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Meetings

Makerbot Customizer And The New Thingiverse API

February 12, 2013
Meetings
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customizer-thumbnail_preview_card

 

Makerbot has finally implemented and launched an API for Thingiverse and with this a handful of apps that take advantage of it. The most significant thus far is Customizer. Customizer allows designers to easily be able to make designs using OpenScad and then allow others to personalize those items using simple menus without the need to edit the code. The first few days saw a flurry of custom iphone cases and rings that quickly clogged up the Thingiverse new items feed and forced Makerbot to reevaluate the way they display new items. This also showed the success and the possibilities of a system to allow anyone to be a designer. We will demo customizer and talk about how you too can get started with this new tool as well as demoing some of the other apps that are available with the API.

I am often asked about what types of materials can be printed on standard hobby 3d printers. As a bonus I am also preparing some demo prints to show off some of the new types of filament that are becoming available along side the classics.

This event is free and open to the public at AS220 Labs in Providence, RI. We will be kicking off around 7pm on Wednesday, February 13th.

Life With Your New 3D Printer

January 8, 2013
Meetings
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PrinterKid

 

So Santa was good to you this year and brought you a shiny new 3D printer to turn you into your very own toy workshop? Now what? Come join us this Wednesday January 9th so we can help you get started with your new gear and get you printing like a pro in no time. Of course if you are already a pro we would love to have you come share your knowledge with everyone too. This event as always is free and open to the public. We will get started around 7pm at AS220 labs in Providence, RI. The entrance can be found around back on Lucie Way. We hoep to see you there even if you are still in your footy pajamas from not putting down your printer since the holidays.

A Very Fab-ulous Holidays

December 11, 2012
Meetings
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The year is wrapping up and for our 6th meeting (wow half a year already) and final meeting of the year, we are going to forgo our normal formula and just have a good time without a presentation. We will have a collection of printers and creating ornaments as well as some of the other equipment at Labs running demos. We encourage you to bring your printer also if you have one, the more the merrier. We’re going to have some snacks and beverages but if you have a holiday favorite we would love to try it too! If you have never made it to one of our meetings before this is a great time to meet the group and either share your knowledge or ask the questions you have been dying to discover. We will be meeting as normal at 7PM at AS220 Labs on Wednesday. I hope to see you all there!

Make Magazine International Meetup

November 15, 2012
Meetings, News
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Tonight Make Magazine is putting on it’s first International Maker Meetup to launch it’s new special issue magazine the “Ultimate Guide To 3D Printing”. AS220 Labs is playing host to the local Providence meetup starting at 7pm. We invite all the 3DPPVD crowd to join us in learning about what make did as part of this issue and what they learned during their testing. Please sign up at the link bellow to RSVP if you think you can join us.

http://www.meetup.com/makermeetup/Providence/827542/

Introduction To 3D Printer Building

November 11, 2012
Meetings
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This month experienced 3D printer builder Bruce Wattendorf will be joining us to introduce the concepts and common parts involved in building your own printer. If you can’t pick out your idler from your extruder or what rods work with a lm8uu bearings, this will be the night for you. With our upcoming printer build weekend being honed in on, this is a great opportunity to come up to speed on what you will need to know to join us. Of course there will also be plenty of time before and after to hang out and chat about 3D printers and what is going on in the digital fabrication world. We will kick things off at 7pm on Wednesday, November14th at AS220 Labs. This meeting is free and open to the public.

October Meeting: Cleaning Up Scans With Tony Buser

October 8, 2012
Meetings, News
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This month, Thingiverese’s own mad scientist Tony Buser will be joining us remotely to discuss his updated process for cleaning and prepping scanned models to be ready for printing. Tony is the largest contributor to Thingiverse and his previous video on cleaning models is considered the go to source for those who want to use reconstructme to create their own head scans. There is also lots to discuss after Maker Faire New York and it’s impressive showing of 3D printers. Join us on Wednesday October 10th at 7pm to learn from the master. We will be meeting again at AS220 Labs and as usual will be hanging out after the presentation.

An Introduction To Sketchup For Our Third Meeting

September 6, 2012
Meetings
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September is here and it brings our third meeting on Wednesday September 12th. This time Matt Donley of MasterSketchup.com is taking the reigns to give everyone an introduction to one of the most popular tools for getting started in 3D design. Even if you are a whiz at Sketchup Matt is sure to have some tips to help you take your design to the next level. This meeting like always is free and open to the public. Things will get started around 7pm with plenty of time to hang out and discuss everything going on in the 3d printing world after the presentation.

Second Meeting And An OpenSCAD Overview

August 2, 2012
Meetings
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August is here and it’s time for our second meeting. We will be back at AS220 Labs on Wednesday August 8th at 7pm. We are going to have a brief introduction to OpenSCAD, a tool commonly used for creating 3D printable designs. This will be a basic overview showing how easy it is to get started and explaining some of the principles of parametric design.

Of course there will also be lots of time for questions and answers and to discuss what’s going on in the 3D printing world (lots of new bots and happenings in the past month). Even if you didn’t make the last meeting please join us this time around as we will always be open for newcomers.

A Great Turn Out

July 18, 2012
Meetings
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Our first meeting was a huge success. There were about 20 attendees for this inaugural meeting. We had lots of interest in continuing to meet and everyone agreed that the second Wednesday of every month was a good time. So with that plan our next meeting will be Wednesday August 8th at 7pm at AS220 again. Thanks to Richard for all the great photos of the event and to Josh for volunteering to start up a google group for the group. We will be sure to post a link to that group once it’s setup. Until then you can follow us on twitter @3dppvd for any updates.

Be sure to check out Matt’s (@MasterSketchup) excelent blog post about the event too. What Is 3D Printing

Answering questions with the replicator and the start of a reprap Wallace.

 

Mustache rings for all!

Start Your Extruders!

June 13, 2012
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We are pleased to announce the first meeting of 3DPPVD, a monthly meetup for MakerBot, RepRap, other 3D printer operators and anyone who’s interested in digital fabrication. Even if you are not an owner of a 3D printer this will be a great opportunity to learn about the emerging field of desktop rapid prototyping. If you do have a printer feel free to bring it down and show off your mods and prints.

Our first meeting will be on Wednesday July 11th at AS220 Labs (AS220 Mercantile Block, 131 Washington St (Entrance on Lucie Way), Providence, Ri) from 7pm until they kick us out. Since this is the inaugural event, there won’t be a theme so we have time to get to know each other and find out what kind of topics we would like to discuss at future events. This event is free and open to the public so please bring your friends and family.