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AI faithfully recreates paintings with the help of 3D printing
It's easy to get a basic reproduction of a painting, but getting a truly accurate copy is harder than you think. Modern 2D printers typically only have four inks to work with, which simply won't do if you're trying to mimic a classic. Researchers at MIT's CSAIL might have a much better solution -- they've developed RePaint, a system that recreates artwork using an AI-guided 3D printer. The technology promises color-accurate reproductions even in less-than-flattering conditions.
3Doodler's latest pen promises jam-free 3D printing
As sophisticated as consumer-level 3D printing has become, it still has occasional trouble nailing the basics. Printers still tend to jam, and a model that really likes one kind of plastic may balk at another. 3Doodler might have just fixed all that with its latest pen. The Create+ builds on the original Create with what the company says is the first dual drive system in any 3D printer, promising "almost entirely jam-free" drawing -- the days of a panicked halt in mid-project should be gone. This also helps it work smoothly with a greater range of plastics, including ABS, FLEXY and PLA.
Hobbyist builds the first Sony E-Mount film camera
Sony is the one major imaging company that has never built a film camera, having leaped straight into DSLRs in 2006 after buying Minolta. A hobbyist named Alexander Gee has just pulled off a neat trick then, by creating what might be the world's first Sony E-Mount 35 mm film camera. Called the LEX, it's the result of a year's worth of work, and when it's finished, you might be able to buy one and even build it yourself.
XYZPrinting's latest 3D printing pen costs just $45
XYZPrinting is a company known for making affordable 3D printers for the home, and today, it's about to unveil even more of them. It's releasing not one, not two, but three new devices at this year's CES. But if you've been paying attention to the company at all, they should all be pretty familiar. That's because they're incrementally updated versions of existing products.
A 3D printer gave my Nintendo Switch a real D-pad
Nintendo has a long history of building innovative game controllers -- the company put shoulder buttons on the SNES gamepad, added force feedback to the N64's bizarre controller and made a fad out of motion controls with the Wii. Its most enduring innovation, however, has always been the humble D-Pad: a simple plastic cross that lets players input eight different direction inputs with precision and ease. Strangely, however, this iconic control pad was left out of the Nintendo Switch's default controller design, and I miss it every time I play the system. So, I did what any reasonable tech blogger would do: I used a 3D printer to make my own Nintendo Switch D-pad.
A San Francisco startup 3D printed a whole house in 24 hours
San Francisco-based startup Apis Cor built a whole house in a Russian town within 24 hours. It didn't repair an existing home or use prefabricated parts to make that happen -- the secret lies in 3D printing. The company used a mobile 3D printer to print out the house's concrete walls, partitions and building envelope. Workers had to manually paint it and install the roofing materials, wiring, hydro-acoustic and thermal insulation, but that didn't take much time.
The best home 3D printer for beginners (so far)
By Signe Brewster This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. Though 3D printers have until recently been too expensive and complex for curious beginners, it's possible to find a relatively inexpensive and approachable model to use at home. We spent 20 hours researching and testing three of the best beginner-focused 3D printers we could find and think the Tiertime Up Mini 2 is the best choice for most people just starting out with 3D printing. It has the best combination of reliability, features, and style. It was the easiest to set up and produced the highest number of great-quality prints of all the printers we tested.
The da Vinci Nano is a plug-and-play 3D printer that costs only $230
XYZprinting is known for offering a variety of 3D printers, some of which rival the likes of Makerbot's Replicator line and other high-end hardware. But the company has also been making some that are both portable and affordable, as was the case with its sub-$300 da Vinci Mini. At CES 2017, it is going one step further by introducing the da Vinci Nano, a full-fledged 3D printer priced at just $230. And although the machine is designed for people who are new to the technology, XYZprinting says the idea is to not compromise on the features and overall quality of the product.
12 gifts for tireless tinkerers
They say the best gifts are the ones you make yourself. But that doesn't necessarily mean you, the gifter, needs to be doing the assembly. Sometimes the giftee will enjoy building their own present. Over the last several years the maker movement has really taken off. And whether you're shopping for an accomplished builder or someone just looking to get their toes wet, we've got a few suggestions. If there's someone in your life that's super into making everything themselves (and you love them enough to drop $1,000 on a gift for them) consider a 3D printer like the Replicator Mini+ from MakerBot. If a grand is a little extreme for you, consider a simple driver set, like 64-piece one from iFixIt. They'll be able to open up and (hopefully) put anything back together with it. If the creator in your life is more into coding than building, consider a tool like RPG Maker, or for the wee one in your life Ozobot's Evo is an excellent place to start teaching programming skills. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
Ultimaker 3 can 3D-print using two materials at once
There aren't many 3D printers out there that have two extruders for putting out two materials at once, and of those even fewer are ready to hit the market. But Ultimaker's latest device is up to the task. The Ultimaker 3, which starts at $3,495, has two extruders that can hold different materials so you can produce more intricate prototypes. The device also comes with WiFi and Ethernet support, in addition to a USB port, so it can receive your jobs over the internet.
Honda's 3D-printed customizable EV has motorcycle bones
Honda isn't the first company to reveal vehicles with 3D-printed panels, details and more. However, it's certainly one of the biggest, so its efforts warrant a closer look. Fresh off the heels of the Paris Auto Show, Honda showed off its Variable Design platform for micro EVs: petite cars where space -- and weight -- is at a premium. The automaker wants to offer a vehicle with a customizable layout where drivers can choose what they need. That could be lowered entry points at the doors for senior drivers, a hatchback trunk for delivery vehicles or space for a family of three. (Somehow!) Let's take a closer look:
Mattel won't sell a 3D printer for toys this holiday after all
If you promised your teen a Mattel ThingMaker this Christmas, you may want to find something else that's just as cool ASAP. A spokesperson told Engadget that the company won't be releasing its toy printer this fall like it originally planned. Mattel has pushed back its debut to fall 2017 to give it enough time to further enhance both the $300 device and its companion app.
MakerBot's Replicator Mini+ is designed for classrooms
More and more classrooms today are getting into 3D printing, and MakerBot wants to be there for them. Today the company announced that it's taken its Replicator Mini printer, which was a surprising hit in schools, and made it faster and quieter than before. The new Replicator Mini+ is available for $999 starting today, and promises to be 10 percent faster and a whopping 58 percent quieter than before.
MakerBot's Replicator+ promises bigger, faster 3D prints
MakerBot has had its fair share of woes lately, but the company isn't slowing down. It's launching a slew of new products, including a printer, revamped software and new materials. The Replicator+ is available beginning today, for $1,999, which is cheaper than the company's fifth-generation devices. That is, until the introductory period is over come October 31st.
ICYMI: Robosurgeon, wigglebot and a very cute penguin
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: A robot from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev produces a wave-like motion that can propel itself across a floor or through water, only with one motor. Also a robotic surgeon called Flex can snake its way down throats or other orifices and perform surgeries in a less-invasive way than traditional means. But you should probably take in Purps the penguin and her 3D-printed boot, and also the robotic massager we all wish we had. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Six gadgets made from LEGO bricks
By Cat DiStasio When kids play with LEGO bricks, their creations are limited only by their imaginations. A few colorful blocks can become a spacecraft, a bulldozer or a skyscraper with just a few moves. Although the LEGO builds from you childhood may not do much on their own, those colorful bricks lend themselves to amazing works of ingenuity when combined with other simple items. To showcase the vast potential of these cherished toys, we've rounded up a series of awesome gadgets made from LEGOs. Read on to learn about a working LEGO printer built by a teenager, a prosthetic arm that makes kids the star of any crowd and even a working LEGO camera that shows how it's possible to create almost anything if you want it badly enough.
Cornell researchers create 3D printer that builds as you work
There's no denying the benefits of 3D printing for hobbyists and folks looking to prototype potential products. However, making changes typically means waiting for the current version to finish printing and starting a new build from scratch. Researchers at Cornell University are looking for a better solution that makes for easy tweaks and they've built "an interactive prototyping system" to do so. The "on-the-fly" 3D printing setup outputs the design that's being worked on as its created in a CAD file, allowing the user to pause for testing, measurements or to change the model that's still in progress.
Microsoft wants you to share your 3D printer over your network
Sure, you can use your old-school paper printer from virtually any device in your home. But what if you want to use your 3D printer in the den while you're lounging in the living room? Microsoft might just come to your aid. It recently released a Windows 10 IoT Core app (currently only for the Raspberry Pi) that lets you access a 3D printer from any Windows PC on your local network, whether it's through Ethernet or WiFi. Once it's running, it acts like any other networked gadget -- you don't have to be picky about the apps you use.
3D printer uses lasers to create metallic objects in midair
This Harvard-made 3D printer can create complex metallic objects other printers can't. See, instead of spitting out one layer over another, the machine was designed to ooze out metal that immediately freezes solid. That allows it to print free-form patterns that look like they're suspended in air, like coils. Created by the university's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the printer uses "ink" composed of silver nanoparticles. A focused laser then heats the material and solidifies it as it comes out.
ICYMI: Google beats MS paint, gamified recycling and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-63653{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-63653, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-63653{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-63653").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Google's 3D painting app, Tiltbrush, has been used to make some beautiful things; a robotics company is gamifying trash sorting in a pilot program; and a 3D copier will let you make a double of any dang thing you like. If you're interested, GoPro sent a video camera to space with a rocket launch and the video is petty incredible. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
