MakerBot Industries

Chocolate Bunny Ear Mold by rweaving

Thingiverse citizen rweaving is now the proud winner of all the prizes and privileges that accompany a design challenge win!  There were four possible ways to win this challenge and rweaving has fulfilled three of them – first to design a plastic mold for chocolate bunny ears, print the plastic mold, and create chocolate bunny ears from such a mold!  (You can still win for “First to directly print bunny ears out of chocolate”))

I hereby confer upon rweaving all the powers and privileges that accompany such a design challenge victory – 27,000 internet points, mad blog nods and kudos, and three everlastings of fame on the internet.  Awesome work!

Chocolate Bunny Ear Mold by rweaving

This is a mold to make the most desirable part of a chocolate bunny. If you want to make an entire bunny make thingiverse.com/thing:17507 Enjoy...

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Army of Bunnies by zxqueb

As everyone knows, the top of a muffin is easily the most desirable and delicious part.  This is reason for muffin-top pans.  So, it occurs to me that a bunny’s ears are clearly the most delicious part of a chocolate bunny.  With the season of chocolate bunnies and eggs on the horizon, Thingiverse should really have some kind of chocolate mold for bunny ears.  The prizes consist of blog-nods, major kudos, 9000 internet points, and everlasting fame on the internets.  One prize to each of the following:

• First to design a plastic mold for chocolate bunny ears (look to Chris Palmer’s work for inspiration)
• First to print a plastic mold for chocolate bunny ears
• First to create chocolate bunny ears out of a printed plastic mold
• First to directly print bunny ears out of chocolate (use a frostruder or some other kind of chocolate extruder)

Here are a few items from Thingiverse to help you on your way:

3D Scan of Chocolate Bunny by CocoNut

Simplified 3D laser scan of a chocolate bunny that I made a while back. PS. I'd love to see pictures if anybody builds the bunny with a MakerBot!

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PolyChocolate | Icosahedron Alpha V.03 Five Part by chriskpalmer

The first of a series of molds to be made with a makerbot to make chocolate polyhedra. Modified to lay down so there are no overhangs during build. Makes an Icosahedron 3 cm from corner to corner.

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PolyChocolate | Icosahedron V.02 by chriskpalmer

Two part hollow. Try this first. Modified to build from back so there are no overhangs. edit: fixed by hoeken to make it printable.

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Army of Bunnies by zxqueb

This is a remake of the bunny trouble game, which had some hard time printing for me due to the angle of the ears. Also, I wanted the bunny to be a but more chunky in relation to the hex base.

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Turkey Cookie Cutter by wstrinz

First off, I want to give a shout-out to pomalin for their Bucket Of OctopSTA and second entry in the “moregangsta” challenge.  As the first-challenge-uploader and first-to-upload two separate entries, Pomalin receives 27,000 internet points AND bragging rights^3!  ¹

Second, how about another lightning design challenge?!  Can you design and upload a turkey design² before midnight on November 24, 2011?  9000 internet points, bragging rights, and mad blog-nods to:

• First to upload
• Most realistic
• Most awesome

Please be sure and tag your entries with “turkeyday2011” so everyone can find your contribution.  Also, don’t forget to add other appropriate other tags to your designs.

Turkey Cookie Cutter by wstrinz

I made this for thanksgiving biscuits. It's not really in season now, but you could print one out for next year

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1. That’s just “bragging rights” to the power of three, not to the power of “3!” [↩]
2. With an open license please! [↩]

hipsta by pomalin

Thingiverse citizen pomalin is the winner of 9000 internet points and bragging rights for being the first to upload a “moregangsta” challenge mashup! ¹ The one I was really hoping someone would upload first was a HipSTA – and thanks to pomalin  now there is one!

There are still more points and bragging rights to be had!

hipsta by pomalin

First try for an hipsta, don't know yet if it's printable without raft, because I run out of filament, but will try as soon as I have some. Hipsta-third uploaded, it's a three parts print, should print better, and be taller. edit : Bobble head hipsta uploaded edit 2 : add each three parts to fit a thing-o-matic

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1. Pomalin also gets another 9000 points for being the first to upload one of the specific models for the challenge. [↩]

Klein Bottle from simple primitives by MakeALot

First, I need to preface this by saying I can’t believe I overlooked coasterman’s low-polygon count Klein Bottle posted about a year ago.  Although created in Sketchup, this design is about as low-poly as you can get.  Now!  On to the imaginary awards show!

• First to upload that wasn’t me:  MakeAlot with a Klein Bottle from simple primatives for uploading his designs within about 3 hours of the challenge being posted.
• Fewest lines of code:  MakeAlot with a Klein Bottle from simple primatives with just 33 lines of code.
• Fewest facets:  Low poly (but still) klein bottle by aubenc with just 40 faces!
• Most resembling a traditional Klein Bottle:  MakeAlot with a Klein Bottle from simple primatives for his very curvaceous OpenSCAD designs.

Building on the work of these fine designers, can you design a Klein Bottle in OpenSCAD that uses fewer lines of code, has fewer faces, or is even more traditional looking?

Klein Bottle from simple primitives by MakeALot

A more traditional looking Klein bottle made from torus halves and tubes.

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Low poly (but still) klein bottle by aubenc

Quick, easy and dirty OpenSCAD to make a low poly klein bottle. Ehem... Quick? Not as much as I thought (1h-1h30) Easy? Easy would have been using cylinders $fn=3 instead of polyhedrons! Dirty? Yes! It looks like a parametric thing but it's NOT! Low Poly? Neither, OpenScad reports 40 faces but there's some misalignment that's adding 4 more than needed.

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OpenSCAD Klein Bottle by MakerBlock

Yes, I realize I declared this challenge and am entering it myself. ( makerbot.com/blog/2011/10/11/openscad-challenge-klein-bottle/ ) I didn't start designing this until well after I had already posted it. Since there are no real prizes, I figure you'll forgive me claiming the "first to upload", "fewest number of facets" and "most resembles either Kelsorj’s Klein Bottle ( thingiverse.com/thing:5217 ) or RotoScan’s Klein Bottle ( thingiverse.com/thing:11976 )" The bottle could be rendered with even fewer facets by just reducing the number of faces on the cylinders in the OpenSCAD file. Also, I hereby claim 9000 internet points! Mu-ah-ha-ha! Also, a shout-out to CloudSCAD is in order for letting me draft this up from my browser.

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Klein Bottle by kelsorj

I recently posted about a Klein Bottle shared on Thingiverse by RotoScan. ¹  This got me thinking – are there any OpenSCAD versions?  After poking around Thingiverse a bit, I haven’t found any.

The challenge for you is as follows:

• Design a Klein Bottle using OpenSCAD.
• Upload an STL and OpenSCAD design file to Thingiverse.
• Tag your design with “openscad,klein bottle,openscad klein bottle”²

Do you want to join the ranks of the OpenSCAD design challenge winners?  Do you want to bask in the glory that is everlasting internet fame?!  Internet points, the sum of 9,000, shall be awarded to:

• The first to upload an OpenSCAD Klein Bottle
• The person who uploads an OpenSCAD Klein Bottle with the fewest lines of code
• The person who uploads an OpenSCAD Klein Bottle with the fewest number of facets
• The person who uploads an OpenSCAD Klein Bottle that most resembles either Kelsorj’s Klein Bottle or RotoScan’s Klein Bottle

As always, the use of OpenSCAD libraries is allowed and encouraged.  If you’ve got a rules question, just post it here! ³⁴⁵

1. For the unfamiliar, a Klein Bottle is an object that essentially has just one continuous surface. [↩]
2. That will actually create three tags.  Mostly so that it will be easy for people to find your work in the future! [↩]
3. No purchase necessary! [↩]
4. Void where prohibited! [↩]
5. Offers not outside of the continental United States or two-dimensional space [↩]

Showcasing the endless possibilities of the Thing-O-Matic, the New Museum MakerBot Challenge is open to the entire creative community. Embodying the New Museum’s mission of “New Art, New Ideas,” this interactive and experiential Challenge aims to push the concept of the “derivative,” by improving on or personalizing established design conventions. From the banal toothbrush to complex bicycle gears, how can 3D printing help to develop the world around us?

Prizes

The winning design will be printed on a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic on display in the New Museum’s window. The winning designer will receive a New Museum Deluxe membership ($400 value), a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic® Kit ($1299 value), and a special invitation to the New Museum MakerBot Challenge launch party.

Five runner-ups will have their designs printed by MakerBot and sent to them.

How to enter

- If you are not already registered, sign up for an account at Thingiverse.com

- Upload your 3D files, and tag them with NewMuseumChallenge by October 31st, 2011

- In the description, write a statement about your design. What is the design a derivative of? How does it improve on or challenge existing design conventions?

Rules

- Designs may be one single part or multiple parts that are each smaller than 4 x 4 x 4 ¾ in (100 x 100 x 120 mm) and printable on a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic.

- Different parts can be made in white, yellow, orange, red, UV reactive red, UV reactive nuclear green, camping green, blue, black, and glow-in-the-dark.

- The design may require multiple builds, however no more than three builds are allowed.

- Designs may include other parts like screws or LEDs but keep in mind the jurors will be looking for designs that utilize 3D printing’s ability to empower everyone to download, print and use the design.

Who’s in the jury?

A team from both MakerBot and the New Museum will select the final designs. The jurors are looking for designs that utilize the unique ability of 3D printing to personalize and improve on the world around us.

And last, here are a few existing Thingiverse items that we think belong in this challenge:

Earbud holder by arkatipe

I made this specifically because my brother wanted something that wasn't easily molded with an injection molding machine. The undercuts on the bollards and the jack port should make it impossible, if not unrealistically expensive to make that way. The picture is pretty self explanatory. Put earbuds in, wind and then push the jack end into the hole provided. EDIT: This only seems to work with the new iPod / iphone earbuds with the volume control buttons on the cord. Thanks to all those who tried with other earbuds.

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Soap Dish by TrevorLaw

The instructions for this soap dish are embedded into the part itself.

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Reddit Upvote/Downvote Button Enclosure by TheNewHobbyist

These are the files for the Reddit Upvote/Downvote Button Enclosure I built to fit a project I was working on. This is just barely big enough to fit a Teensy development board and a couple of buttons. I've included the code and better instructions on the project itself on my blog here: thenewhobbyist.com/2011/07/am-i-doing-this-right-reddit-upvote-button/ I've also included in the images for this thing my wiring diagram if you'd like to take a shot at making your own. Being able to print a project box to my exact dimensions was as expected, awesome. Here's a video of it in action:youtube.com/watch?v=yNkKHRwk3MA&feature=player_embedded New Museum Challenge Notes: The ability to 3D model and print the enclosure and buttons for this project allowed me to make design decisions that would not have been possible using conventional methods. The arrow buttons for example, are not available through any distributor I could find commercially. Additionally the enclosure itself is the exact size (down to the millimeter) to fit my electronics. I believe the conventional idea of using off the shelf parts and fitting your designs into them is coming to an end. The ability to translate my vision for this project to a physical object would not be possible without access to a 3D printer.

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Bar Hairclip - NyanCat and Slim by Bioluminescence

Iterating on the previous 'plain' hairclip (see comparison image), this new SLIM version disposes of the need of a 3rd spring, and trims down the size significantly without reducing strength or function. I personally find this version to be even more secure to wear, but feedback on how it fits on other people's hair would be very welcome indeed! This particular rainbow version, I printed using a welded-together string of several colo(u)rs of ABS - coming to a total of 79cm (31") of 3mm filament. The Nyan-Cat add-on, can be printed separately, painted, and glued on with hot glue. Nyancat YouTube video: youtube.com/watch?v=QH2-TGUlwu4

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MEG-i-PHONE!!!!!!! by zgbot

i modified the original by making the cone snap in and out as well as chopping off the hard corners. print it with exterior support this is still a work in progress, it works but i can make it better the large cone i printed failed half way through so i glued it to another cone i had to make a super mega phone cone. the straight one with the small cone is pretty damn loud i drilled out the hole so its not the correct size for slip in fit. this is a video of the sound differenceflickr.com/photos/zgbot/5516445973/

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Flying Maple Seed Model by qharley

This Maple Seed Helicopter design race was one of the swiftest little challenges we’ve run.  There were four entries tagged with “mapleseed”, not counting my own contribution.  Each submission added an interesting twist, but my favorite variation was the hook added to the heavy end of the seed by Stefan so that it could be shot into the air via a rubber band or slingshot.  Of the entries,qharley’s contribution went through a second iteration, was actually printed, and he posted his results.

At the time I’m writing this, Stefan’s entry received 8 likes + 0 comments¹ and qharley’s had 3 likes + 5 comments.  qharley might have a slight edge due to the secondary iteration of the same essential design garnering an additional 2 likes, but I feel quite comfortable calling this one a well-deserved tie.

Thanks again to @mostley for the idea for this challenge and all of the participants.  If anyone has an idea for a cool design challenge or design race, please leave a comment or e-mail me through Thingiverse or this website.

Maple Seed Experiment by Stefan

This is a maple seed concept I worked on last fall. I couldn't quite get my machine to print one perfectly. The super thin blade was problematic for my cupcake and settings. The hook is for a rubber band launch. I was hoping for a slingshot style launch into the blue with a slow flutter back to earth. It launches nicely, but only spins and falls slowly about half the time. It needs to be optimized for transition to spinning descent.

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Flying Mapleseed model by qharley

So, the other thing was a dart. Very purposeful and straight downwards movement on that thing. This one flies well, but I'll see if I can work out the CAD files for it. It was quite literally derived from the Free falling design. I changed it by hand until it worked. I have no idea if something like this is even printable with no support, and even so - the support may be stronger than the fragile wing. I will give the tip a flat foot to stand on. Printing vertically may be the only way forward.

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1. Not counting my own, here [↩]

The humble maple seed

A few days ago @mostley aka Sven H. suggested another design challenge – designing a “maple leaf copter.” ¹  For those of you who haven’t seen one, a maple seed has a long thin wing-like structure.  As the seeds fall, they spin rapidly.  The better the particular seed is balanced, the slower it falls and the faster it spins.  While there are some artificial models, such as this origami version, a 3D printable version would make an incredible quick-printing demonstration piece and all-around super cool toy.  Some of these links, especially this discussion forum with pictures and diagrams or perhaps a review of the origami model, might help you design your own.

So, to everyone who reads this blog…  I hereby challenge you to a “maple seed copter” design race.  All you have to do is design and upload a printable maple seed-inspired copter to Thingiverse and tag it with “mapleseed.”  There’s no prize money on this one, just bragging rights, so it’s open to everyone, enter as many times as you like, and make something awesome!  The winning design, determined by the number of likes + comments, will be announced Monday morning on the blog.  Good luck!

(Although, if are motivated by money, the $50.00 prize for the disc shooter challenge is still up for grabs!)

1. Photo courtesy of Armand Agasi [↩]

Yes.

This doesn’t need much explanation, and I think we all know where this is going. Thaed has started the process by taking advantage of the Google 3D Warehouse. (as a side note, check out the Google Sketchup Warehouse – some very cool and possibly challenging items to print!)

So, what happens when you combine one aggravated avian¹, Batist‘s slingshot, and a challenge to the Thingiverse community to upload a few other fowl balls? Perhaps just enough material for some kind of video…

Aggravated Avian. by Thaed

Taken from Google Sketchup Warehouse, I see this more as a tribute than anything else.

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Slingshot by Batist

I tried to print this one, but I scaled it to big... and it was warping a lot. Perhaps printing a mini version? UPDATE: Today I printed a smaller one, and it works like a charm! When I was a child I made slingshots out of wood... Living in a city nowadays (Ghent, Belgium) I can relive my youth by printing them. I hope one day my children will use tools like this to explore their creativity :-).

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1. From 3D Warehouse [↩]