Made In Space completes first round of 3D prints on the ISS

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After four months, here are all 25 parts that have been 3D-printed in space.

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November 24th at 9:28pm GMT is a moment that Made In Space and the entire Maker community will never forget. It was the day that the crew completed the first functional 3D print outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. The historic Zero-G 3D printer arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on September 23, 2014 and was activated on November 17, a week before making the replacement plastic faceplate for the machine’s own extruder system. Now a couple of months later, the Silicon Valley startup has revealed that has indeed finished its initial round of objects ranging from a calibration coupon to a ratchet. (The ratchet actually marked the first time in history an object had ever been emailed into space as well.)

“Although there were only 14 unique objects printed, 25 parts were printed in total. Duplicates were printed in order to determine the consistency of the printer over time,” the team wrote in a recent blog post. “The part that was printed the most was the ‘calibration coupon’ for a total of five times. Like a calibration page that standard inkjet printers print out when connected for the first time, the calibration coupon was used to verify that the 3D printer was working as expected. The ‘tensile test; was printed four times and both the ‘compression test’ and the ‘flex test’ were printed three times. Everything else was printed once.”

While the delivery of the 3D printer was an accomplishment in itself, the project demonstrates the basic fundamentals of useful manufacturing in space. Generally speaking, the devices extrude streams of heated plastic, metal or other material, building layer on top of layer to create three-dimensional item. By testing a 3D printer using relatively low-temperature plastic feedstock on the ISS, NASA hopes that one day astronauts will be able to create objects on-demand, rather than having to carry them into orbit. This will allow for a reduction of spare parts and mass on a spacecraft, which can ultimately change exploration mission architectures altogether. What’s more, astronauts can print these pieces from emails and downloaded files of 3D designs.

Aside from becoming the first demonstrate of additive manufacturing in space, NASA researchers say that the project provides:

• A detailed analysis of how acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic resin behaves in microgravity
• A comparison between additive manufacturing in Earth’s gravity and in consistent, long-term exposure to microgravity (insufficient in parabolic flights due to “print-pause” style of printing)
• Advance the TRL of additive manufacturing processes to provide risk reduction, and capabilities, to future flight or mission development programs
• The gateway to fabricating parts on-demand in space, thus reducing the need for spare parts on the mission manifest
• A technology with the promise to provide a significant return on investment, by enabling future NASA missions that would not be feasible without the capability to manufacture parts in situ
• The first step towards evolving additive manufacturing for use in space, and on Deep Space Missions

“Based on visual inspection and crew interaction, there were no significant print failures. If you have ever used a 3D printer before you probably realize just how incredible that first sentence is, especially when you then consider the fact that this 3D printer had to first withstand the forces of a rocket launch before printing anything. The successful printing was an incredibly rewarding outcome for the NASA and Made In Space engineering teams who strived to build a robust and hassle-free printer,” the Made In Space crew writes.

As for what the future holds, Made In Space plans on launching its Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) later this year, which the team says will not be a science experiment like its predecessor, but rather “a commercially available printer ready for use by anyone on Earth.” The AMF will be twice the size of the demo printer, and will be equipped to handle the manufacturing of larger, more complex objects with finer precision — and with multiple aerospace grade materials. Under the agreement for use of the commercial 3D printer on the ISS, Made In Space will own the machine, and NASA will be a customer paying to use it.

The initial success of the technology demonstration and the startup’s blueprint for the coming months provide a clear path forward in bringing advanced manufacturing capabilities into space. Interested in learning more? You can read Made In Space’s entire update, while also reviewing NASA’s report here.

This 3D printer brews the perfect cup of coffee every time

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“This project was created purely out of love for coffee and robots.”

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Whether it’s a home-brewed pot or a skinny frappa-thingy at a nearby shop, coffee has surely become the unofficial technology behind engineers for years. While the modern method of drip brewing is more than 125 years old, its overall design has changed very little over time. From percolators and pourovers to French presses and single-serve devices, innovators have sought out new and improved ways to brew their daily dose of caffeine. And, well, Maker Elias Bakken has attempted to defy convention with a 3D printing coffee machine he calls the Debrew.

While the hand-brew dipper coffeemaker is more than a 3D printer in the traditional sense of the word, the Delta-style apparatus runs on G-code and is capable of devising the perfect cup ‘o joe every single time. Say goodbye to mix-ups or burnt pots at your local Dunkin’ Donuts!

Stepper motors are responsible for controlling the water flow rate, the grind coarseness and the positions of the tube above the filter, while 3DPrint.com notes that the “machine looks eerily similar to any Delta-style 3D printer that you will come across.”

Debrew features both a pre-soak and extraction process that can be visualized and modified using an online interface that the Maker has developed himself. The web app includes drag-and-drop functionality, and allows for the creating, editing and selecting of pre-defined coffee profiles. Bakken tells 3DPrint.com that the interface uses a number of commands like “wait 2 seconds,” “select water,” and “set coffee bean coarseness.” Each of these operations can be configured so that upon pressing “play,” they will be automatically converted into G-code and then relayed to the Debrew machine. In addition, recipes can be shared in the same manner as STL models are throughout the 3D printing community.

”That way, similar but differently implemented coffee bots can still interpret the recipes,” the Maker explains.

Rather than having to open up an interface on a web browser each time the urge for coffee calls, Bakken has equipped his contraption with his recently-launched Kickstarter project Manga Screen. The high-definition, 4.3” capacitive multi-touch screen — which is based on an ATmega16U4 and powered by a mXT224 controller — is mounted onto the front of the Debrew and enables users to easily select a their preferred warm beverage.

Did this project ‘perk’ your interest? You can learn all about the project here.

BQ hopes to inspire young Makers through 3D-printed robotics

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“What you see is remembered, what is done is learned.”

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Those who say learning can’t be fun have surely never come across BQ’s latest set of robotics kits that provide young Makers with all of the necessary tools to construct their very own robot and control it right from their mobile device.

The kit is comprised of 10 components and a battery-holder, each of which are used to assemble the electronics of a vibrantly-colored PrintBot. The body of the robot is constructed entirely through 3D printing, where like 3DRacers, Makers have the option of either ordering the frame online or creating their own a printer is readily accessible. For those with programming knowledge, BQ even enables users to customize their PrintBot by developing and installing its own code.

Once a Maker has completed piecing together the friendly little bot, they can traverse its environment using an Android smartphone or tablet via its embedded Bluetooth module. In addition, the easy-to-use kits are packed with IR and light sensors, a potentiometer, a buzzer, LEDs, mini servos and a control board based on the versatile ATmega328.

Advocates of inspiring future tinkerers to pursue STEM disciplines, the BQ team seeks “to revolutionize the learning process, even from the very first stage, playing. Education is our greatest resource to be exploited to change and improve the world in which we live.”

In addition to its DIY robotics kits, BQ recently debuted a desktop 3D printer, the Witbox. The device boasts a rather big build volume of 29.7cm x 21cm x 20cm, with a resolution of 50-300 microns and at a recommended speed of 60mm/second, giving it the capacity to print large-scale objects and multiple parts simultaneously. Its innovative design also allows for multiple devices to be stacked, making for space-saving storage in any makerspace or lab. This is possible through the Witbox’s reinforced chassis and specially-designed power supply system, located inside the printer.

While the machine is clearly not a toy for children, the company emphasizes that the Witbox is, indeed, safe for young Makers looking to explore. The 3D printer is equipped with a locking front door system, a nice feature preventing access during printing. Based on an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560) and RAMPS 1.4, the machine is entirely open-source and can run a variety of software including Slic3r, Cura, Pronterface and Repetier.

Interested in learning more about both PrintBots and the Witbox? Head on over to BQ’s official page here.

Thingystock is an open-source, Delta-style 3D printer

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Another DIY 3D printer has just launched a crowdfunding campaign.

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The Thingystock — which recently made its Kickstarter debut — is an open-source, Delta-style 3D printer with an expandable build volume. Created by Makers Matt and Alyssa Wahlers, the machine is fully-printable and completely upgradeable by users.

Thingystock’s modular frame is comprised of three parts, and with additional pieces, can be extended to support larger bed sizes. Enhancing its expandability, the printer’s rods can also be replaced with taller ones, while the arms with longer ones. The Maker-friendly machine boasts a circular build volume of 150x150x200mm and is equipped with an E3D V6 hotend.

“The inclusion of an E3D V6 is a great value and also one of the best performing hot ends ever. It can use E3D’s upgrades such as the Volcano and can be easily disassembled for maintenance,” the duo writes.

On the hardware side, the Thingystock is equipped with RAMPS 1.4 and an Arduino Mega 2560 (ATmega2560), as well as an LCD Controller. The machine can print at 150 microns, and be changed to print at higher resolutions by utilizing various belt pulleys.

“By default there is no heated bed, however it would be easy to add one in the future if you so desire. By printing different bed clips, you can easily add support for a heated bed. Clip designs supporting the MK2b heatbed will be released.”

Interested in learning more? Head on over to Thingystock’s Kickstarter page, where the team is currently seeking $5,000.

Adding closed loop control to your 3D printer will put an end to missed steps

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A new solution that’ll keep your print out of the trash.

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When using a 3D printer, or CNC machines for that matter, just the littlest missed step when moving the toolhead can ruin a print. And if that occurs, the entire layer and every layer after will be slightly off. Fortunately, Maker  hopes to solve that problem with his closed loop control of DC motors.

A majority of printer firmware use an open loop control system in order to move the motors around. If a few steps are missed, the firmware loses track of where the nozzle is supposed to be — an issue that Sánchez’s new solution hopes to prevent by adding a DC motor, an optical encoder and an Arduino Pro Mini (ATmega328) to a 3D printer. Meanwhile, the Arduino is responsible for receiving step and direction commands from the printer controller, while the controller itself takes care of ensuring that the motor gets to its necessary location.

The entire build is heavily based on a similar build called ServoStrap, but revolves around two inputs named STEP and DRI that control the changing of the target position. As Sánchez demonstrated in the video above, whenever the motor misses a step, the X and Y axes can be forcefully moved in another direction, while the ATmega328 based ‘duino makes sure the print head returns to its proper position.

Interested in learning more? You can find a detailed breakdown of the Maker’s closed loop solution here.

Learning how to play the guitar the Maker way

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L.E.D. Zeppelin, anyone?

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Learning to play the guitar is pretty hard and pretty expensive, too. And for those looking to tech themselves, deciding how to get started can be a daunting task. Luckily, Maker Mushfiq Mahmud has designed a DIY way to learn the guitar with the aptly dubbed Digital Chord Chart.

As its name suggests, the project is comprised of a 3D-printed guitar neck, a matrix of LEDs and an Arduino Uno (ATmega328) that controls the lights along the fretboard. Similar to the gTar which we recently featured on Bits & Pieces, lights corresponding to the correct chord illuminate in sync with a song, ensuring an aspiring Carlos Santana can easily follow along.

According to Mahmud, the Digital Chord Chart can be programmed to play just about any song using TAB files, which include chords and stylized note representations. So, are you ready to rock out to some L.E.D. Zeppelin? Head on over to the project’s official Instructables page here.

Maker builds a 3D-printed bionic arm for under $250

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Talk to the (robotic) hand!

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While we’ve seen a number of 3D-printed prosthetics, and more recently a couple of Arduino-based bionic hands, one project by Nicolas Huchet has combined the two in a rather impressive manner. It all started nearly 10 years ago when Huchet’s forearm was amputated following an accident while working as a mechanical engineer. At the time, he was given a myoelectric prosthesis whose functionality was very limited. Faced with a challenge and a hunger for more mobility, Huchet decided to develop his own bionic prosthetic, The Bionico Project. His initiative aspired to increase the accessibility of prosthetic devices through the burgeoning Maker Movement, while assisting amputees to regain independence in their daily lives.

After coming across the 3D-printed, Arduino-based robot InMoov, Huchet and a team of enthusiasts from LabFab integrated a set of muscle sensors into a prosthetic prototype, which was then placed onto his arm. The artificial limb itself was extruded from a 3D printer, while equipped with actuators to move the fingers and joints, fishing line to connect the actuators to the joints, muscle sensors and a socket, batteries and of course, an Arduino Uno (ATmega328) brain.

With a little coding of the Arduino, Huchet was easily able to control the robotic hand merely through muscle impulses. The electricity produced is sent to an electronic card, which drives the motors. These motors open and close the hand, following the muscular contraction. More impressively, the entire thing was built for less than $250 — much cheaper than any commercial product on the market which can run upwards of $80,000.

“Force does not come from muscles but from mutual assistance. Unity makes us stronger. I appreciate this because I am not shaped like Sylvester Stallone,” Huchet wrote in a recent MAKE: Magazine feature. “In October 2012, while walking through Rennes, France, where I live, I passed an exhibition where strange machines, like something from science fiction, were depositing layers of material onto platforms. They were 3D printers.”

It was this sight that truly resonated with the Maker and inspired him to pursue the project. “It’s possible to design an inexpensive bionic hand that you can make yourself, then share your work so other people can improve it and share it further. I had discovered a world where we share knowledge much differently from this crazy world we are used to. I was looking at things differently; it was my revolution, my change.”

Much like the DIY movement, the Bionico Project is a true melting pot of Makers, bringing together people from all across the globe. Huchet notes that the 3D-printed digits originate from France, the muscle sensors from America, and design input from Brazil.

“I went to Italy at the Bio Robotic Institute and Maker Faire, USA, to Johns Hopkins University and to the Geek Picnic in Russia. I want to participate in worldwide research on bionic hands and share with people the many possibilities to make such products with a 3D printer, an Arduino board, cheap motors, muscle sensors and fishing lines,” Huchet revealed in a recent interview.

Currently, Bionico isn’t robust enough to be a fully-functional prosthesis; rather, still in its prototype stage, Huchet hopes to take it to the next level either through crowdfunding and/or sponsorship support.

“Above all, we want to create an international network and database devoted to improving low-cost prosthetics. This is an open-source project, which means you can participate or make it yourself. The prosthetic-hand field is very small, but if we build a bridge between countries and people, we can make it better and stronger, and go further, faster. As the American philosopher Sylvester Stallone said, ‘Big arms can move rocks, but big words can move mountains.’”

Want to learn more? You can read the entire MAKE: writeup here, while also visiting the Maker’s official webpage here.

This modded 3D printer teleports physical objects

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Researchers develop a way to relocate physical objects across distances using destructive scanning, encryption and 3D printing.

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The catchphrase “Beam me up, Scotty” made its way into pop culture in the late 1960s thanks to the debut of the incredibly-popular Star Trek series. It originated from the command Captain Kirk gives his chief engineer, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, when he needs to be transported back to the Starship Enterprise. And while quantum teleportation of data is now a realistic possibility, unfortunately apparating from place to place Harry Potter-style is not… yet.

Well, a team of Hasso Plattner Institute researchers in Brandenburg, Germany may have developed the next best thing: a machine capable of teleporting inanimate physical objects across a distance. The device itself, aptly dubbed Scotty, consists of an off-the-shelf 3D printer, like an ATmega1280 powered MakerBot, which the team had extended to include a 3-axis milling machine, a camera, and a microcontroller for encryption/decryption and transmission. The unit is driven by a Raspberry Pi, while Arduino Uno (ATmega328) handles the milling machine.

The process is comprised of destructive scanning, encryption and 3D printing. How it works is relatively simple: Users place an object into the sender unit, enter the address of a receiver unit, and press the teleport button. The sender unit digitizes the original object layer-by-layer by shaving off material using its milling machine, capturing a photo using the built-in camera, encrypts the layer using the public key of the receiver, and transmits it. The receiving unit then decrypts the layer in real-time and immediately begins the printing process. What this means is that users will see the object appear layer-by-layer on the receiver side as it disappears layer-by-layer at the sender’s side.

“Scotty is different from previous systems that copy physical objects, as its destruction and encryption mechanism guarantees that only one copy of the object exists at a time,” one of the project’s co-creators Stefanie Mueller explains.

Although the prototype is limited to single-material plastic objects, it allows the team to present a pair of application scenarios: Scotty can help preserve the uniqueness and emotional value of physical objects shared between friends, and Scotty can address some of the licensing issues involved in fast electronic delivery of physical goods.

“In the future, there will be laws enacted preventing patented designs from being shared; however, what if you simply wanted to transfer ownership of that design/object? This is where Scotty comes into play,” 3DPrint.com notes. “Not only is Scotty able to more thoroughly scan the interior of an object via a destructive scanning process, but at the same time that it’s destroying the original artifact a copy is being sent to another location and encrypted to ensure that this copy is only accessible at the receiving computer, where it can then be refabricated via a 3D printer.”

If you’re intrigued like us, you can find a much more in-depth explanation of the project, its technical details and applications here.

3DRacers is bringing Mario Kart to life

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The next Hot Wheels? 3D print your own personalized cars and race them throughout the house.

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Who could ever forget waking up on Christmas morning to find a remote-controlled race car set under the tree? Or, how about heading out to the local Toys”R”Us to grab yourself the latest Mario Kart game (or should we say ‘Kartridge’) to slip into your Super NES? Well now, Rome-based 3DRacers is seeking to revolutionize the toy and gaming industries with something that’s even more fun than a simple RC set or video game.

In fact, the Maker duo of Marco D’Alia and Davide Marcoccio is ushering in a new generation of products, ones in which will allow users to 3D print their own smartphone-enabled, Arduino-compatible racing games. Think Mario Kart on your living room floor, instead of your TV screen. Rather than steer your way through Bowser’s Castle, Donut Plains and Mario Circuit tracks, kids can now navigate their way around in-house like rugs, tables, beds and even Uncle Bob’s legs as he snores on the couch. The 3D-printable cars were designed to have exceptional ground clearance from the bottom, which lets them to speed across these fabric and carpeted areas with ease.

With 3DRacers — which was successfully funded on Indiegogo — you can drive small radio-controlled, fully 3D-printed cars with your phone or with a custom-built remote (also 3D-printed). And, what truly sets this product apart from the pack is that each car can be customized to your liking. This opens up a wide-range of possibilities from Jeeps and Corvettes, to tanks and monster trucks, to dune buggies and rally cars, to even a Back to the Future-inspired DeLorean.

While its first beta set was introduced back at Maker Faire Rome 2014, the Italian team has since launched a web-based editor where users can create a car online and 3D print it for free, or through 3DRacers’ official print partner 3DHubs. What makes it even sweeter, in the likelihood that a car is broken or lost at some point, a user can now simply make a new one. No more trips to the toy store! 

Each 3DRacer is driven by a custom-built electronic board, based on an ATmega32U4. With a focus on low-power consumption and adhering to an extremely small form factor, the team’s Arduino-compatible board is making it possible for users put personal touches on the game, as well as design a new type of Bluetooth-enabled vehicle. The board, aptly named 3DRacers Pilot, can control up to two motors and three servos, and is equipped with an embedded RGB LED, a battery charger, a custom-made gate/position detector, and is even programmable through a simple USB link.

“We choose the ’32U4 for the embedded USB, so that it could be programmed and upgraded easily without an external programmer,” a company rep tells us.

But the online editor and free creation of cars is only the beginning for the team. In true Mario Kart-like fashion, 3DRacers comes with a companion app that allows users to compete against each other in battle mode with automatic lap counters and race times, pit stops with simulated tires and fuel consumption gauges, an online scoreboard, and of course, turbo lanes and power-ups. The app is compatible with all Bluetooth Smart mobile devices, including iPhone 4S or later, iPod 5th or later, iPad 3rd/Air/Mini or later, Samsung Galaxy S3, Note 2, Nexus 4 or later.

Whether you’re looking to spark up some nostalgia, have a child that plays with Hot Wheels, or know of a friend that loves RC gadgetry, race on over to its official crowdfunding page here. Pending all goes to plan, delivery is set for this October.

Report: IoT device shipments to reach 1 billion this year

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Deloitte predicts 60% of connected devices will be bought for enterprise and industrial use, not consumer… yet. 

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Global shipments of Internet of Things (IoT) devices will reach 1 billion this year, 60% of which will be bought for enterprise and industry use, rather than consumers, a new Deloitte study reveals. In its 14th annual “Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions” report, the research firm explored what it believes to be the realms that will have the greatest impact in 2015. Among those included the IoT, drones, 3D printing and nanosats, each areas that are heavily enabled by Atmel embedded technology.

“We are entering an extraordinary period where consumer technologies are finding increased adoption in the enterprise space. Our data indicates an exponential increase in interest in the IoT by the enterprise, which could have a profound impact on the way business is conducted,” said Eric Openshaw, Deloitte Vice Chairman. “Strong enterprise adoption of the IoT could prove to be a huge opportunity for both vendors and retail consumers alike. The amount of data we will see generated from connected devices will pave the way to measure interactions in a way not witnessed before. And, as a result, will allow organizations to understand customer behaviors and purchase patterns in a whole new light.”

IoT-specific hardware will be worth $10 billion, with consumers’ appetites for controlling their heating, lights and appliances will jump. However, the big story will be around enterprise service and industrial area, which will be valued at approximately $70 billion. The company also anticipates that global smartphone sales will surpass 1 billion for the first time this year, with screen size, speed, storage, software and design being key drivers of growth.

“We expect the pendulum of technology adoption to swing back to the enterprise with company led adoption of wearables, 3D printing, drones and the Internet of Things meeting more needs and generating higher sales for business than consumers,” TMT Risk Services Partner Dennis Moth added. “Although the focus may well be on consumer take-up — think Bluetooth-enabled roller-doors, white goods, etc. — the real value [at this moment] will be in the savings made by industry and business, with smart factories, smart homes, eHealth and telematics.”

The report finds that in 2015, enterprises will lead purchases of 3D printing and drones, signaling a shift away from the consumerization of IT predominant in the last decade that spiked with consumers’ moderate investment in wearable technology such as smart glasses. This year, drones will have multiple industrial and civil government applications, as sales of non-military UAVs will near 300,000 units and drive the installed base to over a million.

Meanwhile, over 500 nanosatellites are expected to be in orbit by year-end. According to Deloitte, nanosats are attractive for many reasons: they are cheaper than conventional satellites, lighter, easier to build and test, and easier to launch. Although increasingly capable of more complex tasks, they are likely to be additive to the existing large satellite market, and not replace it.

Turning its attention to mobile payments, Deloitte predicted that 2015 will be a watershed for the use of contactless technologies like NFC. In fact, by the end of the year, 30 million NFC-capable phones will make at least one in-store payment per month. Deloitte Lead Telecoms Partner Ed Marsden notes, “This technology is likely to exist alongside other means of payments for some time yet.”

In addition, the research firm highlights that the number of homes with broadband Internet will rise by about 2% to 725 million over the next 12 months, with average broadband speeds in most countries increasing by 20%. The gap between those with access to the fastest broadband speeds and those on basic speeds will continue to widen in 2015, providing a varied experience from home to home, especially for high bandwidth applications like streaming video.

Interested in learning more? You can explore each of Deloitte’s TMT predictions in depth here.