Forman3D Blog - Forman3D, Custom 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, Laser Engraving and Vinyl Graphics

3D Printed Topographical Maps

2/12/2015

We had a very interesting customer request yesterday. Someone wanted to give a friend a 3D Printed topographic map of a state park. We have printed these for customers previously, but the .stl files (the digital life blood of a 3D Printer) was provided.
As a 3D print shop, we cant take the time to draw these by hand in a CAD tool and be cost effective. So i started the inevitable Google search and came across the awesome Terrain2STL project here
In this website you can zoom in on your favorite area of the world in a 3D map rendering, draw some bounds for the area of interest and let the website do its work, generating an STL file that you can take to your favorite 3D Print Shop and have it 3D printed.
In this case we were playing with Bear Brook State Park. The 3D print will be a solid color and once complete it can be painted. For great finishing techniques (extremely thorough) for 3D prints check out this video

The website works great. The only thing I would like to see added right now is the ability to put down a number of geo points rather than be constrained to a square box. For an example like this, it would be fantastic to be able to outline the green boundaries of the park on the map.

The lazerblade has arrived

2/6/2015

Its finally here, our 'first' laser. We have a basket case at the moment. It should be up and running in a few days... stay tuned!

3D Printing with metal

1/23/2015

This is a fantastic idea. I love the idea of putting my mig that doesn't get much use to a readily accessible machine for Forman3D to use to help others develop their ideas.
http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/you-can-now-3d-print-with-metal-at-home

Website updates.

1/20/2015

We have been processing a lot of acrylic to make custom parts, drink coasters and kids puzzles. Each time we order for a particular project we make sure to get enough to bolster our own stock of a particular color or thickness for the next job that hasn't shown up yet. We are developing quite an inventory of plexiglass colors and thicknesses for custom requests. We have also partnered with three different suppliers now so we can get things we don't have in-stock in-house quickly... long story short, we now have a big plexiglass section on the Laser Stuff page.

We also started processing a lot of gifts during the holiday season. So we have developed relationships with several suppliers for laser engrave-able gifts like Alder Wood picture frames, Klikit Silicone bands, aluminum dog tags, etc...

Check out our web store and get yourself something nice!

Next blog post will be about something cool we made during the holiday season. I promise.

Teaser...

12/16/2014

We have a number of new projects going for the holidays and new product realizations for customers. After the holidays we should be able to share some pics... you know how it goes, let the gifters give the gifts before we go showing pics of them.

Hint: subjects include 3D printed busts, 3D printed cookie cutters, 3D printed drone parts, laser cut and engraved acrylic, laser engraved granite, laser engraved anodized aluminum, and laser cut and engraved cedar and oak gifts!

3d deep etches

12/9/2014

Check this out... Worked out a way to add some dimension to otherwise flat engraving efforts. This mini staircase was etched from 3/16 green acrylic using our 50w universal laser.

New Parent Gift Set

11/19/2014

For the new parents in your life, a special gift to commemorate their recent family addition. Laser engraved picture frame (5x7) and anodized aluminum dog tag keychain (many colors available) with birth details and footprints.
$80 for the set, email us to order.

Laser Decorating Big Steel Hardware!

10/30/2014

These decorations for commemorative hardware trophies. We are using the laser to create the decorations for the massive 1 1/2"-6 steel hardware... using gold foil, silver foil and CERMARK on sanded steel. The gold seems to 'POP' the best.

Check out that snazzy fixture Lisabet Forman designed and 3D printed to make repeatibility super easy!

Laser cut packaging

10/30/2014

A customer just ordered a large pile of custom cut acrylic parts. How do we make sure the shiny new parts make it safely to their home... Custom cut packaging of course!

Reclaimed wood work bench

10/25/2014

This project is being delivered today... Custom reclaimed wood workbench for FatMongoose Technologies. The logos are laser engraved in the cross legs.