MeshPoint Rugged Internet Access Point

MeshPoint is a great project developed by some of my friends which should help people endangered in emergency situations and emergency services staff to get rugged and reliable internet access point.

It is developed extensively with help of 3d printers (Ultimaker 2) and I will post a more detailed article soon. This technology is currently being used to provide internet access to refugees in Croatia. There will be several versions of rugged enclosure with batteries, 4G access and mash WiFi.

MeshPoint homepage:

http://www.meshpoint.me/

Please support them and up-vote them on:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10649446

Read the full story on Medium:

https://medium.com/@mesh_point/how-the-refugee-crisis-gave-birth-to-a-cool-hardware-project-80c83280b2d1#.tcyik1mji

Here is one of the early prototypes:

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WirePrint wireframe 3d printable models for faster prototyping by Hasso Plattner Institute and Cornell University

Researchers from Hasso Plattner Institute and Cornell University developed WirePrint software for faster prototyping. It basically custs down the time needed to 3d print an object by replacing solid volumes with wire frames.

A question comes to my mind: if this is publicly funded institute will the release the code under one of open source license? Public money should provide public with some tangible goods and services ...
I don't know much about how this sort of institution operates, gets funding and disseminates knowledge form applied research ...

Update: here is some sort of similar code on GitHub, inspired but not related to this project but creates wire frames:

https://github.com/ramkam/wireframe_3d


From video description:

WirePrint is a low-fi fabrication technique that prints 3D models as wireframe previews. By extruding filament directly into 3D space instead of printing layer-wise, we achieve a speed-up of up to 10x compared to traditional 3D printing.

This project is a collaboration between Hasso Plattner Institute and Cornell University.

More Information:
https://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/baudis...

WirePrint is a research project by:

Stefanie Mueller, http://www.stefaniemueller.org

Sangha Im,
Serafima Gurevich,
Alexander Teibrich,
Lisa Pfisterer,
François Guimbretière, http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~francois/

Patrick Baudisch, http://www.patrickbaudisch.com

This institute had a previous faBrickation project that uses Lego blocks for volume replacement in rapid prototyping:

http://diy3dprinting.blogspot.com/2014/02/fabrickation-3d-printing-with-volume.html

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Prototyping Pi Top DIY laptop with 3d printing

Pi Top is DIY laptop kit based on Raspberry Pi and aimed at education and students. The team used 3d printing to prototype the casing. Maybe they could release the files and open source the project for the people who want to build it completely on their own and not buy it in kit form.

Pi Top features (from the project page):

• Free Hardware Innovation Lessons: Pi-Top is where it starts. We will be building new content for Pi-Top users.Learn to 3D print, design PCBs and create your own products from start to finish. 
• No Compromising on Quality: Mobile designs often use Bluetooth keyboards, that took away from the user experience. Enjoy using Raspberry Pi with a fully integrated laptop keyboard and track-pad with extra ports.
• Easy Component Access: A clear sliding panel allows access to the Raspberry Pi. Kickstarter DAY 1 editionPi-Tops will feature a lazer-etched panel design, as well as the standard clear panel.
• Raspbian Operating System: Once built your Raspberry Pi is ready to go. Start learning to program on the latest Raspbian OS.
• 6 - 8 Hour Battery Life & Wifi enabled: Battery time 6+ hours. Wifi enabled out of the box, Pi-Top is truly mobile. 
• 13.3" Screen: No compromising on screen size. Enjoy using your Raspberry Pi with a 13.3" HD screen.

Pi Top homepage: http://www.pi-top.com/

Reddit thread where they presented their 3d printed prototype:

http://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/2g0opb/fullsized_3d_printed_laptop_prototype_pitop_print/

They used the following setup:

• Printer used: Rostock Max V2 kit - with E3D full metal hotend
• Filament: PLA 1.75mm nozzle: 205 Bed temp: 55 Speed: 70mm/sec
• Print time: 3 prints total (two pieces together and the two larger pieces seprately) roughly 160 hours of printing
• Support settings: KISSlicer with medium support, at 45 Degrees with a horizontal gap (from object) of 1mm.
• De-string Settings: Prime 5.5mm Suck: 5.4mm Wipe:5mm Z-lift: 1mm
• Notes from the creators: "PLA really keeps its shape well. We had to use floating beams in the STLs to achieve a rigid enough support structure so the model wouldn't wobble after 10 inches tall and ruin the print. We found KISSlicer worked the best in terms of support structure."

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Mcor paper 3d printed hammer taken by airport security

Mcor is well known for their unique paper based 3d printing technology. On of their sales staff was stopped by airport security and 3d printed paper hammer was taken as a potential "danger".

Here is what is reported on Mcors blog by that sales manager:

“Last night at the airport, security removed the hammer from my case. When I said it was made of paper he could not believe it, although he did comment that only the weight told him it was not real. He sent for his supervisor – same reaction. They then started to show everyone around and began to talk about making customized tools, parts for cars, phones, was this printer that produced the hammer model really made in Ireland, and many other comments.

In the end the hammer still had to be handed in as I could not take it in my hand luggage because, ‘it looked too real; it could be used to threaten people.’
Sorry I have lost the part. I’ll need another, but if it you could send by DHL it might be safer!”

Mcor’s first family, the MacCormacks, have had several similar experiences with Mcor 3D printed models at airports, but fortunately they had checked luggage and the option to go back and place the models in the checked luggage since airport security did not permit them to bring the models on the plane in their hand luggage.

Mcor used this "incident" and used is as a promotional piece to show how realistic their prints are. Which is completely legit. This story also peaks volumes about safety craziness of our current society ... sheesh, it's colored PAPER!!!

Source: http://mcortechnologies.com/prototypes-so-realistic-theyre-stopped-by-airport-security/

Now, how realistic is Mcors hammer? Take a look at video here:

http://diy3dprinting.blogspot.com/2014/02/hammertime-by-mcor-technologies.html

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