How can architecture inspire 3D printed fashion pieces? When will we be able to 3D print buildings? Are self-correcting 3D printers right around the corner? This edition of 3D printing news Sliced features Aurora Labs,GE, MyMiniFactory, Smet Construction Services, Inc., Rapid.Tech + FabCon 3D, Autodesk, Faro and more. AM in art & crafts, architecture, and […]
In this week’s edition of our 3D printing news digest, Sliced asks and answers the following questions: How can 3D printers strengthen the U.S Department of Defense? Can 3D prosthetics rehabilitate man’s best friend? Will 3D printed models help dissolve political tensions? All this and more from the likes of Nano Dimension, GE Additive, […]
3DZ, an authorized reseller of leading 3D printer and 3D scanner brands has opened a new business division in France. With the inauguration of 3DZ Lyon, the distributor now has regional headquarters in six European nations making it one of the largest resellers on the continent. Sandro Festa, Sales Director at 3DZ, comments, “We are trusted […]
Francesco de Comité is an Associate Professor in Computer Science at the University of Lille (France). He has a degree in Maths and a PhD in Computer Science, and his research focuses on the representation of mathematical concepts in real life with renders, 3D prints or ‘physical objects’. He started working in this field nearly 10 years ago, first by making 2D renders of math objects. But after these first attempts, he realised the need to go further with his research. “If you want to understand a mathematical object by means of 2D views, you have to produce a lot of 2D renders or an animation.” Then I began to look at the possibilities brought by 3D printing. Handling a 3D object allows you to see all its aspects at the same time,” Francesco explains about his first experiences with 3D printing. His 3D printing often begins with a programming challenge. “In general, I want to make mathematics tangible, by letting people manipulate the objects. 3D printing is often the only tool to build very difficult or nearly impossible objects.” “In general, I want to make mathematics tangible, by letting people manipulate the objects. 3D printing is often the only tool to build very difficult or nearly impossible objects.” The beauty of mathematics All Francesco’s objects are the result of procedural work: they are all programmed at a very low level, using Python within Blender or Grasshopper and C++ within Rhino. The programming part of the job is the more important phase because here is where the mathematical concepts are coded, tested and improved. The result of his work is always a beautiful piece of art: “Art is just a by-product, the beauty comes from the maths behind”, explains De Comité. “Art is just a by-product, the beauty comes from the maths behind” 3D printing mathematical figures in Multicolor+ One of the 3D printing projects that Francesco is working on at the moment are 3D-printed shells, designed with the help of mathematics. This idea is nothing new, but with the help of 3D printing, Francesco can go a step further. A century ago, D’Arcy Thompson, the pioneer of mathematical biology, described how the shape of a seashell is the result of a closed curve rotating in a spiral around an axis, while growing in size. Thirty years ago, Hans Meinhardt also showed in his book, ‘The Algorithmic Beauty of Seashells’, how the patterns decorating seashells can be described with simple differential equations, as Alan Turing did previously from a more general scope. None of them had 3D printing tools available during their time but De Comité does: “I was feeling that I could now gather both approaches in a synthetic work, and write programs for 3D-printed decorated seashells. I also wanted to write a single program that could represent all, or at least a large part, of the existing seashells. The task is quite successful now, even if I still need to acquire some practice.” The advantages of new, full-color 3D printing Multicolor+ was a great discovery for Francesco and his 3D-printed shells. Other full-color 3D printers on the market make models which are bigger and heavier than normal shells, especially because they require a minimum wall thickness of 3mm, which is far thicker than real seashells. “Since Multicolor+ only asks for 1mm wall thickness, I can design a model three times smaller and 27 times less heavy. Much closer to the size of real seashells!” specifies De Comité. He recommends respecting the wall thickness as the main trick to get the perfect Multicolor+ 3D print. Since Multicolor+ only asks for 1mm wall thickness, I can design a model three times smaller and 27 times less heavy Apart from the shells, he has also designed and printed other mathematical figures such as anamorphoses and cardioidal variations. Keep an eye on Francecso De Comite’s work with shells because he is improving his designs and even working on the Murex shell’s complex spikes. Are you impressed by Francesco’s mathematical figures in Multicolor+? You can also get the perfect 3D print in full color by following these tips and tricks. Once your designs are ready you just have to upload them to our online 3D printing platform and get an instant quote for your prints. If you are not such an advanced designer, you can start step by step with this 3D design tutorial for beginners. Mathematical figures and shells are not the only thing you can 3D print with Multicolor+. Discover all the possibilities of this brand new technology!
With an award of $9 million over the next four years, GE Global Research is to develop a process for creating 1:1 scale twin digital models of metal 3D printed parts for the U.S. Navy. According to recent estimates, the Navy will depend upon approximately 1,000 3D printed parts by the end of 2018. Through the […]
You want to 3D print something but you don’t know where to start. You have a great idea but you don’t know how to use 3D design software. Maybe you’ve even created a great sketch – but you don’t know how to turn your 2D idea into 3D. You are not alone! To get a quote and 3D print with i.materialise, you need to provide us with a 3D file; but where can you get it if you don’t know how to design? That’s when a professional 3D designer will come to the rescue! We asked Vijay Paul, a professional 3D designer, about his job and how he translates other people’s ideas into a 3D print. Can you explain what your job as a professional 3D designer is like? My job as a professional designer is to realise the client’s ideas through modeling with 3D CAD software. The modeling takes into consideration the materials and manufacturing methods. I also have to be aware of the function, purpose, artistic intent and budget of the idea. Sometimes I have to teach the client about the process so they are aware of design development. A lot of people without previous experience contact us asking for advice on 3D design. What would you tell them is the most important to take into account when trying to turn their ideas into reality? Budget is the biggest issue, 3D printing is not a cheap method production, plus the time of a professional experienced designer will add to the cost. An awareness of the material is also important. There are many different materials; each one with its own characteristics, including strength and finish. Seem to be doing lots of cars, that’s because I am, be careful what you whish for when you’re a kid. Surfaces and vroom vroom sounds have been added to #amr1 slot car to be #3Dprinted #astinmartin modeling in #rhino3d The tune is by #senking Capsize Recovery. A post shared by Dotsan (@dotsan1) on Mar 19, 2018 at 10:40am PDT What do you need from a client before starting their 3D design? To evaluate the time and budget I need a clear explanation of the idea, including dimensioned elevations and reference images. Knowing the budget at the beginning will lead to discussions of constraints or freedoms with the project. How long does it take to finish a 3D design? The time to complete a project depends on the complexity and communication. What are the most important challenges and barriers you face as a 3D designer for 3D printing? Most clients are hobbyists or new to 3D printing and don’t have large budgets for the 3D printing projects. This restricts what can be done. Sometimes I have to hire other designers that are good with Zbrush. Which advice would you give to beginners in 3D modeling? I would say create things and print them in different 3D printing materials to understand them for yourself before advising others. What is the best way to learn more about 3D design? I’m self-taught, I learned through experience and studying 3D design online tutorials. What about becoming a professional 3D designer? What makes a professional designer is the ability to charge money and deliver a model that the client is happy with. This 1997 #nissan #pathfinder because of it size 450mm length will need to be split for #3dprinting and assembly. #rhino3d #RCcars A post shared by Dotsan (@dotsan1) on Mar 14, 2018 at 10:11am PDT Which advice would you give to those trying to start a 3D printing business? There are many options for 3D printing and because it is technology based it is rapidly changing and there is always room for a new way of doing things, but you have to be flexible. Which software do you use? Which one would you recommend for a beginner in 3D design? I use Rhino 3D and have used it for 20 years, it has great mesh repair tools. It’s not easy to learn but I have enough experience to create most things. I also like Sculptris, the free version of Zbrush, it’s much more intuitive and fun. Read more about Vijay’s studio Dot San in this interview and get started with 3D design yourself with our 3D printing tutorials and articles. Once your first 3D designs are ready, you can start experimenting with materials and shapes by uploading them to our online 3D printing platform.
Colorful, eclectic, detailed and eye-catching are some of the adjectives we can use to describe Denise J. Reytan’s 3D-printed creations. Working and living in such an alternative city like Berlin, we didn’t expect any less from today’s featured artist. Read more to know how she got started with 3D printing and how far she has gone in her 3D designs for jewelry. Where are you from and what’s your background? Hi! My name is Denise Reytan. I’m a Berlin-based jewelry designer and artist and I create jewelry as well as installations and art objects. I studied in Pforzheim and Düsseldorf and opened my studio in Berlin in 2009. How would you describe your 3D printing work? My work is an exploration in contrasts – between materials, values, colors and personal content. I really like to question conventional boundaries and am interested in the transformation of precious into non-precious and vice versa. I really like to question conventional boundaries and am interested in the transformation of precious into non-precious and vice versa. How did you start to use 3D printing for your jewelry design? The first time I used 3D was in 2004, in a course at university, but the quality back in those days was so horrible that I didn’t use it further. Then I did an Artist Residence at the “Institute of Applied Arts” at the HS Düsseldorf in 2013. They had just gotten a new 3D scanner and lots of new software, so I was super curious about the new possibilities. In the end, it was an amazing experience to create my collages on the computer! What about 3D printing materials. You have designed jewelry in brass, like the “Rock o´clock”, but you also use plastics like polyamide. How different are those materials for 3D printing and which one is your favorite? Of course, the materials are very different, especially in terms of weight. I always choose the material which fits best with my idea and how I want to wear it. When I´m thinking of a brooch, polyamide (SLS) is definitely the better choice, because it is very light. The “Rock o´clock” ring is perfect in brass. It has a nice golden color and the material fits great with its use as a ring. How different is your creative process when 3D printing is involved or not? For me, 3D is a great tool, but my creative process starts in the beginning before I choose the technique. When I choose 3D, I first work on the preparations, like 3D scans. Then I create a collage on the computer, which is very playful and intuitive. For me, 3D is a great tool, but my creative process starts in the beginning before I choose the technique. Polyamide is a very versatile material. Which are your favorite polyamide finishes? I really like the polyamide(SLS) dyed purple or blue color. The white option is quite sensitive to dirt, but great for further processing. I also like the polished version very much. Which projects are you working on at the moment? At the moment I´m working on a pendant, made of 3D-printed brass. Explore the possibilities of 3D printing for your art and jewelry projects with i.materialise. You can go for brass or polyamide (SLS) like Denise, for other classic materials like silver, or give an unconventional material such as alumide a try. As you can see, there is not just one option for 3D-printed jewelry. Just upload your designs to our 3D printing platform and make your 3D printing ideas come to life! Read the material design guides carefully to get the most out of each material. Follow Reytan on her social media accounts and discover her website to get a dose of 3D printing inspiration.
It’s warmer weather, the first rays of sun are appearing and flowers are blooming all around… Spring is now in full bloom, at least in the Northern Hemisphere! And with the arrival of all these beautiful flowers, we’re enjoying the colors of spring! What can cheer you up more than a blooming pink tree, a bunch of purple lilies, a field of yellow tulips or a garden covered in red roses? Did you know that you can 3D print all the colors of spring? We’ll make it even easier for you with a 20% discount for 3D printing in Multicolor+. From now on until May 8 (included), you can enjoy our new Multicolor+ at a better price, and not just to 3D print flowers! To get your discount: Upload your files to our 3D printing platform Choose the material Multicolor+ Introduce the code SPRING20 before checking out* UPLOAD YOUR FILES NOW *The minimum order value for the discount is 25 euros. The most colorful 3D printing technology Multicolor + is the newest addition to our 3D printing technologies and it offers a world of possibilities for 3D printing! Discover 5 things that you can print with this full-color 3D printing technology and learn how to get the perfect Multicolor+ 3D print. To get started with 3D printing in full color, don’t miss this video tutorial for MagicaVoxel. Show us your springtime 3D prints on social media with the hashtag #imaterialise.
If you live on this planet, you might have already watched or at least heard about the latest Marvel movie: Black Panther. This blockbuster has been acclaimed by the public and movie critics for many reasons, including the impressive costumes worn by the characters. Tradition meets 3D printing The amazing outfits for the movie were inspired by the colors and shapes of African tradition and the cutting-edge technology of Wakanda. One of the main characters, Queen Ramonda, wears an elegant crown in the movie, reminiscent of the traditional crowns worn by married Zulu women. This crown was 3D-printed by Materialise. It’s a perfect example of the Wakandan blend between old and new! When Ruth Carter, Head Costume Designer for Black Panther, was faced with the challenge of designing a crown for the mother of T’Challa – the Black Panther himself – she sought the collaboration of an experienced designer for fashion and 3D-printed wearables, Julia Körner, and put it together using the 3D printing technologies available at Materialise. The results are out of this world! Read more about this fantastic 3D print and the designing process on the Materialise blog. A 3D printing technology worthy of a queen’s outfit The technology chosen to 3D print Queen Ramonda’s crown was Laser Sintering and the material was Polyamide12 or Polyamide (SLS). This is the 3D printing option that offers the highest freedom of design, one of the best options for such a creative project! Julia’s 3D design skills were key to achieving a crown that was stiff enough to retain its shape but also flexible enough to be comfortably worn by the actress Angela Basset who was playing Queen Ramonda. Polyamide is also a great material for beginners in 3D printing and designers because it gives the possibility to print the most intricate shapes, and it comes in many different finishes and colors. You can also print your creations in Polyamide (SLS) by uploading your 3D designs to the i.materialise 3D printing platform. You’ve never been closer to Hollywood! Look for more inspiring stories about 3D printing in fashion and shoe design on our blog. All images courtesy of Marvel’s Black Panther / Costume Design by Ruth Carter
BASF 3D Printing Solutions is a subsidiary of BASF SE, the largest chemical producer in the world, focusing on expanding the company’s materials, components and service offerings for 3D printing. The company is collaborating with Essentium Materials, the Texas-based creator of the FlashFuse FDM electric welding process, to create new filaments under the “Ultrafuse” name as […]
