Gizmodo: "While visiting the Philips research lab here in Amsterdam I came across a company that is getting the Star Trek replicator closer to everyday life.
Imagine being able to create any 3D object you want—a World of Warcraft avatar, a chess set, a lamp, a Lego piece you are missing, a house for a train model, or a fully articulated astromech droid—print it remotely, and have it delivered to your house in just 10 days, even without knowing any 3D software. This is exactly what Shapeways does. Not next century, but right now, today."
4 comments:
This is mind boggling. I mean, CAD Inventor and a 3d plotter are one thing, but without even knowing any software?
Original link-
http://gizmodo.com/5041836/shapeways-allows-you-to-materialize-any-3d-object-star-trek-style?autoplay=true
Some of those things are incredibly detailed and realistic. The creation of 3d items using a digital interface is one of those ideas you thought you would only ever see in "The Jetsons," but creating an interface that is more intuitive and easy to use is the first step to making this a universal reality. Could this mean new art forms? Think how much less time consuming scenic models would be.
I feel as though this isn't a completely new innovation. I've heard from a lot of Architecture and Design students about 3D printing, and those machines were building anywhere from chairs to chandeliers. The objects people created on this site seem to all be smaller than my hand. But the mail order idea is quite new to me. Services that allow to consumer to be creative are always a plus in my opinion.
CMU has several of these on campus...
This is not a new technology, nor is the idea of doing this via mail order, however the idea of allowing someone to make basic figures without knowing any modeling software is what's innovative.
From my experiences, the process of making a shape takes about 2-4 hours of "printing", and another 24 hours on top of that for the supersonic acid bath to remove the support structure. And it costs $20 per cubic inch (at least here).
It's one of those things that if you really really want it, you can spend enough money and get it made.
If you're interested in learning more about this (and other similar processes), take the Rapid Prototype Design class (39-245)
3D printing, while not being a relatively new concept like Bward said, is finally coming down in price to where it's more accessible. Personally I love the educational properties of a 3d printers. All the models for the Industrial Tech Dept Architecture classes at my undergrad were printed out at the end via a sand 3d printer. Also apparently with the sand printers you can create castings for foundries.
But also, just like Bward said, it depending on the complexity of the print job, it can take forever to print. Be interesting when the day comes that they can do color.
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