As we rapidly approach the halfway point of 2015, two questions have popped into my head. The first, “Where has the first half of the year gone?” And the second, “Which stories have attracted the most visitors to 3DPrint.com so far this year?” The first question I could try and philosophically answer, but will spare you the boredom. As for the second question, that’s easy–all I have to do is log into our web stats and figure it out. So here you have it, our most popular stories of the year so far. These stories have received the most traffic on this site since January 2015.
The Famous Blue and Black Dress (or White and Gold) Becomes a 3D Printed Meme
Remember when that blue/ black or white/gold mother-of-the-bride dress controversy happened? 3D printing company Tinkerine made a tangible version of the internet meme using their Ditto Pro 3D printer. Both versions of the dress were printed.
Carbon3D Unveils Breakthrough CLIP 3D Printing Technology, 25-100x Faster
Mechanical Engineer 3D Prints a Working 5-Speed Transmission for a Toyota 22RE Engine
It took 48 hours to print this Toyota transmission, which is a creation of Eric Harrell of Santa Cruz, California, who had previously dazzled us with his 3D printed Toyota engine. The two work together, an incredible feat, which is why this is one of our most popular stories so far this year!
Engineer 3D Prints Amazing Wirelessly Powered Tesla Desk Lamp
This desk lamp is really cool looking, and what makes it so intriguing is it’s printed on a desktop MakerBot Replicator 5th Generation 3D printer. The lamp operates at 6.5MHz, and is optimized to power a vintage 25W Tesla light bulb. It’s a tribute to the late Nicola Tesla, who invented the alternating current electric supply system.
Jenny Scordamaglia of Miami TV Gets 3D Scanned and Printed in the Nude
Nudity gets much Internet traffic, of course, and the same is true when it comes to 3D printing news. This story covers the scanning and 3D printing of Miami TV’s Jenny Scordamaglia by 1Click3DPrint. She hosts a Miami-based television show and now she’s 3D printed!
Engineer Creates a Unique 3D Metal Printer for just $2 — Prints in Gold, Platinum, Iron & More
Swedish Student Creates the World’s First 3D Printed Fully Functional Dishwasher
This dishwasher defies all of our ideas about the large, clunky, built-in machines that grace so many people’s kitchens. Instead, it is a 3D printed turbine contraption that uses a scrubber brush (which is not 3D printed) to wash dishes as you hold them in your sink. Quite clever!
Has this Australian Company Just One-Upped Carbon3D’s Super Fast 3D Printer?
Japanese 3D Printed Vagina Artist, Megumi Igarashi, is Arrested Yet Again
Cheapest, Best & Most Reliable Desktop 3D Printers — 3D Print’s 2015 Buyer’s Guide
3D Printed Bike Snaps in Half During Carleton University Press Conference to Show It Off
The stage was set for a press conference about a 3D printed bike, but when the rider got on the bike and placed weight on it — it snapped! We usually relish people’s successes when it comes to 3D printing, but as you know, we also learn much from people’s failures. This 3D printed bike: epic fail. Test ride it before you call in the media!
Chinese Company 3D Prints a Full-Size Working Car for Just $1770
A car company in China, Sanya Sihai, 3D printed a car that weighs 1,102 pounds and is completely electric powered. The printing took 5 full days and it took about 6 weeks to build. The interior is not 3D printed, and its not the most attractive car, but the price is right! In total, including ¥1,000 for electricity and labor, the car cost about ¥11,000 (about $1770 USD) to build.
New Zealand Man 3D Prints World’s Smallest Drill– Just 7.5mm Wide
CoKreeate Teams with Adult Film Star Christy Mack to 3D Print a Miniature Mack Figure
French Artist César Vonc Designs a 3D Printed Sex Robot: Meet the Soubrobotte
The Soubrobotte is a French 3D printed sex robot that inspires us to think about how technology will transform the landscape of sexuality in the twenty-first century. It’s no surprise that this is being done, and that the technology behind sex robots will include 3D printing. Sex robots have a big future it seems, and this makes for big stories too!
Do you remember seeing these stories? Is your favorite 3D printing news piece not on this list? What do you think will rule for the second half of 2015? Let us know your thoughts and predictions in the Most Popular Stories First Half 2015 forum thread over at 3DPB.com.