Category: FAB

ksfeature

The Ten Commandments of Kickstarter

15 May, 2013 by in DESIGN, FAB, RESOURCES

When Kickstarter first launched, it was a hotbed for garage hobbyists, indie game developers, and the occasional ‘pro’ who wanted to test the crowdfunding market. More recently, the platform has made its way to more commercial projects that while having been successful, are arguably exploiting an indie-based platform and have led some into a pit of crowdfunding doom. Kickstarter isn’t just a crowdfunding platform…it is a goldmine for free press and exposure, something that both Makers and Hollywood studios would love to get their hands on while promoting project campaigns. However, the openness of this business model is a double-edged sword: while it may allow a creator full creative control for a new project, it is still open to potential claims of fraud, misappropriation, conversion, and embezzlement. Where should you draw the line with Kickstarter ethics and avoid getting yourself into a hotbed of crowdfunded trouble?
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FabFabbers is the New Site to Share and Edit Your 3D Models

15 May, 2013 by in FAB

Here are two phrased I’d like you to let sink in for a few moments. Share and sync models from GitHub. Edit models with OpenSCAD in the browser. If you just frightened your boss with a high-pitched squeal as he walked by, you’re not alone. However, you may also be wondering, “What the gravy is this ‘GitHub’ and ‘OpenSCAD’ business??” GitHub is an online file collaboration site (mostly used for code/software development). OpenSCAD is free software to create 3D models (hosted on GitHub as a matter of fact). FabFabbers is a new site that has not only brought the two together with the ability to share and download files, they’ve also created an implementation of OpenSCAD in the browser.
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imakr-store-london

iMakr Opens up Shop in London. Training and More to Come.

14 May, 2013 by in FAB

Hop on the tube down to Farringdon? You have plenty of markets, historic sites and just down Clerkenwell road, right next to a quaint, little Vespa dealership you have the newly opened iMakr store. In April we told you about the largest 3D printing store coming to London. They’re two weeks in, with interest in the shop picking up and new services launching for those in the Greater London area.

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RichH-nylon-multi-color-3d-printing

Incredible, DIY Multi-color 3D Printing (and the Future) With Your Host RichRap

09 May, 2013 by in FAB

There are ever-increasing piles of 3D prints being amassed upon the earth–single-color, multicolor and a healthy amount of plastic squiggles that didn’t quite make it through the process. It’s sometimes (always) nice to know how people are going about building and creating the contraptions that lead to hours of tinkering and even more hours of creating a form layer-by-layer. While there are some companies who prefer not to show their technology or prints results *ahem*, there are others who do and want to share it with us geeky, like-minded individuals. Richard Horne, aka RichRap, goes into deep, delightful detail about his 3D printing adventures, showing you what has worked, what hasn’t worked so well with a hefty dose of 3D printer development along the way. This is his story…

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cube-3d-printer-staples

The Cube 3D Printer, Now Available at Staples.

08 May, 2013 by in FAB

Say you’re driving past your favorite office supply store, suddenly realize you’re out of extra large paper clips, slam on the brakes and hightail it across five lanes of traffic to enter the door, where you see… a mound of boxed 3D printers reaching the heights of the ceiling with gangly-looking, red-shirted staff singing a resonating chorus of angelic song. That will be happening by the end of June with a number of Staples office supply stores across the U.S. stocking The Cube® 3D printer from 3D Systems. It’s already available online, making Staples the first big box U.S. retailer to stock and ship 3D printers.

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ponoko-laser-cut-castle

Laser Cut Castle Scene With Working Trebuchet and Catapult

06 May, 2013 by in CONTESTS, FAB

I’ve built my share of laser cut catapults and trebuchets in my life, but an entire laser cut castle attack scene? If I could be so lucky. GrabCAD user Andrea Garuti made it happen with his ‘Castle under attack’ entry that won the SolidSmack Laser Cut Toy Design Challenge. Ponoko sponsored a free laser cut of the winning entry and we’re excited (and a bit jealous) to see the results.

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matterform-photon-3d-scanner

Matterform’s Photon 3D Scanner is a Point Cloud of Beauty

29 Apr, 2013 by in FAB

What would you do if you love lasers, 3d modeling and had an obsessive-compulsive knack for software development and uber-functional design? You would design and launch a 3D scanner that made all other 3D scanners look like shop-class throwbacks. We like the cost of DIY scanners and the resolution and scan area of some high-end scanners, but for quick, desktop, on-the-fly scanning of everyday objects, we’re simply in love with the Photon 3D Scanner from Matterform. As you may know, their Indiegogo campaign is nearing the final days and, having blown past the $81k goal, they’re prepping to provide 1,100+ backers a stylish new gadget for their desktop scanning needs.

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BotObjects Announce World’s First Full-Color 3D Printer… for the Desktop

26 Apr, 2013 by in FAB

There’s so much news coming out on 3D Printing this year, it’s becoming difficult to both cover it all and separate out the wheat from the chaff. With printers being announced every other week, new materials and reports of acquisitions, it’s no surprise that 3D printing is getting the coverage it has. Throughout all of these, there are a few truly innovative products that stand out–Inspired by all who have come before, but innovative nonetheless. The 3Doodler is one exciting new product launched this year. Another is the ProDesk3D from botObjects. They announced the product today and, though we have yet to see a working version, if it works it will change 3D printing forever. Why? It’s a full-color desktop 3D printer that prints using 5-colors of un-adulterated PLA filament. We talked with co-founders Mike Duma (CTO) and Martin Warner (CEO) to find out more about how this machine will work and when it will be available.

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shapeways-30-million-lion-head

Shapeways Bares Teeth, Gnaws Into $30 Million Round of Funding

24 Apr, 2013 by in FAB

That roaring tiger head coming out of a lattice work structure? That’s Shapeways. On their blog and at the Inside 3D Printing conference this week, they announced a $30 million round of funding from Andreessen Horowitz’s Chris Dixon. He’ll be joining the executive board and, you better believe it 3D shop-makin’, material-bakin’ fiends, Shapeways is preparing to tear into the arterial neck casing of 3D Printing possibility… with, ya know, refinement and not so much a mess.

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