A Different Input

 

The process seems straightforward:

• Design a model with 3D Modeling software
• Tweak the 3D model for printing suitability
• Send the 3D model to a 3D printer
• Play cards while the printer buzzes
• Enjoy your printed model

The fundamental element of this sequence is the 3D model itself, that digital artifact that represents the desired object. We spend time creating them, modifying them, sharing them.

But is there another way?

BLDG BLOG speculates of another approach involving the interpretation of a narrative. They ask us to consider the classic novel, Ulysses by James Joyce, in which the city of Dublin is described in intricate detail. They then ask the questions:

After all, how do you map the city down to its every last conceivable detail? And what if cartography is not the most appropriate tool to use?
What if narrative – endlessly diverting narrative, latching onto distractions in every passing window and side-street, with no possible conversation or observation omitted – is the best way to diagram the urban world?

And then:

I'd actually suggest that the narrative position just outlined actually describes not a person at all but a surveillance camera – that is, the Ulysses of the 21st century would actually be produced via CCTV: it would be Total Information Awareness in narrative form.

And:

What if Ulysses had been written before the construction of Dublin? That is, what if Dublin did not, in fact, precede and inspire Joyce's novel, but the city had, itself, actually been derived from Joyce's book?

Finally:

If you fed Ulysses into a milling machine – that is, if you input not a CAD file but a massive Microsoft Word document containing the complete text of Ulysses – what might be the spatial result? Would the streets and pubs and bedrooms and stairwells of Dublin be milled from a single block of wood?
What if you fed Ulysses through a 3D printer?

Whew! That's slightly mind-blowing. Impractical, yes. Feasible? Not today. But would this ever be possible? Would it be conceivable that a sufficiently advanced software system could interpret a narrative, fill in gaps using conventional knowledge to arrive at a  useful 3D model?

We've written in the past about the need for vast repositories of models to enable everyday folks to get past the difficult design phase of the object creation sequence. But this is well beyond that, where an intelligent agent interprets desires and uses repositories of designs itself to produce the model.

Definitely not today, or tomorrow. But food for thought.

Via BLDG BLOG

Fab@Home Video

 

With all the buzz lately around MakerBot, RepRap and other kits, don't forget about Fab@Home, one of the senior kit initiatives. We've found a video that shows the entire Fab@Home sequence, from assembly of the printer itself to printing operations. Printed: Cup, Watchband, Chocolate!

Via YouTube

Chicago: A Modeled City

 

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is presenting "Chicago Model City" from now until November of this year. It's a gigantic and highly detailed three-dimensional model of the windy city's downtown towers. Note the relative size of the individuals in the image above.

City models are not a new phenomenon - but in the past their construction involved dozens, perhaps hundreds of craftsmen toiling over teeny building parts for years. The results were impressive, but Chicago's approach was quite different. Due to budget difficulties, they were led towards 3D Printing, and that's how the buildings were made, more quickly and with less expense.

The results are amazing: 1000 buildings, 400 blocks of downtown Chicago, home of many of the world's most amazing skyscrapers. The scene will be illuminated just as the actual city is by our sun. Check out this video with scenes from the exhibit.

Via Chicago Architecture Foundation and Chicago Sun-Times

3D Printing Up For Award

 

Could a 3D Printing company win the prestigious World Technology Award? MCOR technologies, whom we've written on several times in past months, is nominated in the IT Hardware (Corporate) category for their amazing plain paper-based 3D printer.

The World Technology Awards are an annual event featuring numerous awards in many categories:

... nominees are those individuals (in 20 categories) and companies/organizations (in 10 categories) who are doing the innovative work of "the greatest likely long-term significance" in their fields. They are those creating the 21st century.

MCOR is up against several other companies in the IT Hardware (Corporate) category:

• Belkin International, Inc.
• Mcor
• Motorola
• Nujira Limited UK
• Perceptive Pixel
• Quicklogic, Inc
• Reactrix Systems
• Sequoia communications
• SONY
• SundanceDSP Inc.
• Trace Optics
• UGOBE, Inc.
• VholdR Wearable Camcorder
• Xelerated AB
• Zink Imaging

We'll find out on July 16th whether MCOR is selected. Good Luck, MCOR!

Via WTN (Hat Tip to Deirdre)

MakerBot to CES?

 

MakerBot, the spirited startup who've begun selling a USD$750 3D Printer kit, stated something ominous on their blog: "CES 2010 Here We Come!"

CES is, of course, the famous annual Consumer Electronics Show, typically attracting well over 100,000 attendees to their Las Vegas exhibition. We've experienced the intimate pleasure of squeezing into McCarran Airport the day after CES closed ourselves.

CES is notable because it's the place where certain very notable products first gained the spotlight. According to Wikipedia, they include:

• Microsoft Xbox, 2001
• Digital Video Recorder (DVR), 1999
• HDTV, 1998
• DVD, 1996
• Virtual Boy, 1995
• CD-i, 1991
• Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), 1985
• Amiga computer, 1984
• Commodore 64, 1982
• Compact Disc (CD) player, 1981
• Camcorder, 1981
• Sega Coke,1979
• The Tennelec MCP-1 programmable scanner (radio), 1976
• Pong home console by Atari, 1975
• Laserdisc player, 1974
• Video Cassette Recorder (VCR), 1970

And now MakerBot is going to the same show.

Could this be the start of the big breakthrough for 3D printing? Will MakerBot be added to Wikipedia's list? We can only hope. Godspeed, MakerBot!

Via MakerBot Blog

Ponoko Overwhelmed

 

Ponoko, the innovative self-manufacturing service recently opened a new hub in San Francisco to more rapidly serve their North American clients. Previously, Ponoko had only one manufacturing hub at their secret New Zealand base.

Now we find that demand for service at the USA hub has apparently outstripped Ponoko's capacity:

With our new USA hub getting slammed with digital making requests within just 2 weeks of its launch, we’ve carefully cultivated a serious case of sleep deprivation.

To help us avoid this into the future, we thought some Bay Area locals might like to come and lend a hand from time to time.

Whether it’s for the love or for the money, no sweat.

If this sounds a little bit like you, we’re ‘taking names’ for random call ups every now and again. And who knows, something even more profound might develop?!

To add your name to the call up list, email us: service-at-ponoko.com

The economy might be bad, but it's clearly not bad everywhere. Hmm, do we hear the sound of the 21st century industry emerging?

Via Ponoko Blog

Stamp Your Website!

 

Recently we described Shapeways' new rubber stamp service, where images are transformed by software and 3D printing into a custom rubber stamp.

But now we find a truly innovative use of rubber stamps that brings that pre-20th century technology into the 21st. It all has to do with something called "QR Codes". They are a standard of two-dimensional bar codes, and can be used for a variety of scanned identification purposes, much like the more common bar codes we'd find pasted on the side of grocery store items.

One use that's becoming more popular, especially in Japan, is to encode a website URL into a QR Code. Then by scanning the QR Code, typically done with a mobile phone equipped with a camera and some software, the URL is decoded, a web browser is launched, and presto - you're at the website!
 

 

Here's a sample QR Code, which happens to be this website, Fabbaloo.  

Now this is where Shapeways comes in. By using a QR Code generator such as this one, you can quickly prepare a custom image of your website's URL. Upload the image to Shapeways and select their Stampmaker service and you'll get a rubber stamp in the post shortly thereafter. You can then imprint your website onto physical objects as long as you have ink. Oh, be sure to reverse the polarity of your QR Code image, because stamps are inverse, remember?

Via YouTube