In FAB

'Some Assembly Required': Artist Michael Johansson Creates Full-Scale Injection Molded Model Kits

1 Min Read

Ah, the memories of learning about manufacturing techniques back in freshman year of design school. I’ll never forget when my Manufacturing Processes teacher pulled out a run-of-the-mill plastic car model kit and explained to us the process and complexities of injection molding. Flash forward to today, I find myself reverse engineering at least a handful of objects I come across as I’m out and about during the day (disclaimer: I am also slowly trying to pull myself away from my iPhone). Perhaps this is what artist Michael Johansson has been doing as well since he’s started to create a series of life-size objects joined together with welded metal frames and painted a unifying color to represent those model kits of yore…much to our enjoyment.

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In FAB

Get Your School On with a 3D Printed Pencil Grip

2 Mins Read

Pencils. They’re all the rage with kids these days. You can write with them, draw with them, chew on them and absorb the graphite directly into your blood stream. Unfortunately, the common pencil is a bit drab. So to prevent someone from becoming offended at that drabness and stabbing the pencil in your jugular, there’s a simple solution solved by what people are calling, “the 3D printing”… Pencil grips. The crew at materialise put on a contest and gathered a mix of the best pencil grips to adorn your bare writing utensil and in doing so have delivered one more application that 3D printing excels at–making people insanely jealous of your badass pencil grip.

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In DESIGN

New Adventures in 2D Printing: Stack Concept from Industrial Designer Mugi Yamamoto

3 Mins Read

You may have noticed a more frequent collection of 2D printing-based news here on the ‘Smack in recent weeks. Why? Well…because in this 3D printing-obsessed world, it’s become a refreshing mental break to see new ways of doing something that for decades was done literally the exact. same. way. every. frickin’. time. Additionally, 2D printing is still a viable form of sharing information—so long as there is at least some effort in the process of manufacturing and disposal that is focused on sustainability. Industrial designer Mugi Yamamoto has given us yet another fresh look at how 2D printing can be new and exciting again with his Stack concept.

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In APPS

Must Have App: Augment Puts Your 3D Models Anywhere You Please

2 Mins Read

Gone are the days where you need an actual, physical product in your hand to make someone believe you know what in blazes you’re yapping about. In reality all you need is augmented reality and a clever app to make your very own 3D models appear anywhere you please. Augment is an app available for iOS and Android that does just that using your mobile device. The Paris based company launched the app this week and is available for the low price of free. However, Augment is much more than an app. They also have a very interesting business model to go along with it.

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