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The Fit & Finish of 3D Printed Objects just got a Ginormous Upgrade

Have you ever - EVER - seen 3D printed objects with this level of finish? EVER?

Have you ever – EVER – seen 3D printed objects with this level of finish? EVER?

I know it’s hard to believe, but I STILL don’t have a 3D printer. I’ve gotten close to jumping in on some low-cost Kickstarter 3D printers that have come up, but I don’t print in 3D often enough to justify the expenditure of several Benjamins when the industry is changing at break-neck speed. Despite not yet having a 3D printer, I’ve got my mouse-clicking finger hovering over the “back this project” button on this new gizmo that puts a spit-shine on 3D printed objects you have to see to believe. I have ordered some 3D printed objects from Shape Ways before and I’ve seen and handled a lot of 3D printed objects – and even the nicest don’t have the kind of finish you get from using the special PolySmooth filament and the amazing Polysher polisher that makes your finished project look like it was made from the finest injection mold money can buy. It makes supports super-easy to remove, too. It’s so exciting to see these changes in this industry. The 3D printer industry is more and more becoming affordable for the common man and like most technology, keeps getting better and more affordable at the same time.

luckycatsThis is Polymaker’s 2nd Kickstarter project – the last being an earlier iteration of their high-quality printing filament. Their polisher comes with a free spool of the PolySmooth and comes with all kinds of bells and whistles – including varied color lights in which to view your creation as it goes through the polishing process. Less than three weeks remain on this really neat and relatively affordable project on Kickstarter. For just $10, you can back the makers of the project and get a 3D printed animal (your choice of color) so you can have first-hand experience and knowledge of what this thing is capable of and let it inform your future buying decisions in this marketplace. At this writing, they have tripled their $100K funding goal and more than 2 weeks left until the campaign is over. If you do have a 3D printer, I don’t know how you’d be able to resist this thing.

You can back their campaign on Kickstarter, visit their website, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, watch them on YouTube, and collect their pins on Pinterest.

This, as Polymaker states, is where the magic happens. :)

This, as Polymaker states, is where the magic happens. 🙂

The Safer Way to Charge Your Phone at Night

Behold! The old-school cupholder.

Behold! The old-school cupholder.

For you whippersnappers that are too young to remember, there was a time in which there were zero cars that came with cup holders. Seriously. Even a Rolls Royce didn’t have cupholders. Not kidding. You had to make a special trip to a convenience store (back then, the only one I knew of was 7-11) to buy a plastic cup holder that would hook between your car door window and the interior paneling. These are still made for use in older, vintage cars, albeit you just don’t see them much nowadays.

The folks at ArmsReach Industries have created an adaptation of the old school cupholder with their NightHolster campaign on Kickstarter.

The NightHolster hitches to your bed frame and holds not only your drink, but also reading glasses, your Kindle and your smartphone. There’s a notch to allow the charging cables to pass through without kinking – and also keeps your phone from flying across the room if you grope for it in a stupor as you awake. No more items sliding off the bedside table with this low-tech gizmo that’s currently prototyped in high tech 3D printing.

You can follow ArmsReach on Instagram, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and their website.

holster