As we reported last week, Adafruit, has helping organize a month long initiative to improve the functionality and production of 3D printed prosthetics. Every Friday this month, they will be hosting a Google hangout to show progress from the community and answer questions from those getting involved.

One of the main projects that has been adopted for helping those in need has been the Robohand project. There are numerous community members who are working on improving the design, including Michael Curry, who has designed a fully printable model without the need for any extra hardware.

On Friday, October 25th, 3DP PVD will be hosting a build party to bring together printers from around the region to help create these devices for those in need. We are working with other groups who are finding little heroes who are looking to become superheroes with their new mechanical hands!

If you have a 3D printer and would like to join us to help create these devices, come to AS220 Labs in downtown Providence, RI starting at 6pm on Friday October 25th. If you know a child who might benefit from one of these devices we would love to have them join us so we can fit them during the event. Please contact us at info@3dppvd.org if you would like to join us or would like to help us out in anyway.

To find out more about these projects check out the links and video bellow.

October Meeting: R&D Technologies

By admin

October 7, 2013

Meetings

Over the course of our meetings we have talked a great deal about the abilities of the new lines of desktop 3D printers that have sprung into existence over the past few years. This month R&D Technologies is going to join us to show what the professional side of the industry is capable of. R&D is a reseller of Stratasys printers (the now parent company of MakerBot). So join us this Wednesday 7pm, at AS220 Labs as Ben Gardell and Justin Coutu demo some of the capabilities of these machines and answer your questions about these technologies.

Announcing Adafruit’s Make The World: Prosthetics

By admin

October 3, 2013

News

One of the most exciting recent developments in the desktop 3D printing world has come from makers designing low cost but amazingly functional prosthetic devices. One of the most successful of these projects has been the Robohand project who’s work was documented in a promotional video created by MakerBot. The device created by Robohand can grip objects with the flex of the users wrist and was fully printed on a desktop 3D printer.

Now Adafruit is hosting a month long event to try to further the spread of this project. Every friday in October, they will be hosting a Google + hangout where fellow makers can share their progress in printing and helping to distribute these devices to those in need.

Adafruit reached out to us at 3DPPVD in hopes that our talented team of printing enthusiasts could join in on the fun. We invite all of you to join us this Friday, for the introductory hangout where members of the Adafruit team and other partners will explain the goals of the month long project.

You can find out more from Adafruit’s announcement here.

MakerBot Releases Dissolvable Support Material

By admin

October 2, 2013

News

1 Comment

After months of watching updates that included cat shaped infill patterns and other nonsense, MakerBot has finally released their official support for dissolvable HIPS support material based on the research done here at 3DPPVD. They have branded their new filament line MakerBot Dissolvable and made it available to be shipped on the day of the announcement. MakerBot has priced their new filament at $65 a kilo which is an over 60% markup to the same material offered by Filaco.

With this new material MakerBot has also upgraded MakerWare to support printing support structures on a secondary extruder. Now on a dual extrusion machine, HIPS can be printed alongside ABS without the need to generate two separate models. They have also included color matching support and rafts for dual extrusion multicolor prints. This will eliminate colored scars in your prints from the removal of a different colored support material.

You can read more about our research into soluble support material here and find out more about MakerBots announcement here.

Finally, don’t miss Hack A Day’s coverage of some of our advanced materials research that was on display at this years World Maker Faire.

Sept 2013 Meeting: Wayne Losey of Modibot

By admin

September 11, 2013

Meetings

A few months ago, I mentioned the great kickstarter that was being run by Rhode Island’s own Wayne Losey: Modibot. I am pleased to announce that Wayne will be joining us this month to discuss his work designing toys for 3D printing and creating a business based on that. Wayne has been an attendee of our meetings in the past but I am excited to have him as our speaker.

As usual our meeting will start at 7pm at AS220 Labs in down town Providence, RI. It is free and open to the public. I hope to see you there!

Vacation Hacks

By admin

August 27, 2013

Projects

2 Comments

So a few months ago my wife’s family decided that we should all go on a beach vacation together. After searching for a destination, a beach house on Topsail Island in North Carolina was selected. We packed up and headed down and of course, a 3D printer was on the way with us. Within the first two days, I was happy to have it with me. Read More

August Meeting: Networking Your Printer

By admin

August 11, 2013

Meetings

This past weekend 3DP PVD participated in Rhode Islands local Mini Maker Faire. While we were there we were also testing out some new technology. All of our printers were running Network attached and being controlled by one central laptop. At this months meeting I will show you how we got this working and how for a very small investment you two can be up and running in no time.

As usual, this meeting will be held at AS220 Labs in down town Providence. 131 Washington St, entrance around back on Lucie Way.

BotBuilder Workshop

By admin

August 11, 2013

News, Special Events

So you missed 3DP PVD’s CastMax build but really want to get into bot building with a little bit of help? Your are in luck! John Abella, friend to 3DP PVD and 3D printing fans everywhere is running his own class on October 5th and 6th. John will be guiding participants through the process of building the new Prusa i3 RepRap printer. John is hosting this class in Wilmington Delaware at the Double Tree hotel. So although this class is not in Rhode Island it could be a great 3D printing getaway!

For more information check out BotBuilder.net.

July Meeting: Happy Birthday 3DP PVD!

By admin

July 9, 2013

Meetings

This month marks 1 year since our first 3DP PVD meeting and I couldn’t be happier that it has made it this long. No presentation this month, instead we will hang out and play with some bots, discuss everything we did this year, and discuss where we want to go with year 2. We have many regulars who have been with us since the beginning and many more who have stopped in from time to time. We encourage all of you to come back this month and meet everyone. The meeting will start at 7 pm on Wednesday, July 10th, at AS220 Labs as usual.

Modibot: RI 3D Printing Kickstarter

By admin

July 9, 2013

News

1 Comment

3D printing is changing the way we create products and do business and now this is evident right here in Rhode Island. Go Go Dynamo from Providence is running a Kickstarter to help launch their new line of customizable toys, the Modibot. Wayne, the creator of Modibot has been a frequent attendee at our meetings and we hope to soon have him in to talk about his process for designing these toys and using Shapeways to produce products.

Modibot only has a few days to go before the end of their Kickstarter campaign so please consider backing them now to help them reach their goal!

Modibot Kickstarter