MedioDesign Digital Fabrication workshop

MedioDesign, authorized RhinoFabLab, just finished a very special digital fabrication workshop for a group of students of Universidad Simón Bolívar that visited Barcelona.

 Follow the results of the workshop on their blog or twitter...

Is your 3D printer killing your kids?

Did that headline get your attention?*

It should have. This is just a reminder that 3D printers are industrial tools and like laser cutters, proper protective gear and ventilation is needed.

I was reminded when the topic came up this week on the 3D Printing Event Blog: That nifty 3D printer may be slowly poisoning you (and your kids?).

"According to a paper published in the journal Atmospheric Environment, the desktop 3D printers on the market can emit a pretty hefty amount of harmful ultrafine particles (UFPs) into the air." 

"Worst case scenario? Asthma-like symptoms, cardiac arrest, stroke, and even death. There’s also the issue of toxicity in the materials used to 3D print that could compound these effects."

*There are a bunch of journalistic tricks used here to get attention and scare. But don't run off in a panic. Just give this some thought and do the responsible thing for your situation.

Crossover FabTalk Jun 29 2013

FabCafe Tokyo+Taipei @ Mini Maker Faire Barcelona
Crossover Fabtalk

6/29 Sat. 20:00 - 21:30 @ FabCafe Taipei
Speakers
/Barcelona/ Kinga Kubowicz｜Cut&Fold
/Taipei/ Kamm Kai Yu｜Fabraft Design Lab
/Tokyo/ Yusuke Oono｜noiz architects 

About Barcelona Mini Maker Faire...

More about Crossover FabTalk...

About FabCafe Taipei...

RhinoFabLab at a STEM Middle School

RhinoFabLab and Gulfstream Middle School are doing a Rhino Teacher Training to promote the use of technology in the classroom and improve student skills in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The workshop is free for educators.

To register: Contact Jessica Swanson or T (754) 323 4700

Grasshopper Presentations in Iraq

Zayad Motlib kindly invites you to the first presentation of Grasshopper in Baghdad, Iraq:

• Al-Nahreen University - Oct 23 at 10am
• Baghdad University - Oct 24 at 10am

Free entrance, no registration needed!

Rhino presentation in Mexico

On Thursday, October 18, McNeel Miami will be in Mexico City to present the latest on Rhino 5, Grasshopper, and RhinoCAM 2012. Andres Gonzalez, worldwide manager for RhinoFabLab, will be visiting the Design School at Universidad Anáhuac.

Date/Time: Thursday, October 18, 9 am

Location: Escuela de Diseño Universidad Anáhuac México Norte
Av. Universidad Anáhuac 46, Col. Lomas Anáhuac, Huixquilucan, Edo. de México, C.P. 52786


Organized by:
   
D.I. Eduardo Aguirre Altieri
Tel.: (55) 5627.0210 ext 8245

FabLab Toulouse Conference

FabLab Toulouse Conference

18 to 21 October 2012

Artilect FabLab Toulouse is organizing, in partnership with the festival la Novela, a conference to bring together the different actors of the Fab Labs Europe and all those interested in the movement Fab Lab, Maker, DIY, DIWO.

RhinoFabLab Workshop

Come and join us to see how we can build a simple object in Rhino 5 and send it off to be built in one of the machines available at the Fablab Toulouse. This 3-hour hands-on workshop will walk you through Rhino's interface and a few of the object creation and editing commands. We will learn the main constraints involved in getting a printable object as well as how to export it as a healthy readable file to the 3D printer. If you are curious and willing to participate, please sign up now!

- Place: Artilect FabLab Toulouse
- Schedule: Oct 18th, 9h30-12h30
- Instructor: Vanessa STEEG, McNeel Europe Training Specialist
- Language: English and French

Rhino and Grasshopper presentation

Next Tuesday, October 9th, McNeel Miami will be in Sao Paulo to present the latest on Rhino 5 and Grasshopper. Andres Gonzalez, worldwide manager of RhinoFabLab, will be visiting FAUUSP (Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Universidade de Sao Paulo).

Time:
5:30 to 7 pm BRT

Location: 
FAUUSP
Room 807
Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism
University City
Sao Paulo

See the live demo (in Spanish and Portuguese)... 

Getting there faster than expected...

Are we there yet? Really!

Old news: Last week MakerBot announced their new Replicator 2 desktop 3D printer. It is 37% bigger and more accurate—100 micron layers.

This week Formlabs announced Form 1, an even higher resolution desktop 3D printer—25 micron layers. Funded by Kickstarter!

As I mentioned last week, we have been watching 3D printing technology evolve for the last 20 years. Every year week there are major advances, but until now the technology hadn't quite gotten there. That is to say, when will 3D desktop printing start doing for product design what 2D desktop printing does for graphics design?

Have we arrived? Our check list:

• Cost
• Purchase price under $3,000: Yes.
• Supplies: Close enough.
• Accuracy: Good enough for most applications Yes.
• Speed: Maybe.
• Durability: Too early to tell, but that is no reason to wait.
• Ease of use: A software problem? If it is not easy enough for most Rhino users, it could be our fault.

So the answer is: Yes, and faster than we ever expected!

If you don't have a 3D printer yet, buy one in the coming year, and expect to replace it in two years six months or less with something even more amazing.

Are we there yet?

MakerBot just announced their new Replicator 2 desktop 3D printer. It is 37% bigger and more accurate—100 microns per inch. (One micron is about the thickness of a sheet of paper).

We have been watching 3D printing technology evolve for the last 15-20 years. Every year there are major advances but until now it hasn't quite gotten there yet. That is to say, when will desktop 3D printing start doing for product design what 2D desktop printing does for graphics design?

So, are we there yet?

Our check list:

• Cost
• Purchase price under $3,000: Yes.
• Supplies: Close enough.
• Accuracy: Good enough for most applications.
• Speed: Maybe.
• Durability: Too early to tell.
• Ease of use: This could be a software problem. If it is not easy enough for most Rhino users, it is likely our fault.

So the answer is: Yes, we are nearly there.

We are expecting that most of you (750,000+ designers) don't have a 3D printer yet and will buy one in the coming year. And you will replace it within two years or less with something more amazing.

The Layer Chair and the Fab Lab Sevilla

Jens Dyvik, currently on a Fab Lab world tour to research personal manufacturing and open source design, has been kind enough to share his Layer Chair design (Grasshopper definition, Rhino model, and fabrication instructions).

If you happen to be in Sevilla, don't miss his exhibition as part of his experience at the Fab Lab Sevilla. The opening party takes place on Thursday 24th May at 20h at Lugadero space (Sevilla).

New RhinoFabLab at SCAD in Savannah

We'd like to introduce you to SCAD/Jewelry and Objects located in Savannah, GA, on the Savannah College of Art & Design campus.  Join us in welcoming SCAD/Jewelry and Objects to our growing group of Authorized RhinoFabLabs.

What is a RhinoFabLab?
A RhinoFabLab™ (fabrication laboratory) is a small-scale digital workshop, certified by McNeel, with an array of Rhino and Rhino compatible software and computer controlled tools and training. These tools cover the various leading-edge industrial methods and materials needed to design, analyze, and fabricate almost anything.

Gallery of Installations

Come and see the new Installations Gallery on the Grasshopper web site. Be inspired by the many projects from around the world.

Go to the Installations Gallery…

* If you would like to share photographs of your Grasshopper generated installation, we invite you to submit a gallery image to the Grasshopper site and add the tag “installation”.

fabworks Sevilla - conference and book

Dec 15 - fabworks - Sevilla (Spain)

fabworks is a new conference about computational design and digital fabrication, organized by the Faculty of Architecture in Sevilla (Spain) and its Fab Lab.

The fabworks book, available as a free PDF, showcases the latest projects and workshops at the Fab Lab Sevilla.

A door handle inspired by a weaver bird's nest

The weaver bird constructs their nest by interweaving simple elements such as twigs, leaves, and grass.

Reforma constructs their Handle Nest door handle by interweaving simple elements of Grasshopper.

Both end up with a complex, lightweight, but sturdy 'nest'. Both provide security.

Details of Handle Nest (in Spanish) . . .

How did they make that?

One of the best kept secrets in the Rhino world is the RhinoFabLab community. Without any fanfare or promotion it has grown to nearly 2,000 members worldwide.

The RhinoFabLab community is a great place to learn, teach, and share different methods of digital fabrication. Discussions cover both hardware and software at all phases of the design, fabrication, and building process.

RhinoFabLab is open to everyone and encourages discussing all the tools that can help you realize your Rhino designs.

Learn how this Munich tram station and many other projects were built.

Architecture, Design Computing and Digital Fabrication schedule in Europe

Take a look at the upcoming Architecture, Design Computing, Parametric Modeling, Generative Design and Digital Fabrication workshops, conferences and webinars in Europe here.

First RhinoFabLabs in Europe

MedioDesign (Barcelona) and Controlmad (Madrid), both in Spain, are the first certified RhinoFabLabs in Europe.

A RhinoFabLab™ (fabrication laboratory) is an Authorized Rhino Training Center (ARTC) with a digital workshop, certified by McNeel, with an array of Rhino and Rhino compatible software and computer controlled tools and training. These tools cover the various leading-edge industrial methods and materials needed to design, analyze, and fabricate almost anything.

Join the community now!

Rhino Job - Fab Lab Manager at MIT

MIT is looking for a Fabrication Lab Facilities Manager for the Department of Architecture.

The Fab Lab Manager will:

• Be responsible for organizing and running digital fabrication facilities as safe and effective learning environments. 
• Participate in educational initiatives aimed at new machine purchases and teaching.
• Provide instruction to faculty and students with design and research projects.
• Offer advice and instruction on the materials and techniques as well as the process of fabrication and assembly to ensure safe and successful outcomes.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline. A master's or professional degree in design or a technology-related discipline preferred.
• 3 years minimum experience managing a fabrication facility for an educational program utilizing traditional and digital methods.
• Must have experience with Rhino/CAD/CAM software and equipment. Computer programming experience advantageous.
• Experience working with college age students in a teaching or advisory capacity helpful.

Details and application...

SIGraDi conference in Argentina

The XV SIGraDi Conference will take place 16-18 November 2011 in Santa Fe, Argentina. It is being organized by the UNL School of Architecture, Design and Urban Planning through its Center of Informatics and Design, CID. After eight years SIGraDi returns to Argentina, revisiting the vision and arguments shaping its previous meetings.

Details...

About the conference...
Augmented Culture, the conference theme, addresses a combination of interdependent social and technological meanings in a complex, multiple, interactive, and interconnected context. It acknowledges that a new social and cultural paradigm is being developed as the old barriers of time, space, and language are ruptured and transcended. Read more...