Retro Items Revived With 3D Printing

By on March 29th, 2015 in Design, Ideas

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A report by Stuart Fraser at Makerflux describes how someone revived the idea of a classic jukebox with 3D printing. 

According to Makerflux, BC-based Randy Cavanagh had previously developed a software jukebox application, but when asked to use it as a “DJ” for a wedding he decided to add a physical element to the jukebox in addition to the digital functions. 

Thus he designed a highly retro-styled case in which would be held a laptop running the jukebox program, as you can see above. 

We find this quite interesting, as it represents a class of activity one can now more easily undertake with access to a 3D printer. Sure, people have been replicating historic designs or re-making parts for long-expired vehicles, but this is a little different. 

It’s because the jukebox was “styled” in a retro way. It wasn’t duplicated. Cavanagh was obviously inspired by classic designs, but this appears to be his own. The idea here is that 3D printing opens up a niche genre of design, in this case, jukeboxes. One can imagine others designing and printing similar – but different – jukeboxes in the same way.

What other areas of design exploration might be enabled by 3D printing? In a sense, this question represents the key to the 3D printing equation: you press a button and something prints. But what is the “something”? It’s the design that counts most now. 

Via Makerflux

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!