In case you had somehow missed the reports that have been flooding the news and social media all over the United States, the solar eclipse that’s happening this Monday, August 21st, will be observable within a band across 2,400 miles of the U.S. The 12 million people who live in the path of totality, and the millions of visitors expected to flood these areas, will have the chance to see a rare total solar eclipse, while everyone else in the country, and other countries, will see a partial eclipse.

People are obviously excited, as it’s been a pretty long time since we last had the chance to see one in America. The last total solar eclipse in the US was in 1979, and the upcoming eclipse will be the first in nearly 100 years to stretch all the way from the West Coast to the East Coast. However, there are also concerns sweeping the nation about eclipse safety, and possible vision loss if you purchase a fake pair of eclipse glasses.

“The danger is real for permanent vision loss,” Dr. Russell N. Van Gelder, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and clinical spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, told NBC Today.

“The worry in the eclipse is that people are so interested to see one of the great astronomic spectacles that they will suppress their inner drive to look away from the very bright light.”

[Image: NASA]

However, you can still have fun and celebrate the eclipse while making sure to keep your eyes safe from harm. NASA published a list of fun eclipse activities, including 3D printable pinhole projectors.

“Why not celebrate the eclipse by making your own 2D/3D Printed Pinhole Projector in the shape of the USA and/or a US State?”

You can download the STL files here for pinhole projectors in the shape of each American state, or you can print one out in the shape of the entire country if you want to go bigger; you can also download the PDF files to print a 2D state out of paper if you don’t have access to a 3D printer but want to join in on the fun.

You can capture a really unique memory by asking someone to take a picture of your shadow during the eclipse this Monday while you’re holding your 3D printed pinhole projector. The unique image will show your shadow, the shadow of your chosen state, and “a projected image of the partial eclipse marking your location!”

NASA also suggests drilling an additional pinhole in your 3D printed projector that marks your exact location, which will obviously be much simpler if you print out a single state as opposed to the entire US. You can experiment with different sizes of pinholes, and paint or decorate your projector with your state colors and symbols. Additionally, if you’re feeling especially creative, you can secure your pinhole projector and make your own time lapse movie.

NASA is reminding people to share images of their 3D printed pinhole projectors on their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Flickr accounts. When you post a picture, use #EclipseSelfie and write a one or two sentence description of your image.

If you’re looking for a less patriotic route, Thingiverse user tleathrum posted his own two-piece Pinhole Solar Eclipse Viewer.

This piece does requires supports, as the “overhang of the glue tabs won’t print correctly” without them. There is also a bit of assembly required post-print, including gluing the pieces together and drilling the hole in the middle.

While these 3D printable eclipse pinhole projectors are creative and fun, remember to never look directly at the sun through them, or through telescopes or binoculars either. Check out NASA’s Eclipse Viewing Safety and Related Projection Methods to be sure your eyes will stay safe during the eclipse.

Total Eclipse Pendant by geekhaus

If you want to be 100% sure of not damaging your eyes but still want to celebrate this amazing phenomenon, you could always just watch the eclipse on TV and 3D print a cool piece of eclipse jewelry, like this Glowing Solar Eclipse Pendant by VickyTGAW that shows the different phases of the sun (use glow-in-the-dark filament for a really cool look) or the Total Eclipse pendant by mathgrrl. Discuss in the Solar Eclipse forum at 3DPB.com.

Reprinted with permission from 3Dprint.com.

The post 3D Printing to Celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Our Hometown Is so Next Level

Eindhoven birthed Shapeways, and now, geniuses at the Eindhoven University of Technology are creating the first 3D printed steel-reinforced concrete bridge. As Engadget reported, the bridge will be installed in September, and will serve bike commuters. In the meantime, it’s being 3D printed, with the steel elements cleverly integrated into the concrete printing process. That saves on concrete, which saves on CO2 emissions, which might just help save us all.

The Eindhoven University of Technology Built Environment program’s 3D printer at work on the bridge (Courtesy Eindhoven University of Technology)

The Navy Throws a Sick Block(chain) Party

Blockchain distributed database technology might have originated as a way to support bitcoin transactions, but lately, it’s so popular for its inherently strong security that even the U.S. Navy is getting in on the action. As the Department of the Navy reported, they’re bringing all their 3D printers onto a decentralized network that will assure that all the data that goes into the design and production of 3D printed parts is secure across a huge network of connected nodes. To get that 3D file of a critical piece of defense infrastructure, you’d have to hack into every computer the database lives on at once. Good luck with that, hacker foes.

Traditional, less secure networks vs. decentralized blockchain networks (via U.S. Department of the Navy)

High-Performance, Lego-Inspired Driving Machines

CNBC brought us the story of Kevin Czinger, whose 3D printed sports car, the Divergent Blade, uses aluminum joints that, conveniently, fit together like Legos. Czinger touts the environmental friendliness of his manufacturing techniques, and sees a future of local automotive manufacturing via 3D printing. We see a new frontier in car customization. If our RC car accessories designers are any indication of the possibilities that come with full-sized 3D printed rides, THERE WILL BE MODS. Check out Czinger’s hangs with known car guy Jay Leno, below:

Oh Yeah, We’re the Factory of the Future

The Economist had a 3D printing party this week with a string of pieces on how 3D printing is changing manufacturing. Our CEO recently gave them his take on this manufacturing revolution, and now it looks like they’re tripling down. So, what’s so revolutionary? Well, we are abandoning traditional economies of scale, enabling mass personalization, and reinventing “mass” production. Color us flattered!

The post The Week in 3D Printing: Bridges, Blockchains, and Cars, Oh My appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Cheez Whiz, anyone?

As Gizmodo reported, scientists at University College in Ireland tried to think as American as possible, and explored how (scientifically) processed cheese might be altered when put through a 3D printing process. Using a desktop FDM printer fitted with a “cheese syringe,” solid cheese was extruded through a custom-designed nozzle, heated to 167 degrees Fahrenheit.

Is it edible? Decide for yourself.

Step into a new form of tech

Courtesy of Bryan Hinkle -YouTube

Support is a familiar word to sports giant Under Armour, and these shoes are no different — but their manufacturing process is. At the heel of the shoe, a 3D printed “dynamic lattice network” is matched to a compression lace system that integrates into the rest of the shoe, forming around your foot. This system is supposed to be steady and sturdy enough for strength training, but ready to tackle whatever you can.

Does that include mud? There’s nothing like losing your $300 shoes to a Spartan race.

Face/Off

A funeral home in Beijing has introduced a new process to cover any facial or head damaged of the deceased that come through its doors. Family members provide a headshot of the deceased, a facial reconstruction is generated, and the  able to produce either a full or partial mask, depending on the needs. This process takes up to 10 hours, replacing a process that could potentially take up to a week — and be less-than-accurate.

I guess it was about time for a 21st-century version of the death mask.

The printing press just got punked

The weirdness here is pretty intense: Popular Science reported on a huge challenge for 3D printing. It’s one that even we wouldn’t want to take on. But it’s one that was first solved over 500 years ago— with the invention of the printing press. That’s because, for… reasons… Ron Arad is printing a magnum opus, a book about Einstein, in a single, 3D printed piece. This is a weirdly hard thing to do, making it all the more worth doing.

Hey, taking on challenges just because they’re there? We’re into it.

We think he’d be into it, too

The post The Week in 3D Printing appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The article (on pg. 192!) shouts out the cube nails, the pointy talons, and the dragon master nails— marking them as Marie Claire-certified! We definitely think the article… nailed it (hehe). Pick up an issue to check it out!

Keep in mind that press is always checking out the Shapeways marketplace for interesting and unique products. Making your designs available for purchase and pairing them with gorgeous product shots, you significantly increase visibility for your shop.

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