First Video Demonstrating the THREE 3D Scanner from Matter & Form

Matter & Form has been seeking interaction from the 3D scanning community on the Reddit 3D Scanning forums as they continue to develop the THREE 3D Scanner I mentioned in my earlier post.  It's tough crowd.  And, rightly so.  Most of us with experience with scanners costing less than $10,000 have wanted more out of our scanners than we've gotten.

That is not to say that we haven't gotten some value out of our scanners.  At Youthquest, our at-risk students enjoyed using  the 1st generation Cubify scanner and the inexpensive xyzPrinting handheld scanner even with these scanners limited resolution and loss of tracking issues.  And, they were able to gain valuable experience in problem solving as they learned how to improve scans.  Even so, quicker, more reliable scans would always have been appreciated.

The Reddit 3D scanning community rightly demanded visible proof of the new scanner's capabilities by asking for tough scanning challenges.  One of the challenges was a pile of coins.

Now, a pile of coins, it turns out, is an excellent demonstration of a scanner's abilities.  Specularity, or the shininess of coins, is a big challenge to any 3D scanner.  And, the low depth of the features of a coin require a very high level of resolution cloud point to be able to discern a coin's tiny features.  The Matter and Form team took them up on the challenge and created this video.

While the results, for the most part, are self evident that this new scanner has excellent resolution, there is even more to see in this video for those of us who have longed for a scanner that could be successfully used in a variety of classroom situations or that could produce the fine detail required for accurately capturing things like antique auto parts for 3D printing.

50 Micron Resolution & Accuracy

Along with the video itself, Matter and Form provided links to download the results of the scan.  To help me better analyze the actual resolution, I uploaded the scans in Meshlab and painted the scan in various colors.  Here are two GIFs I captured as I explored the output.

Coins captured by Matter & Form THREE 3D Scanner

When you consider how low the relief is in this coin, the detail is remarkable!  And, we have to consider that some of the original detail has to have been lost because the coin had been sprayed with a dulling powder to reduce specularity.  But, another way to evaluate the scan is by looking at the quality of the mesh as demonstrated when only the triangles are observed.

Mesh Triangles Captured By Matter & Form THREE

I first used Meshlab's measurement features to get an idea of the size of the coin.  It was about 30,8mm across. What jumps out immediately is the density of the mesh.  But, if we click on this image to zoom to a larger view, we can also see the uniformity of the mesh.  This is a great quality mesh!  And, that is important with scanned output, since we usually plan to bring it into 3D design processing for mash-ups, touch-up and other enhancements before printing.

Mesh Uniformity from the M&F THREE 3D Scanner

And, while you may not have noticed while the video was playing, this was scanned at the MEDIUM settings for scan quality!!  (10:15 in the video)

SCAN SPEED

While Drew, from Matter & Form, specifically mentions that they have not yet turned their attention to optimizing scanning speed, the next thing I noted in the video was that even in the non-optimized state, the THREE 3D scanner seems infinitely faster than any other scanner I have used in the past.  Consider this clip I grabbed from the Youtube video.

As this clip demonstrates, it only took around 4 seconds to capture and about 5 seconds to process the scan.  This is all done in the scanner, itself.  The speed is NOT dependent on the computer being used to show the interface.  This means we can expect uniform speed performance regardless of the platform we used to connect to the scanner.  Since we use everything from multi-processor i7 computers to Google Kids Tablets, this is an intriguing capability. 

While it remains to be seen how this performs in highly complex multi-pass turntable scans with full texture, it certainly shows promise.

THE PROCESS

The scan process, itself, is visible in the small window at the top right of the Youtube video. Here is another grab from the Youtube video to help us focus on the process.  (There is no sound and it's best to click and expand the view before viewing.)

As you can see, a series of images are projected onto the target objects using a white-light DLP projector.  The two Sony 13mp cameras capture the deformations in these patterns to calculate depth.  But, if we stop here when evaluating a scanning solution, we miss the real heart of the benefit of a great scanning process.  And, that is in how much can we, as users, control the parameters.

The reason why this is important is that the process we see in the above image is only a micro-process.  The REAL process has to do with the evolution of our understanding of all of the factors that go into a successful result in any given situation.  We need to be able learn more and more with each scanning session so that it takes less and less time to capture a successful scan in each subsequent session.

And, here is where Matter & Form's software has excelled relative to all of the other scanning solutions with which I've had experience.  They provide a by-the-numbers approach with excellent visual feedback.  Consider this short clip.  (Click for larger view. This clip has sound)

By saying Matter & Form provides us with a "by-the-numbers" approach, I am talking about the use of sliders with clearly documents values.  And, when I talk about feed back, I mean the real-time updates of the images showing how changes to the sliders affect the work area.  It was this approach that made the original Matter & Form the most effective scanner in the classroom of all that we used., including the Einscan.  

I'll go back to my video game days with Astrocade to explain why this is so important.  The reason we were rated #1 by consumer reports, even though our console was much more expensive than the Atari and others, was that our game designers understood the nature of failure.  That was because they had also designed the original coin-op versions.  They knew that it was important that every level increased the challenges, making failure a design feature.  But, when a person failed, the worse possible outcome was that they believed that it was because the system, itself, made it impossible to succeed.  Players would not put another quarter into a machine unless they believed they understood how they could do better the next time they tried.  People need to know they can improve.

Each time we scan with a specific setting, remembering the visible feedback we got from that setting, we have the basis for a new starting place should that scan not turn out as we had hoped.  Precise numbers allow us to bracket values until we get the optimal result no matter how many tries that might involve.  Our students learned from each scanning pass and, ultimately, were able to come up with the best starting place for every situation.  This was not true of most of our other scanners which left student puzzling when a capture lost tracking or failed..  

NOTE: I actually would like to retain the image during the scanning process.  But, I suspect that it might reduce the processing load by removing it during heavy calculations.

BOTTOM LINE

Matter & Form seems to be retaining the best aspects of their proven user interface while delivering a much faster scan at an even much higher resolution.  There was a lot of skepticism about the edge computing strategy where the workload of the scanning process is performed entirely in the scanner and does not rely on the power of the attached computer.  But, at least we know that single scan sessions are quick and the resulting mesh is fantastic quality with very, very impressive resolution.   So far, I am very excited about the potential.

STILL TO BE ADDRESSED

This video is impressive.  But, it only addresses the depth resolution.  The other aspect of scanning is material capture. None of my previous scanning experience has been with having scanner based on such high resolution imaging cameras. The two 13mp imaging cameras used by Matter & Form in the new THREE 3D Scanner have two positive characteristics.  The first is that they are based on chips made by Sony.  I have been a fan of Sony video products snce 1967 or 1968 and if any company knows how to capture clean video it's Sony. And, the 13mp size is in a sweet spot for great dynamic range and low noise.  So, I'm very helpful that we will see surprisingly great material capture as well as depth capture.  It's going to be fun seeing what come next as more videos are released in the coming days, weeks and months.

New Promising 3D Scanner Announced by Matter & Form

For almost as many years as this blog has existed, I have been interested in the promise of 3D scanning for a variety of reasons.  The first scanner that I owned was the 1st generation Cubify scanner from 3D Systems.  

We actually got a lot of use out of that scanner in our work with at-risk young people at YouthQuest Foundation in combination with our full-color Z450 powder printer.  In fact, we were able to scan dozens of cadets and produce 3D prints.  While not the highest resolution color scanner, it was something our cadets and their families really appreciated.

Over the years we added the 2nd generation Cubify 3D Scanner, the xyzPrinting 3D scanner,  the Einscan from Shining 3D and a few scanners based on the Intel Sense.  But, one of our favorites for scanning objects was the Matter and Form tabletop scanner.  It was, and remains, the easiest scanner for our students to use and we relied on it to teach the concepts of using 3D scanning for historical preservation and sharing of rare artifacts.  It's a great scanner for the classroom.

It was the Matter and Form scanner, along with our cooperative work with the students of iTech Preparatory school in Vancouver, Washington that convinced me that having students cooperate with local historical sites by scanning the site's artifacts would be a wonderful addition to a school's educational program.

 

 

Now, Matter and Form has introduced a new scanner that promises to be a breakthrough product toward making this a reality.

MATTER AND FORM THREE 3D SCANNER

The first thing to note about this new scanner is that it does NOT require a computer with a heavy duty GPU processor.  Note that it can be used with ANY computer or tablet.

THREE 3D Scanner using a Tablet

The reason for this remarkable capability is that the software is integrated into the THREE 3D scanner and interfaces with any computer via a browser using edge technology.  As far as I know, this is a first in the industry.  Moreover, Matter and Form indicates that an API will make controlling the scanning process available to end-users for those that wish to customize the capture process. 

The new scanner includes a 13 mp Sony sensor (or sensors?) and a white-light DLP with something they call ChromaSpec™ technology capturing geometry in full color.   They promise "metrology-level resolution."  The only scanners I know that have made that claim were well out of reach financially for most of us.  But, while Matter and Form does not yet specify a price, they do claim all this power will come as "and unmatched value" and based on the price-performance of their existing 3D scanner I expect that they are not exaggerating.  

Apparently, they will be introducing the new scanner through a Kickstarter campaign at a 50% one-time discount.

In the meantime, they will be releasing new announcements via email to those who sign up to keep informed.  You can sign up at MatterAndForm.com.

I know and trust this company from the many years they supported our work at YouthQuest.  And, I am VERY excited to learn more about this new product that offers so much promise.  As I learn more I will keep you posted.

 

 

3D Printed Action Cameras to Microscope Adapter Now on Thingiverse

 The first upload to Thingiverse in the series of action camera to microscope adapters can be accessed on Thingiverse.com.

Search for Thing #6101113

Action Camera Cradles

We've uploaded two different cradle versions to be used with a single thread insert for mounting the microscope sleeves.

ActionScope Cradles (V3 & X6)

The ScopeAction V3 cradle has been tested with the following action Cameras.

• DragonTouch Vision3 ($69.99 on Amazon at the time of writing)
• Xilecam 4K 30fps ($35.99 on Amazon at the time of writing)

Cradle V3 possibly fits many more Chinese made action cameras; but, we have not tested more than these two cameras for now.  Both of these cameras are available on Amazon.  The Xilecam did not come with a remote trigger.  But, both allow for setting a "narrow" field of View of 70 degrees, which is the best setting for using with a microscope.

The ScopeAction X6 cradle has been tested with the Xilecam X6 60fps camera. It was purchased for $49.99 from Amazon and does include a remote trigger.  (More about this camera below)

The cradle threads are printed as a separate "thing" and simple insert into the cradle.  

ActionScope Cradle Thread Insert

 

While the threads can be glued, there is no need to do so as the sleeves are designed to hold the threads into place.  Just be careful to align the locking clips of the threads into the cradle to ensure the back of the thread insert is flush with the cradle.

Action Camera to Microscope - Complete

Microscope Sleeves

Our plan is to create sleeve sets for a wide variety of microscope types and sizes.  But, Thing #6101113 includes just the sleeves that fit microscopes having 28.00mm diameter lenses.  Sleeve sets for 27.80mm and 28.85mm will follow.  While only one, or perhaps two, sleeves will be suitable for any camera/microscope combination, we have uploaded fifteen (15) different sleeves for eye relief distances between 9mm and 23mm.

28.00mm Sleeves with Eye Relief (9mm, 13mm & 23mm)

 We recommend starting with the 13mm eye relief for the DragonTouch and Xilecam 4K 30fps and the 9mm eye relief for the Xilecam X6 camera then bracketing find the sharpest and largest image without light flare.

We hope to compile a chart with recommendations for sleeve diameter and eye relief distance for each action camera/microscope combination and post them here.

Here is an image captured with the Xilecam X6 mounted on a Wolfe Student Microscope.

Xilecam X6 camera at 48mpx

 But, what is really nice is the Xilecam's 4K 60fps speed in capturing live video and playing it back using the VLC viewer. By slowing down the action and zooming in using the VLC viewer features, it is easy to see the details of protozoan locomotion.  

This capture was created using the Xilecam X6 at 4K 30FPS with an older Wolfe Student microscope at 40X.  The camera's field of view (FOV) was set to 70 degrees rather than the default of 170 degrees for most action camera photography.

 

 

 

2. The basics of Designing an Interface Between an Action Camera and Microscope

There are many imaging devices that can be successfully mated with one or more types of microscopes.

3D printed Smartphone to Microscope Adapters Are Available

While I have, over the years, been modestly successful at creating 3D printed interfaces between a smartphone and the microscopes I own,   Here is an image taken with a Sony Experia in 2017 using one my 3D printed interfaces.

Sony Smartphone to Wolfe Scope

However, the most brilliant design comes from OpenOcular.com.

OpenOcular Smartphone to Microscope

 

Josue Gimbernard, the designer,  has developed an absolutely beautifully engineered product.  And he has done so purely for the purpose of enhancing the experience of owning and using a microscope.  His design is freely available on Thingiverse.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5186470

He suggests printing in PETG.  But, for a nominal fee ($22), you can purchase a printed version at his Etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OpenOcular

Believe me, it is well worth the $22 because an interface that works with just about any smartphone and microscope combination requires many parts and a great 3D printer.  Josue does a fantastic job of printing the pieces and assembling the most complex parts in PETG. 

I wholeheartedly endorse the OpenOcular device for mating smartphones to heavier microscopes.  I have one and admire both the design and the execution.  It has to one of the most clever 3D printed designs I've ever used.

Lighter microscopes can be mated with smartphones.  But, action cameras are a better, and easier, alternative. 

Action Camera Interfaces are simpler to design and Print

Due to their small size and light weight, action cameras require a far simpler interface and can be successfully mounted on even the lightest of microscopes.  There are just 3 parts necessary for a successful design.

Part 1: Camera Cradle  

Because the action camera will be oriented face down, there is no need for an elaborate mechanism for holding the camera steady.  We simply need to design an open cradle into which the camera will sit.

Part1: Action Camera Cradle

The basic measurements for this part are length and width, making sure that the corners that hold the camera in place do not interfere with any buttons on the top and sides of the camera.  We also need to provide a hole for any buttons located on the front of the camera.   The design above accommodates both the DragonTouch Vision3 and the Xilecam 4K 30fps camera buttons.  

The most critical measurement for the cradle is the center of the camera's lens.  It must be accurate to a tiny fraction of a millimeter to be used successfully.  The rectangular inset provides a stable way to glue the eyepiece connector base to the cradle. 

Part 2: Threaded Eyepiece Connector Base

The part of the interface that gives us the ability to accommodate a variety of microscopes is the threaded eyepiece connector base.

Part2: Threaded Connector Base

The inside diameter of the base must be at least wide enough to accommodate the camera's lens shroud.  It can be larger since the cradle, itself, ensures centering.  The inside diameter of this particular design exactly matches the outside diameter of the DragonTouch Vision 3 's lens shroud.  But, is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the Xilecam.

Since we must rely on glue (Gorilla Super Glue Gel) to join parts 1 and 2 and the actual eyepiece mount screws onto this base, we need to ensure that part 2 is securely locked into place.  This is accomplished using two tabs that resist turning the base as the eyepiece connector is screwed on and off.

The threads have a pitch of 1.6mm allowing us to adjust for differing eyepiece relief heights in very fine increments if necessary.

When joined together parts 1 and 2 look like this.

Cradle and threads Combined

With the cradle complete, we now have a platform that can be mated with an eyepiece connector for any specific microscope we would like to use.

Part 3:  Threaded Eyepiece Connector

There are three critical criteria for a successful microscope eyepiece connector for a camera interface.  The connector must hold tightly enough as to not move, it must automatically center the microscope eyepiece every time and it must place the camera at the precise location of the lenses eyepiece relief distance. Here is an illustration that shows what we mean when we talk about eyepiece relief distance.  From: https://planetfacts.org/eye-relief/

Eyepiece Relief Distance

Among my microscopes the eyepiece relief distance can vary as much as 10mm.  The MSK-01L, from C7 A Scientific has the longest relief distance.  I suspect that this is to make it easier for students to use.  For our connectors, we measure the distance from the face of the cradle to the face of the lens.  We use a distance of 23mm for the MSK-01L and a distance of 13mm for the Wolfe Student Microscope.

In addition to the differences in the eyepiece relief, we find a great variety of differences in the outside diameters of eyepieces.  While nominally fitting the same size lens tube (23mm), we find some lens diameters might range from 27.80mm to 28.85mm. One of my stereo microscopes has an outside eyepiece diameter of 34.2mm.  So, the range can be quite wide.

The OpenOcular solution to address the wide variety of sizes was to use an iris approach.

OpenOcular Iris Style Centering

 

It works very well.  But, it require a bulky and heavy mechanism.  To keep our design as light as possible, we have adopted a multi-connector approach.  We create a new connector for each eyepiece diameter / Eyepiece relief combination.  

Lens Connectors by Diameter and Eye Relief

Differences in Eye Relief Distance

 By relying largely on a revolve technique to design the connector, scalability is relatively easy.  The screw threads are exactly the same for each connector.  

The most difficult part is determining the exact eye relief distance when approaching a new eyepiece.  These connectors simply screw onto the cradle/ connector base combination.  Each size is labeled for quick identification.

Action Camera to Microscope Interface

 

The result is a very light weight camera attachment to just about any microscope.

The Tri-Wall Centering Technique

The most critical aspect of designing any interface to a microscope eyepiece is that of centering.  One of the lightest and most reliable methods we have found is what we call Tri-Wall design where we grip the eyepiece in a triangular fashion.

Tri-Wall Eyepiece Centering Technique

The outside diameter of the 3D printed eyepiece connector is a perfect circle.  But, the inside wall is a rounded triangle.  This results in some parts of the wall being thin and flexible while alternate parts of the wall are thicker and more stiff.  Three triangular shafts are attached at the thickest parts of the wall.  These shafts grip the microscope's eyepiece. 

This design lets us grip the eyepiece tightly while still providing flexibility when attaching and removing the holder.  The eyepiece is always centered.  The flexability allows us to use hard PLA plastic without damaging the eyepiece.  While either TPU (Flexible filament) or PETG can used, there is no requirement for perfect fit and strength.

Over the next few blog entries, we will provide instructions and videos that demonstrate the steps we take in Moment of Inspiration to create a cradle to attach an action camera to a low cost stereo microscope and a typical student microscope used in high schools.

 

A New Series: Article #1: 3D Printed Action Camera Interface to Microscopes

In this upcoming series of articles I want to combine my love of 3D design with my love of microscopy.

Actually, microscopy has held a place in my heart and life a LOT longer than 3D printing.  It goes all the way back to 1958, when I was in the 8th grade and my parents gave me a child's Tasco microscope with some of the world's worst optics!

TASCO Microscope circa 1958

To me, the lack of quality mattered a lot less than the fact that I was able to see a whole new world of fascinating creatures that lived in the swamps near my home.  That little scope planted the seeds of a lifelong interest in protozoology and discovery that stays with me more than 60 years later.  I enjoy watching protozoa like others go bird watching.

I've had many more microscopes in my life since then.  But, I still have a deep fondness for introducing low cost microscopes to children in a way that might instill in them the same love of discovery that my parent's gift sparked in me.

I do think the concept works.  If you have followed this blog for any length of time you will know that my favorite scope for younger children is the low powered stereo microscope.  At the time of this writing, this one is available for under $27 on AMScope.  But, if this one is sold out, AMScope.com carries many more at very reasonable prices.

 

I gave each of my granddaughters a similar scope when they were very young, and both ended up graduating as the  valedictorians of their respective graduating high school classes.  The oldest graduated from William & Mary college and is now serving a two year lab program at NIH.

Action cameras are so small and light that they are perfectly suited for mating with student microscopes including those that might normally be considered toys.  While I would always encourage parents to buy the best microscopes they can afford, the reality is that many cannot afford high cost microscopes with high priced dedicated microscope cameras.

 Consideration #1: Dedicated Microscope Cameras are extremely extremely expensive.

While it is possible to find a dedicated microscope camera in the $50 range, at this level they have very limited resolution and brightness capabilities.  In this price range, 1.3mpx or 5mpx still images are the norm.  But, where these cameras suffer the most is in their frame rate for video capture.  As resolution goes up, the frame rate goes down dramatically.

Here is the typical YUY2 frame rate table for a dedicated microscope camera in the under $100 price range.

• 2592 x 1944@2FPS
• 2048x1536@2FPS
• 1920x1080@4FPS
• 1600x1200@4FPS
• 1280x720@4FPS
•  280x960@4FPS
• 1024x768@6FPS
• 800x600@15FPS
• 640x480@30FPS 

 This is fine for static slides; but, can become a bit frustrating when trying to capture fast moving protozoa.

The least expensive 4K dedicated microscope camera I could find on Amazon was $190 and above.  Compare this cost with a 4K Action Camera that goes for as little as $33 at the time of this article and it's plain that more people should be able to afford to add an action camera to their microscopes than a dedicated camera of the same quality.

Here is my first quick demonstration capture using a typical student microscope and the Xilecam 4K action camera that costs just $33.99 on Amazon that arrived this afternoon.  I immediately noticed a lack if lag and ghosting typical of my dedicated microscope cameras, caused by slow frame rates.  I'm very impressed!

 Consideration #2: Dedicated Microscope Cameras fit a specific size of Microscope

Almost all dedicated microscope cameras fit just 3 sizes of microscope tubes.. 23mm, 30mm and 30.5mm.  They do not, generally, fit children's microscopes.  While I am not a fan of these super low cost microscopes, I have to remember that my own love of microscopy began with just this type of microscope.  If that is all a family can afford, then I still want to find a way to enhance their child's experience with their microscope and that means finding an equally low cost way to capture and share what they can see with the scope they have.

 Consideration #3: Action Cameras offer a wide range of educational benefits.

As a science teacher, many decades ago, my ultimate goal for my students was that they not only learn how to observe; but, attain a passion and love of the very process of observing.  My basic method was to start big and continually focus on finding ever smaller details.  We started simply using the naked eye, moved to magnifying glasses and through a series of microscope observations from low to high power.  

A dedicated microscope camera is useful in only a small widow of that journey.  But, an action camera can be used at every step of the way.  Even the lowest cost action camera I have tested (Under $34) has a variety of settings for Field of View, including "close".   This provides views from wide to narrow that provide students with the ability to gather ever increasingly detailed information about the world around them.  And, unlike dedicated microscope cameras, they can be dunked under water in the special housing that comes in the action camera package.  Getting an up close and personal view of tadpoles is well within the capabilities of an action camera.  That can't be said for a dedicated microscope camera.

Consideration #4:  It's very easy to design a 3D printed interface between an action camera and microscope

 In the next few blog articles, we will cover the processes of discovering what it takes to create an interface between an action camera and various types and sizes of microscopes.  We'll discuss ways to adjust for the different eye relief distances between various eyepieces.  It's actually quite easy once we correctly measure the center of the lens of the the action camera relative to it's overall size and shape.  It turns out that most brand names follow the same basic design and may even be manufactured in the very same plant as other brands.  

We'll go over each step of the design process in Moment of Inspiration, which is available as a fully functional 90-day trial so that anyone that desires can follow along and create their personally designed interface for the action camera of their choice.  And, because we are passionate about microscopy ourselves we promise to make time available for those that might be interested in following along and need a bit of help here or there. 

In the end, the goals is to create designs for a wide variety of camera and eyepiece combinations that can be freely downloaded.  We will start with designs for two cameras, the DragonTouch Vision3 ($69 on Amazon)...

 

DragonTouch Vision3

 and the Xilecam 4K 30fps ($33 on Amazon).  

Xilecam 4K 30fps

 

I'm hoping to be able to experiment with the Xilecam 4K 60fps camera as well.  DragonTouch and Asako are related brands, so it should be easy to adapt to the popular Asako EK7000 series as well.  So, if you have a brand of camera that you already own, I look forward to working with you to expand the community's resources.  I'm even interested in seeing if the unique PROGRACE children's cameras can be successfully used with a microscope. 

PROGRACE Children's Action Camera

 It will be a fun adventure!

 

D-Day: The Bedford Boys Tribute Center

 We are coming up on the month of June.

There are two significant dates for our family in the month of June; but, this particular year our interest was brought into even sharper focus by what I had expected to be a rather mundane visit to a small town museum.  It turned out to be very significant.

June 3rd

Some years ago, we donated the diary and personal effects of Lt. Benjamin Draper, of Milford, Delaware

 

Lt. Benjamin Draper and Fiance from Milford, DE

If I remember correctly, there is a handwritten note in his possessions that indicate that his fiance never married.  Soldiers are not the only casualties of war.  While none of my family are directly related to either, we feel a special responsibility to keep the memories of their sacrifice alive. 

Lt. Draper was killed on June 3, 1864 at the battle of Cold Harbor.  He is buried in the Cold Harbor National Battlefield Cemetery.   That is why June 3rd continues to have a special place in our hearts.

June 6th

As a child born during World War II, D-Day has also occupied a special place in my memory.  I have visited the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia many times over the years.

I live in the Washington, DC area.  And, in the 1970's I was hired by the National Park Service to produce videos in many of the nations national parks and historical sites.  So, I have seen many impressive national monuments to those who fought in our nation's wars.  But, none are as impressive to me than the Natonal D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia.  It captures the experience like no other monument I have seen.

My mother-in-law was born and raised in Bedford.  And, this weekend, I traveled once again to visit the town for a memorial service for her brother and his wife who passed earlier this year.

We had some time between the service and a family dinner later that day and decided to use that time touring a local museum in town called the Bedford Boys Tribute Center.  My back was giving me some issues so I wasn't all that keen on going and, frankly, didn't expect much from the visit.  

It turned out to be one of the most moving and significant experiences in my life.

June 6 will never be the same for me.  While significant before, it now holds a very special place, with a whole new meaning. And, that is all due to the way the founders ans curators have told the story with so many personal effects, letters and images of the very first casualties of the D-Day invasion and built upon that to tell the stories of others in every branch of the service who served in WWII.  

Green's Pharmacy - Bedford Boys Tribute Center

The Bedford Boys Tribute Center is located in the former Green's Pharmacy.  The site, itself, is significant because this is where, as teenagers, the Bedford boys would take their dates for sodas and icecream.  But, it is also significant for it's role in receiving the news, on June 17, of the tragedy that had hit the town on the beaches of Normandy in the first hours of the invasion of June 6th.

The Teletype that broke the news

The Bedford Boys Images and Personal Effects

Imagine being a 23 year old woman who is suddenly faced with message after message bearing the news of the death of someone that she knew well.  Bedford is, and was, a very small town and suffered the greatest percentage of casualties than any other town in America.  Nineteen were killed in a single landing and one was killed in a different location.

Because of the wonderful way the curators have told the stories of these men, the families of other soldiers, sailors and marines have entrusted them with the artifacts of others that have served in every theater of operations in WWII.  And, in fact, I plan to donate the Cruise Book for the USS Bataan, on which my uncle, James Willard Simpson, endured the constant threats of kamikaze attacks.  Like Lt. Draper, my uncle had no children, and it seems fitting that he be remembered for his service in a place that knows how to tell his story so well.  

I am grateful that I agreed to make that visit in spite of my initial reluctance.  It was a highlight that I shall never forget and I hope that others will have that same experience.  You will not come away the same as you entered.  Kenneth and Linda Parker have done something wonderful.  

Please take the time to visit the National D-Day Memorial and the Bedford Boys Tribute Center 

P.S.  While you are in the area I would also encourage you to visit Appomattox Courthouse National Park where you can see the restored Plunkett-Meeks Store, owned by Albert Francis Meeks, my great-great-grandfather at the time of Lee's surrender.

Plunkett-Meeks Store Interior - Appomattox Courthouse

Memorial Day is coming up on May 29.  But, please keep the days June 3rd and June 6th in mind to remember that the sacrifices people made were individual and personal.  And, not only for those that died; but, for those that loved them dearly.

Impressed by the Mingda Magician X

 I was recently contacted to fill in for someone that was to teach a 3D printing intro class; but, now could not make it due to a medical condition.

As part of my preparation, he sent me a printer by a manufacturer that was completely new to me, Mingda.  The printer is the Magician X.

 This isn't a review of this printer.  I simply thought it worth alerting the readers to an excellent printer at an affordable price that  can print flexible materials.  I've loved using it the short time I've been able to test it.

https://3dmingdaofficial.com/products/mingda-magician-x-new-auto-leveling-3d-printer

Mingda Magician X

My day-to-day printer is a Creality.  I have tried other Chinese built brands, like Geeetech, but  non of them equaled the value of the Creality until I tried this printer for the first time.

What immediately set it apart was (1) it came with automatic leveling that actually works, (2) it was a direct drive printer and (3) it includes not only a full size SD reader; but, a port for using a USB drive for storing prints.  And, all of the ports are on the front of the machine.

I have been successfully printing with both PLA and Polymaker Polyflex materials.  

The printer is exceptionally quiet in operation.  And, I especially like the ease with which fine adjustments to the printing height can be made during printing.  The Z-Axis "baby-step" process is the easiest I've used so far.

The only criticism I have of the machine is that loading filament can be a bit finicky.  Because it is direct drive, it is very important to cut the filament at a 45 degree angle before loading.  I am going to link to Mingda's video about loading and unloading the filament because it is different enough to be a potential problem for those used to loading most printers in this price range.

 

The Magician X currently is currently available for $219 in the USA.  But, they offer a newer version, the Magician X2 for $289.00.  The big innovation in the X2 version is an easily removable print head assembly.  

https://3dmingdaofficial.com/collections/magician-series/products/magician-x2

That is a HUGE upgrade to any 3D printer.  ALL 3D printers can and will become clogged at some point.  Over and over I hear teachers and librairians talk about their school, or library, having a printer; but, they cannot use it due to a clogged head.  Having a print head specifically designed for swapping surely helps this situation.

The only other printer we've owned with this capability is the Jellybox 3D printer. from iMade3D, specifically designed for educational institutions.

Considering that my first 3D printers were all above $1000, either of these Mingda 3D printers offer real price/performance value that are worth serious consideration.  I've been quite impressed so far.

Addendum:  Now that I have the time to print several dozen TPU prints, and an equal amount of PLA prints, without a single failure of any type, I can confirm that THIS is THE printer brand I have now placed at the top of my recommendation list of FDM printers.   I can confidently load multiple parts for printing without fear that one or more part might fail.  

For libraries, in particular, that allow the public to use their machines, the Magician X2, with the easily swapped head makes a lot of sense.