iMakr Holds October FDM 3D Printing Hackathon in London for University Students

Save a date on your calendar from October 18-19 if you can get to iMakrthon—The London 3D Printing Hackathon—to be held at the iMakr store in Farringdon, 79 Clerkenwell Rd., London.

The pressure is on in October! It sounds like young competitive spirits will be stoked in a very exciting competition involving fused deposition modeling (FDM) and 3D-printing, with six universities being invited to send teams of five students each to the hackathon. Each team will be given the chance to produce a 3D printed product that must exhibit great innovation and functionality. As is typical for a hackathon, where designers, computer programmers and the like usually get together for short, intense amounts of time to collaborate on projects, the team only gets 24 hours to pull their prototype together for appraisal by the team of judges who will consist of a highly qualified panel of experts from different sectors such as engineering, fashion, and jewelry.

Each team will be comprised of students from different backgrounds and with different levels of expertise. They will be provided with 3D printers, 3D pens, technicians and support, cameras and tripods, video projectors, and 2D printers. While contestants will have to bring their own laptops and provide their own software, it’s being suggested that they use software such as Solidworks, Rhino, Zbrush, Blender, Sketchup, 3DSmax, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Powerpoint.

Hackathons usually revolve around the creation of an actual product that can be used, and that is certainly the case here. On completion of this hacking festival, the winning team receives the high reward of being able to work in the iMakr incubator program with the goal being to bring their prototype to complete fruition in the marketplace.

Hackathons have become more common events in the past few years, as the quick ‘think-tanks’ are a prime way to bring together creative, innovative minds to think up new products—and the competitions are a great way for larger companies to both sponsor and spark ideas for new prototypes and often, target bright new individual minds as well as teams that can function as potential (and perhaps profitable) startups. It’s a win-win for all involved, and certainly a great way to spend 24 hours. Registration for this event begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2014.

iMakr, the sponsor of this fun competition, participates regularly in prominent events and exhibitions. The company began operating in early 2013 and operates the world ‘s largest 3D printing store in a two-story building in Central London. They deliver products worldwide via iMakr.com, and work closely with their team of designers at MyMiniFactory.com, which is a free online 3D object download platform. The store sells 3D printers, 3D scanners, filaments, finishing solutions, and 3D printed objects by renowned designers. The iMakr Store also operates a 3D scan yourself service, 3D Printing on demand, as well as training, classes, workshops and demonstrations. iMakr.com is an online store selling a wide range of 3D printers and materials, 3D art and 3D scanners.

Have you been to the iMakr store in London or New York? Have you been to a hackathon before? Share with us in the iMakrthon forum thread at 3DPB.com.