Archive for the ‘3D Printing’ Category

Despite a bit of controversy here and there, 3D printing has taken the world by storm, and the debate is about to get real. Scientists have been printing tissues, organs, and appendages with 3D printers, and now they are printing drugs. You read that right: 3D-printed drugs.

It was Aprecia Pharmaceuticals that developed the world’s first 3D-printed drug. The company picked up exclusive rights to 3D-printed technology for pharmaceutical purposes in 2007, and recently announced the development of Spritam, a drug used to treat seizures.

Med Gadget

If back-to-school shopping makes you want to crawl back into bed, you need to learn about 3D-printed school supplies. A variety of back-to-school products are being produced with some of the latest technology. This blog will detail a few options that you might want to put on your shopping list.

Get the Basics

It’s amazing what has been created with 3D printers, and that includes basic school and office supplies. You can find just about everything on your list, from erasers to tape measures. (One author discusses a mechanical pencil that was made to store extra lead.) Don’t forget a cool pencil holder!

Etsy

Evidently, Karl Lagerfeld stunned audiences at Paris Fashion week when he unveiled a 3D-printed version of the classic Chanel suit. The head designer for Chanel has never been one to shy away from risks, and with this type of venturesome spirit as inspiration, this blog will focus on 3D-printed clothing you can wear to the office.

3D Print

We’ve all been there. You need a new car and after seemingly endless research, polling friends, and searching the Internet for the latest consumer satisfaction reports, you finally decide what you want. It all seems fine and dandy until you find yourself face to face with a pushy salesman at the car lot, and it may be enough to prevent you from getting new wheels after all.

Living Stingy

Have you heard the news? Sam’s Club has started to sell 3D printers. In a press release, they call the Makerbot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer “just right for the office, classroom, or home.” On the Sam’s Club website, they have it listed at $1375, though this is crossed out and the page says the price is “too low to show.”

The Makerbot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer challenges the user to “unleash creativity” with a machine that is described as “educational, entertaining, and useful.” This blog is about ways to use your very own Makerbot Replicator Mini Compact 3D Printer for these very reasons.

3D Printing for Education

You don’t have to be in a classroom to teach others, and with 3D printers you can enrich any lesson to the fullest. From apples to zebras, you can print out all the essentials you’ll need to make learning hands-on fun for everyone. Here’s a great example: a map/puzzle of the United States which will make geography lessons exciting!

Wonderful Engineering

By now you’ve probably seen some amazing things created with 3D printers, all the way from parts for airplanes to zebra figurines. The possibilities are endless, and it’s only getting more amazing every day. And more and more, 3D printing is making it into the world of healthcare.

For example, recently Robert Downey, Jr. provided seven-year-old Alex Pring with a 3D printed prosthetic arm inspired by the Iron Man series. 3D printing reduced the cost from a whopping $40k down to a mere $350! Limbitless Solutions has big plans to help kids like Alex all around the world.

3Dprint

In addition to a variety of other bizarre and unique holidays, did you know that January is also National Hobby Month? There’s no better excuse for you and your loved ones to explore new and exciting activities. Luckily, there’s a world of options right at your fingertips. Welcome to the wonderful and innovative world of 3D printing.

If You’re Lego or Collectible Crazy

If you have a Lego lover at home, the mini milling machine is perfect for creating all those coveted mini figures. Likewise, this little printer can make a variety of smaller objects such as beads, party favors, and the like. Check out a video of a milling machine in action here. The sky is the limit with what you can create!

Rolanddga

Does shopping over the winter holidays leave you feeling cold? Are you the type of person that would rather have your teeth pulled than stand in line at the mall for another present your child simply has to have? Do you wait until the last minute to shop every year, then wonder why all the good stuff is gone?

This holiday, maybe it’s time to think about 3D printing! You might be surprised at what other people can make with just a few clicks.

Satisfy the Fashionista

Maybe your partner prefers sensible gifts over knickknacks. Or perhaps others are asking for specific types of clothing. For your favorite fashion lover, designers are dreaming up hats, dresses and even bikinis to wear!

Pinterest

Whether your creativity comes out best in the kitchen or with a paint brush in hand, you might be interested to know what’s new in the world of 3D printing.

MakerBot.com

A Blank Slate

MakerBot, a 3D printer manufacturer, has provided a different kind of canvas for both well established artists and aspiring artists alike. The 3D form is named Zee and is a figure with a very simple human-like body without any hair or expression. Zee was inspired by blank vinyl toys in Japan when design head Lane Feuer noticed them. MakerBot sent 30 of the Zee dolls to leading artists from around the world. The results were fascinating.
Continue reading “3D Printing Provides a Creative Outlet” »

We’ve previously talked about the amazing feats that 3D printing are close to bringing our every day lives. Every week, there’s a new frontier breached by the technology that’s benefiting lives in ways that we (and probably you) didn’t think would be possible. One day, this blog post will be printed in 3D (probably not). Check out advances in 3D printing that are impacting military aircraft, food, and outer space!

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