15 3D printers that will change how you make food

---

Hungry? Why wait? You may soon be able to print food on-demand right from your kitchen. 

---

Actually having to cook your meals is about to become so last year. Food may soon find its way onto your plate and into your mouth in a number of ways that never have to boil in a pot, sear in a pan, or bake in the oven. In fact, the emergence of 3D printing may one day allow these desktop machines as ubiquitous as that microwave you have sitting on your counter.

Who recalls during Back to the Future when Marty McFly’s mother pops a four-inch pizza into a hydrator that, in just a matter of seconds, came out the full size of a conventional pizza. And while such a Black & Decker machine, or a Star Trek-like replicator for that matter, have yet to go mainstream, the dream of printing your own on-demand food is inching its way closer, thanks to companies like XYZprinting, Natural Machines and 3D Systems.

More recently, innovators around the world have been exploring various ways to use 3D printers — many of which powered by AVR and Atmel | SMART microcontrollers — in order to craft edible items. Though these efforts have mostly produced chocolate, sugar, pasta and pizza, one day researchers hope that the technology may even lend a helping hand in nutrition and long-term sustainability. Take for instance, easy-to-chew meals for senior citizens who have trouble consuming anything other than things in puree form. New developments in printed food will enable the elderly in retirement and assisted living communities to enjoy tasty melt-in-your-mouth food from fresh ingredients using a 3D printer. Furthermore, these devices will be able to provide customized diet to individuals, giving them the exact dosages of nutrients. Not to mention, scientists hope that 3D-printed fare may revolutionize space travel as well, especially for long duration missions.

These sort of gadgets don’t stray too far from regular 3D printers either. Instead of extruding plastic filaments, these next-gen systems will emit edible ingredients. At the moment, however, a vast majority of these gadgets are only designed to take care of the tedious and time-consuming parts of meal preparation, not so much a “just press the button and magically appear” sort of thing we can all hope for… yet. Future models, though, will likely be able to complete the process so that the extruded items are ready to eat.

“I don’t see this as a novelty. I see it as something that really will become a part of the culinary fabric for years to come,” Liz von Hasseln of 3D Systems summed it up best in a recent interview with the Washington Post. “I think the way that happens really powerfully is when it impacts kind of the cultural ritual of eating which is actually a really powerful part of being a person in the world.”

Here are some of the machines leading the way…

Natural Machines’ Foodini

Designed for both home and professional kitchens, Foodini comes with empty food capsules. Users simply prepare and place fresh, real ingredients inside, which are then dispensed from the machine. Other than being capable of creating complex designs, such as very detailed cake decorations or uniquely-shaped gourmet items, the Foodini can be useful for recipes that require precision and mastery, like homemade pizza or filled pasta. The printer takes on the daunting parts of making meals, therefore streamlining some of cooking’s more repetitive activities.

3D Systems’ ChefJet

The ChefJet is an entirely new, kitchen-ready category of 3D printers for food. The first two printers in the series, with expected availability in the second half of the year, are the monochrome, countertop ChefJet 3D printer and the full-color, larger format ChefJet Pro 3D printer. These machines were designed with the professional baker, pastry chef, mixologist and restaurateur in mind, enabling the creation of custom edible geometries for every cake, cocktail and dinner celebration. The printer can also create 3D candies in a variety of flavors such as mint, sour cherry, and vanilla, as well as sugar objects that resemble expensive china.

F3D

Designed by four undergraduate students from the Imperial College in London, F3D (pronounced “fed”) is the latest food printing research project that has set out to revolutionize the way we prepare our food. Unlike some of the more commercial-ready devices on this list, the Makers modified existing RepRap 3D printing technology to create a food printer capable of 3D printing and cooking a complete dish. F3D proved its potential by 3D printing an entire pizza – dough, sauce, cheese and all – in under 20 minutes. Beat that Domino’s! Though still in its prototype phase, this student-made project is impressive, nonetheless.

XYZprinting’s Food Printer

The latest machine from XYZprinting allows users to create various 3D shapes out their food. The company says it has worked with a food specialist, and devised a proprietary recipe that can be used in single or triple material versions. The machine is equipped with a touch display that lets home chefs select a pre-set design for the shape of their edible item. Those who rather import their own designs may do so online or via a USB drive. Even more, the printer can output one cookable object at a time, before going ahead and making an entire batch.

NASA-Funded Food Printer

Back in 2013, NASA funded a 3D food printer project by Austin, Texas-based Systems and Materials Research Corporation (SMRC), in an effort to one day offer astronauts some freshly cooked food up in space. Using an open-source RepRap 3D printer, the team of Makers replaced its existing ink cartridges with printable ingredients comprised of powdered bases mixed with oil and water. These were then printed with modified extruder nozzles, while a heated plate as its bed cooked the food as it is printed. Impressively, it only took about 12 minutes to put together the dough, sauce and cheese.

Choc Edge’s Choc Creator

With aspirations of “creating chocolate in style,” the UK-based Choc Edge team has been a notable pioneer in the industry. In fact, the company released the world’s first commercially available chocolate printer back in 2012. At the time, the machine was capable of printing both two- and three-dimensional cocoa creations. Now, it has returned to the chocolatier scene with a new model. This printer boasts an easy-to-use syringe head that allows users to easily install and remove units, as well as refill the syringe with fresh chocolate within 10 minutes. The latest version also boasts a new automatic temperature control system, ensuring optimal flow in the printing process along with a closed compartment to help maintain consistent temperatures.

PancakeBot

The very first version of the open-source PancakeBot was designed way back in 2010 by Miguel Valenzuela. At the time, Valenzuela was inspired by a MAKE: Magazine feature on a British Maker who devised a Pancake Stamping Machine using LEGO. Since then, the machine has become a Maker sensation, claiming the hearts and stomachs of everyone — including President Obama himself. The original bot was simply a CNC for a kitchen table, comprised of LEGO Mindstorms, LEGO bricks and a pair of ketchup bottles for the batter. As you can imagine with any automated device whipping up tasty treats, the initial video of Valenzuela’s PancakeBot 1.0 went viral, which encouraged the Maker to continue tinkering with the design. The next iteration of the platform – which debuted at Maker Faire Bay Area 2014 – consisted 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, ranging from an Eiffel Tower to a self-portrait. The printer simply squirts batter onto a hotplate so that, once the pancakes are done extruding, they’re ready to eat. While earlier models are not available for sale, the PancakeBot team has partnered with StoreBound to bring the robotic contraption to market.

Hershey’s CocoJet

During CES 2015, 3D Systems revealed its latest chocolate printer, the CocoJet, in collaboration with Hershey. The device, which was particularly aimed at candy makers and bakers, dispenses delicious liquid chocolate just as any other 3D printer would extrude filament. Users can choose between dark, milk or white chocolate and between pre-programmed designs or confections of their own creative devising.

Biozoon’s Smoothfood Printer

One German company has produced a 3D printer capable of printing out dozens of different meals, all made of a gelatin base, for senior citizens and others who have difficulties chewing food. Fortunately, this food will literally melt in a person’s mouth. With funding from the EU, the project uses 48 nozzles, liquified food and a gelling agent to recreate the shape and taste of something that would otherwise be difficult to swallow, ranging from chicken to broccoli to lamb. The project, called PERFORMANCE, is intended to give elderly people better access to appealing and nutritious food. Since its inception, Biozoon’s devices have been adopted in over 1,000 care homes throughout the country.

Dovetailed’s Fruit Printer

Unlike a number of other projects on this list that focus around sweets, Dovetailed revealed a new approach to 3D-printed food last spring: fruit. Using spherification technology, the Cambridge-based firm combined strawberry flavoring with a sodium rich gel to deposit little balls into a cold calcium chloride solution to create something that resembled the likeness of a raspberry. The device is programmed to print blackberries and was in the process of working on apples and pears as well.

Open Electronics’ 3Drag

As we experienced (and tasted) first-hand back at World Maker Faire 2014, the 3Drag has officially made three-dimensional chocolate shapes a reality. Modified with a real pastry bag for precision bakery work or a heated syringe, 3Drag is suitable for plotting lettering and lines using any type of chocolate like milk, white and dark. All this, with the advantage to design the object or the pastry directly in computer graphic. Based on an ATmega2560, the device is fitted a special extruder (which replaces the one typically used for extruding plastic materials) with a very common 60 ml syringe. A NEMA17 stepper motor drives its piston and a heater to maintain the chocolate contained in the syringe at its appropriate temperature.

Structur3D’s Discov3ry Extruder

Structur3D launched a 3D printer add-on, which could create a paste from all sorts of materials such as plastic, silicone, wood filler, and even Nutella. In fact, at last year’s Maker Faire Bay Area, the startup demonstrated how it could print the Maker Faire logo with the delicious hazelnut spread.

Barilla’s 3D Pasta Printer

One of, if the top, pasta seller in the world is in the process of developing a 3D pasta printer for restaurants. The machine would be able to print 15 to 20 pieces every two minutes, getting a pasta dish to a patron in a matter of minutes. It would also allow for custom-designed pasta shapes, ranging from roses to moons.

Cornell Creative Machine Lab’s Food Printer

One of the earliest on the scene back in 2011, Cornell Creative Machines Lab developed 3D printer that could generate tiny space shuttle-shaped scallop nuggets as well as cakes or cookies that, when cut into, reveal a special message — whether a wedding proposal, someone’s initials or even a logo for a corporate event. Additionally, the CCML team could make a solid hamburger patty, with liquid layers of ketchup and mustard, or a hamburger substitute that’s made from vegan or raw foods.

Zmorph’s Cake and Chocolate Extruder

The ZMorph Personal Fabricator embodies a modular makeup, which enables a user to easily detach and swap out a number of extruders. The various toolheads let Makers to print with everything from pastry to chocolate to marmalade. What’s more, the add-ons can fabricate signs on cakes or their own food design in a matter of minutes.

Mondelez International’s Oreo Printer

And who could forget 3D-printed Oreos? At SXSW 2014, Mondelez International had 3D-printed custom Oreo cookies based on what was trending on Twitter with the hashtag #eatthetweet. Attendees could choose from 12 flavors, ranging from banana to mint to lime, and then select either a chocolate or vanilla base for the cookie. The cookie would then be printed in a couple of minutes.

Cheetah 3.1 is 10 times faster than other 3D printers

---

A big machine for big ideas! This 3D printer creates objects you wouldn’t normally see from others on the market today.

---

Over the past couple of months, we’ve seen some pretty impressive 3D-printed creations from Hans Fouche. Now, the Maker has launched a new style of his popular 3D printer called the Cheetah 3.1 that is capable of producing objects that you wouldn’t normally see come out of a desktop FFF-based device.

In essence, Cheetah is basically a gigantically-scale model of a traditional desktop printer and works in much the same way as any other Atmel based RepRap derivative with two key differences: it uses plastic pellets as its raw feedstock and extrudes 10 times faster than others. A typical desktop 3D printer might take four or five hours to print an ordinarily-sized object, for example. Yet, Cheetah only required that amount of time to construct an entire lawnmower.

From a fully-functioning vacuum to a trendy pair of shoes, Fouche has been able to create a list of impressive designs thanks to the Cheetah’s extra large 1,000mm x 1,000mm x 1,000mm build volume. In addition, the recently-revealed machine boasts a flow rate of 500 grams per hour using a 3mm nozzle, as well as the ability to print using either ABS, PLA and EVA granules. The Cheetah 3D printer can also print in layers 10 times the height of other machines.

The Cheetah 3.1 3D printer is equipped with a 3mm standard print nozzle, however is also compatible with others ranging from 1mm-8mm nozzles, if required. Meanwhile, the system like other RepRap machines is based on customized Marlin firmware.

• Printer size:  3m x 2m x 3m
• Build volume: 1m x 1m x 1m
• Nozzle diameter: 3mm (will work with 1mm-8mm)
• Filament type: ABS, PLA and EVA

The device itself is designed primarily for rapid prototyping, and to be a cheap alternative to much larger and expensive laser sintering machines. Interested? Head over to the printer’s official page here. The Cheetah 3.1 is now available, however will set you back 100,000 South African Rand (approximately $8,500).

Playing NES games on a PS4 thanks to 3D printing

---

Who could forget the days of NES? This 3D-printed project will surely spark up some ‘90s gaming nostalgia. 

---

For those of us who grew up in the ‘90s, who could forget the days of slipping in those grey game cartridges into your Nintendo Entertainment System? Even more so, remember taking out the cartridge when it wouldn’t work, blowing on its contacts and inserting it back in?

Now decades later, it’s safe to say that the gaming industry has changed quite a bit. The systems, the graphics, the controls, the plots. However, for those looking for some nostalgia, you’ll appreciate the latest project from Frank Zhao who has used 3D printing to reminisce those good ol’ years. That’s because the Maker has managed to bring today’s PS4 games — such as Grand Theft Auto V, The Crew and Need for Speed Rivals — back in time to the NES era.

With the help of his AVR based Ultimaker 3D printer, Zhao was able to craft some cartridges, while designed a few custom labels on a 2D printer. And while on its surface, it may appear to be just any other NES casing, the games can actually run on the latest PlayStation system. When these cartridges are popped into a custom 3D-printed drive that devised for his PS4, the games are entirely playable as if you took a trip back to the ‘90s with some modern-day action.

With just a little engineering to reconfigure the electrical components, he was good to go. The internals of each game cartridge consisted of a 2.5″ hard drive, which is of course where Zhao uploads the game. In order for hard drive to be readable by the PS4, Zhao had to place a SATA connector attachment inside the cartridge that would link to the PS4 console.

“Adding a hard drive to the PS4 using SATA extensions isn’t a new idea at all, somebody already added 6 TB to it, using a 3.5″ drive, but he used a external enclosure and a external 12 volt power supply,” Zhao writes. However, 3.5″ drives would have required an external 12V power supply, while 2.5″ drives simply called for the 5V from the motherboard.

Yet, when it came to actually connecting the SATA cable to the motherboard, the Maker learned rather quickly that it wasn’t the simplest thing to do. In fact, Zhao says that it “was actually pretty hard. I ended up gluing a popsicle stick to the connector first, and then used the stick to poke the connector inside and into the motherboard’s connector. This can be improved by some sort of 3D printed dummy drive, but I got tired and wanted to wrap the project up.”

It should also be noted that the dimensions of the fake NES cartridge used in the project are not the same as the old-school casings. Therefore, authentic NES cartridges will not fit in this project, and the 3D-printed pieces will not slip inside a genuine NES deck.

Interested? You can learn all about the build, as well as access its files here.

Can 3D printing replace traditional upholstery?

---

Dutch designer claims 3D-printing can replace traditional upholstery techniques to produce spongy-surfaced furniture.

---

Lilian van Daal, who recently graduated from The Hague’s Royal Academy of Art, has created a conceptual chair unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Inspired by plant cells which are capable of performing several different tasks, the Dutch designer has sought out to make soft seating more sustainable through 3D printing. In fact, she hopes that the next-gen technology can one day replace traditional upholstery techniques to produce spongy-surfaced furniture altogether.

“In nature a material grows in different structures and this is how functions are created. 3D printing is also a way to ‘grow’ material, so I’ve used this solution to create a new way of soft seating with several different functions in one material,” van Daal explains.

The designer developed her “Biomimicry: 3D-printed soft seat” as an alternative to conventional upholstered furniture, which typically requires various materials and processes in order to create the frame, padding and covers. The chair is comprised of nylon, allowing for different zones of flexibility yet with a rigid base.

“3D printing however does make it possible to reproduce complex structures. In this way a product can be created from one material in one factory, although it has the properties of various materials. Pollution caused by transport can be minimized and the product is completely recyclable,” she adds. “I was testing the flexibility and the stiffness you can get from one material by 3D-printing various structures.”

“Soft seating usually consists of several different materials [and] it’s all glued together, which is a problem for the recyclability of a product,” she explained in a recent Dezeen documentary. “You need five or six different factories [to produce conventional upholstered furniture]. But with 3D printing you can produce very locally and you don’t have material waste in the production process; you only use the material you need.”

Reducing the density of the material would create more flexible areas for seating, while the amount of material could be increased where greater structural strength is required. The shape of the chair was modeled manually using 3D computer modeling software, but the designer highlighted that there is more sophisticated optimization and stress analysis software available that could enable her to create forms that distribute material in the most efficient way.

While she had devised a series of prototype structures printed from polyamide, van Daal is currently researching the potential of using biological materials that would be more sustainable.

Intrigued? Watch the clip from Dezeen below!

Open-source hardware is eating the world

---

Our good friend and Hackster.io founder Adam Benzion explores the latest advancements in open hardware and what it means for our future.

---

Open-source hardware has been making headlines in industry publications and tech communities for years, but only now is it finally enjoying the same mainstream adoption that the Creative Commons and open-source software have enjoyed for over two decades. With growing numbers of hardware designs publicly available to study, modify, distribute, and replicate, resistance is futile!

Move Over Patent Trolls

Much like its immediate software relative, open-source hardware uses existing hardware design licenses rather than creating new ones, to co-innovate and share it forward. In a stark shift from the usually guarded patent world of hardware, we find a new environment for the sharing of ideas. Literally hundreds or thousands of hardware designs—circuit design, component integration, machines, tools, processors and practically anything that can be physically invented—are getting published and made available for anyone to use. There are many upsides to this, although it also seems to be encouraging more red-faced patent trolls to sue unsuspecting users of open-source hardware on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, because someone, some time ago, was already awarded a patent. (It’s just my opinion, but if you filed without the intention to ever build or share your invention, you deserve to get out-innovated.)

You’re Either In Or On The Way Out

Right now it seems like everyone is joining, but you might be less enthusiastic if you’re a Fortune 100 that established itself on the grounds of proprietary technology. Remarkably, however, many of the companies I would have bet on being slow in adapting into this new world are actually fully endorsing it. From Intel, to Atmel, Freescale, and TI, these silicon tankers have proved agile and responsive, powering most of the kits we all know and love (and maybe by doing so, they will start opening up some of their core chip designs?) Maybe it shouldn’t be surprising: They’ve been publishing reference designs for their boards for decades as a way to make it easy for customers to get started. And now they’re also learning from open-source electronics royalty like Arduino, while juggernaut creative hits like SparkFun, Seeed Studio and Adafruit, show how to further adapt, share more, and be part of a community.

I’d rather build on the shoulders of giants, share everything we’ve learned, and learn a thing or two from others. At the end of the day, SparkFun is successful because of the products, value and service we deliver, not our IP portfolio.

Nathan Seidle Founder & CEO, SparkFun Electronics

And it doesn’t stop with electronics. Just take a look at Toyota’s CES 2015 announcement. The company is following the example of Tesla Motors, making all of its 5,680 patents related to fuel cell technology available, royalty-free, to anyone in hopes of driving more innovation. Sure, you can argue that all of this is done in the name of self-servitude: They save on R&D resources while broadening the market, and eventually sell more products as a result. Autodesk is also working on a similar initiative with Spark: an open platform that allows any hardware manufacturer, software developer or material scientist to automate, simplify and improve 3D printing. Regardless of the motivation, this is happening, and the beauty of it is that it taps the collective crowd for exponential brainpower and innovation.

A Freeway Without Speed Limits

By distributing hard earned engineering IP via the Creative Commons Attribution and the GNU General Public License and a widespread “Copylefting” attitude, innovators are transforming the world of hardware creation at speeds we’ve never seen before. The implications reverberate across the playing field, affecting everyone from hardware hackers to major players, and beyond.

1. Startups. With little to no hardware engineering experience, startups can now hack their way into building hardware prototypes, fully capable of connecting to the “internet of things”, skipping months and thousands of dollars traditionally associated with such creations.
2. Community. Open-source hardware is creating new communities that share recipes of creation. For me this became a personal obsession. Myself and Ben Larralde, co-founders of Hackster, are helping people everywhere co-create and learn open-source hardware. We see a massive wave of hardware innovation resulting from this movement, with firmware, schematics and inventive combination of electronics being developed, shared, redesigned and shared again from every corner of the planet in speeds we never seen before.
3. Kids. If you are a parent like me, you are starting to see how this movement is accelerating your child’s abilities to design complex creations. My daughter who is only 4 years old can assemble strangely beautiful hardware creations using littleBits and thinking through “what if” scenarios. What happens when she’s 10 and can actually build complex blocks using LittleBits version 8.0? Does she even buy hardware at Best Buy or just build it herself because it’s more fun and possible better? When everything is open, big changes are inevitable.

Hardware innovation is driven by demand chain not supply chain, and open hardware provides the creative engine.

Eric Pan, Founder and CEO of Seeed Studio

Why Is This Happening Now?

We’ve lived through many decades since the computer revolution, the invention of the microprocessor, and the mainstream Internet. Maybe it’s not a surprise that all of the technology required to create software and hardware has finally come together, simplified and affordable to almost anyone on earth. Today, all you need is free cloud computing account from Microsoft’s Azure, an Intel Edison or Spark’s new Photon, basic programming skills and an access to a 3D printer. Voila, you are well on your way to creating a basic, functioning, piece of hardware. Unfathomable even 5 years ago. When I built my first hardware company in 2010, much of the above was generally unavailable.

Disrupted Again

Built on the heels of open-source software and the new sharing economy, open hardware is a disruptive evolution. It will create massive changes to how hardware innovation is co-created and monetized in rapid new cycles. It will shift the tight hold of old power that was jealously guarded by the few, to the new power which is open, participatory, and peer-driven, forceful as it surges.

But the real change in open-source hardware will come when you see a consumer product released as fully open-source — not something for programmers, hackers and hobbyists. The day that Samsung release a phone or a GE a washing machine that ships open will be the signal that the value in hardware openness is here to stay.

This post was originally published on LinkedIn by Adam Benzion along with the help of Nathan Seidle, Tom Igoe, Sean Geoghegan and Eric Pan. You can also learn all about Hackster.io and explore a wide-range of the latest Maker projects here.

Polyes Q1 may be the safest and coolest 3D pen yet

---

Polyes Q1 is a brand new 3D printing pen that enables Makers to draw in the air without danger. 

---

While 3D printers may have stolen the buzz as of late, 3D pen makers aren’t too far behind in meeting the successes and mainstream appeal of their much larger siblings. In fact, handheld gadgets like the 3Doodler and Lix have already experienced multi-million dollar backings on Kickstarter over the last two years.

However, many of today’s products rely on a feed of ABS/PLA plastic that is heated up and extruded through a hot nozzle. The Future Make crew looks to change all of that with the launch of the Polyes Q1, a 3D pen that doesn’t involve any hot parts or melting plastics. Instead, photo-polymer ink is extruded out of a cool nozzle, and when exposed to blue LED light provided by the device, immediately solidified. What this means is no more nasty smells or burns! Not to mention, its colorful ink is sure to be more attractive than the traditional ABS/PLA filament.

“The 3D printing pens currently available in the market aren’t easy to operate and safe — take for example, all pens using ABS/PLA materials that give off unpleasant odors and the risks of getting burned by high temperatures,” the team writes.

Based on what we believe to be an AVR microcontroller, Polyes features a USB port for convenient charging and an easy-to-read display for ink levels. To further enhance the child-safety aspects of the device, the Q1 is embedded with a tilt sensor that, when combined with a child-safety switch, will automatically shuts off the light if the pen is turned beyond ground level.

What’s more, the gadget is equipped with integrated control buttons that allow a user to be in total control while doodling. Especially designed for children who look to explore their creativity without supervision, parents and instructors can take comfort in knowing that there’s no need to worry about any eyes being damaged.

“Polyes has all the capabilities of 3D printing pens without the pitfalls. From the totally safe and cool nozzle to sleek, optimally-proportioned white body, the pen is as easy to use as it is versatile. Do you want to play tic-tac-toe without having to waste paper every other game? You can draw the grid and symbols in minutes. You can even color-code them,” its creators write. “Are you the sort of person who likes to think big? Are you a fan of architecture maybe? You can build anything from a small house outline to the Medieval Castle!”

Unsurprisingly, Future Make recently concluded what was surely a successful crowdfunding campaign. The innovative device nearly tripled its initial goal on Kickstarter, garnering just shy of $150,000. Interested in learning more? You can head over to the product’s official page here. Shipments are slated to begin sometime this month.

This Pac-Man eats time instead of pac-dots

---

It’s time for some nostalgia with this Pac-Man alarm clock. 

---

First released in 1980, Pac-Man was an arcade game developed by Namco that became a pop culture icon. In the game, the player controlled Pac-Man through a maze, eating pellets along the way. When all the pac-dots were eaten, Pac-Man advanced to the next stage. Well, one Maker has taken his love for the classic to a new level with a themed clock that will surely spark up some nostalgia.

And, while it may not be the most practical timekeeping device, it will surely look great on the shelf of any bedroom, man cave or game room. Created by “Making Things,” the alarm clock features Pac-Man who periodically opens and closes his mouth at random intervals, while a pair of ghosts remain stationary along its side.

Based on a Teensy 2.0 (ATmega32U4), the clock itself is packed with a simple RTC module, a servo and a serial LED board for its display. The gears and servo are mounted to a 3D-printed bracket. Meanwhile, the frame is outlined with blue EL wire, giving that classic Pac-Man look a nice little touch.

The alarm clock itself was comprised mostly of 1/8” plywood, with the Pac-Man and the pair of ghosts all cut on a scroll saw. Though, the Maker does note that he would’ve 3D printed them if his printer was large enough.

“I like the Teensy boards because they can emulate other devices and are compatible with the Arduino IDE,” the Maker writes. “I used this [LED board] because it reduces the number of wires required to drive the display, plus it’s all I had on hand. There are no other parts other than a couple of pull up resistors on the RTC and a couple of filter caps.”

Time for some retro geekiness? Head over to the project’s official page here.

This RepRap 3D printer can play Beethoven

---

Watch this RepRap 3D printer perform Beethoven’s “Für Elise” using only motor sounds.

---

If you’ve ever used a 3D printer, you know all too well the distinct sound of the stepper motors as they rotate and change direction. Well, a Maker by the name of DeltaRAP recently decided to change that by modding his Atmel based RepRap 3D printer to emit the harmonic tunes of Beethoven. In fact, his machine could now play the world-renowned “Für Elise” in its entirety.

Inspired by a video of a CNC milling machine making music from its motors, the Maker used g-code commands to convert the printer’s stepper motor movements into exact tonal sounds. After experiencing a few difficulties, DeltaRAP realized that his Rostock printer — which is powered by an Arduino Mega (ATmega1280) — could produce distinct tones after all, by moving the print head vertically. This would allow for a singular tone to play from the device, as it causes all three motors to move in unison.

“Delta style printers don’t rotate one motor if you tell them to move for example X axis by 10mm. The firmware instead recalculates the movement of each motor so the end result is the movement of the head by 10mm on X axis. The only movement that doesn’t have to be divided between all three motors is Z movement. We can use this knowledge to slightly modify the g-code and make [the] Delta printer a music player,” DeltaRAP writes.

Pretty cool, right? You read about the Maker’s entire mod here, and watch it in action below.

 

Students in Singapore just 3D-printed a pair of solar electric cars

---

Students from the Nanyang Technological University have unveiled Singapore’s first solar electric car with a 3D-printed frame.

---

Young Makers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have made history by building a pair of 3D-printed solar electric cars, a first of their kind in Singapore. These efforts follow in the footsteps of the latest advancements by companies like Local Motors in offering a glimpse into the future of auto manufacturing.

The first car — referred to as NTU Venture 8 (NV 8) — is comprised of 150 parts that were 3D-printed using lightweight ABS plastic in order to maximize space inside the vehicle and to make the driver more comfortable while handling it. The body, internal trim and other components were then mounted on a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. According to the team, printing and assembling the shell took approximately three months to complete.

The NV 8 is described as an urban concept car that can reportedly achieve a top speed of about 37 mph, and is set to hit the track at Shell’s Eco-marathon Asia later this month. There, it will compete alongside NTU’s other prototype, NV 9. This model is a slick three-wheeled racer capable of handling sharp corners with its motorcycle-like tilting abilities.

The eco-car prototypes incorporate handmade silicon solar cells along their curved surfaces, and have been designed to be fuel-efficient. In fact, the team claims each vehicle gets an estimated mileage of 264 miles per kWh of electrical energy. The NV 8 weighs 265-pounds without a driver, and embodies an attention-grabbing design with vertical opening doors; whereas, the NV 9 weighs a mere 93-pounds without a driver.

The NV 8 will compete in the “Urban Concept” category at Shell’s Eco-marathon Asia that takes place in Manila from February 26–March 1, while the NV 9 will partake as a “Prototype.” For the Urban Concept category, teams must enter more “roadworthy” fuel-efficient vehicles, while for the “Prototype” category, teams are encouraged to submit futuristic prototypes focused on maximizing fuel efficiency through innovative design elements. NTU had partnered with Stratasys and Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) to bring the project to life.

Interested in learning more? Read the official announcement here.

BS Toy is a kid-friendly 3D printer

---

Bonsai Lab shows off its latest 3D printer for the young Maker crowd.

---

Clearly, 3D printing is opening up the doors to creativity like never before seen. And, with the rise of young Makers looking to bring their ideas to life, it may seem surprising that children aren’t all over 3D printers yet. However, given the tremendous heat of traditional filaments, the possible dangers associated with extreme temperatures could be a bit hazardous. A problem Bonsai Labs hopes to solve.

These Tokyo-based company, who is known for their ATmega2560 powered BS01 line, has set out to make 3D printers well-suited for kids with its latest device. What’s more, Bonsai Labs has introduced a new filament that only heats at 176° F (80° C), which is less than half the average melting temperature of other filaments on the market today. In fact, PLA typically requires an extrusion temperature of around 356°F (180°C), while ABS calls for an even higher temperature. Though 176° F isn’t that cool, it certainly reduces the likelihood of severe burns.

The machine, aptly dubbed BS Toy, was recently unveiled at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. Officially, Bonsai Labs labels its pint-sized printer for educational or home use, however, given its compact form factor, projected price and kid-friendly features, it is surely targeted at the younger crowd — with parental supervision, of course. Despite its small frame, the printer can form an object as large as 130mm x 125mm x 100mm, which is perfect for young Makers.

The standard diameter of its nozzle is 0.4mm, though BS Toy offers nozzles with four different diameters ranging from 0.2 to 0.5mm. The recommended deposition pitch is 0.1mm.

• Build volume: 200mm x 200mm x 200mm
• Printer weight: 2kg (4.4 lbs.)
• Layer thickness: 0.05 mm – 0.3 mm
• Nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm (0.2 – 0.5mm optional)
• Filament type: LT80 flexible filament

Bonsai Lab tells Gizmag that they hope to get the BS Toy to market later this year with a price in the wheelhouse of $500 to $600. Whether a you’re a Maker seeking to get into 3D printing or a parent looking for a suitable machine for their child, you can learn more on the company’s page here.