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3d Printing to Aid Visually Impaired and Partially Sighted

3D printing helps visually impaired

If technology can touch lives and make the less fortunate feel special there’s nothing like it! After revolutionizing many industries and sectors 3D printing is ready for some social responsibility projects. Most us know how 3D printing is helping the healthcare industry in transforming lives, but the most recent development in the 3D printing world is the help that 3D printers are rendering to the visually impaired and partially sighted people. There are individuals as well as organizations that are experimenting with 3D printing and how to it can these less fortunate people.

The first initiative that impressed us a lot was the one that is being done at the Korean Institute of Science and Technology. The research team headed by Dr. Myoung-Woo Moon has developed a new method by congregating two techniques, 3D printing and 3D surface thermal reflow to make touchable objects with detailed lines and curves. The team used thermal reflow treatment on the surface to enhance the durability and the adhesiveness. With the help of this technology not only Braille books but also Braille picture books and teaching materials can be made with a high level of flexibility in color, height and size. These colors are harmless to human body since no UV coating or any harmful chemical treatment has been done on them. This method not only works on paper but also on a wide range of materials such as plastic, metal, ceramics and other materials. 3D printed teaching materials such as maps of nations, animals, plants and other things will help in the educational development of these children and enable them to understand the context and the material in a much better way.

The second initiative that captivated us all was that of Tania Jain, an Indian Post Graduate student. She calls this as the Fittle Project. The project is quite simple as it uses the FDM/FFF technique of 3D printing to make blind and visually impaired children learn Braille. The system consists of a downloadable STL file which makes up a particular shape. By using their hands they can match the pieces together (to make out the pieces outer borders and 3D puzzle like hole and a protrusion in every piece) and can form an entire word and can read the Braille letter on each piece. These children can associate the term to the shape that they have composed. If a child wants to learn the correct pronunciation of the word formed they can use an app with comes along with the Fittle. Children need assistance in doing this.

Last but not the least the initiative that captured our eyes was the one which was launched by the researchers of the University of Colorado. The name of the project is the Tactile Picture Book Project. By this project the researchers are converting standard children’s book into textured pages with the help of 3D printing technology. These books are textured and are loaded with Braille and other things that enable the children to feel the stories. With this initiative the lives of many young ones who cannot see the world will change as children can learn Braille only after the age of six but now this project is giving them an opportunity to diverse their imagination at a very early age. So far the team has successfully converted bed time stories such as Goodnight Moon, Harold and the Purple Crayon, the Very Hungry Caterpillar and Cat in the Hat. The team hopes to recreate many such stories for these children in the near future.

Image Credit: Sam Hawley (flickr handle: samhawleywood)

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China looks to 3D Printing to outsmart US Fighter Jets

China uses 3D Printing for countering US Fighter Jets

Being the largest manufacturing country in the world, China needs to raise its standards in 3D printing and the Chinese most definitely believe that 3D printing will promote the advancements in many sectors including the aircraft industry. So to materialize this concept recently China’s North Western Polytechnic University (NPU) along with Airbus has signed an agreement on investigating the possible usage of 3D printing in the commercial aviation sector. China has always been in the power game with countries like US and UK. Since US is famous for their defense system and also  their air power which is considered to be far superior than others, China has decided to finally create their own advanced fighter jets.

Earlier this year, China unveiled a new fighter jet the J-25 “Ghost Bird”. This aircraft claims to be far superiors than the F-22 Raptor and the B-2 stealth bomber and it has the capacity to shoot down any US aircraft within seconds. The main idea behind making this fighter jet is to be able to control the Asian Pacific sky in the event of a conflict. Now the question is what exactly was the role of 3D printing in this? According to the latest reports, there is an indication that the edge that the Chinese have got over the US is all because of 3D printing technology which was used extensively during the production of this advanced fighter jets.

The “J-25 Ghost Bird” is faster and has a stronger stealth mode than the US fighter jets. The aircraft was manufactured by Chengdu Aviation Corporation and they used 3D printing for printing several key parts which were later implanted in the plane. Since the parts that are produced by 3D printing are lighter than the ones that are produced by the traditional method so the aircraft is much lighter and also exceptionally durable. Even the very advanced technology that has been used to enhance the already existing stealth mode can be credited to 3D printing as various parts of this were made with the help of 3D printing.  The weight of the entire structure is 20 tons which is quite light as compared to other aircrafts of this genre.

In 2013, a company in China named Nanfang Ventilator Co. Ltd. developed the world’s largest 3D printer which can print 6 meters of metal part in one piece. The machine is expected to roll out of into the markets by 2014. The materials that are suitable for this printer are Carbon, Steel, low alloy Steel, Stainless Steel etc. The utilization of this printer in the aviation industry will seriously knock off the sleep from the eyes of the big shot countries of 3D printing.

Even though it may take years to actually know the capability of these fighter jets but it does make us realize the importance of government funding on new technologies such as additive manufacturing. Promoting this technology will not only boom the local markets but also enhance the image of a country in foreign soil.

These advancements will definitely trigger an alarm in the US which in turn will push harder the research to work on 3D printing which also implies that a lot of fund will be given in this sector very soon.

Image Credit: Ben Sutherland (flickr handle: bensutherland)

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Delta 3D printer by Tytan 3D can print chocolate, floor and more

Multi material 3D printer Delta 3D by Tytan3D

A Polish company named Tytan 3D has developed a new 3D printer named Delta 3D printer that does not involve any hardened plastic polymer. Unlike other companies that produce 3D printers which rely on Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) to melt plastic polymer as they extrude material from the nozzle head, the new printer works in an entirely different way. Neither does the printer does not use any hardening plastic polymer nor heat. Instead the machine extrudes a self hardening material which becomes solid when it dries up.

The new printer is capable of printing in a wide variety of materials such as:

  • Flour and salt mixture (when dried, gets extremely hard and is easy to paint)
  • Paper pulp (mixture of ground paper, flour and glue)
  • Food (preferably foods which can be extruded as a liquid and harden when dried, like chocolate)
  • Adhesives (like caulk)
  • Many other self hardening materials

The printer is set to have a large build envelope which has a printing diameter of 20 cm and a height of 35 cm. The printer is quite stable with a stone base and aluminum poles. The machine uses a simple cartridge system making the removal and the installation process quite easy. There is an automatic pause function in the printer because of which the machine pauses if the cartridge gets over in the middle of the printing process. The target audience for the machine is almost everyone from professionals to amateurs since the usage of the machine is quite simple.

The printer is still in the production process with a fully functional proto-type which was unveiled at Kielce, Poland. The price of the printer is yet to be disclosed.

Image Credit: Windell Oskay (flickr Handle: Oskay)

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Paradigm 3D, the first 3D Printing Factory comes up in Dubai, UAE

3D Printing in UAE, 3D printing Factory, Paradign 3D

The brand name of D2M Solution is quite famous in the Middle Eastern countries as it has been the leader in shifting away the manufacturing industry from the traditional method by providing the manufacturers with the latest 3 dimensional production technology to many industries. Now, D2M Solutions’ FZE division is all set to open a 3D printing factory in the heart of UAE- Dubai named Paradigm 3D.

This new factory has been set up to help local production of proto-types and 3D printed parts for low volume production. The division will produce 3D parts on demand and the material used for 3D printing is quite vast. 3D printing in this store will provide very rapid production without the need of any expensive tools and thus saving time and money. The factory is equipped with a wide range of advanced Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) system of production from Stratasys. The main aim for establishing this store is to provide UAE and the surrounding regions with low volume and custom manufacturing.

Company spokesman Mr. Alex Papantoniou explained:“Presently if companies want to create new products they come across practical and financial problems related to getting short-runs or pre-production runs for new product development and form, fit and function testing – also to prove industry standards. If they have to start creating moulds and expensive tooling, projects can be delayed for years until the necessary funding is in place. However, by 3D printing low volumes it’s possible to kick-off the project cost effectively, and reach important milestones in product development, whereby either costly error can be modified based on the 3D physical models or approvals can be gained allowing product developers to move to mass production with confidence. However and perhaps not surprisingly as we are in Dubai, we have some discerning customers who are simply interested in manufacturing unique high-end and customized products, of which only one unit is required – and it is mainly for the UAE and Saudi market that we can now offer gold-plated parts.”

Image Credit: Chrstopher Michel (flickr Handle:cmichel67)

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Barack Obama is the first 3D printed president

Barack Obama 3D printed Model

3D printing has undoubtedly been a winner in every field that it has entered. From creating plastic items to the creation of kidney and prosthetics, 3D printing has proved its potential and versatility. Just when everyone thought that there’s no other field left to be conquered by a 3D printer, it went out and proved everyone wrong by creating a President!

Barack Obama is the first president to have been 3D scanned and printed. Obama’s 3D printed bust and mold of his face was put on display on June, 18 at the White House Maker Faire. This is a faire which celebrates the success of students and entrepreneurs who are using technology in order to make new products and business. This is done in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution.

A team of 3D digital imaging specialists from the Smithsonian Institution scanned the face of the president this year. They scanned the face of the president with the extended help from the University of Southern California which provided them with the Light Stage Face Scanner to digitally capture the face of the president in high resolution. Apart from the scanner the university also provided a handheld 3D scanner and a SLR camera in order to create a reconstruction of the bust. After this, the experts in 3D graphics from Autodesk produced a high resolution models which was then printed using Selective Laser Sintering Printer by 3D Systems.

The model would eventually join the collection at the National Portrait Gallery which is also the house of the much famous life masks of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

Image Credit: Marc Nozell (flickr handle: Marcn)

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China 3D Printing Industry grows by leaps and bounds

China 3D Printing Industry Growth

The success story of 3D printing seems to be never ending. After successfully conquering leading economies like UK, US and other European countries 3D printing is all set to place a firm foot on the Chinese soil.

In the World 3D Printing Technology Industry Exhibition, 2014 which was hosted in China, there were several items that were put on display which used the 3D printing technology. Right from stem cells to toys and jewelry the potential that 3D printing holds was exhibited in an elaborate way so that Chinese could get a glimpse of the magic that could be created via 3D printers. 3D printing has proved its worth in many fields such as medical science and aerospace and in the near future it might also prove its versatility by getting amalgamated with the internet and other equipments.

The Chinese are as of now very confident and optimistic about this technology. According to Peng Jun manager of printing department of Golden Laser Co. Ltd., “3D printing will be a new growth area of our company. Many products can be realized through 3D printing and it will bring considerable profits.” The advancement in the field of 3D printing is massive in China, in August 2013, researchers at an East China University 3D printed a kidney which was of the size of a knuckle. This kidney was made with the help of materials like living cells and Hydrogel, Hydrogel which is a combination of agar and sodium alginate which gives the cell a perfectly habitable atmosphere.

Since China started off late the country does lag behind when compared to other countries which are miles ahead in terms of technological advancements in 3D printing technology. To reflect on the brighter side this technology has attracted the attention and participation of many enterprises in China. Many experts believe that China is at the doorsteps of upgrading their traditional industries and also the way work is carried out in these industries, this situation does provide an opportunity for 3D printing technology to germinate.

According to the data that was compiled by the Chinese 3D printing Technology Industry Alliance, the global 3D printing industry’s output was about $3.2 billion last year from which China’s contribution was over 10%! The output of China was almost 2 billion Yuan last year and if experts are to be believed this figure is bound to double this year. With all these data on one side, experts also feel that 3D printing can only act as a supplement for the traditional manufacturing industry. It will undoubtedly save cost and shorten the time that is involved in the industrial designing field but replacing the traditional manufacturing industry is something that is not on the list.

The talks and the figure do imply for a wide acceptance of this technology in China at last the world’s fastest growing economy which undoubtedly started off late in this race of 3D printing has surely made up its mind in catching up with the other leaders of 3D printing.

 

Image Credit: Keith Roper (flickrhandle: KeithRoper)

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iMakr opens new store in New York City

Imakr Store logo

Trailing along the path from a London based store to the grand opening of the second store in NYC, iMakr seems to take the world by a storm. Located at 152 Allen Street on the Lower East Side is the brand new NYC iMakr Store. The step taken by iMakr to open a new store in NYC is definitely a milestone, as iMakr is an independent retailer store in which devices can be purchased from different vendors.

The opening of the store was a grand success with many big shots of the 3D printing industry, journalists, innovators and hobbyists witnessing the ceremony. On this occasion a large crowd which was around 300 people had gathered in the store to see a wide range of 3D printers, scanners, and 3D printing supplies, as well as 3D printer training and support. The store had products such as MakerBot gear from MakerBot, 3D printers from 3D Systems, Flashforge and Solidoodle. In order to showcase the potential of 3D printing, the store displayed the various objects that were 3D printed by world famous designers and artists.

Some of the famous people of 3D printing industry such as Sam Cervantes, CEO Solidoodle, Michele Marchesan, COO of 3D Systems, Brian Quan, MD of Tier Time US, Josh Ellis, Founder of MakerJuice and Erica Fingar, Product Manager of NinjaFlex were a part of this event. The opening speech was given by the founder of iMakr Sylvain Preumont. Everyone was startled by the live performance on a 3D printed violin which the company very rightfully related as “3D printing related entertainment.”

Image Source: John Abella (flickrhandle: jabella)

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Sketchup Basics Training: How to create 3D Models

Sketchup 3D model of a Car

SketchUp which was formerly known as the Google SketchUp is probably the most inexpensive way to turning you from a thinker to a doer! It is a 3D modeling program which is helpful for anyone who wants to produce a 3D object. There are two versions of this software available in the market, the freeware version is popular on the web by the name of “SketchUp Make” and the paid version which had additional functions is called the “SketchUp Pro”. SketchUp was an independent organization till 2006 after which it was acquired by Google. Recently the company was purchased by Trimble Navigation.

The program is quite user friendly with an open source storage area which has many freebie model assemblies such as windows, doors, automobiles and even spaceships! There is also a 3D warehouse in which users can contribute by donating their designs so that others can use it. In brief the software allows drawing layout functionality allows surface rendering in various styles, supports third party “plug-in” programs. All these can be found on a site called the Extension Warehouse.

Now the main question is how to use this software. Here is a step by step guideline which would help and enable you to efficiently use the software and create something awesome!

Step 1: Get the Software

If you do not have the software then you can download a free copy of the software from the internet or use this link http://www.sketchup.com/download. There are a lot of features in the free version but if you want to have the paid version the prices are quite steep something like $500.

Step 2: Install

Depending on the OS of your system the installation steps might vary so read closely the instructions to install the software to your computer.

Step 3: Open the program

There would be a set of three axes which instantly will give you the feel of 3D. There is a tool option which comprises of Line Tool, Circle Tool and Polygon Tool. Each of these represents the basic structure of the object that you want to create.

Step 4: Try to know as few basics to navigate around the program

  • The most important thing to know about SketchUp would be that it comprises of 10 simple tools. All these tools are important to make a 3D model.
  • In order to get a view of the desired object from all the angles the first group of tools can be used. The first group of tools comprise of orbit, pan and zoom.
  • If you wish to move the entire viewing screen push the centre mouse button and hold down the shift key on the keyboard.
  • You can draw lines with the help of the line tool which opens up as a default function when you open the software. Try your hand at drawing lines but don’t forget that these lines are one dimensional.
  • Beyond lines you can also try making two dimensional shapes with the help of tools for shapes. You can draw some rectangles, circles etc. All that is needed is to click on the necessary tool. Since the software is basically for 3D images the 2D images that you create will be shown as horizontal images.
  • If the image is not perfect or you want to make something else you can click the arrow button on the toolbar. When the selection is made the object will turn blue then hit the delete button on the keyboard.
  • If you want to save a project then click on the file option which can be easily located in the upper left corner. Once you click the file you can see the option of “save as”. Choose the location where you want to save the file and click ok. The file will be saved in the .SKP format.

Step 5: Create 3D images

After trying out all the above exercises you can now try your hand at making 3D images. In order to do that you can push or pull a 2D image into a 3D image. Use the push/pull toll to transform a 2D image to a 3D image. To do this there are a few steps that are to be followed.

  • Select the push/pull tool
  • Press the mouse button on the shape that you wish to turn into a 3D image.
  • Then click push/pull the shape as per your requirement
  • You can enlarge the object and also add in more structures

Step 6: Use panning and orbiting

Viewing of the object from different angles is an important part of 3D modeling and with SketchUp it’s quite an easy task. The pan tool allows you to move the drawing left, right, up and down. If you want you can do a combination of these actions.

The orbit tool allows you to get a bird’s eye view on the object. You can use the center scroll button on your mouse to orbit around the image.

Step 7: Move and rotate objects

This is a very useful application. This allows you to change the position of any object that you’ve created.

 

Step 8: Color or Paint the object

In order to use this application the shape must be complete so that color can be filled in them. When the shape of the object is perfect you can color the object as per your requirement. Using the paint tool, the objects can be painted in solid shades or in textures. With texture the experience is fun and also quite utile. To do this the following steps should be followed:

  • To add color to an object click on the paint bucket
  • Choose one from the category such as ground cover or Named colors.
  • Select a color or texture then click the area of the shape on which you desire to place the color
  • If there are nay unwanted edges you can do away with them with the help of the eraser

Step 9: Zooming

In order to see the details of the image that is created by you, you can use this option of zooming in and zooming out. If you have a mouse that has a mouse wheel you can see that rotating the mouse in one direction will zoom in and if rotated in the other direction it will roll out.

Step 10: Check the prebuilt models in SketchUp

There are many models that are prebuilt in the software and if you wish to create something that is already there in the software then it will stop you from having to reinvent it. The warehouse has many objects that are helpful in the areas of architecture, landscape, construction, people and transportation.

Step 11: Try advanced tools

Once you are familiar with the standard tools described above you can try your hand at trying the advanced tools. Some of the advanced tools are the resizing tool, follow me tool, uniform tool, curve tool, text tool and the measuring tape tool. You can try your hand at using these tools as well.

Hopefully this exercise has acquainted you enough with the software and would help you in using the software with much ease. For more information, you can check this link.

Image Credit: Paul Heaston (flickrHandle: Paul_Heaston)

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Super Fast Commercial 3D Printers aid Google’s Project Ara

Project Ara helped by 3D printers of 3D Systems

The main problem with the involvement of 3D printing in mass production is the speed. Even though 3D printers are big time money savers, since they are so slow the adaptation of this technology in the mass production is being refrained till now. For small manufacturers it is the best available option as they print one or two items per day.

The 3D printing company that has come forward to solve this problem is 3D Systems that is in the process of creating a 3D printing assembly line. The line runs in a cycle with a nozzle that spits out materials that are of different colors. In other words it’s a series of 3D printers that are placed in a line which is oval in shape. It uses a few printers to switch back and forth between colors. For example: if an object is to be printed which should have two or three colors so the nozzle will squirt out different colors simultaneously to achieve the desired object. As the item spins under the nozzle they gain height and then are moved into a collection bin. This new system prints 50 times faster than the standard FDM printing which is quite an impressive change.

This is being done for making mobile cases for Project Ara which is designed by customers. The work of these printers is definitely simple as the printing that will be done would be of square shapes with different colors on them but the inclusion of 3D printing in mass production is quite an attractive concept all together.

Image source: 3Dsystems press release