Cubify - A World of Designers and Manufacturers

This blog is almost a year old.  The first entry is dated January 11, 2012, shortly after the Cube 3D printer was announced.I knew from the start that the Cube was the 3D printer that was going to open up 3D printing to a whole new group of people.  It was, and continues to be, the first real consumer 3D printer on the market.  But, a consumer 3D printer WITHOUT a community is not nearly as powerful as a driver for good as a 3D printer...

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Creativity Run Amuck! Photo Pop by BitBox

Blogging is a mind expanding pursuit.  And, that is especially true when blogging on a subject that attracts creative people.  This morning, I got a "Friends" message from Facebook from Ana Vaz Ferreira, a name I did not recognize.  I am certain that the request came about because of this blog.I am VERY cautious about answering Facebook "Friend" requests.  I always go out of my way to research the person before deciding what...

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Merry Christmas!

I hope you found a Cube under your tree!  If not, I still hope you found a 3D printer.  Because, there is nothing quite like a 3D printer to begin another year of wonderful creativity.If you were one of those lucky individuals to receive your own brand new 3D printer, let me point you to the Cubify web site where you will find some great apps to get you started.Recently, I was privileged to be invited to introduce 3D printing to a great...

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Christmas Eve Gift - Thread Cutting Tool

Before I left the house this morning, to visit my grandchildren, I finally created that long promised thread cutting tool tutorial for Moment of Inspiration.  And, before retiring this evening, I edited the video and posted it on YouTube.I have NO idea why it took me so long to get it done because it is a piece of cake to do in Moment of Inspiration!  Maybe I was just waiting for a grand occasion, like Christmas Eve to release it.  Whatever the reason for the delay, I hope that the second part of the tutorial on designing bolts and...

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Cube Features I Have Most Appreciated

I probably should have gotten around to this post a lot earlier, when parents might have been considering a 3D printer for their child or themselves.  (It's OK to be self-serving on this one!)It's no secret that I continue to love and appreciate my Cube 3D printer.  But, I thought it would be useful to list specific reasons why I continue to believe that the Cube 3D printer is not only a great buy; but, a great long-term investment. ...

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Growing the Brain in 3D!

Before launching into the real meat of this post, permit me a moment to rant about one of the claims often made by personal 3D printer manufacturers.  I cringe every time I hear a 3D printer manufacturer claim that their product can "replicate itself".  First, the claim is demonstrably false.  At present, all any personal 3D printer can do toward the goal of replicating itself is to print out a few plastic parts.  Secondly, it...

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The Cube in Review - 2012 at 6 Months

This is going to be a very short post.  That is because it's being typed on my granddaughter's iPad.  The iPad is terrific.  But, my skills at typing on a screen are not.  However, I thought that this post was important enough to give it a try as I travel.BOTTOM LINE - The Cube is Every Thing I'd Hoped it Would be and MOREIt's been almost 6 months since I opened my Cube's box.  In the subsequent months, between then and now, it has performed extremely well, traveled well and spawned lot's of creative ideas in myself and...

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Designing a Thread Cutting Tool

A good place to start, if one wants to understand design characteristics of bolt threads is the venerable Wikipedia.  There, you will find that most; but not all threads, are based on an equilateral isosceles triangle whose tips have been truncated.  I'll let you explore the referenced article for a deeper understanding that is needed for this article.Instead, we'll just focus on the 8 simple steps required for the tool that will be used...

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General Design Dimensions of Bolts and Threads

Wow!It sure has been a while since I've updated this blog.  But, lest you think that is because I have lost interest in the Cube or in creating tutorials for Cube owners, I want to assure you that is NOT the case.  I simply got hung up.Writer's block?  Fear of leading you astray in what I wanted to convey?  A busier than normal schedule?Well... a little of all of those things.  But, mostly, I think, a fear that I might lead...

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Invent Intro #05 - Circles (Revolve Boss & Cut)

Like the EXTRUDE commands, REVOLVE comes in two flavors, BOSS and CUT.WHAT IS REVOLVE?Basically, REVOLVE uses a 2D sketch that is evenly swung around an axis to perform its job.  As the sketch is swung around it either ADDS or REMOVES material in its own shape.  REVOLVE (Boss) adds material along the path and REVOLVE (Cut) removes material along the path, if any exists.The REVOLVE commands are relatively easy to use and are often the first thing users try when learning a new 3D CAD program. REVOLVE (BOSS)There are two elements that must...

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Invent Intro #04 - Circles (Extrusion Boss & Cut)

Extrusion is one of the most used commands in any CAD program.  And, Cubify Invent is no exception.  It is THE primary way that we turn a 2D sketch into a 3D object.  There are two types of EXTRUDE that can be used in Cubify Invent.  They are EXTRUDE (Boss) and EXTRUDE (Cut).EXTRUDE (BOSS) Essentially, EXTRUDE (Boss) ADDS layers of material in the shape of the 2D sketch to form a 3D object with features defined by the 2D sketch.  I don't think that it's a stretch to call EXTRUDE (Boss) the most used 2D to 3D option.Using...

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Invent Intro #03 - Cookie Cutter from Circles

We continue the Cubify Invent Introductory Tutorials by exploring how a single 2D shape can be used to create a Cookie Cutter.The power of Cubify Invent lies in its ability to modify and extend 2D shapes into 3D objects.  In keeping with our own strategy of learning a new product by focusing on a single shape in order to experience with new commands that modify that shape, we use simple circles to create a complex object.  In this case, that object is a cookie cutter in the shape of a cartoon animal head.In parallel with our Cubify Invent...

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A Welcome Material Innovation

OK.What I'm about to relate to you is NOT available for the Cube just yet.  Nor, do I know that it will EVER be available.  But, I suspect that it will be unless the fibers in the material I'm about to introduce pose some problems at the normal ABS plastic extrusion temperatures.Someone has recently announced a new filament for 3D printers that prints wooden objects.  It's called Laywoo-D3 and for now it's only available in small 3mm...

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