THE TECH-LICIOUS: 3D PRINTING

3D-printing gives Normal earphones a tailored fit

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="The earform cap of the Normal earphones are 3D-printed to provide a snug fit" height="359" src="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/normal-3d-print-earphones.jpg" width="640" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If you enjoy music on the move, there's a very good chance that you've been troubled by earphones popping out of your ears just as you're getting into the groove. There are high-end earphones or professional in-ear monitors available that require the buyer to pop along to an audiologist and go through an uncomfortable custom fit process to ensure the buds won't keep falling out as you run through the park or jump around the stage. Or you could look into having a custom set of earphones made. This is precisely what Normal founder Nikki Kaufman did, but the significant cost and long shipping delay she encountered prompted her to find another way. She came up with a way to tailor each pair of earphones to the wearer using a free mobile app and a 3D printer.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The process by which one obtains a pair of tailor-made premium earphones appears pretty straightforward. Using the Normal iOS/Android app, buyers line up each ear for a photo using a smartphone's camera. A coin (a US quarter) is placed near the ear so that the Normal software can determine scale. Then it's time for personalization of the earphones themselves.</span></div>
<div class="article_img" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; height: 297px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 0px; width: 529px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/normal-tailored-3d-printed-earphones/32890/pictures#1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Using a free app, buyers snap a photo of each ear, customize the earphones and then purcha..." src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/normal-3d-print-earphones-0.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="529" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The company reckons that there are over a thousand possible configurations, including a choice of colors for the earform caps. Once an order is placed and sent over an internet connection to Normal's "ear magicians," the company prints out the custom caps, adds a soft-touch coating, assembles the components and ships out the personalized units in as little as 48 hours.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The ABS/PC alloy driver housing is designed to face the concha, while the 3D-printed earform cap hooks under the antihelix, in a similar way to theBose StayHear tips. Normal says that a "personalized fit means the earphones stay comfortably in place, guaranteed." It's backing that up by offering to produce another set free of charge or refund payment if a customer is not completely satisfied with the fit or audio quality.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Normal says that users can look forward to top notch sound quality, though we'd have to hear them for ourselves to comment further. What we can tell you is that the earphones feature 14 mm neodymium dynamic drivers, have a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 109 dB per mW sensitivity, a total harmonic distortion of less than 1 percent, and 32 Ohm impedance.</span></div>
<div class="article_img" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; height: 298px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding: 0px; width: 530px;">
<a href="http://www.gizmag.com/normal-tailored-3d-printed-earphones/32890/pictures#2" style="background-color: transparent; color: #1e8dd7; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Normal founder Nikki Kaufman with a pair of 'one-of-a-kind' tailored earphones" src="http://images.gizmag.com/inline/normal-3d-print-earphones-2.jpg" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" width="530" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The 1.13 m (3.7 ft) or 1.6 m (5.25 ft) cable includes a three-button device controller that's said to work with any smartphone (to play, pause, adjust volume or answer a call), and there's a gold plated 3.5 mm jack to plug into your audio player of choice.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Normal earphones are priced at US$199 a pair, and come supplied with a laser-etched carry case. They're available in the US only for the moment, but international shipping is being considered.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can watch the somewhat creepy promo video below.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Source: <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/normal-tailored-3d-printed-earphones/32890/" target="_blank">gizmag</a></span></div>
<div class="article_video" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="298" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8tmhdOfIEqU" width="530"></iframe></span></div>
</div>

3D-printing gives Normal earphones a tailored fit

If you enjoy music on the move, there's a very good chance that you've been troubled by earphones popping out of your ears just as you're getting into the groove. There are high-end earphones or prof…

09 Jul 2014

3D Printing Houses With Drones

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The application of 3D printing is becoming more varied with each 
passing day.  I mean, disabled children are getting a new lease of life 
with 3D printed tools
 to assist them in their daily life.  Designers are able to 3D print 
their creations to get a better feel for their products and construction
 firms are now using the 3D printer to make parts for buildings.</span><br />
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_16979" style="width: 718px;">
<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired4.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="minibuilders. mixing drones with 3D printing" class="lazy size-full wp-image-16979 data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired4.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="531" src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired4.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="708" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">minibuilders. mixing drones with 3D printing</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But the time is not too far away when you will actually be able to 3D
 print your own house. Not with a regular 3D printer, but with a drone. 
 As we have already seen, the concept of 3D printed structural design is
 not a new one. But the massive 3D printers that are needed for large-scale construction projects are rather impractical.  Which is why <a href="http://sasajokic.com/" target="_blank" title="Sasa Jokic">Saša Jokić</a> and <a href="http://www.petrnovikov.com/" target="_blank" title="Petr Novikov">Petr Novikov</a> thought that adding drones into the mix will make a 3D printed construction project more achievable in much smaller spaces.</span><br />
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_16978" style="width: 718px;">
<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired2.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="minibuilders work inside tight spaces." class="lazy size-full wp-image-16978 data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired2.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="531" src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired2.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="708" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">minibuilders work inside tight spaces.</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The gadgets are called <a href="http://iaac.net/printingrobots/" target="_blank" title="Minibuilders">Minibuilders</a>. These
 small sized drones made by Saša Jokić and Petr Novikov, are robotic 
concrete mixers, which can deposit layers of liquid construct 
substance. As with regular 3D printed products, there is a need for a 
core to construct the rest of the project around. This core consists of 
two large cylinders of liquid synthetic marble. The liquid is then 
forced through extended tubes by a specialized team of three robots, 
using inflatable syringes.  Next a sensor-equipped Minibuilder will 
follow lines that are marked on the ground, for the foundation of the 
construction. The Minibuilder positions the first 20 layers of construct
 material in a singular, looping spiral.</span><br />
<div class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_16977" style="width: 718px;">
<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired3.jpg"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="minibuilders to help construction projects" class="lazy size-full wp-image-16977 data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired3.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="531" src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wired3.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="708" /></span></a><div class="wp-caption-text">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">minibuilders to help construction projects</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To finalize the process, a human construction engineer then braces on
 an additional “grip robot” to the foundation so as to dispense the 
material.  This material is durable enough to 3D print roofs and 
supplementary suspended constructions, to create the building. What do 
you think? Are the next generation of bricklayers and dry-wall fitters 
out of a job?  Personally, I don’t think so, just yet. [Images via: <a href="http://www.wired.com/" target="_blank" title="Wired">wired</a>] </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">SOURCE: <a href="http://news.filehippo.com/2014/07/3d-printing-houses-drones/" target="_blank">tech beat</a></span></div>

3D Printing Houses With Drones

The application of 3D printing is becoming more varied with each passing day. I mean, disabled children are getting a new lease of life with 3D printed tools to assist them in their daily life. …

08 Jul 2014

One Step Closer to 3D Bio Printing Organs

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Do you have an <a href="https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/" target="_blank" title="organdonation">organ donor </a>card?
 Every year, thousands die because of the lack of donor organs 
available.  But with technology moving at incredible speeds, one day it 
could be possible to walk into a hospital and have whatever organ you 
need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Although this dream is still far away from reality, researchers have been trying to bio-print tissues and organs
 for those who are affected by various diseases and traumas.  Recently, 
scientists have been working on bio-printing artificial vascular 
networks that copy the circulatory system found in the human body.  
These vascular networks are essential for growing large tissues.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><img alt="Scientists Are Nearer To Creating Fully Working 3D Printed Organs" class="lazy alignnone wp-image-16945 size-full data-lazy-ready" data-lazy-src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/www.seren_.bangor.ac_.uk_.jpg" data-lazy-type="image" height="542" src="http://news.filehippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/www.seren_.bangor.ac_.uk_.jpg" style="display: inline;" width="708" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The system they used is highly complicated.  Researchers first had to
 invent many interconnected tiny fibres to act as the mould for the 
blood vessels.  Next, they placed a cell-rich protein-based material 
over the 3D printed structure.  In order to make it solid, they added 
light to it.  At the end, they took out the bio-printed fibres which 
left a network of  tiny passages which were covered with human 
endothelial cells.  Within a week, these cells organised themselves and 
formed stable blood capillaries.  Simply amazing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It was discovered that bio-printed vascular networks had higher cell 
survival, distinction and rapid growth when compared to cells that did 
not receive nutrient supply.  <a href="http://sydney.edu.au/dentistry/staff/profiles/luiz.bertassoni.php" target="_blank" title="luiz bertassoni">Dr Luiz Bertassoni</a>,
 the lead study author states, ”At the moment, we are pretty much 
printing ‘prototypes’ that, as we improve, will eventually be used to 
change the way we treat patients worldwide.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“One of the greatest challenges to the engineering of large tissues 
and organs is growing a network of blood vessels and capillaries,” 
states Dr Bertassoni.  “Cells die without an adequate blood supply 
because blood supplies oxygen that’s necessary for cells to grow and 
perform a range of functions in the body.  To illustrate the scale and 
complexity of the bio-engineering challenge we face, consider that every
 cell in the body is just a hair’s width from a supply of oxygenated 
blood.  Replicating the complexity of these networks has been a 
stumbling block preventing tissue engineering from becoming a real world
 clinical application.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">However, researchers have finally achieved all these points! Now, 
with bio-printing, large 3D micro-vascular channels can support life.  
There is even enough exactness to match patient’s needs on an individual
 basis.  “While recreating little parts of tissues in the lab is 
something that we have already been able to do, the possibility of 
printing three-dimensional tissues with functional blood capillaries in 
the blink of an eye is a game changer.  Of course, simplified 
regenerative materials have long been available, but true regeneration 
of complex and functional organs is what doctors really want and 
patients really need, and this is the objective of our work,”finishes 
Bertassoni.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Technology can really change lives!  One can only hope that this will be a reality for those who need organs, very soon!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">SOURCE-<a href="http://news.filehippo.com/2014/07/one-step-closer-3d-bio-printing-organs/" target="_blank">TECH BEAT</a></span></div>

One Step Closer to 3D Bio Printing Organs

Do you have an organ donor card? Every year, thousands die because of the lack of donor organs available. But with technology moving at incredible speeds, one day it could be possible to walk int…

06 Jul 2014

Load more posts