The winners for the ninth annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge were just announced. The global contest organized by 3D printing giant Stratasys aims to encourage students to participate by submitting an innovative product design, a redesign of an existing product, or an original work of art or architecture.
The top three students in each category (Middle and High School Engineering, College Engineering, and Art and Architecture) were awarded $2,500 or $1,000 scholarships. Instructors of each of the three first-place student winners received a tablet PC for use in the classroom.
This year’s finalists in the College Engineering category had a great chance to get a potential licensing agreement, which was organized in partnership with online inventor community Edison Nation, which operates the TV show, Everyday Edisons. One of the finalist teams this year showed potential for signing up a future licensing deal. The company will recommend steps the entrant should take to pursue this possibility.
This year’s winners were selected by a panel of independent judges from the 3D printing industry. The judges were Patrick Gannon, RP+M division of Thogus, Todd Grimm, TAGrimm & Associates, and Ian Kovacevich, Enventys.
College Engineering Category Winners
1st Place: Crawler 2.0
By: Andrew Roderick/Brian Booth, Andrews Univ., Berrien Springs, Michigan
The design description is confidential at this time. This entry has been recommended for further examination by Edison Nation for a potential licensing agreement.
2nd Place: Multi-Rack
By: Sandra Wojtecki/Helena Skonieczna, Ryerson Univ., Toronto, Ontario
Multi-rack is a multi-purpose, wall mounted dish rack. It is designed to be affixed directly above the sink and solves many of the space, convenience and sanitary problems associated with other dish racks. A dual level, retractable design maximizes space by providing two drying levels. When the dish rack isn’t being used, it can be pushed back into its flush position, or individual pegs can be retracted and used as cup holders.
3rd Place: Snack Cup
By: Sivan Arbel/Julia Mozheyko, Ryerson Univ., Toronto, Ontario
The snack cup is attempting to make versatile the typical travel mug design.
It offers a clutter free solution that allows the user to comfortably hold his beverage and snack in one travel mug. The travel mug also converts into one larger container, for those days when coffee is the only necessity. The materials used in combination are 304 grade stainless steel and Bisphenol A (BPA) free plastic.
Art & Architecture Category Winners
1st Place: Emergent Automated Manufacturing
Connor Nicholas, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia
An innovative multi-dimensional additive manufacturing process.
The current design build process is limited to certain dimensions of manufactured material and processes. This creates a stagnant flow of production and innovation. In order to change how we think and perceive construction we must reevaluate many areas of our process. The areas of investigation that are explored in this project are fabrication, materiality and parametrics. These three areas are at the forefront of innovation in the industry and pushing the field forward. Without forward innovation there is no hope in a brighter future.
3D printing created a gateway for ideas to cross pollenate and give birth to new innovation. By intertwining technology from boat manufacturing, high performance sail construction, FDM modelling, BIM modelling, finite element modelling, advanced building material research and large scale gantry processes printing a building in serial manner becomes a reality. By 3D printing buildings we can use local materials indigenous to the area, reduce the amount of energy and material used in construction, control the quality at very high resolution, create new geometries and construct buildings at a rapid rate.
2nd Place: Virtual Organic Glasses
Hichang Ki; IDAS, Seoul, South Korea
This is a suggestion for a new generation of glasses. The concept of the design is a growing process that we can see in nature. These glasses frames grow from a tiny seed like any other organic creature does. The shape of the design is determined by this concept. This design is natural and not mechanical; it can be made by 3D printing only. It is not only aesthetic but also a high-tech based design.
3rd Place: Running Charger
Max Meaker, Kentridge H.S. Kent, Washington
Inspired by a school’s mascot, a Charger (horse), and the sport of running, a 2D profile image turned into a 3D model. The result became a one of a kind figurine titled “Running Charger”. At first glance it looks abstract, but transforms between a horse and a runner depending on your perspective. The model was 3D printed using a uPrint SE 3D Printer. After a run through the support removal system and a school spirited paint job, the figurines were finished.
Middle/High School Engineering Category
1st Place: Magnesium Fire Starter
By: Josh Ryan, Grand Haven H.S., Michigan
Magnesium fire starters are a practical way to light fires because they are weatherproof, portable, durable and environmentally friendly due to no harmful materials being used. The current design uses a thin piece of metal, which is stricken against a magnesium rod, to create a spark. However, this movement requires two hands, and it’s prone to user errors, including an inability to direct sparks in the desired direction, and hitting the kindling due to the jerky movement.
This redesign uses a lever design, which enables usage with one hand. Pushing down in one spot is all that is needed to make a spark. This action is smooth and simple, and makes it easy to direct sparks. The redesign also utilizes a spring to maintain tight friction between the magnesium and steel. It is fully weatherproof, portable, durable, and environmentally friendly. This redesign creates an easier user experience, creates accessibility for people who can only use one hand and retains everything good about the original design.
2nd Place: Math Over All Boundaries
By: Ethan Koeppe/Ethan McMillan, Grand Haven H.S., Michigan
International tests have been showing that U.S. students are falling behind in math and aren’t proficient enough to compete in the world market. In the current system the team has established math is not fun. Math Over All Boundaries (MOAB) solves both of these problems. It provides a unique, simple and entertaining educational opportunity for kids in grades K-5 to heighten their mathematical abilities. MOAB is a board game that reinforces knowledge of basic math operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, in a fun competitive atmosphere.
3rd Place: Easy Open Bottle Cap
By: Zachary Sia, Pittsford Mendon H.S., Pittsford, New York
This design seeks to provide a more comfortable and effective way to open the plastic bottle cap. “Easy Open Bottle Cap” has two tabs on either side of the cap, which consumers can use like the wings on a wing nut to loosen the cap. Both tabs are identical, so only one part needs to be mass-produced in addition to the cap. The tabs can be folded inward, making the bottle cap approximately the same size and shape as a conventional bottle cap, and then folded outward when the consumer wants to open the bottle. The hinges on the cap prevent the tabs from folding back too far while the consumer is opening the bottle. The hinges are also designed so that the tabs can easily be snapped into place, but cannot easily pop out. In case the tabs somehow fail, or the consumer simply chooses not to use the tabs, the bottle cap also has conventional ridges so it can be opened normally.
To assemble the Easy Open Bottle Cap, place the cylindrical extrusion on one side of the tab into the hole in the hinge closest to the bottom edge of the cap. Place the cylindrical extrusion on the other side of the tab into the notch on the top of the hinge and apply force. The cylinder should move through the groove and into the hole in the hinge. The tab is correctly attached if the smooth side of the tab can touch the bottle cap and the textured side faces outward.
Engineering a Difference Bonus Category 2013
Math All Over Boundaries
By: Ethan Koeppe & Ethan McMillan, Grand Haven, H.S., Michigan
Edison Nation Pick
Crawler 2.0
By: Andrew Roderick, Brian Booth; Andrews Univ; Berrien Springs, Michigan
Edison Nation will advise the team of Roderick and Booth on steps they should take to pursue a possible licensing agreement and commercialization of their invention.
3DPI congratulates all the Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge winners!
Source: Stratasys
