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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.
This is the first object 3D-printed from alien metal
So-called "asteroid mining" company Planetary Resources is built on the belief that asteroids and other objects in space are loaded with resources that we can take advantage of, both here on Earth and as we begin to explore space in earnest. The essentially infinite supply of rocks floating through space, filled with valuable minerals that we'll eventually run out of on our home planet, sounds like a great resource to take advantage of. But the idea of mining, processing and building with alien metals also sounds like a massive and daunting undertaking.
New Balance unveils its first 3D-printed running shoe
Following in the footsteps of sportswear rival Adidas, New Balance today introduced its own 3D-printed running shoe. Created in collaboration with 3DSystems, a company known for offering 3D printing tech, New Balance's sneaker features a 3D-printed midsole made from a newly developed elastomeric powder and DuraForm Flex TPU. By using said materials, New Balance says, the running shoe's bottom cushion will be able to provide an "optimal" balance of flexibility, durability, strength and weight -- which, in theory, should make them comfortable for runners, and that's important.
The humble beginnings and ambitious future of 3D printing
Consumer-focused 3D printing has been all the rage in the past several years, and while Yeezy may be apprehensive, it's putting the power of manufacturing into the hands of the people. The concept of three-dimensional reproduction isn't as new as you may think; various methods were being employed as early as the 1800s. From the 1950s until the early aughts, it's primarily been used in experimental or industrial applications due to the high costs involved. But when the RepRap project went open-source and MakerBot targeted the consumer market with more affordable machines, things began to change. This week we take a quick look at some milestones in 3D printing's development and see how it's progressing in the modern age.
Of course there's a band with 3D-printed instruments at CES
Because how could there not be, right? You have 3D systems to thank for this one.
The CocoJet lets you print in delicious 3D chocolate
We live in a magical, magical world. A world where we can print almost anything we want in chocolate. Yes -- chocolate. 3D Systems and The Hershey Company are basically making your wildest confectionery dreams come true with the CocoJet, a 3D printer for delicious chocolate. You can choose among dark, milk or white chocolate for your creations (though, we all know that white chocolate isn't really chocolate). And so long as your desired shape isn't too complicated, the CocoJet should be able to spit it out. You could even print functioning chocolate nuts and bolts if you really wanted. Sadly, the press release states that, "The company intends to share its commercial plans for this class of chocolate 3D printers at a later date." So... don't get too excited about printing out chocolate hearts for your loved one (or white chocolate daggers for your enemies) just yet.
Here's how the first 3D-printed presidential portrait was made
One of the highlights of the White House's first-ever Maker Faire was another first: a 3D-printed portrait that recreated the President's head with uncanny detail. But just how did this eerily realistic image come to be? The White House is more than eager to explain, apparently. As you'll see in the clip below, the bust's creators (Autodesk, 3D Systems, the Smithsonian and the University of Southern California) surrounded President Obama with 50 LED lights, 14 cameras and handheld 3D scanners to capture every nuance of his skin. After that, they used high-resolution 3D printers to recreate the hyper-detailed model. It's not clear if this will become a custom for future US presidents. However, it's easy to see this technology becoming a valuable historical tool -- you could always know exactly what heads of state (and celebrities, for that matter) looked like in their prime.
Here's how Google's modular phone will get its 3D-printed parts
Google's modular Project Ara smartphone is all about customization, but that creates a challenge: how are manufacturers supposed to build so many uncommon (and possibly unique) parts? The crew at 3D Systems is more than happy to tell you -- it just outlined the 3D printing techniques it's using to make Ara a reality. The company is dropping the conventional printing process, which bogs down due to frequent changes in speed, in favor of a continuously moving system that's fast enough to cope with mass production. The technique should generate "millions" of parts, even when some components need special treatment.
Staples is launching an in-store 3D printing service
First it sold select 3D printers in stores, then it sold print-by-mail services in Europe -- now Staples is offering US customers a chance to print objects on-demand and on-site. The company's launch event is focusing on the fun side of 3D printing, serving up action figures and personalized Starfleet officers to walk-in customers, but Staples says it hopes the service will catch the attention of small businesses. Customers will have access to up to seven kinds of printers and six types of materials in store, including the Cube and Cube X models Staples already sells. Larger jobs will be farmed out to 3D Systems -- the company behind the 3D printed guitar we saw at Engadget Expand last year. Don't have the modeling chops to prepare your on 3D-printable file? Staples has that covered too, and is planning to train graphic design consultants to help customers model their vision. Unfortunately, Staples hasn't announced pricing for any of these services yet, but at least the pilot program seems robust enough to give UPS a run for its money.
Hershey and 3D Systems join forces to create printable confections
You may no longer have to settle for getting your chocolate in teardrop, bar or seasonal-bunny form. The Hershey Company has signed an agreement to develop printable treats with 3D Systems, which announced its own chocolate-equipped printer at CES last week. That yet-to-be-released machine will fall under the ChefJet line, and also supports printing 3D objects with sugar. With ChefJet's release still months away, it's unlikely that thousands of the machines are already plugging away at a secret factory in Hershey, Penn., but you better believe we'll be first in line when the custom-printed delights hit stores.
will.i.am on changing the world one 3D printer at a time
We were skeptical, too. The trend of gadget manufacturers putting rockstars on the payroll in figurehead "creative director" roles has gotten a bit out of hand in recent years. Again, if Alicia Keys and BlackBerry taught us anything, it's that all the piano playing in the world can't help right the ship of a struggling hardware manufacturer. After chatting with will.i.am high atop the 3D Systems booth in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, we'll say this: he's a passionate guy. The Black Eyed Peas member's excitement is palpable as he speaks about emerging technologies and their potential roles in education and sustainability. He freely admits that he's not really equipped to break down the technology behind the 3D printer company's more complex offerings, but he's got some grand visions with regards to the part he might play in helping making the technology more accessible and broadly appealing for a mainstream audience. Check out the full video interview just after the break.
3D Systems bestows Creative Director title on will.i.am
If Alicia Keys and BlackBerry have taught us anything, it's that music stars aren't always the best equipped to become the creative director of a tech company. In spite of her songwriting prowess, the "Girl on Fire" singer couldn't do much to reverse the phonemaker's eroding fortunes. We'll say this for will.i.am, however: This isn't the Black Eyed Peas rapper's first ballgame. Though, again, his gig with Fusion Garage head Chandra Rathakrishnan also kind of seemed doomed from the outset. Given the sort of show 3D Systems has been having this CES, however, things are definitely looking up for the 3D printing giant. So, maybe they've just got a feeling about the guy.
Here's that $500 3D scanner for the iPad
That new consumer 3D scanner we told you about a little while ago? Here it is. Well, sort of. This iSense is actually a prototype, as you can probably tell from the 3D printed mold behind the camera. We asked CEO Avi Reichental if there was any possibility that the company might 3D print the casing at some point, to help future-proof the peripheral, and he certainly seemed open to the idea, though don't expect that in the version of the product shipping in Q2. At a cursory glance, the camera and the sensor appear similar -- if not exactly the same -- as the ones found on the sense. Around this, you'll find a brushed metal housing that helps the camera blend in a bit more with the iPad's backing. As for why this unit is $100 more than the Sense, we suspect it has something to do with the much smaller form factor, which helps make this a truly portable scanner, with a Lightning cable that plugs directly into the tablet. We couldn't take a shot of the software, as that's also still firmly in the beta stage, though you can expect it to be pretty similar to what you get with the Sense.
Live from the Engadget CES Stage: 3D Systems CEO Avi Reichental
The company that helped invent rapid prototyping has been in the 3D printing game for nearly three decades. In recent years, 3D Systems has been making an aggressive play at the consumer market with products like the Cube, CubeX and Sense as one of the driving forces in the desktop 3D printing revolution. January 7, 2014 7:00:00 PM EST Follow all the latest CES 2014 news at our event hub, and check out our full stage schedule here.
A chip off the 3D-printing block: Samsung partners with 3D Systems for custom Note 3 cases (video)
It figures that Samsung would want to take its "Create" tagline for the Note series and press on into 3D printing because: You. Customization. The endless possibilities. And all that other jargon-y industry buzz buzz buzz. Well, now that the Korean electronics giant's taking a stab at the make-it-yourself wheel, it's partnered with 3D Systems to show off an app that makes custom inserts for specially designed Galaxy Note 3 cases. The catch here being that it's not a soon-to-be released commercial product. This is all just concept for now and you have to be at CES 2014 in Las Vegas to test it out. Instead of whipping up entire cases, the 3D Systems app allows users visiting Samsung's booth to create custom-designed coins (small plastic inserts that slot into the base of a Note 3 case) using its new entry-level Cube 3 3D printer. Coin creation is fairly straightforward with options to add a range of pre-set icons, text or freehand drawing. There are also three templates users can choose from: a plain-faced Simple Coin, an Olive Wreath or Poker Chip. But 3D Systems told us that it intends to swap out these three templates throughout the week, so what you'll see will depend on the day you visit. Once you've settled on a final design, the coin-printing process takes about 20 minutes to complete, but not everyone who passes through the booth will see their designs come to life. 3D Systems plans to sort through all submitted designs and populate a wall in Samsung's booth with the best of the bunch -- a money shot we'll have for you later this week. So, there's your taste of the future folks: Big-ass phones, styluses, 3D printers and your unbridled creativity (actual sense of taste optional).
The CubeJet promises pro-level 3D printing in a consumer form factor for under $5,000
Like you, we've dreamt about owning one of those industrial rapid prototyping machines since the first time we saw one in action. Of course, certain financial and real estate realities have made such fantasies a resolute impossibility for our modest New York City apartment. Priced at "under $5,000," the CubeJet will likely still be too rich for our blood by the time it launches in the second half of this year, but compared to the $100,000+ plus machines out there, things are certainly heading in the right direction. Ditto for the size - in fact, this pretty would look pretty sweet sitting on our office desk at home. Thus far, 3D Systems' consumer-facing machines have relied on the extrusion technology that you find in most printers in that class. This time out, however, the company is tapping into its industrial roots, for a desktop system that is capable of creating full-color, high resolution prints. This being a consumer device, the company's also focused on offering up a relatively user-friendly interface, though that remains to be seen until we actually get our hands on the printer on the CES floor. We'll also be joined by the company's CEO Avi Reichental on our CES stage later today, who will no doubt shed more light on the CubeJet, along with the company's other announcements.
3D print yourself in chocolate and full-color sugar candy with the ChefJet Pro
Be honest: This is the moment you've been waiting for -- at least since 3D Systems picked up Sugar Lab a few months back and quite probably even longer. It's the chance to print yourself and the ones you love in edible, sugary form. In among a slew of notable new printers unveiled by the company this week, CEO Avi Reichental took to our stage to announce two systems capable of printing in sugar and chocolate. The company landed on ChefJet for the name of the models, and it certainly seems to do the trick, borrowing the suffix from its ProJet line of industrial printers, while making it pretty clear who the target audience is here: bakers, chefs, hotels and the like. And honestly, if this thing isn't all over The Food Network by the end of the year, we'll eat our hat (printed in chocolate or sugar -- take your pick). The plain, old ChefJet is the smaller of the two, naturally, described by the company as a "countertop" device. The system prints in sugar, chocolate and flavored confection (you pick the flavor) in pretty much any design you can 3D print, including, but not limited to, old standbys like cake toppers and centerpieces. If that's the only thing that's been holding you back from that Star Trek-themed wedding, let us be the first to say "Live long and Mazel Tov." And seeing as how the target audience here is likely not among the most tech savvy, the company's created special "Digital Cookbook" software to make designing and printing a bit easier for the uninitiated. As its name implies, the ChefJet Pro takes things a bit further, with larger build volume and the ability to create sugar prints in full-color. The ChefJets are set to launch at some point toward the end of the year. Not a ton more specifics at the moment, but believe us, we've got as many questions as you do. Thankfully, we've also got the company's CEO on our CES stage as you read this. We'll let you know how the prints taste, for starters.
3D printing destination Cubify hits 2.0 with curated and branded collections
Even if it completely failed in the consumer market, 3D Systems would still be on pretty solid ground thanks to its strong industrial 3D printing presence. But that hardly means the company is going to half-ass its efforts to capture mindshare from MakerBot and Thingiverse. Before CES can even officially kick off, the company has already announced a pair of new printers (the Cube 3 and CubePro) and the launch of Cubify 2.0 -- the next generation of its consumer site for hosting and posting ready-to-print models. While there is a community-driven side to the portal, including user-uploaded collections and profiles, there's also a heavily curated portion that includes partnerships with brands like Nooka and Digital Dollhouse (a virtual playground for kids, who can now 3D print their creations). The collections are divided up into categories like fashion, decor and "mancave," and include both products that you can print at home on your Cube or, for the more complex products like guitars, you can have 3D Systems print out for you on one of its giant industrial machines. The company isn't done yet at CES, either. There's still a big press event to come that will feature will.i.am and, more importantly, CEO Avi Reichental will be on our stage for an interview. Even with a trio of exciting announcements already out the door, we're pretty sure 3D Systems still has something up its sleeve for later in the week.
Motorola inks deal with 3D Systems to build its modular 'Ara' smartphones
When Motorola threw its weight behind Phonebloks' modular smartphone concept, it pretty much signaled to the rest of the industry that the Google company was dead serious about customization. But that radical vision of a completely upgradeable handset needs an equally radical manufacturing partner and Motorola's found that in 3D Systems. Today, the two companies have announced a multi-year deal that'll see 3D Systems building what Motorola calls "the factory of the future," and providing a complete end-to-end fabrication process for 'Project Ara.' As part of the deal, Motorola's exclusively tasking 3D Systems with creating new "multi-material printing capabilities including conductive and functional materials" to build these modules (e.g., chassis, battery, etc.) and help it keep pace with eventual consumer demand for 'Ara' phones. That's all if 3D Systems can prove its undeveloped printing process actually, you know, works. If not, well, 3D Systems can kiss that exclusivity agreement goodbye.
Expand NY workshops roundup: 3D Systems, littleBits, Leap Motion and more!
The stage at Expand acted as a platform for conversations between many people involved in the future of technology -- but there was a lot more that attendees were able to enjoy. Some of our nifty workshop sessions had 3D Systems show off its new Sense scanner; littleBits gave a demo of the Synth Kit; Leap Motion talked about its SDK and the implementation of it on 3D web apps; and Raspberry Pi revealed the results of the Make-Off contest. These are only a few of the workshops from our event in New York City, so head past the break to check out the full list -- we've got a video for each one.
