Stratasys Extreme Redesign Blast From The Past: 3D Printed Running Charger Takes 3rd Place

School spirit and appreciation for his running coaches inspired Max Meaker’s “Running Charger,” which won 3rd place in the Art and Architecture category of the 2013 Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge. His winning entry blended the profiles of a runner and a horse — the mascot of his alma mater, Kentridge High School – into a 3D sculpture. This unique design allows the viewer to see both figures in the sculpture, depending on his or her perspective. Check out the video Max submitted along with his entry to see what we mean.

Kentridge High School received a uPrint SE 3D Printer during Max’s senior year. Having taken engineering classes since freshman year, he was involved in helping to set up the 3D printer and was soon 3D printing models he designed using SolidWorks.

>>Click here to read the full article found on the Stratasys Blog.

 

Tracy Golden
Marketing Assistant
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.

Stratasys’ New Digital ABS2 Material Puts The Thinnest Parts At Your Fingertips

Digital ABS2 is a new digital material developed exclusively for the Objet Connex line of multi-material 3D printers. Based on PolyJet technology, Digital ABS2 is used to create rigid prototypes with a smooth finish for improved product realism.

Like Digital ABS, Digital ABS2 offers excellent durability to functionally simulate products made from engineering-grade ABS. But it also provides enhanced dimensional stability so you can easily prototype and verify parts with higher rigidity, fine edges and thin wall geometries.

>>Click here to read the full article found on the Stratasys Blog.

 

Tracy Golden
Marketing Assistant
Computer Aided Technology, Inc. 

SolidWorks Routing Ribbon Cables

Here is a tidbit that you won't find in any training manual on how to combine ribbon cables. First let's get Routing going it's part of the SolidWorks Premium Package.

Where to find it: Tools, Add-ins

For this example I don't have a model to insert the connector into so I will place the connector first then route the ribbon. So to make sure it doesn't start the route when I bring the connector into the assembly I am going to modify my options. (Notice there is a new group of options here that shows up only when Routing is added in.)

Tools, Options, System Options, Routing: Clear the first check box.

 Click OK and we are ready to start.

Create a new assembly model.

Open your Design Library

The library is pretty limited. However any part from 3D Content Central or other vendor parts can be easily turned into routing components, but that is a lesson for another day.

Open up your Design library and navigate to the ribbon cables folder:

Drag a 3m_mini_d_ribbon_connector out of the library and place it into the model. Mate it into place if you want.

 Right Click the connector and choose Start Route.

 

The routing properties manager will open on the left, just accept the defaults and click the green check.

The Auto Route function will launch next.

Go ahead and pick manual sketch, with the folded option, and draw in some 3D sketch lines. Use the tab key to change orientation.

 Here is part of the trick, in a straight section give yourself a few extra points.

Exit the Auto Route.

Then delete the segment between the poins so we can bypass an area with a flexible cable length.

 

Repair the section by using a spline, in this case I will use a 2 point spline to show another feature.

 Right click the spline and insert a new spline point. Select the spline point and you should see a sketcher triad show up like this the image below. Move the point down by draggin the green arrow head down.

Add an additional connector to the open end of the route by dragging it out of the design library and dropping it on the end point of the line.

Exit the sketch and the sub assembly to see the finished route.

John Van Engen
CATI Tech Support

What comes after 3D Printing?..........4D Printing!

As techs we like to stay up on the latest and greatest things.  Like all technology, as soon as then next big thing gets to the market it is already being replaced by something bigger and better.   3D printing has been the hot buzz around many medias as of late, including here at CATI.  We are seeing printer technology change very rapidly and many companies are finding great uses to reduce prototyping time and cost to get products out faster.

I came across a very interesting article the other day.  The military is investing in the next big technology in 3D printing.  Or should I say 4D printing. 

http://news.yahoo.com/4d-printing-may-bolster-arsenal-us-army-194155460.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory

What is 4D printing? This is the ablility for 3D print objects to change their shape or appearance ocver time (the forth dimension), or in response to a condition.

Could this be the next big medical break thru?  Can we engineer self healing materials?  What else would this now allow us to do?

This technology may be a ways off, but think of the possibilities this offers?  May be you could come up with a great us of this technology.

 

Bryan Pawlak, CSWE

Multi-Material 3D Printed Fashion Shoes Walk The Walk In Prague

The 3D printed shoe collection by up-and-coming Czech designer, Pavla Podsedniková, was one of the highlights of the Design and Fashion Week in Prague this month, where top Czech and foreign fashion designers presented their work.

The ‘Instant Shoe 2’ line exhibited at  Designblok’13  as part of the fashion week boasted five pairs of multi-material 3D printed customized shoes, sculpted for a perfect fit from digital scans of the wearers’ feet. The collection mimics wedged boots, almost cocooning the feet, with a unique open front panel presenting both style and functionality in a single platform.

Podsedníková’s Instant Shoes 2 collection were 3D printed on a Stratasys Objet500 Connex multi-material 3D Printer.

>>Click here to read the full article found on the Stratasys Blog.

Tracy Golden
Marketing Assistant
Computer Aided Technology, Inc. 

Design Binder - What is it? Why use it?

During CATI’s recent Design Summits, I did a presentation
about File Management. During those presentations, I found that not many SolidWorks
users knew about the Design Binder feature that SolidWorks provides with each
file. This is mostly because visibility of the Design Binder in the Feature Tree is off as a default.

This blog will show you where it’s located and how it works.

If you haven’t seen the Design Binder in your Feature Tree,
it probably is set on ‘Hide’ or ‘Automatic’. 
In order to see it, ‘Show’ is the selection you need to set in
Tools/Options/System Options/FeatureManager.

The Design Binder is a folder within the part file that is
used to store data. The default is a Word Document embedded within the Design
Binder that is internal to the part file. This is not an external document that
has to be managed. This is extremely helpful because anytime this file is sent to someone, all the information needed is within the part file. 

Open up the "+" sign to show the Design Journal. Left Double Click on the Design Journal and a default template will open up in Microsoft Word. (Note: Users have to have Microsoft Word on their systme to view the Design Journal)  By default, the document displays the File Name, Description and Material. This information is inserted
from the Part or Asembly File name and the ‘Properties’ of the part or assembly file.

In past jobs, we used this Design Journal by adding information that
was helpful within my engineering department. We added information like design
intent, design changes or even the design process. 
This is very helpful in situations where multiple users are
collaborating on a project. Other items that might be helpful to keep
within this document would mass properties information and revision information. The user can also use Windows cut and paste capabilities and add pictures or data to the Word Document.  

Along with the Design Journal, users can also attach external documents to the file by Right
Mouse Clicking on the Design Binder and clicking Add Attachment. 

The "Add Attachment' window appears. 

Browse for the files you want to attach and they will be
embedded within your part file. If you would like to keep the file external and
linked, check the Link checkbox. Your Attachement will be visible under the Design Binder Folder as shown below.  We often attached test data and vendor quotes to the part file. 

I hope you find the Design Binder Feature useful!

Judy Marlo

CATI Support

www.cati.com

 

Watch Wacky 3D Printed Car Crashes at IDSA Competition

What do you get when you mix classic pine wood derby-style cars and 3D printing? “Launch Day” – sponsored by IDSA (Industrial Design Society of America) and Inventables!

Teams from different engineering and design firms from all over the world submitted imaginative 3D printed car designs. From a hundred submissions, the top 10 were produced on Stratasys FDM and PolyJet-based 3D Printers. The winning entries sported such whimsical names as Balloona, Donky Kong and RocketMan!

Each was launched from a 3D printed six-foot high “ski jump.” Judged on distance, beauty and “most spectacular crash,” the winning teams walked away with 3D printers, sponsored by Inventables.

>> Click here to read the full article found on the Stratasys Blog

Tracy Golden
Marketing Assistant
Computer Aided Technology, Inc.