Top 5: Olaf Diegel Shares His 3D-Printed Guitar Designs
In this week’s edition of Top 5, we have a lineup of some interesting 3D printing applications. First, we have our exclusive interview with Olaf Diegel, a 3D-printed guitar designer. Then, we feature a 3D-printed water fountain for a pet, a tutorial on metalworking jigs, fixtures and tooling, and a video explaining 3D-printed dental guides. Finally, discover the Plica-1, a prototype for a portable, foldable, battery-operated 3D printer that can print anywhere. From musical instruments to dental guides to tooling, these videos showcase the diverse potential of 3D printing! As always, happy watching.
Top 1: Olaf Diegel’s Guitar Designs
Artists have been using 3D printing to make musical instruments for several years. One incredible example is Olaf Diegel, a professor of additive manufacturing at Auckland University who has his own 3D-printed guitar company, ODD Guitars. He has printed over a hundred unique designs, leveraging additive manufacturing technology to create intricate, personalized pieces. Watch our exclusive interview with him to discover his story.
Top 2: 3D Print Pet Sink
This video from DC Sets demonstrates how 3D printing can make a touching, custom item. The creator 3D printed a miniature waterproof sink with a functioning tap, modeled after his sink that his cat likes to drink out of instead of using its bowls. He used marble PLA and a compact silent pump, designing everything in Fusion 360. He then coated the sink with food-safe epoxy and powered it with an ESP32 for Wi-Fi control. One of the cutest details? A custom button that lets his cat activate the water flow! See the full build process here:
Top 3: Formlabs on Making Metalworking Jigs, Fixtures, and Tooling
Curious about the importance of making jigs, fixtures and tooling? Formlabs tells all! The video explores patterns for casting, tooling for finishing and sheet metal forming as well. Watch to see why additive manufacturing can be an advantageous option for accelerating metal fabrication. Formlabs in particular offers complete SLA and SLS ecosystems capable of creating parts that ensure precision, safety and repeatability in production. To learn about the benefits, tune into the video below.
Top 4: 3D Printed Dental Guides
One of the best aspects of 3D printing is that it allows for the creation of custom products. This is particularly useful for the dental industry because everyone has a unique set of teeth! 3D printing has many applications in the dental, including custom surgical guides. These tools help surgeons identify where to make incisions during surgery, improving precision and outcomes. In this Tooth Tech video, see how a guide works and learn how it is created.
Top 5: 3D Printing on the Thames
Do you ever wish you could bring a 3D printer with you and print wherever you want? Well, with the Plica-1, you can! This portable 3D printer is compact and foldable. Furthermore, it is battery-operated, allowing you to use it without electricity. This “laptop” 3D printer is a project now live on Kickstarter. To prove that the printer can really operate anywhere, the company filmed the printer in action at the Thames River in Westminster, London.
What do you think of Diegel’s 3D-printed guitar designs? Let us know in a comment below or on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.
