API Evangelist Blog
Digital Manufacturing Report: APIs Enhance 3D Printing Experience
Posted on 12-19-2012
3D printing, which creates objects that you can hold in your hand, sounds like the stuff of science fiction, or at least it did a few years ago.And while not quite commonplace, 3D printing is poised for take-off.An additive manufacturing process, 3D printing works by laying down successive layers of material to create a three dimensional object.If you can design it, and if the printer is large enough, you can create a 3D model of almost anything.Although this technology was originally intended for industry, the actual uses are as varied as the imagination.
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API Driven 3D Printing and Manufacturing Supply Chain
Posted on 12-19-2012
I did some fun research, and laid down some interest thoughts on APIs and 3D printing in 2011. This was part of some research I was doing while working at Mimeo.
As I do with all my research, I blog along the way, to help me learn and organize my thoughts.With this trends research into 3D printing, I am working to understand the major components of 3D printing so I can see where APIs are can have the biggest impact.
Ive identified 10 major components of 3D printing:
Creators - 3D designers of virtual print objects
Scanners - Scanning hardware for generating 3D models
Modeling Software - Applications for building 3D models
File Formats - File formats for storing 3D models
This series was just to help me understand the major components, and I will do another series on how APIs can impact these areas.
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3D Printing and Manufacturing Supply Chain
Posted on 12-19-2012
As I do with all my research, I blog along the way, to help me learn and organize my thoughts.This is a first post in my ongoing evaluation of the role of APIs in 3D printing and manufacturing.Im working to understand the major components of 3D printing so I can see where APIs are can have the biggest impact.Ive identified 10 major components of 3D printing: Creators - 3D designers of virtual print objects Scanners - Scanning hardware for generating 3D models Modeling Software - Applications for building 3D models File Formats - File formats for storing 3D models Warehousing - Virtual storage for 3D models Marketplaces - Arenas for showcasing, distributing and ordering 3D products Printers - Companies and hardware that deliver 3D printing Process & Materials - The process and materials that go into 3D printing Makers - The people who understand 3D printers, process, materials and industries...
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Another Way to 3D Print in Wood - Fabbaloo Blog - Fabbaloo - Daily News on 3D Printing
Posted on 12-16-2012
Wood, the most historical building material - but can you 3D print in wood?Not so much, but some are trying different approaches.Another interesting wood experiment was done by artist and maker Ben Godi, who combined 3D printing and woodworking to produce some amazing models.
Godis fascinating production pipeline first involves creating an attractive 3D model.This is then prepped for 3D printing and indeed produced at high resolution.
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3D printing electronic sensors with extruded plastic composite
Posted on 12-13-2012
3D printed electronics has been the subject of experiments and speculation for awhile now, but it usually involves highly specialized 3D printers.Carbomorph, a new, experimental plastic and carbon composite, could allow touch sensors, like buttons, to be integrated into objects 3D printed with fairly basic plastic extrusion printers.Carbomorph was invented by researchers at the University of Warwick in the UK.They discovered that Carbon Black filler combined with polycaprolactone (PCL) would change its conductivity when flexed, suggesting 3D printed sensors.
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Dilbert starts experimenting with 3D printing
Posted on 11-07-2012
If a newspaper comic can make a joke about 3D printing, then it’s probably safe to declare that 3D printing is now a part of mainstream culture, if it wasn’t already.
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3D Printing Plane Parts with Shapeways
Posted on 07-02-2012
Check out this video by BSAV showing the excitement of receiving his first 3D Printing from Shapeways. Ben has 3D Printed his part in White Strong Flexible (Nylon) bit it would also be awesome to see this 3D Printed in polished Alumide for a little more stiffness and less drag with the smoothness.
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Series - 3D Printing - Virtual Warehousing
Posted on 05-18-2011
With the growing number of 3D models used in 3D printing there is a building need for warehouse space to store these virtual products, and parts. Of course this is virtual warehouse space, but it has a lot of the same characteristics of warehousing for physical products. Google provides a 3D Warehouse for users of its SketchUp softare, and Shapeways provides a marketplace and warehouse in the form a gallery for its creators. Cloud Storage will definitely have a role to play in warehousing the growing number of 3D modeling files using platforms like Google Docs, Box.net, and Dropbox. 3D Warehouses need to provide search-able, sharable and collaborative spaces that are affordable for designers to store and retrieve their work. As 3D printing becomes a larger part of the global manufacturing supply chain, virtual warehousing across the globe will also become necessary to provide localized storage solutions. 3D printing offers...
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Series - 3D Printing - The Creators
Posted on 05-18-2011
3D printing starts with someones idea. Someones idea to recreate an existing object, or a vision of an object they hold in their head.
The evolution of 3D modeling software and 3D printers is creating a whole new generation of designers and creators.
These 3D creators come from many walks of life; architects, product designers, graphic designers, artists. and beyond.
Creators can build entire finished products, ranging from dinnerware to architectural components.
Creators can also build parts and pieces of finished projects from nuts and bolts to replacement parts.
3D designers and creators are often independent hobbyists and freelancers, but there are also a growing number of agencies and larger shops that are evolving along with 3D printing.
Creators are just the first link in an evolving 3D print and manufacturing supply chain.
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Series - 3D Printing - Process & Materials
Posted on 05-18-2011
Once in production, a 3D model will be printed layer by layer using one of four potential 3D printing processes and corresponding materials: Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) - SLS is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a high power laser to fuse small particles of plastic, metal, ceramic, or glass powders into a mass that has a desired 3-dimensional shape. Stereolithography (SLA) - Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing process using a vat of liquid UV-curable photopolymer resin and a UV laser to build parts a layer at a time. On each layer, the laser beam traces a part cross-section pattern on the surface of the liquid resin. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) - FDM works on an additive principle by laying down material in layers. A plastic filament or metal wire is unwound from a coil and supplies material to an extrusion nozzle which can turn on and off the flow....
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