The $500 water bottle cage.

Here’s an interesting application of 3D printing you don’t see everyday.  Aron Bothman created the above video, a light painting, using 3D printing. A light painting is a photography style where a photograph is taken in the dark with a long shutter speed and a light is used to “paint” in space. A flash is usually triggered at the end of the exposure to capture the scene.

An example is below where Gjon Mili took a photograph of Picasso painting a minotaur. The concept is further explained in this Times article.

A video of the 3D printer painting with the light is in the video below. I have to warn you though, watching the 3D printer in action with the light is rather... boring.

A light painting by Gjon Mili of Picasso.

The light painting in action (below).

Build this if you or your kids like bubbles :)

Well, he’s done it again. Not only has New Zealand’s Lance Abernethy 3D printed the world’s smallest functioning power drill, but now he’s 3D printed the world’s smallest circular saw.  Regardless, if you’re curious how he did it, he used OnShape to design the saw and an Ultimaker 2 to print it.

At this time, I think the only piece of the puzzle he’s missing is Ant-Man to use these power tools :) 

Here’s some really interesting work Disney is working on. They are 3D printing objects that can deform with spatially varying elasticity using 3D printing.

In English, this means they are printing objects with (1) internal structure and they are (2) varying the structure so the object can bend easily in some areas but remains stiff in others. 

If you prefer an even simpler definition, they pictures show they make 3D printing objects that have an internal mesh. The object is stiff where the mesh is dense. The object is flexible where the mesh is coarse.

And as the picture shows, they are using this technology to make toys. 

Well, here is an interesting application on 3D printing. A UK based company, BabyBoo, is using ultra sound scans of pre-natal babies to generate 3D models for the family. The article says they use 2D, 3D, and 4D scanning technology... 2D tends to be a photograph, 3D tends to add the Z-axis, 4D tends to add the element of time. 

Another interesting element, that is not apparent, is that you are mainly getting a hollow mask of the baby. In the picture below, you see it’s not a full 3D model of the baby. And it is only part of the face. 

Very unique application of 3D printing!

This is what I like to hear. 3D printing plus biking. Novak’s bike (pictured above) is only discussed briefly in the article but it apparently took him 150 hours to build.

This is what happens when worlds collide. You get a 3D printed car... that is also automated. This car is being developed by Local Motors in collaboration with researchers at University of Michigan. It makes sense to develop this vehicle at the University of Michigan because they have a world class facility to test connected and automated vehicles. 

Here’s an interesting application of 3D printing - grass!! In the above, researchers at the University of Maribor in Slovenia have developed a 3D printer that prints grass. Above, integrated the pot and the plant. So in theory, we could print the grass in almost any shape. In practical terms, I think this project is more on the “fun” side than “practical” side. 

However, this type of printer is similar in concept to printers that print Nutella - yummy. 

Well, I took a bit of a hiatus from Tumblr as work, my part time job, and marathon/triathlon training took over my life for a bit. Not to worry, I’ve still be following the 3D printing world... just not posting anything :(

So it’s finally time to get back into it. Here we go with one of the most awesome projects I’ve every seen. 

Codename Colossus, this monstrosity is from Machination Studio. This “toy” sits at 20 inches tall, 400 3D printed parts (laser sintering), powered by 7.4V of rechargeable batteries... it walks, the tank guns rotate, and it is  

along with movable legs, guns and cannons enabled by Arduino-controlled servos, LEDs and motors. Meanwhile, the device itself is powered by 7.4V LiPo rechargeable batteries, or six 7.2V AAs with a recommended minimum of 2800mAh. Unfortunately, it comes with a $5000 price tag :( Pictures and a timelapse of the construction below.

If you saw this 3D printed cockroach would you:   A. Stomp your foot on it?   B. Do a double take and then run for your life?   C. Admire it’s robotic superiority?   D. Feed it?

3D printed Shelby Cobra? Nice...