BS Toy is a kid-friendly 3D printer

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

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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.

Tutorial: 3D print a LEGO-compatible LED brick with Arduino

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LEGOs have been the perennial building blocks for DIYers for decades, and therefore, it’s no surprise that the bricks are being paired with Arduino to bring ideas to life. Now Makers, what if you could 3D print those very same plastic pieces? 

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Over the past couple of weeks, our friends at Arduino have been designing LEGO-compatible creations using their first 3D Printer: the Arduino Materia 101. To demonstrate just how it easy it is to get started with the Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) powered device, the company’s resident 3D specialist Kristoffer has been releasing new tutorials, including bricks with some added light effects.

Over the past couple of weeks, our friends at Arduino have been designing LEGO-compatible creations using the company’s first 3D Printer: the Arduino Materia 101. To demonstrate just how it easy it is to get started with the Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) powered device, Arduino’s 3D specialist Kristoffer has been releasing new tutorials, including bricks with some added light effects.

First, the Maker designed a brick using the parametric 3D modeler FreeCAD, though just about any CAD or 3D modeling software could do the trick. He then went on to remove the knobs from the block, while hollowing out the top to make an LED holder. Kristoffer does note that a box will need to be added in order to fill the brick. After merging the brick with the box and adding a cutout for the LED, you’re well on your way to creating a blinking piece.

“To compensate for the expanding nature of the plastic, we will make the bottom edges of the brick a little bit thinner. To make the brick printable we will make the cylinder on the of the brick touch the print surface when we print it,” Kristoffer writes. Given the extremely small size of the print, the 3D specialist advises to use a lower temperature (195 or 200℃) and a lower speed. This will allow the Materia to extrude thicker plastic and ensure that the previous layers have enough time to cool down.

Interested in making your own blinking brick? You can find Arduino’s entire step-by-step tutorial here, as well as several other LEGO-compatible projects here.

This 6-axis robotic 3D printer was inspired by spiderwebs

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This project looks to eliminate the line between “designing” and “fabricating.”

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As creepy and crawly as spiders may be, their inherent ability as Makers have inspired a new generation of additive manufacturing. Based on the micro-formation of webs, a team of designers in Shanghai has devised a spatial 3D printer based on a 6-axis robotic arm.

“It is more like the revival of craftsmanship in digital age. Factories only require technology showing capabilities in making things; but designers must arm themselves with technology that perform smart strategies outside the scope of replacing human labor,” the team reveals.

The project — aptly dubbed Robotic 6-Axis 3D Printing — is a highly-integrated installation that combines modern-day robotics, additive manufacturing and an interactive interface. While the KUKA-based system uses the same material (ABS) as traditional printers, the extrusion process itself resembles that of silk threading often seen by arthropods. According to its creators, this enables printing in a more simple, self-supporting form. Based on a standardized 3D printing module, the tandem of a built-in sensor and heater ensure that the temperature remains within appropriate range, while tubes send compressed air to the front of printing head to cool the end result. Subsequently, the system is capable of printing a biomimetic object.

“By studying the material and structure performance of 3D form in nature, we figured out a way to incorporate biomimetic fabrication strategy into 3D printing process. And by designing the special robotic-end effector and utilizing the great flexibility and accuracy of KUKA robot system, the biomimetic fabricating process has been fully realized,” the team writes.

At its core lies a petaloid turn-plate equipped a fixed printing head in the center tasked with extruding linearly, while three movable print heads attached beside on another create separate and sinusoidal wave shaped materials to reinforce the object’s structure. The rotation of the turn-plate leads to the oscillating motion of the three movable printing heads, which in turn produces the spindle-knot-like motion trail.

Similar to other devices on the market today, the robotics are based on an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) while the machine is driven by four individual servo motors. One motor is responsible for handling the rotating motion of the central turn-plate, while the speed of material delivery and rotation can be changed via a switch on the center stack.

Interested in learning more? Head over to the project’s official page here, and watch it extrude in spider-like fashion below.

http://vimeo.com/111879424

Students develop a brain-controlled prosthethic hand

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For those with amputated forearms, the prospect of having a responsive prosthetic hand and wrist is almost here. 

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As we’ve previously seen on Bits & Pieces, a number of Makers are increasing the accessibility of bionic devices and assisting amputees regain independence in their daily lives.

A team of Rutgers biomedical engineering seniors — comprised of Mohit Chaudhary, Chris Bargoud, Julian Hsu, James Wong and Rebecca Wenokor — recently sought out to devise what they call a “Brain-Controlled Dexterity Upper Extremity Prosthesis.” The idea of the project, which commenced last September, was to develop a prosthetic hand and wrist that could operate based on brain signals for a fellow classmate.

As one of its creators Chris Bargoud explained, the uniqueness of the project lies within the wrist. The goal was to give the wrist controllable movement that enables various motions, instead of being as static as a majority of wrists on the market today are. He shared, “[Wrists in the market] work like a pin [on the joint between hand and forearm]. You unlock it, rotate your wrist and then lock it. You can’t actually control what you want to do.”

In just a matter of months, the team has already seen tangible results even with a limited amount of time and a budget, thanks in part to the Maker Movement. Using a 3D printer, the students enhanced designs for the hand, constructed its parts, and ultimately, assembled the prosthesis.

The current prototype is attached by strings, along with servo motors in the palm area. By rotating and pulling the cables, the hand’s fingers can move and bend according to its wearer’s needs. The team has its mind set on achieving “three degree-of-freedom,” which are flexion and extension, medial and lateral deviation, and pronation and supination.

“We are focusing on the structure and how to motorize the structure right now. We’ll add on the thumb as well. After our hand is well implemented, we will add on the wrist,” Chaudhary added.

In an effort to have the prosthetic be as anthropomorphic as possible, an OpenBCI open-source device was employed to read a user’s brain and connect with a computer to process the signals. The team plans to program the functions into an Android phone, where Bargoud said the user can click and choose the kinds of motion he wants to perform. Meanwhile, BCI electrodes attached to the brain can pick up a “start this action” command and relay the signal along.

“Even though the name of our project says ‘brain-controlled’, it is more accurately brain initiated,” Julian Hsu suggested.

Both the BCI and the Android phone are connected to an Arduino — a commonality among many of today’s attempts at a next-gen bionic hand like the ATmega32U4 based Youbionic and the ATmega328 powered Bionico Project. The board receives both signals of when to move from BCI and what to do from the Android phone. From there, the Arduino processes the signals and commands the servos to rotate at a specific moment to a certain angle. The servos then drive the gears in the prosthetics to complete the action of the wrist or hand.

“When [the servo] rotates one way, it will pull the string, and when it goes back, we will have rubber bands attached to the back so it will snap it back with the tension,” Bargoud noted.

So what’s next for the team? The Makers plan to continue improving the design, and all agree that the ideal prosthetic hand would be stable, strong, easy to manufacture, user-friendly and as lightweight and realistic as possible.

“Stability is one of our biggest concerns right now… When it is not used at all, we want to make sure it is stable and still, not just flapping around,” Chaudhary concluded, “We also want to make it anthropomorphic, as close to real hand as possible.”

Interested? You can read the entire writeup in the Rutgers campus newspaper here.

Video: 3D print a fully-rotating four-cyclinder engine model

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Maker builds a moving four-cylinder engine with a RepRap 3D printer.

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Over the past couple of months, we’ve seen the emergence of 3D-printed vehicles. Most recently, Local Motors demonstrated the future of car manufacturing by printing the main structure of an entire car right on the floor of the 2015 North American International Auto Show. The company extrudes just about everything that it can, both exterior and interior, before plugging in the wiring, suspension and engine. However, that begs the question, how close are we to the day of a 3D-printed motor?

Well, engineer and auto enthusiast Eric Harrell decided to design and replicate a Toyota 22RE four-cylinder engine using a RepRap Prusa 3D printer. In total, the entire build consisted of 80 separate parts and required just about three days to finish. While it may be a bit longer than your typical DIY project, keep in mind that the end result is a fully rotating engine with a working crank, pistons, and valve train — with valves that open and close. Other than some bearings and fasteners, Harrell notes that all the components were 3D-printed.

“It may not be the most exciting engine, but its the only one I had in my garage. Great if you want to learn about engines and how the moving parts in them work. All parts are printed except for a few bearings and fasteners,” Harrell explains.

Intrigued? You can learn all about the project on its Thingiverse page here, and watch the Maker elaborate upon his build below.

Puppy given the ability to walk thanks to 3D printing

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3D printing lets another two-legged dog run around with his four-legged friends.

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A 3D-printed wheelchair has enabled a dachshund puppy, born without front limbs, to walk again. This heartwarming story is just the latest example of how the additive process is helping our friends from the animal kingdom get a second lease on life. Last year, we saw an adorable Chihuahua nicknamed TurboRoo roll around in his 3D-printed cart, while fellow canine Derby was given modified front legs that let the husky run for the first time.

In this case, the six-month-old dog’s owners Trevor Byers and Elissa Smoak decided to build their beloved pup a wheelchair in an effort to help Bubbles get around in a much easier manner. To do so, the couple used a “combination of carbon fiber, model airplane, and 3D printed parts with the hope that others would be able to utilize the same design for their own dogs in need of a wheelchair,” 3ders.org writes.

Byers uploaded the life-changing design to MakerBot’s Thingiverse for other pet owners in a similar situation seeking assistance. “Bubbles is the reason I bought my printer in the first place and she loves the freedom it has given her,” the Maker explains.

The design features a torso support combined with an axle and two wheels. Once again, the prosthetic creation proved to not only be a more affordable option, but is more accessible than existing wheelchairs on the market today. Additionally, a pet owner can customize the size and weight of the contraption depending on the dog’s needs.

So, whether it’s a seven-year-old boy, Stumpy the turtle, or Quack Quack the duck, 3D printing has the potential to change the lives of humans and animals alike. The latest string of projects merely scratch the surface of the technology’s wide-range of uses, and more impressively, how localized manufacturing will only require one person to create a model and for the entire world to benefit.

Build a Hot Wheels track timer with Arduino

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Maker creates a race car track for his son’s birthday using an Arduino, lasers, 3D printing and some junk from the trash.

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Maybe it’s the Throwback Thursday spirit, or perhaps it was our recent blog post on 3DRacers, whatever the reason, we couldn’t pass up this awesome project. Who could forget those good ol’ days of playing hours on end with their Hot Wheels sets? Inspired by those nostalgic times, a Maker by the name of “apachexmd” has created a Pinewood Derby-like track timer for his three-year-old son’s birthday party using both electronics and 3D printing.

The track timer is comprised of two parts: a starting gate and finish line. Since each of the cars needed to leave the gate simultaneously, the Maker turned an electronically-controlled system. “Apachexmd” connected a servo to a hinge with four machine screws, one for each toy car. When the servo is rotated, the hinge pushes the screws out through holes in the track. This keeps the cars waiting still at the starting line. Once the “big green button” is pressed, the screws are pulled back and the Hot Wheels are sent speeding down the ramp.

As the toy cars make their way down the slope, a winner is decided at the finish line using another electronic system, which emulates that of a laser trip wire alarm. Beneath the track lie four laser diodes shining upwards through a series of drilled holes drilled into the track. The Maker then mounted four phototransistors that would take care of detecting when a laser beam is broken by a car.

Those looking for a rematch are in luck, the gate automatically resets after each race. Meanwhile, the system is equipped with eight 7-segment displays that reveal the order in which the Hot Wheels cross the finish line. Impressively, a majority of the project was crafted out of items found in his trash, custom 3D-printed components such as spacers and hinges, and powered by an Arduino Uno (ATmega328), a switching voltage regulator and a 2S LiPo battery.

So, was it a success? “The three year olds at the birthday party had a blast! But I think the adults (me included) had even more fun,” the Maker concludes.

Looking to devise your own race track? Get started by racing over to the Maker’s project log here.

The ATOM 2.0 isn’t just any Delta-style 3D printer

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Makers, meet the most refined Delta printer yet.

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Over the past few years, the Maker Movement has ushered in a wave of Delta-style 3D printers. Given their open-source, easy-to-assemble and expandable nature, not to mention affordability, the machines have become a popular choice for hobbyists throughout the world. However, these DIY devices have been found to sometimes be on the flimsier and fragile side. Well, one Taiwanese company is looking to change all that by launching what they believe to be “the most refined Delta printer yet.”

Unlike some others we’ve seen before, the ATOM 2.0 embodies a much sturdier look and feel than its predecessors, constructed entirely out of metal using a modular assembly system. Based on an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560), the printer boasts a spacious build volume and packs an all-new triple fan cooling system in its center hub. One fan is dedicated for stabilizing the hot end temperature, while remaining dual fans provide accelerated cooling for freshly laid down filament. This, of course, enables precise prints in relatively fast speeds, at extreme angles, and even bridges without support material.

“We’ve re-designed the entire hot end assembly from the ground up and custom built our parts so they can fit together seamlessly to provide a super consistent extrusion of filament. The hot-end is CNC milled from titanium and, paired with the custom aluminum heatsink, ensures that the heating stays in a very localized area for better temperature control and better preservation of filament integrity,” the team writes.

Designed with Makers in mind, the megaAVR powered ATOM 2.0 not only features a single extruder, but its unique modularity allows for users to swap out for double extrusion attachments or a laser engraver. With various conditions and factors meticulously controlled, the consumer-friendly machine print extremely thin layers, so thin that the layers are almost indistinguishable by the eye.

• Printer size: 42cm x 42cm x 76cm
• Printer weight: 13kg (28.6 lbs.)
• Layer thickness: 0.5mm (50 microns)
• Nozzle diameter: 0.4mm
• Filament type: 1.75mm ABS and PLA
• Connectivity: SD Card, USB

The company has launched a crowdfunding campaign on the Chinese funding site ZecZec, where it has already garnered its initial goal. The ATOM 2.0 is currently priced at $1,599, with the first batch of printers expected to be shipped in May 2015. Interested in one of the sleekest, most comprehensive Delta printers to date? Head over to its official page here.

Doctors create a trachea using a MakerBot 3D printer

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3D printing has helped Feinstein Institute researchers create cartilage designed for tracheal repair or replacement.

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It’s not so much a question as to if 3D printing will be an integral part of medical procedures in the future, it’s more so when. And apparently, we are closer than ever before. While we’ve seen everything from 3D-printed splints to prosthetics to organs, a team of researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research has made yet another medical breakthrough using a MakerBot Replicator 2X.

This time, the scientists created cartilage designed for tracheal repair or replacement. Also known as the “windpipe,” the trachea is the tube that connects the upper respiratory tract to the lungs. Never before has a regular PLA filament been used to print custom tracheal scaffolding, not to mention combined with living cells to create a tracheal segment. Traditionally speaking, there has been two traditional means of reconstructing a damaged trachea — both of which present a number of constraints. Both treatments have involved removal of the affected tracheal segment.

As a solution to the growing problem, Feinstein Institute investigator Todd Goldstein along with Dr. Daniel A. Grande of the Orthopedic Research Laboratory inquired as to whether 3D printing could be a suitable alternative.

“Three-dimensional printing and tissue engineering has the potential for creation of a custom-designed tracheal replacement prosthesis in the lab so that the affected tracheal segment can be ‘swapped out’ instead of removed,” explained Goldstein. “Our results show that three-dimensional printing can be combined with tissue engineering to effectively produce a partial tracheal replacement graft in vitro. Our data demonstrate that the cartilage cells seeded on the graft retain their biological capability and were able to proliferate at the same rate as native cells.”

Similar to earlier efforts we’ve seen around bioresorbable splints that have saved the life of infants, The Feinstein Institute’s research combined two emerging fields: 3D printing and tissue engineering. Tissue engineering is like other kinds of engineering, except instead of using steel or computer code to make things, living cells from skin, muscle or cartilage are the raw material. Already knowing how to construct cartilage from a mixture of cells called chondrocytes, nutrients to feed them and collagen, a 3D printer can craft scaffolding, which can be covered in a mixture of chondrocytes and collagen, which then grows into cartilage.

“Making a windpipe or trachea is uncharted territory,” noted Goldstein. “It has to be rigid enough to withstand coughs, sneezes and other shifts in pressure, yet flexible enough to allow the neck to move freely. With 3D printing, we were able to construct 3D-printed scaffolding that the surgeons could immediately examine and then we could work together in real time to modify the designs. MakerBot was extremely helpful and consulted on optimizing our design files so they would print better and provided advice on how to modify the MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer to print with PLA and the biomaterial. We actually found designs to modify the printer on MakerBot’s Thingiverse website to print PLA with one extruder and the biomaterial with the other extruder.”

Demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of Atmel based desktop 3D printers, The Feinstein Institute had previously sought out a number of machines that could extrude living cells; however, such devices run upwards of $180,000. This would be fine and dandy, except for the fact that the researchers hadn’t even proven the concept nor confirm it would indeed be a viable option. Luckily, the MakerBot Replicator 2X Experimental 3D Printer only set them back $2,500.

“The ability to prototype, examine, touch, feel and then redesign within minutes, within hours, allows for the creation of this type of technology,”  said Lee Smith, MD, Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. “If we had to send out these designs to a commercial printer far away and get the designs back several weeks later, we’d never be where we are today.”

Originally, the team thought that a special PLA would be required in order to maintain sterility and be dissolvable within the body. However, in light of time, they decided to try regular MakerBot PLA filament. Through testing, Goldstein found that the heat from the extruder head sterilized the PLA as it printed, so he was able to use ordinary MakerBot PLA Filament.

The process consisted of extruding bio-ink he bio-ink to fill the gaps in the PLA scaffolding, which transforms into a gel on the heated build plate. Once the bio-ink adheres to the scaffolding, it goes into a bioreactor to keep the cells warm and growing evenly.

“The research being done at the Feinstein Institute is exciting and promising,” noted Jenny Lawton, MakerBot CEO. “We are continually amazed by what is being created with 3D Printers. To know that a MakerBot Replicator 3D Printer played a role in a potential medical breakthrough is inspiring.”

The results of the study illustrate how the 3D printed windpipe or trachea segments held up for four weeks in an incubator. According to Mr. Goldstein’s abstract, “The cells survived the 3D printing process, were able to continue dividing, and produced the extracellular matrix expected of tracheal chondrocytes.” In other words, they were growing just like windpipe cartilage.

While the work still remains a proof-of-concept, the researchers still have their work ahead of them before establishing a new protocol for repairing damaged windpipes. According to Dr. Smith, at least one patient comes through the North Shore-LIJ Health System each year who can’t be helped by the two traditional methods. What’s more, he expects in the next five years to harvest a patient’s cells, grow them on a scaffolding, and repair a windpipe. This customized approach may prove to be especially useful for treating children.

“Do you remember the Six Million Dollar Man?” Dr. Grande asks. “The Bionic Man is not the future, it’s the present. We have that ability to do that now. It’s really exciting.”

The Maker Movement has used Atmel powered 3D printers, ranging from MakerBot to RepRap, for quite some time now — but it is abundantly clear that the next-gen technology is quickly entering a new and important stage. Interested in learning more? You can read all about the project on MakerBot’s official blog, as well as watch the video below.

3D printing a LEGO-compatible servo holder and Arduino Micro casing

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Arduino continues its 3D printing tutorial series for its brand-new Materia 101.

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It’s no secret that LEGO has been the perennial building blocks for DIYers spanning across decades. And, it’s also no surprise that the bricks are being paired with the Arduino open-source platform. Together, they are enabling Makers to bring their wildest ideas to life. If you recall, late last year, Arduino co-founder Massimo Banzi announced the launch of the company’s first 3D Printer: the Arduino Materia 101. The device, which is powered by an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) and a RAMPS 1.4 shield, is currently available for pre-order. In an effort to lower the barriers of entry and get Makers started, our friends have published a series of tutorials, including this LEGO-compatible servo holder and Arduino Micro casing from Kristoffer.

First, the Maker designed a brick using the parametric 3D modeler FreeCAD, which is capable of holding a small servo. The 3D-printed brick itself is comprised of two 2×4 LEGO pieces, that joined together, serve as the project’s base. Next, make a hole for the servo, carve out a groove for the cable, extend the cylinders beneath the brick, and like that, your piece is just about complete. As Kristoffer notes, print your piece standing up with the side with the open cylinders facing downwards (as pictured above). Now, you can easily add wheels to LEGO robots and use variously-sized servos. Follow Kristoffer’s 10-step tutorial to get started.

Meanwhile, this isn’t the only LEGO-comptaible, 3D-printed piece the Maker has whipped up recently. Kristoffer also designed an enclosure for the highly-popular Arduino Micro (ATmega32U4) using a Materia, which can beused together with this DIY power function IR receiver.

In order to make the casing as minimal as possible, the Maker used a Micro without header pins. Meaning, Makers looking to create one of their own will have to solder straight onto the Arduino PCB board itself. However, in true open-source fashion, Kristoffer encourages anyone to modify the design to accommodate for the ATmega32U4 based Arduino with headers or something else.

Interested? You can head over to his step-by-step breakdown of the project, and download all the necessary FreeCAD files here.