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Disney Makes Connector Design Automatic

Disney Research developed the software to automatically designs 3d printable connectors. It looks amazing if it really works as described.

Where will this invention go? What will happen to it? It will probably end up in some corporations intellectual property portfolio.

From project description:

We present AutoConnect, an automatic method that creates customized, 3D-printable connectors attaching two physical objects together. Users simply position and orient virtual models of the two objects that they want to connect and indicate some auxiliary information such as weight and dimensions. Then, AutoConnect creates several alternative designs that users can choose from for 3D printing. The design of the connector is created by combining two holders, one for each object. We categorize the holders into two types. The first type holds standard objects such as pipes and planes. We utilize a database of parameterized mechanical holders and optimize the holder shape based on the grip strength and material consumption. The second type holds free-form objects. These are procedurally generated shell-gripper designs created based on geometric analysis of the object. We illustrate the use of our method by demonstrating many examples of connectors and practical use cases.

Project homepage:

http://www.disneyresearch.com/publication/autoconnect/

DIY 3D Printed Electric Ducted Fan Engine with Thrust Reversal

Harcoreta made this incredible 3d printed jet engine for RC applications modeled on GE GEnx-1B. It is very detailed Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) motor with NTM 1400kv 35mm brushless motor located inside the core which is cooled by a small impeller. It even features working thrust reversal system.
It was printed on Reprap Prusa I3 at 0.1mm layer height and then smoothed by using an acrylic thinner.

The files of it are not available ... yet

Details of thrust reversal mechanism:

Technical specifications of the model motor:

100mm diameter 18 blade main fan scale looking. 24 outlet guide vanes.
34 mm diamenter 18 blade internal turbine, installed on the back shaft of the motor, It's designed only for cooling the motor. Over this section there are a sequence of stator vanes and supports to optimize the airflow. This internal airflow could produce thrust but in any case it'll be a few grams.
Scale looking nacelle, the major differences are the simplified engine pylon and the minor reduction on the exhaust area, about 95% fsa
Thrust reverser, complete system with translating cowl, blocker doors and cascades. The most complicated parts that must work.
NTM 1400kv 35mm motor. Thrust target > 0.5Kg with 3S or 4S maximum.

Project thread with more information:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2390401

Using your lighter and a metal tube to connect filament parts

We all did something similar in order to connect some loose filament. All you need is a lighter and a steel tube. Radusava composed a nice and simple video guide...

Just a simple pocket lighter, some flame and a metal pipe ...

Mister Spock and Yoda

Here is some Start Trek humor found somewhere on Facebook ...

IBM 7575 Industrial Robot Hacked Into SCARA 3D Printer

Sometimes you have an industrial robotic arm you want to modify into something else. Like 3d printer. BIG SCARA 3d printer.

Project homepage with build log and open sourced software:

http://transistor-man.com/3dprintbot.html

Makerarm Robotic Multitool

Makerarm is another step towards full desktop manufacturing system. It is a robotic arm with many tool attachments for 3d printing, milling, drawing foam cutting, PCB manufacturing and other.
It still looks like hobby or entry-level system but we are slowly moving towards prosumer home production robots.
It supports both FDM and SLA 3d printing.

Makerarm promotional video:

Makerarm homepage:

http://makerarm.com/

It is also on Kickstarter where you can get it:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1849283018/makerarm-the-first-robotic-arm-that-makes-anything

3d printing Makerarm attachment. It also supports SLA 3d printing.

Welding Wood and Future of Wood 3D Printing

Can you weld wood? it looks like you can. It can be done by applying friction and mechanical vibration in what is known as friction welding. The cellulose and lignin in wood melt at some 180 C and bond together forming a welded seam.
The weld seam has a simillar strength to glued one. It also means that no more toxic glues and adhesives should be used to bond wooden parts.

Here is video presentation of wood welding :

This technology could be used in 3d printing in same way some industrial metal printers use sheet lamination induced by ultrasonic vibration. It could be also used in FDM as the same process could be used to "melt" the wood and extrude it in layers.

Here are several links to more articles and papers about it:

http://www.nordicforestresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/NV_2005_4.pdf

http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?pid=s0718-221x2003000200001&script=sci_arttext

http://web.utk.edu/~mtaylo29/pages/Wood%20welding.htm

Austrian company that already extrudes wood mass:

http://www.wood-kplus.at/index.html

Reddit thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/3ox7dv/linear_friction_welding_of_wood/

Two pieces of wood with welding seam from friction welding

DIY Portable Railgun With 3D Printable Casing

Someone created portable working railgun that shoots metal and carbon projectiles. The railgun uses 6 300J, 350V, 5500uF capacitors which combined weigh 20lbs and can deliver >1050V and 1.8kJ of energy to the projectile. Most of the structural parts are 3d printed. The gun is huge but it works.

Here is video of it firing (bad word) a small carbon cylinder. The power is simillar to an airgun pellet.

It is an impressive engineering and design project but it doesnt have any real.-world applications :-) Yet.

Full photo gallery with all the parts:

http://imgur.com/a/w4OgF

Reddit thread about it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/3p2g5k/portable_3dprinted_railgun/

Interview with the creator:

http://makezine.com/2015/10/21/we-talk-to-the-mysterious-maker-of-the-3d-printed-railgun/

Stone And Rope 3D Printing with Rock Print

Rock Print is a robotic 3d printer that lays textile ropes on bed of stones conceting them and makong an architectural shape.

Rock Print in action:

Project description:

Rock Print is the first architectural installation to be built from low-grade granular material and constructed by robotic machines. Conceived as an intriguing vertical object, the installation presents a radically new approach to The State of the Art of Architecture – the official title of the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial 2015 – and brings forward a new category of random packed, potentially fully reusable, poly-dispersed jammed structures that can be automatically fabricated in non-standard shapes. Following an initial period of robotic assembly, the installation will comprise a large-scale architectural artefact in its completed form, exhibiting distinct features, such as, for example, full material reversibility and the respective reusability of the aggregated materials; structurally active interlocking, differentiated structural performance, while yielding high geometric flexibility and articulation. Performing a full scale 3D “rock printing process” that uses the self-aggregating capacities of the material itself, this visionary project is the first collaborative installation by Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich, and the Self-Assembly Lab, MIT. The Chicago Architecture Biennial will open on 3rd October 2015 and will close on 3rd January 2016. For more information: www.chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org

Credits
Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH Zurich, and Self-Assembly Lab, MIT
Team
Fabio Gramazio, Matthias Kohler, Skylar Tibbits, Andreas Thoma (project lead installation), Petrus Aejmelaeus-Lindstroem (project lead research), Volker Helm, Sara Falcone, Lina Kara’in, Jared Laucks, Michael Lyrenmann, Carrie McKnelly, George Varnavides, Stephane de Weck, Jan Willmann
Selected experts
Prof. Dr. Hans J. Herrmann and Dr. Falk K. Wittel (ETH Zurich), Prof. Dr. Heinrich Jaeger and Kieran Murphy (Chicago University)

Selected consultants
Walt + Galmarini AG
Support
The project is supported by ETH Zurich and the Department of Architecture as well as by an ETH Zurich Research Grant. It is co-supported by MIT’s Department of Architecture, the MIT International Design Center, and an MIT International Science and Technology Initiative (MISTI) Grant.

Big 3D Printed Bolt and Longest Wooden Crossbow

Joerg Sprave is master of crazy slingshots and archery devices. In his latest video he tests a large 3d printed arrow printed by Myminifactory and his big big rubber band crossbow pistol.

Bolt was tipped with a big metal nail and it penetrates a wooden target:

Revolutionary MultiFab 3D Printer

MIT CSAIL is an innovation powerhouse and they presented their Multifab 3D printer that can use up to 10 different materials, uses computer vision to adjust operations and can embed objects into prints. It even cost just around 7000 USD. Hopefully the MIT will release some of the designs under open source license.

MultiFab video presentation:

MultiFab description:

We have developed a multi-material 3D printing platform that is high-resolution, low-cost, and extensible. The key part of our platform is an integrated machine vision system. This system allows for self-calibration of printheads, 3D scanning, and a closed-feedback loop to enable print corrections. The integration of machine vision with 3D printing simplifies the overall platform design and enables new applications such as 3D printing over auxiliary parts.

Furthermore, our platform dramatically expands the range of parts that can be 3D printed by simultaneously supporting up to 10 different materials that can interact optically and mechanically. The platform achieves a resolution of at least 40 micrometers by utilizing piezoelectric inkjet printheads adapted for 3D printing. The hardware is low cost (less than $7,000) since it is built exclusively from off-the-shelf components.

The architecture is extensible and modular -- adding, removing, and exchanging printing modules can be done quickly. We provide a detailed analysis of the system's performance. We also demonstrate a variety of fabricated multi-material objects.

MultiFab project homepage:

http://cfg.mit.edu/content/multifab-machine-vision-assisted-platform-multi-material-3d-printing

Detailed paper about MultiFab:

http://cfg.mit.edu/sites/cfg.mit.edu/files/paper.pdf

Compilation Of Tutorials On How To Build A 3D Printer Or Small CNC From Junk Parts

Here is a small tutorial links compilation that will grow in the future on how to make a simple and ultra cheap 3d printer or CNC from reclaimed or junk electronic and structural parts. Tutorials are very detailed and will help you to start with this technology, educate someone or save some parts form trash.

Beginners junk optical drive DIY 3d printer

Instructables guide:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Complete-newbie-step-by-step-3D-printer-with-all-p/

CD/DVD Drive CNC-3D Printer

Here is another machine made from discarded optical drives it is used as small CNC and plotter.

Step-by-step build guide:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Compact-CNC3D-Printer/

Ad(strap)apto

This is a hackable 3d printer based on common drawer runners or rails. You can purchase them or take them from junk furniture.

Detailed construction guide:

http://www.instructables.com/id/A-low-cost-3D-printer-with-basic-tools/

Rugged and raw DIY style ... it is worth to gut some kitchen cabinets to build it ...

Apis Cor Circular House 3D Printer

Apis Core presents their construction 3d printer which has an interesting new design somewhat similar to polar movement machines. It looks like it has many advantages over regular three axis setups of current building printers.

Apis Cor presentation:

Apis Cor in operation extruding cement paste:

Company homepage:

http://www.apis-cor.com/