China’s Maker Movement is rapidly evolving

Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Emily Parker confirms that the wildly popular DIY Maker Movement is gaining serious ground in China. As readers of Bits & Pieces know, Makers often gather at hackerspaces, or makerspaces, real-world locations where they can learn and work together.

Unsurprisingly, there are over a dozen spaces dedicated to Makers in China, a figure that is expected to significantly increase in the near future. One such Maker space is Xinchejian, or “new workshop.”

Founded in 2010, the space is located in a rented Shanghai warehouse, although a DIY Pop Up version of Xinchejian fashioned out of shipping container recently made its first successful appearance at the Creative Faire in Shanghai. According to the Xinchejian team, the space attracted numerous visitors interested in 3D printing, robotics, Atmel-powered Arduino boards and Maker Culture.

Taiwan-born David Li, a 40-year-old programmer and a co-founder of Xinchejian, told the WSJ he wants to lower the barriers for experimentation and play.

“It’s not about getting together a group of geeks doing something. [Rather], it’s a conduit for people to say, ‘This interactive stuff is not that scary, not that difficult,'” he explained. “The policy makers we meet here are genuinely very curious. They have the resources. They are not afraid to try. They could build bridges to nowhere and they will still have a job.”

Indeed, Makers may very well develop the next groundbreaking technology, or at least that is the hope of Chinese policy makers.

“Chinese industry has to change. It has to migrate to the next stage,” Benjamin Koo, an associate professor of industrial engineering at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, told the WSJ. “Right now it’s purely contract-based. We execute what other people design.”

Seeed Studio in Shenzhen is another outpost for China’s Maker Movement, with the company’s posters featuring Che Guevara calling for people to come together and “challenge the hegemony of industrialized mass production in an unprecedented way.”

“China is on the way. The first time you learn to write, you cannot write novels. You have to copy from the textbook to learn to write A, B, C, D,” said Seeed founder Eric Pan. “When designs go big, the traditional manufacturer will have new products to make. We are providing more candidates.”

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the evolving DIY Maker Movement is a global phenomenon, limited only by the imagination of an individual. Indeed, as The Verge’s Adrianne Jeffries recently noted, it is now all but “impossible” to deny that DIY is in.

“Every part of the ‘Maker movement,’ a big-tent phenomenon that covers everything from homemade jewelry to homemade drones, is booming,” Jeffries wrote. “Outside of the Make Media empire, there’s been an explosion of crowdfunded maker projects on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. On the other end of the business spectrum, [the Atmel-powered] MakerBot, one of the best-known companies in the Maker Movement, was just bought by a public company for $604 million.”

According to Jeffries, it makes perfect sense that Making is trendy right now, as Maker culture encourages empowerment: skill over money, building over buying, creation over consumption.

“The maker movement covers bicycles that generate electricity, art projects that light up when you press a button and the enormous genre of how-to videos on YouTube. It’s in line with the eco-friendly and buy local movements, the back-to-artisanal aesthetic and the geek worship that are also part of the post-aught zeitgeist,” he added.

Gartner: 49% growth for 3D printer shipments in 2013

Analysts at Gartner say worldwide shipments of 3D printers (3DPs) priced less than $100,000 will increase 49 percent in 2013, reaching an impressive total of 56,507 units. Shipments are slated to increasing further in 2014, jumping 75 percent to 98,065 units, followed by a near doubling of unit shipments in 2015.

According to Pete Basiliere, research director at Gartner, rapid quality and performance innovations across all 3DP technologies are primarily responsible for driving enterprise and consumer demand.

“As the products rapidly mature, organizations will increasingly exploit 3D printing’s potential in their laboratory, product development and manufacturing operations,” Basiliere explained. “In the next 18 months, we foresee consumers moving from being curious about the technology to finding reasons to justify purchases as price points, applications and functionality become more attractive.”

More specifically, combined end-user spending on 3DPs will reach $412 million in 2013, up 43 percent from spending of $288 million in 2012. Enterprise spending is projected to total more than $325 million in 2013, while the consumer segment will reach nearly $87 million. In 2014, spending is slated to increase 62 percent, reaching $669 million, with enterprise spending of $536 million and consumer spending of $133 million.

From an enterprise point of view, current uses of 3D technology focus on one-off or small-run models for product design and industrial prototyping, jigs and fixtures used in manufacturing processes and mass customization of finished goods. However, as advances in 3D printers, scanners, design tools and materials reduce the cost and complexity of creating 3D printed items, the applications of 3D print technology will continue to expand to include architecture, defense, medical products and jewelry design.

As such, 3D printing will have a high impact on industries, including consumer products, industrial and manufacturing; a medium impact on construction, education, energy, government, medical products, military, retail, telecommunications, transportation and utilities; as well as a low impact on banking and financial services and insurance.

“Most businesses are only now beginning to fully comprehend all of the ways in which a 3DP can be cost-effectively used in their organizations, from prototyping and product development to fixtures and molds that are used to manufacture or assemble an item to drive finished goods,” said Basiliere. “Now that many people in the organization, not only the engineering and manufacturing department managers but also senior corporate management, marketing management and others, have heard the hype, they want to know when the business will have a 3D printer.”

Unsurprisingly, 3D printer prices are projected to decrease during the next several years due to competitive pressures and higher shipment volumes, even after allowing for providers who will be offering devices with higher performance, functionality and quality that enable them to hold the line on pricing. To be sure, 7 of the 50 largest multinational retailers will likely sell 3D printers through their physical and online stores by 2015.

“Simply experiencing the technology and conceiving ways to use it will mainly drive makers and hobbyists, not the average consumer, to purchase a 3D printer to begin with. However, we expect that a compelling consumer application — something that can only be created at home on a 3D printer — will hit the scene by 2016,” Basiliere added.

“This application, which will be the most compelling use case yet for consumer 3D printing, will arise from work done by makers and other enthusiasts who push the envelope of consumer 3D printing uses and enabled by manufacturers who develop ‘plug-and-play’ tools.”

As previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the DIY Maker Movement has been using Atmel-powered 3D printers like MakerBot and RepRap for some time now. However, 3D printing recently entered a new and important stage in a number of spaces including the medical sphere,architectural arena, science lab and even on the battlefield.

3D printing in combat zones

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the DIY Maker Movement has used Atmel-powered 3D printers like MakerBot and RepRap for some time now, but it is quite clear that 3D printing recently entered a new and important stage in a number of spaces including the medical sphere, architectural arena, science lab and even on the battlefield.

Photo Credit: US Army

Yes, the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and Purdue University are currently examining the possibility of deploying 3D printers in combat zones which would be tasked with instantly fixing or replacing damaged equipment (including aircraft and ground vehicles), all while significantly cutting down on logistical costs.

According to Ed Habtour, a research engineer with ARL’s Vehicle Technology Directorate at Aberdeen Proving Ground, scientists have found that combining the general purpose, finite-element analysis software ABAQUS with Python helps improves energy absorption and dissipation, productivity and lower maintenance costs.

“The combination of ABAQUS and Python provides an automated process for auto-generation of the geometries, models, materials assignments and code execution,” Habtour explained. “The soldier can print [3D] structures in the field using additive manufacturing by simply downloading the model generated by the designer/vendor.”

Habtour also noted that new structures created from this process are designed to be adaptive and configurable to the harsh conditions like random and harmonic vibrations, thermal loads, repetitive shocks due to road bumps, crash and acoustic attenuation. Plus, the structures can be configured to prevent crack propagation.

“Sometime in the near future, soldiers would be able to fabricate and repair these segmented structures very easily in the front lines or Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), so instead of moving damaged ground or air vehicles to a main base camp for repair, an in-field repair approach would essentially mean vehicles would be fixed and accessible to warfighters much faster at lower costs,” he addedr. “We want to change the conventional thinking by taking advantage of exciting materials and manipulating the structure based on the principle of segmentation and assembly.”

3D printing a full-scale, inhabitable house

Two Dutch architectural firms – DUS Architects and Universe Architecture – are preparing to design and print the world’s first full-scale, inhabitable house.

“It’s kind of Lego for adults,” Hans Vermeulen, one of three architects at DUS, told DW.de. Vermeulen says he wants to print, piece by piece, a classic Dutch canal house which will then be designated as an information center and resource for those interested in honing their 3D printing skills.

To achieve this architectural feat, DUS built a 3D printer dubbed the”KamerMaker,” or “Room Builder.” Measuring six meters tall, the shiny device is reportedly one of the largest 3D printers in the world – nearly large enough to print an entire room.

“We thought, OK, we are architects, we have to build a big one if we want to print a house. It’s printing and it’s working, but it’s not yet working perfectly, it’s not fast enough,” Vermeulen explained. “[Really], we want to see what this technique actually can mean for housing seven billion people on this planet – because at the moment, with the current construction techniques and how we play with resources in this world, it’s not sufficient enough.”

Janjaap Ruijssenaars, the lone architect at Universe Architecture, expressed similar sentiments about his 3D printed Landscape House.

“We’ve been approached by a bank from South Africa to print houses for the poor,” he said. “You could actually have the printer print a whole street in one go. This might become one of the larger applications of the technique.”

The full text of “Dutch architects say 3D print technology could solve the world’s housing problems” is available here on DW.de.

As previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the Maker Movement has used Atmel-powered 3D printers like MakerBot and RepRap for some time now, but it is quite clear that 3D printing recently entered a new and important stage in a number of spaces, including the medical sphere and architectural arena.

Will.i.am hearts Makers

Wikipedia describes the Maker Movement as a “contemporary culture or subculture representing a technology-based extension of DIY culture.”

Typical interests pursued by Maker culture include engineering-oriented projects such as electronics, Arduino-based robotics, 3D printing with Atmel-powered printers like the MakerBot or RepRap and the use of CNC tools.

Larry Magid, a technology journalist who writes for the San Jose Mercury News, recently noted that the Maker Movement is growing exponentially by taking advantage of 3D printers, inexpensive microcontrollers, robotics, CAD and the ability to control machines with computers, tablets and smartphones.

The truth is, says Magid, we are all Makers to a certain extent, even if some of us don’t know it yet.

“All of us – even Leonardo da Vinci – were late comers as far as the Maker movement is concerned,” he explained. “Our prehistoric ancestors millions of years ago, figured out how to turn stones into tools so that they could make things. Only they didn’t have fairs, books and websites to document the process.”

And now Will.i.am, the technophile founder of The Black Eyed Peas, has offered a ringing endorsement of the Maker Movement and related culture on Facebook.

“Every young person is going to be inspired to be a maker from now on,” said Will.i.am. “It’s like how everyone used to want to be a musician, an actor, an athlete — but a maker is what people are going to want to be.”

Indeed, as Arduino’s Massimo Banzi once famously noted, “You don’t need anyone’s permission to make something great.”

Orthopedic implants go 3D

The Maker Movement has used Atmel-powered 3D printers like MakerBot and RepRap for quite some time now, but it is quite clear that 3D printing is quickly entering a new and important stage, especially in the medical space.

Indeed, earlier this summer Bits & Pieces discussed how researchers managed to design and print a 3D splint that saved the life of an infant born with severe tracheobronchomalacia – a serious birth defect that causes the airway to collapse. And just a few weeks ago, we took a closer look at how Melbourne scientists have taken a big step towards the development of “grow your own” cartilage to treat cancers, osteoarthritis and traumatic injuries.

The latest 3D medical news? 3D printed orthopedic implants designed by Peking’s University Third Hospital in Beijing. According to 3Ders, one such example includes a titanium-based pelvic implant fitted with 3D printing technology or more specifically, electron beam melting. Liu Zhongjun, who designed the above-mentioned implant, has been working on similar projects for over four years, developing dozens of 3D printed spinal implants along the way.

“We started clinical trials on 3D printed implants late last year and now we have used dozens of such implants for more than 50 patients. All the patients recover very well. Nobody seems to have any undesirable side effects or adverse reaction,” Liu explained.

“3D printing technology has two very nice features: It can print specific structures and is capable of producing porous metal. For example, atlantoaxial is an oddly shaped vertebrae, the shapes of orthopedic implants used nowadays are usually geometric patterns and can not attach to bones firmly. [However], 3D printed implant fits perfectly and could greatly enhance the firmness.”

Zhongjun also noted that bones are more than capable of growing into the metal pores and enhancing the overall strength of an implant.

“In the past we used clinical titanium mesh, but with the growth of bone, titanium mesh could easily stuck into the bone and cause collapse,” Liu continued. “[Nevertheless], 3D printed implants fit the bone completely. As a result, not only [is] the pressure on the bone  reduced, but [this process] also allows the bone to grow into the implants. In this aspect, 3-D printed implants are more reliable than traditional ones.”

See the Atmel-powered MakerBot Replicator 2 in action

Just a few months ago, Microsoft announced it was adding native 3D printer support to WIndows 8.1. This week, Redmond and MakerBot confirmed the Atmel-powered MakerBot Replicator 2 will be showcased and sold at even more Microsoft retail stores.

“The MakerBot Experience, our in-store 3D printing demonstration at the Microsoft retail store, is expanding from its roots in Seattle, San Francisco, and Palo Alto and sweeping the nation. [So] get yourself to a Microsoft Retail Store near you and grab your MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer,” MakerBot rep Ben Millstein wrote in an official blog post.

“Microsoft retail stores across the country will offer a ‘MakerBot Experience’ and the chance for customers to see 3D printing in action as well as purchase a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer and MakerBot PLA Filament right in the store. [Remember], the Microsoft retail stores are the only full line stores outside of MakerBot’s own NYC store where you can purchase a MakerBot Replicator 2 Desktop 3D Printer in person and take it home the same day.”

A full list of participating Microsoft stores is available below:

• Scottsdale, AZ – Fashion Square
• Costa Mesa, CA – South Coast Plaza
• Mission Viejo, CA – The Shops at Mission Viejo
• Palo Alto, CA – Stanford Shopping Center
• San Diego, CA – Fashion Valley
• San Francisco, CA – Westfield San Francisco Centre
• Lone Tree, CO – Park Meadows Mall
• Danbury, CT – Danbury Fair Mall
• Atlanta, GA – Lenox Square
• Oak Brook, IL – Oakbrook Center
• Schaumburg, IL – Woodfield Mall
• Bloomington, MN – Mall of America
• Salem, NH – The Mall at Rockingham Park
• Bridgewater, NJ – Bridgewater Commons
• White Plains, NY – The Westchester
• Houston, TX – Houston Galleria
• McLean, VA – Tysons Corner Center
• Bellevue, WA – Bellevue Square

3D printing the 19th Century in 2013

Martin Galese, a 31-year-old lawyer in New York, routinely searches the USPTO (US Patent Office) archives for the design DNA of antique inventions. He then “reinterprets” them as design files for 3D printers like the Atmel-powered Makerbot and RepRap.

“If you look at the figures in older patents, the 19th century patents are really beautiful. They’re really works of art,” Galese recently told the New York Times.

“You’re holding the 19th century by way of something that was produced in the 21st century. There is so much more design in our world, so many more objects.”

Galese says he has already experimented with and printed a chopstick holder from the 1960s, a portable chess set from the 1940s, a pot scraper from 1875 and a 1989 bookmark / pen holder.

Additional 3D projects based on expired patents can be found on Martin’s blog or Thingverse.

Growing cartilage cells with 3D printing tech

Last month, we discussed how medical researchers successfully designed and printed a 3D splint to save the life of an infant born with severe tracheobronchomalacia – a serious birth defect that causes the airway to collapse.

And today we’re taking a closer look at how Melbourne scientists recently took a big step towards the development of “growing your own” cartilage to treat cancers, osteoarthritis and traumatic injuries.

According to the Australian Herald Sun, the pea-sized spheres of cartilage were grown over 28 days using stem cells taken from tissue under the kneecap.

Leveraging 3D printing technologies, the researchers managed to create a 3D scaffold on which to grow cartilage cells, or chondrocytes. Lead researcher Associate Professor Damian Myers said the above-mentioned procedure marked the first time true cartilage had been grown, as opposed to “fibrocartilage,” something which does not work in the long-term.

“It’s very exciting work, and we’ve done the hard yards to show that what we have cultured is what we want for use in surgery for cartilage repair,” he told the Herald Sun. “[Remember], a normal cartilage repair might only last a couple of years.”

Myers also noted that his long-term goal is advanced surgery for limb salvage and repair, including using a patient’s own stem cells to grow muscles, fat, bone and tendons.

And why not?

As previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the Maker Movement has used Atmel-powered 3D printers like MakerBot and RepRap for quite some time now, although it is abundantly clear that 3D printing has entered a new and important stage in recent months, especially in the medical sphere.

T-Glass for the 3D MakerBots

taulman3D has debuted a new high strength material targeting 3D printers like the Atmel-powered MakerBot lineup. Dubbed “T-Glass,” or tough glass, the new material boasts an optimum temperature of about 212c to 224C, although it prints down to 207C and up to (approximately) 235C.

Unsurprisingly, T-Glass is specifically made of FDA approved polymers for direct food contact/containers, including cups and utensils. And, unlike some lines, there are no odors or fumes when 3D printing with T-Glass.

“T-Glass is very strong, yet different from our nylons as it’s stiff, like PLA and ABS,” a taulman3D rep explained in an official blog post. “Based on our first industrial trials, [it] meets all the requirements for three industrial customers that had an applicable need. To these customers, the clarity was a significant advantage for their quality control departments.”

Indeed, John Porter, President of the Canada-based 3F Product Design, said his company has been using the Makerbot 2X with a variety of materials.

“[However], T-Glass is some of the best printing material we have ever used,” he noted. “It’s lower print temperatures, layer bonding, and strength are great, and almost no shrinkage means prints stay flat, allowing them to stay much closer to design tolerances than ABS, or PLA.”

Sergio M. Ammirata, Ph.D., Managing Partner SipRadius, expressed similar sentiments.

“We love the new T-Glass material. It was extremely easy to use with our Makerbot 2x. We just used the standard heated platform temperature of 110C and a Nozzle temperature of 212C and the print was hassle free,” he said. “It took about 2.5 hours to print this piece. Thanks to this new FDA approved material, we can now manufacture items for an entire new market. It opens up a world of possibilities for us.”

Additional information about T-Glass can be found here.