Turn Your Single Extruder Into Multi-Color 3D Printer

Turn Your Single Extruder Into Multi-Color 3D Printer
By Tyler Koslow

Hackaday’s Al Williams shows us how to 3D print multi-color objects with a single extruder 3D printer – a very clever solution!

Nowadays, most high-end 3D printers pride themselves on offering dual hot end extrusion, allowing users to create multi-material or multi-color objects. While this may be the case, most standard and affordable desktop 3D printers still feature just one hot end, greatly limiting what can be achieved with this emerging technology.

In a recent article for Hackaday, maker, and 3D printing enthusiast Al Williams shared his secret of how to transform a single extrusion hot end into a multi-color capable component. Though the simplest and best-known solution is to pause between layers and switch filament colors, this alternative solution is a bit more complicated but also quite effective.

Lying To Your 3D Printer 

There’s no laborious tinkering or high costs involved, the trick behind the multi-color printing hack is to simply lie to your 3D printing slicer software. By using a slicing software that supports multiple extrusion, such as Slic3r, simply go into the Capabilities/Extruders settings option and falsely claim that you have more than one hot end. After that, Williams made the same firmware changes in Repetier Host’s printer settings, and also added a piece of code to the G-Code setting for a tool change.

The idea of this code, which can be found and modified in the Hackaday column, is to ultimately reduce filament oozing, move to location 0,0, and finally tell Repetier to pause and stop. This enables the user to switch filaments out in a more controlled and timely manner, also making it possible to change filament colors in the middle of the layer. Once the pause is exited, the script snaps back into place and the G-code continues printing where you left off.

A Fun Experiment, Not End-All Solution 

The multi-color hack discovered by Williams certainly isn’t a full-on replacement for pricey multiple extrusion 3D printers, but his method allows for much better quality and control then the barbaric manual pause and filament switch that many users have attempted with their single extrusion machines. While this multi-color experiment is certainly cost-effective and minimizes tool changes, the user still has to manually switch different filaments in and out.

It’s also important to note that the 3D model must be modified to work with this multi-color hack. This can be accomplished by providing separate STL files for each falsified “extruder”, the same methodology used with multiple extruders (except in that case the extra extruder actually exists). All in all, with multi-color 3D printing still in a stage of infancy, this 3D printing hack will allow you to experiment and create colorful objects without having to shell cash for a new 3D printer or pricy multiple extruder components.

The post Turn Your Single Extruder Into Multi-Color 3D Printer appeared first on All3DP.

December 30, 2016 at 08:00PM
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3D Printed Baroque Frame Turns Modern Painting to 17th Century Masterpiece

3D Printed Baroque Frame Turns Modern Painting to 17th Century Masterpiece
By Tyler Koslow

Polish design service Get Models Now uses 3D printing to produce an extravagant Baroque-styled picture frame for artists.  

Founded at the start of the 17th century in Western Europe, the Baroque period is a highly regarded artistic period that was defined by excessiveness and religious exuberance. The influential and popular style can still be seen in museums and churches across the world, and is still considered as a foundation for many modern artists as well.

If you’ve ever stepped foot into the Louvre Museum in Paris, you probably noticed the grandiose and gold embroidered wooden picture frames that encompass these paintings from the Baroque era. Recently, at the request of a client, the Polish design and production service Get Models Now created a custom baroque-styled picture frame using a ZMorph 2.0 SX 3D printer.

Creating a Picture Perfect Replica

The project started when an artist approached the Polish firm hoping to create a custom 3D printed baroque frame for his latest painting. In order to imitate the excessive style of this artistic period, Get Models Now designed a unique frame from scratch, adding complex ornamentals and splitting it into 17 different 3D printable parts. These parts were then produced with a ZMorph 2.0 SX 3D printer and assembled into a large-scale frame that measured 700 mm x 500 mm.

To replicate the brazen gold effect widely used during the Baroque period, Get Models Now enlisted the help of an art historian and antique restoration specialist that recommended the use of professional-grade post-production techniques. While there are a number of more popular and less costly methods to accomplish this, these advanced methods provided an authentic and historic effect to the 3D printed frame.

Classic Art Period Meets the Future of Manufacturing

In comparison to the wood-carving method typically used to create picture frames during the Baroque period, this custom 3D printed frame is significantly lighter and was produced in a much more time-efficient manner. Not only did 3D printing technology allow this custom frame to be produced in a much faster and more affordable way, Get Models Now also utilized eco-friendly and biodegradable materials to minimize the impact that the project has on the environment.

After the 3D printing process and post-production was completed, the artistic client was presented with a truly astounding Baroque-styled picture frame. His painting, which also appears influenced by the religiously prominent time period, is now proudly confined in an intricately detailed and gold-laden frame. This project is yet another impressive instance of how 3D printing technology can be used to replicate classical art.

The post 3D Printed Baroque Frame Turns Modern Painting to 17th Century Masterpiece appeared first on All3DP.

December 30, 2016 at 06:00PM
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How to Buy a 3D Printer: 3 Essential Questions Answered

How to Buy a 3D Printer: 3 Essential Questions Answered
By Anatol Locker

So you want to buy a 3D printer? Read this guide before you go shopping to get the best printer for your needs and your budget.

You’ve heard so many great things about 3D printers and what you can do with them. There are so many wonderful machines which can make your builder’s dreams come true. But if you want to buy a 3D printer, what model should you choose? How much should you spend? And where’s the best place to buy a 3D printer? Here’s a guide to the most pressing questions when buying a 3D printer.

Buy a 3D Printer Question #1: Should I Buy a 3D Printer?

Before you start shopping, first think about what and how often you want to 3D print. Here’s our experience in a nutshell:

If you are eager to try out the technology, you’re probably better off visiting a Fablab or a Makerspace near your location. As 3D printers are expensive and have a steep learning curve, you’ll get help directly from the good people there – and you can save a lot of money if you don‘t click with the technology.
If you just want to have a single part printed once a month, there‘s no need to buy a 3D printer yourself. It is significantly cheaper to use 3D printing services and networks such as 3D Hubs, i.Materialise, Sculpteo or Shapeways to get your stuff printed professionally. There are a lot of alternative 3D printing services you can use. To get the best price, please use All3DP’s price comparison service.

So, if we can rule out these exceptions, you are a candidate to buy a 3D printer.

Buy a 3D Printer Question #2: What Type of 3D Printer Should I Buy?

Currently, there are nine major 3D printing technologies (read all about them here). As you probably don‘t want to buy a $500.000 metal 3D printer, there are just two consumer 3D printer types which are relevant. They are called FDM and SLA.

1. Buy an FDM 3D Printer

FDM is the most common 3D printing method used in desktop 3D printing. Thermoplastic filament is heated and extruded through an extrusion head that deposits the molten plastic in X and Y coordinates, while the build table lowers the object layer by layer in the Z direction.

This type of 3D printers is a cost-effective means for product development and rapid prototyping in small business and education sectors since it’s capable of fabricating robust parts reliably and quickly. They use a variety of interesting materials.

If you buy a FDM 3D printer, you can choose from a variety of brands, there are at least 50 great companies to choose from. You can find the best FDM 3D printers here, the prices ranges from $300 to $5000.

2. Buy an SLA 3D Printer

SLA works by exposing a layer of photosensitive liquid resin to a UV-laser beam so that the resin hardens and becomes solid. Once the laser has swept a layer of resin in the desired pattern and it begins to harden, the model-building platform in the liquid tank of the printer steps down the thickness of a single layer, and the laser begins to form the next layer. Each layer is built on top of the preceding one.

Like the FDM 3D printer technology, objects with overhangs 3D printed with this type of 3D printer will require support structures. And after printing has completed, the object must be rinsed with a solvent. Sometimes it’s also baked in a UV oven to finish processing.

SLA creates smooth surfaced objects with extreme detail, and it’s increasingly popular in industries like jewelry and cosmetic dentistry for creating castable molds.

The price range for an SLA 3D printer is between $3000 and §10.000. You can find the best SLA 3D Printer models here.

Buy a 3D Printer Question #3: Where Should I Buy My 3D Printer?

If you want to buy a 3D printer in  2017, you can choose from a lot of options. Here are some 3D printer buying tips:

1. Buy a 3D Printer from Amazon

Amazon is a great source for buying 3D printers. They offer lightning-fast delivery, have most items in stock, and you can count on their reliability and obligingness.

All3DP offers several articles on buying 3D printers and 3D printing accessories at Amazon. They are updated on a regular basis.

20 Best 3D Printers in Winter 2016-2017 – Guide & Reviews
20 Best Cheap 3D Printers Under $500/$1000
25 Best-Selling 3D Printers of the Month at Amazon
19 Best-Selling 3D Scanners at Amazon in Winter 2016-2017
Best-Selling 3D Printer Parts & Accessories at Amazon

But please be aware that of 3D printer manufacturers don‘t sell their printers through Amazon – but you can buy most of the 3D printer models directly from the manufacturers. Here are the best makes and models.

2. Buy a 3D Printer For Less Money

If you don’t have a ton of money on your hands, you still can buy a great 3D printer – here’s a list of the best affordable 3D printers.

20 Best Cheap 3D Printers Under $500/$1000

Of course, you can always buy a second-hand 3D printer. Here‘s what you have to consider:

Used 3D Printer for Sale (A Buyer’s Guide)

It doesn’t stop there. If you have some experience in building things, you can also buy a 3D printer kit. You’ll have to assemble the printer yourself, but that’s probably the best way of learning the most about your 3D printer. Most kits cost significantly less than assembled 3D printers. You can find the best models here.

22 Best Cheap DIY 3D Printer Kits in Winter 2016-2017

3. Buy a 3D Printer on Kickstarter

Quite frankly: If you’re just entering the wild and wonderful world of 3D printing, better refrain from backing a great looking, dead cheap 3D printer atKickstarter or Indiegogo. First, you won’t get instant gratification and will have to wait several months (if not years) until the printer arrives. Second, there’s a risk in buying a 3D printer through crowdfunding. There are a lot of things that can go wrong, fraud being one of them.

But if you know what you‘re doing, a Kickstarter 3D printer can be a great way of getting a cutting-edge 3D printer. Also, many great 3D printing companies on Kickstarter.

All3DP provides a weekly updated and annotated list – you find the 17 Kickstarter 3D Printer Projects Live Right Now here.

Buy a 3D Printer Additional Info: What Else is there to Know?

There’s a lot to learn when it comes to 3D printing. Here are some resources that will help you understand 3D printing better:

The Essential Guide to 3D Printing – 101 Questions Answered!
Troubleshooting Guide to 20 Common 3D Printing Problems
14 Most Important 3D Printing Terms (Glossary of Terminology)

If we can help you in other ways on buying a 3D printer, please let us know in the comments.

The post How to Buy a 3D Printer: 3 Essential Questions Answered appeared first on All3DP.

December 30, 2016 at 01:00PM
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@TiscaliHelpDesk quando e’ il prima possibile x voi? 12 gg senza possibilita’ di chiamare il vecchio numero non e’ abbastanza?

@TiscaliHelpDesk quando e' il prima possibile x voi? 12 gg senza possibilita' di chiamare il vecchio numero non e' abbastanza?

— alberto (@iw0hjz) December 30, 2016

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non li proponete i contratti se poi non siete in grado di gestirli!!! piu’ di 12 giorni senza la possibilita’ di chiamare col vecchio numero

non li proponete i contratti se poi non siete in grado di gestirli!!!
piu' di 12 giorni senza la possibilita' di chiamare col vecchio numero

— alberto (@iw0hjz) December 30, 2016

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che vergogna tutte le feste senza telefono e da @TiscaliHelpDesk nessuna notizia ,qualche “adesso vediamo” e niente di piu’

che vergogna tutte le feste senza telefono e da @TiscaliHelpDesk nessuna notizia ,qualche "adesso vediamo" e niente di piu'

— alberto (@iw0hjz) December 30, 2016

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3D Print Your Own Unique Greeting and Thank You Cards with gDraw

3D Print Your Own Unique Greeting and Thank You Cards with gDraw
By Hanna Watkin

A homemade software called gDraw allows you to sketch a design in 2D and then create a G-Code file that can be 3D printed – perfect for thank you cards.

Fire up your 3D printer and start sketching traditional holiday images: Maker Niklas Roy designed a piece of software which creates G-code. With it, you can print your 2D drawings using your 3D printer.

Although you’ve missed your chance to send 3D printed Christmas cards made using Niklas Roy’s gDraw software, there is still time to make writing thank you notes more fun.

Still in need of a last minute gift? Perhaps Roy’s software could help you out before you head to that post-Christmas family gathering.

Other uses, Roy points out, include making delicate window decorations. If you’re trying to put Christmas behind you, you could even use the software to make sophisticated business cards. Or, Roy points out, it’s great if you just need to keep the kids busy.

Any other ideas for what this code could be used for? Roy’s interested in what you come up with, you can drop him a line and explain your idea.

gDraw has Many Uses and is Easy to Use

Roy’s software allows you to draw and then 3D print any image you’d like. His interface is easy to use and means you can create basic vector drawings very quickly.

The program will then convert these paths in your sketch into a G-Code. This representation will be followed by your printer and a plastic rendering or your sketch will be created.

Roy showed off his software and created a greeting card with a Christmas tree decoration. However, if you’re creative, there’s the possibility of thousands of great uses for gDraw.

Keep in mind that Roy’s software was designed to work with his Ultimaker 2. However, it should also be able to create code for other printers with a few changes – you can find out more on Roy’s website.

You can also find easy-to-follow instructions on his website. Make sure to save the page so you can use his idea for next year’s Christmas cards.

The post 3D Print Your Own Unique Greeting and Thank You Cards with gDraw appeared first on All3DP.

December 29, 2016 at 04:00PM
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cambio gestore disastroso e @TiscaliHelpDesk neanche risponde alle sollecitazioni sia tweet che dm, mah!!!

cambio gestore disastroso e @TiscaliHelpDesk neanche risponde alle sollecitazioni sia tweet che dm, mah!!!

— alberto (@iw0hjz) December 29, 2016

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from Twitter https://twitter.com/iw0hjz

cliente439274003 ancora nessuna possibilita’ di ricevere telefonate col vecchio numero a quando la portabilita’??

cliente439274003 ancora nessuna possibilita' di ricevere telefonate col vecchio numero a quando la portabilita'??

— alberto (@iw0hjz) December 29, 2016

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Artist Combats Digital Colonialism With 3D Printed Middle Eastern Goddesses

Artist Combats Digital Colonialism With 3D Printed Middle Eastern Goddesses
By Tyler Koslow

Iranian-American artist Morehshin Allahyari is developing a series of 3D printed statues inspired by forgotten female deities from the Middle East.

Currently working from the Eyebeam artist residency program in Brooklyn, New York, Iranian-American media artist Morehshin Allahyari is putting together an otherworldly and graceful exhibition of 3D printed Middle Eastern goddesses.

Unlike Athena and Aphrodite, the female deities being resurrected here — known as jinns — are much less recognized and illustrated in Western history. Using 3D scanning and 3D printing, Allahyari uses these mythicized Middle Eastern goddesses to help vanquish the disparity between the East and West; as well as between man and woman.

Addressing Contemporary Issues With Ancient Symbols

Allahyari aims to 3D print about a dozen female jiins, each of which will be accompanied with their own unique talismans. These particular goddesses defy the boundaries of traditional gender with their powerful strength and monstrous nature, stripping away the stereotype that all female deities should be motherly and kind.

Allahyari currently has her first 3D printed sculpture from the series on display at her solo exhibition in the TRANSFER gallery, called She Who Sees the Unknown. The 3D printed sculpture represents the three-headed demon known as Huma, a powerful deity known for possessing humans and causing fevers. Propped up in a room of darkness, the black-painted and soul-possessing goddess has a powerful warmth that Allahyari uses to reflect the ongoing climate change crisis.

The background of the exhibition features a video and ominous narrative by Allahyari, stating that her 3D printed goddess “restores myth and histories, the untold and the forgotten. She is a monster, and should be.”

Though her solo exhibition at the TRANSFER gallery ends on January 7, 2017, Allahyari will continue researching goddesses that reflect the contemporary issues of today. For example, she also plans to reimagine the Moroccan jinn Aisha Qandisha, seen as a protest against patriarchy and white male dominance.

Morehshin Allahyari: Saving Cultural Heritage With 3D Printing

Outside of her transcendent artwork, Allahyari also recently collaborated with Daniel Rourke on the revolutionary 3D Additivist Cookbook. Prior to that, the experimental artist launched an effort to revive artifacts from the Nineveh Museum in Mosul that were vandalized by ISIS.

Throughout her career, Allahyari has utilized 3D printing technology to express proto-feminist and cultural ideas in the form of forward-thinking art. With her latest ambitious project, the outspoken media artist looks to tackle the issues of neocolonialism and patriarchy by reinventing some of the most powerful goddesses in history.

The post Artist Combats Digital Colonialism With 3D Printed Middle Eastern Goddesses appeared first on All3DP.

December 28, 2016 at 10:00PM
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