Grow It - Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing

By: Karissa C. – Marketing Coordinator

Due the number of requests we have had recently, we are now going to be offering Objet MED610 material. This Bio-Compatible transparent material is rigid and features great dimensional stability and colorless transparency. We now have the capability to print with this clear, bio-compatible material offering builds in high quality 16 micron layers.

MED610 is ideal for applications requiring prolonged skin contact of over 30 days and short term mucosal-membrane contact of up to 24 hours. The material therefore is useful for a range of medical and dental applications, such as custom surgical guides and hearing aids.

This material has 5 medical approvals including Cytotoxicity, Genotoxicity, Delayed Type Hypersensitivity, Irritation and USP Plastic Class VI. It is manufactured under the ISO 13485:2003 certification, which specifies that every batch of the raw material undergoes biocompatibility conformity testing; including GC-FID before it is sent to us ensuring the highest biocompatible standards for medical and dental application requirements.

 DISCLAIMER: It is the responsibility of the Customer and its respective customers and end-users to determine the biocompatibility of all the component parts and materials used in itsfinished products for their respective purposes, including in relation to prolonged skin contact (of more than 30 days) and short-term mucosal-membrane contact (up to 24 hours). GROWit will ship a certification of conformance; including all procedures taken to process parts made of MED610, but cannot be held accountable for final product bio-compatibility or improper uses.

OBJET MED610 Spec Sheet

To request your MED610 quote today, Click Here

By: Brad S. – Project Manager

If you are anything like me you were left with a little frustration last week not knowing how the project turned out. Well, read on and decide for yourself…

Recap: Our customer had the front end of a go-kart continually break, requiring other owners of the go-kart like himself to purchase an entire new front end. Our customer wanted to fix that problem and produce a solution that was more reliable than the O.E.M product.  We 3D scanned the front end to design a fix to their problem. That was the easy part. Next, we taxed ourselves with the challenge of improving the O.E.M. design. With a little CAD magic from our team we came up with two new designs (in addition to minor modifications of the original concept).

The Result: We created fenders with incorporated headlights (left below) and a F1 styled front end (right below). Our customer does not need to sell entirely different front-ends either because the style options are easily interchangeable depending on personal preference and just require unbolting the end pieces!

What’s Next?: Now that the data for these parts is in our system, we have the ability to quickly scan and design other parts to coincide with any these existing parts, making the opportunities to manipulate or change the style of this front end limitless.

Conclusion: We could have made the simple fix to the front-end that the client requested and they probably would have been very pleased. However, we are always looking at how we can improve designs. With 3D scanning and additive technologies we are able to improve the product development life cycle. The client now has a much more stylish and not to mention more durable front end with interchangeable options. It is important to not just create products, but to add value.

One last thing: In case you were wondering how we actually fixed the broken part, you can see the before and after images below. The image on the left shows the broken part and the image on the right shows the designed fix for it.  Quick, simple and very cost effective.

 By: Brad S. – Project Manager

As we can see from companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Google the aftermarket is constantly changing due to improvements in technology. 3D design and Additive Manufacturing are technologies that are predicted (and have already begun) to significantly impact aftermarket industries for a number of reasons. For one, it can eliminate the costly and time-consuming process of production assembly lines by producing fully assembled parts directly from 3D CAD models. Creating 3D printed tooling can also speed up the production process, duplicating production outcomes for limited runs. Additive technologies give designers the freedom to create with fewer limitations than they had when using traditional manufacturing processes. 3D design changes can be employed with complete flexibility, resulting in no wasted inventory, nor the typical wait times associated with costly tool changes.

For groups like SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, who has an enormous impact on the automotive aftermarket industry, this technology is groundbreaking! If you haven’t heard of their Technology Transfer program, you should make a point to check it out. The program aims to eliminate the necessity of acquiring O.E.M parts and capturing the data for reverse engineering. It gives members access to an entire library of O.E.M CAD files of car parts that they can use for the product development process. This is a HUGE tool for anyone in the car manufacturing business because it will cut lead times and costly processes tremendously, a big advantage in this economy! To think that anyone could have all 3D data would be a tremendous feat, thus GROWit’s reverse engineering services help fill the gap to jumpstart product development cycles.

Redesigning a Go-Cart Front End (Part 1)

By showcasing a recent project of redesigning the front end of an electric go-kart (MiniMoto) we will demonstrate how Additive Manufacturing technologies, along with engineering, scanning, and RTV casting and molding, allows us to provide customers with exactly what their projects require.

The Problem: Our customer reported that the front ends of these go-karts have a small bracket that commonly breaks and requires owners to purchase an entire new front end (not exactly an efficient design).

The Solution:  The original front end was removed and prepped for 3D scanning. Using the Konica Minolta Vivid 9i, we digitized the original part and then formed useable CAD data in Rapidform XOR3. We typically scan parts a few times from different angles to collect all of the required geometries. After attaining the multiple scans we are able to connect all of those scans three dimensionally to view the scanned objet as one solid CAD model. From that point we can make modifications or add geometry as needed to accurately replicate the original part.

Problem solved, our work is done, right?

The Enhancement: While in the process of fixing it, our CAD design team came up with the idea to not only fix the go-cart, but also create a modular design that would allow easy customization with little work from the consumer. With the permission of our client we decided on two new design variants that we thought would be very marketable to the consumer, a F1 styled front end and fenders with incorporated headlights. The F1 Styled front end was fully designed by our team using SolidWorks and the fenders with incorporated headlights data was gathered by scanning the front end of a mini bike (see below left).

Using the new CAD data, we created modular interfacing features for both the F1 style wings and the headlight equipped fenders. By designing and modeling alternate parts to fit the scanned part in CAD you can be assured that the parts will fit together properly after they are 3D printed. After the parts were perfectly aligned and fitted, we were ready to 3D print them in an ABS plastic on one of our FDM machines.

The Result: We have to build some anticipation so check back next week to see what the customer received!

 By: David A. – Parts Finisher 

Rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing are about more than just creating prototypes for testing and mocking up parts.  The process can be used as a fun and efficient way to design and build your own usable creations.  With this as my inspiration, I decided to build my own radio control rock crawler so I could configure it exactly to my liking.

First, here’s a little information on radio controlled rock crawlers.  These are a specific category of radio control car that are designed to travel slowly through trails featuring the most extreme terrain, where it is often required to climb over rocks and other such obstacles.  Because it is so expensive and involved to build a full-size rock crawler, 1:10 scale R/C versions have become very popular and offer most of the fun in a much more manageable package.

The basis for any vehicle is the frame and for this build I quickly decided on what is called a ladder style chassis.  This uses two vertical plates tied together with crossmembers.  This design allowed me to pack all the components in more tightly.  I used a laser cutter to make the side plates from 1/8” multi-density fiberboard (MDF) to quickly and inexpensively produce multiple pieces to find the design that performed the best.

For most of the structural pieces of the chassis I turned to the rapid prototyping technology called Fused Deposition Modeling or FDM as it is more commonly referred.  This builds with layers of ABS plastic to produce a durable, accurate, and affordable part – perfect attributes for my rock crawler project.

One of the biggest advantages to using rapid prototyping for a project like this is the ability to create and test different variations of parts to find the best design.  Using the Polyjet technology from Objet, it is even possible to create tires with different tread patterns and shore values to find the best combination for performance.  

Overall, the challenge of designing this project with rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing really paid off and as a result I have a very capable, functional, and good looking rock crawler to play with and enjoy.

By: Will G. – Sales Support

As the years go on we see more and more Rapid Prototyped Cranial Implants being used. Now that knee and hip replacements have become increasingly routine surgeries, the next challenge in artificial human bone is the skull. Titanium has been widely used in all sorts of implants including Cranial. Its downside is that it can be temperature conductive after implantation which can lead to problems with long term fit and comfort.

There has been a focus on a new material made from PEEK (polyrtheretherketone) plastic. PEEK’s lighter weight, strength, biocompatibility and other positive characteristics make it a desirable alternative to titanium. The laser-sintered implant geometry has a unique, bone-growth-promoting lattice structure that can only be created with additive manufacturing.

Current design applications are now giving us the capability to replicate nature as best as we can. The Sensable Haptic device is widely used in this process to create 3D sculpted data. This allows us to create a more realistic and accurate implants for the skull. With precise customization and better fit, such implant would require less time in surgery, faster recovery times and provide greater comfort to the patient.

To see a real life example click here:

 By: Matt M. – Parts Finisher

What is it that encapsulates a successful company? Usually the answer to this question depends on the person you are asking. For the majority of customers, the answer typically falls within the confines of these three categories: the quality of the product, the speed of delivery, and the dedication to customer service. After having worked with GROWit for the past 11 months, it’s effortless for me to state that we undoubtedly possess all of these sought after traits. However, I have also come to the realization that these traits can at times outshine some of GROWit’s other prominent features which occur behind closed doors. I’ve come to notice that one of the most overlooked aspects by potential customers when pursuing GROWit’s services is the overall positive morale that our company’s employees radiate. In an article entitled The Importance of Employee Satisfaction, it states, “Happiness in the workplace leads to much higher levels of productivity. It increases employee morale; therefore employees are more willing to work harder to improve the company and its goals” (Gregory, 2011).

When it came to writing this blog post, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to discuss. Ultimately I sought to touch base on the topic of our alluring team-based approach by examining a concrete example: A Parts Finishing Competition.

The goal of this competition was to see which team could clean the most parts grown on our Objet machines. I thought this was a rather impressive idea due to the fact that there was no one in the ranks of the company that could match my speed (at least I don’t think so J). Despite our busy schedule every GROWit employee was summoned on a Wednesday afternoon to the parts finishing area to engage in this monumental competition. It was decided that my partner Joseph and I would lead two teams to head off in a no holds barge race to determine which parts cleaning team reigned supreme. The two teams were separated by a black curtain which had been hung between the department in order protect each team’s strategy. The goal was to clean as many parts as possible in the allotted 30 minute time frame. Due to the marginal divergence in complexity among sample parts, flip blocks were assigned five points while surf boards were assigned two. In the end both teams worked together seamlessly in their efforts to beat one another, but unfortunately for Joseph, victory just barely eluded his grasp while my team came out victorious.

The underlying purpose of the parts cleaning competition wasn’t about winning, but rather an exemplification of the team oriented approach which resides inside GROWit’s foundation. Despite each employee’s busy schedules with his or her current endeavors, these individuals were more than willing to sacrifice a portion of their day and provide support to my own initiative (now I have 400 less parts to clean!). I deem the core message within the context of this submission is preeminently stated by the immensely successful entrepreneur, Sam Walton; “Individuals don’t win in business, teams do.” 

 By: Ken Burns – Business Development

Every year I have the same problem, “What do I get others for Christmas?” or even worse, “What do I get the person who has everything?” Then as Christmas edges closer I collapse under the pressure and default to the same boring and predictable gift: a gift card. Don’t get me wrong, I love gift cards but there is no personalization or thought that goes into a gift card. Can you really tell me last time you got a Target gift card that your face lit up with shock and joy?

Do you remember when you were a kid and you didn’t have money so you would make your parents a gift or draw them some picture. I’m willing to bet that your parents still have those gifts and I’m willing to bet they didn’t frame the Target gift card and put it on a wall. Do we lose our creativity as we become adults? I guess it would be a little weird to draw a stick figure picture of your family and give it to your mom when you are 29 years old; not so cute anymore.

So in search for the “Perfect Christmas Gift” I began scouring the internet and trying to be as creative as possible. Well, with additive technologies (3D printing) I can literally make anything I want, creativity has no bounds. I can take that stick figure drawing and replace it with a 3D model that I can have printed in a matter of hours. Take a look below and tell me which gift you would prefer to receive from your adult son (not your 5 year old)… 

You can have fun with this technology or you can use it to create elegant and unique gifts that would typically cost hundreds or even thousands dollars using traditional manufacturing methods (some of the items, like the ones below, can only be created using additive technologies)…

 By: Cameron W. – Engineer

If you’ve been keeping up with our blog, then you probably remember a post from back in October about an “Additive Pinewood Derby.” One of the cars in the competition was a scaled replica of a BMW M3 GTR. The concept and process was to use two dimensional drawings to develop three dimensional data based on points and curves in space relative to the drawings. The result was an aesthetically accurate and very fast pinewood derby car.

To start the process I created a 3D model for my car: I found standard view drawings of the M3 and then scaled and oriented them within the required dimensions for the competition (See image 1). Using all of these drawings, I was able to create points in 3D space relative to each drawing. Using these points I generated curves and then adjusted the curves to match the body lines depicted in the drawings. Once enough curves were created, I generated surface data based on the geometry of the curves as well as the two dimensional drawings (See image 2). This process was continued for the entire car and finally when every surface was correct they were knit together and thickened to create a solid model to begrown on the Objet Connex 500 (See image 3).

Even though it looks like a car from a race track, it isn’t hiding a 500+ horsepower V8 under the hood like the real M3 GTR. In fact, this speedster is sporting 10 ounces of pinewood and finely balanced tungsten weight. The M3 outer shell is just that, a shell which rests on an original pinewood derby kit block of pine (See image 4). This “chassis” houses one of the most integral components of any fast pinewood derby car, the weight. Now you might think that weight is weight but location and balance are of utmost importance for maximum speed and energy on the track. Unfortunately, I cannot share the secrets of optimum weight placement as my competitors (other GROWit employees) also frequent this blog. Wheels and axels are also a very crucial component mounted to the wood chassis. Incorrect preparation of the ride and glide surfaces can cause speed robbing friction. It is important to take every possible design and tuning aspect into consideration when building a winning pinewood derby racer.

Finally, when all the components were combined, they produced a very cool looking and wickedly fast pinewood derby racer (See image 5). Stay tuned for next year’s race results because I promise my car will not disappoint.

By: Karissa Campbell- Marketing Coordinator

If you’re familiar with 3D printing, then I’m sure the Dimension Elite Printer shown in Tony Stark’s lab during Iron Man 2 was a pleasant surprise! If you missed it, watch it again and focus on the part of the movie when Tony takes the model of his father’s “ideal city” back to his lab. The FDM 3D printer, made by Stratasys, is shown in the background.

Not only was a FDM printer shown in the movie, but to make this film even more fascinating for 3D printing gurus like us, an Objet 3D printer was used to produce both Iron Man and Whiplash’s suits.

To make the stars new Iron Man suit more durable and comfortable than the original one, Robert’s Downey Jr.’s hands were scanned and then the Objet 3D printer was used to manufacture extremely thin, articulating gloves.  According to Objet in a press release, “He was thrilled with the change and happy to work in them for hours.”

This new “print to fit” 3D printed body armor is created with parts grown directly on the Objet 3D printer which were then finished with paint. Go to our Image Gallery to view examples of our work using the multi-material Objet 3D printer.  We also offer a variety of finishes to make your project picture perfect.

3D scanning, 3D printing and rapid prototyping are solutions enabling more movie studios to have higher quality and more realistic costumes and props. Stay tuned to see how GROWit has helped some of these studios enrich their special effects with these new techniques.

Upload your 3D CAD file’s to see your ideas in tangible form.

Sources:

Roitenberg, Jesse. “Iron Man 2 and the Dimension Elite 3D Printer – 3D Printers in Education.” Stratasys, Inc. 24 June 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. <http://blog.stratasys.com/blog/3d-printers-in-education/iron-man-2-and-the-dimension-elite-3d-printer>.

“The Technology Behind Iron Man 2: 3D Printing and the Future of Film | PRLog.”Free Press Release Distribution Service – PRLog. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. <http://www.prlog.org/10674543-the-technology-behind-iron-man-2-3d-printing-and-the-future-of-film.html>.

The GROWit team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

 By: Antoine D. – Machine Operator

Brockwell, Kelly. "Spider Robot Concept for Dangerous Missions." Gadget Wiki. 6 Nov. 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. <http://www.gadgetwiki.com/20111106/spider-robot-concept-for-dangerous-missions/>.

Recently, new developments have been made at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering toward bringing 3D printed Sci-Fi like spider robots into reality. These “spider-bots” are engineered to be extremely mobile and very effective. They are intended to help save human lives either by reaching people that are in hard to reach and dangerous places or by gathering valuable information that will aid emergency teams in tackling hazardous tasks. The scientists took cues from studying actual spiders and designed these spider-bots around them.

Much like the living spiders that inspired their creation, spider-bots have increased stability due to always remaining with at least four legs on the ground. Real living spiders also have a complex hydraulic structure inside their legs which grants them ease of motion. Scientists were able to develop a similar complex structure inside of the legs of their robots causing them to have similar mobility as well as the ability to jump. On top of all this, spider-bots are inexpensive enough to be disposed of after a single use, which makes them excellent candidates for dangerous missions!

Spider-bots are lightweight, yet they have very complex geometries and inner structures, and require a combination of rigid and elastic shapes within a single component, making their design a perfect application for 3D printing.

“We can use SLS to produce one or even several legs in a single operation; this minimizes assembly effort, saves materials and reduces the time it takes to build a robot. With the modular approach, individual parts can be quickly swapped as well. Our robot is so cheap to produce that it can be discarded after being used just once – like a disposable rubber glove“, said Ralf Becker, a scientist at Fraunhofer IPA.

The entire body as well as the legs of the spider are greater, quicker, and more cost effectively than what could have been produced using traditional manufacturing processes.

“We took this mobility principle and applied it to our bionic, computer-controlled lightweight robot. Its eight legs and body are also fitted with elastic drive bellows that operate pneumatically to bend and extend its artificial limbs“, said Becker.

The complex internal structures within the legs are only made possible by additive technologies due to the fact that traditionally manufactured processes have limitations when it comes to the level of detail they can produce internally.

Here at GROWit, we employ SLS as well as a variety of other additive processes used to make complex components similar to the ones found in these spiders. This enables our customers to create detailed functional prototypes for a fraction of what it would cost using other technologies and processes.

Send your Clever 3D Creations to Karissac@growit3d.com if you want to see them in future blog posts!

Our latest competition was a challenge to see who could design the best non-electrically amplified iPhone dock. The basic premise was to create a product that would amplify the speaker of an iPhone using acoustics and require no power source. The amplifier not only needed to have great acoustics, but also have a creative design unique from any other docking station being sold today. The winner of the contest was awarded by having his/her design additively printed and displayed at future tradeshows that GROWit’s attends.

Quite a few of the employee here participated in the competition.  Here are some of the designs that were presented:

My idea for this design competition was to keep things small and simple.  I read an article on CNET that explained the simplest way to improve sound on an iPad is to cup your hand around the speaker and direct the sound towards your ear.

Inspired by this article, I made a compact product that fits snugly onto the base of an iPhone 4 and 4s.  The product directs the sound in the direction of your ear.  It also has a stand on the back, which allows the phone to rest on a flat surface in panoramic mode for watching videos or movies.

POCKET-AMP

All the designs were so good that management decided that we will do further development to improve one of these, which we will then market and sell to a larger audience.

Check out Objet 3D Printer’s blog “Cool iPhone Amplifiers – Grown using the Objet Connex 3D Printer” by Sam Green

To help us choose which amplifier to market please vote for your favorite by clicking on one of the names and then pressing VOTE.

Which iPhone amplifier is your favorite?

• Ampliflower
• WHEELi Loud
• Symphony Shell
• Bowl Blaster
• Pocket Amp

Vote

By: Karissa C. – Marketing Coordinator

The medical device sector is one of the prime adopters of additive technology around the world! Utilizing the technologies that GROWit offers, there are endless opportunities to bring innovation to the medical industry. Additive Manufacturing is impacting medicine as a means to design and develop medical devices and instrument. It is imperative in the medical field to decrease product development time and provide users with functional performance feedback because human lives depend on the quality and usability of the devices.

The production of hearing aids, with customized hearing-aid casings are now almost exclusively being manufactured using stereolithography, selective laser sintering, and Objet technologies. Some other medical devices and instruments that are currently being designed and manufactured all over the world using additive technologies are hip replacements, dental crowns, cranial implants, retractors, scalpels, surgical fasteners, and display systems. Using advanced 3D softwares tailored to the medical industry such as Materialise’s Mimics software, we can mirror a patient’s anatomy for a rapid creation of a prosthetic model.

You may be asking yourself, “What makes using additive techniques more effective than using traditional manufacturing techniques used in the medical field?” It can be much more affordable than normal manufacturing techniques as most of the current interest in using additively manufactured medical devices is for affordable healthcare. By having the ability to change the density of a part and thus make the surface of the implant porous we are able to help promote the bone growth of an implant such as a hip or knee.

So here are the greatest advantages of using Additive Manufacturing in the medical industry: freedom of design, cost advantages, productivity advantages, and customization. Imagine a future when your surgeon can try out different surgical approaches by practicing on customized models, improve surgical outcomes, and have impeccable custom made implants and devices ready before you step into the operating room! Well the future is here and we are ready to be a part of this new age in medicine!

Here at Growit, we are constantly looking for new areas where we can apply our knowledge on additive technologies to assist anyone, whether you are a surgeon, business owner or inventor and we would be happy to discuss any ideas you have.

GROWit team member Will Graff, with a group of industry experts, had the opportunity to use his extensive understanding of additive technology to bring sight back to an injured United States Marine. An in depth explanation of the processes that made this magnificent recovery possible will be explained by Will in an upcoming blog post. Stay tuned!

 By Jason B. – Machine Operator

On the 5^th and 6^th of October, I had the opportunity to attend the Objet User Group in Newport Beach, CA. Objet is the manufacturer of the most advanced 3D printers in the world, which we utilize here at GROWit.

The purpose of the user group was for Objet to connect with their customers on a more personal level, understand their needs, and make sure that as Objet users we understand and use the 3D printers to their maximum capability. Objet truly spent a lot of time developing new products this year as a direct response to previous user groups like this. By listening to our ideas, suggestions, and experiences, Objet continues to deliver a superior product.

On Day one, we started by brushing up on some of the new materials and software updates released this year. Objet studios 9 is the newest software upgrade that includes more advanced applications and user friendly wizards, that make operating these advanced printers even easier than before. A couple of the new materials this year were ABS-like(DM-AB), a more durable and temperature resistant material, and Vero Clear, a super transparent material. With the right finishing, it has the look of glass.

We then broke into small groups and went over new applications and some general maintenance changes. As one of the highlights for me, we also had the opportunity to sit down with the V.P. of product development, Dr.Ofer Shochet, who flew all the way from Israel to ask what we, the consumer, want from Objet. As users we were able to sit down and explain face to face what we would like to see from Objet in the near future. After talking to Ofer, I could tell he wasn’t just about the advancement of the company, but also the advancement of 3D printing technology.

That evening, Objet took us out on a harbor cruise for dinner, which gave us time to interact and socialize with other attendees. This was a great opportunity to meet with some of the Objet employees and also talk to some of the other Objet users in the industry. Day one finished with a few raffles but unfortunately I didn’t win the iPad 2 or a cartridge of Vero Clear.

On Day 2, our own David Gurrola, president of GROWit, was asked to give a presentation on the benefits and drawbacks of using Objet’s PolyJet technology versus other 3D printing technologies. Although this was an unbiased report, there really weren’t many drawbacks, mostly benefits such as build time, resolution, and the variety of shore values. I would say one of the only drawbacks would be the labor time in cleaning parts. Based on our discussions with Ofer, I know Objet is already addressing that issue by trying to work on a more soluble support. The rest of the day I attended an advanced Objet user seminar for applications and maintenance. I even got a hand on look at the new Connex 260…ooooh!

Being somewhat new to this industry, I found this user group to be extremely informative. I especially enjoyed meeting some of the remarkable Objet personnel. The advancements in technology that Objet is developing are astounding. Every day, I come to work and am blown away by the seemingly endless capabilities that Objet’s PolyJet technology brings to additive manufacturing!

Here at GROWit, we pride ourselves on pushing the limits of 3D printing, and it’s great to have the backing and support of a company like Objet to continue to bring better capabilities for rapid prototyping to our customers. I will definitely be attending the 2012 Objet User Group and am excited to see what new advancements they will be development by then!

 By: Karissa C. – Marketing Coordinator

Old-fashioned hand-held cameras are out and throwable cameras are in!  This amazing soccer ball-like camera has the capability to take 360-degree panoramic photos with a simple toss in the air.  Although not yet available to purchase, the ball camera makes it possible to capture a full spherical panorama of the ocean, the mountains, or a crowded city.

The ball camera gives solutions to the many limitations of traditional panoramic photography because as the camera is thrown into the air it takes full spherical panoramas and can capture scenes with many moving objects without producing ghosting effects.

This camera, created by Jonas Pfeil, is currently in the process of being patented. It uses 36 fixed-focus 2 megapixel mobile phone camera modules. The camera is mounted in a 3D-printed enclosure that is padded with foam for protection.

I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “How does the camera know when to take the pictures?” When the camera reaches the apex or its highest point, measured by an accelerometer, all 36 cameras take a picture. Those 36 pictures are digitally combined, uploaded via USB, and presented in a spherical panoramic viewer.

Once this product becomes available to buy, sharing pictures with your friends on Facebook and Twitter will get a whole lot more interesting! Check out the video below:

What clever 3D creations do you have? At GROWit we are always looking for ways to challenge product development and like Jonas Pfeil we want to push the limits of design with additive technologies.

Diploma thesis ‘Throwable Camera Array for CapturingSpherical Panoramas’: Jonas. 2010. Advisors: Marc Alexa, Carsten Gremzow. (http://jonaspfeil.de/ballcamera).

 By: Karissa C. – Marketing Coordinator

GROWit held its 1st annual Additive Pinewood Derby on July 22, where GROWit team members designed and 3D printed custom parts to add to the original pinewood derby car base. The motivation behind this reinvention of the Pinewood Derby was to challenge the traditional idea of a pinewood derby car as well as get the creative juices flowing in some of our staff and partners. This event gave our team the opportunity to be creative as well as bring their own ideas to life!

Every additive pinewood derby car was judged in a variety of categories. Not all cars had an additive part, but in order to qualify, at least one 3D technology needed to be utilized. Points were awarded by the judges in the following categories:

• Fastest single run
• Creativity
• Most additive parts used
• Most variety of technologies used
• Best design

The top 3 cars were sent to SEMA Cares Pinewood Drag Races, whose proceeds went to benefit ChildHelp USA and Victory Junction Gang Camp. Being involved in fundraising events is a huge priority to all of us at GROWit because we believe that the most imporant thing in life is being able to help others and give back.

Our top 3 additive pinewood derby cars were:

1) The first place winner was a Z Corp piece that incorporated Polyjet geometry. The result was a spring loaded frog (the GROWit mascot) that launched when the wooden log on the front hit the end of the track. The car was aptly named “Leapfrog.” Leapfrog was also our Relay for Life team name! (Below)

2) The second place winner was hand sculpted out of clay and molded in our casting department. (Below)

3) The third place winner, and fastest car, incorporated a Polyjet shell surrounding a pinewood base. (Below)

We’re excited to see what kind of creativity shows up next year!

In future posts Cameron, one of our CAD engineers, will give you a further look into the engineering side of the Additive Pinewood Derby. So stay tuned!

If you have a unique pinewood derby design you want grown additively, contact sales@growit3d.com

By: Rochelle G. – Project Manager

Here at GROWit, community service is a very important part of who we are and what we want to be involved in. It is sometimes difficult to step aside from the hustle and bustle of our own life, to invest in the lives of others. However, as Albert Einstein once said “Only a life lived for others, is a life worthwhile”, serving others is a crucial part of discovering fulfillment in our own lives.

On October 1st, GROWit participated in the Lake Forest Relay For Life, which took place at El Toro High School. Our team of 15, “The Leap Frogs,” was amongst the 300 who participated in the event. We walked and jogged (and yes, even leap-frogged) in memory and in honor of several of our loved ones who have been affected by cancer. The Lake Forest Event raised a total of $50,000, and GROWit alone raised $1,839 of that amount.

Now, I know what you must be wondering. You’re thinking to yourself, “What is that green frog hat for?” Each lap we completed with the frog hat raised an additional $10 for the cause. It was given to us by a very special person in our lives, Amy, who is currently battling cancer, and thus was worn in her honor. I think she secretly really just wanted to have blackmail pictures of us. We’re always willing to do whatever it takes to bring a smile, which is why you shouldn’t be surprised if you see this hat in future pictures on here!

We all had a great time coming together to fight for this good cause and even got a little competitive about who could raise the most money! Our Marketing Coordinator, Karissa, came out on top because she brought the most people, but I outran her by one lap!

The The Relay For Life will be one of GROWit’s annual events which we will be participating in, along with several others we hope to add throughout the year. If you’re interested in participating in this event or finding a location in your area, you can go to www.relayforlife.org for more information.

“Alone we can do so little; together we
can do so much.” – Helen Keller

 By: Karissa C. – Marketing Coordinator

Welcome back to the GROWit blog! We are proud to announce the launch of our new and improved blog. The timing is perfect as we recently celebrated GROWit’s 4 Year Anniversary!

My name is Karissa Campbell and I’m the marketing coordinator here at GROWit. In the upcoming posts I will be bringing you the latest and most relevant news and developments in the world of rapid prototyping, 3D printing, additive manufacturing, and 3D design.

The capabilities of 3D design and engineering enable new opportunities for customization, improvements in product performance, multi-functionality, and lower overall manufacturing costs.

If you are familiar with the industry you know that 3D printing is a phenomenal technology that has the power to change the way we live, think, and function. The best part is that it’s not a thought for the future. It’s here right now, right in front of you.

The market for additive manufacturing isn’t as new as some might think. It has been in existence since the mid 80’s and has been growing in the double digits almost every year since. In an annual global study on additive manufacutring and 3D printing, Wohlers Associates Inc. found that, “The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of revenues produced by all additive manufacturing products and services in 2010 was 24.1%. In 2009, the industry declined by 9.7%. The CAGR for the industry’s 23-year history is an impressive 26.2%.” They also forcasted industry-wide growth to be $3.1 billion by 2016 and $5.2 billion by 2020. Today, we have reached a point where 3D printing is beginning to reach further into the mainstream market which is the inspiration for this blog!

Every week in this blog, my fellow GROWit team members and I will be bringing examples of what’s driving this new mainstream growth. We will bring you stories from our customers, modern uses for 3D printers, and examples of different fields from the toy industry to the medical industry.

In the meantime I would like to officially wish GROWit a Happy 4th Birthday!!! To celebrate this huge accomplishment, our team decided to take a break from work, grab our bowling balls, and dive in to a seriously competitive bowling tournament at Lake Forest Lanes!

Jason Bowling!

David bowling at lake forest lanes!

Ken Bowling!

In honor of GROWit’s birthday, we’d like to share with you a few of GROWit’s greatest achievements over the last 4 years.

In September of 2007 GROWit purchased its first 3D printer, the Spectrum Z510. This is where it all began!

David with GROWit's first 3D printer, the Spectrum Z510!

Z-Corp 3D printers are well-known for their capability to print multicolored parts. The full color 3D printing process involves jetting colored liquid binder on each thin, plaster based layer infusing the model with a full spectrum of color, one layer at a time. The addition of color distinguishes each component of a large assembly without having to build each in a different material. The Spectrum Z510 was a great first purchase for GROWit and it is still used on a regular basis for rapid prototyping in multiple colors.

On January 25th of 2008 Objet announced our purchase of the Connex500 in a press release. This was a huge achievement because we purchased the world’s first system capable of printing parts and assemblies made of multiple materials in a single build.

This purchase gave us the ability to offer our customers unprecedented speed and flexibility in creating complex parts that require multiple materials, which are usually, produced using over molding techniques.

GROWit team member displays the ability of the Connex500 to build multiple parts in one build tray

The Connex500 printer can print models made of up to 14 different materials, in single print job, saving a great deal of time and cost!

In June of 2010 GROWit moved from Anaheim to Lake Forest, CA. As we continued to grow, space got a little cramped pushing us to move into a larger building in Lake Forest! This move was a huge step and accomplishment for GROWit because as a small business it gave us more workspace and the ability to hire on more employees to keep our lead times down.

We have now been located in Lake Forest for a little over a year and we are doing better than ever and continuously growing! We now have eleven additive machines and three 3D scanners that we use in house. We are excited to continue to grow and be successful while maintaining the humbleness of a small business! Check out this security snap shot taken of one of the rooms in our new office.

With the addition of ten additive machines and our move to a larger building in Lake Forest, I can say that we have come a LONG way in just 4 years! We plan to continue to improve and grow year after year, and all of us here at GROWit are happy to be a part of that!

Z Corp, developed in 1995 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and named after the Z Corporation, is often overlooked as a functional prototyping option since then there have been several new additive technologies that seemingly offer better solutions. Many people are quick to bypass Z Corp for its additive competitors, but that may not always be the best choice. Now certainly there are situations where Z Corp does not make sense, but we want to address how Z Corp can still be utilized as one of the best resources for additive manufacturing.

Z Corp is a powder based 3D printing technology. A standard HP inkjet print head moves over a bed of powder, depositing a liquid binding material in the desired cross section shape. A fresh layer of powder is then deposited and the process repeats itself. Eventually after the entire model is created, the unbound powder is removed, revealing a solid part.

Printing in Z Corp requires no extra support material because the powder it prints with IS the support. Furthermore, the “support” that needs to be cleaned off can simply be blown away, making it ideal for parts with internal geometry that would be too hard to clean if printed using technologies that require solid support material.Finally, the excess non-hazardous, eco-friendly powder can be recycled and used again, making it an inherently green technology.

In general, it is the fastest 3Dprinting technology on the market for medium to large parts, able to print large parts in a few hours that would take up to 3 times as long with other technologies. Because it can print large pieces at lower costs, it is a versatile way to create molds and castings in just about any material, especially RTV molded plastics and urethanes.The most unique application, however, of Z Corp versus other technologies, is the ability to run fully multi-colored pieces such as this car:

Because of its cost effectiveness for large prints, easily removed internal geometry support, and multi-color ability,a great example of Z Corp is its use for architectural models of buildings and landscapes, such as the following:

Fresh off the machine, Z Corp parts are in a “green state,” meaning they are fairly fragile and still “porous.”In order to give the part more functional properties, the part is coated or soaked in various infiltrants. These infiltrantsrange from a basic mixture of water and Epsom salt that will allow a user to handle the brittle part to highly engineered epoxies that can give the material various benefits such as high-temp tolerance orsuperior strength,. The ability to enhance the base materials’ characteristics and properties becomes very useful when dealing with the Z Corp technology. What some see as a flaw in the technology’s capabilities, (having to infiltrate a part afterwards), can become a superiorattribute of the technology.Other technologies produce solid objects and are thus not as absorbent of these types of additives.

Don’t forget to consider Z Corp on your next additive project because it may be the best solution for your needs.

How many times have you thought, “This is the best idea ever, somebody should invent it!” or “This could be the next million dollar idea!” Well, if you haven’t thought this yourself, odds are you have heard someone else say it. So, what does it take to really have the next “million dollar idea”?

You will likely need designers, engineers, prototypes, product testing, and so on. While the initial concept may be exciting, the next steps can seem overwhelming and exhausting. Coordinating this process alone can be a daunting task. Failure to recognize the steps of taking a product from a napkin sketch to production is the reason most inventions never come to fruition.

Another component of having an idea is getting people to listen to your idea. Well, one easy way to gain some recognition is being featured in a prominent magazine…

Check out the “Invention of the Month” in the January issue of Popular Science magazine. The article outlines a ladder conveyor system, designed specifically for fire trucks, to quickly access upper stories in buildings and bring victims to safety that normally would be incapacitated or unable to climb to safety on their own.

The team here at GROWit worked with Douglas O. Denison to design the full scale proof of concept as well as bring this abstract, innovative design to a physical, working model of the truck.

To start, our engineers worked with paper sketches and researched similar heavy equipment, determining all necessary fire/vehicle codes.

Furthermore, we interviewed individuals in fire rescue to get their input on personal wants and needs before we created the CAD design of the different parts of the model—the rung takeup system, and of course the hydraulic ladder, which includes rungs that are on rollers that slide through tracks, allowing the ladder to extend and retract while still moving rungs up and down the ladder. Each roller in the rung takeup system“is attached to a spring-loaded cable that keeps the line taut as the rungs run up and down the ladder.”

Using a combination of Additive technologies and materials, the fire truck along with its specialized ladder were then produced as a full scale section model as well as a 1:16 scaled complete model and assembled completely in-house here at GROWit. For the 1:16 scaled model, we started with a standard child’s play truck, and added the assembled parts from there. The ladder was printed using both Polyjet Vero materials and Fused Deposition Modeling PC-ABS and ABS materials. The back end of the truck was composed of Z-Corp powder printed color parts.

The model also has fully functional aspects. For instance, the ladder extends, retracts, raises, and lowers all at the press of a button, and the ladder rungs circulate through the system at the turn of a crank.

We were able to relieve Denison of the weight of having to find all the necessary service providers to complete his project by offering every service in-house. We could work faster, more efficiently, and with more resources – all at a cost-saving benefit to our customer.

Now, of course, not all of our projects are featured in magazines, but as long as you have an idea we are ready to take care of the rest!

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), developed in the late 1980s, is one of the oldest types of additive technologies. An extrusion head is used to liquefy and deposit material, layer by layer, from the bottom up. One way to visualize it is to think of a hot glue gun, which melts hard pieces of glue. Once the glue is extruded, it solidifies in place. FDM works the same way, except is extrudes a plastic instead of a glue. The head follows a tool-path defined by the CAD file and can deposit layers using a head as thin as .005” with the standard tip being .010”.To give you an idea of this size, a piece of human hair is only .003” – .007” thick!

Ok, we don’t want to bore you too much with the technical details, but to truly understand all the amazing capabilities of this technology we want to give you a little more insight through a project that we recently did for one of our clients.

The outline that the tip lays is called the contour, while the zigzag shape to fill the contours is called the rasters. At its standard build of approximately .020” rasters/contours, FDM creates a very strong part. To create a more customized part, the contours and rasters can be modified. For instance, adding more contours/rasters will create thinner strands, thus adding more material in the same amount of space, increasing the strength of the part.

Furthermore, FDM can print in “sparse mode,” which creates a honeycomb structure within the part rather than printing a solid part. The benefits include lighter weight, less print time, and less material, which in turn saves you money.

You can see the difference between the Normal and Sparse Modes below.

(Click on either picture to enlarge it.)

This particular model was printed in sparse mode:

You can see the support filling up on the inside because it was printed using 0 contours, meaning it just created the outline and the honeycomb structure on the inside.

Furthermore, because of this part’s large size, it was puzzle cut into two parts and assembled back together:

This particular model was used for investment casting, but we’ll talk more about that in a later post.

Polyjet – or Multi-Material Polyjet– technology is a type of 3D printing that uses simultaneous jetting of multiple types of modeling material either singularly or simultaneously, creating working assembled parts. These parts can be composed of various colors and shore values, incorporating both rigid and flexible material characteristics .While standard resolution is .0012”, in the highest resolution mode, single material, the layer thickness is .0006”, allowing for complex detail.

Here is an example of rigid Fullcure720 combined with flexible TangoBlack+ to create an overmold case. The detailed nature of this part and ability to produce functioning buttons, allows it to be used as a working prototype that closely exemplifies an end use product.

Another example of the intricacies that Polyjet can capture is in this action figure measuring approximately 6 inches wide:

This figurine was made using the rigid material VeroBlue. By enlarging the picture (click on it), you can see the elaborate detail in the teeth. Furthermore, the chainsareall moveable pieces grown as a single assembly.

Finally, as an example of the different shore values and colors that can be achieved using just VeroWhite and TangoBlack+, here is a figurine that incorporates all the various values:

By combining the two types of materials, the entire spectrum of flexibility and color can be achieved.

The primary benefits of being able to utilize multiple materials simultaneously and mix them together on the fly are only yet being tapped into. Creating overmolded or “co-molded” products is great and saves a lot of money for pre production, but where the multi-material technology’s strengths really start becoming evident is in the ability to take two materials and mix them together to acheive a far superior material than that of the base materials. This example is evident in the new RGD5160-DM.

RGD5160-DM, which is Objet’s latest ABS-like digital material, is superior to current materials for a number of reasons. The tensile strength of RGD5160-DM, for instance, is up to 8,700 psi versus VeroWhite’s 7,200, making it much stronger. Furthermore, the elongation at break is 20% for VeroWhite, while it is up to 40% for RGD5160-DM. Finally, it can stand temperatures up to 154 degrees Fahrenheit versus VeroWhite’s 109 degrees. GROWit will offer a post cure to this material that can withstand temperatures up to 194 degrees.

These strengths do come with one downfall though. Because we are utilizing both material bays to create this material, we will not be able to use a flexible material with RGD5160-DM to create “ABS” overmolded products. Objet has alluded to creating a machine with three material bays in the future though that would alleviate this shortfall.

To see more examples of Polyjet parts, please visit our photo gallery here.

GROWit, a market leader in Additive Technologies, announced today an innovative technology that will change the way we view the world forever. “eyePrint3D,” printed using the Objet Connex 500 technology, is a 3D printed eye that eliminates the need to use traditional 3D glasses and will turn your entire world into a 3D experience.

After the eyes are implanted, the transformation into the 3D world is instant. Turn on your 3D television and watch the game without the need for cumbersome glasses. Watch a movie and the characters will look like they are jumping off the screen. Even live people and physical objects will stand out brighter and more vibrantly, as if they are in 3D!

“We have been working diligently for months now with a talented team of engineers and medical experts to bring this technology to the general public. This will change the way we view ourselves and the world around us, forever,” says David Gurrola, Founder and President of GROWit.

As technology advances, software updates will become available. Upgrades will be as seamless as transferring data into the body through electrical waves directly to the optic nerve, which is then transmitted to the eyes.

For more information, click here.

While GROWit is one of the market leaders with the Connex 500 technology, that isn’t all we do!

We offer a wide range of additive technologies to meet all of your prototyping needs. Our in-house engineering team can take anything from napkin sketches to physical objects to create digital files which can be used in a number of different ways to take your concepts to production. We do this through the processes of 3D Scanning or CAD Engineering and 3D Design.

3D scanning is the process of converting physical objects into precise digital models utilizing non-contact, laser-based and white-light hardware and software scanning technology. This process provides you with a complete digital representation of your part to be used for reverse engineering, quality inspection, and part testing.

Nearly any physical object can be scanned – a 4mm tall figurine, a 250-foot jumbo jet, or even a real person. The traditional method of measuring points on an object can be inaccurate and time-consuming, while 3D scanning quickly gives you accurate data.

CAD and 3D Design can include many services such as reverse engineering, digital file output, and model creation from scan data. A napkin-sketched idea can be realized through the creation of a custom x, y, z coordinate system to yield 3D measurements of the part. This data can then be used to create a working prototype.

Welcome to the Official Blog of GROWit! We are excited you’re here.

Welcome to GROWit!

3D Printing is the #1 thing to watch in 2011, according to JWT Intelligence. They predict that as the technology advances, 3D printers, originally used for their ability to produce realistic prototypes, will be called upon to produce everyday items such as jewelry, lamps, or even a car as featured at 2010’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. According to the New York Times, it is manufacturing with a mouse click instead of hammers and nails.

GROWit will have regular written and video blogs to update you on the latest technologies; give you an opportunity to meet GROWit’s team; give you a sneak peek into our facility and the way we finish your parts; and finally, keep you posted on what is on the horizon for rapid technologies and additive manufacturing.

I invite you to look around. We always appreciate your feedback and look forward to seeing you every week!