In class this week, we learned about the capabilities of 3D scanning. I didn’t personally have the chance to make my own bust but saw others as they used an iPad to scan themselves. I would equate the process to a much more thorough panoramic photograph. The 3D element, of course, makes us capture the entire depth of the object being scanned. It was cool to see how easy it was for 3D scanners to capture everything in front of it. In class, we watched a video on Jay Leno who demonstrated just how easy 3D scanning can be. We learned that there’s even a low-grade 3D scanner for your smartphone.

The work with scanners reminded me of an idea that a friend and I had worked on. We thought it would be cool if we could capture our own dimensions and upload a graphic image of ourselves into the cloud. Then, as a Google plug-in or other web-based app, we would use our dimensions to view ourselves in clothing when shopping online. This could help shoppers find clothing that fits them more assuredly than the current method of guessing what will fit and returning the clothing if it doesn’t. 3D scanning could make this idea a reality, though there would be much more to launching a sound business beyond the technological capabilities.

That sounds like a project for another time so I’ll turn the focus to the project that our group is working on – the steering wheel attachment. It was our group’s first opportunity to work as a whole for some time, so we took the time to iterate on some designs that make the most sense for our target users. After downloading MeshMixer, we generated a design for a screw that would be a printed locking mechanism for the printed modular steering wheel clamp. Finally, we developed our project testing plan for our product. In planning, we determined who were specifically our target users in addition to what they would be doing in testing our attachment. Looking forward to keeping the ball rolling!

This week’s class gave us an opportunity to further explore the possibilities of 3D printing in addition to spending time iterating our project idea.

Our guest speaker from Shapeways showed us the amazing capabilities of the company through a swift “office” tour. I put the word office in quotes because the Shapeways place of business acts much more like a lab, or an art studio. The capabilities of their sleek machinery were astounding, as their printers use everything from ceramics to strong metals. Coming from a business perspective, I found it interesting that it is supremely difficult to capture economies of scale in the 3D printing industry. Economies of scale is a competitive advantage for any business: it means that with more items produced, the cost of those items decreases. But it is the unique nature of each product of a 3D printer that makes the industry so appealing. The ability to customize something exactly to our liking is what 3D printing is all about. On the site, I found a cool looking moon lamp that I thought I’d share.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/TDDWUNVVF/moon-lamp?optionId=41593801&li=featured

After learning about Shapeways, we had an opportunity to meet with our project teams to move our idea further along. Our group decided to modify our steering wheel attachment to many different grips that attach to a common, minimalist base. One classmate offered some excellent feedback for us in suggesting that it is imperative that we ensure our design is extremely strong, because drivers will be counting on it to hold firm while turning their vehicle. If the product were to break, it could be detrimental to the safety of the driver. Please see Ajie’s week 10 post for photos of our updated design. We are excited to continue work on our project!

Feedback is tremendously helpful throughout the entire design process. Among this week’s resources was an engaging video on Design as an Iterative Process, from David Kelley at IDEO. He spoke about the necessity of rapid prototyping when we produce our first designs. It makes sense that the faster we produce designs, the faster we allow feedback. After just one presentation of our group’s design, we received some helpful feedback that rings that idea true.

What? 

In week 9, we had the opportunity to put the finishing touches on our boxes. In order to liven up our designs, we strategically sewed a conducive thread into the fabric which connected to our light’s battery. Like other new skills, picking up on the sewing did not come naturally for me. But also like other new skills, I saw myself go from complete novice to fairly competent as the class continued on. As I mentioned in my previous post, I created a baseball field design for my box top, leaving a space for a light on each one of the bases. After working for the entire class, I was ecstatic to see each base lighting up. I credit the lighting success to Clinton and Duncan who walked us through the mapping and building of a circuit, teaching us common errors we would surely make along the way. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of my finished design this time around – and it is left at school until I return from break.

So What?

Adding circuits to our otherwise lifeless designs gives us the power to bring the designs to life. This is certainly a useful skill when it comes to making. The ability to add light allows us to call attention to certain features of a design – such as the bases on my baseball field. Makers can use this skill to their advantage by highlighting critical aspects of their designs and reach their users more effectively. More broadly speaking, our classroom activity shows us that we can animate previously inanimate objects. Using fairly basic technology on 3D printed creations gives us the ability to create something truly unique. (Little did we know when we created our team name, The Animakers.)

Now What?

The first several weeks of this course have been intensive on building new skills – it seems that we’ve learned at least one new skill or software every week since the class has begun. After spring break, we will have the opportunity to take in all that we have learned and use our new skills to create our project. Our team has chosen to make a customizable steering wheel attachment for those who have difficulties turning or steering their vehicle. We are excited to use our newfound skills in 3D printing to make the world more comfortable for our users and safer for the other drivers on the road!

What?

This week, we engaged in part 2 of our box making project. I experienced learning yet another new tool and software, this time picking it up a bit easier than the last. After creating the physical structure for the box last week, I had the opportunity to design my stitched cloth that will serve as my box’s top. After a few design iterations, I came up with a design that speaks to my love for sports. My ‘logo’ is a baseball field with my initials and a Nike ‘swoosh’ at the center. I must admit, I did experience some difficulty in actually getting the sewing machine to stitch my design at first – but I would attribute this to a lack of familiarity with both sewing and the machine. I left a hole where each base would normally lie on the field and plan on filling those holes with lights. I’m super excited to see how it turns out when we go back into the Fab Lab this week.

A photo of my box top cloth

Additionally, my group decided on a final project of a grocery bag holder. I think this project will force us to think outside the box in creating value from an ordinary, easily replicated object. Each of us immediately saw the value in having some sort of device to make carrying several grocery bags less strenuous. Our task will be to find a way to create the most efficient object possible. It must be optimized for comfort in carrying, maximize the capacity of bags it can hold, and be both not easily lost, nor too big to carry around. I think the 3 of us will agree on a design that meets these criteria and eventually creatively market to the target customer group.

So What?

After two consecutive weeks of learning new machines and software, we have grown comfortable with learning new technology and immediately implementing our knowledge. One of the best aspects of 3D printing has got to be the trial and error element. Making gives us the opportunity to design, create, test and evaluate extremely quickly. If at first you don’t succeed, try again. 3D printing embodies this mantra as the risk in creation is so minute that it makes all too much sense for rapid prototyping.

Now What?

Taking in what we know about 3D printing, new technologies and machines, and trial and error, I am more confident and comfortable than ever in making. After we learn the final components to completing our boxes, we will have all the tools and skills necessary to create our final project. Our skills have been learned – now, they are ready to be applied.

Class Summary

In class this week, we had our first opportunity as a group to explore the community’s Fab Lab making space. I was pretty surprised to find some extraordinary machines and creations in what looked like the oldest building on campus. Our day started off with a tour guided by Fab Lab director (and former guest speaker) Jeff Ginger. We saw several cool creations including a backpack that acted as a turn signal with a face for students who ride their bikes to school. It was empowering to hear that those students were far younger than us and that we would soon be able to create something even more complex. The Fab Lab was much larger and more complex than what we are used to in the MakerLab in the BIF. Yes, the Fab Lab has its own 3D printers, but it also has a plethora of other technology including a wood laser cutter, raspberry pi, and threading machines.

After the tour, the group was split into two groups. Each group was given a different task. Mine was to create a box with no top to it. First, we created the dimensions of the box before importing it into Inkscape, a software that works similarly to Adobe Illustrator and other design tools. We created our box, manipulating various-sized rectangles so that there were interlocking pieces. Then, we were given the chance to import designs onto our box. I chose the Superman logo as well as the logo of my startup, Cover’d. I happily volunteered to be the guinea pig and print my box first. I attached a photo below – I was pretty pleased with the way it came out!

It was really cool to see the laser cutter in action as my box began to take shape.  One mistake that I made was in not mirroring the small logos on the top part of my box. Because the top and bottom sides fit in such a way onto the box, it caused my logos to appear upside down on the unseen side of the box. It was most definitely a lesson learned for next time.

I’m excited to get back to the Fab Lab this week for part two of our learning. It seems that with each week in this course, we unlock new and more powerful learning tools that further widen the possibilities of 3D printing technology.

Class Summary

This week’s class brought us even more examples of 3D printing in the real world. We heard from two individuals heavily involved in 3D printing, in completely different worlds. One was seeking how 3D printing could be used in business, the other in human biology.

First, we heard from Alan Amling at UPS. I thought it was really cool to see 3D printing being used to drive big businesses in the real world, today. Alan spoke of many of the challenges he faces in trying to implement this technology into the business. He noted that his greatest challenge is convincing firms that they won’t be sacrificing any of their intellectual property by making the switch to 3D printing, which confirms the challenges we have previously discussed in class.

Next, we had the opportunity to learn from Dot Silverman’s journey through biohacking and 3D printing. Dot opened my eyes to the possibilities that 3D printing can have on humanity beyond business. Being a business major, I often only think of things from a certain perspective. Dot showed us that 3D printing can change how we live – with the potential to custom print pieces of the human anatomy. Transplants will become much safer as 3D printing will allow some of these transplants to take place without the need of another human being. There is even a 3D printed heart that actually pumps blood. It seems like the possibilities that this technology can bring the world of medicine are endless.

Towards the end of class, our team came up with several ideas for what we want to make for our project. Overall, there was a definite theme of practicality to each of our ideas. We thought of a headphone untangler and a steering wheel attachment before settling on a grocery bag holder that looks something like this:

This holder will allow someone to simply slide the bags onto the little slot and hold from the top, grey grip. This would allow one to easily carry several bags at once.

In the News

Miami University Researchers Work Together to 3D Print Better Bones

This article dives into more of the discussion on 3D printing and bones that Dot detailed in her talk. The article describes how broken bones are being mended with the use of 3D printing through ‘scaffolds’ and ‘bridges’ that better mend the broken bone.

This video outlines how 3D printing can create human tissue in an easy-to-follow way. I thought it broke down the process of printer to person quite well and the speakers were quite engaging.

Class Summary

This week’s class brought an important element to our understanding of 3D printing: design thinking. The people of Design for America helped me to understand the importance of knowing your user – in 3D printing and in problem-solving in general. This is a fundamental concept of business. Any strong business will be a solution to a problem. It should be no secret that the best way to solve any problem is to take on the perspective of those experiencing it. The solution must be designed for these people in order to be most effective. I experienced this lesson in full when we began the assumptions phase of our model solution for the visually impaired.

Building a Solution

When building a product for Jess to better navigate through large crowds (and lead a more typical independent college life), there were many details left unanswered. Is Jess completely blind? Are her other senses heightened? Is Jess used to her blindness? Without being able to interview Jess and discovering the answers to these questions,  we cannot build an adequate solution to her problem. If you make assumptions about the general population with evidence to support your claims, it can be easy to design a product that does not solve the user’s problem in the most effective way.

Ultimately, we made a model of an attachment device to a walking stick. The attachment would allow Jess to quickly send her location to friends, or send out a distress signal. I wish I had a photo of our model but I never took one.

In Class Readings

In our reading, Tim Brown discusses design thinking from a business perspective. We need to design effective products that address our customers needs better than any competition. The best way to grasp this, Brown writes, is through examining the pain points at a close level and prototyping solutions quickly to address them.

External Knowledge

https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/5-stages-in-the-design-thinking-process

I thought this was an interesting breakdown article of design thinking in which the author breaks down design thinking into 5 steps: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test. This is essentially a summary of everything I’ve written above. Design thinking is basically problem-solving. In order to solve a problem, we must start with understanding it from the perspective of the entity that the problem impacts. Then, after we observe, we define the problem. Then, we ideate solutions, build a model of what we think is the best initial solution, and respond to how our customer engages with it.

I thought this was an excellent video on design thinking by Airbnb. Airbnb took quite some time to take off from the time it launched. Much of its newfound success should be attributed to a deeper level of design thinking. I think you’ll find the video to be intriguing.