User:Wenxin Song/blog
For this class we write weekly blogs on a variety of topics that have to do with 3D printing.
Contents
Blog 1: Thingiverse
We had to explore around on Thingiverse and find different items.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:30889
An item that is amazing/beautiful
This Droplet Vase catches my eyes immediately when searching the website.
I like its smooth white surface and wander how many times been tried before the final one came out without any flaw.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:27053
An item that is funny or strange
This makes me remember the lovely Paul the Octopus, which came to worldwide attention with his accurate predictions in the 2010 World Cup.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:225080
An item that is useless
I don't know what these glasses could be used for anyway. Especially I don't like the strange shape and color.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:234783
An item that is useful
I like this cute vase as well as the lovely green leaves. It can not only for planting but also for decorating.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:61796
An item that surprised me
This item is really amazing. How could the printer printed such delicate thing!
Blog 2: OSE PROJECT
We were asked to research about OSE projects and respond to the following:
A) I want your general impressions of the OSE project; positive, negative, utopian, etc. Please do a bit more research than just viewing the video, as it is now several years old and they have made some progress since then. Links to more recent videos and media will earn you a better blog.
Marcin Jakubowski's speech, Open-sourced blueprints for civilization, presented a new idea to us in 2011. Making tools that is robust, highly efficient optimized, low cost, made of local and recycle materials. It sounds quite reasonable cause we always want to make the most profit at the lowest cost, especially in the fast developing manufacture. For the past two years, he and his teammates did some try such as laser cutter, iron worker, tractors, microhouse, etc.
I do stand positively on constructing new idea for making more efficient hardware to convenient our life. The question is, all the stuff could be done in mass manufacture with less time and effort according to the high technology. What if we apply the new idea by using modern technology, not just by our hands. Maybe that will increase the efficiency.
B) The New Yorker magazine recently had a fairly critical article regarding Marcin's OSE project. Find/link that article and summarize its critique. Marcin had a response to that: I'd like your response to both of these pieces.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/12/23/131223fa_fact_eakin
Just as the picture shown on the page above. The main idea I think is that Marcin's OSE project is not realistic. Because few people want to create these stuffs by hand just as in the article. "His project, the Global Village Construction Set, has attracted a following, but among the obstacles he has faced is a dearth of skilled acolytes: the people who show up at his farm typically display more enthusiasm for his ideas than expertise with a lathe or a band saw." In the fast speed modern life, all we want may be spending the least time to do the most job. Marcin and his teammates spent 60 days on 6 machines. I really appreciate his determination and effort but we need to consider the time cost. Since now the most expensive thing is time. With time we could do anything but without nothing. As a result, efficiency should be put the first place when we start our projects.
Marcin responded to the critical article:
http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/New_Yorker_-_Article_Response
Marcin stated eight reasons to support his projects.
Well, I could understand the situation of Financial Bootstrapping. Since it often happens to a new born idea, especially with few people supporting. But let us find the reason by ourselves. Is it because the self-funding operation separating itself from the current life. We live in a high developed society and we get used to the convenient life brought by modern technology.
As the pictures showed, we could loose interest in Marcin's project cause we could show interest in these self-made houses. At first, we may feel fresh to do all these construction by ourselves. But what about a month?
C) Imagine we want to create capabilities similar to what Marcin has made at PSU (something like an OSE student club, or another effort). I don't think the administration or trustees would support such a thing, but there might be professors who are interested in supporting such a thing. Do you know any of them? What do they do, and why do you think they would be interested in such a project? Imagine you are looking for allies to do such a thing. Whom is on your list and why?
Well, it is not realistic to have projects to build a microhouse or tractor in the lab on campus. But I do think we could try some small stuffs maybe just for fun.
Blog 3: Kansas teen uses 3-D printer to make hand for boy
Who created this design and when/where was it done?
Ivan Owen co-designed the original 3-D printer Robohand with Richard Van As, a South African woodworker in 2012. The two made their first prototype in November of 2012 and had a 3D printer version by January of 2013. Mason Wilde modified the plans to make a device that would fit the boy’s small hand. Using a 3-D printer at the Johnson County Library, Wilde made a prosthetic hand that opens and closes and can even hold a pencil.
If you wanted to make one, where would you go to get it?
If I wanted to print a prosthetic hand, I may search the website Thingiverse for an appropriate one. Or maybe I could try to write the code for a new one.
How many news articles can you find which reference this technology?
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/02/boy-receives-3d-printed-prosthetic-hand/ http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Family/Modern-Parenthood/2013/1104/3-D-printing-Dad-builds-prosthetic-hand-for-son http://www.psfk.com/2013/05/robohand-3d-printed-prosthetic.html#!uFYJJ http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/18/191279201/3-d-printer-brings-dexterity-to-children-with-no-fingers http://www.gizmag.com/easton-lachappelle-3d-printed-prosthetic/28685/
Blog 4: learning from other people's blogs
I read about several classmates' blogs about Open Source Ecology Project Discussion and find something ideal really open my mind. For example, in Kevin's blog two, he cares about whether there will be outside force to cripple the open source project when it is still in its developing stage. Even though the open source community descried in the website is a little similar to be utopian, the OSE community do want to make contributions to human life. Just like a new born child, we don't know how great he could be when he grows up. We need to give him hope and courage.
Besides, I quite agree with one idea in Anthony's blog. That is "While I think that OSE is a great way for people to be able to make their own machines to run a farm at a low cost I don’t think it’s “a civilization starter kit.”" The modern high developed society could be a strong evidence that our civilization's start is quite successful. We don't have to begin at the zero step to develop a new civilization. What is more meaningful is to make improvements to the existing tools, which makes more sense cause it costs least and makes the most progress.
Another good point made by Lee catches my eyes immediately. He doubts the one statement Marcin says "regarding average people rising to the occasion and creating their own machines." Since many of us are average people, we can hardly do as easily as Marcin says. Even I am a graduate student in electrical engineering, I don't think I could build up a tractor like him does. It cost much human energy and wisdom. If one project couldn't reach most of people then what is the feasibility of it?
