In light of Apple's latest record-breaking smartphone, Malta 3D Printing has selected a number of useful printables to enhance the iPhone experience.
Early purchasers may have been left with a sour taste in their mouth due to some unforeseen problems, but our selection of unique products will help turn their frowns upside down.
This stylish iPhone 6 charger is sure to save your blushes in a sticky situation - remember that time you accidentally deserted your date, only because your iPhone ran out of battery? What about that time you got lost in the woods searching for your camping buddies?
This versatile gadget annihilates any chance of those awkward situations
becoming reality.
Not only does it charge your iPhone faster than a
regular charger, it also extends the battery life. Gone are the days
when our trusty cellphone batteries would last a couple of days in the
red zone. In 2014, low-battery means it's time to panic!
Using Wi-Fi, 3G, or an application (practically any smartphone function) drains the battery like crazy.
Simply slot your brand new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus into the case and voila.
For the energy conscious customer, a solar-powered version is also available, helping you bring your electricity bill down. The electronics required are simple to attach to the case, but a full-kit version with no assembly is also available.
If you're looking for something simpler, this standard iPhone dock will do the job.
There's nothing unique or special about it, but sometimes simplicity is all you need. On that note, 3D printing marketplaces are now jam-packed with different iPhone 6 cases. Some are quite stylish, like this steampunk case, and others quite basic.
While you're still buzzing from the familiar smell of a freshly opened iPhone, savor the moment by blasting your favourite tunes. Should Apple's sound hardware not provide you with the kick you needed, try a set of 3D printed enhancement speakers.
This model by Thingiverse user Datheus is
sure to turn a quiet night in with friends into a thumping house party.
All that's required is for users to place their smartphones into the
device and prepare for the onslaught of noise complaints.
Speaker for iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus
iPhone users on the go will be tired of fumbling around whilst driving in search of their trusty smartphone - a recipe for disaster. Imagine dodging traffic as it rings away in your bag or pocket, only for you to have missed the call by the time you've fished it out.
Debuting on Thingiverse only two days ago, this simple case protects the iPhone and allows drivers to safely answer calls without too much attention diverted from the road.
It's also been modified to accommodate for charging.
Only released a few weeks ago now, the list of 3D printable enhancement products for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is still relatively small - but having smashed all previous iPhone and smartphone sales records, we can expect the list to grow quickly.
A bright mind and a 3D printer can go a long way. Combining aesthetics and entertainment value, 3D printed games range from chess sets and larger-than-life Rubik's cubes to entirely new gaming universes created within a matter of days.
Effectively changing the rules of manufacturing, 3D printing will have fans of tabletop gaming stoked when they realize the scale of their favourite pastime just got a whole lot bigger. Printing already has a place in gamers' hearts', producing key items like dice and custom landscapes - essential for any serious tabletop gamer.
Exciting breakthrough projects like Breach, Pocket Dungeon and Pocket Tactics have invaded the market dominated by Games Workshop. According to their Thingiverse pages, some of these exciting are yet to be fully completed.
Pocket Tactics is perhaps the most famous of the bunch, and is basically the size of a small travel game - you can play it on any flat surface. Creator Arian Croft, also known as 'Dutchmogul', claims to have thought of the idea on a Tuesday night, and by Friday had a functioning prototype ready.
While designers like Croft are busy ping-ponging new ideas around the Ill Gotten Games office, well-established games like Warhammer 40k and Warmachine may need to look over their shoulders.
Sure, it will be difficult for small companies to pry the hands of loyal gamers away from the most popular tabletop games, but what if they bought miniatures from a different company? Some official gaming kits can cost hundreds of euros, and more.
3D printing is allowing for high-quality miniatures, and Hero Forge serves as the proof in the pudding. Their Kickstarter page reveals the length at which they're willing to help their customers customize their favourite gaming pieces.
Ironically, the digital revolution is helping the analog world.
A Unique Miniature built by Hero Forge
(Image from Kickstarter)
Raising over $360,000 (more than triple their original target), their Kickstarter financial goal was met back in February. The appeal to gamers lies in the unprecedented level of detail one can add, with users able to choose different armour, poses, weapons, equipment and character sizes.
Moving on to a different branch of games completely, a quick look at the leading online marketplaces like Shapeways or Thingiverse will reveal the extent of the different board games, puzzles, desk toys and life-like models available.
Chess fans will feel right at home here, as the classic game has been a target of 3D technicians around the world. Since all it requires are pieces and a board to play on, the levels of customization are limitlesss.
Our next pick is for the puzzle freaks out there. If you're a fan of the age-old Rubik's cube, this extra-large, fully-functional 3x4x5 cuboid will certainly catch your eye. Now being produced en masse, this nifty puzzle requires a bit of DIY assembly - requiring users to use their own springs, screws and washers.
The 3D printing gods have been kind enough to provide us with entertaining products in bountiful amounts, and for this we are very grateful. At this rate, our children of the future will be spoiled for choice!
Friends, customers, printaholics - lend us your ears and join us along a 3D printed musical adventure!
A recent post which featured one of Malta 3D Printing's favourite little musical toys - a kazoo - inspired us to continue down this musical vein.
To place things into perspective, the 3D printable instruments of today are split into three categories.
Firstly, we have 'experimental pieces', which don't have a conventional equal outside of the realm of 3D printing. Secondly, there are 'enhanced instruments', which improve the qualities of an already existing instrument thanks to 3D printing's unique capabilities.
3D Printing Will Soon Turn This Design Into Reality
Finally, we have replications of existing instruments, which have no real added benefits compared to the traditional piece.
Pictured above is a prime example of a 3D printable musical piece still in experimental stages.
This unusual trumpet is reminiscent of a modern painter's masterpiece
rather than a practical musical device. While this aesthetically
pleasing instrument is yet to be created, there are others which are
already in circulation.
The video below provides a quick explanation about a 3D printed flute. Using the powerful Objet500 Connex, this wind instrument's 3D model was produced using Rhino.
In a different interview, flute player Seth Hunter emphasized the plastic flute's acoustic similarities to the traditional metal ones. He also noted the slight misplacement of the keys - but remember - 3D printing encourages technicians to fix any minor errors in the subsequent print.
Created by yet another student from MIT, Amit Zoran was not far away from creating an exact replica, and this was way back in 2011. The traditional flute falls under the 'existing instrument' category, but our next pick certainly has its fair share of enhancements.
A laser-cut violin made from plywood, this stringed instrument was created by Ranjit Bhatnagar, a sound art enthusiast.
Its' bulky wooden outer shell provides a stern contrast to the graceful sounds it can produce. Bhatnagar even took his masterpiece to the streets, inviting different violin players to fiddle away. Check out the videos here!
An 'Enhanced Instrument' - 3D Printed Violin
(Image taken from Thingiverse)
'Ranjit' as he is known on Thingiverse, has a personal page chocked full of free designs for different instruments - including an okarina, organ pipe, spiral panpipes and more.
Next up is another piece seeking to replicate an original design, but this one is slightly different. At four feet long, this home-made behemoth requires many printing sessions.
Clearly, this great bass recorder functions well - and the creator has since improved on his original work. The recorer is made up over 48 inches of PVC pipe measuring 1.5", a few sections made of 2" and multiple, custom built 3D pieces.
Created by Instructables user 'sngai', a quick internet search will reveal that opting to print this object as opposed to purchasing a store-bought one will save players a lot of money.
Who knows what the future holds? PLA pianos, ABS acoustic guitars and printable drum kits may soon become popular. As the number of 3D printed instruments continues to grow, its only a matter of time before musicians hop on the fast-moving bandwagon!
Modern universities around the world have successfully endorsed 3D printers in the classroom. Students from all walks of life are creating innovative products, rivaling the originality and ingenuity of high-end companies.
While many of these institutions at the top of the educational hierarchy are focusing on additive manufacturing, what about those lower down the learning tree?
Imagine the possibilities of having small, user-friendly 3D printers in our children's classrooms. Computers provided a tremendous leap in learning potential, proof that accepting modern means of learning can pay dividends.
Malta 3D Printing's Facebook page recently featured an interesting infographic regarding the myriad of different uses 3D printers would have in a classroom.
An Inforgraphic Detailing 3D Printing's Classroom Uses
(Image taken from 3DPrintingSytems.com)
Titled 'Revolutionizing the Classroom,' the picture explains how printing could impact 9 different academic subjects - from biology and chemistry, to graphic design and history.
The global surge in interest in 3D printing has even lead to books being written specifically for teachers seeking to use a printer in the classroom. One of the more recent additions is titled 'The Invent To Learn Guide to 3D Printing in the Classroom: Recipes for Success', by Norma Thornburg, David Thornburg and Sara Armstrong.
'The Invent To Learn Guide to 3D Printing in the Classroom: Recipes for Success'
(Image taken from Inventtolearn.com)
Available on Amazon, the step-by-step guide has received plenty of positive reviews. It presents 18 stimulating printing projects - covering a wide range of subjects including mathematics, engineering and science.
For educators less comfortable with certain technical aspects of 3D printing, this book is definitely for you.
It is crucial that we introduce these technologies at a young age, allowing for children to get accustomed to them nice and early. The usual naysayers - Luddites and technophobes - may resist such a transition, as they did when desktop computers slowly made their way into the classroom a couple of decades ago.
However, provided all goes well, 3D printers can become a bastion of educational technology!
It's perfect for allowing children to explore their imagination, simultaneously widening their range of creative skills. Furthermore, it encourages kids to keep trying even after they've failed, as printing itself requires trial and error.
So often, children are frustrated by failure, yet 3D printing allows for an environment which accepts it with open arms.
It's nice to know that messages from the printing industry aren't falling on deaf ears. As far back as 2009, projects like KIDE have begun infiltrating classrooms in the UK. Started by Dejan Mitrovic - a technological pioneer - his educational scheme focuses on bringing 3D printing into the classroom, focusing on a 'think-create-use' model.
A Happy Child Examining a 3D Printed Landscape
(Image taken from Pinterest.com)
On the other side of the pond, an article by Redorbit tells us about 12 groups of teachers who visited the Michigan Technological Institute to learn more about 3D printing. They were effectively given a crash course, ensuring they return to their respective schools with a decent understanding.
Slowly, but surely, the world is embracing 3D printing. It's only a matter of time before it spreads across the globe!
Perhaps one-day the children of the future will begin community altering projects in their very own classrooms. We'll open our newspapers to read about a local group of boys and girls who helped to pioneer a contraption of the future.
All we must do is provide them with the tools and proper guidance - then sit back in awe as we watch the cogs in our little men and women's brains turn.
Today we'll be taking a look at a few awesome 3D printable products which have officially reached 'life hack' status.
Amidst our more serious blog posts, this entry will be about easy-to-use, and more importantly, easy-to-make products which may not change the world - but will definitely help to put a smile on people's faces.
Here's one for the fruit-loving house party hosts - a printable tap which transforms a watermelon into a keg!
All you require are the beverages of your choice, and a knife to cut open the watermelon. Remove the melon chunks, add some ice, pop your tap into the makeshift fruit keg and prepare to conquer your thirst!
These fun products are great for a family day by the pool or to provide some much needed novelty at a house party.
The tap is the result of a combination between a team dedicated to life-hacking and a 3D printing company started by the people, for the people - Household Hackers and Robo 3D, respectively. According to 3DPrintingIndustry.com, this nifty tap was created using a Robo 3D R1 printer.
It can, of course, be used for more conventional purposes, but this one is by far the most awesome.
Next
up, we've got a nifty little item that packs a musical punch. The
'Kazoo' - a handheld instrument which requires users to hum into it - can provide hours of sweet-sounding fun.
Appropriate for both professional and amateurs alike, this small instrument definitely has mass appeal. It's bound to have parents and neighbors across the globe in search for a fine set of ear plugs.
Hours have been spent tooting away at the Malta 3D Printing office, with a trusty kazoo never more than a few feet away!
According to the Guiness Book of World Records, on 14th March 2011, over 5,000 kazoo players teamed up to create their own rendition of one of Wagner's greatest compositions, 'The Ride of the Valkyries'. How many of those kazoos were 3D printed?
Moving on, we present to our viewers a simple, yet handy product which is bound to help people save a few extra pennies. Have you ever known there was some toothpaste left in the end of the tube, but couldn't be bothered to awkwardly squeeze it out?
This trusty tube roller is meant for those occasions!
The Tube Roller in Action
(Image taken from Thingiverse.com)
Its incredibly easy-to-use, just fit it onto your desired tube and twist away. Guaranteed to squeeze every last drop out of your bothersome tubes. Don't like the colour? Good thing Malta 3D Printing has dozens of alternatives.
The item pictured below is a cool alternative to that annoying bunch of keys on a ring. This 3D printable Swiss army knife can hold a number of keys, and should fit into a pocket nicely.
Say goodbye to that frustrating feeling you experience when you pull your mobile phone out of your pocket, only to realize its been scratched by your cumbersome key ring. Furthermore, printing this product in a nice bright colour will reduce the amount of time we spend looking for our keys!
Finally, we bring to you another tool that can help you tackle another common nuisance.
We've all gone through our fair share of mobile phones, speakers, and the myriad of other devices which come with 2-3 different cables per box. This cute cable spool allows you to store your wires in a practical way, and even when in use, guarantees things remain nice and tidy.
These spools can be easily stacked on top of each other or placed side-by-side neatly, as opposed to simply having a pile of wires left in a dusty box under your bed.
The examples listed here are only a speck of sand in the beach that is 3D printing. There are literally thousands of products out there that are can be immensely useful, or entertaining!
Don't hesitate to contact Malta 3D Printing for any of the items listed above!
In theaters across the world, fans watch in amazement as lifelike costumes and props take centre stage in blockbuster movies. We've all been spoiled by advanced CGI (computer generated imagery), sitting back as we admire an ultra-realistic ocean glistening below a hovering alien mother-ship on screen.
The list of computer generated images is endless, and some movies rely entirely on these graphical reproductions.
Luckily, 3D printing is stepping in to add some much needed realness to our favourite flicks. The Iron Man movie series serves as a prime example - with an untold number of suits having been 3D printed by Legacy Effects for all 3 Iron Man titles.
One can only imagine the amount of time and precision required to produce such works of art, and Lead Systems Engineer at Legacy Effects, Jason Lopes, can attest to this.
In this short interview with Bloomberg, Lopes gives a quick breakdown on why 3D printing is rapidly replacing older methods of costume creation.
Lopes states that, as a traditional special effects studio that once relied on high-quality animatronics and sculpting (to name a few), it was essential that they kept up to date with the latest technological trends.
Besides the impressive Iron Man suit on their resume, Legacy Effects have also produced models for other smash hits like Real Steel and Pacific Rim. The 'Noisy Boy' a fully-operational, hydraulic robot created for the Real Steel feature film, reportedly costed tens of thousands of dollars to complete.
The video below titled '3D Printing is Revolutionizing Special Effects' sees the team behind Legacy Effects going in detail about how additive manufacturing is changing their work lives. Sculptors are now expanding their skill sets, substituting stone age sculpting for futuristic 3D printing.
While Legacy Effects remains an alpha male of the 3D printing prop and costume world, others are also making a name for themselves. According to 3DPrintingIndustry.com, Terry Gilliam - the world famous writer, director and actor - requested a cutting edge movie prop for his new movie, 'The Zero Theorem.'
Of course - it had to be 3D printed - and Gilliam reportedly selected FATHOM and North Design Labs to craft this space-age device. North provided the creative mojo while FATHOM delivered in the technical department, a combination which resulted in this movie prop:
Movie Prop for Sci-Fi Flick 'The Zero Theorem'
(Image taken from Article.wn.com)
This convincing, alien gadget gets plenty of screen time, housing a Samsung Galaxy Tablet and acting as a interactive mini-computer. According to 3DPrinterWorld.com, the entire device was 3D printed and assembled within a couple of days.
It was printed by an Objet500 Connex, a high-range printer capable of printing numerous materials in a single session.
The Awesome Objet500 Connex
(Image taken from Stratasys.com)
Not only are these exciting products being sold to mega-rich movie companies, but mega-rich customers too. According to techeblog.com, the cleverly named 'Iron Man Factory' situated in Shenzhen, China, is producing replicas that cost an arm and a leg.
At $35,000, the 3D printed, carbon-fiber Iron Man suit is hardly going to be selling like hotcakes, but is sure to tickle serious fans' fancy.
Less wealthy Iron Man aficionados out there can also settle for the non-3D printed version for only $2,000 dollars.
These are only the beginnings of a very promising lunge into the movie
industry. It's no surprise Hollywood is taking notice of 3D printing -
as time constraints become greater - faster, rapid prototyping methods
of production will quickly gain precedence.
Albeit expensive, 3D
printing has too many advantages not to be taken seriously.
The food industry is the next branch of economy to benefit from 3D printing.
In 2013, NASA announced their interest in 3D printing food in space, allowing Systems and Material Research Corporation from Austin, Texas to begin developing methods for printing food in space. NASA's interest into 3D printing speaks volumes about just how big additive manufacturing can grow to one day!
Back on Earth, others are busy focusing on 3D printers that can print chocolate, ice cream and more!
From ChocEdge in the UK, all the way to Global 3D Labs in India, the chocolate 3D printing trend is catching on quickly - promising to, in the future, produce results to rival the world's best chocolatiers!
An Accurately Crafted England Football Badge
(Image taken from 3DPrint.com)
Of course, this entry into the 3D printing market is still young, and won't be replacing the hard-working men and women in the chocolate industry anytime soon.
However, as with any growing technology - this is one to look out for in the future.
Currently, time constraints will hold this technology back. According to 3DPrintingIndustry.com, it would take up to 40 minutes to produce a single plate of chocolate. While this is far from ideal, 3D printers still have a few tricks up their sleeve.
The Choc Creator from ChocEdge, founded by Dr. Liang Hao - claims to be more accurate than human hands, laying layers of chocolate at measurements of 0.5mm to 1.0mm. Having been on the market since 2012, its' successor, the Choc Creator V2 has only recently been launched.
The Stylish Choc Creator V2
(Image taken from 3DPrint.com)
With the first entry marketed as a user-friendly yet capable device, the V2 (pictured below) offers technical supremacy - improving on feature's such as the temperature control, according to 3ders.org. It also promises an improvement in accuracy, with printable chocolate tracks ranging from 0.45mm-1.3mm.
The price tag is heftier than its predecessor, but its promise to improve on an already capable machine should justify this. It was unveiled at the '2014 World 3D Printing Technology Industry Conference and Exhibition,' which took place in China.
These printers allow users to deposit layers of chocolate on any surface desired - but what about as an ice cream topping?
Well,
we're not quite sure how that would work, but rest assured that other
parties are working with ice cream and 3D printers. The idea is still in
its infancy, after yet another group of promising students - this time
from the world-renowned MIT - fiddled around with a printer until it was
able to extrude ice-cream.
Check out the video below for a quick demonstration.
The students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Kyle Hounsell, Kristine Bunker and David Donghyun Kim - claimed to have taken interest in this novelty idea in a bid to excite children about 3D printing, as per 3ders.org.
"We felt that it was just as important to come up with a new technology
as it was to interest the younger generation in pursuing science and
technology so we can continue pushing the limits of what is possible," Bunker told 3ders.org.
Another promising food related 3D printer is the Foodini, by Natural Machines. It allows home cooks
to place (preferably healthy) foodstuffs into open containers which are then pumped out via a syringe.
Its' Kickstarter campaign was unfortunately unsuccessful, but still managed to raise a little more than $80,000 dollars, leaving it slightly off its $100,000 target mark. While this is indeed a revolutionary idea that needs time to be perfected, the decision to market it as a way to change how we prepare our food is slightly premature.
Of course, the Foodini is changing the way we fundamentally prepare dishes, but it isn't necessarily making us eat healthier or save time with cooking.
Similar to other 3D devices, Foodini has its own online database where users are able to download different shapes and patterns for the variety of sweet and savory dishes. Powered by Android, the Foodini comes equipped with Wi-Fi and a 7-inch touchscreen.
The creators of Foodini, Lynette Kucsma and Emilio Sepulvedu, plan for their creation to be as popular as the microwave one day.
According to 3dprint.com, they also aspire to create '3D printing ovens' one day. It's difficult to imagine this materializing anytime soon, but it's exciting to think that 3D printing technology will infiltrate such a core aspect of our lives - improving and revolutionizing the way we think about food.
