Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[3D printing gets more flexible with Nylon extrusion]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/3d-printing-nylon-extrusion/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/3d-printing-nylon-extrusion/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/3d-printing-nylon-extrusion/#comments 3D printing gets more flexible with Nylon extrusion

3D printing with ABS and other plastics that have a low-melting point are old hat. And, with the price of entry dropping below the $500 mark, soon enough anyone will be able print their own pirated 45s. Instructables user [taulman] has has taken it upon himself to push the DIY polymer extruder scene in a new direction -- Nylon. The slick and bendable Nylon 6 melts at 320 degrees celsius, roughly 100 degrees higher than the more common and brittle ABS. The flexible nature of nylon has some obvious advantages, particularly when printing tubing or even an iPhone case. What's more, gears and bearings created from the synthetic don't need to be lubricated. But, this isn't the end game for [taulman]. The resourceful DIYer plans to keep working on his high-temperature system until he can build custom creations from Delrin and Polycarbonate. The obvious downside here, is that higher temperatures require more power and more rugged components that could drive up cost. But, we'd say it's a small price to pay for being able to print your own Otterbox. Check out the video demos after the break.

Continue reading 3D printing gets more flexible with Nylon extrusion

3D printing gets more flexible with Nylon extrusion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingdiydo it yourselfDoItYourselfextrusionnylonnylon 6nylon extrudernylon extrusionNylon6NylonExtruderNylonExtrusiontaulmanTue, 22 May 2012 17:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, in pictures: 3D printers, unicorns, tesla coils and zombies (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/maker-faire-bay-area-2012-in-pictures-3d-printers-unicorns-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/maker-faire-bay-area-2012-in-pictures-3d-printers-unicorns-t/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/22/maker-faire-bay-area-2012-in-pictures-3d-printers-unicorns-t/#comments Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, in pictures: 3D printers, unicorns, tesla coils and zombies (video)

Did you miss Maker Faire Bay Area 2012? Did you go but want to relive the experience a little? Well look no further: we came, we saw, we conquered. As one of our friends acutely observed, you couldn't throw something this year without hitting a 3D printer. Below you'll find pictures of said 3D printers, but also unicorns, Tesla coils and yes, even zombies (!) -- all lovingly curated from the hundreds of shots we took at the event this past weekend. Craving something with a bit more meat? We've made a convenient list of our Maker Faire posts. Once you're done digesting that, hit the break for our lovely video montage.

Gallery: Maker Faire Bay Area 2012

Continue reading Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, in pictures: 3D printers, unicorns, tesla coils and zombies (video)

Maker Faire Bay Area 2012, in pictures: 3D printers, unicorns, tesla coils and zombies (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 May 2012 02:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D printer3D printers3dPrinter3dPrintersben HeckBenHeckElectric ImpElectric Motor WerksElectricImpElectricMotorWerksMaker FaireMaker Faire 2012Maker Faire Bay AreaMaker Faire Bay Area 2012MakerBotMakerFaireMakerFaire2012MakerFaireBayAreaMakerFaireBayArea2012raspberry piRaspberryPirobotrobot petting zooRobotPettingZoorobotsTesla coilTesla coilsTeslaCoilTeslaCoilsunicornunicornsvideozombiezombiesTue, 22 May 2012 02:33:00 EST<![CDATA[The Engadget Interview: Ben Heck talks Raspberry Pi at Maker Faire (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/the-engadget-interview-ben-heck-talks-raspberry-pi-at-maker-fai/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/the-engadget-interview-ben-heck-talks-raspberry-pi-at-maker-fai/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/the-engadget-interview-ben-heck-talks-raspberry-pi-at-maker-fai/#comments The Engadget Interview: Ben Heck talks Raspberry Pi at Maker Faire (video)

It's really no surprise that we bumped into the legendary Ben Heck at Maker Faire Bay Area 2012. Still, he was kind enough to give us a few minutes of his time. We talked about the Raspberry Pi, robot luggage, portable 3D printers, pinball machines, pretzels and cheese curds -- oh my! Just take a look at our video interview and don't miss the outtakes at the end.

The Engadget Interview: Ben Heck talks Raspberry Pi at Maker Faire (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D printer3d printers3dPrinter3dPrintersBen HeckBen HeckendornBenHeckBenHeckendornBenjamin HeckendornBenjaminHeckendorncheese curdsCheeseCurdsinterviewMaker FaireMaker Faire 2012Maker Faire Bay AreaMaker Faire Bay Area 2012MakerFaireMakerFaire2012MakerFaireBayAreaMakerFaireBayArea2012Nilay PatelNilayPatelpinball machinepinball machinesPinballMachinePinballMachinesportable 3D printerPortable3dPrinterPretzelsRaspberry PiRaspberryPirobot luggageRobotLuggagevideoMon, 21 May 2012 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Burritob0t hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/burritob0t-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/burritob0t-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/burritob0t-hands-on-video/#comments Burritob0t hands-on

ITP, or the Interactive Telecommunications Program at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU churns out some of the most reliably interesting tech-centric artists in the world. Every so often, the school opens its doors to the public and the press and, of course, we jumped at the chance to see what the grad students were cooking up... literally. Marko Manriquez took the opportunity to showcase his thesis project, the Burritob0t, a 3D printer the spits out edible piles of beans and cheese, instead of non-toxic (but, highly inedible) plastic. The base is built largely around a standard RepRap machine, with the Frostruder attachment from MakerBot. From there it's pretty simple to plug in any 3D model and build your creation from highly-processed Mexican food -- on a heated platform from the Thingomatic, of course.

Marko says that his creation not only seemed like a logical way to combine "edible bits and digital bytes" but also a way to address the increasingly mechanized food industry and our growing reliance on manufactured "food." Sadly, we weren't able to get a complete demo on the show floor. The current incarnation of the device relies on air pressure to push the ingredients through syringes, and firing up the compressor was not an option. A Kickstarter is forthcoming, however, and Marko plans to upgrade the components to ditch the bulky and loud compressor. He also hopes to actually serve food from his printer, perhaps by taking up residence in a park. But, we suspect it'll be a while before you can get a Burritob0t burrito while you wait for your Concrete from Shake Shack. Check out the video after the break.

Gallery: Burritob0t hands-on

Continue reading Burritob0t hands-on (video)

Burritob0t hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingburritoburritob0tburritobotfoodhands-oninteractive Telecommunications ProgramInteractiveTelecommunicationsProgramITPitp spring showItpSpringShowmark ManriquezMarkManriquezNYUtisch school of the artsTischSchoolOfTheArtsvideoTue, 15 May 2012 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[MakerBot uncovers the miracle of 3D printed 'bot making (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/makerbot-uncovers-the-miracle-of-3d-printed-bot-making-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/makerbot-uncovers-the-miracle-of-3d-printed-bot-making-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/makerbot-uncovers-the-miracle-of-3d-printed-bot-making-video/#comments MakerBot uncovers the miracle of 3D printed 'bot making (video)

There are few things out there that can send you into a shame spiral of career despair quite as quickly as watching a group of people with arguably one of the funnest jobs in the world. People like the MakerBot 3D design team, who were tasked with assembling an army of cuddly robots a "petting zoo" for this weekend's Maker Faire in the San Francisco Bay Area. Now, granted, we're sure they all work hard, but we can't help but feel a little jealous at the opportunity to design kid-friendly 'bots using the company's Replicator 3D printer. Check out a video of the team in action after the break.

Continue reading MakerBot uncovers the miracle of 3D printed 'bot making (video)

MakerBot uncovers the miracle of 3D printed 'bot making (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 20:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3dPrintermaker fairemakerbotMakerFairepetting zooPettingZoorobotroboticsvideoMon, 14 May 2012 20:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Chris Fenton follows up scale model Cray-1A with 3D-printed electromechanical computer, of course]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/3d-printed-electromechanical-computer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/3d-printed-electromechanical-computer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/3d-printed-electromechanical-computer/#comments Image

Fans of the homebrew electronics scene may well be familiar with the name Chris Fenton, he of the DIY laptop and a working scale model of the Cray-1A supercomputer. Now he's back with yet another ambitious project: he's set out to build a fully functional electromechanical computer using a 3D printer to fabricate all the parts. That's still a ways from being completed, but Fenton has already finished one key component of it: the punch card reader. Head on past the break to see it in all its whizzing and buzzing glory.

Continue reading Chris Fenton follows up scale model Cray-1A with 3D-printed electromechanical computer, of course

Chris Fenton follows up scale model Cray-1A with 3D-printed electromechanical computer, of course originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printed3d printer3dPrinted3dPrinterchris fentonChrisFentondiyelectromechanicalelectromechanical computerElectromechanicalComputerfentonhomebrewvideoTue, 01 May 2012 13:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Cubify's 3D printer up for pre-order, wants to make you make trinkets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/cubifys-3d-printer-up-for-pre-order-wants-to-make-you-make-tri/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/cubifys-3d-printer-up-for-pre-order-wants-to-make-you-make-tri/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/cubifys-3d-printer-up-for-pre-order-wants-to-make-you-make-tri/#comments Cubify 3D Printer up for preorder, May 25th release date

3D systems trumpeted its forthcoming Cube printer back at CES, and it looks like its easy-on-the-eye curves are nearly ready for your earnest crafting. The good part is a lack of them. If you've assembled a more typical printer in the last ten years, you should be able to put these associated pieces together. It's a sharp contrast to plenty of 3D printers that more closely resemble an engineer's tantrum. The printer is priced up at $1,299, so it's not the cheapest, but we are promised a pretty concrete May 25th release date. Hit up the source to place your order, alongside some extra color cartridges. How would you make those turtleshell racers without some blue and red?

Cubify's 3D printer up for pre-order, wants to make you make trinkets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d printer3d systems3dPrinter3dSystemscubecube 3d printerCube3dPrintercubifypreorderprinterrelease dateReleaseDateTue, 01 May 2012 08:14:00 EST<![CDATA[MakerBot printing out Robot Petting Zoo for Maker Faire]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/makerbot-printing-out-robot-petting-zoo-for-maker-faire/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/makerbot-printing-out-robot-petting-zoo-for-maker-faire/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/makerbot-printing-out-robot-petting-zoo-for-maker-faire/#comments MakerBot printing out Robot Petting Zoo for Maker Faire

Sure, it's no $500 3D printer, but the folks at MakerBot always have plenty of fun stuff floating around their Brooklyn headquarters. Stuff like, you know, a Robot Petting Zoo. The company's prepping a slew of 3D printed 'bots for display at the upcoming Maker Faire in California. CNET's got shots of the robots, each of which have special functionality like old Button Bot pictured above -- not so great for petting, but he likely knows more tricks that your average sheep. More images at the source link below.

MakerBot printing out Robot Petting Zoo for Maker Faire originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3dPrinterbotsmakermaker fairemakerbotMakerFairerobotsThu, 26 Apr 2012 19:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Former MakerBot exec launches Solidoodle sub-$500 3D printer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/former-makerbot-exec-launches-solidoodle-sub-500-3d-printer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/former-makerbot-exec-launches-solidoodle-sub-500-3d-printer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/former-makerbot-exec-launches-solidoodle-sub-500-3d-printer/#comments Image

Let's be honest -- we all want a a 3D printer to call our own, right? Price has always been a significant barrier to the dream of printing pretty much everything your imagination can conjure (barring some hardware limitations, of course). For its part, MakerBot has made some significant strides toward tearing some of those barriers, and now Solidoodle, led by that company's former COO Samuel Cervantes, is looking to take the trend even further. The company's current self-tilted model starts at just under $500. The printer, which is now up for pre-order, can print plastic pieces up to 6" x 6" x 6", and "all you need to supply is a computer and power." Also, interestingly, "a 200-pound man can literally stand on top of the machine while it's printing. " So, that's a bonus. Check out a video of the printer in action after the break.

Continue reading Former MakerBot exec launches Solidoodle sub-$500 3D printer

Former MakerBot exec launches Solidoodle sub-$500 3D printer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d printer3dPrintermakerbotpre-orderprintersam cervantesSamCervantesSolidoodlevideoWed, 25 Apr 2012 16:36:00 EST<![CDATA[University of Glasgow scientists print drugs in 3D, pave the way for in-home pharmacies]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/university-of-glasgow-scientists-print-drugs-in-3d-pave-the-way/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/university-of-glasgow-scientists-print-drugs-in-3d-pave-the-way/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/18/university-of-glasgow-scientists-print-drugs-in-3d-pave-the-way/#comments ImageBreaking Bad in 3D? If recent work by a team of University of Glasgow scientists persists, that could soon be a hard reality -- just without the glasses. Taking what's typically been the province of sanitized laboratories and moving it outside, the group's devised an efficient method that makes use of commercial-grade three-dimensional printers to create "reactionware vessels": custom-designed, polymer gels that house and aide in chemical reactions. The technique, already viable on a larger, albeit slower scale, is not quite ready for primetime, but with future refinements could eventually trickle down into small businesses, or third-world countries where it'd be used for rapid medical treatment. And, in a hypothetical scenario that'll likely provoke scrutiny from the FDA and DEA, consumers might one day be able to save a trip to the drugstore and simply print from home -- a decidedly different spin on designer drugs -- using apps. Of course, this is all just speculation of potential future applications. We trust that humanity and enterprise will put this medication replication to noble use -- until it hits the club, that is.

University of Glasgow scientists print drugs in 3D, pave the way for in-home pharmacies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D printer3d printers3dPrinter3dPrintersChemistryHumordrug printingDrugPrintingreactionwareresearchUniversity of GlasgowUniversityOfGlasgowWed, 18 Apr 2012 05:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Too late for Easter: Chocolate printer to hit eBay in April, cost $4,000]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/08/chocolate-printer-to-hit-ebay-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/08/chocolate-printer-to-hit-ebay-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/08/chocolate-printer-to-hit-ebay-in-april/#comments

Confection connoisseurs hoping to skip the whole "molded chocolate" routine for something more constructive won't have to wait long: Choc Edge's delectable 3D dessert printer is almost ready. The Choc Creator is the brainchild of Liang Hao and a kitchen of assistant cooks -- additional research at the University of Brunel, software by developer Delcam, oversight from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and funding from the Research Councils UK's Digital Economy program. Hao founded Choc Edge to distribute the completed machines, the first of which will be available from eBay on April 10th. Of course, pre-orders are also available for £2,488, or just under $4,000. Yes, the price of printing your own sweets is steep, but when you take that first bite into your custom Engadget logo -- won't it be worth it?

Too late for Easter: Chocolate printer to hit eBay in April, cost $4,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d chocolate printer3d chocolate printers3d printer3d printers3dChocolatePrinter3dChocolatePrinters3dPrinter3dPrinterschocolatechocolate printerChocolatePrinterEngineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilEngineeringAndPhysicalEngineeringAndPhysicalSciencesResearchCouncilSun, 08 Apr 2012 19:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Paint3D app promises to let you sketch and print 3D models straight from Android]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/paint3d-app-promises-to-let-you-sketch-and-print-3d-models-strai/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/paint3d-app-promises-to-let-you-sketch-and-print-3d-models-strai/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/paint3d-app-promises-to-let-you-sketch-and-print-3d-models-strai/#comments
3D printing may still have quite a ways to go before it becomes as ubiquitous as traditional printing, but there's plenty of developers out there working to make that happen. One such example comes out of the House 4 Hack group in Johannesburg, who have been working on an Android app called Paint3D that promises to let folks create 3D models and then print them out straight from their mobile device -- imagine saying that even just five years ago. Unfortunately, that's not available to the general public just yet, but you can get a closer look at the app and the results its able to produce at the source link below, and get an overview from one of the developers in the video after the break.

Continue reading Paint3D app promises to let you sketch and print 3D models straight from Android

Paint3D app promises to let you sketch and print 3D models straight from Android originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d modeling3d printer3d printing3dModeling3dPrinter3dPrintingandroidandroid appAndroidAppapphouse 4 hackHouse4Hackpaint3dvideoWed, 29 Feb 2012 16:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Drexel University turns to 3D scanners, printers to build robotic dinosaurs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/drexel-university-turns-to-3d-scanners-printers-to-build-roboti/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/drexel-university-turns-to-3d-scanners-printers-to-build-roboti/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/drexel-university-turns-to-3d-scanners-printers-to-build-roboti/#comments
3D printers, 3D scanners and robotics are usually more than enough on their own to get us interested in something, but a team of researchers at Drexel University have played one other big trump card with their latest project -- they've thrown dinosaurs into the mix. As you can probably surmise, that project involves using a 3D scanner to create models of dinosaur bones, which are then reproduced (at a somewhat smaller scale) using a 3D printer. The researchers then hope to use those to build working robotic models that they'll use to study how dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals may have moved and lived in their environments. That work will start with a dinosaur limb that they expect to have completed by the end of the year, after which they say it will take a year or two to build a complete robotic dinosaur replica.

Drexel University turns to 3D scanners, printers to build robotic dinosaurs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3d printers3d printing3dPrinter3dPrinters3dPrintingdinobotdinosaurdinosaursdrexeldrexel universityDrexelUniversitypaleontologyrobosaurusroboticsThu, 23 Feb 2012 19:02:00 EST<![CDATA[83-year old woman gets replacement 3D printed titanium jaw, makes her the coolest member of the bridge club]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/83-year-old-woman-gets-replacement-3d-printed-titanium-jaw-make/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/83-year-old-woman-gets-replacement-3d-printed-titanium-jaw-make/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/06/83-year-old-woman-gets-replacement-3d-printed-titanium-jaw-make/#comments3D printers are continuing to force their way into medical circles and the latest beneficiary is an 83-year old woman. She's the first to receive a titanium jaw crafted by those not-so dimensionally-challenged printers. The method was developed by the BIOMED Research Institute at Hasselt University in Belgium and creates the lower jaw replacement from layer-upon-layer of titanium dust. A computer-controlled laser then ensures that the correct molecules are fused together. The technique, the first to replace the entire jaw, takes mere hours to make the substitute choppers, while previous options would take several days. Although the final product weighs a bit more than its natural predecessor, but that didn't stop the patient returning close to "normal speaking and swallowing" the day after the operation.

(Photo credit: ZDNET.de)

83-year old woman gets replacement 3D printed titanium jaw, makes her the coolest member of the bridge club originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingjawmedicaltitaniumtitanium jawTitaniumJawMon, 06 Feb 2012 05:34:00 EST<![CDATA['Still Alive' played on 3D printed record, takes music piracy to complicated new levels]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/still-alive-record-3d-printer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/still-alive-record-3d-printer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/still-alive-record-3d-printer/#comments We're still in the relatively early stages of the 3D printer revolution, and as such, it's hard to say just how these devices will play a role in our daily lives. We've seen some really cool toys like turtleshell racers and Weighted Companion Cubes, but what about some everyday products? This 3D printed record keeps the Portal printer theme going by cutting our old pal Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive" into its grooves. The single was printed over at Shapeways and played on a Fisher-Price record player. Video after jump.

Continue reading 'Still Alive' played on 3D printed record, takes music piracy to complicated new levels

'Still Alive' played on 3D printed record, takes music piracy to complicated new levels originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3dPrinterdiyjonathan coultonJonathanCoultonportalprinterstill aliveStillAliveTue, 24 Jan 2012 20:32:00 EST<![CDATA[MakerBot releases free-to-download Playsets, will have you printing a Captain Kirk Chair in no time]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/makerbot-releases-free-to-download-playsets-will-have-you-print/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/makerbot-releases-free-to-download-playsets-will-have-you-print/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/makerbot-releases-free-to-download-playsets-will-have-you-print/#comments So, you've always wanted to build a dollhouse out of ABS plastic? Well here's your chance. MakerBot has announced the release of its "MakerBot Playsets," a collection of free-to-download schematics used to create objects such as dolls, dollhouses and furnishings with the company's 3D printer. The files are available in .stl and .dxf formats for use with CAD programs, and take away the guesswork involved in coming up with a uniform design for larger projects. Take a look at the current collection -- including such objects as a Telescope, Moon Rover, Captain Kirk Chair, Treasure Chest and Suit of Armor -- and see what you think. You'll find the entire collection at the Thingverse link just below.

MakerBot releases free-to-download Playsets, will have you printing a Captain Kirk Chair in no time originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3D print3D printer3D printing3dPrint3dPrinter3dPrintingABSABS plasticAbsPlasticCADcomputer-aided designComputer-aidedDesignMakerBotMakerBot playsetMakerbotPlaysetplaysetprintprinterWed, 18 Jan 2012 05:33:00 EST<![CDATA[MakerBot Replicator hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/makerbot-replicator-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/makerbot-replicator-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/makerbot-replicator-hands-on-video/#comments MakerBot ReplicatorSure, there's really not much of a DIY presence amongst the shiny new mass produced gadgets that line the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES, but MakerBot's public appearances at the show managed to leave an impression on just about everyone who spotted the company's newly announced Replicator 3D printer. Founder Bre Pettis stopped by our stage at the convention center's Grand Lobby, becoming our final interview of the show. We managed to get him to print something out during our conversation, but the real draw was, no doubt, the large plastic rocket ship lamp sitting at the end of the stage, a pretty solid visual reminder of the concept of being able to print out just about anything you can imagine with one of these devices.

MakerBot is one of the driving forces in bringing 3D printing to a mainstream audience, and the Replicator takes yet another big step in that direction. For starters, there's the fact that, unlike past products from the company, the units ship assembled, taking the difficult and time consuming construction process out of the equation -- at less than $2,000, it's also a good deal cheaper than a fair amount of the competition. Pettis also insists that the printing process itself is rather simple. There's an SD slot on the front -- pop in a card and choose a project from the simple LCD.

Gallery: MakerBot Replicator hands-on


There are pegs for the spools of plastic on the rear of the device. Opting for the $1,999 version lets you do dual extrusion -- using two different spools for two-color objects. When the printing starts, the plastic spools (made of ABS, the same stuff that Lego is made from) feed through tubes, getting melted down, hot glue gun-style. The layering of the plastic creates a ribbed effect on the objects, though Pettis points out that some people sand down their projects after they're finished.

The process is a bit time consuming -- Pettis was printing out a small plastic cupcake that didn't finish during our 20-minute-long interview. Apparently it takes closer to 45 minutes to finish something like that. But this model has a key competent its predecessors lacked: the ability to print large objects. You can print things up to the size of a loaf of bread using the Replicator.

We're working with MakerBot to get a unit that we can spend a bit more time with -- and believe us, we can't wait. In the meantime, watch Pettis give a guided tour of the device after the break.

Continue reading MakerBot Replicator hands-on (video)

MakerBot Replicator hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3dPrintercesces 2012Ces2012hands-onmakerbotprintervideoSat, 14 Jan 2012 18:41:00 EST<![CDATA[MakerBot goes big with Replicator 3D printer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/makerbot-goes-big-with-replicator-3d-printer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/makerbot-goes-big-with-replicator-3d-printer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/makerbot-goes-big-with-replicator-3d-printer/#comments
MakerBot just took the wraps off the Replicator, a new 3D printer that solves one of the technology's biggest problems at the moment -- printing large. Of course, you still can't, say, print yourself up a car just yet, but the Replicator does, at the very least, take a baby step in that direction. It also offers up the company's Dualstrusion technology, making it possible to print in two colors. The Replicator can take either ABS (the plastic found in Lego) or biodegradable PLA plastic. The Replicator will run $1,999 for the dual extruder or $1,749 for a single.

Continue reading MakerBot goes big with Replicator 3D printer

MakerBot goes big with Replicator 3D printer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d printer3dPrintermakerbotmakerbot replicatorMakerbotReplicatorreplicatorMon, 09 Jan 2012 15:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Cubify brings 3D printer and Kinect app to CES]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/cubify-brings-3d-printer-and-kinect-app-to-ces/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/cubify-brings-3d-printer-and-kinect-app-to-ces/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/cubify-brings-3d-printer-and-kinect-app-to-ces/#comments Cubify At this point it's kinda tough to get excited about 3D printing -- actual devices and services are a dime a dozen, but Cubify has a decidedly user-friendly vibe working in its favor. 3D Systems is rolling in to CES with its Cube 3D printer, but it'll also be showing off Cubify.com and its new Kinect-To-Print app. The app will allow users to design objects with "coloring book simplicity," then have them printed up and shipped to their door, or they can post their creations to the web for others to purchase and earn cash. The site will also be prepopulated with a selection of games and other custom objects ready to be printed on demand either at home on the Cube 3D or by the company and shipped out to customers. Cubify.com will go live in a beta version on January 10th and, while you wait, you can check out the video and PR after the break.

Continue reading Cubify brings 3D printer and Kinect app to CES

Cubify brings 3D printer and Kinect app to CES originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3d printing3d systems3dPrinter3dPrinting3dSystemscube 3dCube3dcubifycubify.comkinectkinect-to-printkinect-to-print appKinect-to-printAppSun, 08 Jan 2012 07:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Mineways offers up 3D-printed models of your Minecraft creations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/mineways-3d-printed-models-minecraft/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/mineways-3d-printed-models-minecraft/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/03/mineways-3d-printed-models-minecraft/#comments

Sure, those gigantic tributes to Italian plumbers look great on your PC screen, but sometimes you want something a little more tangible. That's exactly what Mineways lets you do. Yep, it's another demonstration of why we all need a 3D printer in our life, although this Minecraft-friendly software can also export your models across to 3D printing site, Shapeways, which will do the whole printing slog for you. Sure, it'll cost you, but it's likely to be a mere fraction of your own 3D printer. The Mineways program is based on the open-source mapping tool Minutor and creates both a data and texture file ready to pinged across to the Shapeways site. You can also attempt to reclaim some money from those many hours sunk into Minecraft by selling your creations on the site. Check the source below for tutorials, more examples and the latest version of the model exporter.

[Photo credit: postapocalyptic]

Mineways offers up 3D-printed models of your Minecraft creations originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d models3d printer3d printing3dModels3dPrinter3dPrintingcraftminecraftminewaysschematicsshapewaysTue, 03 Jan 2012 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[3D-printed bone replacements coming soon to an orthopedic surgeon near you, courtesy of WSU (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/3d-printed-bone-replacements-coming-soon-to-an-orthopedic-surgeo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/3d-printed-bone-replacements-coming-soon-to-an-orthopedic-surgeo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/3d-printed-bone-replacements-coming-soon-to-an-orthopedic-surgeo/#comments 3D printers are slowly, but surely working their way into all sorts of useful, everyday applications -- like the creation of chocolates, flutes and even Mario Kart turtle shell racers. Now, Washington State University engineers are unveiling a unique implementation of the tech that could aid in the regrowth of damaged or diseased bones. Utilizing a ceramic compound, the group's optimized ProMetal 3D printer builds dissolvable scaffolds coated with a plastic binding agent that serve as a blueprint for tissue growth. The team's already logged four long years fine tuning the process, having already achieved positive results testing on rats and rabbits, but it appears there's still a ways to go -- about 10 -12 years, according to the project's co-author Susmita Bose -- before orthopedic and dental surgeons can begin offering "printed" bone replacements. With a synthetic windpipe already under medical science's belt and now this, it's looking like we're just a few short decades away from that long sought after full body replacement. Right, Mr. Lagerfeld? Click on past the break for a brief look at this osteo-friendly machinery.

Continue reading 3D-printed bone replacements coming soon to an orthopedic surgeon near you, courtesy of WSU (video)

3D-printed bone replacements coming soon to an orthopedic surgeon near you, courtesy of WSU (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3D printed bones3D printer3D printing3dPrintedBones3dPrinter3dPrintingbone scaffoldbonesBoneScaffoldresearchSusmita BoseSusmitaBosevideoWashington State UniversityWashingtonStateUniversityWSUWed, 30 Nov 2011 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Insert Coin: SeeMeCNC H-1 cuts entry price to the world of 3D printing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/insert-coin-seemecnc-h-1-cuts-entry-price-to-the-world-of-3d-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/insert-coin-seemecnc-h-1-cuts-entry-price-to-the-world-of-3d-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/15/insert-coin-seemecnc-h-1-cuts-entry-price-to-the-world-of-3d-pr/#commentsIn Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.


Maybe it was the Turtle Shell racers, or the ability to crowdsource homes for crabs, but we're enthralled with the potential of 3D printers. Now, SeeMeCNC is looking to offer up its skeletal H-1 as "the most affordable" entry-level three-dimensional printer available. Its design roots come from the open source RepRap's latest self-replicating machine, the Huxley. However, there are a few differences here. SeeMeCNC has replaced several parts for injection molding, which apparently shaves a substantial chunk off the manufacturing costs. This includes using plastic roller bearings instead of metal bearings, while the machine has also been readjusted to inch measurements. Fans of the imperial system and 3D printing antics can peer beyond the break to judge whether the cut-price printer will still cut the mustard.

Continue reading Insert Coin: SeeMeCNC H-1 cuts entry price to the world of 3D printing

Insert Coin: SeeMeCNC H-1 cuts entry price to the world of 3D printing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingcheapCNCcrowdfundingH-1H1inexpensiveinsert coinInsertCoinPartDaddyprinterseemecncSeeMeCNC H-1SeemecncH-1Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Olly: the web-connected robot that converts pings to odors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/29/olly-the-web-connected-robot-that-converts-pings-to-odors/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/29/olly-the-web-connected-robot-that-converts-pings-to-odors/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/29/olly-the-web-connected-robot-that-converts-pings-to-odors/#comments What if there were a way to add smells to the things you see every single day on the internet? To some, just the thought of that there scenario would induce nausea. To others -- primarily those who spend their days Googling various rose gardens around the globe -- it just might be the extra dimension to surfing that they've been waiting for. If you happen to find yourself tucked into that second camp, we'd like to introduce you to Olly, the web-connected robot that's capable of emitting smells based on inputs from the 'net. The critter was dreamed up by Tim Pryde and the folks surrounding the Don-8r (Foundry, if you're curious), and while there's currently no way to purchase one, instructions are forthcoming to produce your own with a 3D printer. In fact, it's recommended that users build a few, stack 'em up and connect different inputs (Twitter, Instagram, your mum's vegetarian cooking blog) to each one. It's the perfect cacophony... or the perfect disaster, depending on your browsing habits.

[Thanks, Tim]

Olly: the web-connected robot that converts pings to odors originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 04:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d printer3dPrinterinternetodorodorsollyrobotrobotssmellsmellytim prydeTimPrydeSat, 29 Oct 2011 04:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Project Shellter: crowdsourcing 3D-printed homes for hermit crabs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/project-shellter-crowdsourcing-3d-printed-homes-for-hermit-crab/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/project-shellter-crowdsourcing-3d-printed-homes-for-hermit-crab/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/project-shellter-crowdsourcing-3d-printed-homes-for-hermit-crab/#comments Project Shellter The fine folks at MakerBot have impressed us enough with their Mario-themed RC racers and self-replicating 3D printers, but now the collective is looking to save mother nature with Project Shellter. Turns out, there's a housing shortage in the oceans. Harvesting of shells has left many hermit crabs with no option but to take up residence in bottle caps and other debris they can squeeze their soft bodies into. MakerBot's Miles Lightwood, has decided to crowdsource designs for artificial shells that hermit crabs can live in. Right now Lightwood is testing different shapes, materials and colors, looking for the combination that the critters will find most attractive. The shells are not intended to be placed in the wild -- putting plastic into the sea wouldn't be very environmentally friendly. Instead, the artificial domiciles are meant for domestic use, reducing the number that must be harvested for pets. You can get updates on the project from its Facebook page (at the more coverage link) and submit your own designs to Thingiverse, just make sure to tag them "shellter."

Project Shellter: crowdsourcing 3D-printed homes for hermit crabs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingartificial shellsArtificialShellshermit crabsHermitCrabsmakerbotmakerbot industriesMakerbotIndustriesmiles lightwoodMilesLightwoodproject shellterProjectShelltershellshellsthingiverseMon, 24 Oct 2011 10:46:00 EST<![CDATA[MakerBot's Turtle Shell Racers cruise around our offices (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/makerbots-turtle-shell-racers-cruise-around-our-offices-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/makerbots-turtle-shell-racers-cruise-around-our-offices-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/makerbots-turtle-shell-racers-cruise-around-our-offices-video/#comments
This weekend's Maker Faire in New York City was lousy with 3D printers. Every tent in the outdoor area was packed to capacity with the things, their owners standing beside them, showing off the small trinkets they'd created with the devices. Judging from their presence, there seems little question that the technology has proven a success with the maker community. Amongst the general public, however, they've been a much harder sell. Perhaps it's the price, or maybe it's the generally dull connotations of the word "printer," or it could just be the fact that there hasn't been the right iconic image to help sell the products to the public at large.

MakerBot's Turtle Shell Racers may well be just the ambassador that the world of 3D printing needs. The toy football-sized RC cars are proof positive that the devices can turn just about anything you can imagine into reality. There are certain limitations, of course, like the fact that the objects printed can't be larger than five inches in diameter. The Shells' creator circumvented that admitted shortcoming by assembling the products out of small pieces that snap together. Check out more hands-on impressions and a video with the racers after the jump.

Gallery: Turtle Shell Racer hands-on

Turtle Shell Racer hands-on

Continue reading MakerBot's Turtle Shell Racers cruise around our offices (video)

MakerBot's Turtle Shell Racers cruise around our offices (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3dPrintermaker fairemakerbotMakerFairemariomario kartMarioKartprinterthingiverseturtleturtle shellturtle shell racerTurtleShellTurtleShellRacervideoTue, 20 Sep 2011 13:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Shapeways serves up prêt-à-imprimer 3D bones, Lagerfeld stands by for full skeletal replacement]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/shapeways-serves-up-pret-a-imprimer-3d-bones-lagerfeld-stands-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/shapeways-serves-up-pret-a-imprimer-3d-bones-lagerfeld-stands-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/shapeways-serves-up-pret-a-imprimer-3d-bones-lagerfeld-stands-b/#comments 3D printed chocolates? Sure, sounds innocuous enough. But made-to-order 3D printed bones? Now, that's just morbid. For the surgical team at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children, however, the tech's come in handy as a budget-priced, pre-operative planning tool. Mark Frame, an orthopedic surgical trainee at RHSC, first came up with the idea to create the osteo-facsimiles after a costly university-made replica, commissioned for a procedure, failed to meet necessary proportion and size requirements. After undertaking a bit of self-assigned internet research, Frame sorted out a method to create renders of a patient's fractured forearm using CT scans processed via the open source OsiriX software. These were then passed through a separate MeshLab application to tidy up any artifacting, and finally exported in 3D-compatible .stl format. The resulting files were sent to Shapeways for printing, with the white plastic bone copies delivered just seven days later for £77. The hospital's been so pleased with the inexpensive outcome, that it's already begun prep work on a hip replacement surgery using a replicated pelvis -- and, no, they didn't specify if the patient was a fashion victim.

Shapeways serves up prêt-à-imprimer 3D bones, Lagerfeld stands by for full skeletal replacement originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3D printed bones3D printer3D printing3dPrintedBones3dPrinter3dPrintingbonesGlasgowMark FrameMarkFrameMeshLaborthopedicsOsiriXRoyal Hospital for Sick ChildrenRoyalHospitalForSickChildrenScotlandShapewayssurgerySat, 17 Sep 2011 12:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Visualized: Objet's 3D printer breathes plastic life into Hollywood creatures, layer by layer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/visualized-objets-3d-printer-breathes-plastic-life-into-hollyw/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/visualized-objets-3d-printer-breathes-plastic-life-into-hollyw/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/visualized-objets-3d-printer-breathes-plastic-life-into-hollyw/#comments It ain't easy being plastic, you know? Objet -- the 3D printing house that aimed to replace your office's all-in-one Epson back in July -- brought a few of its snazziest pieces here to SIGGRAPH, and we popped by to have a gander. Targeting the animation-inspired crowd that showed up here in Vancouver, the company brought along some Hollywood examples of how its multi-material Objet260 Connex helped movie makers craft prototype creatures before they were inserted into the storyline. Thor's Destroyer and Avatar's Na'vi were both on hand, as well as the two critters shown above. The hothead on the right was crafted in around 18 hours (and subsequently painted), while the cool cat on the left was built in three fewer. Wildly enough, that fellow required no painting whatsoever; so long as you're cool with shades of grey, you can program your object to be colored from the outset. Oh, and as for his cost? Around $80 for the materials -- slightly more for the printer itself.

Gallery: Objet's 3D printing breathes plastic life into Hollywood creatures at SIGGRAPH

Continue reading Visualized: Objet's 3D printer breathes plastic life into Hollywood creatures, layer by layer

Visualized: Objet's 3D printer breathes plastic life into Hollywood creatures, layer by layer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d model3d printer3d printing3dModel3dPrinter3dPrintingavatarConnexfilmfilmshands-onmodelmoviesObjetObjet260Objet260 ConnexObjet260Connexprintprinterprintingsiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011thorvisualizedThu, 11 Aug 2011 07:13:00 EST<![CDATA[3D-printed Mario Kart turtle shells race to rescue American economy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/08/3d-printed-mario-kart-turtle-shells-race-to-rescue-american-econ/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/08/3d-printed-mario-kart-turtle-shells-race-to-rescue-american-econ/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/08/3d-printed-mario-kart-turtle-shells-race-to-rescue-american-econ/#comments As soon as you see these little RC Koopa shells, you know that life can't be that bad. In fact, they've already had a hallelujah-inducing impact on the world of the 3D-printing genius who created them. Ten days ago, Michael Curry (aka Skimbal) was among America's 13.9 million unemployed, having been unceremoniously booted out of his ailing architect's firm. All he had was a $700 MakerBot printer to stop his hands from idling, but he made the most of it. MakerBot saw his stuff and were as bowled over as we are, so they just gave the guy a job. We're dusting off our Wii controllers and even those little plastic steering wheels in celebration.

3D-printed Mario Kart turtle shells race to rescue American economy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingkoopamakerbotMichael CurryMichaelCurrynintendoRCRC carRcCarremote controlremote controlledRemoteControlRemoteControlledSkimbalMon, 08 Aug 2011 08:26:00 EST<![CDATA[3D-printed plane takes to the skies, sounds like a Black & Decker (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/3d-printed-plane-takes-to-the-skies-sounds-like-a-black-and-decke/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/3d-printed-plane-takes-to-the-skies-sounds-like-a-black-and-decke/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/29/3d-printed-plane-takes-to-the-skies-sounds-like-a-black-and-decke/#comments You know what's pleasing about this plastic drone, aside from the fact it flies? It took just a week to design and build from scratch, thanks to the labor-saving wonders of 3D printing. Each component was formed in ultra-thin layers by a laser beam trained on a bed of raw material -- either plastic, steel or titanium powder depending on the required part. If designers at the University of Southampton wanted to experiment with elliptical wings, they simply printed them out. If they thought a particular brand of WWII nose cone might reduce drag, they pressed Ctrl-P. And if they reckoned they could invent a wingless flying steamroller... Er, too late. Anyway, as the video after the break reveals, there's never been a better time for the work-shy to become aeronautical engineers.

Continue reading 3D-printed plane takes to the skies, sounds like a Black & Decker (video)

3D-printed plane takes to the skies, sounds like a Black & Decker (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingaeronauticalaircraft droneAircraftDroneengineeringplaneplasticUniversity of SouthamptonUniversityOfSouthamptonvideoFri, 29 Jul 2011 13:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Chocolate printer makes 3D molds of your edible visions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/chocolate-printer-makes-3d-molds-of-your-edible-visions/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/chocolate-printer-makes-3d-molds-of-your-edible-visions/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/06/chocolate-printer-makes-3d-molds-of-your-edible-visions/#comments 3D has become an industry buzzword du jour. Tack that little epithet onto a consumer-facing product and voila!, you get to charge higher prices for its virtual premium. Well, it looks like a bunch of folks across the pond caught on and decided to throw a little cocoa powder into the mix. Funded by the Research Councils UK's Digital Economy program with oversight by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, as well as being led by the University of Exeter, the University of Brunel and software developer Delcam -- talk about too many cooks -- the tech that previously brought metal and plastic products to life is getting a chocoholic makeover. Using specially designed temperature and heating controls, the printer takes uploaded 3D CAD designs and turns them into the stuff of your sweet toothed dreams. Although you won't be seeing this printer at a boutique near you, there are plans for a made-to-order retail site that'll let you contribute homemade creations or modify someone else's. We understand if this gets your Valentine's anticipating heart all aflutter, but please don't make any actual chocolate hearts -- that's just gross.

Chocolate printer makes 3D molds of your edible visions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d chocolate printer3d chocolate printers3d printer3d printers3dChocolatePrinter3dChocolatePrinters3dPrinter3dPrinterschocolatechocolate printerChocolatePrinterEngineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilEngineeringAndPhysicalSciencesResearchCouncilResearch Councils UKs Digital EconomyResearchCouncilsUksDigitalEconomyUniversity of ExeterUniversityOfExeterWed, 06 Jul 2011 03:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/26/solar-sinter-solar-powered-3d-printer-turns-sand-into-glass-ren/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/26/solar-sinter-solar-powered-3d-printer-turns-sand-into-glass-ren/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/26/solar-sinter-solar-powered-3d-printer-turns-sand-into-glass-ren/#comments Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video) Where would we be without the world's graduate art projects? In the case of Markus Kayser's Solar Sinter, we might never have seen the day when a solar-powered 3D printer would turn Saharan sand into a perfectly suitable glass bowl. Well, lucky for us (we suppose) we live in a world overflowing with MA students, and awash in their often confusing, sometimes inspiring projects. Solar Sinter, now on display at the Royal College of Art, falls into the latter category, taking the Earth's natural elements, and turning them into functioning pieces of a burgeoning technology. Solar Sinter uses the sun's rays in place of a laser and sand in place of resin, in a process that is perhaps more visually stunning than the results. See for yourself in the video after the break.

Continue reading Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video)

Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingartart projectArtProjectglassKayserMAMA projectMaProjectMarkus KayserMarkusKaysermaster of artsMasterOfArtsphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellsPhotovoltaicCellsRoyal College of ArtRoyalCollegeOfArtsaharasahara dessertSaharaDessertsandsolarsolar poweredSolar SiSolarPoweredSolarSistudentstudent projectStudentProjectsunvideoSun, 26 Jun 2011 00:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Maker Faire 2011, in pictures: Arduinos, Androids, and angry robots (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/22/maker-faire-2011-in-pictures-arduinos-androids-and-angry-rob/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/22/maker-faire-2011-in-pictures-arduinos-androids-and-angry-rob/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/22/maker-faire-2011-in-pictures-arduinos-androids-and-angry-rob/#comments The rapture has come and gone, but the Maker Faire powers on. Despite warnings of a May 21st doomsday, folks came out in droves for the annual celebration of all things DIY, and we were there to bring you the best in homespun inventions. This year's Maker Faire was light on robots and big on corporate sponsorship. Among the giants supporting the little guys were Google, ASUS, and HP, but El Goog's presence extended beyond its dedicated tents. The new Android ADK was big with at-home tinkerers this year, spawning a number of little robots and at least one DIY alternative.

Perhaps no other trend proved more pervasive than 3D printing, however -- every time we turned around there was another MakerBot or RapMan pumping out everything from statuettes of attendees to cutesy salt shakers. There were robotic building blocks, a Heineken-themed R2-D2, DIY drones, custom keyboards, and a ton of repurposed gadgets, but it was an arena of destructo-bots, tucked away in the farthest corner of the San Mateo County Event Center, that really blew us away. We came away sunburned and bedraggled, but lucky for you, we did all the dirty work so you don't have to. To see what made this year's Maker Faire, hop on past the break for a video of our favorite DIY finds.

Gallery: Maker Faire 2011


Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

Continue reading Maker Faire 2011, in pictures: Arduinos, Androids, and angry robots (video)

Maker Faire 2011, in pictures: Arduinos, Androids, and angry robots (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 May 2011 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20113D3D printer3dPrinterAndroidAndroid ADKAndroidAdkArduinoDIYDIY DronesDiyDronesDroneDroneselectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVFairegalleryinventioninventionsLEGOLEGOSMakeMake MagazineMakeMagazineMakerMaker FaireMaker Faire 2011MakerFaireMakerFaire2011R2D2robotroboticsrobotsspideStar WarsStarWarstourvideovideosSun, 22 May 2011 17:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Vienna University of Technology builds a 3D printer, 3D prints the key to our hearts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/vienna-university-of-technology-builds-a-3d-printer-3d-prints-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/vienna-university-of-technology-builds-a-3d-printer-3d-prints-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/vienna-university-of-technology-builds-a-3d-printer-3d-prints-t/#comments We've all spent a good portion of the past few years imagining what we'll do as soon as we get our hands on our very own 3D printer. Of course, if you're of the particularly crafty, Make Magazine-subscribing sort, you've probably already built a few of your own. For those who don't know a soldering iron from a freshly-burned hole in their hand, however, it's been a matter of waiting for the technology to come down in size and price. A machine designed by professors at the Vienna University of Technology still has a ways to go on the roughly €1,200 (about $1,700) price, but it weigh in at a bit over three pounds, and that's not for your run-of-the-mill extruder -- this breadbox-sized machine uses lasers to harden plastics, allegedly with enough precision to produce medical parts. Looks like picking out the perfect gift for your professor friends in Vienna just got a lot harder.

Vienna University of Technology builds a 3D printer, 3D prints the key to our hearts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 May 2011 01:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintinginexpensiveJürgen StampflJürgenStampflprintprinterprintingTU ViennaTuViennaviennavienna universityvienna university of technologyViennaUniversityViennaUniversityOfTechnologyWed, 18 May 2011 01:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Strandbeests birthed from 3D printer pop out ready to walk (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/strandbeests-birthed-from-3d-printer-pop-out-ready-to-walk-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/strandbeests-birthed-from-3d-printer-pop-out-ready-to-walk-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/strandbeests-birthed-from-3d-printer-pop-out-ready-to-walk-vide/#comments While designer Theo Jansen's dreams of a race of independently multiplying Strandbeests is more than just a little bit out there, it seems he has found a way to streamline production of the rather fascinating self-propelled creatures. In language that is unique to Jansen's relationship with the things, he explains the impact of 3D printing on the Strandbeest production process as such: "Strandbeests have found a way to multiply by injecting their digital DNA directly into the Shapeways system." The 3D printed versions of his strolling mechanisms, known as Animaris Geneticus Parvus, are now available in the Shapeways store, and require zero post-printing assembly. Check out the video after the break for more of Jansen's eyebrow-lifting take on reality.

Continue reading Strandbeests birthed from 3D printer pop out ready to walk (video)

Strandbeests birthed from 3D printer pop out ready to walk (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3D print3d printer3D printer strandbeest3D printing3dPrint3dPrinter3dPrinterStrandbeest3dPrintingprintingShapewaysStrandbeestStrandbeestsTheo JansenTheoJansenvideoTue, 03 May 2011 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect hack turns tourists into 3D souvenirs (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/05/kinect-hack-turns-tourists-into-3d-souvenirs-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/05/kinect-hack-turns-tourists-into-3d-souvenirs-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/05/kinect-hack-turns-tourists-into-3d-souvenirs-video/#comments As souvenirs go, a miniature replica of yourself -- striking a pose of your choosing on Barcelona's La Rambla street -- is a far sight more original than a bullfights-and-senoritas snow globe. This past January, the hilariously titled BlablabLAB enlisted three Kinects and a RapMan 3.1 to snap passersby and render them into personalized tchotchkes, in a project called Be Your Own Souvenir. Subjects stood atop a small platform, mimicking the human statues on La Rambla, as the Kinects captured their likeness in full 360-degree glory. The resulting images were then processed as a mesh reconstruction, saved as a G-code file, and then fed through a 3D printer -- and voila, out popped the tiny statuettes. If you're a fan of flashy editing and Kinect-based street experiments, check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Kinect hack turns tourists into 3D souvenirs (video)

Kinect hack turns tourists into 3D souvenirs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D printer3D printing3D rendering3D souvenir3dPrinter3dPrinting3dRendering3dSouvenirBarcelonabe your own souvenirBeYourOwnSouvenirBlablabLABCNCcomputer numerical controlComputerNumericalControlhackhacksawkinectkinect hackkinect-hacksKinectHackMicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectRepRapReprapPrintersounvenirstreet performanceStreetPerformancevideoTue, 05 Apr 2011 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[MakerBot's Interface Board Kit does PC-less 3D printing, turns your superhero fantasies into reality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/makerbots-interface-board-kit-does-pc-less-3d-printing-turns-y/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/makerbots-interface-board-kit-does-pc-less-3d-printing-turns-y/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/makerbots-interface-board-kit-does-pc-less-3d-printing-turns-y/#comments If you're like us -- that is to say, wildly popular and devastatingly good looking -- then you're probably wondering why someone hasn't produced an action figure in your likeness yet. Well wonder no longer, for the folks over at MakerBot just announced yet another handy tool to make at home 3D printing even easier. An addition to the aptly titled Thing-O-Matic, the Gen 4 Interface Board Kit v1.1 is billed as a DIY interface that lets you operate your thingy printer without having to attach it to a PC. The kit comes equipped with an SD card slot for easy independent operation, and because the board's fully hackable, you can use it to control your robots or homebrew CNC devices, too. It sports nine programmable buttons and an LCD screen for feedback, and allows you to set and read temperatures, view build progress, or start a new project stored on the SD card. So what are you waiting for? Your self-aggrandizing bobblehead isn't going to make itself.

MakerBot's Interface Board Kit does PC-less 3D printing, turns your superhero fantasies into reality originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3D fabrication3D Printer3D printing3dFabrication3dPrinter3dPrintingboard kitBoardKitfabricationGen 4 interfaceGen 4 Interface Board Kit v1.1Gen4InterfaceGen4InterfaceBoardKitV1.1hackableinterfacekitmakerbotopenprinterthing o maticthing-o-maticThingOMaticWed, 30 Mar 2011 22:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch-controlled robo-tot grasps small objects, the meaning of life (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/watch-controlled-robo-tot-grasps-small-objects-the-meaning-of-l/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/watch-controlled-robo-tot-grasps-small-objects-the-meaning-of-l/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/30/watch-controlled-robo-tot-grasps-small-objects-the-meaning-of-l/#comments It may seem like there's an abundance of robot news lately, but we're just trying to please our mechanical overlords deliver the latest in gadget and technology news. What we've got here is an Arduino-based robo-gripper that serves only to move around and use its 3D printed claws to grab tiny objects that we'd otherwise be too lazy to pick up ourselves. The robot, infused with a Texas Instruments CC1110 dev kit, is controlled using an accelerometer-based Chronos watch and can move in all directions by simply tilting the timepiece. If you want to take a gander at this little guy in action, check out the video past the break -- it's always warming to see humans having the upper hand against the machine.

Continue reading Watch-controlled robo-tot grasps small objects, the meaning of life (video)

Watch-controlled robo-tot grasps small objects, the meaning of life (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3dPrinteraccelerometerarduinocc1110chronosclawscontrollergrabgraspgripinstrumentsprintrobotrobotapocalypsetexasTexas InstrumentsTexasInstrumentstitiltvideowatchwirelesswristwatchWed, 30 Mar 2011 18:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Fabricate Yourself Kinect hack turns you into a 3D puzzle piece]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/fabricate-yourself-kinect-hack-turns-you-into-a-3d-puzzle-piece/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/fabricate-yourself-kinect-hack-turns-you-into-a-3d-puzzle-piece/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/fabricate-yourself-kinect-hack-turns-you-into-a-3d-puzzle-piece/#comments We've been whittling our likeness into bars of soap for decades, but lucky for us someone's come up with a far easier way to render our flawless good looks in miniature. Following in a long line of inventive Kinect hacks, the folks at Interactive Fabrication have produced a program called Fabricate Yourself that enlists the machine to capture images of users and convert them into 3D printable files. The hack, which was presented at Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction Conference in January, results in tiny 3D models that resemble Han Solo trapped in carbonite and sport jigsaw edges that can be used to make a grid of small, but accurate renderings. Fabricate Yourself is still in its infancy, and the resulting models are relatively short on detail, but we're no less excited by the possibilities -- just think of all the things we could monogram in the time it takes to produce one soapy statuette. Video after the jump.

Continue reading Fabricate Yourself Kinect hack turns you into a 3D puzzle piece

Fabricate Yourself Kinect hack turns you into a 3D puzzle piece originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3D3D printer3D printing3d rendering3dPrinter3dPrinting3dRenderingfabricate yourselfFabricateYourselfgameshackhacksInteractive FabricationInteractiveFabricationkinectkinect hackKinectHackMicrosoftmicrosoft kinectMicrosoftKinectprinterprintingvideoWed, 02 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Cornell University scientists use 3D printer to engineer human ear made of silicone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/cornell-university-scientists-use-3d-printer-to-engineer-human-e/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/cornell-university-scientists-use-3d-printer-to-engineer-human-e/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/cornell-university-scientists-use-3d-printer-to-engineer-human-e/#comments Welcome to the future, where scientists can print body parts. No, seriously: researchers at Cornell University have used 3D printing technology to engineer a human ear out of silicone. This should one day soon open the door to the creating functional human body parts using DNA-injected 'ink.' The team at the Computational Synthesis Laboratory, led by Hod Lipson, are now testing the printer as a way to crank out synthetic heart valves. Check out the ear being synthesized in the video after the break.

Continue reading Cornell University scientists use 3D printer to engineer human ear made of silicone

Cornell University scientists use 3D printer to engineer human ear made of silicone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingbiologycornell universityCornellUniversityhod lipsonHodLipsonhumanmedicineorgansvideoMon, 21 Feb 2011 22:20:00 EST<![CDATA[3D printed concert flute rapidly prototypes sound (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/29/3d-printed-concert-flute-rapidly-prototypes-sound-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/29/3d-printed-concert-flute-rapidly-prototypes-sound-video/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/29/3d-printed-concert-flute-rapidly-prototypes-sound-video/#comments The world's first store for 3D printed goods just opened in Brussels, and while we imagine they've already got a fair selection of prototyped merchandise to choose, might we suggest they invest in a few production runs of this fabulous new flute? Amit Zoran of the MIT Media Lab -- yes, the same soul who helped dream up a 3D food printer early this year -- has now printed a fully-functional concert flute with a minimum of human intervention. Directing an Objet Connex500 3D printer (which can handle multiple materials at the same time) to spit out his CAD design, dollop by tiny dollop, in a single 15-hour run, he merely had to wash off support material, add springs, and assemble four printed pieces to finish the instrument up. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, of course, so how does it sound? Find out for yourself in the video below.

Continue reading 3D printed concert flute rapidly prototypes sound (video)

3D printed concert flute rapidly prototypes sound (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d printer3D printing3dPrinter3dPrintingamit zoranAmitZoranConnex500fluteinstrumentinstrumentsMITmit media labMitMediaLabmusicmusical instrumentmusical instrumentsMusicalInstrumentMusicalInstrumentsObjetObjet Connex500ObjetConnex500printingRapid PrototypingRapidPrototypingvideoWed, 29 Dec 2010 21:34:00 EST