{"id":4572,"date":"2012-07-08T04:58:04","date_gmt":"2012-07-08T04:58:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/?p=4572"},"modified":"2012-07-08T04:58:04","modified_gmt":"2012-07-08T04:58:04","slug":"printing-out-awesome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/forbiddenpanel.com\/PanelCast\/printing-out-awesome\/","title":{"rendered":"Printing Out Awesome"},"content":{"rendered":"

What if I told you that someday you could create a 3D image using specific software, send this file to your printer, and create a perfect 3D model of the image?\u00a0 So perfect in fact, that you\u2019d need a magnifying glass to see any of the details.\u00a0 What if I told you that this day I speak of already happened years ago?\u00a0 What if I told you that it\u2019s even better?<\/p>\n

Welcome to the Connex500.<\/p>\n

What is it?\u00a0 It is a very sophisticated 3D printing system developed by Objet to create anything the mind can dream up.\u00a0 This new machine is capable of creating parts and assemblies using up to 14 different materials all at once, in one printing.\u00a0 I know what you\u2019re thinking\u2026 ooh, fascinating…\u00a0 why should I care?\u00a0 Well, if you\u2019re a geek like me you\u2019re foaming at the mouth to get one of these (well, your company anyway since these don\u2019t come cheap).\u00a0 What this machine can do that has never been done before is meld different materials together in a single process, saving loads of time and money, and creates prototypes literally overnight.<\/p>\n

This means that all of those lead times from vendors stating 4-6 weeks and hundreds to thousands of dollars in tooling including first article samples are virtually a thing of the past.\u00a0 New concepts can be tested and proven (or disproven) in less than a week.\u00a0 In my field as an electro-mechanical project engineer this is unheard of.<\/p>\n

For those out there who don\u2019t particularly care about the gizmo side of this crazy cool contraption let me rephrase this into something you really care about; Master Chief Suit of armor from Halo.\u00a0 This machine is capable of creating a full size replica suit of armor using different types of materials to make the armor plate, the visor, and the gloves, to name a few.\u00a0 Every one of your favorite game heroes, comic legends, or anything else you can dream up can be made using this machine in astonishing detail (depending on the detail level of the file imported into the machine).<\/p>\n

How can this possible get any cooler? This seems so amazing that it couldn\u2019t possibly get any better, but it might in the future.\u00a0 While it is a bit unrealistic to think about using one of these machines for home use, imagine how we can use this technology and shrink it down to something that CAN fit inside your house.\u00a0 Think of it as the Ultimate appliance that you just absolutely could not live without, because you would be able to print out a couch you downloaded from online, an entire living room, or perhaps the perfect gaming lounge.\u00a0 The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.<\/p>\n

\"Clear <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Halo <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Race <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n