Lifeboat Foundation

Written By: Jason Dorrier — Singularity Hub

If space is the final frontier, we pilgrims have a lot to learn. To date, we’ve rarely ventured far beyond the thin envelope of Earth’s atmosphere. Why? Because we can’t yet survive long in space without dangling a supply line into the gravity well.

Last weekend, however, we took a step that may prove crucial to foregoing our Earthly dependence. Made In Space—a Singularity University company dreamed up at SU’s 2010 graduate studies program—launched the first 3D printer into space.

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Kurweil AI

Researchers at NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, and Pennsylvania State University have developed a 3D printing process that transitions from one metal or alloy to another in a single object.

For example, they created a prototype of an improved telescope mirror mount. The part at the top near the glass mirror is made of a metal with low thermal expansion, so that it won’t shrink in space as much as most metals do. That prevents stress in the epoxy adhesive between the mirror and the metal. The bottom part of this mount is stronger stainless steel and could be connected to a stainless steel component of a spacecraft.

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By Scott J Grunewald — 3D Printing Industry

Why should you dress up as Star Lord this year for Halloween? Well for one, just like everyone else you loved the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, and for another he’s not a giant tree so the costume is going to be easier to make. If you have a 3D printer of course!

When I stumbled on product designer Kirby Downey’s 3D Printed Star Lord Element Guns on Reddit I was blown away by the detail. I was certain that they were made from existing 3D models or official files but after a quick email it turns out that was not the case. Amazingly the gun only took about an hour to design in Solidworks and another half hour to cut it up into pieces for 3D printing.

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by Brian Krassenstein — 3Dprint.com

While we have seen so many incredible life-changing applications for 3D printing, there are still many concerns which remain on the table when dealing with the possible negative implications of the technology. Whether you believe that the ease in which practically anyone will eventually be able to fabricate a firearm is a good or bad thing, just the thought of 3D printed firearms will send shivers down the spines of law enforcement agencies around the world. There has been an incredibly fast progression of the technology behind the methods of manufacturing guns with 3D printers in the last two years alone. Imagine what the next five to ten year will have in store for us.

It seems like it was only yesterday when Defense Distributed’s Cody Wilson 3D printed the very first known gun. Maybe that’s because it was almost yesterday. Believe it or not, it was only about 17 months ago when Wilson unveiled the 3D printed ‘Liberator’ gun, which he created on a Stratasys Dimension SST 3D printer. What many people don’t realize though, is that several different firearms as well as gun parts have been 3D printed in the short time since Wilson’s creation was revealed. I have provided below, a short history of the various 3D printed firearm models that we have seen to date.

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by Brian Krassenstein — 3Dprint.com

When it comes to 3D printing, new breakthroughs and new achievements are being realized almost on a daily basis. From 3D printable human tissue, to a 3D printed life-size castle, and now a 3D printed automobile, the technology never seizes to amaze.

This week, at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, Arizona-based automobile manufacturer Local Motors stole the show. Over the six day span of the IMTS, the company managed to 3D print, and assemble an entire automobile, called the ‘Strati’, live in front of spectators.

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by Brian Krassenstein — 3Dprint.com

The ability to 3D print objects of all shapes, and many sizes, has enabled individuals to take at least some control of their lives away from the large manufacturers and corporations out there. We can now become the makers of what we consumer. 3D printing has been touted as a way to cut back on waste. Additive manufacturing is clearly a much better fabrication method than that of subtractive manufacturing. These new processes are certainly saving materials for the large manufacturers out there who may be printing in metals, or other materials instead of using milling techniques. For those of us who use ordinary FDM-based desktop 3D printers to make trinkets and little doo-dads, let’s be honest, we are probably causing more plastic waste than we were prior to purchasing these machines. How many 3D prints have you had which have failed and you simply end up throwing away? Half of the stuff you print, you likely would never have purchased anyway, right?

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TJ McCue — Forbes

Depending on where you get your statistics, there are between 10 and 15 million amputees in the world. People who lose a limb go through a lot of pain obviously and the challenge to get a prosthetic limb that allows them to fully function again often doesn’t lessen the emotional pain aspect. It is a difficult process. Plus, it is not inexpensive. In this week’s news, there is a post about a young man in Ottawa who needs help to purchase a new prosthetic leg and he’s taken his need to crowdfunding on YouCaring.com.

Selvan Mohan is a PhD candidate at Carleton University. The university will help cover $10,000 of the $22,000 needed. His campaign is almost 50 percent funded. A group of people, friends included, got together to help him create the video which you can watch here. I found Mr. Mohan’s story compelling and worthy (check out the video), but what do you do if you cannot take your case to the powerful crowd-funding platforms?

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By Adrian Mars — ZDNet

Cheap 3D printers have had a bad rap. Seen as toys for enthusiasts, most work by squeezing melted plastic filament through a thin nozzle (Fused Filament Fabrication, or FFF), producing what is often dismissed as tat.

The reality is far more exciting: these devices are revolutionising the world of product development, are set to educate a generation and are home to some of the most innovative developments in the 3D printing world.

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Jason Dorrier — Singularity Hub

Consumer 3D printing has been creeping into mainstream awareness. Last year, office supply chain Staples announced they’d sell 3D Systems Cube 3D printers in stores, and UPS began offering 3D printing services at select locations.

Not to be outdone, massive online retailer Amazon dedicated an online storefront to 3D printers and supplies. And most recently, the firm added another storefront selling 3D printed products—bobbleheads, jewelry, smartphone cases.

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