A Brief History of 3D Printing

Although 3D printing is commonly thought of as a new ‘futuristic’ concept, it has actually been around for more than 30 years. Chuck Hull invented the first 3D printing process called ‘stereolithography’ in 1983. In a patent, he defined stereolithography as ‘a method and apparatus for making solid objects by successively “printing” thin layers of the ultraviolet curable material one on top of the other’. This patent only focuses on ‘printing’ with a light curable liquid, but after Hull founded the company ‘3D Systems’, he soon realized his technique was not limited to only liquids, expanding the definition to ‘any material capable of solidification or capable of altering its physical state’. With this, he built the foundation of what we now know today as additive manufacturing (AM) – or 3D printing.

So, why all the 3D printing hype today?

Until 2009 3D printing was mostly limited to industrial uses, but then the patent for fused deposition modeling (FDM) – one of the most common 3D printing technologies – expired.

Through the RepRap project’s mission to build a self-replicating machine, the first desktop 3D printer was born. As more and more manufacturers followed, what once cost $200,000 suddenly became available for below $2000, and the consumer 3D printing market took off in 2009.

3D printer sales have been growing ever since, and as additive manufacturing patents continue to expire, more innovations can be expected in the years to come. There are now roughly 300,000 consumer 3D printers in the world – and this figure is doubling every year.

The Pros and Cons of 3D Printing

It’s crucial to understand that 3D printing is a rapidly developing technology, which comes with its set of inherent benefits, but also lags behind traditional manufacturing processes in some aspects. We collected examples from both sides to help you get a grasp of these factors and to see where the technology is headed in the near future.

What is AutoCAD?

Are you interested in knowing what AutoCAD is? Are you also interested in getting information on how to use AutoCAD to create 2D and 3D CAD designs? We have provided answers to these questions below and also information on some of the best training resources for learning how to use AutoCAD.

What is AutoCAD?

AutoCAD is a computer-aided drafting (CAD) software application developed by Autodesk that enables drafters, architects, engineers, and other professionals to create two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) models of mesh and solid surfaces. Prior to computer-aided drafting, manual hand drafting tools such as drafting boards and pencils, inking pens, parallel rules, compasses, and triangles only offered a subset of what can now be done with programs such as AutoCAD. Since its original release in 1982, AutoCAD quickly became the most widely used CAD program in the world because of its robust set of automated drafting tools and features. AutoCAD allows you to visually design and explore your conceptual design ideas, modify your designs using 3D free-form design tools, generate intelligent model documentation, transform your designs into 3D renderings, and turn them into cinematic-quality animated presentations. Autodesk has also developed a few other variants of AutoCAD that address discipline-specific needs. These programs include AutoCAD Architecture, Civil 3D, Electrical, Map 3D, Mechanical, Plant 3D, MEP, P&ID, and AutoCAD LT.

What are the benefits of using AutoCAD?

Individuals who work in or are currently pursuing careers in the architecture, mechanical or engineering fields will discover many benefits of using AutoCAD. The design aggregation and documentation tools built into AutoCAD not only maximize productivity but also help to streamline your design and documentation workflows, speeding projects from design to completion while automating the tedious drafting tasks that would normally be done by hand. With AutoCAD, surfaces, solids, and offset curves can be dynamically created and manipulated using context-sensitive PressPull operations. 3D models can be imported directly into AutoCAD from a variety of applications, including SolidWorks, CATIA, Pro/ENGINEER, Rhinoceros, and NX products and services allowing you to easily create intelligent 2D views. With Point Cloud tools, scanned objects can be imported with up to 2 billion data points, allowing existing environmental data to be used to help you start your projects. Physical 3D prototypes of your designs can be quickly created using AutoCAD's 3D printing capabilities. With Autodesk Inventor file import support, AutoCAD allows you to import models from Inventor while maintaining a relationship between the AutoCAD and Inventor files. AutoCAD offers many other tools and features that can enhance productivity such as PDF Support, DWG Convert, Materials Library, Social Media Sharing, AutoCAD WS, Autodesk 360 Connectivity, and much more.

How is AutoCAD used?

AutoCAD is used by professionals across many industries to do everything from designing and building show floor exhibits that demand attention to the complex design and construction of the National Stadium Brasilia; a solar powered stadium that seats over 71,000 people and will be used to host major soccer events such as the Confederations Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and the Copa America. AutoCAD has many uses and is even being leveraged by industries beyond the architectural and mechanical fields. For example, custom stage design companies may use the 3D modeling tools within AutoCAD to turn creative ideas into detailed conceptual designs that they are confident about because they can visualize nearly exactly what they need to build. In the case of custom window design companies, AutoCAD software may be used to create an online library of customizable window designs to help customers configure orders and request quotes more quickly and easily. In the case of set and lighting design companies, AutoCAD may be used in conjunction with 3ds Max to design sets and lighting in 3D and develop near-photorealistic visualizations of events to review with their clients. Ultimately, AutoCAD enables companies to design and plan projects virtually. This, in turn, increases productivity, reduces the time it takes for decision makers to make more informed choices, and significantly lowers the cost it takes to confidently complete major projects.

What is Virtual Reality?

The definition of virtual reality comes, naturally, from the definitions for both ‘virtual’ and ‘reality’. So the term ‘virtual reality’ basically means ‘near-reality’. It’s specific type of reality emulation.

Our entire experience of reality is simply a combination of sensory information and our brains sense-making mechanisms for that information. It stands to reason then, that if you can present your senses with made-up information, your perception of reality would also change in response to it. You would be presented with a version of reality that isn’t really there, but from your perspective it would be perceived as real. Something we would refer to as a virtual reality.

Answering “what is virtual reality” in technical terms is straight-forward. Virtual reality is the term used to describe a three-dimensional, computer generated environment which can be explored and interacted with by a person. That person becomes part of this virtual world or is immersed within this environment and whilst there, is able to manipulate objects or perform a series of actions.

Today virtual reality is usually implemented using computer technology. There are a range of systems that are used for this purpose, such as headsets, omni-directional treadmills and special gloves. These are used to actually stimulate our senses together in order to create the illusion of reality.

This is more difficult than it sounds, since our senses and brains are evolved to provide us with a finely synchronised and mediated experience.. Virtual reality technology needs to take our physiology into account. For example, the human visual field does not look like a video frame. We have (more or less) 180 degrees of vision and although you are not always consciously aware of your peripheral vision, if it were gone you’d notice. If an implementation of virtual reality manages to get the combination of hardware, software and sensory synchronicity just right it achieves something known as a sense of presence. Where the subject really feels like they are present in that environment.

There are a wide variety of applications for virtual reality which include: architecture, sport, medicine, the arts, entertainment

Virtual reality can lead to new and exciting discoveries in these areas which impact upon our day to day lives.

Wherever it is too dangerous, expensive or impractical to do something in reality, virtual reality is the answer. From trainee fighter pilots to medical applications trainee surgeons, virtual reality allows us to take virtual risks in order to gain real world experience. As the cost of virtual reality goes down and it becomes more mainstream you can expect more serious uses, such as education or productivity applications, to come to the fore. Virtual reality and its cousin augmented reality could substantively change the way we interface with our digital technologies. Continuing the trend of humanising our technology.

Virtual reality is the creation of a virtual environment presented to our senses in such a way that we experience it as if we were really there. It uses a host of technologies to achieve this goal and is a technically complex feat that has to account for our perception and cognition. It has both entertainment and serious uses. The technology is becoming cheaper and more widespread. We can expect to see many more innovative uses for the technology in the future and perhaps a fundamental way in which we communicate and work thanks to the possibilities of virtual reality.

ZBrush Overview

ZBrush is a digital sculpting and painting program that has revolutionized the 3D industry with its powerful features and intuitive workflows. Built within an elegant interface, ZBrush offers the world’s most advanced tools for today’s digital artists. With an arsenal of features that have been developed with usability in mind, ZBrush creates a user experience that feels incredibly natural while simultaneously inspiring the artist within. With the ability to sculpt up to a billion polygons, ZBrush allows you to create limited only by your imagination.

Designed around a principle of circularity, the menus in ZBrush work together in a non-linear and mode-free method. This facilitates the interaction of 3D models, 2D images and 2.5DPixols in new and unique ways.

ZBrush gives you all of the tools needed to quickly sketch out a 2D or 3D concept and then take that idea all the way to completion. You can create realistic renders directly in ZBrush with lighting and atmospheric effects. With the many powerful export options, you can easily prepare your model for 3D printing or use within any other digital application.

Because ZBrush users are enabled by its powerful software processing, you can sculpt and paint with millions of polygons with out having to worry about purchasing expensive graphics cards. It is for this reason why ZBrush is used by everyone from art enthusiast to major film and games studios.

Leave technical hurdles and steep learning curves behind, as you sculpt and paint with familiar brushes and tools.

IDEAS BORN IN CLAY.

ZBrush is the 3D industry's standard digital sculpting application. Use customizable brushes to shape, texture, and paint virtual clay, while getting instant feedback. Work with the same tools used by film studios, game developers and artists the world over.

Dynamesh is ZBrush’s digital clay. It rebuilds the topology of your model as you sculpt, creating a smooth, even surface for you to add fine details. Step between different resolutions of your model, and changes on any level will be applied to each one. This enables you to create complex models, but still be able to make big changes when you need to.

If you're a concept artist or illustrator, you'll find that ZBrush bridges the gap between 2D and 3D. Compose 2D images where you can make real-time changes, while maintaining accurate lighting and depth. Paint models with pixel-by-pixel control using customizable brushes. Use GoZ to create complex textures in PhotoShop and see them applied to your scene as you work.

These are just a few of the unique and powerful features you'll love about ZBrush.

ZBrush 4R8 continues our tradition of creating digital sculpting tools that enable an artist to design with immediate response, even with digital sculptures that have vast amounts of detail. The list of new features in ZBrush 4R8 expand upon the digital sculpting workflow within ZBrush. Many new features will provide increased freedom while designing, foremost of which are Live Boolean and Vector Displacement Mesh. ZBrush 4R8 introduces multi-language support, as well as many other enhancements such as a new transformation tool, the Gizmo 3D and a new text generator that will allow the artist to create text and logos with real-time adjustments. And these are only the beginning!