations, the base idea behind each printer pulls from the original idea of melting and forming the product. In one of the world’s first 3D printers, created in the 1980’s, machines worked in a way that is very similar to how they work today:

• The computer hooked up to the printer communicates what the user would like to print.
• The printer begins to start laying plastic, or whatever material is selected to create the product, onto a base-plate underneath the printer’s head.
• The base-plate is able to move horizontally to maximize space and the printer head and nozzle move vertically as the object being created is printed upwards.
• Raw materials, such as plastic rods, are inserted and melted by the print head. They are then heated with a thermocouple attached to the printer head and heat sensor.
• Using compressed air the raw materials are extruded from the nozzle.

What can we expect to see within the future of 3D printing? This process, though it is relatively expensive, is becoming cheaper and more readily available to the consumer. The real future of 3D printing can be seen within the manufacturing industry, where it will have a multitude of economic benefits including conserving labor, decreasing cost, and increasing production. It will also increase the craftsmanship of many items we currently have on the market. This makes 3D printing something that is very positive for the economy, manufacturers, and us.

The post How It Works: 3D Printers appeared first on Inventionland.

Channeling his childhood interest, Casillas was able to adapt his passion into a program that will help enhance the future of space exploration.

Along with a team of colleagues, Casillas is working on developing an advanced woven-metal fabric that can be used in space. The fabric Casillas is creating can be used in manufacturing for a wide range of space technology because of its strong-yet-flexible properties.

The next-generation fabric could even be utilized as a super-insulator, helping protect spacecraft from extreme temperatures while entering orbit.

The prototypes Casillas and his team have created function a lot like chain mail. Small, intricate squares are linked together, but not with string like normal fabric. Instead, the squares function as a single piece thanks to modern 3D printing technology.

A technique referred to as additive manufacturing–otherwise known as 3D printing on an industrial scale–allows Casillas’ team to create the fabrics they have designed. Unlike normal manufacturing techniques which would weld together pieces of metal to create a fabric of this nature, 3D printing is able to manufacture this material in layers, allowing it to function as one piece.

Referred to by the team as 4D printing because of its geometric and functionality properties, this new material and process is helping shape the future of the 3D printing industry.

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Thanks to Local Motors, an Arizona-based auto manufacturer, 3D printed cars are no longer just a figment of your wildest imagination.

The project all started with a drive to create something worth showing off at auto shows across the country. In order to make this possible, however, the team at Local Motors needed some outside help.

They got in touch with Cincinnati Inc., a company with the technology responsible for creating the Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) machine, a 3D printer capable of laying a remarkable 40 pounds of plastic per hour with hairpin precision.

The car, called Strati, was not the first car to be 3D printed; however, it was printed in record time. Similar vehicles like the Urbee 2, created by engineer Jim Kor, took 2500 hours to complete.The Strati took six days.

Constructed of 40, 3D printed pieces, the Strati was deemed roadworthy, sending a new wave of innovation through the automaker community. Because their initial vehicle was so successful, Local Motors has now set their sights on launching an initiative to create 3D printed vehicles for sale to the general public.

As a result of a collaborative group effort, Local Motors was able to turn their dream into fully-fledged work of art that reflects just how far modern day technology has advanced the 3D printing world. Thanks to companies like Local Motors, we may see 3D printed vehicles become a part of our everyday lives.

The post 3D Printing – Transforming Transportation appeared first on Inventionland.

Janes and his team hit the ground running one morning in their Saskatoon-based production facility when they began erecting a 3D printer of a magnitude the world had never seen.  The production floor was buzzing as the team constructed a printer that would dwarf all other printers in his collection.

Finally, despite a few hiccups in the initial process, the printer came to life, beginning its 230-hour journey toward completing something that would open new doors for the 3D printing industry.

Nine-and-a-half days passed and the team stared in utter disbelief at the engineering marvel that stood before them. Stretching 13 feet long and six feet wide, Janes’ team had successfully printed the world’s first 3D printed camping trailer.

Weighing 600 pounds, it was the largest 3D printed structure to date, made entirely of one piece. Its immense stature naturally stirred up the 3D printing world as reporters flocked to his factory to witness the one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

“It’s kind of surreal” stated Janes. “If you’re familiar with 3D printing, a little table top item that’s five inches tall can take upwards of one day. I just printed an entire trailer in just over a week.”

The trailer still needs to be outfitted with appliances and furnishings; however, it’s safe to say that this project is going to lead way to an entirely new industry of 3D printing. The ability to produce livable structures using only 3D printing technology can open new doors for affordable housing solutions.

Janes and his company, Wave of the Future 3D, had carried out countless 3D printing projects before. They were willing to put their skills to the test and help change the world.

The post 3D Printing – Endless Innovation appeared first on Inventionland.

One company is taking 3D printing to new heights – out of this world, to be exact. Rocket Lab, a SpaceX startup, successfully launched a rocket into orbit which had engines that were entirely 3D printed.

The engine that Rocket Lab used on its Electron rocket was printed in less than 24 hours and provides greater efficiency and performance advantages over other systems.

Because of this, 3D printing is expected to become a major element in future space exploration. The ability to make extremely lightweight parts can lead to enormous advantages when it comes to creating more economically sensible products.

Another aeronautics company, Boeing, has begun using micro-lattice –the lightest metal ever made—to take 3D printing to the extreme and creating mechanically sound structures that are 99% air. Not all 3D printing techniques can achieve this kind of result, but even the most minimal weight savings can lead to tremendous benefits when it comes to aircraft engineering.

Following this trend, engineers predict that 3D printers will find a major use in space travel itself. There is even a 3D printer on the International Space Station. If something breaks, engineers can send technical drawings to the space station to print the replacement part.

3D printing is going to change the future of manufacturing. It will play a critical role in space travel, and one day we may even see a 3D printed aircraft.

The post 3D Printing Reaching New Heights appeared first on Inventionland.

Recently, MIT unveiled their new 3D-printing method that uses transparent glass rather than plastic.

In collaboration with the school’s Mechanical Engineering Department, the MIT Glass Lab, as well as the Wyss Institute and Mediated Matter Group, have created their new method of 3D printing, otherwise known as 3DGP.

Their method essentially works in the same way as a conventional 3D printer in that it’s an additive manufacturing platform that’s designed to print optically-transparent glass.

The team of researchers found a better way to modulate the light transmission, reflection and refraction qualities by accurately varying the thickness of the print.

In order to carry out the process, two heated-chambers are stacked one on top of the other. The first chamber acts as a kiln cartridge and works at 1,900 degrees Fahrenheit while the other chamber melts and hardens the structures together.

Though you never want glass to break, this breakthrough in 3D printing could lead to advances in the creation of fiber optic cables that can transmit data more efficiently. Furthermore, 3DGP could open the innovative gates that could lead to the creation of more complex structures and some that we’d never even imagined could be possible.

For now though, commercial applications for 3DGP don’t exist. However, some of the glass structures that the team has already created will be showcased at an art exhibit at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York in 2016.

Until then, let’s all marvel at the mesmerizing innovation that is MIT’s 3DGP!

GLASS from Mediated Matter Group on Vimeo.

Copyright Inventionland, 2015

Sources:

https://www.engadget.com/2015/08/21/mit-figured-out-how-to-3d-print-using-glass-instead-of-plastic/

https://mashable.com/2015/08/22/3d-glass-printing/

Media:

https://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/2560×1349+0+0/resize/1200×632!/format/jpg/quality/85/https://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/c57306a015b6d3972d4854fcf8d89a2a/202512865/Screen+Shot+2015-08-21+at+9.44.35+AM.png

https://vimeo.com/mediatedmattergroup/glass

The post 3DGP is Absolutely Fascinating – Check it Out appeared first on Inventionland.

In the United States, more and more people are seeking to live a simpler, less expensive way of life and one way to live out this idea is to join in on the Tiny House Movement.

These Tiny Houses that we speak of usually measure in at about 400 square feet and, as you can see, they live up to their name, “Tiny Houses.”

Not only is this particular movement encouraging people to downsize, it’s also, as you would expect, environmentally and financially friendly – two other enticing benefits.

3D printing service bureau, Sculpteo, has highlighted the fact that there are a myriad of designs for Tiny Houses available for free online.

These designs range from custom brackets to shelves and the 3D printers that are used in the process are able to fabricate the smaller components that are used in construction as well.

The idea of Tiny Houses isn’t entirely new; in fact, last year, urban design professor Peter Ebner, along with his students in the UCLA 3M futureLAB, created a fully-functional “microhouse” that was built via 3D printing.

The students took on the challenge to create their prototype of the 3D-printed microhouse in just 10 weeks. At the end of that time period, the house was completed and was seven feet wide by seven feet long and 11 feet tall. The design was made in two halves, which were then joined to create an enclosed shell.

In this microhouse were a bed, kitchen, full bathroom, storage space and a small lounge area with room for a TV.

In order to build strong walls that would retain heat, the students modeled the interior of the walls to resemble the internal structure of bones, which are porous.  These walls assisted in the heating and cooling of the house.

The UCLA house was less than 50 square feet of home-sweet-home!

The microhouse, as pictured above from UCLA 3M futureLAB.

Albeit very interesting, Ebner chose 3D printing and portable microhomes as the focus of this particular project because it fits the mission of 3M futureLAB – using technology to develop solutions to social problems, like alleviating overcrowding in urban areas that have insufficient affordable housing, while using fewer materials.

Additionally, Sculpteo agrees with Ebner and his students in that 3D printing allows for mass customization that can improve safety features to protect homeowners in the future.

Now, the microhouse is just one example of the possibilities that remain with the creation of Tiny Houses. The future for the Tiny House Movement still hangs in the balance, but we think there’s room for big opportunities!

Copyright Inventionland, 2015

Sources:

https://3dprint.com/88730/tiny-houses-meet-3d-printing/

https://www.sculpteo.com/blog/2015/08/11/3d-printing-and-the-tiny-house-movement-in-the-us/

https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/the-home-of-the-future-in-50-square-feet

Media:

https://cms.ipressroom.com.s3.amazonaws.com/173/files/20145/53ab5e41299b506db0001b6e_3D+printed+house+and+Ebner/3D+printed+house+and+Ebner_mid.jpg

https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/53f214a3eab8ea703458db7d-1200/tiny-house-plattsburgh.jpg

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In collaboration with musical artist and violinist Laurent Bernadac, the French company known as 3Dvarius has designed a fully-playable electric violin.

Though that alone sounds extremely innovative, the creativity doesn’t stop there. In fact, this electric violin was actually created with the most advanced 3D-printing technology and based on the traditional Stradivarius, which is one of the cellos, violas, violins and other stringed instruments that was built by members of the Stradivari family, namely Antonio Stradivari, during the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

Now that that short history lesson is over, let’s get back to how this 3D-printed violin was made. First, it was printed as a single piece. The process combines the precision of computer renderings and the extremely intricate skill of violin making.

Laurent Bernadac playing the 3D-printed violin. Image: designboom.com

Both of these talents were paired with Laurent Bernadac’s experience with violins and his knowledge of what exactly was needed in order to create a great violin.

The 3D-printed violin that 3Dvarius created was made to be lightweight and take into account all of the movements a violinist makes.

Throughout the research process, the acoustic and wave propagation through the body of the violin were studied, as well as the right mechanical resistance for the pressure of the strings.

To carry out this research, 3Dvarius used sterolithography, which is a technology that creates models layer by layer by curing photo reactive resin with an ultraviolet laser. Once this is complete, hand sanding takes place. This step is then followed by cleaning and polymerization that removes any excess resin and protects the internal makings of the violin.

Next is perhaps the most delicate step – the stringing of the violin. It’s during this step that the structure of the violin is introduced to actual string pressure.

Here’s an actual video of the making of the 3D-printed violin from 3Dvarius!

The idea for this 3D-printed violin came to be in 2012. Its first prototype was created in polycarbonate in 2013; however, it was too heavy and difficult to play. So, the 3Dvarius team put their heads together and created the second and current prototype.

If the 3D-printed violin is a hit with violinists, 3Dvarius will consider a commercial release. Until then, we’ll enjoy the sound of innovation!

Copyright Inventionland, 2015

Sources:

https://www.designboom.com/technology/3dvarius-3d-printed-violin-08-11-2015/

https://www.3ders.org/articles/20150807-this-gorgeous-3d-printed-transparent-electric-violin-sounds-fantastic.html

Media:

https://www.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/3dvarius-laurent-bernadac-3d-violin-designboom-01-818×545.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=43&v=Gr-Vu4w35RM

https://www.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/3dvarius-laurent-bernadac-3d-violin-designboom-02-818×545.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF0pOUBS3sg

The post 3Dvarius Strings Together Innovation appeared first on Inventionland.

The University of Maribor in Slovenia is the stage for the latest 3D-printed invention.  After designing a “green” 3D printer in 2013, a group of students worked hard to turn 3D printers into on-demand gardeners through their creation of PrintGREEN.

The slogan that PrintGreen lives by is a twist on the old conservationist motto, “Think before you print,” and tells their audience to, in fact, “Print, because it is green.”

You might be wondering what makes PrintGREEN so environmentally friendly. If you were, we’re here to fill you in. This “green” invention is all about bringing together art, technology and nature into one, unified object.

The printer combines modern technology with an innovative approach by using a special CNC machine as a printing device. Rather than a canvas, PrintGREEN uses Styrodur, which is a print page that’s covered with black felt and reinforced with a sponge.

The “ink” that this printer uses is unlike any other ink. Rather than using and reusing recycled plastics that never fully degrade, PrintGreen’s ink will naturally degrade over time. The ink is actually made of a mixture of soil, water and seeds, the general ingredients that are used in typical gardens everywhere.

Once the organic ink is loaded, the printer then produces living prints of customized objects in a variety of shapes and sizes.

After the drying period, the muddy mixture holds its form and then begins to sprout grass from the organic material.

Check out these pictures straight from PrintGREEN’s website!

The end goal of PrintGREEN, as we mentioned before, is to fuse art and nature to creatively produce living designs through the assistance of modern technology.  PrintGreen is all about creating a “living” design/print as it becomes green on its own!

Copyright Inventionland, 2015

Source:

https://print-green.org/

https://www.zmescience.com/research/technology/3d-printing-green-06082015/s

https://upriser.com/posts/green-3d-printer-prints-living-designs-from-organic-ink

Media:

https://printgreendotorg.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/photo-41.jpg?w=273&h=273&crop=1

https://printgreendotorg.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/photo-2.jpg?w=306&h=408&crop=1

https://printgreendotorg.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/photo20.jpg?w=216&h=287&crop=1

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Gone may be the days of sniffing the milk carton to see if your milk has spoiled, thanks to a collaboration between engineers at UC Berkeley and Taiwan’s National Chiao Tung University.

This 3D-printed smart cap that the group has developed is meant to find a better way to detect whether a liquid has gone sour, thanks to the wireless electrical sensors that are attached to the milk carton’s smart cap.

Polymers combined with wax were used to create the cap. When the wax was removed, it left behind a hollow tube that allowed for the group to inject silver.

From there, the engineers added electronics, which included a capacitor and inductor to create a circuit that would monitor if and when the milk would spoil.

The group flipped over a milk carton so that milk could be captured in the capacitor. From there, they left the carton unopened for 36 hours in a room that was set at around 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

To determine whether or not the milk was spoiled, the engineers tracked the changes in the electrical signals that were associated with the increase of bacteria in the milk.

They continued to monitor the changes wirelessly by way of a radio-frequency probe.

Through their discovery, the group of engineers clearly demonstrated how 3D printing can work for basic electrical components.

Furthermore, this experiment and the invention of the smart cap intimates that 3D-printed smart caps could one day be used for food packaging purposes.

In fact, the group of engineers are currently working on inventing an implantable device with embedded transducers that can monitor blood pressure, muscle strain and drug concentrations through the smart cap technology.

For now, however, this news might only be a whiff of the smart cap’s innovation. We guess only time will smell, oops, we mean tell!

Copyright Inventionland, 2015

Sources:

https://news.berkeley.edu/2015/07/20/3d-printed-electronic-smart-cap/

https://www.techtimes.com/articles/70343/20150720/3d-printed-smart-cap-sense-spoiled-milk.htm

Media: https://news.berkeley.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/3dsmartcap-milk450.jpg

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