Finally! Verified For 3D Printing

MakerBot's 3D model service, Thingiverse, has announced a very important new feature: Verified Prints. It's a certification program that attempts to indicate which 3D models on Thingiverse actually have a chance of being successfully 3D printed. 

 

We've been waiting for something like this for a long time, as one of the major complaints with Thingiverse's open repository concept is that anything could be uploaded, including 3D models that were patently unprintable. We've even seen models appear where the poster would say something like this: 

 

I don't have a 3D printer, but maybe someone could print this? It would be SOOO COOOOL! 

 

There were far too many examples of such unprintable models, likely leading to frustration among Thingiverse users, who were forced to manually check the structure, slicability, overhangness and other characteristics of prospective prints before committing to a multi-hour 3D print. 

 

The new service mostly solves this by performing such checking in advance and applying a certification stamp on models passing the tests. The certified models also provide an X3G file for download, which is pre-sliced GCODE, ready for printing on your MakerBot. 

 

We're not so sure about the X3G option, as there are often reasons to perform the slicing yourself, such as selecting resolution, print bed position, etc. Nevertheless, Thingiverse still provides the STL files for the same model, so you can slice yourself - for any 3D printer, not just MakerBot's line - with confidence that the print will likely succeed. 

 

Via Thingiverse

The Thing Tracker Proposal

How many things are there? It seems like a silly question, but hear us out. There are many possible things. An infinite number of them, in fact. With the availability of 3D printers and 3D modeling software, it is now possible to create, literally, an infinite number of things. 

 

This is the problem facing 3D model repositories today. The larger repositories, notably Thingiverse, are becoming so large that two things happen: 

 

• Your model must be present on Thingiverse to be noticed
• It likely won't be noticed on Thingiverse because there are so many 3D models besides yours

 

This is not a good situation. Now there's a proposal to assist overcoming the issue from the Thing Tracker Network. 

 

The proposal involves having each 3D model repository (or individuals, for that matter) prepare a list of its items in a specific format. Then a "Tracker" presents this list and connects with other Trackers to form a network containing a larger list of 3D models - and where to find them. 

 

The benefit is that 3D models wouldn't have to post their items in undesirable places simply for exposure. It would also eliminate duplication, which is rampant among repositories today, and reduce the effort required to keep them up to date. 

 

Will this proposal succeed? We think it could only work if Thingiverse participated, because they hold the majority of 3D models. But we suspect they won't, because it will jeopardize their leadership position. Instead, it's likely that other repositories will band together around this type of network to try to catch up to Thingiverse. 

 

Via Thing Tracker Network

How Many Things at Thingiverse? Lots!

3D printing is taking off, if one believes the signals seen this year. Another milestone was reached last week by popular repository Thingiverse, who declared they now have over 100,000 3D models available. 

 

Thingiverse also released several interesting statistics. Apparently the number of models rose by 20,000 in just the past month. At this rate of increase the site will hit a million 3D models in a year or two. They also say they've had over 21M downloads. 

 

When launching a 3D model repository the first challenge is simply to attract enough 3D models to make the site popular. Thingiverse now must move on to the second challenge: searching and categorization. When there are so many models, how will visitors find what they want? 

 

Via Thingiverse

Design of the Week: Filament Clip

This week's selection is a purely functional design: the Filament Clip by Thingiverse maker Elk. 

 

There's not much to say about its structure, because the value of this design is in its function. It simply holds the end of a filament against the spool, as you can see in this image by Thingiverse maker rychuwit. 

 

Why is this so important? This solves a truly evil problem faced by anyone using plastic filament-based 3D printing: tangles. Often makers lazily store their unused filament spools with loose ends. These ends sometimes slip under another strand, especially when the filament has a weak curl strength and unreels if not secured. 

 

These tangles cause problems during prints because they'll eventually result in a knot and your filament feed will seize. This is particularly annoying if it happens deep into a multi-hour 3D print. 

 

But that won't ever happen again, because you'll be using the Filament Clip!

 

Via Thingiverse

Dongiverse

Oh dear. This was bound to happen. There's now a parody of 3D model repository Thingiverse called, "Dongiverse". As you might expect, it appears to hold actual 3D models related to its eponymous title. 

 

The site seems to be a layer on top of Thingiverse, as it simply links visitors to selected items in the Thingiverse library. Items matching their theme. Items you can actually download and 3D print. 

 

Is this a good thing? We're not sure, but it is mildly amusing. 

 

What other parodies might emerge on top of Thingiverse? 

 

Via Dongiverse

Testing the Customizer

The magic of 3D printing is that you can make something totally unique that has never existed before; something that's just right for you. 

 

But how do you get the models to do this? 

 

One way is to make use of Thingiverse's new Customizer feature. It's an add-on to certain models that permits various forms of real-time modification. 

 

We tested the feature by checking out woale's "Customizable Filament Spool". It presents you with a default view of the object, in this case two halves of a spool, and a series of numerical options on the left. As you punch in different values for options such as "Spool Width" or "Filament Diameter", the view of the object immediately changes appropriately. When you've finished the design simply strike "Create STL" and you've got your 3D model. 

 

Each object will have a different set of possible options that depend on its nature. Also, not all Thingiverse objects are "customizable", as they must be designed for "customization". You'll know which are customizable by the presence of the "Open In Customizer" button immediately under the object rendering. You can find them by searching for tag:customizer.

 

We think this is a massive addition to Thingiverse, as it will engage the creativity of the public to create all manner of customizable models. 

 

Models with no end. 

 

Via Thingiverse

Design of the Week: Voronoi Yoda

This week's selection goes to 3D artist Dzingof, whose 3D Voronoi Yoda caught our eye. 

 

It's a Yoda, definitely, but with a twist: it's composed of an incredibly complex interior shape. 

 

The secret to this design is its voronoi, which is the method of generating the fill. According to Wikipedia, voronoi is: 

 

a way of dividing space into a number of regions. A set of points (called seeds, sites, or generators) is specified beforehand and for each seed there will be a corresponding region consisting of all points closer to that seed than to any other. The regions are called Voronoi cells.

 

That's what Dzingof did in this design, except that he "filled" a regular Yoda shape with the voronoi pattern, resulting in this amazing work. Not only does it look good, but it also doubles as a pencil holder. 

 

Here's the best part: you can download this model at no charge from Thingiverse. It should be printable on most personal 3D printers. 

 

Via Thingiverse

Thingiverse Breaks Out In Apps!

It started as a simple free repository for patterns for personal making and then exploded into an overwhelming cacophony of 3D models. Thingiverse provides free content for 3D printing not only on MakerBot's own line of 3D printers, but for any printer.  

 

That changes significantly as MakerBot CEO announced Thingiverse now includes programming APIs that will permit the creation of apps to automatically generate custom 3D models from Thingiverse content. Here's what they say: 

 

• Create apps to browse, mash up, and contribute to our library of more than 30,000 Things.
• Develop the next great tool for our community of designers, engineers, makers, and all-around geniuses.
• Use our JavaScript API to create apps embedded within Thingiverse.

  

MakerBot is following the lead of several others in the 3DP space who have been pioneering generative custom models. From what we hear, this approach is far more popular with consumers than simply downloading simple static models. 

 

Nevertheless, this capability suggests that Thingiverse will soon bloom with all manner of crazy model generators, capable of automatically cooking up who knows what. 

 

It should be a lot of fun!

 

Via Thingiverse