3D Printer Filament – 25 Best Types & Comparison Charts

3D Printer Filament – 25 Best Types & Comparison Charts
By Sean Rohringer

The post 3D Printer Filament – 25 Best Types & Comparison Charts appeared first on All3DP.

December 30, 2017 at 04:55PM
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The Coasty Toaster – Laser Cutter for 3D Printed Coasters Gets a Serious Update

The Coasty Toaster – Laser Cutter for 3D Printed Coasters Gets a Serious Update
By Anne Freier

Customized laser 3D printed coasters are a thing now. Design your own with The Coaster Toasty to liven up your parties at home.

So New Year’s is coming up – who wants to serve drinks on normal, boring coasters?

For those DIY types that prefer something a bit more interesting, Bart Dring, designer of the 3D printed customized drinks coaster maker Coasty, has just updated his latest design.

Coasty version 1.2 is a small custom-made laser cutter you can use to impress your guests. In just a few seconds, you can print your own design onto your 3D printed coasters.

So, you’re probably wondering, why the update?

“I was not happy with the coaster homing switch used on the first version. While it never failed, it did not appear to be very robust and it caused some drag on the coaster. I changed to a IR LED and photodiode. When the light from the LED hits the photodiode, it conducts to the +5V. When the coaster blocks the light, it is pulled down to ground,” Dring explains.

OK, so maybe that sounds like something you personally wouldn’t need around the home. But you can still appreciate the tremendous detail that has gone into Coasty.

The hardware of the machine is largely 3D printed, apart from the motor, rod, and mechanical components. This lends it a more professional look, which would be difficult to achieve otherwise.

Coasty resembles a commercial product and uses a pulpboard coaster to cut the designs. Without opening up the machine, you can simply feed a coaster into the slot and the laser cuts your requested design.

Check out the video below to see a demo.

What are the new features of the new Coasty 1.2 version?

The Coasty Toaster is small and portable with a convenient new transparent window. Plus, you get some additional hardware features such as stepper drivers, a Bluetooth radio as well as laser power supply make for an even neater design.

Now, with the latest update, it includes a smaller traction roller, which moves the beam closer to the rubber contact points. This offers a range of advantages including enhanced resolution and torque.

Additionally, Dring has minimized the size of the chassis by 16mm and added a fan cover to the back of the design. So, this also enables you to add carbon filter cloth to the back to get rid of the odor originating from the printing process.

So if you’re a DIY enthusiast who wants to create unique coasters for serving your guests, Coasty could help you get ready for your New Year’s party in style.

Read more about the original model here.

Source: Buildlog.net and Hackaday

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December 29, 2017 at 11:04PM
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Researchers Develop 3D Printing Technique for Precise Deposition of Energetic Materials

Researchers Develop 3D Printing Technique for Precise Deposition of Energetic Materials
By Anne Freier

Researchers from Purdue University have developed an inkjet-inspired 3D printing technique that offers a more precise and safer way to deposit energetic materials.

Energetic materials within micromechanics is a growing field, particularly when it comes to applications within micro-propulsion systems. Energetic materials require careful handling and the precise deposition of such materials. However, traditional methods such as electrophoresis have often failed in controlling the spatial properties and volume of the deposited material.

Now, a team of researchers at Purdue University have developed a new 3D printing technique that deposits micro-scale amounts of energetic materials. Similar to an inkjet printer, droplets of ink are combined to produce the material, select nanomaterials were deposited using a piezoelectric inkjet printer.

According to Allison Murray, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, who developed the printer, the system fuses energetic materials together with additive manufacturing. Devices such as airbags tend to incorporate small amounts of energetic materials such as propellants. However, smaller devices generally require these materials on the micro-scale.

Researchers with inkjet printed sample (Image: Purdue University)

Researchers Embed Energetic Materials into Inkjet 3D Printing Process

Jeff Rhoads, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a principal investigator on the project, explains:

“Our solution is to combine two components as we’re printing them. We can have a fuel and an oxidizer in two separate suspensions, which are largely inert. Then with this custom inkjet printer, we can deposit the two in a specific overlapping pattern, combining them on a substrate to form nanothermite.”

He adds that getting the correct droplet volume and pattern was one of the core challenges on the project. Now, the nozzle can move within 0.1 micron precision – a thousandth the width of the human hair.

Such two-part reactive printing allows for the mixture and storage of energetic materials. This renders the process safer and also adds to the overall shelf stability. For the future, the team says that a technique for bulk characterization of samples could be explored. In addition, the size of the deposits made could be further adjusted.

Now published in the Journal of Applied Physics, the proof of concept work was carried out by 10 researchers and four faculty members from different departments at Purdue.

“It’s a defining feature of Purdue that professors from such different backgrounds can work together on a project like this,” Rhoads concludes. “We can combine all of our experiences to collaborate on technologies that weren’t previously realizable.”

Source: Purdue University

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December 29, 2017 at 09:03PM
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20 Best 3D Printing Software Tools (All Are Free)

20 Best 3D Printing Software Tools (All Are Free)
By Bulent Yusuf

The post 20 Best 3D Printing Software Tools (All Are Free) appeared first on All3DP.

December 29, 2017 at 07:05PM
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Creality CR-10 Review: A 3D Printer Worth The Hype

Creality CR-10 Review: A 3D Printer Worth The Hype
By Matthew Mensley

The Creality CR-10 has captured the hearts of the 3D printing community. But how good is it really? Read our Creality CR-10 review.

The post Creality CR-10 Review: A 3D Printer Worth The Hype appeared first on All3DP.

December 29, 2017 at 05:10PM
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Doctor Drives to Sierra Leone with Ultimaker 3D Printer to Make Prosthetics for Children

Doctor Drives to Sierra Leone with Ultimaker 3D Printer to Make Prosthetics for Children
By Hanna Watkin

Doctor Lars Brouwers is driving from the Netherlands to Sierra Leone with an Ultimaker 3D printer to teach locals how to print limb prosthetics for children. 

With a friend by his side, Brouwers set off on the ultimate road trip. The Dutch doctor is currently en route to the Innovate Salone program in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

His mission? To help local children with missing limbs by 3D printing prosthetics for them.

“It is important that developments in technology and innovation are also introduced in the third world. By transferring our knowledge and the 3D printer, we want to contribute to healthcare. Otherwise, the differences with the prosperous countries will only increase,” Brouwers explains.

In addition to doing his bit to bridge the gap between rich and poor, Brouwers believes that this technology will hugely benefit more children.

In Sierra Leone, some children are born without limbs due to birth defects or sadly lose them to war.

Now, with the Ultimaker 3D printer, it’s possible to make a prosthetic hand in just one day. The devices are even able to grip things thanks to fishing wire and hinges.

The trip is now underway and Brouwers, along with a friend, who already lives and works in the country as a doctor, will arrive in the capital of Sierra Leone in three weeks.

All Systems Go Once Brouwers Reachers Freetown

In order to help Brouwers help the local project, Ultimaker sent him a 3D printer worth about $3,000 (€2,500) for free.

The Ultimaker 3D printer will also arrive fully equipped with software and spare parts. Plus, Brouwers has already arranged technical help if anything goes wrong.

“Technical problems are often easy to remotely remedy, for example via the app. And if it is very difficult, I can call on a befriended colleague in the Radboud UMC‘s 3D Lab,” he explains.

Innovate Salone is a program created by the Global Minimum organization. Hopefully, 3D printing will be able to greatly benefit the program.

“I want to show that 3D printing works cost-effectively compared to normal care. I have been working on that for two years,” Brouwers adds.

This is only a shortstop as the doctor has a very busy schedule as he continues his doctoral research and will begin training as a surgeon in Nijmegen, Netherlands in January. We wish him the best of luck!

Source: BD

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December 29, 2017 at 12:45AM
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MINI Launches 3D Printing Service to Offer Customized Car Accessories

MINI Launches 3D Printing Service to Offer Customized Car Accessories
By Tyler Koslow

The automotive company MINI has launched MINI Yours Customised, a new 3D printing service that will allow customers to design custom interior and exterior trim pieces and have them 3D printed for their car. 

Many people believe that cars, much like dogs, tend to reflect the personality of the owner. The bubbly and bug-eyed MINI is certainly no exception to this rule.

This past week, the British automotive marque MINI launched MINI Yours Customised, a 3D printing service that will allow customers to design their own interior and exterior trim pieces and have them 3D printed.

There are a wide range of components to modify and choose from, including the side scuttles for the exterior turn signals, the passenger-side dash trim, LED aluminum door sills, and the LED door projector. MINI is utilizing 3D printing and laser cutting technology within its production facilities in Germany to deliver these unique, customized parts to customers.

The 3D printing service will allow customers to select, design, or upgrade parts from the new Online Shop. These parts take just a few weeks to be manufactured before they’re ready for the road.

“MINI Yours Customised” Puts Power of Customization into the Driver’s Hand

MINI Yours Customised offers a user-friendly customization tool that enables every customer to use their own creativity. Each design can be selected and configured before being sent off to the facility for production. For example, the customer can choose different colors, surface finishes, and patterns for their side scuttles and trims.

With the help of MINI’s parent company, BMW Group, the automotive marque has gotten its hands on some impressive 3D printing technology. This stems for various partnerships between BMW and the likes of Hewlett-Packard Inc., Carbon, and EOS GmbH. Laser cutting is also used to perform tasks such as etching the customer’s name into the door sill.

The new service from MINI also aims to develop a community of creative users who are sharing their designs on social media and inspiring others.

“MINI is committed to digitalisation and innovative production procedures for realising individual customer wishes. Alongside the global web shop, a completely new distribution chain has been installed for direct sales to the customer. Equally, the 3D printing procedure has been specially tailored to the production of individual products in large numbers for the MINI Yours Customised package,” BMW Group stated.

Although the new 3D printing service is major news for the automotive industry, MINI’s latest use of the technology isn’t exactly shocking. Just last week, BMW released a number of 3D printable Christmas ornaments, while also sharing the different ways that additive manufacturing his pushed its own iconic automotive brand forward.

Source: BMW Group

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December 28, 2017 at 09:02PM
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Ultimaker 3 Review: Revolutionary Dual Extrusion 3D Printer

Ultimaker 3 Review: Revolutionary Dual Extrusion 3D Printer
By Alastair Jennings

The post Ultimaker 3 Review: Revolutionary Dual Extrusion 3D Printer appeared first on All3DP.

December 28, 2017 at 07:15PM
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Beginner’s Guide on How to Buy a 3D Printer

Beginner’s Guide on How to Buy a 3D Printer
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.

How to 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.

How to 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.

How to 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.

Best 3D Printer Awards 2017 / 2018 – The 12 Winners
20 Best Cheap 3D Printers under $500 / $1000
25 Best Selling 3D Printers on Amazon (Last 30 Days)
3D Scanner Prices: 14 Best-Selling 3D Scanners on Amazon
25 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.

20 Best Cheap DIY 3D Printer Kits 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 at Kickstarter 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 9 Kickstarter 3D Printer Projects Live Right Now here.

How to 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 Ultimate Guide to 3D Printing – 101 Questions Answered
3D Printing Troubleshooting: 34 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 Beginner’s Guide on How to Buy a 3D Printer appeared first on All3DP.

December 28, 2017 at 04:59PM
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Reflection 3D Technology is Upgrading the Family Photo with Personal 3D Printed Models

Reflection 3D Technology is Upgrading the Family Photo with Personal 3D Printed Models
By Hanna Watkin

Reflection 3D Technology is a Canadian company that’s redefining the modern family photograph by turning 360-degree photographs into 3D models.

Family photos may soon be a thing of the past. Because wouldn’t it be nicer to have a 3D print of your loved ones instead? A Canadian 3D printing company called Reflection 3D Technology is making this a reality.

The company is using 360-degree photos to create 3D printed figurines of clients. Turn yourself into a mini action figure, a toy for your kids to play with, or even a replica for your parents to stare at while you’re away.

“Some international students have themselves scanned and then send it back home to their parents,” says Tantan Xie, the founder of the company based in Regina, Canada.

Xie explains that Reflection 3D Technology was inspired by a Finnish 3D printing company that also 3D prints models from photographs.

The finished models are then proudly displayed by family members in their homes using this very modern update on a regular old family photo.

Creating a 3D Model from Photographs

To create a 3D model, the company in Canada uses 89 cameras and 23 projectors to take a 360-degree photo. After capturing the images, they send the image across the border to America for 3D printing.

But that’s not all. You can also live out your unfulfilled dreams in miniature 3D form. It’s possible for your 3D print to be dressed as an action figure or dancer. Admit it,

Apparently, parents have been asking for their 3D printed children to be wearing everything from a superhero costume to a hockey jersey. Pretty cool!

The models are printed on an industrial printer and the results are mind-boggling – especially for grandparents, who aren’t exactly used to this sort of thing.

“For the grandparents … they find out ‘OK, I can now have the grandkids just sitting on the top of my table,’” Xie adds.

And, it might sound a little weird, but it’s not uncommon to receive requests for 3D models of family members or pets who have died. But it’s not as easy as it sounds.

“That’s one of the challenges right now,” Xie explains. “It’s possible, if we’re sending a picture from the past, to create a 3D model … but the outcome or the result won’t be as good as the one where we’re having people come over to do the scan.”

If you’d like to purchase a model, head to the website for their pricing guide. The models range in price from $100 to $300. They also take a while to prepare, so plan ahead if you’d like to surprise a loved one! You still have time to pre-order for Mother’s Day!

Source: CBC

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December 27, 2017 at 10:53PM
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