Print in 3D: The international sign for 'call me' made flesh (well, plastic anyway)
If you're always losing your phone, this could be the answer. Glove One is the brainchild of Milwaukee artist Bryan Cera. As part of his Master of Arts, Cera created the fully operational gauntlet using a 3D printer and recycled circuitry. Slot in your SIM card, dial the number on your fingers and then talk to the hand - literally. Cera plans on releasing the plans for Glove One later in the year.
Print in 3D: 3D printing gave rock 'n' roll to you
Talk about progressive rock. The Spider 3D guitar was created by Olaf Diegel, rock 'n' roll fan and professor of mechatronics at Auckland's Massey University. The elaborate webbing, complete with three-dimensional spiders running around the open casing, is printed as a single component and can be customised to fit any guitar neck. Of course, arachnophobes looking to print in 3D may prefer the Scarab guitar festooned with butterflies, dragonflies and flowers.
Print in 3D: A gaming icon comes to life thanks to adding a LED light
Neemesh Patel, aka Psychobob, is gaining a reputation for creating insanely detailed models of gaming and movie icons. First there was the USB-powered Rig Helmet from Dead Space, then the Light Cycle from Tron: Legacy, both of which Psychobob gave away to friends. His next project is going nowhere and who can blame him. This incredibly detailed model of Atlas from Portal 2 was designed in Modo and printed by Shapeways, a UK company specialising in on-demand print in 3D.
Print in 3D: Imagine what Frankenstein would have done with 3D Printing
Yes, you read that right. Not only can 3D Printing create guitars, robots and phones it can produce full-size, see-through children. Weighing in at 10kg, the macabre maquette is a fantastic example of what 3D printing can do. In days gone by the underlying skeleton would have been built and then encased in the amber-like transparent. Today, the entire model is printing in one piece. Impressive, but we don't want to know why it has no legs.
While plastic swimwear is unlikely to be the look of 2012, Continuum Fashion's N12 bikini could be a glimpse into the future of fashion. Thousands of circular plates, connected by minuscule springs, are printed in 3D using Nylon 12, a solid but flexible polymer. Not only is Nylon 12 completely waterproof, the designers insist it becomes more comfortable the wetter it gets. In time, the process could be refined to create perfect fits for any shape and size using body-scanning.
Thanks to print in 3D you don't have to be a zombie to enjoy snacking on brains - even if they're your own. Designers at Intion used a MRI scan of their co-founder's brain to create a solid 3D model. This in turn was used to manufacture a latex mould that was filed with melted chocolate. After three hours in the fridge, the creepy candy was ready for Andy Millns to sample. Yummy!
Print in 3D: Cornell researchers slaved over a hot 3D Printer all day
What if you wanted to create confectionery based on body parts and didn't want to bother with moulds? Researchers at Cornell University's Creative Machines Lab have developed a printer that uses liquid ingredients such as batter or cheese instead of plastic. Fancy a scallop in the shape of the space shuttle ready to deep fry? No problem. A cake with a hidden message printed on the inside? Simple.
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While Cornell's printer is still in the prototype stage, a team from the University of Exeter already claims to have perfected a 3D chocolate printer for customisable treats.
Proving that you don't need an industrial printer to create something amazing, a 3D enthusiast by the handle of 'Sublime' has created a fully operational lathe on Tantillus, the open-sourced printer he designed himself. Of course, a lathe made of plastic wears out pretty quickly, which is why Sublime printed it using PLA polyesters. As PLAs are derived from renewable resources such as sugarcane and corn starch, broken parts can easily be composted. Clever and green to boot.
Print in 3D: In the words of Mario: “I’m-a gonna win!”
Michael "Skimbal" Curry's impressive Arc Reactor from Iron Man almost made our list, as did his recreation of Thor's mighty hammer, Mjolnir. Then we spotted these little guys. Based on Mario Cart's spiked shells, Skimbal's has made him 3D models freely available so you can make your own Koopa racer. Print out the individual blocks that snap together to form the shell along with the wheel spokes and internal gears, add the innards of a radio-controlled car and you're all set. Mamma-Mia.
Print in 3D: What other printable body parts will follow this titanium jaw?
3D Printing isn't just about fun and games. If you don't believe us, ask the 83-year-old Belgian woman who can speak and chew thanks to her new printed jaw. Working with Professor Jules Poukens of the University of Hasselt, medical implant experts, Xilloc printed a 170g titanium copy of her original lower jawbone based on MRI scans. The match was so perfect that the patient was able to talk and swallow normally just 24-hours after it was implanted.
