Sometimes it is very valuable to explore new technology even if, at first, the costs seem to put it well beyond our current circumstances.
For example, most educators would have thought it frivolous to even think about using color video recording in the classroom in 1972 when Ikegami introduced the HL-33 HandyLooky camera... the first portable hand-held color video camera at around $60,000. That is the equivalent of about $375,144.53 in today's money! Color video was RARE back then. And, to actually get a color image you almost had to have enough heat producing light to peel the paint off walls!
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| Ikegami HL-33 Handy-Looky Camera (1972) |
Today, you can produce infinitely better video using your cell phone. Color video is now everywhere.
Here is my point. Educators who DID focus on the ramifications of color video in 1972, when it was essentially unobtainable to educators, were in a much better position to take advantage of that potential when prices plummeted enough to put color video into hands of teachers and students.
Now, quite frankly, most of us could not teach without the color cameras we use every day as we gather our classes together remotely via zoom. But, I and others with experience using early color video equipment have an advantage. We know how important lighting is to the process. So, in my home, I am able to benefit by the use of lighting when using Zoom.
But, why am I telling you all this in a blog devoted to 3D technologies?
FULL COLOR 3D PRINTING
Like color video in 1972, full color 3D printing is rare and seemingly out of reach for most educators in 2020. But, I can tell you from first hand experience that it is important to consider its ramifications in all you do today.
For, unlike color video, which stood on its own, full color 3D printing now and into the future can benefit by the obtainable 3D technology we have within our reach right this minute. And, that is 3D capture... either by 3D Scanner or Photogrammetry. We can prepare for the future by how we capture today.
First, some background...
I have been blogging about 3D printing since 2012. Much of my experience over the years has been with consumer filament type 3D printers. But, it has also been my good fortune to work for a not-for-profit educational foundation that has allowed me to use an older Z450 full-color powder/binder printer.
Even though it is only a CMY printer, with faded colors and no true black, with more than its fair share of issues, it has been my favorite printer for a long, long time. Even with its limitations, we have had nothing remotely more capable for producing reproductions of historical objects even with the occasional down time. There is nothing like full color, even if that color is not exactly accurate.
How Do We Prepare?
The first way to prepare for a future of color printing is to save our captures in a color format even if they are to be printed on a monochrome FDM printer. The most common color format is an .OBJ file. Here is an image we captured using an HP tablet having a RealSense camera and saved as an .STL file to be printed on an FDM printer.
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| RealSense Capture Saved as .STL File |
While we might have to print this on a monochrome FDM printer today, it is important to prepare for the time when this same capture could be printed on a full-color 3D printer by saving it in a full-color format, like .OBJ.
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| RealSense Capture Saved as .OBJ File |
By looking FORWARD to a time when the costs of Full-color 3D printing WILL be within reach, we will be ready for that eventuality.
With this in mind, let me tell you about an amazing cost breakthrough in professional full-color 3D printing.
FROM AROUND $180,00 to UNDER $50,000
Yes. I know $50,000 or even $30,000 is not quite the breakthrough to put quality color 3D printing into the hands of all teachers. But, it IS a step in the right direction and could put full-color 3D printing into the hands of a school system to benefit all teachers. And, it could help lower the cost of ordering individual full-color prints.
Mimaki 3DUJ-553 - The Baseline
Mimaki, a Japanese company, most famous for very large format 2D printers, has had the 3DUJ-553 for some time. It sells for around $180,000+.
Unlike our full-color powder/binder printer, the hard plastic printed results are robust and stunningly beautiful.
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| Mimaki 3D Printer: Figurine Front |
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| MIMAKI 3D Printer: Figuring Back |
While every aspect of Mimaki 3D prints are amazing, I find the fact that they can print in clear, as evidenced by the veil, to be overwhelmingly impressive. Here is a link to other equally impressive samples:
https://mimaki.com/special/3d_print/gallery.html
While $180,000 is admittedly hefty, it's hard to argue about the results. Fortunately, for 2021 they have announced an alternative... a printer delivering the same quality of print in a smaller build size.
Mimaki 3DUJ-2207 - The breakthrough
I know most of us can't reach into our pockets and pull out $40,000+, which is the rumored cost of the recently announced 3DUJ-2207 due to debut in early 2021. But, going from $180,000 to under $50,000, while delivering the same quality of print, is definitely an accomplishment that promises to benefit us one way or another.
What is VERY cool is that cost savings aren't at the expense of print quality. In fact, the new printer will have even better potential resolution than the original. It is accomplished by reducing the available print area and cutting the print speed to around half that of the original 3DUJ-553.
Here are the pages on Mimaki's USA site for both printers:
https://www.mimakiusa.com/products/3d/3duj-553/
https://www.mimakiusa.com/3duj-2207/
Now, I know that few of us... and perhaps not one of us... are in a position right this minute to purchase one of these printers. But, I still urge you to pay close attention to both of them. And, to keep them in mind as you consider buying 3D capture equipment and software and/or introduce 3D capture or Photogrammetry into your educational programs.
I urge school systems to carefully consider what having a centralized full-color 3D production capability can do for ALL subjects in all schools. For the first time, using the clear material capabilities, we can print realistic models of protozoa, insects and other science demonstration tools.* |
| Mimaki: 3D Printed Dragonfly |
We can accurately replicate historical objects so students can handle them for close inspection and observation in history classes. Because Vancouver iTech Prepatory had saved their captures of Fort Vancouver artifacts in full color, we were able to help them from several thousands of miles away by printing the objects they scanned on our old Z450.
Imagine how these same objects might look printed on a true color Mimaki 3DUJ-2207!
And, we can assemble displays of entire teams, in realistic 3D miniature, in the school's trophy cases.
To me, this is a huge opportunity for educators. And, at the very least an opportunity for all of us to consider what full-color 3D printing has to offer to our students, now or in the future.
*I want one of these! https://www.doitplenoptic.com/3d-microscope-is-coming/
