Even a Cubify Fan Has to Eat & Coastal Flats Fills That Role!

 Or, should that be ROLL.. as in "Ozzie Roll"!

OK.  This post is seriously off topic.  But, life IS more than 3D printing even for the most avid 3D printing fans.

All of us have to eat to live.  And, I have to warn you that this post is about eating, and eating extraordinarily well having nothing to do with 3D printing.

But, if you are in the DC area... or ever visit this area, you will be grateful for this little excursion.

Today, my wife and I traveled from Maryland to Tyson's Corner, Virgina to visit one of our favorite restaurants.  It's Coastal Flats in the Tyson's Corner Mall.

Now, I live along the Bethesda - Rockville corridor in Maryland.   And, we literally have hundreds of good restaurants from which to choose.  There are at least five in walking distance of my home.  So, it takes a remarkably good restaurant to coax me across the river into Virginia just for a meal.

One is the incomparable Bistro L'hermitage, an absolutely superb French restaurant near Historic Occoquan, Virginia.  But, that is more than an hour away in good traffic.  So, it is reserved for very special dining celebrations and events. 

The other is Coastal Flats.  And it lures us across the Potomac River on a regular basis no matter what the traffic.

As the name and decor suggest, sea food has a prominent place on the menu.  But, you will be hard pressed to find a better steak filet at even the most famous of steakhouses.  Quite frankly, I would actually rather have a Coastal Flats filet than anything I have tasted at Ruth's Chris or The Palm, both of which are famous in their own right for very good reasons.  The secret, I'm told, is their wood fired oven expertly held at just the right temperature.

But, what is even more remarkable is that the company that brought us Coastal Flats has created not one; but, NINE different restaurant themes, each quite different in food offerings and ambiance.  And even though they are distinctly unique in some way, they are held together by what can only be described as a phenomenal system for hiring great staff and providing wonderful service.

The great news is that Great American Resaurants' locations are spread around a wide area of northern Virgina.  While I have not been to all, I can vouch for some.  So, if your trip takes you to DC or through northern Virgina, you find yourself near one.  Here are those that I've tried.

• Mikes "American"  - Springfield, Va.  (Classic Steakhouse)

If you are traveling on I-95 and need a break, just take the Springfield, Virginia exit.   It's on a few blocks off the exit ramp.  I think this was the original site from which they grew. 

• Carlyle - Arlington/ Shirlington (Includes Best Buns bakery)

The Carlyle location is a little far for us; but, still a favorite for special occasions because the unique Art Deco motif has a special air of romantic loveliness.  Be sure to ask to be seated upstairs to fully appreciate the ambiance as well as the food.

It's located off of I-395 just south of Washington, DC.  I urge you not to miss it if staying near National Airport or in Arlington.

• Sweetwater - Merrifield, Sterling, Centerville  (Western Theme Microbrewery)

I've only been in the Merrifield location.  But, I expect that while each of these locations shares the same western theme, wonderful service and food, the decor is unique.   As one might expect of a microbrewery, a bar is prominently located in the center of the action.  It's a fun place, even it beer is not your thing and they won't hold that against you.

 If you are traveling around I-495, it's just a short hop off the road to the corner of Route 50 and Gallows Road.  Love the burgers and iced tea!

•  Artie's - Fairfax (Boathouse Theme)

I've only been to Artie's a couple of times.  And, that is not because I didn't like it.  It's farther away than Coastal Flats and when I'm hungry, I'm hungry.  But, if you find yourself in Fairfax, Virginia then I urge you to stop and enjoy the fare and service.  You will not be disappointed.

And, while in Fairfax, if you happen to drive by the old courthouse, raise a salute to my ancestor, Richard Ratcliffe,  who leased the land for the courthouse for $3 for as long as they hold court.  The lease is still in effect.   If you have a bit of time, you may be able to visit his home on Main Street near the Historical Society.

 As I said, this post was WILDLY off topic.  But, I know that many of you will, sooner or later, find yourselves in the Washington, DC area and northern Virginia in particular.  And, I'm not just interested in your shared interest in 3D printing; but, that your whole life be filled with great things... including great food.  So, if you have a chance, give one of these restaurants a try... and don't forget to leave room for the Flourless Chocolate Waffle!

 

Great American's Warm Flourless Chocolate Waffle

Now, THAT is what I'm talking about!  LOL!

Want to Explain 3D Printing to Anybody??? A Great Place to Start.

If you have even a moderately successful blog or video channel, you hear from a lot of people.  Many are spammers.  But, sometimes these contacts present rare gems of information that are highly creative and well worth sharing.

The email I received this morning from Naomi Paton of BestComputerScienceSchools.net aleerted me to a definite keeper!

Naomi has created a wonderful infographic called “3D Printing: One Step Closer to a Star Trek Future?” that I found very, very well done.

It covers a LOT of ground in a short, well organized presentation.

The infographic can be found HERE.

The web site, itself, is also intriguing and informative.  It covers everything from the Top 10 Web Design schools to the average salaries of computer related careers.  After reading the 3D printing article, be sure to wander around a bit and pick up some great information.

Thanks Naomi!  Nicely done.

P.S.  Aside from the 3D printing article, my favorite article was...

"Selfie Syndrome - How Social Media is Making Us Narcissistic"

I KNEW I was going to like that site!  LOL!

P.S. P.S.  One thing leads to another...

I noticed that the "Selfie" infographic was created by http://nowsourcing.com and taking a side trip to that site is also worth the effort.  In particular check out the http://nowsourcing.com/about/ page.  A few of the images of employees are animated.  Very clever.

 

 

Special Promotional deals on Cube2 and CubeX

The Cubify site has announced promotional offers on both the Cube2 and the CubeX.

Special Cube2 & CubeX Promotional Offers

Each offer includes 2 free bonus cartridges with each printer. 

The offer is good while printer supplies last.  I wish I could tell you how long that might be.  But, I have no clue.

To take advantage of the offers enter the code CubeBonus or CubeXBonus when you check out.  

Be sure that you select your two bonus cartridges before checking out.

 While I've never had a CubeX, I own several Cube2 3D printers and work with five more on a regular basis with the cadets that I teach.  The Cube2 has been a real proven work horse in every sense of the word.  And, since it was introduced each and every software or firmware update has introduced increasing accuracy.  

So, if you want a proven machine that is highly accurate, now is the time to pick up a new Cube2 and have some fun. :)


 

3Doodler: Be Your Own 3D Printer

No, I have definitely NOT abandoned my Cube 3D Printers.

But, I have ordered a 3Doodler 3D pen.  And, I had good reasons to do so.

The 3Doodler as Welder

First, it can act as a plastic glue gun, welding PLA or ABS pieces together.  For example, I have already written about creating a face relief of a child in one color and creating a frame to hold it in another.  With the Cube 2, limited to single color printing, this had to printed as two separate jobs and then I used glue to put the pieces together.

Using the 3Doodler to weld the pieces together should be a LOT more effective.

The 3Doodler as Accessorizer

Hmmm... not at all sure that is the right spelling.  But, you get what I mean.  There are designs that are just too difficult for the cadets I teach to pull off in a CAD program.  One of them, for instance, wanted to create a candle holder with angel's wings.  Yes, it could be done.  But, not at his skill level and certainly not in the time he could allot to it.

But, he COULD freehand the wings onto the printed candle holder.

Even closer to home, that frame and relief that I printed could be enhanced by 3Doodling (Is that a word?) a hanger onto the flat back of the combined piece so that it could be hung.

The 3Doodler as 3D Demonstrator

Because of the configuration of 3D printers, with the head being extremely close to the print table, it can be a bit difficult to show the extrusion process.  The actual 3D printing process is easily demonstrated with the 3Doodler since the head can be pulled up so that the extrusion process is clearly seen.

While the 3Doodler is NOT a toy and the minimum recommended age is 14, that does not stop us from using it to demonstrate the 3D printing process to younger children.  We'll be working with the girl scouts at YouthQuest and I expect to be able to put the 3Doodler to work in helping explain how the Cube 3D printer works.

The 3Doodler as Randomizer

So far, while I've seen a lot of fun objects that people have created with the 3Doodler, none could be called high art.  Part of the reason for that is the randomness of the flow when hand held as apposed to the precision of the Cube 3D printer's X-Y-Z engine.

But, there is a certain charm in randomness that has a place in design.  And, I expect that my artist daughter will be quite pleased with some of the things that she can do with this little hand held 3D print tool.

While it might seem that using the 3Doodleradding add accessories and to add randomness to an object is the same thing, it is not.  There are nuanced differences.  I expect to notice an accessory.  I do not expect to notice a subtle added randomness that mimics hand created works.

The 3Doodler as Fun

Let's face it.  Given everything I say above, everyone knows the real reason I ordered a 3Doodler.  I expect it to be a LOT of fun for me and my grandchildren, who are old enough to use it safely.  I sure hope they let me use it!

Bottom Line....

It should arrive soon.  As soon as I have a chance to try it out with all of the above applications I will be sure to post an update. 

Interestingly, YouthQuest, 3D Systems and 3Doodler will all be at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in DC in late April and our booths are adjacent.  (Actually according to the floor plan our YouthQuest booth and the 3Doodler booth are back-to-back on either side of the 3D Systems booth.   The cadets we teach will be helping explain 3D printing to visiting students and parents and I am certain that they are going to want to drop by the 3Doodler booth when they have a chance.  If they end up creating something we'll post images.

A Suggested Methodology for Learning a 3D Application

I've been silent for a while because I've been creating a curriculum for teaching 3D printing for YouthQuest's 3DThinkLink Initiative.  Creating tutorials is moderately time consuming.  Creating a full curriculum is MASSIVELY time consuming.

While the new curriculum is focused on Moment of Inspiration, the methodology that came from creating it is useful when it comes to learning any new 3D application.

The technique is to treat 3D design applications as if we were learning a new language such as  English, Spanish or Latin and break down the interface into NOUNS and VERBS.  We then proceed, in steps, to introduce at least one new NOUN and one new VERB in each step of learning the application.

Nouns are THINGS, like circles, rectangles and ellipses.  Verbs are ACTIONS that we use to modify THINGS.

In our materials, we sometimes identify nouns and verbs by color code.  Nouns are red and Verbs are blue.


In general. sentences make sense when they have both nouns and verbs.  For instance, we "Wash the car", "Walk the dog" or "Extrude the circle."

The problem is that manuals generally present the 3D application's features in the order in which the interface presents it. Let's take Cubify Invent as an example.  The opening screen, in context of our assigning nouns and verbs, consists of only verbs!

It presents a series of operations or verbs like "Extrude", "Revolve" and "Sweep" without the benefit of a single noun (thing) on which these verbs can be applied.  The only nouns in the menu ribbon are reference objects like "Plane" and "Axis".

A person facing this interface without any experience can be excused for being very confused as to what to do to get started.  The key, of course, is to find out how we can create some nouns to use with the verbs.  In the case of Cubify Invent, we click on the "Activate 2D Sketch" button.

When we do this, the menu ribbon changes and one of the sections on the ribbon presents us with the NOUNS upon which the verbs on the first menu ribbon can be used.

While these nouns are presented in symbolic form, the icon buttons allow us to create real THINGS.  In the upper left we see the button that allows us to create the LINE noun.  The icon below the line allows us to create another noun, the CIRCLE.

We can begin exploring the application by determining that we will explore the application by learning a new noun (Circle) and then immediately apply a verb (Extrude) to it.   In this way, we learn the 3D application just as we learn any new language, by putting nouns and verbs together to create sentences that make sense.

In this case we create a CIRCLE (noun)...

and then we complete the 3D sentence by applying EXTRUDE (verb) to it.

If we were to write a sentence to remember what we have done we would see the noun/verb applicability.  "We have EXTRUDED a CIRCLE, creating a new Cylinder!"

We can then move on to either exploring applying other verbs to form new sentences or creating new noun/verb combinations.  This provides much needed feedback that let's us know early on that we CAN learn the 3D application.  Not only do we proceed in small steps; but, those steps demonstrate success early.

Learning by using a Noun/Verb methodology will also let us find those combinations that do NOT make sense.  For instance, it makes little sense to couple the single line noun with the extrude verb.  But, the best way to learn that is to try it and see what happens. 

It may seem like a quirky approach to learning a drawing program.  But, I'm convinced that it is an effective approach to learning any 3D application.  I hope you also find it useful.

With the experience of creating the curriculum for Moment of Inspiration nearly complete, I'm hoping to be able to turn my attention back to expanding our exploration of one of the Cubify 3D applications.  If that becomes possible, the noun/verb approach is the one I intend to pursue.

Let me know what you think.  Thanks.

Just Be Patient... 3D Printing Will Eventually Make it Possible

Apparently, I'm a hoarder when it comes to email messages because I continually run up against the size limits imposed on my account.  Hitting the upper limit once again, I decided to seriously downsize and get rid of some emails.  As I poured through the emails to see which ones I was willing to send off to oblivion, I ran across this one to Evan Malone, one of the pioneers of personal desktop 3D printing and a founder of the Fab@home project.

I actually  didn't realize just how early in the game that I became interested in personal 3D printing.  As it turns out, the first beta of the Fab@home design was released in December of 2006,  the same month as my first correspondence with Evan.

2006 - First Exploration of the Potential for Ceramic 3D Printing

Here is my email to him...

From: ****@comcast.net
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 3:16 PM
To: ***.****@cornell.edu
Subject: Fascinated by the Fab@home project for artwork.

A friend referred me to your web site regarding the Fab@Home project.  What is really exciting about this particular project is that you actively encourage experimenting with different materials.  I'm wondering if anyone has experimented with ceramic 'slip' or if it's even possible to use. 

I'm guessing that build time would require relatively long delays between layers to let the slip dry a bit; but, since Native American Pottery uses a coiled technique, the potential might be interesting.  Here are some samples of my daughter's artwork that spurred my interest in this regard.  They are handbuilt and then carved.

http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m47/TMeeks/Cheryl%20Meeks%20Art/

The concept of being able to more quickly build ceramic items with undercuts impossible for traditional molding techniques is very intriquing.  What do you think?

Thanks,

  Tom Meeks

 And, his reply...

From: "Evan Malone" <****@cornell.edu>
To: <***@comcast.net>
Subject: RE: Fascinated by the Fab@home project for artwork.
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 04:46:01 +0000

Hi Tom,

Your daughter’s ceramics are beautiful – I throw a bit myself when I can find the time.  I think Fab@Home would be able to make some great artwork with ceramics – you’d probably need to work with a thick slip, but certainly there is no reason you couldn’t use the machine for that.  I doubt you’d need to wait much between layers either, assuming you had your slip consistency just right.  Achieving horizontal cutouts as in your would probably require some support material – wax or something similar which would support the overhangs until they dry enough to support themselves/be fired.

I’d be thrilled to see what could be done!

Evan

Evan Malone

Computational Synthesis Laboratory

B60 Rhodes Hall (physical)

138 Upson Hall (mail/shipping)

Cornell University

Ithaca NY 14853 USA

Early Pioneers - Unfold

It's been seven years since that first interchange.  Along the way various pioneers have designed 3D printers that could print in clay.  Unfold used a RapMan printer from Bits from Bytes (Now part of 3D Systems) to create their syringe-based deposition system clay printer.  It did a very nice job.   But, it was a hobbyist machine that required users go through what was know as "the build experience" to own one.  Unfold appears to have been primarily interested in using their printer to realize their own designs rather than creating a clay printing 3D printer for the wider artisan market.

You can follow the evolution of the Unfold attempts to create an open-source clay printing machine on the Unfold Fab Blog.

While the "build experience" is not my favorite way to enjoy the benefits of 3D printing,  I certainly have a great deal of respect for the Fab@home and Unfold pioneers for their contributions to show that ceramic printing was posssible.


Early Pioneers - Figulo

Pioneer Figulo  has had even more influence and impact on where we are today in the state of ceramic 3D printing.  Like Unfold, they sought a way to print ceramic art; but, took a completely different route to do so.  Instead of using a syringe approach, they began their development with a powder based system.  While there is not a great deal of information on the process, we can see it in some stage of its development this image.

Figulo Ceramic Printing Process

This difference in technique has enormous implications for design freedom. With a syringe system support materials are solids that must be removed, limiting design options unless one wants the deal with the supports.  The technology that Figulo chose as the basis for their ceramic printing technique lays down a material and then "prints' a binder.  The powder material that is not solidified acts as the support and is simple shaken or blown off after the print is completed.  Figulo took an existing 3D Systems technology and created the materials and binder for creating ceramics designs.

While little is known about the actual specifications of the CeraJet printer or the materials, we do know that the technology that is used in the CeraJet is called "ColorJet printing (CJP)".  While this technique can be used to create full color objects, I do not know whether that is the case for the CeraJet, which may rely on the glazing step for final coloring.

What IS important about that technology is that it allows radically new designs to be created by ceramics artists.

The Benefit of Figulo's Experience

By the time that 3D Systems acquired Figulo, the company had been delivering ceramic prints for long enough to have some serious experience in creating materials and techniques.  A year ago, they released a video showing some samples of what they printed on their pre-CeraJet printer.  Now, remember, these are NOT CeraJet samples.  They simply reflect the experience of the new 3D Systems' ceramic print team.

Seven Years Was Worth the Wait!

Who would have dreamed, just seven years ago, that one of the largest manufacturers of high end 3D printers would be today's biggest champion of consumer 3D printing?  The day that 3D Systems bought Desktop Factory, I truly thought that was the end of a dream.

I knew that there would be 3D printers in the hands of a few hobbyists; but, I thought the dream of seeing a true consumer "ready-to-print" device was a long, long way off.

The dream was revived with that first announcement by 3D Systems of the Cube 3D printer.  It was too good to be true, so I immediately set up a meeting to check it out for myself.  When they set it down in front of me, I immediately knew this was what I had waited for all that time.  While it may sound overly dramatic now, all I could do was look over every inch of the machine while repeating "This is it.  This is it.  It's exactly what I had been dreaming about."

Little did I know that day, that less than two years would pass before my REAL dream would see reality!

With this year's CES, the dream that sparked that letter to Evan Malone came to fruition.  At last, with the CeraJet, ceramic artisans have a way to create entirely new designs without having to build their own printing platform or tinker with messy syringes.

I am very, very happy with 3D Systems' decision to purchase Figulo and develop a ceramics printer that promises to do so much at such an obtainable cost. 

Sometimes, the answers to dreams, long set aside, come not only unexpectedly; but, with dazzling new dreams!

What is YOUR dream?

What is your dream?  Is it the ability to print a flying drone with both structural and electrical parts all in one printing?   Is it the ability to print objects with both soft and rigid parts all in one printing?  Whatever it is, just be patient.  3D Printing... and most likely 3D Systems... will eventually make it possible.

CeraJet: Taking a "Disruptive Technology" Seriously

A "Distruptive Technology" Up Close and Personal

A little over a year ago, I was part of a team that organized a meeting for government and military logisticians to talk about additive manufacturing (3D printing) as a "Disruptive Technology" that could have huge implications on tomorrow's supply chain.

Today, I want to talk about that same subject in a context that has personal implications for thousands of small artisans that work in the field of ceramics.  They could be part time potters taking in a few dollars at local art shows or full-time sculptors whose work sells for thousands of dollars.  They could be selling their wares in well-known art centers, like the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria.  or, they could be laboring in the poorest of countries making simple utilitarian cups, bowls and pots.  They could be working with clay for a thousand different purposes.  What ever they are doing, clay crafts persons have a place of respect in our family.

The Importance of "Hand Crafted" to the Clay Community

It is amazing how many people find themselves, at one time or another, working in clay in one form or another.  For the most part, the way they work is not much different than the way potters have worked for a thousand years... forming the clay by hand.

This is true even for those that use molds as the starting point for their clay creations.  While this could be considered a bit more "mechanized", there is still a good bit of hand work that is required to complete their pieces.

The importance that clay artisans place on creating "Hand Crafted" work cannot be dismissed lightly. And, yet, we have to remember that ALL ships were once "Handcrafted" as were just about every item used in the daily life of people.

What a Craftsperson Has to Sell

An artist, or serious craftsperson, at the most basic level, has only two things to sell... a unique vision and a unique skill.  Working in clay combines these two elements in an almost primal way where skilled hands, directed by the unique vision manually shape something of compelling beauty and value.  I suspect that  this Head/Hand relationship is exactly why so many people enjoy working in clay.  And, for many, it will be unthinkable that it would be any other way.

But, that is no longer true.  There is a new "Disruptive Technology" in town.  And, every ceramic craftsperson... whether they embrace it or not... owes it to themselves to understand the implications for their own creative future.

Empathy for Resistance to Change

I have to tell you, I have a great deal of empathy for ceramics artists that can't even begin to understand why anyone would not want to get their hands dirty creating ceramic objects and art the way it has been done for thousands of years.  I understand where they are coming from and agree with the reasons they feel so strongly.  You will never hear me ridiculing anyone that dismisses Ceramic 3D printing for their own work.  But, at the same time, I want these artists to understand that Ceramic 3D printing IS going to be disruptive to the field and that disruption, while troubling to some, will bring a whole new vision to the world of ceramic arts.

What a 3D Craftsperson Has to Sell

Those ceramic artisans that embrace ceramic 3D printing still have, when all is said and done, only two things to sell... their unique vision delivered via unique skills.  But, the vision can be unshackled from the limitations of the clay working processes and the skills are applied in different areas and different orders.  

Potential Distruptions

If I were an artist today that created intricate sculptures  in clay, I would be very concerned by the reality that one of the first impacts on my field might be on how the public is going to be able to differentiate my "handcrafted" art from 3D printed production art.  It is very likely to appear very much the same.

Clay and Ceramic magazines and journals understand the community they serve.  But, what happens if the ceramic community begins to diverge into different segments with people having surprisingly different skill sets.  Is it possible for traditional clay artists and ceramic 3D artists to embrace each other as members of the same artistic community bound by their love of ceramics?

I certainly hope so.  We need both.  The future needs both.

The CeraJet Will be Covered Here

 Whether or not I own or have access to a CeraJet, I will find a way to cover it.  My interest in 3D printing began with an interest in ceramic sculpting in support of my daughter's art.  While we have loaned some budding potters our Brent "C" wheel, the studio in which my Cube 3D printers do their magic is the very same studio where clay was thrown and hand built and where our Skutt KM 818 kiln still occupies an important place of its own..  It's not going anywhere.  We need it.

Just as in the past I helped serious craft persons and artists to learn how to photograph their own work with the new digital camera technology, I want to make myself ready to help clay artisans to not only understand the disruptive technology of 3D printing; but, to be able to successfully ride that disruption to even greater success.  It's going to be an interesting ride.