Category Archives: 3D Printing

Mini Metal Maker is an affordable metal clay 3D printer

This machine will let you print your own jewelry, ornaments and clips.

Have you ever wanted to design your own custom jewelry, metal findings, sculptures, specialized machine parts and ornamental hardware? Well, you’re in luck. Thanks to David and Lindsay Hartkop’s latest Indiegogo project, we may be closer to a world of affordable, in-home metal 3D printing. The aptly-dubbed Mini Metal Maker is a self-contained device that is hoping to provide Makers, artisans and artists alike with the ability to inexpensively print items using a special blend of clay materials from manufacturer Metal Adventures.

The incredibly sleek, compact printer functions in a similar fashion as to countless other Cartesian-based FDM machines available today. However, the key difference is that the Mini Metal Maker constructs 3D objects from digital files directly in metal clay, rather than in thermoplastic. Its sturdy steel and aluminum frame is packed with an all-electromechanical extruder and provides over 300 PSI. Beyond that, the desktop gadget can automatically sense extrude nozzle height, thereby making nozzle changes easier than ever before, and is digitally-controlled enabling quick starts and stops.

The machine itself is based on an Arduino Due (SAM3X8E) running modified Sprinter-based open source firmware. The Mini Metal Maker can also be used with open-source host and slicing software such as Printrun and Slicer, and according to its Indiegogo campaign, the Hartkop’s are in the midst of developing a cross-platform work environment for loading objects into the printer. Its compact size — measuring in at 9” x 12” x 18” — allows for the device to rest on any desktop or counter without taking up too much space.

What’s nice is that the machine is equipped with a removal magnetic bath, which will help prevent clay from dying inside the nozzle. In addition, it prints on removable magnetic vinyl sheet, which the metal clay clings to when wet and automatically releases when dry. This makes the process as easy as printing the object, trading the plate and beginning a new print.

Upon being printer, designers can work on and clean up their creation before firing it up in the kiln. Once heated up to 1550˚F(600˚C-900˚C), the clay piece becomes an entirely metal object that can be bent, filed, polished, drilled and even soldered.

Printer size: 9” x 12” x 18’” (23cm x 30cm x 46cm)
Build envelope: 8cm x 8cm x 8cm
Printer weight: 10lbs
Extrusion resolution: 250 microns
XY resolution: 10 microns
Z resolution: 2 microns
Connectivity: USB
Filament: Metal Clay

The Mini Metal Maker is the perfect tool for any jewelry artisan, artist or Maker. Whether you’re interested in devising some custom jewelry, ornaments, or even some gears and clips, you may want to hurry over to its official Indiegogo page. The duo is currently seeking $150,000 with shipment expected to begin in October 2015.

Print out your own breakfast this National Pancake Day!

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Breakfast in bed? How about an elaborately designed breakfast instead?

Tuesday, March 3 is the 10th anniversary of National Pancake Day and to celebrate, IHOP restaurants across the country are giving away free short stacks of their renowned buttermilk pancakes.

Like they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So, shouldn’t you start it off right? Why have a boring bowl of cereal or an Eggo waffle when you could have customized pancakes that would impress the likes of the Yoda, Stan Lee or even President Obama himself? Norway-based breakfast food enthusiast and Maker Miguel Valenzuela has done just that using his open-source PancakeBot.

As previously featured on Bits & Pieces, the latest iteration of the machine is comprised of an acrylic body packed with Adafruit motor shields, an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280), two stepper motors, a pair of belt drives and a vacuum pump. The improved PancakeBot could be programmed to whip up any elaborate design, whether that’s a rocket ship, a Spider Man mask, the Maker Faire robot, or a self-portrait. The printer simply squirts batter onto a hotplate so that, once the pancakes are done extruding, they’re ready to eat.

“PancakeBot is meant to inspire kids to get into technology and learn about programming, and also learn about food manufacturing. That way they have something to eat, right after it’s done. It’s an instant gratification robot,” Valenzuela adds.

Now, the Maker has developed a new version of the printer and has partnered with StoreBound to bring PancakeBot to kitchens throughout the world via Kickstarter. In the meantime, to commemorate the special occasion, we’ve decided to compile some of our favorite 3D-printed flapjacks below.

R2D2

Boba Fett’s Helmet

Snowspeeder

NASA Astronaut

NASA Orion Spaceship

Godzilla

President Obama

George Washington

Makey Robot

Alien

Butterfly

Eiffel Tower

Penrose Triangle

Spiderman

Breakfast Cowboy

Seahorse

Scream Mask

Panda

Alligator Board is a next-gen, ATSAM3X8E-based 3D printer controller

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Could the Alligator be the most advanced 3D printing board ever developed?

Over the last couple of years, the DIY community has experienced a proliferation of RepRap 3D printers. As the possible number of machines continues to grow, as does the need for more open-source control boards — many of which built around Atmel | SMART and AVR microcontrollers.

Adding to the growing list of 3D printer electronics is a new Indiegogo project from a Perugia, Italy startup. First seen back at Maker Faire Rome 2014, the Alligator Board was designed to serve as a complete and reliable solution for those seeking RepRap 3D printer control modules. It is based on the Atmel | SMART ATSAM3X8EA, which represents a big step towards greater computing power, compared to existing solutions driven by 8-bit MCUs. This product is well-suited for any standard 3D printer, particularly Delta models requiring more complex data computation.

The Alligator features both the native USB interface of the ARM Cortex-M3 MCU as well as a USB to UART interface. Beyond that, the control board comes with a 10/100 Ethernet interface, capable of running a web server and any kind of Internet-based application. Alligator boasts the ability to adjust the current of its motors via firmware, thereby enabling three axes to work in perfect harmony.

What’s more, the combination of its adjustable microstep size up to 1/32 and the performance of the 32-bit ARM processor ensure high-resolution prints with any architecture. Pending all goes to plan, the board will come with several expansion pack options as well, such as the Piggy Module Lite (allows for one additional extruder), the Piggy Module Plus (allows for the addition of up to three more extruders), and the Thermocouple Module. The Alligator can also be connected directly to a Raspberry Pi unit.

Other notable features include:

External 32Mbit Flash memory (in addition to the 64Kbit EEPROM)
12-24Vdc power supply input
4x stepper motor driver, running at 1/16 or 1/32 microcstep (up to 2.5A firmware configurable current and no trimmer)
6x end-stop input compatible with both mechanical and optical/magnetic solution
High current hot-end heater driver output (high-current connector)
High current bed heater driver output (high-current connector)
2x precision analog input for temperature measurement with RTD (compatible with external adapter for thermocouple)
2x external FAN output with PWM speed control
USB to virtual COM port interface (microUSB connector)
Native USB port (microUSB connector)
microSD Slot
10/100 Ethernet port with unique MAC address pre-programmed chip
Expansion connector with 3 UART or 6 GPIO with firmware selectable +3V3/+5V logic levels
26pin Raspberry Pi-compatible expansion connector
3x generic PWM open drain output for general porpouse application

Interested? Head over to its official Indiegogo page, where the team is currently seeking €10,000. Initial shipments are expected to begin in June 2015.

Video: PancakeBot prints out out Star Wars flapjacks

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The force awakens you for breakfast with some 3D-printed pancakes.

As they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So, shouldn’t you start it off right? Why have a boring bowl of cereal or an Eggo waffle when you could have customized pancakes that would impress the likes of Yoda? Norway-based breakfast food enthusiast and Maker Miguel Valenzuela has now paid homage to two of the most iconic Star Wars characters, Boba Fett and R2-D2, using his incredibly-popular PancakeBot.

As previously featured on Bits & Pieces, the latest iteration of the machine is comprised of an acrylic body packed with Adafruit motor shields, an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280), two stepper motors, a pair of belt drives and a vacuum pump. The improved PancakeBot could be programmed to draw out any flapjack design, whether that’s a rocket ship, a Spider Man mask, the Maker Faire robot, or a portrait of President Obama. The printer simply squirts batter onto a hotplate so that, once the pancakes are done extruding, they’re ready to eat.

Now, Valenzuela has developed a new version of the printer and has partnered with StoreBound to bring PancakeBot to kitchens throughout the world via Kickstarter. Stay tuned for the upcoming campaign! In the meantime, watch some fantastic flapjack magic below.

Rhino is a commercial-grade 3D printer at a consumer-friendly price

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Rhino is an industrial grade 3D printer with a heated chamber and all-metal chassis.

While it seems like inexpensive, easy-to-use 3D printers are a dime a dozen these days, one Toronto-based startup is looking to set itself apart from the pack by offering an affordable yet extremely robust device. Created by Monirad Robotics, the Rhino 3D Printer boasts a number of features not typically seen in machines of its category.

“Unfortunately the low cost printers were not reliable, they were slower and since the temperature of the print area was not controlled the parts lacked consistency and durability. Even though the industrial grade one was faster, precise and reliable, it was expensive and had a small print area. This motivated us to design Rhino, an industrial grade, all-metal chassis and extruder, 3D printer with ability to control temperature of print area,” explains Mohsen Chamanirad, Monirad Robotics CEO.

The frame of the printer is comprised entirely out of solid metal (80% aluminum, 20% steel), which allows for it to function at rapid speeds while maintaining accuracy due to limited vibrations. Additionally, the Rhino is equipped with an all-metal, durable extruder that is capable of printing a wide-range of materials, ranging from PLA to polycarbonate, at temperatures of to 300°C.

The company has also paid special attention to the device’s build platform and chamber — two notable components of any printer. In doing so, the Rhino features a sturdy, 1/4” thick aluminum build platform which is capable of distributing heat evenly throughout the entire print area. Cognizant of the importance of controlled temperatures throughout the printing process, the device is embedded with a closed loop controller that is tasked with regulating the temperature of the print volume.

Printer size: 23″ x 18″ x 21″
Print area: 12″ x 10″ x 10″
Printer weight: 18kg (40 lbs)
Layer resolution: 80 microns
Maximum print speed: 180mm/sec
Nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm
Filament type: PLA, ABS, Nylon, Polycabonate, HDPE (1.75mm)

Interested? Head over to the Rhino 3D Printer’s official Kickstarter page, where its team is currently seeking $50,000. If all goes to plan, shipment to early bird backers is expected to begin in May 2015, with regular delivery set for June 2015.

These 3D-printed shoes are robotic and can adapt to your feet

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Will SOLS ADAPTIV be the future of footwear?

You may remember SOLS from last year, when the company debuted its 3D-printed corrective orthotics line. The New York City-based startup enabled users to scan of their feet using a smartphone app and submit the images directly to its database, thereby reducing the time required for the production process. More recently, the team has debuted their vision of “Instant Adaptability” footwear in a project they call ADAPTIV.

First launched during NBA All-Star Weekend, ADAPTIV is a 3D-printed piece of footwear that utilizes a system of embedded gyroscopes and pressure sensors that circulate air pressure and fluids throughout the shoe to support and adapt to a body’s every movement. Offering users complete customization, athletes and fashionistas alike will have the ability to minimize injury and color coordinate with any ensemble.

The high-tops are equipped with 3D-printed insoles inside, as well as air pockets to precisely tailor the fit and provide ultimate flexibility with every step. The futuristic boots themselves are comprised of a shell that was constructed by Shapeways using a nylon-like material called Elasto Plastic.

SOLS envisions a future of footwear that is not only custom made for your body and lifestyle, but also personalized for your every movement. Photos of your entire foot and ankle will be used to 3D print the footwear with Instant Adaptability, and soon enough, the color of shoes will even be able to morph to match your every outfit using color sensing cameras and adjustable RGB LEDs.

“Inspired by cutting edge advancements in soft robotics, we saw an opportunity to design a responsive cellular structure that mimics the wearer’s unique biomechanics while responding to movement. ADAPTIV is the next step in the evolution of footwear,” said Kegan Schouwenburg, CEO of SOLS. “300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away each year and I believe 3D printing has the potential to change that.”

The startup recently closed on a Series B round of $11.1 million from investors that include Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Tenaya Capital, and New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony’s fund, Melo7 Tech Partners. It’s no question that the future for smart clothing, including electronic textiles, looks promising. As to whether this system of soft robotics will be a key driver, time will only tell. Interested? Head over to SOLS’ official page here to learn more, or watch the video below.

This robot may soon 3D print objects as large as 100 cubic meters

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Artis Engineering has created a robotic arm that will soon revolutionize architecture.

While 3D printers tend to be bound by available materials, build volume and nozzle size, one Germany company is looking to change all that. In fact, a team from Artis Engineering recently conceived an idea after toying around with the concept of 3D printing: Why not use a big robot to print out even bigger objects?

Already having a gigantic CNC machine in their possession, the team’s current KUKA Quantec arm boasts a build envelope of 150 cubic meters, a 7-axis system, as well as a tool changer on its “hand” that is capable of milling, sanding, polishing, hot wire cutting, and now, 3D printing. Using the industrial gadget, Artis Engineering believes one day it will even be able to construct 3D-printed objects as large as 100 cubic meters in size.

The robot is based on an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) and RAMPS 1.4. On the software side, the team used Rhinoceros 5, Grasshopper, KUKA|prc to make this all possible. The nozzle is equipped with two 40w heat cartridges and pair of 100k resistors, while an LCD control panel is tasked with monitoring temperatures and speed settings. Simon Lullin of Artis Engineering tells 3DPrint.com that employing a E3D v6 modified nozzle allows the team to print at high speeds, with a 0.5mm, 1.0mm and 2.5mm nozzles avoiding jamming and other problems.

“Our next goal is to perfectly synchronize the robot movements with the extruder (mainly the speed), which will require a mountain of new hardware, since we are already to the limits in terms of ‘extensions’ quantity. This is the equivalent of adding an 8th axis to our robot. This will be done in the upcoming months,” Lullin adds.

Interested? Head over to Artis Engineering’s official page here, or watch it in action below!

Blacksmith Genesis is the world’s first rotary 3D printer and scanner

3D-printed tools from space are now on Earth for testing

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Additive manufacturing in space is ready for take-off!

We’ll know soon enough as to whether the wrenches that were 3D-printed aboard the International Space Station will be up to the mark. That’s because the objects arrived on Earth via SpaceX’s Dragon back on February 10, 2015 following the first phase of Made In Space and NASA’s 3D Printing in Zero-G Demonstration.

As previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the study team used a printer specifically developed for use in microgravity, which extruded plastic filaments heated at lower temperatures. To conclude its initial testing phase, a ratchet wrench was printed using a design file transmitted from the ground to the printer. Samples, hardware and data from several biology and biotechnology studies were then returned with completion of the SpaceX contracted resupply mission for researchers to build on research that will enable further space exploration.

Here on Earth, the team will now have the opportunity to analyze a wide-range of newly 3D-printed wrenches, experimental data to enhance cooling systems and protein crystals and seedling samples — each of which will allow the scientists to improve upon existing studies. If successful, this will inch one step closer to approving 3D printers for future Mars manned missions, not to mention showcasing the potential of additive manufacturing in orbit.

While in zero gravity, researchers were investigating the use of crystallized cystic fibrosis protein and other closely-related proteins to improve drug therapies for the genetic disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive system, along with samples of seedling from plants grown in the station to aid in more efficient agricultural and bioenergy resources on Earth.

On the orbital laboratory, researchers also examined liquids at the verge of boiling to understand how the flow of heat in liquids behaves in microgravity. This is important to the development of cooling systems for space exploration with additional applications to waste disposal and recycling processes on Earth.

“For the printer’s final test in this phase of operations, NASA wanted to validate the process for printing on demand, which will be critical on longer journeys to Mars,” explained Niki Werkheiser, the space station 3D printer program manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Insight from demonstrations in microgravity also may help improve 3D printing technology on Earth.

Undoubtedly, the scientific research delivered and returned by Dragon will pave the way for advancements in every aspect of the diverse space station science portfolio, ranging from biology and biotechnology to physical sciences and technology development. You can find an entire breakdown of the parts printed while aboard the ISS here, as well as read NASA’s official announcement here.

Aleph Objects launches the LulzBot TAZ 5 3D Printer

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R2D2

Boba Fett’s Helmet

Snowspeeder

NASA Astronaut

NASA Orion Spaceship

Godzilla

President Obama

George Washington

Makey Robot

Alien

Butterfly

Eiffel Tower

Penrose Triangle

Spiderman

Breakfast Cowboy

Seahorse

Scream Mask

Panda

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