Awesome 3d Printing

If you use apps like Strava or Komoot to track your hikes or bike rides, here’s a neat idea for creating physical mementos of your journeys. EmGi created a Blender add-on that allows you to import .GPX route files and combine them with topographical data to generate 3D models and output them on a 3D printer. Grab the plug-in on Makerworld or Printables.

Do you do a lot of 3D printing? Buying filament all the time can add up – never mind that it can be wasteful. The Loop is an upcoming desktop gizmo that can take bits of PLA, ABS, or PET-G printer waste and shred, heat, and extrude them into fresh filament. Its maker is accepting early reservations for the device with $100 down and a sub-$1500 launch price.

Timeplast makes 3D printer filaments that dissolve over time when exposed to water or fire. They offer variants for printing water-soluble supports, making candles, and even soap. Their unique materials can also be used to produce biodegradable packaging and other objects that can dissolve quickly and cleanly in water without leaving behind microplastics.

Meltio makes machines that use wire-laser technology to 3D print objects out of various types of metal. The additive manufacturing process uses a high-power blue laser to weld thin metal beads to form shapes. This time-lapse video footage gives us a glimpse into its capabilities, starting with a spherical tank that we hoped would be a Death Star.

Driving a car on wheels made from plastic seems like a bad idea. To confirm this, the guys from the Waterjet Channel used a large Prusa XL 3D printer to make a set of four PETG wheels wrapped in a layer of rubber-like TPU. Will they survive a drive on their 1972 Ford Pinto, or will metal wheels reign supreme?

Nike joins On and adidas in using 3D printing technology to manufacture shoes that combine sustainability with style. Unveiled at ComplexCon 2024, the Air Max 1000 combines the silhouette and airbag of the Air Max with a lightweight 3D printing material. It looks like a very early proof-of-concept, but it does seem mad comfortable.

The T-1000 in Terminator 2 represented a breakthrough in visual effects. Robert Patrick’s liquid metal body was a thing to behold in 1991. While the effect was created with CGI, Wren from Corridor Crew wanted to replicate it using practical effects. The trick was to make a 3D model to mold a gallium bust, melting it, then playing the footage in reverse.

Another cleverly designed desk accessory from The Workspace Hero. This pair of speaker stands each has a hidden drawer, perfect for storing keys, cables, thumb drives, and other small essentials. The outer shell can be removed entirely to reveal its contents, while a tactile bump gives a satisfying confirmation that the stand is fully closed.

This fascinating 3D printing technology creates objects from silicone as they float in a water-based gel. Rapid Liquid Print’s uses a moving needle to inject the silicone into the gel and allows for the creation of objects without supports. This time-lapse video shows it outputting a unique handbag for Coperni’s collection being shown at Disneyland Paris.

If you’ve used a 3D printer, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Benchy. This little boat model is used to benchmark print quality. While most people print Benchy as a palm-size model, Emily the Engineer thought it would be fun to make one that she could fit inside. However, the design required some modifications to keep the boat afloat.

Pianos are some of the most complicated musical instruments, so the idea that you can build one from 3D-printed parts is pretty nifty. Mechanistic shows us how to assemble one of his working mini pianos. STL files are available for 13-key and 5-key models for a small fee, along with a free sample of a single-key model. We want an 88-key version.

The world and characters of Elden Ring are much more pleasant to look at than to encounter. So let’s take a break from getting our butts kicked and appreciate their beauty from afar with Noggi’s amazingly detailed set featuring characters from the Lands Between as the pieces. If you have access to a 3D printer, you can buy the 3D files of the set.

Kiara’s Workshop made this awesome Pokéball that doesn’t just look like its video game counterpart both outside and inside. It also mimics the failed catch animation where the ball beeps and cracks open before closing itself back up. Its 3D-printed shell probably can’t take a beating, but you shouldn’t throw anything at wild animals anyway.

Workspace Hero’s DeskRail is a 3D-printed modular desk organizer system. The base rail comes with a strip of 3M adhesive. With the rail installed, you can now mount its various attachments, such as a phone holder and a cable holder, and slide them along the length of the rail. You can also purchase just the 3D files for the rail and its attachments.

Engineer James Bruton adds to his collection of unusual vehicles with the creation of a single-seater that rolls on four 3D-printed mechanum wheels. The not-quite-a-bike uses motors and an inertial measurement unit to remain balanced. By changing the speed and direction of each wheel, it can move forward, backward, sideways, and spin around on a dime. Its agility is quite impressive.

It’s easy to find an original Apple Macintosh on eBay, but it’ll look used. Kevin Noki built a new replica of Apple’s 1984 computer from scratch. He started by measuring the case from a Macintosh Plus, modeling its parts, then outputting them on a 3D printer. Inside, it runs a Linux thin client running a modified version of the Mini vMac emulator.