Kenyan in 3D4D Challenge

              In the last few years there has been a renewed interest in  a technology that was previously limited only to large industrial manufactures , military and the likes.3D  printing as it is commonly referred to is the process of creating items/objects by printing them out from a digital 3D model.This process basically entails buying a 3D model or creating a 3D model of an item (on a computer system using appropriate software such as Autodesk’s AutoCAD or the open source Blender 3D) you wish to have.This model is then saved in an appropriate format such as a .STL file.Lastly the file is printed using a special kind of printer that ‘prints ‘ out the object in a method commonly referred to as ‘additive manufacturing.’You can then do whatever you wish with your finished product.The potential ‘consumer 3D printing’ holds for the future is quite bright and there’s no telling how it will revolutionize the world.

            As expected several organizations are trying to find novel use for the above technology one of them being Techfortrade through 3D for Development Challenge.

            The 3D4D Challenge  is an international competition launched by London based technology charity, techfortrade that aims to unearth new ground-breaking ideas that exploit developments in 3D printing, mobile phone based scanning technology and web based design applications to improve the incomes and livelihoods of people in developing countries.The event will this year, be held in London, at The Brewery on the Friday 19^th October 2012.

Roy Ombatti, a Kenyan and Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Nairobi is one of the finalists after pushing the idea of printing shoes to help combat jiggers in Kenya.Winners will be awarded a 100,000 dollars to enable them implement their entry.Visitors at the event will be allowed to vote for their favorite idea and their votes will factor in the judges final decision so should you find yourself there VOTE TEAM KENYA!!...

As you see 3D printing is one of the technologies that will greatly impact the future just like mobile phones have done.What would you do with a 3D printer if you had one??

3D4D Challenge update(posted on 25/10/2012)

The 3D4D challenge came to pass and unfortunately for us(The people who were for Roy Ombatti's idea) we lost.The winner and each of the two runners up(see the list below) received a 3D printed trophy, designed and produced by Challenge sponsor, Econolyst. The winner was also presented with a 3D printing machine from MakerBot, who also sponsored the competition.

The 3D4D challenge trophy

 
1st place- WOOF(Washington Open Object Fabricators) A team made up of students across all disciplines from the University of Washington.Their idea mainly involves recycling plastic by using it as a raw material for 3D printing.

2nd place- Fripp Design-whose project involves using 3D printing technology in the rapid manufacture of soft tissue prostheses

3rd place-J. F. Brandon-whose idea involves using 3D printing for creating  a solar tracker(a device which follows the movement of the sun as it rotates from the east to the west every day.Solar Trackers are used to keep solar collectors/solar panels oriented directly towards the sun as it moves through the sky every day) that is easier to manufacture than existing models,cheaper and more efficient.