Rack workstations. A fabulous remote-client solution that solves the problem of your co-workers ‘accidentally’ kicking the power button on your rig after 6.5 hours of unsaved work. That and avoiding the back-strain of moving workstations around make them ideal. But, before we get to all the glorious things that rack workstations are, it should be noted… Dell is entering the rack-mounted workstation space, not for the first time, but with the first multi-user rack workstation. The Dell Precision R5500. This, just a few weeks after they released an all new (long-overdue) line of Precision Workstations. What makes the multi-user rack different?

Dell’s Multi-User Rack Workstation

Dell entered the Rackstation market in 2008 introducing the Precision R5400 to compete against HP’s BladeSystem technology. Four years later Dell now has the R5500 and with it the ability to serve out GPU power to four concurrent users virtualized through Citrix XenServer. The R5500 starts at US $2742 (3 options avaialble). With these configurations you can get:

• Up to four NVIDIA Quadro® 2000 mid-range graphics cards
• Up to five full-height and full-length PCIe slots
• Up to 192GB of DDR3 memory
• Up to six 1TB SAS drives

With all of that loaded in, you’re looking at a hefty price. However, to put this into bare-minimum perspective, you can have four users on 4GB of RAM, a 500GB Hard drive and a 256MB Quadro card for the base price of $2742. Now, this excludes $1000 for Citrix XenServer on a single server and your monitor cost ($2200 for 4 Dell Ultrasharp 24″ monitors) if you don’t have them already. So, to get into virtualized rack computing for four guys, you’re looking at US $5,942 minumum. Single workstations can cost that amount and more depending on the hardware, but even selecting some of the higher options on the rack server you’re coming in comparable to a higher end workstation.

The rack is created specifically for 3D professionals, but I have yet to see if the virtualized environment proves itself over a single rack server. I’ve not been impressed with virtualized environments in the past. Optimally, with a rack server that can support four users, you’re saving space, energy consumption and maintenance. Not to mention saving extended pain and cost of hardware upgrades, software deployment and the complaints of IT staff dealing with the infrastructure on more workstations.

Go ahead, say it. No, scream it. SUBD to NURBS! Better if it’s done two inches from the secretary’s face immediately after you’ve chugged a bottle of milk. SubD to NURBS indeed. You may wonder what these strange words are. Or, you may know all about the surface mesh to solid modeling possibilities recently launched by Luxology. Power SubD-NURBS is a plugin bringing new surfacing capabilities to your stiff CAD geometry. If you curled up in a ball and cocooned yourself in body hair after the news of Autodesk acquiring T-Splines, the Power SubD-NURBS possibilities are really going to excite you. We also have a look at a tutorial from Paul McCrorey that takes you through the whole SubD-NURBS workflow.

Power SubD-NURBS

If you know modo, you know it’s a powerful full-featured polygonal modeling to animation program. The surfacing and sculpting capabilities are phenomenal. Additionally, modo is able to create Subdivision (SubD) surfaces to refine the polygon mesh and, may I say, do so quite beautifully. The problem? CAD software is NURBS-based and doesn’t like those crazy meshes too much. Hence, Power SubD-NURBS, a new plugin for modo that converts SubD surfaces to a clean NURBS-based format.

This allows modo to be used as a flexible conceptual modeling tool at the initial stage of the design process, where modo’s ability to quickly create organic shapes is especially useful. With this Plug-in you can freeform model a variety of design alternatives in modo and then transfer them to your CAD system for further refinement and engineering.

Power SubD-NURBS is a collaboration with IntegrityWare, creators of 3D modeling libraries who also specialize in SubD to NURB conversion. The plugin is available for modo 601 and can export .igs, .3dm, .sat and .step formats. The price is $595.00 for both Mac and PC versions.

Surface created in modo, exported with Power SubD-NURBS to MoI. Image: Pascal Beeckmans

SubD to Nurbs Modeling Workflow

What entails a proper SubD to NURBS workflow? Well, Paul McCrorey of McCrorey Digital and modo/SolidWorks fame (and special guest on EvD!) has put together the essential course to take you through all you need to get up to speed with the new plugin and learn a few methods along the way for a smooth modo to SolidWorks workflow. If you use SolidWorks and are interested at all in how modo can be a part of your workflow, this is a great course to get started on. Here’s an introduction to the course from Paul himself.

The course is available through the shop at McCrorey Digital. It’s split up into three parts or can be bought all together for $60. Below are a few images created from the project. You’ll also want to check out Paul’s review of modo 601 in the May 2012 Issue of Develop3D. It’s a 3-page spread getting you up to speed on the biggest updates to the modo product and includes a 6-step modo to SolidWorks workflow preview that really nails home the simplicity of the process. Check it out.

Images: Paul McCrorey

3D Systems is getting into the Consumer 3D Printing market in a big way. If you recall last January, the Cube was showcased on the catwalk we all know as the Consumer Electronics Show. From the outside, The Cube seems to ‘walk-the-walk’, but can it ‘talk-the-talk’? We will soon know. The Cube is now available for pre-order at $1,299. According to Cubify.com, the release date will be May 25th. Ready to crack open that checkbook?

3D Systems Cube Printer

The Cube’s biggest selling point is user-friendliness. The biggest problem with the RepRap and its clan of DIY 3D printers is that they cater to hobbyists. Assembly and operation is a matter of trial and error. Trouble-shooting is a matter of scanning forums and being very patient for the less-than-knowledgeable. The Cube attempts to dispel all these problems by selling a pre-built product, print cartridges (rather than filaments), user-friendly software and 25 free prints from Cubify (an online marketplace of designs). Oh, and you can print your item via wifi – cool!

The Cube 3D Printer Features:
Print Volume : 14 x 14 x 14 cm (5.5″x5.5″x5.5″)
Plastic: ‘Tough Recyclable Plastic’ (oooo…mystery!)
Resolution: 250 microns, or 0.25 mm (0.01 inches)
Full Specs at cubify.com

Things that make me go ‘hmmmm’

You do not print from .stl files. You print in .cube files with 3D System’s ‘Cubify Client Software’. No indication if you could say… print something from Thingiverse. I hope to goodness they allow that. That would make far too much sense.

I haven’t had a chance to test drive a Cube yet – I dearly hope to soon. Because I am really curious to see if the mighty 3D Systems can compete with the DIY 3D Printing Revolution. It’s not David and Goliath – more like Goliath versus a lot of Davids (and they all have 3D printed slingshots!) The biggest David we have out there, Makerbot, has released The Replicator which features a larger print volume, dual extrusion and Thingiverse (which is gloriously free.) The more number of printers that arrive on the market, the lower the price goes. The Solidoodle is priced at $499 for nearly the same specs as the Cube – and I can buy filament from anyone, without having to use a specific cartridge.

My take? The Cube seems to lack Soul. Specifically, open-sourced Soul. It’s a proprietary system. The cartridge, the software, Cubify’s marketplace is designed to suit a closed system that is the antithesis of what i call ‘the beating heart of 3D printing.’ That’s not to say that it won’t be a success, but it certainly misses the subversive nature that made the RepRap and its brethren famous. The fact that the Cube doesn’t deliver any resolution, size or speed improvements over their competitors for a higher price tag might be its Achilles’ heel. Then again, I own a Macbook Pro, so THERE.

I’m sure you’ve all been at the point where you’re trying to decide what detail to model and what detail to leave out. Should I model the five layers of paneling, plate and paint flakes? Do I really need to show how the stitching on this knitted sweater vest tucks around my armpits? YES, and Cem Yuksel is making it possible with new software he is developing to create highly detailed, and pristinely parametric Stitch Meshes.

Stitch Meshes

Stitch mesh is a ‘yarn-based simulation technique’ to create highly detailed and realistic geometry of knitted garments. As you read through this quote and view the video, think about how it would apply to the typical CAD geometry creation and simulation, be it a covering or enclosure.

We propose a new modeling technique that builds yarn-level models of complex knitted garments for virtual characters. We start with a polygonal model that represents the large-scale surface of the knitted cloth. Using this mesh as an input, our interactive modeling tool produces a finer mesh representing the layout of stitches in the garment, which we call the stitch mesh.

Before you completely discount this level of detail, you’ve got to see the video below which shows how easy it is to create and how easy it is to change these stitch – Jaw dropping. While this level of detail may seem overkill in the typical CAD scenario, it’s the ability of programs like this to combine highly detailed geometry and physical simulation to bring about detail that’s so often needed in even a prismatic modeling scenario.

In most situations, we only consider detail necessary or unnecessary because of the time it takes to load, rebuild and create the geometry. Polygonal modeling is making details like stitch meshes possible. We’re still in a state of flux between detailed dimensions for polygon models and detailed geometry for solid models. We have in-between solutions in various CAD software, but nothing that combines both of these capabilities yet. Perhaps this will provide some inspiration. Here’s that video.

Source: Cem Yuksel
Thanks Adam!

What’s the best way to illustrate years of information and research in a space small and visually stimulating enough that even the most attention deficient of us can understand? Infographics baby! But let’s add a dimension or three to that and see what can be visualized through the glorious technology of 3D printing.

3D Printed Infographics

I love Infographics. Studies prove it!

See? But what about… 3D printed Infographics? Even more so.

Johannes Tsopanides

Johannes Tsopanides of SHAPES iN PLAY has been creating ‘InfObjects’, 3D printing these organic yet peculiar shapes that represent the ecological impact of the food we eat.

The ingredients of several dishes have been analysed regarding energy content, CO2 equivalent and price.A high content of energy causes the growth of small roots on the outer surface of the object. The CO2 equivalent of a dish is visualised by the appearance of `ozone holes´ that indicate how much greenhouse gas has been produced during breeding and processing of a single edible. The price of an ingredient has been illustrated by rising the edge of a segment in relation to the value.The values have a direct impact on the shape and function of a set of tableware, consisting of a plate, a bowl and a mug. By means of those objects the information is made tangible via Rapid Manufacturing. To better demonstrate the single ingredients and their data the pieces are subdivided in segments.

Luke Jerram

Tsopanides and his design studio aren’t the only ones experimenting. You’ve seen his wind harp, now British artist Luke Jerram has taken the data from the 9.0 Tohoku earthquake that hit Japan in March, 2011 and reconstructed it into a three dimensional shape. Catastrophe can produce beautiful work, so it seems.

The artwork measures 30cm x 20cm and represents 9 minutes of the earthquake. The sculpture will be presented at the Jerwood Space in London for a show called Terra. Exploring how data is read and can be represented and interpreted, the artwork is one of a series of data visualization sculptures Jerram has recently created.

In addition, he 3D printed the New York Stock Exchange data from the past 100 years. It seems so similar to the earthquake piece…hmmm…

Doug McCune

Its not 3D printed, but could be. This map is a This 3D reconstruction of San Francisco’s ‘criminal’ topography created by Doug McCune. If you’re out in the ‘cisco, take a good look at the lesser known tourist attractions, like the cliffs of Assault. Careful not to lose your wallet on the Peaks of Robbery. Luckily, there’s safety from the gusts of Lead at a pass near the police station.

Via Shapeways blog

I know it’s the weekend. Time to work on the tan, take the horse for a ride, wax your bike and maybe even make that crumpet basket you’ve been reading about. But before you do all of that, sit back, relax and enjoy 3 minutes and 42 seconds of bliss. KICK IT.

The SolidSmack update is GO. In this series of video podcasts we recap the titillating news and stories from this week in Design, Tech, CAD and FAB.

This week we recap:
- DIWire Rapid prototype wire bender
- Vaudeville Mech-Kinect Robot
- Cunicode Octo cup
- Stuart Fingerhut Design trends
- Fujitsu 3D CAD Search
- Autodesk 123D Catch iPad App
- Stratasys Mojo 3D Printer
- Firebox 3D Printed superhero heads

Download
SSUpdate-009.mp4

Grab the podcasts!

The official iTunes SolidSmack Update podcast is LIVE. Grab the goodness here.

A kinect controlled robot? That’s MASSIVE? YES PLEASE. Vaudeville is a 12 foot, 5 inch robot built by Suidobashi Heavy Industry. The human-piloted mecha style machine rings in at a hefty 5 tons and can be controlled from the cockpit or remotely via smartphone and Kinect. Yes, you may get excited.

Vaudeville Kinetic-Controlled Mecha

Forget for a second that this is a massive piloted robot that can be weaponized and realize that this is a massive piloted robot that was created by a hobbyist – a man in his garage – not the Japanese government, not the US government or any enterprising, military-funded, robo-development group like DARPA. Guy. His Garage. Massive (could-be) weaponized robot.

Vaudeville has the AE “V-Sido”, the control system of the computer technology is watched by all world with interest. Not only operating by boarding the pilot’s seat, but also enabling you to control and interact Vaudeville with Kinect. Moreover, without taking a professional training such as a combat plane, people can operate it easily. Furthermore, you can control Vaudeville via the mobile 3G Internet access.

V-sido is a real-time control system and interface for humanoid to robot interaction developed by Asura Engineering. The current iteration of Vaudeville is slow and a bit clunky, but is the first prototype and really only the beginning. To see what this is destine to become, you must watch the Gaiking Movie Trailer (full screen and full volume.)

A Vaudeville of your very own can be yours via the Suidobashi website once the project is complete (price not available). I smell glorious mecha battle in the near future, and it smells wonderful. Features, images and video below.

Vaudeville Features:

• Microsoft Kinetic system
• V-SIDO system for controls
• Mecha features four legs supported by wheels, allowing both support and ease of movement
• Controlled by a Smartphone, master-slave control, and the Kinetic sensor bar.
• Plan to add more features according to the buyer needs such as the group has planned to sell the mech, which can be customized with weaponized water guns, a camo paint job and other luxuries as well.
• 12 ft 6 in (3.8 meter), 5 Tons (4500 kg)

Source: Suidobashi Heavy industry
Via: www.dvice.com

Great gobs of gravy! If you think you can launch a highly technical project on Kickstarter and get funded with $2,000 pledges, in less than 24 hours, you would be RIGHT. Your name would also be Michael Joyce. Mike’s B9Creator kickstarter project has met the $50,000 goal and is nearing $100,000 after less than two days in. With the B9C’s large print area and high resolution it’s not at all surprising. Here’s a look.

The B9Creator 3D Printer

Mike’s B9Creator is a resin-based 3D printer that can produce higher quality parts than regular FDM 3D printers (like the Makerbot Replicator, for example.) The B9Creator is akin to Junior Veloso’s 3D Printer, as in they both utilize a light projector to cure a light-sensitive resin to produce, well, anything you want… Only the B9 is MUCH BETTER.

The Goods

How much better? Well the average DIY FDM printer can hit 200 microns. The B9 Creator can hit 50 microns no sweat. It’s speed is a bit pokey – only 1 inch per hour, but remember, that speed is independant of the size of your object. You could fill the entire build platform of 3″x4″x8″ with a giant Yoda head and it would print just as fast as your… mini-Yoda head. An Arduino and a custom shield runs the whole printer, encased in a case that you can either leave free-standing or mount to a wall (nice touch, Mike).

The Price

Joyce went through great lengths to keep the costs down – he won’t have any trouble if his campaign keeps on the rampage. For a contribution of $2,375 you will receive a DIY kit, complete with electronics, parts, modified projector and resin. The resin is surprisingly cheap – 10 cents to the gram – more than regular 3D printer plastic (1.5 -7 cents per gram), but who cares – the quality is what matters.

The Facts

High-Def Resin-Printing is going to be the new standard – the B9Creator is going to be the first of many examples I think. With this sort of quality, it becomes possible to make parts within parts. For example, we could print a set of intermeshed gears, ready to go, or a clock that works as soon as you pull it out of the printer. Assembly would be a matter for the CAD designer and/or manufacturer, not the end-consumer.

But don’t throw your allen key away just yet! You still have to build the 3D printer first.

Update: The KeyShot blog also has some details on Mike’s Project. The B9Creator 3D renderings were done using KeyShot with the 3D model being created in Alibre.

Tumbling amongst the bramble the tiny bot looked up. The sky, large and serene, the occasional flicker of the fissures in the electronic atmosphere. Should he venture in, he could fix it or possibly have his life orb extracted by the power of these links.

Greg Craola Simkins – His graphite work, painting and graffiti are properly detailed and phenomenally surreal.
Controller mod – How do you mod an Xbox controller, replacing the buttons with Luger 9MM Bullets. Kinda like this.
Raptor Photography – Have you ever tried to take photos of a massive bird with massive talons flying toward you? Here’s behind the scenes of how it’s done.
Pinstamatic – Addicted to Pinterest? Upset that all you can post are photos? Well, this takes care of that. Post text, music, dates and even webpages.
This blog sucks – Attention agency and corporate blogs. This is why. This is how.
Rise of Living Type – If you like type, you’ll love the flamboyant detail and history of the exquisite typography.
Paper World – How does a paper world come together. Follow the journey through the world of Sehsucht’s origami-style landscaping.

There’s a place we’ve been warned about called, THE FUTURE. I’m not so sure it exists. But if it does, there are present trends that are certainly shaping it and how we experience everything from structures to shopping. Stuart Fingerhut has a firm grasp on what’s setting the pace. You’ve heard him on EngineerVsDesigner. Now, he brings you the future with a quarterly Design trends report that highlights emerging trends, the technology and materials shaping Experience Design.

Design Trends for Experience Design

You’ll not get a better overview of what’s shaping Experience Design. Stuart touches on the role design plays in creating memorable experiences for people, but also on current concepts that will affect how we interact with people and our surrounding. The latest report for 2012 Q1 features Augmented Structures, Networked Cities, Nanolumens and various interactive displays, lighting and software trends. The report also touches on materials such as CO2 Absorbing Concrete, Splinitex Structures, Window and Wall Systems that will get you excited about things to come.

Design’s power lies in its ability to create memorable experiences. People will always seek out something new – it’s a part of the human condition. Design’s power is in creating richness and meaning by layering products or spaces with services.

Download the Design Trend Reports now at StuartFingerhut.com

The Dawn of the Terabyter

When discussing the trends with Stuart, he passed along a link that you’ll want to check out. ‘The Coming of the Terabyters’ is an article from Futurist Thomas Frey.

In the coming years we will see an explosion of systems designed around the quantification of human attributes and personal influence serving as the basis of new currencies. And these currency movements will be driven farther and faster with introduction of The Terabyters.

He explains how a person’s ability will gain more value, the amount of information consumed and created by people each day, how that stacks up in quantity for a year and then, what’s to come.

A terabyter is a person who produces more than a terabyte of new information every day. Today, only a handful of these people exist, but the numbers will soon swell along with the development of new data capture equipment.

Are you a terabyter? You’ll need to see the rest of the article to read his example. However, some additional thinking on the subject needs to applied to capturing, but also creating, 3D data and creative media. To create all of this data, people don’t need to be absorbed within the confines of digital devices – wearing devices that allow a greater amount of data capture. While that will undoubtedly happen, the largest amounts of data won’t be elevated through consumption, but through creation outside and with the help of these devices. Take for instance 123DCatch for iPad. That, in a sense, is a transitional technology. Combine 3D motion capture with Google Glasses and you’ve got a conglomerated mountain of 3-dimensional data that only begins with a device you are wearing.