GIANT 3D PRINTED BUGS!

By on July 11th, 2013 in learning, research, Usage

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The Australian National Insect Collection could be a creepy place if you’re adverse to meeting bugs. But now it’s enormously MORE creepy because they’ve used advanced technology to create GIANT 3D PRINTED BUGS!
 
They’ve carefully 3D scanned specimens of several species and reproduced them up to forty times life size. Yes, FORTY. And they’re made of titanium. Giant. Titanium. Bugs. 
 
See the image above for an example. Click for larger detail – if you dare. 
 
Aside from scaring everyone, what purpose could this serve? They’re trying to enable researchers to study the critters by direct handling and examination. Researchers can closely examine and recognize features not previously seen through microscopes. 
 
Via CSIRO

By Kerry Stevenson

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has written over 8,000 stories on 3D printing at Fabbaloo since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!