Should 3D Printing Go Open Source?

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File:Roadster 2.5 windmills trimmed.jpg

This is now open source!

You may have seen in the press this week that Elon Musk has released all of Tesla’s electric car patents into the public domain.  In doing this he channeled a classic video game quote titling the release, “All Our Patent Are Belong to You.”  Just like it has benefited computer software (WordPress, Firefox, OpenOffice, Audacity, etc.) , it appears “open source” is benefiting 3D printing with low cost and high quality alternatives to commercial 3D printers and traditional CAD software. Continue reading →

New Amazon Fire Phone a Perfect Fit for 3D Printing?

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The new Amazon Fire Phone and the video above demonstrating the “dynamic perspective” immediately had me thinking of 3D printing applications.  The way you could design, modify and check models could be revolutionary.  The 4 face tracking cameras could easily also be reapplied for fast 3D scanning. Continue reading →

T-Minus 2 Months: 3D Printer Headed for Space Station is Ready for Launch!

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The Made In Space 3D printer will be the first manufacturing device ever used off Earth. It will be installed in the International Space Station to print a series of test items in 2014.

The Made In Space 3D printer will be the first manufacturing device ever used off Earth. It will be installed in the International Space Station to print a series of test items in 2014.

Our friends at Made In Space have a HUGE announcement!  We’ve written about their work to put a 3D printer in space in the past and now it appears later this summer it will become a reality!  Please see their exciting release below, we’re hopeful to attend the launch and report live in August! Continue reading →

3D Printed Gun Update

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Wikimedia Commons

The Liberator 3D Printed gun (from WikiMedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:XP002.jpg)

 

We wrote a year ago about 3D printed guns and it seems like they continue to be one of the most talked about issues related to the technology.  Michigan Tech even launched a contest called Print for peace in order to highlight non-weapon aspects of 3D printing.  I’ve seen 3D printing in popular culture from TV episodes of Elementary to CSI.  You can even watch a documentary about it and and one museum has even added it to its display because of the historical value.  It seems like when you mention 3D printing, a 3D printed gun comment is soon to follow. Continue reading →

Help Vote on the Local Motors 3D printed Car Design

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Local Motors has launched an awesome 3D printed car challenge.  Local Motors is a place where, “We operate a growing global network of microfactories. Each destination is a place (microfactory) where innovators create amazing products and consumers come to marvel and shop.”  Local motors creates a space and a bullpen of engineers that entrepreneurs can collaborate with, both physically and virtually, to create amazing motored inventions.  Think of it as an incubator of sorts, but highly focused to the automotive space. Continue reading →

3D Printing and Summer Movies

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Summer movie season is upon us and it’s time for aliens, bad guys and car chases to invade our local theaters.  3D printing has become a staple in movie special effects and costumes.  From RoboCop’s helmet and suit to a yacht on Wolf of Wall Street, it’s now a common tool for special effects engineers.  Back in the 70’s digital special effects, miniatures were the norm and used for some classic scenes like the space battles in Star Wars (great video above). Continue reading →