Photograph LulzBot’s Rocktopus Mascot and Win The New LulzBot ‘Mini’ 3D Printer

What if someone told you that you could win your own new open source desktop 3D printer simply by photographing an octopus?  That sounds odd, but also maybe too good to be true, doesn’t it?  Well, that’s about the gist of the new competition to win one of two LulzBot Mini 3D Printers.  This new 3D printer is being unveiled at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this coming January, and you, too, can be there to find out if you are the lucky winner of a printer.

Are you interested in 3D printing but deterred by cost? Well, for $1,350 you can own a desktop printer that will give you access to 3D printing without the exorbitant cost associated with other printers.  And this printer definitely seems worth it.  Running on open source hardware with the ability to use a broad range of materials, using an open filament format, this 3D printer promises to bring the technology to more and more interested people.  The LulzBot Mini is pretty mini: its printing area is a mere 6.1 in x 6.1 in. x 6.1 in., with a top printing speed of 10.8 in/second.  Best of all, it’s compatible with many 3D software programs, making it an easy-to-use printer that you may want to check out when it becomes available for purchase in January.

Better yet, you can familiarize yourself with the LulzBot Mini’s mascot: the rocktopus.  This little guy may be your ticket to winning your own Mini printer — that is, if you can capture him in a captivating and creative digital format.

LulzBot has announced a new contest allowing you to win your own new Mini desktop printer, one reel each of standard and advanced filament, and company t-shirts and stickers. And, yes, you should familarize yourself with the rocktopus because if you are interested in participating in the contest, you’ll be photographing and sharing on social media sites (#rocktopus).

How do you enter?  LulzBot is making available the STL file for the rocktopus, and they are encouraging you to print one and then create a still digital image featuring the rocktopus. But you don’t have to even print your own; you can also enter a photograph featuring the provided digital model or your own photograph.

The goal here is to be creative about how and where you feature the rocktopus. If you think traveling garden gnome, you may be on the right track.  Simply upload your image (which needs to be copyrighted with a clear CC BY-SA 4.o license) onto the website hosting the contest and you can also participate by voting too.

Participating entrants have two chances to win. The People’s Choice Award will be determined by voting Redditors on the contest thread. The Critic’s Choice Award will be determined by Aleph Objects, Inc. — the company behind the LulzBot Mini desktop printer.  Winners will be announced at the International Consumer Electronics Show, which runs January 6-9, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Contest entries and voting begin today, December 9, 2014, continuing through December 29, 2014.  So you have roughly three weeks to make and photograph your own rocktopus and compete for what seems to be a great new, functional desktop 3D printer — the LulzBot Mini. Let us know if you’ll be entering, or which entry was your favorite, over at the Print a Rocktopus to Win forum thread at 3DPB.com.