Artful 3D Printers
Boing Boing Gadgets has a nice roundup of projects where 3D printers are being used by artists. This sintered phone holster shows off how 3D printing tools can create “preassembled” parts. In this case all the links are formed together and are removed from the 3D printer fully assembled with all the properties of a chain mail product. 3D printers are an amazing technology and this kind of project demonstrates their most impressive capabilities. via Boing Boing Gadgets
Legos + Transformers + Crazy Fan = Awesome
A Korean Lego enthusiast has built a large model of the Transformers character Barricade that amazingly, actually transforms. Lego is in an interesting position with a sectionally modular building system, specialized CAD software, and a rabid fanbase. If they could work out the licensing it would be amazing to let these crazy fans design models and offer them for sale via Lego’s mass customization service. The community is already doing amazing things for free so an affiliate payment program could only help Lego broaden their offering.
Makerbot_Status…Replicating
The MakerBot project reached a fun milestone when Bre Pettis used the $750 “Cupcake” 3D printer to create an upgraded component for itself. However, the award for “coolest machine approaching self replication” has to be this hexapod that can mill parts. Fortunately, it can only handle styrofoam at this point so the human race is safe. For now…
Speaking of Terrifying Robots…
This robotic snake looks like an early ancestor of the droid outside of Jabba the Hut’s lair and the Sentinel from the Matrix. Using Objet 3D printers, researchers were able to increase the speed of development and improve their design substantially.
Laser Engraved Lunch Meat
A student at Carnegie Mellon has embarked upon a project to remind carnivore’s of where their meat comes from and used a laser cutter to engrave humble slices of bologna with images of animals. The artist’s statement:
“Ultimately, I would like to show the entire process from animal to ambiguous pink slice of meat over the course of a package of lunch meat, beginning here with bologna. This neat packaged disc of food has always seemed so far removed from its source.”
Via Neatorama
