MakerBot Industries

Roger Yu explains the explosive growth of 3D printing among entrepreneurs and hobbyists in USA TODAY Tech.

Bonus: This awesome video interview with Bre Pettis from inside the Botcave!

You might remember a few weeks ago when we announced that the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, had acquired a Thing-O-Matic. Well, registration is now open for a FREE Cooper-Hewitt workshop for teens, focused on prototyping with a MakerBot. Starting on April 30th, the workshop will consist of five hands-on sessions led by MakerBot’s Matt and Mike: four at Tekserve, with a fifth hosted by MakerBot in the BotCave and BotFarm for final prints and critiques.

For more information, take a look at the Cooper-Hewitt posting for the series here. Very limited slots, so register quickly!

Workshop participants will learn to:

• Design and print prototypes in 3-D.
• Use 3-D apps like Rhino, Blender and brand-new Tinkercad. (We are going to tune our choices a bit based on experience of teens participating.)
• Assemble, modify, and troubleshoot Makerbot hardware and software.

Mike and I are looking forward to team teaching this series. Also, we will be sharing our curriculum, tips & tricks, and student models-in-progress with the MakerBot community here and at Thingiverse for those of you who don’t live in NYC and will miss out on this opportunity.

Thing9 by Zomboe

I find myself printing Zomboe‘s Snake model essentially every time I calibrate a bot or want to offer a quick wow to someone who hasn’t experienced 3D printing before. That model is truly one of the most popular hits of the T-verse as printed in the BotCave.¹

Seeing his outstanding Thing9 yesterday it occurred to me that I haven’t been singing my praises for his ThingSeries, which he has been adding to for nearly a year now. Now, here is a modeler unafraid to let his imagination run wild and to keep pushing the limits of what he can model and print on a regular basis. I find myself challenged and inspired by this series. And while he didn’t design these for the Thing-O-Matic, the latest developments with the Stepstruder MK6 on a Thing-O-Matic allow for more satisfying scaled-to-build-envelope prints of Zomboe’s pieces than were previously possible.

Somewhere between tech experiments, contagious nightmares, and cute and cuddly Tim Burton-esque figurines, Thing1 through Thing9 are worth examining again in the order of release to get a sense of the progress of his experimentation. I can’t get enough of Thing9 — it feels to me like a set-piece for a stopmotion HP Lovecraft children’s movie.² These models are also great tests for tweaking Skeinforge : Reversal settings. Or try turning Reversal entirely off for a few of these to create models that actually benefit aesthetically from stringing.

Thing1 by Zomboe

I was playing around in Alibre Design and came up with this thing. I think it might be an eyeball monster. I've included small and big version STLs as well. I tried to color part of the eye using a blue sharpie but it bled horizontally because of the layers. So I ended up just coloring the whole thing :). Maybe paint would work better? Dimensions: Small   37.5mm x 34.0mm x 47.1mm tall Regular 50.0mm x 45.3mm x 62.8mm tall Large   75.0mm x 67.0mm x 94.1mm tall

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Thing2 by Zomboe

Here's another thing, my first attempt at a tower. The columns on the second level are a little too close together but it still comes out pretty nice. It is just under 130mm tall so it should be possible on a MakerBot. A large size is also included, in case you're feeling ambitious! Dimensions: Regular 60.0mm x 52.7mm x 129.7mm tall Large   84.0mm x 73.7mm x 181.5mm tall

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Thing3 by Zomboe

This thing can probably be used as a toothbrush holder. The four holes might be a little small for some toothbrushes, but you could use the larger center hole. Or try the included large version. It also makes a decent base for Thing2. If you flip it upside-down, it can be a cool looking base/support for something, like a glass of water. Dimensions: Small   60.0mm diameter x 79.3mm tall Regular 75.0mm diameter x 99.1mm tall Large   90.0mm diameter x 119.0mm tall

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Thing4 by Zomboe

This is possibly some sort of vase or jug. The five things on the outside kinda remind me of tentacles. To increase your chances of printing this watertight, you could try increasing the extrusion rate (RPM). At best I've only been able to print this "almost watertight"; it usually leaks around the bottom. Dimensions: 89.6mm diameter x 100.8mm tall

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Thing5 by Zomboe

This thing is the result of semi-randomly placing 3mm beams and posts. It could almost be some kind of weird city. There are a couple of unsupported spots, but you could just pretend the resulting strings are power lines or something. Dimensions: 60.1mm x 60.1mm x 40.3mm

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Thing6 by Zomboe

This thing looks like it could be a distant relative of Thing1. It's not entirely clear how it would walk around; maybe it prefers standing still. Thing6-Short is a shorter version (it is just Thing6 with the bottom 20 legs [toes?] cut off, but don't tell it). I haven't printed it yet but it looks sorta interesting. Dimensions: Thing6          72.8mm x 70.7mm x 113.1mm tall Thing6-Short  66.8mm x 60.0mm x 85.1mm tall

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Thing7 by Zomboe

Reminiscent of a lotus flower or maybe an artichoke. Due to its delicate nature, it is purely decorative. More than anything else I've printed, this one was really mesmerizing to watch print. When printing, try to eliminate oozing and strings through software as much as possible. Be careful when cleaning up any remaining strings. The second set of petals is especially fragile. Dimensions: Thing7:      87.5mm x 87.5mm x 63.5mm tall Thing7Small: 70mm x 70mm x 50.8mm tall

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Thing8 by Zomboe

This one has a really nice star shaped base. And a lot of strings! The droopier one reminds me of a spider web. If not for the hole in the base it could be a decent pen/pencil holder. This Thing was designed with the filament's tendency to droop in mind. Those thin rings in the model should print as single sagging filaments. I designed and printed with 0.3mm layers, but I imagine a little bit larger or smaller should work. The first print I did was white PLA at 205 degrees. It drooped a little more than I wanted, so I printed it again at 190 degrees. But that one didn't droop at all! I think both look nice. I will have to try again at around 200 degrees though. I am not sure how much it will droop in ABS, give it a try. Make sure to turn support off! Dimensions: 77.5mm x 73.8mm x 81.6mm tall

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Thing9 by Zomboe

Here is a tower-like thing. That extra support thing kind of looks like a leg. In fact, it almost looks like the whole thing is crawling through that hole in the wall. This one gave me a lot of trouble printing, mostly in the transition area from the "trunk" to the "top". Even though the overhang is only 45 degrees, I have been getting a lot of drooping printing in PLA. I think I just need more airflow to cool it. I would expect fewer problems in ABS. In addition to Thing9, I made Thing9Top to experiment with printing that feature. It doesn't look bad on its own, so I'm including it below. Dimensions: Thing9: 59.2mm x 57.6mm x 102.6mm tall Thing9Top: 26.0mm x 26.0mm x 57.1mm tall I did learn two interesting things about my printer (RapMan 3.0) from multiple attempts at printing this, both pretty obvious in hindsight. Printing Thing9Top gave different results, in the same areas, than Thing9, just due to the height above the print plate. When the print head is low, the air from the fan blows down and across the plate, cooling the print well. When the head is high, like near the top of Thing9, the RapMan's fan produces much less horizontal airflow. Also, since the fan is positioned on one side of the extruder, cooling is much greater on that side. The "spokes" on that side turned out perfect, while those on the opposite side drooped. I saw the same effect previously while printing a dodecahedron, but didn't figure out why. These effects don't matter if you don't use a fan while printing, but I thought it would be worth mentioning them for the few that do. Also, it is easier to blame my printer than the 3D model ;).

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Snake by Zomboe

(Alternate name: Articulated Python) When I was little, I had a wooden snake just like this (but better). The cutouts allow it to bend. So I thought I'd print out something similar to see if it would work. In PLA it is kinda stiff. A more flexible material would probably be better. I made the snake short so that it would fit on a Makerbot, so it came out kinda chubby. It could actually be a little bit longer and still fit. At some point I will design and post a longer version for RapMan/Mendel sized beds. Or maybe a modular snake! Oh and the STL has some weird stuff on the edges of the nose, but it doesn't seem to hurt anything when printing. Dimensions: 80.2mm x 80.2mm x 11.3mm tall (It is printed diagonally, the snake itself is around 110mm long) EDIT (Feb 11, 2011) I've included an alternate file, SnakeThin.STL. This version has a thinner core that should be only a single layer thick. It ends up being much more flexible. Skeinforge kept giving me trouble with the core so I scaled up the model slightly. SnakeThin dimensions: 84mm x 84mm x 11.7mm tall

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1. At CES and MakerFaire this past year, I watched individuals sit for the entire ~15min print just so she or he could be the one to grab it as it rolled off the front of the ABP. [↩]
2. And makes me want to make such a movie! [↩]

Thanks to all the MakerBot Operators who came to the Botcave last night for out MakerBot User Group New York meeting. We had a blast meeting all of you, hearing your MakerBot experiences and sharing pizza and LEDs!

MakerBot users explored the Botfarm and were 3D scanned and printed with Kyle McDonald’s 3D Photo Booth.  Highlights also included a MakerBot user show and tell, and a demonstration by our first artist-in-residence, Marius Watz.

Stay tuned to the blog for future MakerBot User Group events!

MakerBot Industries will host a MakerBot User Group New York meeting at their Brooklyn based headquarters, the Botcave, 87 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11217. You are invited to the Botcave to meet other MakerBot users, exchange ideas and print awesome 3D objects. Come check out the Botfarm and bring your favorite objects for a MakerBot user show and tell. MakerBot co-founder Bre Pettis will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate the MakerBot Thing-O-Matic 3D printer.

See what our first artist in residence, Marius Watz created with 2 months of unlimited access to the Botfarm! Marius Watz creates complex abstract forms and structures through generative software processes.

There will Pizza and LEDs!

MakerBot User Group New York

Wednesday, April 6, 2011
7 PM – 9 PM
87 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11217

Subway: B, D, N, R, Q, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Atlantic Avenue – Pacific Street; G to Fulton Street

Thanks to all the MakerBot User Groups who have completed Challenge #1!

User Groups as far away as New Zealand have met the challenge by meeting up and bringing their MakerBots together.  We enjoyed seeing your bots, faces and secret laboratories. Check your mailboxes because your MakerBot Care Package will be arriving soon! The fun doesn’t end here; MakerBot Industries will host a MakerBot User Group New York meeting at their Brooklyn based headquarters, the Botcave. You’re invited to visit the Botcave to exchange ideas, check out the Botfarm and print some awesome things. Bring your best objects for a MakerBot User show and tell and, of course, a group photo!

MakerBot User Group New York
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
7 PM – 9 PM
87 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11217

Subway: N, R to Atlantic Avenue – Pacific Street; G to Fulton Street

Bre and Thingiverse in the Botcave, featured in The Daily video

Check out this great video about Citizen Engineers and Garage Tinkerers that features  MakerBot Friendlies Becky Stern and Limor Fried. Also watch for Bre Pettis and lots of shots of the BotCave, testing rigs, Thingiverse, and Luis’s 3D printed Unicorn dropping into hand from the belt of a Thing-O-Matic into a welcoming hand.

Spiral Pencil/Candle/Toothbrush Cup by MakeALot, printed by Charles Pax

If you have been watching the Thingiverse Newest Things list as actively as I have,¹ then you will have noticed Mark Durbin (“MakeALot“) releasing a series of gorgeous parametric models developed using OpenSCAD.²

We have been printing a few of these objects in the BotCave and I wanted to share both that image and a bunch of links to interesting things Mark has released so far.

Mark, keep going — your work is gorgeous and that you continue to release your OpenSCAD files provides yet another masterclass for other designers learning that software right now.

Parametric Knot by MakeALot

An adjustable printable knot on a plinth The first image is a 2,5 knot the other individual one is a 2,3 knot, the other images show some of the knots you can achieve.

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Spiral Pencil/Candle/Toothbrush Cup by MakeALot

Desktop pencil cup made from interwoven spirals or Candle holder made from interwoven spirals or Toothbrush holder made from interwoven spirals or ... made from interwoven spiralsUpdate: I had it printed in ceramic to see what the quality would be like, I'm happy with the results - in ABS and ceramic.

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Twisted bracelet by MakeALot

Twisted bracelet I finally managed to generate the STL for this, it took 15.5 days and needed an Ubuntu installation on a machine with 4G ram and the latest CGAL libs.

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1. and check out the Thingiverse Blog coverage of this work [↩]
2. Yet another incentive to follow MakerBlock’s incredibly helpful tutorials on OpenSCAD and other resources gathered here. [↩]

Check out Michael Fonda’s Blog post about his experience at the BotCave: “Democratization of Manufacturing”

As it sometimes happens, I am working at my desk, and one of my coworkers taps me on the shoulder, and I hear a now familiar phrase- “Isaac, we have guests!” This is my cue for me to give a walk through tour, and run down as many salient points about MakerBot as I can pull from memory. Last Friday I walked up to the front of the BotCave and was greeted by Michael and Tyler Fonda, who were on a quest to learn about the 3D Printing sphere, and visiting Brooklyn.

They had both recently read The Economist’s cover story on 3D Printing, and wanted to gauge for themselves the possible impact 3D Printing will have on manufacturing. Michael works for Avison Young, a real estate company that often caters to manufacturing industries. His son Tyler, is a Director of Strategy for Gotham and was doing his strategic due diligence on 3D printing.

Michael wrote a post about his experience at the BotCave, and it’s an interesting perspective on their experience, and his view of the potential impacts of 3D Printing.

“Suddenly, the future came into focus as I visualized how my sister-in-law and her husband would utilize 3D printing in their sunglass business Centerline Optics. They would no longer have to source product from China. No more ordering months in advance of their selling season. No supply chain risk of political upheaval in China, of a lost TEU on the Pacific Ocean, of a longshoremen’s strike at the Port of Long Beach, a diesel fuel spike that drives up the cost of transporting the product across the North American continent. All design, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and sales would happen out of the Centerline “headquarters” in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Centerline’s customers are all within four hours of the “headquarters”. Talk about efficient allocation of resources.”

Check out Michael’s original post here.

This position is in the heart of the action of a growing start-up and demands a person who wants to work hard, has patience, technical knowledge and writing skills. You’ve got fires to put out, questions to answer, orders to process, and infrastructure to implement, all the time.

You’ll be responsible for eloquently representing a growing DIY 3D printer and technology company to it’s customers directly. Via email, on the phone, or in person. You’ll help customers solve their technical challenges, sooth their nerves, and reinforce our brand. It’s a challenge, but it’s a dynamic, fun one. The person best suited for this position is an adaptable problem solver with a mind for mechanical, electronic, and software troubleshooting challenges. You’ll put your strong interpersonal and written skills to the test.

We need you to answer emails, but you should also be proficient and comfortable with Mac, PC, and Linux operating systems, design/editing softwares, cameras, and the creative process. The office tools we use most of the time should be a no-brainer. Current MakerBot Operators preferred, but not a requirement. If you’ve had experience with DIY technology, that could be very helpful. You will be processing orders, so an interest in participating directly in a multifaceted online store is a final requirement. Full time, on-site only.

Desire to offer revolutionary technologies and change the world a plus.
Help democratize manufacturing and establish personal manufacturing as a household phrase.

Submit your cover letter, resume, and linkedin profile (preferred)

Brooklyn. Easy access to subway.

Reply to: http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/tch/2239730862.html

No phone calls, please.