tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2192871043442686052024-03-05T20:54:13.539-05:00MCAD 3D Printing and PrototypingTechnical information, executive opinion on industry trends and news, polls, tips, research findings and much more information designed to help you accomplish your goals with 3D printing and 3D scanning. We'll also include posts from guest bloggers, including key customers, technology partners, and industry experts.ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-46720722577035057052012-03-07T07:00:00.000-05:002012-03-07T06:47:43.499-05:003D Color Printing Brings Math to Life<em>Today’s blog comes from George Hart of the <a href="http://momath.org/">Museum of Mathematics</a> in NY.</em><br />
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At the Museum of Mathematics, which is opening later this year in New York City, we plan to show visitors that math is a fun, colorful, and creative subject. To that end, we are busy designing cool, hands-on exhibits, and I have used a 3D Systems hi-def color ZPrinter for making physical models of some exhibit ideas. But this blog post stems from another endeavor: Like many museums, we are raising money through a fundraiser dinner. I am very happy to have access to ZPrinter technology for making a series of festive mathematical centerpieces for this event. <br />
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3D printing allows the construction of intricate mathematical forms which could not be built by any other technology. The extra dimension of color allows for beautiful centerpieces that catch the eye and highlight mathematical features. Here are three of my favorites from this project:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe7zQrofzlMKSR6gnXsXrqJFDIl_INh4QaORIBonjIH5pc7e6mYuOmf6_Q4kmFRNS579ho7BVoaM0QayIVQxELAWY2LWYnV5dbDOq0DQBvWyAEz6v5rjAuPEez6QxKDj4WMzprzS7GXiQ/s1600/MoMath%2520centerpiece-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQe7zQrofzlMKSR6gnXsXrqJFDIl_INh4QaORIBonjIH5pc7e6mYuOmf6_Q4kmFRNS579ho7BVoaM0QayIVQxELAWY2LWYnV5dbDOq0DQBvWyAEz6v5rjAuPEez6QxKDj4WMzprzS7GXiQ/s320/MoMath%2520centerpiece-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This sculptural centerpiece has thirty yellow bumps, arranged like the vertices of an icosidodecahedron. But they connect to each other through meandering paths that weave through the interior. It is something of a maze to find a shortest path from one bump to another. Shades of color help highlight the overs and unders of the intricate paths.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM7ObQzgN-1Mlw3hOSMbx2xRGfAThRq5KGvg9hcIXu_8JvsN8eoQ6aJDZouOCDiKCv-csnf1d-pg1A1PPMZkZieJmVgCz9uyz5clsp_cjLz_wSp2b0PaxHsvukcUHJAoKdsRW29paVSIh/s1600/MoMath%2520centerpiece-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM7ObQzgN-1Mlw3hOSMbx2xRGfAThRq5KGvg9hcIXu_8JvsN8eoQ6aJDZouOCDiKCv-csnf1d-pg1A1PPMZkZieJmVgCz9uyz5clsp_cjLz_wSp2b0PaxHsvukcUHJAoKdsRW29paVSIh/s320/MoMath%2520centerpiece-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This centerpiece is designed with floral elements connected in ways that give an organic impression without looking like any particular flower. Through twelve pentagonal openings, you can see that the interior features sixty 5-fold flower-like forms.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9sVmhHVt0esFEd7qIhV-RhO6Oy5KX7IbQnXADj7ZVEGwOXu_GTozJ8zniX8ePOjYrLuonxxrDt_0R806Ys7OvC3_HvJSuRZfPgymGSqrirPnwOQrLUwZ5tv8Vve_DccPeAVq-SPJZgAW/s1600/MoMath%2520centerpiece-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9sVmhHVt0esFEd7qIhV-RhO6Oy5KX7IbQnXADj7ZVEGwOXu_GTozJ8zniX8ePOjYrLuonxxrDt_0R806Ys7OvC3_HvJSuRZfPgymGSqrirPnwOQrLUwZ5tv8Vve_DccPeAVq-SPJZgAW/s320/MoMath%2520centerpiece-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This design is purely geometric in character. A series of arches nest in a geometric series with smaller and smaller elements leading to the center. The geometric idea is based on five cubes, but they've undergone nonlinear transformations.<br />
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For more information and pictures of other centerpieces from this series, see my <a href="http://georgehart.com/sculpture/centerpieces/centerpieces.html">website</a>. <br />
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<em><a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Solutions/Architecture/spage.aspx">http://www.zcorp.com/en/Solutions/Architecture/spage.aspx</a> </em><br />
<a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/"><em>http://www.3dsystems.com</em></a><em> </em>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-55644190689816711462012-02-22T07:00:00.220-05:002012-02-22T07:00:10.715-05:00A New Way to Learn Your ABCs with 3D Printing<em>Today's blog is by <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jon Fidler, digital artist, who created and fabricated 26 3D letters for a collaboration project called 'Architypo' with <a href="http://www.rave.ac.uk/">Ravensbourne</a>, <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">UK-based digital media university,</span> and <a href="http://www.johnsonbanks.co.uk/company-blurb-biogs/">Johnson Banks</a>.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>Here at Ravenbourne, a London-based digital media university, we have just completed a collaboration project with London-based design studio Johnson Banks, setting about to create an 'alphabet of alphabets' and 3D print a complete set of 3D letters, each showcasing the character and history of a particular typeface.The project came about to develop a means of testing and showcasing our in-house 3D prototyping technology. For each of the letters 'A' through 'Z,' the designers selected a typeface beginning with that character, which is used in the sculptural work. Each piece furthermore encapsulates a bit of the history of the typeface: <br />
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The 'J' adopts the form of a metro system map, because its fontface 'johnston' was originally designed for the London underground; the 'C' is composed of 'courier,' used in 1950s typewriters, and thus is composed of an assemblage of typewriter keys.<br />
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'Arkitypo' took over six months to complete. Johnson Banks first researched each letter and then developed drawings, maquettes, and simple 3D renders before transferring the imagery. Ideas came to us at Ravensbourne where we utilised our 3D expertise and further developed the 3D models, collaborating virtually with Johnson Banks before beginning the first test prints. For the creation of the letters, me and my student, Jason Taylor, used a combination of software, including Solidworks, Rhino, Autocad and 3Ds Max to obtain the required results, and in some cases the letters took days to model.<br />
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Due to the existence of over 26 letters, we required a lot of prototyping to be carried out, in order to visually analyse what the designs looked like. For this, our ZPrinter 450 stepped up to the plate and, within a couple of hours, allowed us to print scaled versions of the letters to gain a perspective on their appearance. Then, we quickly edited designs if needed and quickly printed again to check the results. We used the printer to print some of the final letters which included A,D,E,F,H,I,L,N,O,Q,R,S,V,W,X, and Z. They can be seen below alongside the description. 'O' was a great example of where our ZPrinter was great! Using other machines, the software could not handle the complexity of the object, but we were able to open it up straight away in ZPrint software and print immediately. Because ZPrinters do not use physical support structures, we saved a lot of time processing the models. We then used all of the data created for the models to create the visulisations that can be see in the video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rGUU_B78mo&list=UUovfe8uBIStUFPjdWmVAuQw&index=1&feature=plcp">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rGUU_B78mo&list=UUovfe8uBIStUFPjdWmVAuQw&index=1&feature=plcp</a><br />
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The complete alphabet, as well as some of the in-process renders are shown below:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8tYB4cdf9waM3sEkmeGOsW7xTlRSgj31JmXSz-17ejlixHhMU-4IMveu6QOmFyFbCMLdRNyScw7OVf7jvtxsBx1yADaxPXYqVkUjlE-uJ0mtJ9abjIgkjLAbLsbtdtx0-BS00xGRwl9T/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8tYB4cdf9waM3sEkmeGOsW7xTlRSgj31JmXSz-17ejlixHhMU-4IMveu6QOmFyFbCMLdRNyScw7OVf7jvtxsBx1yADaxPXYqVkUjlE-uJ0mtJ9abjIgkjLAbLsbtdtx0-BS00xGRwl9T/s320/A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'A' is composed of the typeface 'akzidenz grotesk' (1896). Among the first sans serif typefaces to be widely used, the design was part of a family of early san-serifs called 'grotesques.'<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMmtrZCbFtD4H1Q9PHRPubJyywyF6V5TRC8NbJRWPSwTFP90f575LxyFF2InP5mhax6QfgtDaDLqoue07nCoTQF9e6lAty3r_xxNsUAMlWwGP9AwnfC9zQscKWB7Pp6ImhdlKgDsnUIk7/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGMmtrZCbFtD4H1Q9PHRPubJyywyF6V5TRC8NbJRWPSwTFP90f575LxyFF2InP5mhax6QfgtDaDLqoue07nCoTQF9e6lAty3r_xxNsUAMlWwGP9AwnfC9zQscKWB7Pp6ImhdlKgDsnUIk7/s320/B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'B' is composed of the typeface 'bodoni' (1798), modeled after 'baskerville,' but exaggerated in its weight, with heavier thick lines and thinner thin ones. The Johnson Banks sculpture highlights this history with a 'bodoni' 'B' that traces its origin to its 'baskerville' form.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNj7gYvafdHAtoWcEXokqGY-J4qdsQ646ksVW3m0_yStUewHBQscU_3MDqJM8K0DLkG-b-bihAdUeJgH_x3mc3Rp7F90SWacFqhxR6ptYC7hQ6alfHFhkgEYuYBTU7Gnv2i7VQtujOZtJm/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNj7gYvafdHAtoWcEXokqGY-J4qdsQ646ksVW3m0_yStUewHBQscU_3MDqJM8K0DLkG-b-bihAdUeJgH_x3mc3Rp7F90SWacFqhxR6ptYC7hQ6alfHFhkgEYuYBTU7Gnv2i7VQtujOZtJm/s320/C.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The 'C' is composed of the typeface 'courier' (1955), originally commissioned for 1950s IBM typewriters. <br />
Johnson Banks designed their model out of typewriter keys, referencing the old days of manual processing <br />
and jammed machinery.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbF13q1cLJj3kXBC-TgM4yCtk6WYwO5TAvQLPbNX4L_62RvcWWGHTS5pTrVpxCv8ahvD6T3pKaZcBaPJIGIrWZykMcoRfbP2AhAeTlEbRu5t3K1GQYmmwPmj4cD0sL7hxpal13wlFBkX7F/s1600/D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbF13q1cLJj3kXBC-TgM4yCtk6WYwO5TAvQLPbNX4L_62RvcWWGHTS5pTrVpxCv8ahvD6T3pKaZcBaPJIGIrWZykMcoRfbP2AhAeTlEbRu5t3K1GQYmmwPmj4cD0sL7hxpal13wlFBkX7F/s320/D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'D' is composed of 'DIN 1451,' the typeface selected in 1936 as the standard for German engineering and civil service projects.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9je6KRT26_WC-ID9B4g7E9yf7Ya-2SGZh23lK98EANAdVOJZ1wE6Wp2KzFBzFHpOq4pe9oop-zvvEQGDc8e_ZkJFpgRRA_d_mWd3icGpg23UKBl-kr_qv1ria4m-ClfV7dXyIEDZ5lgsG/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9je6KRT26_WC-ID9B4g7E9yf7Ya-2SGZh23lK98EANAdVOJZ1wE6Wp2KzFBzFHpOq4pe9oop-zvvEQGDc8e_ZkJFpgRRA_d_mWd3icGpg23UKBl-kr_qv1ria4m-ClfV7dXyIEDZ5lgsG/s320/E.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'E' is composed of 'engravers' (1899), designed for metal engraving.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIza_NxRM2Cl804Vum6LlclhxQWDqxrVFRQEHYoc_NYS6vXjr4DjiOMvHzjEBn4T5j1vtnHsowTSXm9PCaxEy6uND2i8VsIgoeo0GNme6bq03rqRFtl1smUpZjwDYHfPtR2D9pjQCBGtj/s1600/F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcIza_NxRM2Cl804Vum6LlclhxQWDqxrVFRQEHYoc_NYS6vXjr4DjiOMvHzjEBn4T5j1vtnHsowTSXm9PCaxEy6uND2i8VsIgoeo0GNme6bq03rqRFtl1smUpZjwDYHfPtR2D9pjQCBGtj/s320/F.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 'F' is composed of the blackletter typeface 'fraktur,' modeled after antique carolingian minuscule and other handwritten designs in order to provide a standard typeface for a series of books by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. 'Fraktur' became the predominant style for the following centuries, until the 20th century, where it was ultimately banned by the Nazis in 1941. Here, Johnson Banks' design alludes to the typeface's close association with bookmaking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD4nWRczoeKLNX6guoYF2KqhnSiumOA8_Ha_hxbc9av4z0PSG3aVjQR7VT-j_KMCWbtt0E4bPhK3jIQAqBG01TyChkYtfdfaPsSGBnYGtQokb6iCUIBPQUsOOAfaU8rEM-LZ1Cq3tmjiB/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD4nWRczoeKLNX6guoYF2KqhnSiumOA8_Ha_hxbc9av4z0PSG3aVjQR7VT-j_KMCWbtt0E4bPhK3jIQAqBG01TyChkYtfdfaPsSGBnYGtQokb6iCUIBPQUsOOAfaU8rEM-LZ1Cq3tmjiB/s320/G.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'G' is composed of 'gill sans' (1933). Eric Gill, designer of the the typeface, is quoted as saying, 'a pair of spectacles is rather like a ‘g;’ I will make a ‘G’ rather like a pair of spectacles;' thus providing the reference point for the Johnson Banks model.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJjPACow8a6KzC_ZFNXX6K48yECDFJe9isbnHWENrtKAt1vECBTcgsBDmigcizAe56FF-ojBEuhaqR4Z0q4wJ-sZqIJnbJH9moSJyReR4w9j85PsdzLVtIr-vVR1FXCWm8BJtaHc8_Loa/s1600/H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJjPACow8a6KzC_ZFNXX6K48yECDFJe9isbnHWENrtKAt1vECBTcgsBDmigcizAe56FF-ojBEuhaqR4Z0q4wJ-sZqIJnbJH9moSJyReR4w9j85PsdzLVtIr-vVR1FXCWm8BJtaHc8_Loa/s320/H.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'H' is composed of 'helvetica' (originally 'neue haas grotesk', 1957; renamed in 1960). Latin for 'Switzerland,' the typeface became associated with both Swiss design and modernist industry and graphic design in general. The Johnson Banks sculpture assembles together the logos of some of the many corporations that use helvetica for their brand.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbT5qwDmpH4haothRVvnWuvrBEvwJZacmy1NIOcEmerPkwt9voERWJE6ASqXjyPD4vzcpOGd63hGRnrm9oMpMhDRTdDLCBDlT6IPVeiFSyyzbmTf1IdEv_wfndxGEhTd6lpYzprv5h9Uo/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbT5qwDmpH4haothRVvnWuvrBEvwJZacmy1NIOcEmerPkwt9voERWJE6ASqXjyPD4vzcpOGd63hGRnrm9oMpMhDRTdDLCBDlT6IPVeiFSyyzbmTf1IdEv_wfndxGEhTd6lpYzprv5h9Uo/s320/I.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'I' uses 'industria,' originally designed by Neville Brody in 1984 for 'The Face' magazine.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBfNd-jT8AhHkQDll5yeJiC8gRJk2436uvart-m744rhStee11CD9FY7F3IP0A7wupA8el0tgGHQT5ml6DtUs4acflVZmp9SvelsJk5NUKje95bucAHNvcjlNJ7rSUMFz6w0zm-C6SyiV/s1600/J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBfNd-jT8AhHkQDll5yeJiC8gRJk2436uvart-m744rhStee11CD9FY7F3IP0A7wupA8el0tgGHQT5ml6DtUs4acflVZmp9SvelsJk5NUKje95bucAHNvcjlNJ7rSUMFz6w0zm-C6SyiV/s320/J.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'J' is composed of 'johnston' (1916), created for the London underground transit system, referenced by the Johnson Banks model.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29IfIbKBg00TE_ip8rZ8d6bTCMEWVuzukXIIbVl7HKzxGKGUQOmvJhTvuTJgpSjZVYqQB9Xgm9mR0lwE3Ip_F20M5Nt8oVP7d8YP5JyPF_kJ1U5vAqEzla8qzItmi-7qamW0tGesd3IUW/s1600/K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29IfIbKBg00TE_ip8rZ8d6bTCMEWVuzukXIIbVl7HKzxGKGUQOmvJhTvuTJgpSjZVYqQB9Xgm9mR0lwE3Ip_F20M5Nt8oVP7d8YP5JyPF_kJ1U5vAqEzla8qzItmi-7qamW0tGesd3IUW/s320/K.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'K' is composed of 'kabel' (1927), named in honour of the then newly-completed transatlantic telephone cable, which is the form utilized by Johnson Banks for the sculpture.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIF6j32ltJ4zYHCSwtKR44WOjYNNeLDG2WkhannPNYV1UnC9DzBCVUkoFJwzoZJS7O1K4l4ELjAzfvh1BVNFRAWUWMsFpOzTFSFUZfIVJKlq9b5cQZiLk3ZFzpZryjsDTleZ2AQQK7MM4/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIF6j32ltJ4zYHCSwtKR44WOjYNNeLDG2WkhannPNYV1UnC9DzBCVUkoFJwzoZJS7O1K4l4ELjAzfvh1BVNFRAWUWMsFpOzTFSFUZfIVJKlq9b5cQZiLk3ZFzpZryjsDTleZ2AQQK7MM4/s320/L.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'L' is composed of 'lubalin graph.' The typeface was among the first slab serif alphabets for the phototypesetting industry.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0JJhxAgMc1AZZnDci__KBVMaQ5MTCj-Yi9q6LTDBhsbrYJ1ci7OkGb2sqdzh5IP37G4_TBDA7bStxogsm5_bv3TQCTrNO-VVpPr-aUGQNGHFXdi-EfHQ1DPcUVSSQrNFnt-VJpVpMgkW/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0JJhxAgMc1AZZnDci__KBVMaQ5MTCj-Yi9q6LTDBhsbrYJ1ci7OkGb2sqdzh5IP37G4_TBDA7bStxogsm5_bv3TQCTrNO-VVpPr-aUGQNGHFXdi-EfHQ1DPcUVSSQrNFnt-VJpVpMgkW/s320/M.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'M' is based upon the 'machine' ITC typeface, often associated with industry, and thus already the influence behind the mechanical cogs used here to compose the letter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMr1aVp6ybtNy35TPXJPv_d2nJ5IoxI3vSTMaXKfvFa2TVfdmiSXAH7nX3Qj4fGmxrKSRo2oNxh7J-X6SuhyphenhyphenbMRn6awZvc4gHpDOjQz1BVaY-icTLsYww0WPVZnHfUAUR89suHMItzadiA/s1600/N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMr1aVp6ybtNy35TPXJPv_d2nJ5IoxI3vSTMaXKfvFa2TVfdmiSXAH7nX3Qj4fGmxrKSRo2oNxh7J-X6SuhyphenhyphenbMRn6awZvc4gHpDOjQz1BVaY-icTLsYww0WPVZnHfUAUR89suHMItzadiA/s320/N.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'N' is created from the 'new alphabet' typeface (1967), a minimalist experimental font based on clean lines and precise angles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cF85zIDaRr54Ed1ePad29Rc2uYZG1vpUT6DbrIA6LW1NPa4svOKyaCKJyf79aI-ZO3f1nSvXtkPPEA-_CwIPLGYx-gJ-pDZeKDU9FD9MdVWjCOmbOf7cQ7tqjDKVsLL6DKpRH03lwN8j/s1600/O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cF85zIDaRr54Ed1ePad29Rc2uYZG1vpUT6DbrIA6LW1NPa4svOKyaCKJyf79aI-ZO3f1nSvXtkPPEA-_CwIPLGYx-gJ-pDZeKDU9FD9MdVWjCOmbOf7cQ7tqjDKVsLL6DKpRH03lwN8j/s320/O.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'O' is composed of 'OCR-A,' whose strange characters filled the need for a font recognizable by both humans and the simple optical character recognition systems of early computers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHDWnL5mvBmDkf5AdVhdttDoOxoOpbku5U36EUe7NTtwpmtxNOoo8kHV1zLEtmLTCHPdtHeA6AuMpQBdJhJD6ePACuvHkLJSggNyPbnNlWU1nnaGwS-ERLlW9cYWwRK5tji2Jj3giR7bU/s1600/P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHDWnL5mvBmDkf5AdVhdttDoOxoOpbku5U36EUe7NTtwpmtxNOoo8kHV1zLEtmLTCHPdtHeA6AuMpQBdJhJD6ePACuvHkLJSggNyPbnNlWU1nnaGwS-ERLlW9cYWwRK5tji2Jj3giR7bU/s320/P.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'P' is an assemblage of letters in the typeface 'perpetua' (1929). 'Here,' the designers of Johnson Banks explain, 'It is set to perpetuate in an endless möbius strip of uppercase letters.'<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTnssbhQHA7RDIMQmaCMeYYszt89CkFNkroNV_eiiWh3STEslLBQwAbG13B4rz0als1mJx6FeuYfPQ2RLktVZlu98ztqRmXqEM9qT-5JD5SYRLAEhB0OhQlHn_M2A6S_yirrCXD98n0Yx/s1600/Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTnssbhQHA7RDIMQmaCMeYYszt89CkFNkroNV_eiiWh3STEslLBQwAbG13B4rz0als1mJx6FeuYfPQ2RLktVZlu98ztqRmXqEM9qT-5JD5SYRLAEhB0OhQlHn_M2A6S_yirrCXD98n0Yx/s320/Q.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'Q' is composed of the typeface 'quadrate' (2002), which appears even in 2D to have a 3-dimensional element. As a result, Johnson Banks sought to produce what the real 3D letter 'could have been.'<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBwp-ZL_PQEEibH60nIIJhYY9UuN8TZxIp5C7f5h6TpLx6W1iRAb-kRxtNb8gfGZbPl4MGT_Y9tpN_X3cZfAs3pg0oOxKzbfNmPc4NKBIcBQyygkcVgw2v6rKRsLsJTVOQQ7UliZFTmoV/s1600/R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBwp-ZL_PQEEibH60nIIJhYY9UuN8TZxIp5C7f5h6TpLx6W1iRAb-kRxtNb8gfGZbPl4MGT_Y9tpN_X3cZfAs3pg0oOxKzbfNmPc4NKBIcBQyygkcVgw2v6rKRsLsJTVOQQ7UliZFTmoV/s320/R.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'R' utilizes 'retina' (2002), Johnson Banks explains: 'At large sizes ['retina'] seems to feature crude ‘notches’ cut into the letterforms, but these are there to compensate for the way blobs of ink blur type at tiny sizes.'<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa7YnSTIoIRsv9s69KvQi38zKJ7Q1Rjp9bOCsYqGJm8vRb2yAhWT3WiDv0VLGOwWeoMbCQtAl0zHGcZ13c0DV1xrtnzJWcCaMLtkw6KkOkd8HvO4KzfHHpgWt0Z8eHlYYH5VVUrNwBPs2/s1600/S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwa7YnSTIoIRsv9s69KvQi38zKJ7Q1Rjp9bOCsYqGJm8vRb2yAhWT3WiDv0VLGOwWeoMbCQtAl0zHGcZ13c0DV1xrtnzJWcCaMLtkw6KkOkd8HvO4KzfHHpgWt0Z8eHlYYH5VVUrNwBPs2/s320/S.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'S' is composed of 'serifa' (1966), a serifed adaptation of 'univers.' In reference of this history, here the letterform appears to launch from a 'U' sculpture in 'univers.'<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t7F0xK_8oNuSRfhjEOXkxQNQuDRfOLgTjdWLeLawdZNxZWe8348DnwKUqTZiOq3nwej7C-ag4VIVTWKhgiDvw_scE5xYLbuDTCPyxprwi-mqo8EOw1rqq7bVDMPqHwLO-HhWPeCohG8q/s1600/T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t7F0xK_8oNuSRfhjEOXkxQNQuDRfOLgTjdWLeLawdZNxZWe8348DnwKUqTZiOq3nwej7C-ag4VIVTWKhgiDvw_scE5xYLbuDTCPyxprwi-mqo8EOw1rqq7bVDMPqHwLO-HhWPeCohG8q/s320/T.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'T' is composed of 'trajan' (1989), a contemporary adaptation of the Roman capitals engraved on Trajan's column in Rome. The historical monument itself can be climbed via an internal spiral staircase, to which the Johnson Banks 'T' sculpture makes reference.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-whB4q98PPapgkN-J5v25Q802kSl_i_xfWpxVuKiObUBVnVV9HoZe2gEf4lETht4eTMSgJV5F1Kp_nQIQ35-lbrBdLXyylJiJqC94Y2LTUYQUADZIzzNVwyF92tE085gnLoYqVDIZV5N0/s1600/U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-whB4q98PPapgkN-J5v25Q802kSl_i_xfWpxVuKiObUBVnVV9HoZe2gEf4lETht4eTMSgJV5F1Kp_nQIQ35-lbrBdLXyylJiJqC94Y2LTUYQUADZIzzNVwyF92tE085gnLoYqVDIZV5N0/s320/U.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'U' is stylized in 'univers' (1957), now one of the world's most ubiquitous typefaces.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkF3e8tvi3ahnE1YJNuotTwoZY5i7t7Oza5hCONrASFuTJAzqavrp_ciWiOrD0Ii1ZLX9SNq12G8dR6dvhaEOJKSmWXPexqs9S_hvgAHGjbuueGLyZEFRxWCz7b6kDmL4XbddUDRMxebZq/s1600/V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkF3e8tvi3ahnE1YJNuotTwoZY5i7t7Oza5hCONrASFuTJAzqavrp_ciWiOrD0Ii1ZLX9SNq12G8dR6dvhaEOJKSmWXPexqs9S_hvgAHGjbuueGLyZEFRxWCz7b6kDmL4XbddUDRMxebZq/s320/V.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'V' is composed of 'verdana' (1996), designed for screen printing and bundled with early Windows software.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aid6M-u7r89_iLd9SNOZ-JREguNEGAA-qxM_F9p0a8ZAzg7K8aaoeRJFSGUeAPdQrOsQrA8aqcXSMVLQeYPLwKYf07PmH1ChbwaDHTmX-_SV9L2r8Lawvz8W0ACyW2NakRTAcL14Qlct/s1600/W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aid6M-u7r89_iLd9SNOZ-JREguNEGAA-qxM_F9p0a8ZAzg7K8aaoeRJFSGUeAPdQrOsQrA8aqcXSMVLQeYPLwKYf07PmH1ChbwaDHTmX-_SV9L2r8Lawvz8W0ACyW2NakRTAcL14Qlct/s320/W.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'W' utilizes the typeface 'wilhelm klingspor gotisch,' a blackletter design that draws from the curves of calligraphy, referenced in the Johnson Banks piece.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV27VQWYJ5szSthOMKBH6-cD2Rs4uB2ftBwwVyz79oE53bnGyOPdBmmnNqlBuGUrsUBd48o4iZvv39UcsejzZ7YIorf2YnQDVXwMyoawj8hIx39xc1RTByDYvO0OGqpIknzyjnxOxjxZh/s1600/X.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV27VQWYJ5szSthOMKBH6-cD2Rs4uB2ftBwwVyz79oE53bnGyOPdBmmnNqlBuGUrsUBd48o4iZvv39UcsejzZ7YIorf2YnQDVXwMyoawj8hIx39xc1RTByDYvO0OGqpIknzyjnxOxjxZh/s320/X.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'X' is composed of 'xheighter' (1999), a tall, condensed sans serif whose form becomes emphasized in the skyscraper-like sculpture here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgb2dp9TCqIpMaufAz0ivfIOSKtRxPyk9F3yV5JUsltYNNum4OmpfE_GLrqFCPn3Zl5JWZR0MPSGoxkI94FTHE670BbQSdy5xvJ12zfrOkG1CdtUA7gIVREMN9-IQGDlslAmrmOlD0VGen/s1600/Y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgb2dp9TCqIpMaufAz0ivfIOSKtRxPyk9F3yV5JUsltYNNum4OmpfE_GLrqFCPn3Zl5JWZR0MPSGoxkI94FTHE670BbQSdy5xvJ12zfrOkG1CdtUA7gIVREMN9-IQGDlslAmrmOlD0VGen/s320/Y.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'Y' features the typeface 'DFP yuan.' In addition to serving as the name for the country's currency, 'yuan' in Chinese literally means 'a round object' or 'round coin'. Here, intersecting '¥' symbols 'create an endless circle of chinese money.'<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTigdgsRon8izdxMz_9QnsuR2A23rFF9wYsBt_bSDxjig4VdgrcPYOxGq9Pjtljo3pnF6pimTFJ5d0-Vmq2H8Tv-GvkPwc9PxXmPzTF73EORqWAxGITN7bs6dPA-9XuWDFTHxlVg9dEtm/s1600/Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTigdgsRon8izdxMz_9QnsuR2A23rFF9wYsBt_bSDxjig4VdgrcPYOxGq9Pjtljo3pnF6pimTFJ5d0-Vmq2H8Tv-GvkPwc9PxXmPzTF73EORqWAxGITN7bs6dPA-9XuWDFTHxlVg9dEtm/s320/Z.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The 'Z' is composed of the 'zig zag' art deco-style typeface, here interlocked into a zig-zagging puzzlelike form.<br />
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Project Info:<br />
Design: Johnson Banks<br />
Client: ravensbourne<br />
3D imaging and prototyping: Jon Fidler and Jason Taylor<br />
Photography: Andy Morgan<br />
Project client: Jill Hogan<br />
Project advisor: Ben CasperszZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-47738011026933754402012-02-15T07:00:00.000-05:002012-02-15T07:00:02.386-05:003D Printing Helps Humanetics ATD Make Intelligent Crash Test Dummies<em>Today's blog is by Julie Reece, 3D Systems Director of Marketing Communications.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVbI51wzLAHRPJl70Fil3IIXSvJpoH0KQiSwhWSKi1KMmzNbjJFhC-G9-R5F37vqLGU1FFg3hM-q3Co3Yx36F-f3EQyu3FfG1Ou28zlpQb5izrKKm9pyBDCUoqM_mw-DuWJh8O1QQXQCc/s1600/Julie+Reece+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVbI51wzLAHRPJl70Fil3IIXSvJpoH0KQiSwhWSKi1KMmzNbjJFhC-G9-R5F37vqLGU1FFg3hM-q3Co3Yx36F-f3EQyu3FfG1Ou28zlpQb5izrKKm9pyBDCUoqM_mw-DuWJh8O1QQXQCc/s1600/Julie+Reece+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<strong>ZPrinting Saves Weeks and ‘Hundreds of Dollars Each Time’ Molds Are Created for New Parts</strong><br />
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The iconic crash-test dummy is anything but dumb. It’s a high-tech testing device with innumerable physical and electronic permutations to satisfy the unique needs of each customer, whether auto maker, airline, space agency or military branch.<br />
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This persistent demand for sophisticated new products and features explains why <a href="http://www.humaneticsatd.com/">Humanetics Innovative Solutions</a> of Huron, Ohio, a leader in the design, development and manufacturing of anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs), uses <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">ZPrinting</a> 3D printing technology from <a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/">3D Systems</a>. <br />
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“ZPrinting lets us make new parts for the client in a day and a half instead of the week or more it takes when we need to machine new steel or aluminum molds,” said Humanetics Project Engineer Kris Sullenberger. “It’s also probably a 10-to-one cost savings in materials and machine work, meaning we save hundreds of dollars each time.”<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydd1bAwzA_VJdSWKlRyvxlkLXfHJEQ0-yGBN3-VbgpZQHRhj4DtdGVoWsn0ond_YSmOONtqRGK4crY5aQuSEQ6luOcMQbd5Ln-ZpZF0Psq_OYjllna8U5N1E_lNB5Kl7or6PDc9XDTLC1/s1600/Dummies-Comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydd1bAwzA_VJdSWKlRyvxlkLXfHJEQ0-yGBN3-VbgpZQHRhj4DtdGVoWsn0ond_YSmOONtqRGK4crY5aQuSEQ6luOcMQbd5Ln-ZpZF0Psq_OYjllna8U5N1E_lNB5Kl7or6PDc9XDTLC1/s320/Dummies-Comp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sullenberger’s team purchased its ZPrinter four years ago to execute an urgent project for the US Department of Defense during the second Iraq war. The client needed a sophisticated head model to test a new generation of goggles and face shields. The head model consisted of a dozen segments representing facial bones, each having impact data collection sensors.<br />
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“ZPrinting was the only way we could do the job,” Sullenberger said. “Time was of the essence, and ZPrinting’s speed, accuracy and resolution was best suited to the government’s needs.”<br />
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Sullenberger’s team ZPrinted patterns and mold boxes, quickly created silicon molds, and then heat-poured the urethane parts. “From start to finish, the whole product – design, building, testing and shipping – took six months. It would have taken three months of machine time alone to make aluminum molds. And revisions would have been a nightmare. Instead, we just reprinted and repoured anytime we needed a change.”<br />
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Today, Humanetics is printing about 200 parts a year, often multiple parts per build. At peak, Sullenberger’s team runs the ZPrinter around the clock for three weeks on end.<br />
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Although most of Humanetics’ ZPrinting is for mold and pattern production, the company also prints samples for marketing and sales, often helping explain concepts better than words or CAD images. <br />
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“We’ll send complete scaled-down dummies to clients, including senior executives and other non-technical professionals, or we’ll send detailed models that help explain new designs,” Sullenberger said. “People often don’t know what they’re looking at in a picture. But it drives the information home when you print a part, split it in half and let the person pick up the pieces, examine the internals, and put them together themselves.” <br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a> <br />
<a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/"><em>http://www.3dsystems.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-77533672231966305262012-02-14T15:30:00.000-05:002012-02-14T15:30:36.446-05:00There’s something for everyone at Pacific Design & ManufacturingWe’re here at the Anaheim Convention Center in booth #3515 at Pacific Design & Manufacturing, showcasing our complete line of personal and professional 3D printers together with our content-to-print solutions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ80MXgML9c_-HvLPaiGxXUY7tbMvlFTi1dXhdBmNVcnIzBG0e-O1gLdzh29jJM8mQMNBndA2gHolCDKeBb-rtNY6sNnwTEno-JaKnpLuvPqP7RiN75EfoI7NnLaCvZX7v3MzF2DVm8_nZ/s1600/photo4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ80MXgML9c_-HvLPaiGxXUY7tbMvlFTi1dXhdBmNVcnIzBG0e-O1gLdzh29jJM8mQMNBndA2gHolCDKeBb-rtNY6sNnwTEno-JaKnpLuvPqP7RiN75EfoI7NnLaCvZX7v3MzF2DVm8_nZ/s320/photo4.JPG" width="320" yda="true" /></a></div>Come check out our attractive printer packages that combine the precision of our <a href="http://printin3d.com/">ProJe</a>t™ printers with the productivity and full-color of our <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">ZPrinters</a>® at affordable price points designed to you shave time and money off your demanding development schedules. With <a href="http://www.bitsfrombytes.com/usd/catalog/3dtouch">3DTouch</a>™ personal <a href="http://www.printin3d.com/">3D printers</a> that fit every budget, access to <a href="http://www.quickparts.com/">Quickparts</a>™ on demand parts service and the portable <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Scanners/spage.aspx">ZScanner</a>® for reverse engineering and inspection, you can access the most complete range of affordable 3D content-to-print solutions available on the market today. While you’re here, pick up a free, full color model printed on our ZPrinter.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kI4eRvSV-0YiutiKEzmrPae1sOzwxP0ym0x664BNJb38hG0chV_RpMRxfXPs2_GGnonRyoO_uSgYoFQjeTdxAX1Ls4xB79gZ-CGOUSDEj1WbD73h1JhOyZ9IwflQThWSZ1Cj0GvcBYjc/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kI4eRvSV-0YiutiKEzmrPae1sOzwxP0ym0x664BNJb38hG0chV_RpMRxfXPs2_GGnonRyoO_uSgYoFQjeTdxAX1Ls4xB79gZ-CGOUSDEj1WbD73h1JhOyZ9IwflQThWSZ1Cj0GvcBYjc/s320/photo1.JPG" width="239" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1h8fNhg-8b3jFesRSL69bqj1zJrFZBPygmonjqLKGRWYN9iuTim2aZWBlHWfCnlkfFrPtthZ1YuAKtXqzJzsjGKkpjPb5MjmRWMPARkqcy03XkWOnSp_62P83KcGZtPvVCtpRg2CaNRK/s1600/photo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1h8fNhg-8b3jFesRSL69bqj1zJrFZBPygmonjqLKGRWYN9iuTim2aZWBlHWfCnlkfFrPtthZ1YuAKtXqzJzsjGKkpjPb5MjmRWMPARkqcy03XkWOnSp_62P83KcGZtPvVCtpRg2CaNRK/s320/photo2.JPG" width="239" yda="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47TyMjdQgS864R4nCPKn4GgXnu1LS6aQ80LC7L0y-SE2IzQV-mw0FpzdhMBxbxsxT8aHXG_LH3Kq2K3k3BGjuWK-Xj8gsj60QyOAi9DyoDbaCFB5FZULQIuaeNzPWN2y9wyNMc3AUpX25/s1600/photo3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47TyMjdQgS864R4nCPKn4GgXnu1LS6aQ80LC7L0y-SE2IzQV-mw0FpzdhMBxbxsxT8aHXG_LH3Kq2K3k3BGjuWK-Xj8gsj60QyOAi9DyoDbaCFB5FZULQIuaeNzPWN2y9wyNMc3AUpX25/s320/photo3.JPG" width="239" yda="true" /></a></div>Cathy Lewis, our VP of Global Marketing is on hand and said, “The impressive range of integrated 3D content-to-print products and services that we have on display at PD&M cover the entire ideation-to-production process, delivering affordable full-color models, precise high-definition functional parts and intuitive content creation and capture tools. We are fully committed to democratize access to these powerful innovation and creation tools for the benefit of professionals and consumers alike.”ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-26917534455058887962012-02-08T07:00:00.002-05:002012-02-08T07:00:05.329-05:00Oh the Thinks You Can Think....Everyone knows you can get to market faster and with less cost using 3D printing, but something bigger is happening. As a result of a lot of recent media attention and advances in the accessibility of 3D content creation, the concept of 3D printing is spreading outside of its traditional domains. As it does, more and more people are using 3D printing to solve new and unique problems. And, as more and more unique uses emerge, more and more people will think about what they can do, and, to borrow a phrase from the recently departed Dr. Seuss, “Oh the thinks they will think…”<br />
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Charles-Olivier Roy is one of this most recent wave of 3D printing devotees. As you can read here, (<a href="http://www.magazineprestige.com/Charles-Olivier-Roy-artisan-des.html">http://www.magazineprestige.com/Charles-Olivier-Roy-artisan-des.html</a>), or in English (<a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.magazineprestige.com%2FCharles-Olivier-Roy-artisan-des.html">http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.magazineprestige.com%2FCharles-Olivier-Roy-artisan-des.html</a>), Mr. Roy is combining high tech 3D scanning and 3D printing technologies with the ancient art of pouring metal into molds to re-create a beautiful statue of the Chevalier de Levis in Quebec.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPiAjZmXTSW9dP4U40xhF50iLxu2ZqQ4Ou5t8pAmfR6TuoOKmvUr0k-MiZ5c-hkzEJB4YBmqzL3LhWfQhvjtYGjCs3E0CnF8fkwqnZzxzH5j-3ujMQJJ24d8OnZ-rOJ1HiFjFb8o6H147/s1600/Charles_Olivier_Roy-ab456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPiAjZmXTSW9dP4U40xhF50iLxu2ZqQ4Ou5t8pAmfR6TuoOKmvUr0k-MiZ5c-hkzEJB4YBmqzL3LhWfQhvjtYGjCs3E0CnF8fkwqnZzxzH5j-3ujMQJJ24d8OnZ-rOJ1HiFjFb8o6H147/s320/Charles_Olivier_Roy-ab456.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles-Olivier Roy, <dd class="spip_doc_descriptif" style="width: 350px;"><span style="background-color: #e6ecf9;"><span class="google-src-text" style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;">Photo : Élan Création Graphique</span> Photo: Elan Graphic Design</span> </dd></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The project centers on reproducing a bronze casting of the Chevalier originally made in 1895. The new casting will be placed in a park with an amazing view of the St. Lawrence River and Quebec City. The casting was made by scanning the existing statue, and then 3D printing the parts to make the new pattern on a <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">ZPrinter</a>. In addition, Mr. Roy is making 10 miniatures of the statue using the very high resolution <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/Rapid-Prototyping-Machines/spage.aspx">ZBuilder</a> technology. The scale and artistry of both the large size pieces and the small size pieces are quite impressive.<br />
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The story is part sales, part engineering, part art - and all 3D. It’s a great example of new ways of thinking about 3D printing, and how 3D printing will touch people in new ways.<br />
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What are the coolest “thinks you can think” using 3D printing?<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/">http://www.zcorp.com/</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/">http://www.3dsystems.com/</a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-35195565783625356382012-02-01T07:00:00.001-05:002012-02-01T07:58:05.036-05:003D Printing Enables A. O. Smith to Cut Time-To-Market, Reduce Development Costs, Drive Higher Sales<em>Today's blog is by Julie Reece, 3D Systems Director of Marketing Communications.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVbI51wzLAHRPJl70Fil3IIXSvJpoH0KQiSwhWSKi1KMmzNbjJFhC-G9-R5F37vqLGU1FFg3hM-q3Co3Yx36F-f3EQyu3FfG1Ou28zlpQb5izrKKm9pyBDCUoqM_mw-DuWJh8O1QQXQCc/s1600/Julie+Reece+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVbI51wzLAHRPJl70Fil3IIXSvJpoH0KQiSwhWSKi1KMmzNbjJFhC-G9-R5F37vqLGU1FFg3hM-q3Co3Yx36F-f3EQyu3FfG1Ou28zlpQb5izrKKm9pyBDCUoqM_mw-DuWJh8O1QQXQCc/s1600/Julie+Reece+1.jpg" /></a></div>I thoroughly enjoy hearing new stories from our channel partners and my sales colleagues about organizations that that reply on our 3D printing technology to grow their businesses. Here’s a story about <a href="http://www.aosmith.com/">A. O. Smith Corporation</a>, a leading global manufacturer of water heating equipment. A. O. Smith is creating more attractive and energy-efficient water heaters through its advanced new product development process, which integrates 3D printing solutions from the company’s full-color professional <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">3D printers</a>. <br />
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Using a <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">ZPrinter</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span> to create prototypes in-house, A. O. Smith is shaving weeks off product development, saving substantial cost as well as time. This enables them to iterate more productively and thoroughly refine designs, according to the R&D team. <br />
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“Instead of commissioning aluminum molds or sending out to busy contractors for plastic models, we can produce our own high-resolution color prototypes for a fraction of the cost,” said A. O. Smith CAD Supervisor, Steve Wood, from the company’s Johnson City, TN, manufacturing facility. “When a trial design isn’t perfect, we quickly revise it and print another 3D model, or we create several different prototypes at the same time. Our ZPrinter gives us the flexibility to make real-time changes and react quickly to our customers' demands.” <br />
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An aluminum mold, including setup and prototype production, can be costly, consuming as much as six weeks from the company’s design cycle before the first part is produced. Worse, if the prototype doesn’t work, a significant design revision can require a new mold and another cycle of waiting. With its ZPrinter 650<span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span> 3D printer, A. O. Smith can print multiple prototypes reflecting a wide range of design alternatives in a few hours at a significant cost reduction.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL53gqfk5h-b83CkNG15PseCkryvYphXQfMVaX7uBQcz9QozPQ7npQKuwUw6RpwAKEMkLzxE12XEeTnJnxdoprol-EcAMidhe8UxFu_4UDKXxrc7YmAiyJ2E4bIi6avJQ8vT1QaT-QrnCA/s1600/AO+SMITH-IMG_0288-highRes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL53gqfk5h-b83CkNG15PseCkryvYphXQfMVaX7uBQcz9QozPQ7npQKuwUw6RpwAKEMkLzxE12XEeTnJnxdoprol-EcAMidhe8UxFu_4UDKXxrc7YmAiyJ2E4bIi6avJQ8vT1QaT-QrnCA/s320/AO+SMITH-IMG_0288-highRes.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A. O. Smith expected the ZPrinter<span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span> to pay for itself quickly, but is happily finding that the return on the ZPrinter investment exceeds even its expectations. "Because we're finding it increasingly valuable as time goes on - and thus are using it more,” stated A. O. Smith CAD Operator, Robert Anest, "it is sure to pay for itself sooner than we thought." <br />
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In addition to printing prototypes, A. O. Smith is printing molds for the production of plastic molded parts – again avoiding costly aluminum molds. According to Wood, "To produce prototypes from our own molds, we’re spending less money and time.”<br />
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The integration of A. O. Smith's <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/ZPrinter-650/spage.aspx">ZPrinter<span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span> 650</a> 3D printer has not just been a cost savings. “It’s both a unique and an effective sales tool,” said Wood. “Our customers and partners love them – for one thing, they don’t have to lug around a 200-pound water heater. And we’re getting great feedback from everyone involved.” <br />
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Do you have a great success story using 3D Systems 3D printing technology that you’d like to share? Post it here or email me at <a href="mailto:julie.reece@3dsystems.com">julie.reece@3dsystems.com</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a><em> </em><br />
<a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/"><em>http://www.3dsystems.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-19795693670969334832012-01-25T07:00:00.013-05:002012-01-25T07:00:16.963-05:00Evangelizing 3D Printing<em>This week’s blog is by Julie Reece.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcjHbtJ65C2ABGmCtiMnGePNa7qI3y9Ar_xidbez07DUBrsJ-QLJGhzGLABxM0IiKER3a8S4AZa4iVvpCSD745lEBAXPFWmMNMUsuddapG0LTWfws2FGIqHz8GOchkkDLhaXgJlD9b1c0/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcjHbtJ65C2ABGmCtiMnGePNa7qI3y9Ar_xidbez07DUBrsJ-QLJGhzGLABxM0IiKER3a8S4AZa4iVvpCSD745lEBAXPFWmMNMUsuddapG0LTWfws2FGIqHz8GOchkkDLhaXgJlD9b1c0/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" /></a></div>I had the great fortune to attend the <a href="http://www.cesweb.org/">Consumer Electronics Show</a> (CES) several days ago. I helped staff the <a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/">3D Systems</a> <a href="http://cubify.com/">Cubify</a>™ booth in the 3D @Home section of the show, where we unveiled the new Cubify.com create-to-make ecosystem and the new Cube™ in-home 3D printer.<br />
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As most of you probably know by now, 3D Systems recently acquired Z Corp, and as a former Z Corper I was accustomed to staffing tradeshow booths targeted solely towards product designers, engineers, educators and architects with <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">ZPrinters</a> and <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Scanners/spage.aspx">ZScanners</a>. <br />
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The CES experience really opened my eyes. The booth was absolutely packed during the entire four days of the show. Knowing that the show is geared towards products for the consumer, I expected visitors to be relatively unfamiliar with 3D printing, let alone the idea of 3D printing themselves, at home. And that certainly was true. People were absolutely blown away by the technology. “You made <em>that</em> with <em>this</em>?!” “<em>This</em> was 3D printed?!” I heard repeatedly, invariably followed by “Woah!” and pleasantly surprised laughter – hysterics actually. “But I don’t know how to make things in 3D CAD,” they would say. “No worries,” I replied, “You can simply download or modify (using incredibly intuitive developer-supplied apps) your file and we’ll print it using our cloud print service for you in any of our technologies, or you can purchase a Cube and simply print it in your home.” Followed by more “Woahs” and laughter and discussions with complete strangers standing next to them. They began to excitedly brainstorm all of the ways they could use 3D printing at home, followed by, “When can I buy one?” <br />
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If I had any doubts going into this show about whether or not true, in-home consumer 3D printing is here today, they quickly vanished. Last week I read several blog posts from additive manufacturing industry veterans (mostly engineers by training) who assert that consumer 3D printing is still many years away because the average consumer doesn't know how to design in 3D CAD and, even if they did, what would they use it for? They miss the point of the Cubify ecosystem of which the Cube 3D printer is merely one (albeit nifty) output device. Cubify is the iTunes and Facebook of the 3D printing world. The consumer doesn't have to know how to design in 3D CAD in order to have the option of printing at home or using the cloud print service. And if they had stood in the Cubify booth with me at CES, they would have heard all of the ways average consumers would use in-home 3D printing. People I spoke with talked about simply having fun with in-home 3D printing. They talked about using it as a teaching mechanism for their young children. They spoke of printing replacement parts for toys and games and of creating customized trinkets and gifts for family and friends. Understandably, industry veterans wouldn't necessarily view the possibilities from the average consumer's perspective, but from I saw first hand, that demand exists today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wwr7ew2n-TMS43Al1quLzxEAiXJ-8TqsNreJUaOG2k6xAsABI_vdXKjMSxa-XKlIo0aRDhzW1vVeNxdA2X0k2-OBin0qCvpo6O1s5fNxe3uaSIgY6wPlemcjMNMurmmB8TDaYDGezjr3/s1600/CES+2012+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wwr7ew2n-TMS43Al1quLzxEAiXJ-8TqsNreJUaOG2k6xAsABI_vdXKjMSxa-XKlIo0aRDhzW1vVeNxdA2X0k2-OBin0qCvpo6O1s5fNxe3uaSIgY6wPlemcjMNMurmmB8TDaYDGezjr3/s320/CES+2012+037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4LLD9a5bJFCGE0WLqI0GBAdCyAyeoMrp2RCKcqCiuaIr4I_yCe0pOtpDBp-d3-XFawlKtyQCrOvgaq0m3ln_T-2EgqrzzM5b5NBLTqZrBL3RvciWmyN6NFBdFC3KpZP46YcO9OWaObb6/s1600/CES+2012+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4LLD9a5bJFCGE0WLqI0GBAdCyAyeoMrp2RCKcqCiuaIr4I_yCe0pOtpDBp-d3-XFawlKtyQCrOvgaq0m3ln_T-2EgqrzzM5b5NBLTqZrBL3RvciWmyN6NFBdFC3KpZP46YcO9OWaObb6/s320/CES+2012+040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>What surprised me the most, however, was the huge percentage of product designers and engineers from very large, well-known companies, who visited our booth and were equally blown away by 3D printing. How could it be that they hadn’t heard of or seen 3D printing, let alone not be using it in their product development processes today? Several admitted to seeing our now-famous viral <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQHnMj6dxj4">YouTube video</a>*about the ZScanned and ZPrinted functional wrench, but that’s about it. In fact, after visiting our booth for a few minutes, a number of engineers talked about putting a Cube 3D printer on every engineer’s desk at work for basic form prototyping, in addition to the larger, more industrial-strength 3D printers in their companies’ RP shops. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7HTDi5shURBfxGPVpvn8s6C4wNcCcJf0E0sq-RTmWaePUjq3CfK94VEXEFIwgtfvpms6LpcoFkIq6cuIBLZrai08_I8OjNB4EOS8k2t2gH4LA-5nZslU2vw6nX88z_jfzm2-3cmpsGmF/s1600/CES+2012+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7HTDi5shURBfxGPVpvn8s6C4wNcCcJf0E0sq-RTmWaePUjq3CfK94VEXEFIwgtfvpms6LpcoFkIq6cuIBLZrai08_I8OjNB4EOS8k2t2gH4LA-5nZslU2vw6nX88z_jfzm2-3cmpsGmF/s320/CES+2012+054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The excitement about 3D printing, Cubify.com and the Cube among our booth visitors was contagious. Cubify is just what the average consumer has needed to enable them to benefit from 3D printing. And, there’s still a large, untapped business market that must be shown that more robust 3D printing technologies can save time and money in their product design and development processes, and ultimately win business.<br />
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When and how did you first hear about 3D printing? When did you see your first 3D printer and first 3D printed part?<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*The viral version of this video, with 8.7+ million hits was removed from YouTube.</span>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-33848939534666475972012-01-23T08:16:00.001-05:002012-01-23T08:18:50.433-05:00The Rest of the Story: 3DTouch 3D Printer Prints Bigger<em>Today's blog is by Julie Reece.</em><br />
<img border="0" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcjHbtJ65C2ABGmCtiMnGePNa7qI3y9Ar_xidbez07DUBrsJ-QLJGhzGLABxM0IiKER3a8S4AZa4iVvpCSD745lEBAXPFWmMNMUsuddapG0LTWfws2FGIqHz8GOchkkDLhaXgJlD9b1c0/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" /><br />
A few days ago I read a Washington Post article called <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/saddle-your-horses-and-fire-up-the-3d-printer/2012/01/18/gIQApRcL8P_story.html">Saddle your horses and fire up the 3D printer</a>. The article was meant to report on consumer 3D printers based on the author's visit to CES 2012. <br />
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To be fair however, the story compared the wrong products to Makerbot's new Replicator 3D printer and omitted the Replicator's most formidable rival, Bits From Bytes 3DTouch 3D printer. <br />
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Here's the rest of that story. <br />
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<strong>3DTouch Prints Bigger</strong><br />
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Bits From Bytes line of affordable 3D printers and kits have offered the category's largest build envelope for two years. And while I applaud the 300 cubic inch build volume of Makerbot’s recently announced Replicator, the 3DTouch, launched last year, beats the Replicator hands down.<br />
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The 3DTouch is easy to use, comes with a choice of one, two or three print heads and was the first 3D printer to offer an intuitive touch screen user interface. The clean lines, acrylic frame and internal electronics means the you won’t have to hide it - you can proudly display your 3D printer for all to see.<br />
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No need to tinker – set up your job and touch 'print!' Use your time to create more! <br />
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The 3DTouch boasts a total build area over 950 cubic inches – more than three times that of the Replicator. The 3DTouch allows you to print in up to three different materials at the same time. With a total build area of over 950 cubic inches and up to 3 print heads, the 3DTouch prints bigger and bolder. <a href="http://rapmanv3.blogspot.com/2011/10/see-3dtouch-in-action.html#comment-form">See the 3DTouch in Action</a>! Also check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwnIbY3chW0">video</a> of a tennis cup printed on the 3DTouch.<br />
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Here are a few examples:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbKpZ3ZWMxEMx3yFKDk4xKWhmHFrkfqEj734d6hi4fgYn60Zs26nZBxskWrO1tuOqVQuuX48_CBUe0WciyIC_NPIWmOjXOxdeNfkrk3JzCHlf-dNhOtkSLHDrvQUL_Xk6Zaz02vd-1e__/s1600/3DTouch+Lotus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbKpZ3ZWMxEMx3yFKDk4xKWhmHFrkfqEj734d6hi4fgYn60Zs26nZBxskWrO1tuOqVQuuX48_CBUe0WciyIC_NPIWmOjXOxdeNfkrk3JzCHlf-dNhOtkSLHDrvQUL_Xk6Zaz02vd-1e__/s320/3DTouch+Lotus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'Lotus' printed on Bits From Bytes 3DTouch, 240 mm diameter,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>170 mm tall</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23FWphTQQ9TzGExN3H64yFQdNGcovIvYCPA-04N8ps56yKGj9epP7jGz9fV8PhSLCLf_Zl5sTcrxbO_Y1HGDOob3PxPE6sl0PtTxUDp8eg2Y667EGtNtWVYxF1mY5ex1JRAidOVL9s6ox/s1600/3DS-Goes-Bigger----Blog-_2_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23FWphTQQ9TzGExN3H64yFQdNGcovIvYCPA-04N8ps56yKGj9epP7jGz9fV8PhSLCLf_Zl5sTcrxbO_Y1HGDOob3PxPE6sl0PtTxUDp8eg2Y667EGtNtWVYxF1mY5ex1JRAidOVL9s6ox/s1600/3DS-Goes-Bigger----Blog-_2_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'World Globe' printed on Bits From Bytes 3DTouch, 7.25 X 6.75 inches</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmpD7pq2RSxUkn6XxZz-O2GX5uT09nGBzuI6gbQ4AsRXRyW-moMeXl5dmsDQqzIk8Bet-98UXFByrBKS4pI55ML73y3JD_c46EPgYpY_7KTfOH9cc3dv5XVFdmWvBqMHdB6bXeQuMoBPl/s1600/3DS-Goes-Bigger----Blog-_3_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" nfa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmpD7pq2RSxUkn6XxZz-O2GX5uT09nGBzuI6gbQ4AsRXRyW-moMeXl5dmsDQqzIk8Bet-98UXFByrBKS4pI55ML73y3JD_c46EPgYpY_7KTfOH9cc3dv5XVFdmWvBqMHdB6bXeQuMoBPl/s1600/3DS-Goes-Bigger----Blog-_3_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">'Hagia Sophia' printed on Bits From Bytes 3DTouch,</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;">7.1 X 8.7 X 5.4 inches</span><br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-16617865528177117632012-01-18T07:00:00.002-05:002012-01-18T08:17:26.992-05:00Is 2012 the Year of Consumer 3D Printing?I just returned from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and what a show it is - thousands of exhibitors, tens of thousands of visitors, and at least that a million TV’s on display. I think the Samsung booth alone had 5,000 TV’s in it.<br />
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In case you missed the news, <a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/">3D Systems</a> new Cube™ 3D printer was named a <a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/press-releases/3d-systems-named-finalist-cnet-best-ces-awards-2012-international-ces">Finalist for the CES Best in Show award</a>. This culminates the heaviest concentration of main stream press articles about 3D printing since I have been in the industry. Mainstream press like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Economist, Christian Science Monitor, ABC News, have all covered a variety of 3D printing angles in the past year. The mainstream technology press has dug in as well with CNET, Engadget, and PCPro all carrying articles about 3D printing. We even had our first viral video on YouTube. It would certainly seem that 3D Printing has arrived, so will this be The Year?<br />
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Who knows? To be honest, I don’t know if we will know. 3D printing is a technology that already touches millions and millions of people. From athletic shoes to hearing aids to jewelry to dentistry to aerospace and automotive, 3D printing has changed new product design and affected the lives of what must be hundreds of millions of people. How will we know when consumer 3D printing has really arrived?<br />
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Clearly media articles mean little. Plenty of ink has been wasted on novel ideas that disappeared onto the scrap heap of history. The home 3D printers are very cool, but do thousands or even tens of thousands of those really mean anything? It still feels like 3D printers are extremely cool tools in the hands of a small group of pros. Barry Collins at PCPro opined that 3D printing needs a killer app. I think the pros will find their own killer apps, but I suspect the regular consumer is going to need some help. Hopefully the application layer on <a href="http://cubify.com/">Cubify.com</a> creates space for the pros to share their killer apps with regular consumers. Other sites out there like <a href="http://www.shapeways.com/">Shapeways</a> and <a href="http://www.myrobotnation.com/">MyRobotNation</a> are also showing what regular consumers can do with a little help.<br />
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Will all the media attention and some new killer apps lead millions of regular consumers to buy 3D prints and 3D printers in 2012? There’s never been a better time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-55654963843660072932012-01-11T07:00:00.001-05:002012-01-06T14:58:14.400-05:00Reality Redesigned Contest Will Bring Students' Inventions to Life with 3D Printed Prototypes and Drive Curriculum<em>Today's blog is by Julie Reece.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcjHbtJ65C2ABGmCtiMnGePNa7qI3y9Ar_xidbez07DUBrsJ-QLJGhzGLABxM0IiKER3a8S4AZa4iVvpCSD745lEBAXPFWmMNMUsuddapG0LTWfws2FGIqHz8GOchkkDLhaXgJlD9b1c0/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcjHbtJ65C2ABGmCtiMnGePNa7qI3y9Ar_xidbez07DUBrsJ-QLJGhzGLABxM0IiKER3a8S4AZa4iVvpCSD745lEBAXPFWmMNMUsuddapG0LTWfws2FGIqHz8GOchkkDLhaXgJlD9b1c0/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" /></a></div>We are sponsoring “Reality Redesigned,” a student-focused design competition and online reality show that will spawn daring new mountain bike designs created by inventive riders. <br />
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The show bills itself as “the ultimate design contest … what happens when the biggest names in North American manufacturing, design and engineering throw open the doors and allow both mountain bikers and designers alike to have at it.” In addition to entertainment, the episodes will serve as solid curriculum material for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers across North America. <br />
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The contest will spotlight the design process from drawing board to finished product. <br />
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Our Technical Support Specialist and expert mountain bike rider Dave Mee will “ZPrint” prototypes of three finalists in three categories, in preparation for a showdown at the RAPID 2012 Conference May 22-25, 2012. The winner will be announced live at our booth. The winning design will then be manufactured and tested by a pro rider.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr9XfxV7JG8IjnsWqrcKxmqMe-EXg8g9ezjksxjjwccRtsm8QqoL3Cq3deLGuZ4quFnu_99cmPf13moDAGd0M1pmnxjRrtyAotp2KHuP5aXBMd4YgrY0uDelsjk5x58BkTSpRFdK9eqZh/s1600/Whaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr9XfxV7JG8IjnsWqrcKxmqMe-EXg8g9ezjksxjjwccRtsm8QqoL3Cq3deLGuZ4quFnu_99cmPf13moDAGd0M1pmnxjRrtyAotp2KHuP5aXBMd4YgrY0uDelsjk5x58BkTSpRFdK9eqZh/s1600/Whaka.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVl4cMN8sAqcPUqY14V4u7Nnn7bNuySz4xRxlSaCps5MeKRvbV5BeivAN3HFrGHq6jaP9nwhyphenhyphenuMWUYYIVpnkaXKxUAMn1MmqECSk8gWMESZY7w2Tt1YAyLfWqv0WD0PhNOadda31PpBKhj/s1600/886220979_eHjPR-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVl4cMN8sAqcPUqY14V4u7Nnn7bNuySz4xRxlSaCps5MeKRvbV5BeivAN3HFrGHq6jaP9nwhyphenhyphenuMWUYYIVpnkaXKxUAMn1MmqECSk8gWMESZY7w2Tt1YAyLfWqv0WD0PhNOadda31PpBKhj/s1600/886220979_eHjPR-L.jpg" /></a></div>“Reality Redesigned” is produced by host and Executive Producer Jeremy Bout and others involved in “The Edge Factor Show,” who are joining forces with <a href="http://www.pinkbike.com/">Pinkbike</a>, one of the top mountain bike sites in the world. Here’s how it works:<br />
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Submissions (mid-December through Feb. 24, 2012). After registering for Pinkbike (free), contestants will place their submission into one of three categories. <br />
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1. Mountain-bike suspension<br />
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2. Mountain-bike component<br />
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3. Mountain-bike frame<br />
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Screening (ongoing). Submissions will be scored by Bout and qualified experts from the mountain-bike industry. A real-time leaderboard will track the top 15 designs in each category. <br />
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The Gauntlet (April/May 2012). Experts determine how designs will stand up to a real-life scenario, then grade each based on research, material pricing and specific criteria:<br />
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1. 3D Modeling – Fit, form and function.<br />
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2. Rapid Prototyping – (usefulness, rideability) – Judges; Mee and professional rider Mike Montgomery. Mee will “ZPrint” the entries of three finalists in each category. 3D printing converts three-dimensional computer-aided design data into physical prototypes. <br />
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3. Engineering/Business plan<br />
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4. Manufacturability <br />
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Finals (May 22-25, 2012). At the RAPID 2012 Conference, three final designs will be displayed and judged, in three episodes shot with a live audience in our booth. The judging will include stringent and rigorous testing using finite element analysis (FEA) software and ZPrinted prototypes. The winner will be announced in our booth. <br />
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Epilogue: The winning design will be manufactured and tested by a pro rider.<br />
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“ZPrinting is a center-stage component of the show, inspiring innovation and bringing contestants’ designs to reality,” said Bout. “With physical models, judges and industry manufacturers can more deeply understand a design, and what it will be able to do on the trail. ZPrints will also expose students to technology they will use in their engineering careers.” <br />
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“Reality Redesigned” is just one example of 3D Systems ongoing commitment to education in addition to its EngineeringZONE™ program, sponsorships and education discounts.<br />
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To enter the contest: <a href="http://www.edgefactor.com/?i=12747&mid=1000&id=373053">http://www.edgefactor.com/?i=12747&mid=1000&id=373053</a> <br />
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Our judge, Dave Mee, was featured in <a href="http://www.sa.pinkbike.com/sandbox/edgefactorcontest/episodes/">episode 2</a>.<br />
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In addition, don't miss <a href="https://www.zcorp.com/Z-Corp/Reality-Redesigned-Contest---Dave-Mee-Blog/spage.aspx?version=-1&language_id=1">Dave's blog</a> where he will document his experiences and feedback about contestant submissions.ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-5864727122275494472012-01-04T07:00:00.023-05:002012-01-04T07:00:04.527-05:00New Year’s Resolutions and 3D Printing<em>Today's blog is from Scott Harmon.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD73kr-KmlpDoTcrow7TvS0e7f9Us5kTqmk4NKcVA-oBvRSYoHYuXRQcr1Zv2Qgw37em5Lzc9aQnN_36UPXvWsjRbAr0slZiaswF5xqdydW-csPnE-iY6wMJzrWTiPMfQapHEPOlr_wx-r/s1600/426_Scott%252520Harmon_0211_LOW%252520RES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD73kr-KmlpDoTcrow7TvS0e7f9Us5kTqmk4NKcVA-oBvRSYoHYuXRQcr1Zv2Qgw37em5Lzc9aQnN_36UPXvWsjRbAr0slZiaswF5xqdydW-csPnE-iY6wMJzrWTiPMfQapHEPOlr_wx-r/s200/426_Scott%252520Harmon_0211_LOW%252520RES.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Generally, you can count me among the cynics who think that picking New Year’s as an arbitrary time to make commitments about the future is a bit like believing in the Easter Bunny. We should always be thinking about the future and what we can make do to make better. On the other hand, it doesn’t make sense to waste an opportunity. So here are some resolutions, hopefully for all of us in the design and engineering world, for 2012.<br />
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Make a difference in the life of a kid. I find that the most gratifying part of our business is the usage of 3D printers in middle schools and high schools. This <a href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111213/WILLIAMSON/312130020/High-tech-printer-draws-students-engineering-class">article</a> from a newspaper in Tennessee sums it up better than I can. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that 3D printers (in the hands of passionate skillful teachers) can change kids’ lives. I’m definitely not suggesting that learning to operate a printer will change anyone’s life. However, using a 3D printer teaches kids important lessons about creativity, engineering thinking, success and failure. In a world that has gone a little crazy with standardized tests and being right all the time, 3D printers (as an extension of design and engineering) teach lessons about creativity, messiness, curiosity, perseverance, failure, and discovery - things that really matter in the long term. So my first resolution is that we will continue to support efforts, like <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Press-Room/John-Tierney-and-Z-Corporation-Announce-New-Education-Pr/news.aspx">EngineeringZONE</a> to expose kids to the wonder of being able create.<br />
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Produce More, Consume Less. Do you know anyone named Mason? Or Cobler? Or Smith? Or Farmer? Or Baker? Do you see what I’m getting at? Generations ago, we were literally defined by what we made. People succeeded or failed on the merits of the products they could produce, and their ability to produce those products effectively. Today, we seem to be much more likely to be defined by what we consume, than by what we produce. I’m definitely not advocating a return to pre-Industrial Age societal structure. However, I am hopeful that with the huge advance in design and fabrication technology at our fingertips, we might swing things back the other way. That we might use our innate creativity to <em>Create more</em> frequently, to design and make instead of just consume. We have the tools. I hope we still have the desire and ability.<br />
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Finally, I’d like to present my nomination for most creative use of a 3D printer in 2011. As far as I know this is the first ever marriage proposal using a 3D print. Our friends at <a href="http://www.myrobotnation.com/">My Robot Nation</a> have the <a href="http://blog.myrobotnation.com/2011/12/30/3d-printing-marriage-proposal/">full story</a>. What a great way to bring an eventful 2011 to a close, and kick off a great 2012.<br />
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Best wishes to you and yours for a happy and prosperous 2012.ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-51412129896788744442011-12-28T07:00:00.001-05:002011-12-28T07:00:10.555-05:003D Printing in 2012 and Beyond<em>This week's blog post is by John Kawola, Z Corporation CEO.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwRBQw0ObRBTpH1Qmczp-kbzsWkt4C-7acodv3nQXHOPOFZbx-2Gq88sve2xbMalvG8UWmVlgQfP2RnAmNP6FroBPQHaAT3fKGFj2QG7a3YA3jRSsvj9i1a0Qfy1n0m5g_v-n3TsKXjxy/s1600/2028_John%252520%252520Kawola_0111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwRBQw0ObRBTpH1Qmczp-kbzsWkt4C-7acodv3nQXHOPOFZbx-2Gq88sve2xbMalvG8UWmVlgQfP2RnAmNP6FroBPQHaAT3fKGFj2QG7a3YA3jRSsvj9i1a0Qfy1n0m5g_v-n3TsKXjxy/s200/2028_John%252520%252520Kawola_0111.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>2011 was an eventful year for <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/home.aspx">Z Corporation</a> and the 3D printing/additive manufacturing industry worldwide. There is continued strong demand for prototypes, tools, fixtures….all the parts that this industry has been about for the past 20 years. But perhaps more importantly, 3D printing/additive manufacturing is beginning to really make a move to users and applications outside of the engineer trying to see if two parts fit together.<br />
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We see architects building a model of a new project, walking into the selection committee and winning the business. We see sales and marketing folks using printed models to attract new clients. We see printed parts being used for real end-use medical applications. We see consumers beginning to experience this industries capabilities through access to parts on-line or with very low cost 3D printer kits. We see 3D printing/additive manufacturing transforming the way that industries think about design, both functional and aesthetic. 2011 was a year where 3D printing/additive manufacturing really started to capture wider public awareness. Unlike any prior year, 3D printing/additive manufacturing really made its way into the mainstream press and consciousness.<br />
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In 2011, Z Corporation agreed to be acquired by <a href="http://www.3dsystems.com/">3D Systems</a>. This transaction is expected to close early in 2012. We embrace the efforts by the 3D Systems team to think beyond one technology and beyond being simply a machine manufacturer. For 3D printing/additive manufacturing to continue to grow, new applications and new users will need to be continually brought into the mix. They will require software to learn and be creative. They will require printers that are affordable and easy to use. They will require on-line service providers that will deliver parts through the mail as easily and simply as ordering digital photographs today. We are excited to be part of this revolution, to bring our style of 3D printing into the mix and to contribute in any way we can.<br />
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We expect that all of the trends that we saw in 2011 will continue to grow and expand in 2012. The use of 3D printers in education and architecture will become a normal part of what people expect. A custom 3D printed part will become common as birthday, anniversary and workplace gifts. New engineers for the first time will really begin to optimize their designs based on the fact that AM removes practically all manufacturing constraints. All of these trends bode for a strong and bright future for this industry. <br />
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I am excited to be a part of it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a><em> </em>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-21211044608666046562011-12-21T07:00:00.001-05:002011-12-21T07:00:00.404-05:00The Best of 3D Printing in 2011<em>This week's blog is by Scott Harmon, Z Corporation's VP of Business Development.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s1600/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s200/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Lots of things have happened in 2011. We would like to take this chance to look back at some of them and see what changed in the past 12 months.<br />
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<strong>Social Media has arrived in this industry.</strong> You might recall the National Geographic video featuring Z Corp and the famous wrench that went viral with over 8.7 million views! Social media wouldn’t seem to be an obvious fit for technical industries like Engineering and Product Design. Still we’re seeing it all over. Dassault and Autodesk have all made major commitments, as have the major RP vendors. Personally, I think this is great. The key to social media is great content. Companies that create great content succeed in social media. Frankly, if companies in the industry are spending more resources creating great content, and less resources on advertisements and trade show booths, I think that’s a net positive.<br />
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<strong>CAD Tools for the Consumer.</strong> We’re definitely seeing an explosion in free CAD tools. It’s going from a trickle to a flood. Blender has been around for a while. Sketch Up has certainly made a splash, but now everyone is in on the action. Established players like Autodesk (123D and 123D Sculpt) and Dassault (3D Via).It’s pretty obvious that a number of important organizations are focused on massively increasing the number of people who can create 3D content.<br />
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<strong>Design for Re-Design.</strong> I personally love this. Many people will be interested in designing and making their own things. However, I believe that many more will want to start with something that is designed to be re-designed. They will want some basic platform that allows them to customize a design for themselves, a way to creating without CAD. Vizardz (<a href="http://www.vizardz.com/">http://www.vizardz.com/</a>), Shapeways (<a href="http://www.shapeways.com/creator/">http://www.shapeways.com/creator/</a>), Kodama Studios (<a href="http://www.myrobotnation.com/">http://www.myrobotnation.com/</a>) and i.materialise (<a href="http://i.materialise.com/creationcorner">http://i.materialise.com/creationcorner</a>) have all launched services like this. Keep an eye on them.<br />
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<strong>Simple Sketching.</strong> The flip side of creating free tools for the consumer, is creating simpler / faster tools for professionals. Catia’s Natural Sketch, PTC’s Creo, Spaceclaim are all tools designed to make 3d modeling faster and easier for the professional user. It appears that all the major vendors are trying to push 3D earlier in the design process. At Z Corp, we obviously think that’s really important. Waiting until you have a fully parameterized 3D model before you protype is so last decade. Fail faster to succeed sooner.<br />
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<strong>The Cloud</strong>. Obviously everyone is talking about the Cloud. Frankly, I find a lot of the cloud stuff pretty irritating. I don’t really want to think about whether my key projects are stored in the cloud or on my machine, and I sure as heck don’t want to be separated from my work because of a dodgy internet collection. Having said that, the Cloud does really help with one key aspect of engineering design – collaboration. It’s obvious that product design is among the most collaborative disciplines around. It touches every part of the organization, and the best in class involve other parts of the organization early in the process. The cloud enables that collaboration. Time to get on board.<br />
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I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Z Corp being acquired by 3D Systems was big news in this industry. I think we have two great tastes that will taste even better together. That should make for an exciting 2012. <br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-80294923591888444732011-12-14T07:00:00.003-05:002011-12-14T07:00:20.299-05:00Nothing Says ‘Happy Holidays’ Like Customized 3D Printed Gifts<em>Today’s blog is by Julie Reece, Z Corporation’s Director of Marketing Communications.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxcfkWpIjWr8BhE0lu0RZ7YXYUzkUELM45SEnQND6Qy9wXfO3vOVIXPvVBqzXop-EQzvnTt9kmcm14rFMXaCqDC-9N3o-FeI5tTINuLreJB6MuZdlWQMF79uo9jN4G55lyhVvoZ2iEXzx/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxcfkWpIjWr8BhE0lu0RZ7YXYUzkUELM45SEnQND6Qy9wXfO3vOVIXPvVBqzXop-EQzvnTt9kmcm14rFMXaCqDC-9N3o-FeI5tTINuLreJB6MuZdlWQMF79uo9jN4G55lyhVvoZ2iEXzx/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" /></a></div><div>Amidst the excitement leading up to the holidays, there is always that moment when I sit in a quiet place, make a list of everyone to whom I will give a gift, and begin the daunting task of identifying that perfect gift for each of those people and writing it in the space next to his/her name. </div><div>Each gift must be something different from prior years, something personal - yet I confess given my hectic schedule, something quick and easy, and something that won’t break the bank. </div><br />
<div>Sound familiar?</div><br />
<div>Then an epiphany. Why haven’t I thought of this sooner? After all, I work for a 3D printing company! I’m talking about customized 3D printed items. What kind of items? Here’s just a sampling:</div><br />
<div>How about a unique, full color 3D printed robot? They’re all the buzz this season! You don’t have to know anything about 3D design to quickly create and order your customized 3D printed robots, and they’re incredibly affordable. Visit <a href="http://www.myrobotnation.com/">http://www.myrobotnation.com/</a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKE6ae_2JSRLBTj8VQlzewgVE55wjEmg9GerQz_6oSnPZiW3oM7Jew8HD6P8OGpYhGypriI5CDksRDPpiL6FATB7uv2TJwOZ1p9lV2rGWQaEJAS8xQnM-SeFPLMi24XfWm76s3C3mf8Ss/s1600/myrobotnation-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKE6ae_2JSRLBTj8VQlzewgVE55wjEmg9GerQz_6oSnPZiW3oM7Jew8HD6P8OGpYhGypriI5CDksRDPpiL6FATB7uv2TJwOZ1p9lV2rGWQaEJAS8xQnM-SeFPLMi24XfWm76s3C3mf8Ss/s320/myrobotnation-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Or, how about a customized World of Warcraft<span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span> or Xbox Live<span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span> avatar for your favorite gamer? Simply order a 3D printed replica of your loved one’s actual game avatar, including the avatar’s name, customized position, clothing, accessories, etc. Visit <a href="http://www.figureprints.com/">http://www.figureprints.com/</a>.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEwZS4zGHszb9fjlslXwSRKBh5UvjZCqLHhkHNKEBjgJ0exZAAvSyneKM2xSgFgZciX6T-Abv0Zyq90zdcOTL6TQT5M3f9uujk77W4GqhQ-OYMvRpsX0j84slxkZ0DR8jhqMwo75tVjk2/s1600/tauren-male.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEwZS4zGHszb9fjlslXwSRKBh5UvjZCqLHhkHNKEBjgJ0exZAAvSyneKM2xSgFgZciX6T-Abv0Zyq90zdcOTL6TQT5M3f9uujk77W4GqhQ-OYMvRpsX0j84slxkZ0DR8jhqMwo75tVjk2/s320/tauren-male.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Here’s a unique idea, a 3D printed map of a meaningful place…perhaps it’s a memorable vacation spot, a hiking or cycling trail they conquered, or the spot where they were married. <a href="http://www.landprint.com/">http://www.landprint.com/</a> uses an intuitive online tool that enables you to select the type of map you want, as well as the precise geographic location. You can even personalize it with a message or label. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06vi_SDp0ztn5cKTFIogBx06Efv_LFiZM3SjB3exsVuLpigjQApgi1-IjuokGjn6yKNQMaARD2nQGX5criu0VrZqwLSro-16vJzgJZAovbDgZnjUuW9KkUyhb3xgh98d7-BTgtHy0r0l-/s1600/snapPresidio180.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06vi_SDp0ztn5cKTFIogBx06Efv_LFiZM3SjB3exsVuLpigjQApgi1-IjuokGjn6yKNQMaARD2nQGX5criu0VrZqwLSro-16vJzgJZAovbDgZnjUuW9KkUyhb3xgh98d7-BTgtHy0r0l-/s1600/snapPresidio180.png" /></a></div><div>The next idea requires you to have a Twitter account, but it is as fun to use and give as it is to receive. It’s a 3D printed snowman called Frstee (yes, I assure you the name spelling is correct). But it’s not just any snowman, the appearance of the snowman you receive is directly related to various characteristics of your Twitter account, including your username, number of followers, and number of years you’ve used Twitter. <a href="http://www.frstee.com/">http://www.frstee.com/</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xy0zJ33oCufArrfvFvtwksbf3NZgkfCsEbY90Yd2a6Y2Y9ZZZ9SZ0ifLq2AvVfAFBhyphenhyphenmNiXYnQPOU_B_EN-eIOIazKcPhxThUcuaPnlBm45mESHMUoclrHncJojT533iGc4pKi3Jwuhu/s1600/6297813987_7de27056b6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xy0zJ33oCufArrfvFvtwksbf3NZgkfCsEbY90Yd2a6Y2Y9ZZZ9SZ0ifLq2AvVfAFBhyphenhyphenmNiXYnQPOU_B_EN-eIOIazKcPhxThUcuaPnlBm45mESHMUoclrHncJojT533iGc4pKi3Jwuhu/s320/6297813987_7de27056b6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>If none of those items appeal to you, but you like the idea of giving a unique 3D printed item as a gift, check out these sites, that offer a variety of multicolor 3D printed items, such as figurines, statues, avatars, key rings, USB flash drives, frames, lamps, and so much more:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.offloadstudios.com/">http://www.offloadstudios.com/</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.shapeways.com/">http://www.shapeways.com/</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.imaterialise.com/">http://www.imaterialise.com/</a> </li>
</ul><br />
<div><a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a> </div>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-18430791946452532932011-12-07T07:00:00.006-05:002011-12-07T07:35:25.383-05:00Color 3D Printing for the Holidays: Advent Calendar<em>This week’s blog post is by Julie Reece, Z Corporation’s Director of Marketing Communications.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxcfkWpIjWr8BhE0lu0RZ7YXYUzkUELM45SEnQND6Qy9wXfO3vOVIXPvVBqzXop-EQzvnTt9kmcm14rFMXaCqDC-9N3o-FeI5tTINuLreJB6MuZdlWQMF79uo9jN4G55lyhVvoZ2iEXzx/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxcfkWpIjWr8BhE0lu0RZ7YXYUzkUELM45SEnQND6Qy9wXfO3vOVIXPvVBqzXop-EQzvnTt9kmcm14rFMXaCqDC-9N3o-FeI5tTINuLreJB6MuZdlWQMF79uo9jN4G55lyhVvoZ2iEXzx/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" /></a></div>It’s finally December! And no matter where you’re from around the world, that means the myriad of December holidays are quickly approaching. A tradition here at <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/">Z Corp</a>. is to have fun with some of the symbols of the season. This year, we created an advent calendar using 3D printed models. <br />
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Here are the first few days of the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32406038@N02/sets/72157628259847977/">advent calendar</a>, in case you missed them:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd8t0peHwj7INcfdAMI5sRf4gZcbWnqu_oWho-di1ou-htJRZn0WVV9MTOrykYNjpnRwgKqDsiQ5iWKoXjOUwW7YjMDOm-HXDi-7d1-hnZHtJjefPrXDZy07uub-BgcFzxn0K0vpF_yxZ/s1600/01+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Santas+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd8t0peHwj7INcfdAMI5sRf4gZcbWnqu_oWho-di1ou-htJRZn0WVV9MTOrykYNjpnRwgKqDsiQ5iWKoXjOUwW7YjMDOm-HXDi-7d1-hnZHtJjefPrXDZy07uub-BgcFzxn0K0vpF_yxZ/s320/01+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Santas+hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1 - Santa Hat</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C6yHk-wg9xqfA6QrxkUvSObAL36eF7wcLy9-m5LuSM08xXzIjYfi_hcQHNmkjZ19rG9Heqcke5z_pUQI2IO-V_APxT3HiR_efxLDbrYJ-ijSLk61t8CCEysCU-G6qH_qmfkVSfHWcbEO/s1600/02+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Snowflake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C6yHk-wg9xqfA6QrxkUvSObAL36eF7wcLy9-m5LuSM08xXzIjYfi_hcQHNmkjZ19rG9Heqcke5z_pUQI2IO-V_APxT3HiR_efxLDbrYJ-ijSLk61t8CCEysCU-G6qH_qmfkVSfHWcbEO/s320/02+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Snowflake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2 - Snowflake</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWRod0eqEz9Qots8OWFegNPDLyAZ5V62KpL0MSzS5wF7Cwdro2lLv9iPXws1vnH0O458yRECHF_kPSVTdb_q96TpV6GmSjpthsSKMBtYYZaEIk0L1TN0VvazbDnd6UA37uu5ZtsiH58uc/s1600/03+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Gingerbread+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWRod0eqEz9Qots8OWFegNPDLyAZ5V62KpL0MSzS5wF7Cwdro2lLv9iPXws1vnH0O458yRECHF_kPSVTdb_q96TpV6GmSjpthsSKMBtYYZaEIk0L1TN0VvazbDnd6UA37uu5ZtsiH58uc/s320/03+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Gingerbread+man.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 3 - Gingerbread Cookie</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6491YLYgWpSwKIWP_AOR1POXufqcwIvseAFTNnqwdGAE5gkP_pihLmbnaCOlovrTsFt9h2zr2Y3O5rDR8mLJRXznxdJ3ZrQILXZrSAyZNa7yIgLbLiaIjJYsqLQcnpKmiLTiDEk1I7E8Q/s1600/04+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Gift+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6491YLYgWpSwKIWP_AOR1POXufqcwIvseAFTNnqwdGAE5gkP_pihLmbnaCOlovrTsFt9h2zr2Y3O5rDR8mLJRXznxdJ3ZrQILXZrSAyZNa7yIgLbLiaIjJYsqLQcnpKmiLTiDEk1I7E8Q/s320/04+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Gift+box.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 4 (and my favorite) - Gift</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqzYJZqE8dYWt8j_j55TdCMehiQPzj3fllNsmSC52-_PVw_Nh-EEFaSDaKwrkrJATI86FgLXtwrNAEWI9jS8TansINho4LzF94OaW03dQFYhSVrOPbNsUEgFJgaeHDXwksIqzWYeU_pFX/s1600/05+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Christmas+pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfqzYJZqE8dYWt8j_j55TdCMehiQPzj3fllNsmSC52-_PVw_Nh-EEFaSDaKwrkrJATI86FgLXtwrNAEWI9jS8TansINho4LzF94OaW03dQFYhSVrOPbNsUEgFJgaeHDXwksIqzWYeU_pFX/s320/05+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Christmas+pig.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 5 - Christmas Pig</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF5BVaykAtyoVmMYCagZk8TpqLtpLSrilUIl0axJUt6ObIxMOZqOhiCQa1yglxUr6JHj29DrCgipORoNYE8zR_18Lda-djPIZo3fTYOoZzHKO-TvEcWepCD-4CduWuf3HOJAjjVAfbbhO/s1600/06+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Snowman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF5BVaykAtyoVmMYCagZk8TpqLtpLSrilUIl0axJUt6ObIxMOZqOhiCQa1yglxUr6JHj29DrCgipORoNYE8zR_18Lda-djPIZo3fTYOoZzHKO-TvEcWepCD-4CduWuf3HOJAjjVAfbbhO/s320/06+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Snowman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 6 - Snowman</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg4CbdrFzxwILnl-ojGXMpBnt1uLlrK731JfPlCq9q9j24SBy5CMeXMIW07JscONaj1bMzZrJY2_630btgPBnNI057zU6oEr2pSuAoEKjYCW4SwoS88Z8Ct6uVDbo8xrOFJh5LZwNaxyi/s1600/07+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Snowball+lantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihg4CbdrFzxwILnl-ojGXMpBnt1uLlrK731JfPlCq9q9j24SBy5CMeXMIW07JscONaj1bMzZrJY2_630btgPBnNI057zU6oEr2pSuAoEKjYCW4SwoS88Z8Ct6uVDbo8xrOFJh5LZwNaxyi/s320/07+-+CreativeTools.se+-+ZPrinter-model+-+Snowball+lantern.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 7 - Snowball Lantern</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Of course, we can create these beautiful holiday-themed models because our 3D printers (<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">ZPrinters</a>) uniquely offer a multicolor 3D printing capability and, well, because we like to infuse fun into our daily responsibilities. Enjoy!<br />
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If you’d like any of these files, simply send me an email at <a href="mailto:jreece@zcorp.com">jreece@zcorp.com</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-29196408006706977522011-11-30T01:00:00.000-05:002011-11-30T01:20:54.567-05:003D Printing Saves Lives<em>Today’s blog is by Julie Reece, Z Corporation’s Director of Marketing Communications.</em><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmP9MhF6fHVZhawPdkZwKncYbv6FAmP66pU_WxydCMZd8yBiST9PYIzPEch8OU28hePFjCr_9kx5VpquclSvULqynQiRiB6Du9OoNclyDrupv0NWX27wX2bH8FTpy6vVhnNiUJVsXYaM9/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmP9MhF6fHVZhawPdkZwKncYbv6FAmP66pU_WxydCMZd8yBiST9PYIzPEch8OU28hePFjCr_9kx5VpquclSvULqynQiRiB6Du9OoNclyDrupv0NWX27wX2bH8FTpy6vVhnNiUJVsXYaM9/s200/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" width="131" /></a>I recently came across yet another inspiring story about how researchers and students are continually innovating with 3D printing technology in pursuit of life-saving applications. This one comes from The University of California Berkeley where they are using 3D printing to accelerate the evolution of a new medical device that promises to deliver safe, non-invasive angiography.</div><br />
Called X-space <a href="http://qb3.org/blog/2011/09/magnetic-particle-imaging-0">Magnetic Particle Imaging</a> (MPI), the technology will let doctors look inside the heart and brain without the dangers of radiation, iodine, guide wires or catheters, according to Patrick Goodwill, University of California Berkeley research associate and developer of both the theory and first X-space MPI scanner. The MPI scanner detects nanoparticles spotlighted by benign iron oxide tracers injected into the bloodstream.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sz7DNn1E8sW9iNxHygzH49-a28wwyHPjTlfkmShMG84EQmvtkLfznDgW1MthGk-dAu247jFOfthHEBnHKdJ7uuZYl9kg0mD-FlrKuy3F2hX4WX_sGz6imISLquJa_hASPjcfcVHOAyMD/s1600/scanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sz7DNn1E8sW9iNxHygzH49-a28wwyHPjTlfkmShMG84EQmvtkLfznDgW1MthGk-dAu247jFOfthHEBnHKdJ7uuZYl9kg0mD-FlrKuy3F2hX4WX_sGz6imISLquJa_hASPjcfcVHOAyMD/s320/scanner.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Goodwill and a team of graduate engineering students in the Conolly Labratory use the <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/ZPrinter-150/spage.aspx">ZPrinter<span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span> 150</a> to create parts for MPI scanner prototypes that can image small animals. These devices are precursors to human-scale scanners.<br />
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“Since we’re building the world’s first MPI scanners, we can’t just buy parts off the shelf,” said Goodwill. “We’re using the ZPrinter to manufacture parts such as transmit coils, receive coils, heated animal beds and even custom components for delivering animal anesthesia. Every scanner we’ve built has incorporated at least two or three ZPrinted parts.”<br />
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<strong>Graduate Students Print Parts Every Day for Magnetic Particle Imaging Scanner Prototypes, Saving Weeks of Waiting and Thousands of Dollars</strong><br />
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Goodwill purchased the ZPrinter after trying Dimension 3D printers, which were expensive –costing up to $1,500 per part in materials – and time consuming, taking as much as 20 hours to make a single part. He found that the ZPrinter creates parts in half the time, at a fraction of the price, and even produces multiple parts in each build cycle. “We can build 30 parts for the price of one,” Goodwill said. <br />
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“ZPrinting is the fastest way we can create the parts we need to rapidly iterate our design so we can bring MPI to the general public sooner,” Goodwill said. “We train all our students on SolidWorks<span style="font-size: xx-small;">®</span> CAD software and have them manufacture their own parts. Now, whenever we have an inspiration, we try it out with a real part. We never have to leave the lab.”<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.corp.com/"><em>http://www.corp.com</em></a></div>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-11894522151677289662011-11-23T07:30:00.001-05:002011-11-23T07:30:03.394-05:00It's a Great Time to Be an Entrepreneur!<em>This week's blog is by Scott Harmon, Z Corporation's VP of Business Development.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s1600/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s200/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>I was invited to give a talk at Northeastern University’s <a href="http://www.northeastern.edu/eweek/2011/">Global Entrepreneurship Week</a>. I have to say, it’s a great time to be an entrepreneur.<br />
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Most of you are familiar by now with the basic idea that <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">3D printing</a> is a great way to lower the cost and time required to bring a product to market. Entrepreneurs feel the pressure to bring their products to market faster and at lower cost even more acutely than engineers and designers at other kinds of firms. That is after all the key mandate of the entrepreneur – do it faster, and do it for less. When you are pre-revenue, you have no choice. <br />
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Of course, many entrepreneurs do not come from the ranks of engineers and designers. Generally they are unaware of the power of the prototype. They frequently make the mistake of starting with a short run of production parts from a low cost manufacturing environment. Big mistake.<br />
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What I found fascinating was the enormous array of tools beyond 3D printers that have evolved to make the lives of entrepreneurs easier. All of them focused on lowering the cost and time required to being a product to market. Professor Tucker Marion from Northeastern University presented an enormous array of tools that are cost effective and incredibly useful to start ups. Everything from low cost project management and collaboration, to sites like <a href="http://www.elance.com/">Elance</a> and <a href="http://www.guru.com/">Guru</a> that help you find talent in specific niches, to sourcing vendors catering specifically to the needs of start-ups. An entire economy is growing up to aid those trying to bring new products to market.<br />
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One thing I know very specifically: regardless of what government does or doesn’t do, the fastest way to grow ourselves out of the current recession is to unleash the creativity of our people. All these tools, 3D printers included, contribute to the efforts of creative people who are trying to bring new and innovative products to market. It’s a great time to be an entrepreneur.<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-62698437601798979662011-11-15T18:50:00.000-05:002011-11-15T18:53:59.203-05:00How Can You Use In-House 3D Printing to Work Smarter, Not Harder?<em>Today’s guest blog comes from Julie Reece, Z Corporation’s Director of Marketing Communications.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLA8DZaqAXW3tY3xRxGgHT8ClxQuK4mD0CRvGZPHCreoBzqYHUaAcNMKSItLJw318RYhNDPkb7gYFc0-b0e4XtE2mjXNLKNyF3ssGHsv7brEDhenqLRGflfsKjkLYwEETUv-xOqNlmfBK/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLA8DZaqAXW3tY3xRxGgHT8ClxQuK4mD0CRvGZPHCreoBzqYHUaAcNMKSItLJw318RYhNDPkb7gYFc0-b0e4XtE2mjXNLKNyF3ssGHsv7brEDhenqLRGflfsKjkLYwEETUv-xOqNlmfBK/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Last month I was in the UK for TCT Live 2011. During the show I had the privilege of listening to a presentation by Ben White, Sr. Product Design Engineer at <a href="http://www.integra-products.co.uk/">Integra Products</a> (UK manufacturer of window dressing solutions) about how Integra uses 3D printing, not only throughout the product design and development process, but also across the organization, to cut their design cycle by weeks and their product costs by thousands, and even ship greener products. Integra uses physical 3D printed models, example, to refine concepts, ensure fit and function, communicate effectively with partners, and quickly create mold patterns.<br />
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Integra previously used a service bureau for its prototypes, but they decided to invest in a Z Corp. <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">3D printer</a> after realizing they could save time, money and rework by making their own prototypes in house versus using a service bureau. Integra now prints as many as 25 models overnight, rather than waiting as long as seven days for prototypes from the service bureau. They reduced prototyping costs by 85 to 90 percent compared to the service bureau’s fees for SLS prototypes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8LFqCJ0qxgmsXwKD1gz6AoR34o6JqxIESYnX0J6a0xBcrr_r7Hf32qGBAPvA-No96exVQak8DjE8k45piLKccNCfsXWXm0lnA_HY0o1HoLEPzxI3KqgVmDPyzqQ63TmoH1kdRZGsofUU/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8LFqCJ0qxgmsXwKD1gz6AoR34o6JqxIESYnX0J6a0xBcrr_r7Hf32qGBAPvA-No96exVQak8DjE8k45piLKccNCfsXWXm0lnA_HY0o1HoLEPzxI3KqgVmDPyzqQ63TmoH1kdRZGsofUU/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" /></a></div>White says,<br />
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<em>“Our ZPrinter saves us time and money at every step. The biggest savings is getting things right before we invest in tooling. Instead of waiting 40 days for tooling and then seeing if we like our samples, our ZPrinter helps us ensure, before the fact, that our products are going to work, fit with adjacent components, and look great. That can eliminate errors that would otherwise cost us thousands of dollars.” </em><br />
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Integra’s use of ZPrinting includes:<br />
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<strong>Concept modeling</strong> – A powerful use of ZPrinting at Integra involves meeting with customers to refine designs and handing them a prototype reflecting the newest input. “Most of our customers haven’t seen this technology and don’t know that it exists,” said White. “It confirms our edge in technology and innovation, and embodies our mission to work smarter, not harder.”<br />
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<strong>Enhancing Communication Across the Company</strong> – ZPrinting’s quick turnaround helps Integra engineers convey information that doesn’t come across in their computer renderings. With 3D printed models, designers, marketers and salespeople can fully grasp the proportions between the finial (decorative pole end) and the curtain pole. ZPrinted models also more effectively depict complex shapes, such as decorative spheres, to manufacturing partners who can’t fully understand the intent from the digital drawings. Similarly, ZPrinting helps Integra designers ensure that seams and joints aren’t visible in the finished product.<br />
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<strong>Moldmaking</strong> – ZPrinting quickly creates molds for the rapid creation of silicon molds and quick patterns for sand casting. These capabilities cut the 10-week development cycle to four weeks. <br />
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<strong>Sustainability</strong> – In addition to saving time, money and errors in development, White’s team is finding ways to cut costs on actual product materials. “ZPrinting has enabled us to reduce material through extensive testing of prototypes,” White said. “As a result, a recently redesigned plastic curtain hook is now stronger and easier to use, while reducing consumer waste by 500 kilograms per year. ZPrinting is helping us to fulfill our responsibility of being a good neighbor while minimizing our carbon footprint.”<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3ZJaYHXYGk&feature=youtu.be">Watch video presentation about Integra’s use of 3D printing delivered by Ben White of Integra at TCT Live last month. </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-16222649803780811772011-11-09T07:30:00.001-05:002011-11-09T07:30:02.734-05:00How Does Your Company Use Creativity to Create Value?<em>This week's blog is by Scott Harmon, Z Corporation VP of Business Development.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s1600/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s200/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/home.aspx">Z Corporation</a> recently adopted a <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/documents/1157_9290-CreateMoreVisionPaper%20FINAL.pdf">new mission</a>, and the timing couldn’t be better. Z Corp.’s mission is to help our customers <span style="font-family: inherit;">Create more<span style="font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%;">™</span></span> – more ideas, more communication, more innovation.<br />
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I gave a presentation last week at the <a href="http://www.connected-health.org/events/symposium-2011.aspx">Connected Health Symposium</a> in Boston, and it occurred to me that you can read <em>Create more</em> in two ways – with <em>more </em>as an adjective to describe the things a reader might create, or with <em>more</em> as an adverb exhorting the reader to use their creative powers more.<br />
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The difference is subtle, but important. A recent <a href="http://www-935.ibm.com/services/c-suite/series-download.html">IBM study</a>, in which 1500 CEO’s from around the world participated, had some very interesting findings. The first finding was that complexity was most commonly identified as their biggest challenge. The second was that their companies are not well equipped the deal with the complexity they face. The third was that they viewed creativity as the single most important leadership competency for dealing with complexity.<br />
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Complexity is the burden of reading <em>more</em> as an adjective. Growth means more new products designed to serve more new markets with more new customers. All of that adds complexity to an organization. Creativity is the opportunity enabled by reading <em>more</em> as an adverb. By using our creative talents and tools more effectively we deliver greater value to our customers, and hopefully reduce complexity.<br />
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We’re happy to support both kinds of creators. With the most productive <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">3D printers</a> in the world, we enable creators who are relentlessly focused on developing lots of new products in hyper-competitive fields. Our low cost of operation also enables a different kind of creator. A creator who may care less about quantity, but wants to try lots and lots of different ideas in order to identify the one that cuts through. <br />
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So what kind of creativity does your company value?<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-58953973165945864332011-11-02T07:30:00.004-04:002011-11-02T07:30:02.504-04:00Z Corp. and Kodama Studios Bring You “My Robot Nation,” 3D Creation for Everyone<em>Today’s blog is by Julie Reece, Z Corporation’s Director of Marketing Communications.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLA8DZaqAXW3tY3xRxGgHT8ClxQuK4mD0CRvGZPHCreoBzqYHUaAcNMKSItLJw318RYhNDPkb7gYFc0-b0e4XtE2mjXNLKNyF3ssGHsv7brEDhenqLRGflfsKjkLYwEETUv-xOqNlmfBK/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLA8DZaqAXW3tY3xRxGgHT8ClxQuK4mD0CRvGZPHCreoBzqYHUaAcNMKSItLJw318RYhNDPkb7gYFc0-b0e4XtE2mjXNLKNyF3ssGHsv7brEDhenqLRGflfsKjkLYwEETUv-xOqNlmfBK/s1600/Julie+A+Reece.jpg" /></a></div>While many invoke the vision of 3D printers in the home, the reality is that until now, the ability to design and print your own creations in 3D has required expert knowledge in 3D CAD software. Mark Danks and Sarah Stocker, game industry veterans and the founders of <a href="http://www.kodamastudios.com/">Kodama Studios</a>, are changing all of that.<br />
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Leveraging their unique experience in video game development and the latest browser technologies in HTML5.0 and WebGL, Kodama has put the joy of play into creating in 3D. A featured application on the new <a href="http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/p/store.html">Google Chrome Store</a>, <a href="http://myrobotnation.com/">MyRobotNation.com</a> provides you with the ability to go online, design and create a personalized robot collectible using a combination of 3D Web graphics and fast, affordable, and multicolor 3D printing.<br />
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Virtually anyone, not just experienced designers, can easily design their own personalized 3D robot creation that can then be printed as a high-quality figurine by <a href="http://www.offloadstudios.com/">Offload Studios</a>, in vibrant color, on a <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/home.aspx">Z Corp.</a> 3D printer (<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">ZPrinter</a>). You can choose from more than 9 billion combinations of body shapes, limbs, colors, decals, and attachments. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKn7imupAy4">Video</a>. <a href="http://www.myrobotnation.com/photo_gallery">Check out some photos of robots that have been created so far</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthyphenhyphenCziGo8d5YGTmtEudhLRK2WvPTpCEVPP9PmQ2fimEDwXv8A1xVSPpoUrUAoo_LO5HWsAtiO8jM17nlDl3EVSjCXEDjHSHJJATLou7QPsDNoSQiO41QF5zhRVv-E15Fo_hQjubgbgp3L/s1600/My-Robot-Nation-A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthyphenhyphenCziGo8d5YGTmtEudhLRK2WvPTpCEVPP9PmQ2fimEDwXv8A1xVSPpoUrUAoo_LO5HWsAtiO8jM17nlDl3EVSjCXEDjHSHJJATLou7QPsDNoSQiO41QF5zhRVv-E15Fo_hQjubgbgp3L/s320/My-Robot-Nation-A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-MsYoOj6iq0m2dGwhyphenhyphenKbYUWRP2Oe3i4fMn_hQc5eJboOYu5ILtYhkKp-VCw8KTZfdBgX2z49BTv0mNdBHw0jm7WWGYcbeWGb_8v2FqxKN0me6t22UFpckz3-eEe45cZFbBXMmnjw82jz/s1600/My-Robot-Nation-B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-MsYoOj6iq0m2dGwhyphenhyphenKbYUWRP2Oe3i4fMn_hQc5eJboOYu5ILtYhkKp-VCw8KTZfdBgX2z49BTv0mNdBHw0jm7WWGYcbeWGb_8v2FqxKN0me6t22UFpckz3-eEe45cZFbBXMmnjw82jz/s1600/My-Robot-Nation-B.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXsKH6nk30M7igHTDZPTDQgmAW67yHq8NyF8LVC1aEdruko_4cVF3GJq5P5T6oAI9Ec5AME8thyLZsgIsoXqRMF-9ByzHWyQo7Z2bB8RqivJy659SQhth4X5QmjyGNw54LkyB_bpk_uPt/s1600/My-Robot-Nation-C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXsKH6nk30M7igHTDZPTDQgmAW67yHq8NyF8LVC1aEdruko_4cVF3GJq5P5T6oAI9Ec5AME8thyLZsgIsoXqRMF-9ByzHWyQo7Z2bB8RqivJy659SQhth4X5QmjyGNw54LkyB_bpk_uPt/s320/My-Robot-Nation-C.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ltRz3RJJSO3pqQnjO-gWiF6uO9-Y0yM_tmhu1i9768R_E5vlfZe5kRWXqCdZZ4M56bmpdA35v5H7sQob_bfRLvrzf02WRla4lidFBuYuTdtkDh0pgcRFm4BmIR0LbCj67xsDKxK2zNmp/s1600/My-Robot-Nation-D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ltRz3RJJSO3pqQnjO-gWiF6uO9-Y0yM_tmhu1i9768R_E5vlfZe5kRWXqCdZZ4M56bmpdA35v5H7sQob_bfRLvrzf02WRla4lidFBuYuTdtkDh0pgcRFm4BmIR0LbCj67xsDKxK2zNmp/s320/My-Robot-Nation-D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmGSjIbU97tV6V_Gm_UE5Rggkt3NftuVa_u1ZdYy2T5qZWm7Bf5qR0sKWD-TXPqpJ3OAL24xeXYqmA7y4OUdpC4ItmaXg59CtDcU3p91YmGMjQkVRV-Dqw5IsCa338_F4uABxUmwUME2t/s1600/My-Robot-Nation-E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmGSjIbU97tV6V_Gm_UE5Rggkt3NftuVa_u1ZdYy2T5qZWm7Bf5qR0sKWD-TXPqpJ3OAL24xeXYqmA7y4OUdpC4ItmaXg59CtDcU3p91YmGMjQkVRV-Dqw5IsCa338_F4uABxUmwUME2t/s320/My-Robot-Nation-E.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav31BM-Ybyt5WYcnT6ZDBmeoDiV55sdhnoJjWvh8NVCIF2X95DN9s4KPHeQzldaZk7KHeBlX-WuRBImZWzmRSEsx4w8KUihUywAebvyviqH9rAw96D5Vy1tHDa1LLUpMiDWrP8GhJpCWC/s1600/My-Robot-Nation-F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav31BM-Ybyt5WYcnT6ZDBmeoDiV55sdhnoJjWvh8NVCIF2X95DN9s4KPHeQzldaZk7KHeBlX-WuRBImZWzmRSEsx4w8KUihUywAebvyviqH9rAw96D5Vy1tHDa1LLUpMiDWrP8GhJpCWC/s320/My-Robot-Nation-F.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTpv1vn7NyfdB0KH2taaju3llKT8W9xFfpnJ2dj2xfVf1DNdRFi5rOzYXOEhc1-u5kkNFwFDwO4yBcwzUSqh7bdU0t36l7VhXtfu9exH2mbH4ia4OYtv7Pfw3pOf8jwcv-RpjKFlRAbHp/s1600/My-Robot-Nation-G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTpv1vn7NyfdB0KH2taaju3llKT8W9xFfpnJ2dj2xfVf1DNdRFi5rOzYXOEhc1-u5kkNFwFDwO4yBcwzUSqh7bdU0t36l7VhXtfu9exH2mbH4ia4OYtv7Pfw3pOf8jwcv-RpjKFlRAbHp/s320/My-Robot-Nation-G.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In his exclusive <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20124425-52/my-robot-nation-aims-for-personal-3d-printing-for-all/?part=authorRss&subj=news&tag=latestNewsRss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=230197">CNET article</a> about the beta launch of MyRobotNation.com, Daniel Terdiman includes this quote from Stocker:<br />
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<em>“At My Robot Nation, we believe that everyone is creative, and everyone can create – we all just need a fun and easy way to get started. Youtube, Facebook and Twitter show us how creative everyone can be digitally – we’re giving people an amazing new way to bring that creativity into the real world. Robots are only the beginning – the My Robot Nation platform is designed to be flexible and allow for the creation and customization of objects of any type. 3D printing is a revolution in creation and we want everyone to have access to it – now!”</em><br />
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ZPrinters are already being used to create animation characters for <a href="http://www.pixar.com/">Pixar</a> and personalized avatars for <a href="http://us.battle.net/wow/en/">World of Warcraft</a> gamers, expanding the creative possibilities for consumers and computer graphics professionals.<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a><em> </em>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-13495612107907172672011-10-31T07:30:00.000-04:002011-10-31T07:30:01.286-04:00Tricks, Treats, and 3D Printing for Halloween<em>This week’s guest blog is by Julie Reece, Z Corporation’s Director of Marketing Communications.</em><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6QYFEwuHJHl8MQTIbHKI7p3sV7FXI9x_ulAXlWQ9cHouV_wanuxY76y6CFe2Kgj-Gf9KdRnk18YRUtmlURiGX5mtt0CCMCgBKGP3chtnsm7nNUesLod_G6sW-npBeSb-CwLSTgmaU0sE/s1600/6210987318_214f82870e_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6QYFEwuHJHl8MQTIbHKI7p3sV7FXI9x_ulAXlWQ9cHouV_wanuxY76y6CFe2Kgj-Gf9KdRnk18YRUtmlURiGX5mtt0CCMCgBKGP3chtnsm7nNUesLod_G6sW-npBeSb-CwLSTgmaU0sE/s1600/6210987318_214f82870e_s.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3D print of my face in honor of Halloween, because it’s just a bit creepy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Every Halloween, we like to have a little fun here at <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/home.aspx">Z Corp</a>. There’s nothing like tricks, treats, and, yes, 3D printed models created on a Z Corp. <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">ZPrinter </a>to add some zest to Halloween. <br />
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I thought that multicolor, fully-textured, 3D printed Jack-O-Lanterns and a skull named Jane would do just the trick (pun intended). <br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eB82ZhriSS4l8xXOwih0BzHxjO30pbsh4ELDpEf0REs2dMa0OPKbfvh-vNxrtAN8dWKy6sRw1uk6ymDNL1Y2l7l8Xi_PKVaGK2hkhSJQNIaBafQguF6AfxGwMc1zClWW7z4X0K8hYr0b/s1600/photo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8eB82ZhriSS4l8xXOwih0BzHxjO30pbsh4ELDpEf0REs2dMa0OPKbfvh-vNxrtAN8dWKy6sRw1uk6ymDNL1Y2l7l8Xi_PKVaGK2hkhSJQNIaBafQguF6AfxGwMc1zClWW7z4X0K8hYr0b/s320/photo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpyL6MhxRao6r7t8IQTxUlV9MNcdrY-NXCcnrIojRQT7CgJJCqAp0DrViqdXfTbDc3DB6C52PSEQLBWsW_PHtJJuBG6A_Hx1KLBZ9K17KESLU3JwpbiHWNCIbuYDOYBVMP0M8CNGrKnYY/s1600/photo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpyL6MhxRao6r7t8IQTxUlV9MNcdrY-NXCcnrIojRQT7CgJJCqAp0DrViqdXfTbDc3DB6C52PSEQLBWsW_PHtJJuBG6A_Hx1KLBZ9K17KESLU3JwpbiHWNCIbuYDOYBVMP0M8CNGrKnYY/s320/photo5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fully-functional ZPrinted Halloween decoration</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsi2Orr_ML-GSfgY51Z3Hc_7J4bLeTQBwpF7wjrTvYmJQSfyzHcsCWLnRdW4PzmnGDt500_fg-bLNiO6PJ44bxlnMggCXZuvgXYZ9VhZNttx2ytLYeqYHo5m_gQrAiSSFUB6Z8DmPwsQF/s1600/photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="279" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsi2Orr_ML-GSfgY51Z3Hc_7J4bLeTQBwpF7wjrTvYmJQSfyzHcsCWLnRdW4PzmnGDt500_fg-bLNiO6PJ44bxlnMggCXZuvgXYZ9VhZNttx2ytLYeqYHo5m_gQrAiSSFUB6Z8DmPwsQF/s320/photo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZPrinted Jack-O-Lantern</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBf6mnDMZMVOM13YDRTbfmGI783OlLS4YqWeF64wPzfC3BWgSOo59YFJyKvV3oaAZ4h9WekizONiXacNi1-CXXttUqY3FipqAhBvC8luMBc9KitTj788QQrTh03phUSHZaQuLESHlrbFk/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBf6mnDMZMVOM13YDRTbfmGI783OlLS4YqWeF64wPzfC3BWgSOo59YFJyKvV3oaAZ4h9WekizONiXacNi1-CXXttUqY3FipqAhBvC8luMBc9KitTj788QQrTh03phUSHZaQuLESHlrbFk/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZPrinted pumpkin</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIdn41AlCl46ZSgt8As33pDOniTA2TPM7IYB5LTAeGun0P1XO2zKAmFZYRVyegaVs-0Qf69-5kgXsHGm0tea7OqYxYq0LMDcl3emuFH0BQf5YPCGZOIxwJss3BB_jUqGElucuF7c3_26a/s1600/color+skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIdn41AlCl46ZSgt8As33pDOniTA2TPM7IYB5LTAeGun0P1XO2zKAmFZYRVyegaVs-0Qf69-5kgXsHGm0tea7OqYxYq0LMDcl3emuFH0BQf5YPCGZOIxwJss3BB_jUqGElucuF7c3_26a/s1600/color+skull.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ZPrinted Jane (it’s a long story)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-29850402491850141982011-10-26T07:30:00.000-04:002011-10-26T07:30:02.026-04:00High School Students Have 'The Best Field Trip Ever!' Learning about 3D Design & 3D Printing at Z Corporation<em>Today's blog is from Scott Harmon, Z Corporation VP of Business Development.</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s1600/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s200/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>With great fanfare we kicked off the <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Press-Room/John-Tierney-and-Z-Corporation-Announce-New-Education-Pr/news.aspx">EngineeringZONE program</a> last week. Twenty-five students and three faculty members, led by June Krinsky Rudder from Revere High School, came to visit. After a brief introduction to the company, we split them into three groups. Each group moved through three different segments.<br />
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In the first segment, students got a tour of the manufacturing facility, led by our VP of Manufacturing, Matt Mandia. <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/home.aspx">Z Corporation</a> has been manufacturing <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">3D printers</a> right here in Massachusetts for more than 10 years. We ship those printers all over the globe. Although labor costs are higher here, we get very talented assemblers who don’t just put things together, they actively participate in discussions about how we can design things so that manufacturing is less expensive and easier to do. The students saw our KanBan system for lean inventory control which also keeps costs down. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtl60uf_0hg-whwQe1N9G1-c0a4ISCzxYhmYe8jPAaYsGMJH5o4SJ3zqfuLzaBdnSThQ-mExnMIN4wrcGvfp8lTohA8gNSxj14UuyHJbYtwZTGW5iVH1aWzIYXtP5yispFDmzPvv30yd4/s1600/photo+%252863%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtl60uf_0hg-whwQe1N9G1-c0a4ISCzxYhmYe8jPAaYsGMJH5o4SJ3zqfuLzaBdnSThQ-mExnMIN4wrcGvfp8lTohA8gNSxj14UuyHJbYtwZTGW5iVH1aWzIYXtP5yispFDmzPvv30yd4/s320/photo+%252863%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWqiR_C3ECnUGtlJL37OGYkb5WMtOZQ1f_FzLlZYNq-4YsfC9v5TJoRzzQjVywF_yz1n-_v8bKu6P6z-qKF22E_fJ53zbpf7ihji4LxN8uPQJu7cRT9Endx_kJleZUIcP1SpAMFHEfrE6/s1600/photo+%252867%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWqiR_C3ECnUGtlJL37OGYkb5WMtOZQ1f_FzLlZYNq-4YsfC9v5TJoRzzQjVywF_yz1n-_v8bKu6P6z-qKF22E_fJ53zbpf7ihji4LxN8uPQJu7cRT9Endx_kJleZUIcP1SpAMFHEfrE6/s320/photo+%252867%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The students also got some hands on time with the printers and the prototypes themselves. Most of them had never seen a 3D printer or the output from a 3D printer. In our demo room, they saw all the printers in our line, as well as prototypes from just about every discipline we sell to. We had students who were interested in engineering, architecture, animation, digital media, medicine, etc. Fortunately, we have lots of different examples of prototypes and customers from all those different disciplines. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_VmemGWq28SUQNEJX_SIiX0bOXO_R855GXWXd2pz3wtGqX8CeJ3siCDfPd_xRxtg082ymLee7L8xl4rrYU1g4Qow9MtZPUoLQFlrmFM-kL4gFcjctcI6z6zFtZghD08Wa16oJ1zF_lUA/s1600/photo+%252861%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_VmemGWq28SUQNEJX_SIiX0bOXO_R855GXWXd2pz3wtGqX8CeJ3siCDfPd_xRxtg082ymLee7L8xl4rrYU1g4Qow9MtZPUoLQFlrmFM-kL4gFcjctcI6z6zFtZghD08Wa16oJ1zF_lUA/s320/photo+%252861%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MwzqMtG3srjJ7aSCPQRw0QrxS3NzKTarUP14RT41MD7MYocok8ejSqQ4dGN9cZsun9-qS8235LugE8xbCjOJidUDWu6QR8qmL_4CmI8Jtv2ZTmuI73c6AYnhc2nXcbAzDJD6BgowwaDu/s1600/photo+%252866%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MwzqMtG3srjJ7aSCPQRw0QrxS3NzKTarUP14RT41MD7MYocok8ejSqQ4dGN9cZsun9-qS8235LugE8xbCjOJidUDWu6QR8qmL_4CmI8Jtv2ZTmuI73c6AYnhc2nXcbAzDJD6BgowwaDu/s320/photo+%252866%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlgolilQg2iD2lKP00uJmVShfTC7K2aPtEIE-WNsCN-Tr7NAASk_wU2gAsWv_7C2WsO12kbT44R5LMzxJBtJpxnbwt5HEVeiCp0ac2AS9I5LoCmMfS3UnJZ1ZuYB8sbo7zIDC4L5e3bqR/s1600/photo+%252868%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlgolilQg2iD2lKP00uJmVShfTC7K2aPtEIE-WNsCN-Tr7NAASk_wU2gAsWv_7C2WsO12kbT44R5LMzxJBtJpxnbwt5HEVeiCp0ac2AS9I5LoCmMfS3UnJZ1ZuYB8sbo7zIDC4L5e3bqR/s320/photo+%252868%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Students then learned why 3D printers are so popular with engineers, designers, architects, animators, etc. "Failing Faster to Succeed Sooner" is a message that resonated. Engineers, designers and architects, in particular, try to generate and test lots of ideas early in their design processes so they’re not fixing things later, when it’s more costly.<br />
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As a special treat, Z Corp. worked with <a href="http://myrobotnation.com/">MyRobotNation.com</a> to let each student create their own robots during their visit. If you haven’t seen this application, you should. It’s really cool. Using a browser (Chrome and Firefox work best), you can actually design a robot and have it 3D printed. No CAD required. The application just went to public beta on the <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore">Google App Store</a>. Best of all, in conjunction with My Robot Nation and <a href="http://www.offloadstudios.com/core/">Offload Studios</a>, we’ll be providing each student with a 3D print of their robot. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMILw12WRJ95UNYN6zR3dRBsnqlKESuRObHgTD_TFwe1Ccdd3vBZZqK36fFxM2Bm_q29AhwzcVMVvz4qLsYIhzLo8plOh4NaVUZjBlepRPrS9Uj-za7zHZtqPhmH543FNzHPN2jf16E3r/s1600/robots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMILw12WRJ95UNYN6zR3dRBsnqlKESuRObHgTD_TFwe1Ccdd3vBZZqK36fFxM2Bm_q29AhwzcVMVvz4qLsYIhzLo8plOh4NaVUZjBlepRPrS9Uj-za7zHZtqPhmH543FNzHPN2jf16E3r/s320/robots.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32406038@N02/sets/72157627789306951/with/6253161497/">More Photos</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/3DPrinters?feature=mhsn">Videos</a><br />
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If you’re interested in bringing a class of students to Z Corp. as part of our EngineeringZONE program for the <em>“best field trip ever!”</em> (June’s words, not mine), please contact Olimpio DeMarco at <a href="mailto:odemarco@zcorp.com">odemarco@zcorp.com</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a><em> </em>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-39361944981726376342011-10-19T07:30:00.001-04:002011-10-19T07:30:00.105-04:00Functional 3D Printed Clock<em>This week's blog is by John Luongo, Z Corporation Associate Engineer.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Mh-z041tIj3_C8tQYogTVnnesONL2kchs4Z9arrvu-Z8XwOUky1CyeUoZnwhTagxu95uhrAuncBzE94x18ZG6xiHMJwqAwOUBZpL3A_ZJYHKZEF-U7HFXGiCKu-OqfS57Dsht91s3Z2N/s1600/John+Luongo+5034+Shop+2712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Mh-z041tIj3_C8tQYogTVnnesONL2kchs4Z9arrvu-Z8XwOUky1CyeUoZnwhTagxu95uhrAuncBzE94x18ZG6xiHMJwqAwOUBZpL3A_ZJYHKZEF-U7HFXGiCKu-OqfS57Dsht91s3Z2N/s200/John+Luongo+5034+Shop+2712.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
As a machinist and engineer; mechanical time pieces have always fascinated me. They are a perfect meld of both skill sets. I’ve been collecting them for ten plus years. </div><br />
Sometime ago, I found a website where a gentleman from the U.K. shared his passion for wooden pendulum clocks. For a small fee he sent me a copy of the .iges files. I converted them to .stl and 3D printed the components half scale on a <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/home.aspx">Z Corporation</a> <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">ZPrinter</a>. I used zp150 composite resin for the build material and ZMax to finish them off. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjwU2VIK82oG7nkA0_7qYKuSgsMZT0CvWi-g2bdMyx05lMtFs6q70YAfjVYbwWuaL5jtzQSkRzOmD6v1D_4AlIL8gdgU1w-HzWeGSMjQm1psYSITTGP6FX12YlNkzfJX8abDrtvo7IUg5/s1600/IMG_20110714_170150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjwU2VIK82oG7nkA0_7qYKuSgsMZT0CvWi-g2bdMyx05lMtFs6q70YAfjVYbwWuaL5jtzQSkRzOmD6v1D_4AlIL8gdgU1w-HzWeGSMjQm1psYSITTGP6FX12YlNkzfJX8abDrtvo7IUg5/s320/IMG_20110714_170150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I’ll have to admit that Generation 1 was a bear to assemble because of all the parts. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_LmaAK_aAaoSTJMpp_4BssKBWPxVzBk_d9_TG0vrD3znIVYcMC92J16E2cW5G94c6QdvHpR-kufvQH4PDgTzdjcUEjg2zNbIiYJfFR0ZRCc6QMYC459efbsc75E1eVpApbQujwoFSP61/s1600/IMG_20110728_161558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_LmaAK_aAaoSTJMpp_4BssKBWPxVzBk_d9_TG0vrD3znIVYcMC92J16E2cW5G94c6QdvHpR-kufvQH4PDgTzdjcUEjg2zNbIiYJfFR0ZRCc6QMYC459efbsc75E1eVpApbQujwoFSP61/s320/IMG_20110728_161558.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
After I assembled the parts, I modified the models (Generation 2) by adding contrasting colors and subassemblies to the design and ZPrinted them in full color (orange and black - just in time for Halloween!). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu1WD4Qcr_SyoDyEUv5r3T9lgI1ylGDA90CiVhGf_atDXfExJTaJcfQ0iT43MUARp7cPNHMwRXItTKYryUTLWBskenamWq973JgqtcMsBJtnD4RaG4PZAGKuTIFw-qVLKRw70IeDs0KHZ/s1600/IMG_20111006_144317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJu1WD4Qcr_SyoDyEUv5r3T9lgI1ylGDA90CiVhGf_atDXfExJTaJcfQ0iT43MUARp7cPNHMwRXItTKYryUTLWBskenamWq973JgqtcMsBJtnD4RaG4PZAGKuTIFw-qVLKRw70IeDs0KHZ/s320/IMG_20111006_144317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Doing so reduced the part count from over seventy pieces to under twenty, and it works! I’ve learned so much from doing this. Stay tuned for Gen 3!<br />
<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/"><em>http://www.zcorp.com</em></a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-66768904468521370662011-10-12T07:30:00.006-04:002011-10-12T07:30:03.622-04:00It's Just Cool<em>Today's blog is from Scott Harmon, Z Corporation VP of Business Development.</em><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyGhxn9a-J3GP5hvu2mTzxitQh4zUQz7UidDk2TFDovzr9GzBUzDiZRSOIBgWnzW6i1vn_i2HpEVpPW6_nAbhXebOn1jqYyZuv45kAu96aVEA34EeF4C6fRwlGzas9xdRpSLtgqCDszvw/s1600/426_Scott%252520Harmon_0211_LOW%252520RES.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyGhxn9a-J3GP5hvu2mTzxitQh4zUQz7UidDk2TFDovzr9GzBUzDiZRSOIBgWnzW6i1vn_i2HpEVpPW6_nAbhXebOn1jqYyZuv45kAu96aVEA34EeF4C6fRwlGzas9xdRpSLtgqCDszvw/s200/426_Scott%252520Harmon_0211_LOW%252520RES.jpg" width="133" /></a>OK. This week’s blog is not strictly MCAD related. Perhaps it falls more into the ‘It's just cool’ segment of our offering.</div><br />
Obviously we’re always on the lookout for tools that help designers, engineers, and creative people in general to <em>Create more<span style="font-size: xx-small;">™.</span></em> This week we came across a really cool new tool that does just that. Autodesk releases 123D Sculpt for iPad. It’s a free app in the Apple App Store. It’s very cool, and really quite an amazing creative tool.<br />
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I have never seen a software application that is as easy to use for organic surface modeling, coloring and texturing as 123D. It’s really extraordinary. Did I mention it’s free? Autodesk has done an impressive job of utilizing the capabilities of the iPad (touch screen, multi-touch, etc.), and keeping the user experience really simple. There are only a handful of tools for modifying geometry, but when you get the hang of them, they are quite powerful.<br />
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Just as amazing as the ability to create compelling geometry is the ability to use color and even textures. The way textures work is especially clever. You essentially take texture maps from the library (or pictures you take yourself), place them over the shape, and then ‘rub’ the texture onto the surface. When you put all that together and add a creative mind you get content that is really compelling. You can check out some examples at <a href="http://123dsculpt.com/news/artist-profile-chris-kunzmann.html">http://123dsculpt.com/news/artist-profile-chris-kunzmann.html</a>.<br />
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There is, sadly, one thing missing. You can do all kinds of 2D exports, but no 3D exports. No 3D exports for a 3D sculpting tool? Cynics might say that Autodesk just wants to protect their more expensive products. I’m not sure I agree. Exporting textures, meshes, etc. is not trivial. I suspect they wanted to push it out quickly to see what happens. They’ve already started adding premium content for a small fee. I suspect and hope we’ll see it added as an option in the future. <br />
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<em><a href="http://www.zcorp.com/">http://www.zcorp.com/</a> </em>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219287104344268605.post-91380871316067029072011-10-05T07:30:00.008-04:002011-10-05T07:30:03.004-04:00Student Creates More with 3D Printing, Carbon Fiber and Fiberglass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Today's guest blog is by Scott Harmon, Z Corporation's VP of Business Development.</em></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s1600/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSFa6ZrGdXjA2ZEw96v7z2GGP4cs1wvz6uFfmcbCrxygzKPhrFvWilJku_ILA0pmVFXVPLpMhwFctm3ZXXtsCmrXVxQvzEHx9sc4VqezENnlANxnv9Zd3PP8G2BHrnYMvT3g_o6BUBU3n/s200/Scott+Harmon_0211.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>One of the most enjoyable things about working at Z Corp. is hearing about what students do with our technology. When you combine a <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">3D printer</a>’s freedom to create with the unconstrained mind of a student, sometimes you get really amazing results.<br />
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One of my recent favorites comes from Red River College in Winnipeg, Canada. Serge Broeska, a student at Red River under the guidance of Leon Fainstein, recently got an article published in a prestigious industry journal called <a href="http://www.jeccomposites.com/">JEC Composites</a>. The subject of their article: “A New Means of Making Dissolvable Mandrels and Patterns, Otherwise Known as <a href="http://www.rrc.mb.ca/files/file/appliedresearch/ArticleMay10.pdf">‘Rapid Prototype Composite Tooling’</a>".<br />
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In essence, Serge and Prof. Fainstein used 3D printed parts from a <a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/Products/3D-Printers/spage.aspx">Z Corp. 3D printer</a> to make a pattern around which they applied carbon fiber and fiberglass. After the composites had cured, they simply washed the pattern out with water. In the project technical report, they documented huge (90%) savings in time and money to create a composite part vs. traditional tooling methods. In the <a href="http://www.rrc.mb.ca/index.php?pid=5859&mid=10757&rid=1208">article</a>, they describe making a frame component, a handlebar, and a water bottle holder using this method. <br />
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Thanks to their creativity and hard work, they now have a handful of major composite manufacturers interested in further developing their research.<br />
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As cool as this particular application is, the cooler thing is that literally thousands of new students all over the world are using this technology every year. What will they create next?<br />
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<a href="http://www.zcorp.com/en/home.aspx">http://www.zcorp.com/en/home.aspx</a>ZPrintershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05676442878714162754noreply@blogger.com2