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Kickstart Your Innovations With 3D Prototypes

The advent of crowd funding has opened up an entirely new model for bringing innovative products to market. And with the added advantage of 3D printing, crowdsourcing products as a path to the consumer market has become more effective, efficient and successful.

A Kickstarter Requirement

While there are multiple options and websites that function as crowd-sourcing platforms (i.e. asking customers to pre-pay or fund a new-to-market item before it goes into production to cover the upfront investment costs), Kickstarter is undoubtedly one of the most popular and utilized.

As part of their rules and regulations, Kickstarter requires a visual of the prototype along with a description and use guide. They also note that a graphical or computer-generated image of a product is specifically prohibited. Kickstarter requires that companies present a looks-like, functional working model as a prototype to both explain the product and to entice potential backers.

This is precisely why 3D printing has been such an effective and essential tool for companies looking to crowd source projects through Kickstarter. Other techniques for creating a working model may require substantial financial investment upfront, and/or increased working hours. Tooling, mold making, sculpting by hand as well as less effective techniques like “kit bashing” (mixing and matching parts from existing products to create something new) all lack the advantages 3D printing provides – custom-designed, precise and affordable models that can function as prototypes and final products.

So what type of products benefit from 3D prototyping for Kickstarter? The simple answer is – almost anything. 3D printing is not limited to any one category or industry, and can offer different benefits for different types of Kickstarter product pitches. Here are three examples from three different businesses that utilized 3D printing in their Kickstarter campaigns.

Customize Your Vision

*Boulton Eyeware’s custom-made eyewear. Image source: Boulton Eyeware.*

Boulton Eyeware ran a successful Kickstarter campaign where they received a total of £35,000 ($26,000) to fund their pre-production costs. Their unique concept was based on one simple premise: every human face is different. Just as customers have fitted suits created for their bodies, Boulton felt there was a market for custom sunglasses for each individual’s face.

3D printing excels in customization, which is why Boulton Eyeware turned to this process, not only for their prototype, but for actual production as well. In order to create a working prototype to use on Kickstarter, Boulton went through 70 different concepts refining and changing their materials and finishing until a satisfactory model was achieved. It was the ease of use, cost effective process and robust selection of material that made 3D printing the right choice for their custom product.

Customized For Coffee Lovers

*Fellow’s Stagg EKG Electric Kettle and Atmos Vacuum Canisters. Image source: Fellow*

The ability to experiment with functionality is another major advantage to using 3D printing for Kickstarter prototypes. Fellow started as a class project that blossomed into a startup business based in San Francisco. Their simplistic goal: to create the world’s best cup of coffee.

Dubbing themselves “coffee loving nerds” the team at Fellow led by founder Jake Miller found inspiration from across the globe and throughout history. They reviewed coffee pot designs from as far away as Scandinavia, as well as mid-century industrial designs.

Where 3D printing came into play was in the functionality
aspect. In order to find that perfect
design that would brew and pour the coffee of their dreams, Fellow engineers
made hundreds of 3D prototypes, constantly changing, modifying and updating
their design to achieve the ideal result they wanted.

Using 3D printing not only provided a cost-saving measure with the ability to constantly change designs at a low cost, but it allowed them to see how their product would take up space in kitchens and countertops. By working in 3D, their designs could be reviewed both functionally and aesthetically in the real world. It became much easier to review a physical model because it was to scale, letting designers hold, manipulate and brew coffee using their 3D printed models.

Getting into the
Action

*Valaverse’s action figure. Image source: Valvaverse*

Turning to the toy category, Bobby Vale, a former designer at Hasbro, saw a hole in the consumer market for 6” highly articulated action figures that represented military soldiers and the different divisions of our service men and women.

Aiming to please the discriminating “adult collector” who looks for features such as sculpting detail, paint deco and above all a large amount of articulation points (for posing and display), Bobby was set up for success. He modeled his Valaverse military figures off of the successful Marvel super hero products he worked on in his previous position. 3D printing became the key tool to show off these features to potential funders on Kickstarter.

Both the durability and flexibility of 3D printing were important factors in creating the Valaverse 3D prototypes for Kickstarter. In order to show off the high level of articulation, each part needed to assemble and work just like a mass-produced action figure. The materials offered by 3D printing not only permitted his prototypes to articulate, but they could assemble and function exactly as finished products would. This permitted the most accurate and true-to-final prototype to illustrate his Kickstarter concept to potential backers.

All the Features You Need

3D printing is becoming more and more the go-to technology for prototyping visual models for crowd-funded campaigns.

At Shapeways, we offer 3D printing benefits that go above and beyond what consumers may find elsewhere. In addition to a vast selection of materials (over 75!) and the best quality checks by 3D printing engineers, printing with Shapeways requires no equipment to purchase or maintain. We handle all of the fast turnarounds and deliver exactly what you need to succeed for your campaign.

Whether you are looking for customization, to test out functionality, or demonstrate features that work like finished goods, 3D printing can be your best solution. The Shapeways team is here to provide all of your 3D prototyping needs in one place.

The post Kickstart Your Innovations With 3D Prototypes appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Addmio Kickstarter Campaign for ‘3D Printing for Entrepreneurs’ Online Course

As the 3D printing industry continues to grow faster, more accessible, and more affordable, it’s important that businesses continue learning about the many benefits it can offer them. We’ve seen classes on 3D printing for entrepreneurs before, but the application-focused, efficient course that the Netherlands-based e-learning company Addmio is soon launching will be easier to access because it’s on an online educational platform.

Robin Huizing, a former 3D printing engineer for Shapeways and additive manufacturing designer for Additive Industries, lives in the Dutch city of Eindhoven and ran his own design studio for nearly 12 years, before deciding to launch the Addmio platform.

Addm.io founder Robin Huizing

“I started Addmio to help the 3D printing industry flourish and to educate all of the entrepreneurs and creatives worldwide,” Huizing said. “I want to help them to create better products and businesses with 3D printing.”

Huizing trained and taught hundreds of people about 3D printing in his former jobs, giving lectures, master classes, presentations, and workshops to many large companies. But he realized that sharing knowledge in these ways was “not scalable,” and not making enough of a difference for entrepreneurs interested in learning more about AM. That’s why he decided to found Addmio.

Once things got started, he began researching existing courses and training programs, and found that the high-quality ones were costly, time-consuming, and only on-location. Classes that were more affordable provided, at best, general information about the technology, and did not offer attendees a quality experience. So Huizing determined that to really make a difference, Addmio should offer less expensive, higher quality courses that were focused on specific 3D printing applications.

“Because we can make our courses available for thousands of people at the same time, we can keep the costs very low. The value for money we’re able to offer is unparalleled,” he wrote in a press release.

The first course Addmio is developing is called 3D Printing for Entrepreneurs, which features three unique aspects:

extremely efficient: it condenses five years of work in the 3D printing industry into just three days
application-focused: the course provides many examples in showing users how to choose the right application
100% online: it is a mobile-first, web-based course so learning can take place anywhere, at any time

“We’re developing the course “3D Printing for Entrepreneurs” for creatives and startups, to learn about all the opportunities 3D printing has to offer for your startup or side business. We want to make sure that you have everything you need to learn and start your business, all from home,” the website states.

Huizing will be the main instructor, and the course will provide on-demand, video-based lessons relying on knowledge from industry experts. In-course assessments are included, and at the end of the class, participants will receive a digital certificate. In addition to the course, Addmio will also be offering 3D printable files and a support program for 3D printing startups that includes a tailored advisory report with advice and tips to help startups get on their feet.

Rather than working with investors or banks to get the Addmio course up and running, the company is turning to crowdfunding “because it seamlessly fits our philosophy.” Its Kickstarter campaign launched this morning, so creators and makers from around the world can contribute. In return, the company will help startups create successful 3D printing businesses.

“This is why we came up with an online platform. This is the only medium that is ultimately scalable. Our courses can help people 24 hours a day, in 100 countries at the same time,” the campaign site states.

“All you need to follow our course is a phone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection. That’s it.”

The campaign goal is just €2,500, and there are multiple reward levels – for example, an early bird pledge of €82 means you can get the complete 3D Printing for Entrepreneurs online course for a discount of 40%, while a €137 pledge gets you the early bird course and STL files of objects used in the course.

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The post Addmio Kickstarter Campaign for ‘3D Printing for Entrepreneurs’ Online Course appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

An Update on Shapeways’ COVID-19 Face Shield Program

Why Shapeways Started Making Face Shields

If you’re new to Shapeways or have not read our previous blog posts about Shapeways + COVID-19, here’s a brief summary.

In late March, as COVID-19 started to spread in the US, the Shapeways team began receiving a flurry of calls from hospitals across the U.S. asking for personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors, nurses and other staff treating patients infected with the coronavirus. Almost immediately, it became apparent that the biggest unmet PPE need for hospital staff that 3D printing could address was face shields, which protect against flying respiratory droplets from sneezes and coughs that can transmit coronavirus.

Filling In the Need to Support Medical Teams

We quickly pivoted and got an exemption to keep our Long Island City factory running for COVID-19 production. Our operations in New York City now focus entirely on printing PPE, specifically reusable, industrial-grade face shields, based on the Prusa RC1 design developed by Prusa Research.

*Kosina, OB/GYN Resident at Coney Island Hospital, wearing a 3D printed face shield provided by Shapeways.*

Since Shapeways received that first phone call in late March from a hospital administrator, I am proud to say that we have manufactured and delivered thousands of shields to a dozen medical organizations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, with a growing list that will receive shields in the coming days. Currently, we are able to produce over 1,000 shields a day.

“Thank you so much, this is much appreciated. I can’t thank you enough for helping us frontliners battle this invisible war.” – Metropolitan Hospital (Emergency Department)

3D Printing As A Fast, Stopgap Solution But An Imperfect One

We know that we are far from the only 3D printers pitching in to design, manufacture and distribute PPE to medical workers. It’s been amazing to see creators stepping in to help, such as the team at Prusa Research who designed the original Prusa Face Shield, and whose CEO had personally given our team the license to produce these. We’re also deeply inspired by all the individual makers, small businesses and large companies that have put everything aside to help frontline workers.

Let’s be clear, a $29 face shield is not an ideal price point nor is it a permanent replacement of one-time use PPE the medical staff used to purchase for under $3. However, as is evident by watching and reading the news, we cannot wait for the ideal solution. While the regular supply chains that manufacture cost-effective face shields are running behind due to extremely high demand (as of April 9, the US national stockpile is down to 10%, according to Vice), 3D printed face shields are filling in the gap with production that can be done under 24 hours.

The manufacturing and delivery of 3D printed face shields to healthcare workers is not a simple or low-cost process. It involves many steps, including design testing, iterating, printing, post processing, shield cutting and drilling, assembly, cleaning, packaging and shipping.

*“One of the sturdiest we’ve used,” said Selvin about the Shapeways face shields he and his team received from Shapeways. Selvin is a registered nurse at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center*.

When we started producing the Prusa RC1 face shield, this cost us $40 to produce each unit. Based on feedback we have received from hospital workers, we are now working on the 6th iteration of our face shield. We have five engineers constantly working on the design of the model to optimize for cost and to improve the efficiency and comfort of these face shields.

We’ve made substantial progress in printing the highest quality shields possible and in getting costs down so that we can print as many shields as possible. We were able to drive the cost down to $29 per unit and will continue to improve this as much as possible. We also welcome anyone to share with us low-cost solutions that we could produce using 3D printing technology.

Currently, our Long Island City factory where we produce this PPE, is operating and staffed 6 days a week for 10 hours a day. On any given day, we have 15 employees on site working 10-hour shifts to make PPE. We’re also actively looking into printing ventilator components, nasal swabs, and other applications that would help tackle COVID-19.

Shapeways Gives Back

*Chen, OB/GYN Resident at Coney Island Hospital, wearing a 3D printed face shield provided by Shapeways.*

Shapeways efforts to support the fight against COVID-19 are being done at cost. We can not provide these free of charge so we are looking for alternative ways to fund these efforts. Last week we launched a crowdfunding campaign to further expand our face shield production efforts and Shapeways will fund 1 for every 4 face shields purchased through the crowdfunding campaign. This campaign, driven by our amazing community, helped us to produce over 3,000 face shields and counting.

The COVID-19 pandemic may last through the summer, and reports have emerged that it may become a seasonal virus. There will be an ongoing need for PPE. We plan on continuing to iterate, print and distribute PPE, including face shields, as long as hospitals need it. We will always do our best to minimize costs and maximize quality, while also ensuring that we can keep our doors open, machines running and staff working.

Finally, thank you to the entire Shapeways community. We have received an overwhelming amount of contributions to our crowdfunding campaign. It shows us that we are part of a movement to make the world better through 3D printing. And we want to thank our employees at the factory, whose work is filling in a critical need at this time. While many people are in lockdown, they are considered to be part of the essential teams out there working to fight against the virus. Thank you for helping to keep the frontline workers safe.

There’s still a lot of work to do. Let’s get to it.

The post An Update on Shapeways’ COVID-19 Face Shield Program appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

3D Printable Modular Record Player Lenco-MD Launches on Kickstarter

Just this morning, a Kickstarter campaign launched for the Lenco-MD, a 3D printed record player created by Dutch knowledge-sharing community Qeske, Swiss quality Hi-Fi manufacturer Lenco, and 3D printer manufacturer Reprap Universe (RRU). While the Lenco-MD certainly turns the concept of the classic record player on its head, it’s certainly not the first one to be created with 3D printing; however, it is the first 3D printed record player with a modular design.

Retro is in these days, especially in terms of 3D printed objects, and vinyl itself has been experiencing something of a renaissance. However, the current design for most record players is still mostly based on concepts from the 20th century.

According to a Lenco-MD press release, “We believe a 21st century record player should offer a general platform with the possibility to individualize, upgrade and customize.”

The first functional Lenco-MD prototype was ranked as one of the top three best innovations at the 2018 IFA Berlin. The 3D printable record player invites learning, as users have the option of building their own customizable version. Multiple modular units make up the Lenco-MD, and are easy to swap out with others in order to adapt the record player for various scenarios. For example, you can combine the Solar Module with the Speaker Module to play some records outside in the sun, or use the Bluetooth Module for a wireless listening experience.

However, it’s important to note that these modules are not part of the campaign and are still currently in development, along with other options.

While you can purchase the Lenco-MD as a complete set with all the parts already 3D printed in biodegradable PLA by RRU, you can also buy one of the kits to 3D print your own at home.

Once 3D printed, it’s easy to assemble the Lenco-MD in just a few steps by adding the high-quality Lenco hardware and electronics, and you can use pre-set designs or your own imagination to create your own modules. A special tonearm for the record player comes perfectly balanced around a unipivot bearing, which means that it won’t favor one side over the other, resulting in less friction.

The tonearm handle is flexible, and while the Lenco-MD is shipped with an AT3600 cartridge from Audio Technica, you can install nearly any cartridge and stylus you want.

A belt-drive spins the platter, and the system absorbs the shock and lowers the vibrations from the record player’s motor. The Lenco-MD also comes with a built-in stereo pre-amp and RCA line out port, along with a headphone jack.

In addition to the Bluetooth module for wireless streaming that’s currently being developed, the Lenco-MD team is also working on an AccuPack and a Solar Charging Module as well. The complete set will first be available in seven different colors – apple green, sky blue, white, red, orange, yellow, and pink.

“The launch of Lenco-MD on Kickstarter only marks the exciting beginning of a new kind of record player,” the team stated in the release. “After the campaign, we will launch an online community platform where creators can share their own Lenco-MD modules and designs. We cannot wait to to see all great creations and challenge everyone involved to make the Lenco-MD a true modular and open system.”

The future Lenco-MD platform will include an overview of places around the world where people are 3D printing and building the modular record player on location, where it can then be purchased off the shelf. Additionally, a special maker reward with a new, affordable 3D printer from RRU, which was designed specifically for 3D printing the parts of the Lenco-MD, will be available in the future.

The crowdfunding campaign for the 3D printable Lenco-MD record player allows you to pre-order your own through January 4th. Once the campaign is over, rewards will be produced and shipped from early to mid-2019.

For those with access to a 3D printer with a minimum build volume of 330 x 330 x 100 mm, you can purchase the Lenco-MD Kit, which includes all of the electronics and hardware necessary to assemble the record player, for just €99. The reward also includes a license to 3D print all the parts yourself. For €149, you can get the kit with the pre-printed Platter and Tonearm, or purchase the Complete Set, with all the parts pre-printed, for €199.

Discuss this story and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Latest 3D Printing Kickstarter Campaigns: Volumetric Images and 3D Printable Dino Models

From new 3D printers and 3D software to the latest 3D printed customizable products, we like to keep you updated on the latest crowdfunding campaigns on the popular Kickstarter website, the largest funding platform in the world for creative projects.

For the last few years, we’ve been following the work of Italian startup Lumi Industries, which introduced a semi-professional DLP 3D printer two years ago. The startup has had Kickstarter success before, and will hopefully see it again with its latest campaign, which is for a project that is, as Lumi’s Manuela Pipino tells us, “closely related to 3D printing.”

The startup has recently been working with 3D visualization and volumetric images (what many may still think of as holograms) and developing its patent-pending VVD (Volumetric Visualization Device). According to the Kickstarter campaign for the VVD, it’s a graphic display device that forms a visual representation of an object in three physical dimensions. The device gives an unlimited amount of people the ability to get a 3D visualization of any 3D content.

3D reconstruction of human jaw from intraoral scan.

“We needed such a technology to be able to revise 3D models before going for 3D printing, but after we have created it, we envisioned many more sectors where it could be of great use like: training/educational, medical/dentistry field, museums/exhibitions, marketing & communication,” Pipino told 3DPrint.com.

The VVD projects the horizontal layers of a 3D model on a special film that is vibrating very quickly, which exploits something called the persistence of vision – a characteristic that enables people to retain an image long after it’s been removed. It’s easy to use – just load any 3D model and hit the View button to create a true tridimensional volumetric visualization of your content.

The startup took the VVD on the road to several international events, such as formnext and CES, and received lots of positive feedback on it – the device was even awarded the Maker of Merit honor at the European Maker Faire in Rome last year. So Lumi decided to launch its VVD on Kickstarter.

While holograms can only be seen from certain angles, volumetric visualizations can be explored from any viewpoint. In addition, more people can share the experience and watch at the same time, and because the VVD doesn’t require additional glasses, eye fatigue is decreased.

“With VVD you can explore the design you have just created or double check all details of the mechanical component you have just developed, like if it was already in your hand, before going for prototyping,” the campaign states. “Because when you design in 3D, you are watching your work on a bi-dimensional screen. Perspective, created through visual effects, allows us to get an idea of the volume and proportions of what we are designing, but, believe us, to watch your model as it really is, is not the same thing!”

Styracosaurus head 3D model.

The VVD has many applications in the medical field, as it offers technicians a new way to look at 3D images created from 2D slices taken from MRI and CT scans. It also keeps people more engaged in the classroom and in museums, due to its interactive nature.

There are still more than three weeks to go in Lumi’s VVD Kickstarter campaign, and the Incredible Early Bird Special is still available – for a pledge of €1,899, you can receive your own VVD by February of 2019. If this cost is a little steep, and you just want to support the startup, €30 will get you a special T-shirt.

Another intriguing Kickstarter campaign was just launched by Pinshape ambassador and 3D printing expert Joe Larson, better known as the 3D Printing Professor on his YouTube channel, where he produces educational and fun content about making, 3D printing, and technology for more than 20,000 subscribers.

Larson has a solution for 3D printer owners who struggle to find high-quality, ready to print models: his fun Low Poly Dinosaur models, which are designed to print easily at home on extrusion-based 3D printers.

“Welcome to Lowpolysaurus park. Kid friendly, whimsical, low-poly dinosaur models for your 3D printer. Designed to print without supports and print with low or no infill. Perfect as a test print or just for fun with gentle angles to minimize sharp edges so they’re suitable for all ages,” the campaign states.

“Help build the whole set and print your own dinosaur park!”

Larson’s Kickstarter, which still has about a month left, blew through its initial funding goal within its first two hours, and then went on to raise twice that goal amount in its first day on Kickstarter.

There are currently four 3D dino models in the set, including Dippy and Trixy, with four additional ones planned thanks to the campaign’s stretch goals and its overwhelming support.

According to Larson’s Kickstarter, “The success of this campaign will determine how many dinosaurs will be modeled. The more it raises, the larger the rewards will be. For your support you will not only receive the 3D dinosaur models developed in this campaign, but you will have a vote in what the next dinosaur will be as the campaign progresses.”

For those pledging to the Triassic tier, you will receive a limited set of 3D dino models and accessories, as voted on by the community. Those pledging to the Jurassic tier will get every dinosaur and accessory model created for the campaign.

The funds raised during the campaign will actually go toward improving the video production quality for Larson’s YouTube channel.

Discuss crowdfunding campaigns and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.