12th Annual Stratasys Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge Accepting Entries

Stratasys Ltd., the 3D printing and additive manufacturing solution provider, is now accepting entries for their 12th annual Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge.

The challenge is open to students around the world, and the annual 3D printing event tasks students in engineering, design, art or architecture to design a new product which improves on an existing product, redesigns an existing product, or streamlines how an activity is accomplished.

The rules are relatively straightforward: entries must be mechanically sound, realistic to produce, and practically achievable, and they’ll be judged on sound mechanical design, a compelling description in writing or video of the project, design creativity, the usefulness of the product, and of course, the aesthetics involved – at least in the art and architecture category.

Challenge rules stipulate that individual students or two-person teams will create designs with 3D CAD software and then submit their files – in .STL format – to Stratasys online. The entry should also include a written description or a 30-second video which explains the value and benefit of the Extreme Redesign model.

The deadline for submitting entries is February 4, 2016.

The challenge will be contested in three categories, which include:

• Engineering: Secondary Education (middle and high school)
• Engineering: Post-Secondary (university, college, or post-secondary)
• Art or Architecture (any grade level)

The First Place winners in each of the main categories certainly won’t go away empty handed as they’ll receive $2,500 scholarships. The instructor of the First Place winning students will receive a demo 3D printer for a limited time to use in their classrooms.

The Second Place winners will receive $1,000 scholarships, and the top 10 entries in each category will receive an apparel item valued at up to $50 from Stratasys, while the regional semi-finalists will receive a 3D printed model of their design. Each and every person who enters will receive the official Extreme Redesign T-shirt.

During the past 12 years, Stratasys has awarded more than $130,000 in scholarships via the challenge format.

As of this year, Extreme Redesign is adding a bonus category: Make a Difference, which asks students to create – or redesign – a product meant to impact individuals, communities, or the environment in a positive way. The winner of the Make a Difference category will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

And in yet another bonus, the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC) is awarding a $1,000 scholarship to the entry of their choice one of their NCATC member schools for achievement in the post-secondary engineering category. NCATC is a network of education resources which promotes the use of technology applications to enhance economic and workforce development programs and services.

If you need more information about the Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge, contest rules, and how to enter, you can visit the Extreme Redesign page here.

You can also follow the Extreme Redesign 3D Printing Challenge on Facebook and be part of the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #ExtremeRedesign.

The Helico pencil sharpener

For last year’s Extreme Redesign Challange, the winner, the “Helico” Helix-Shaped Sharpener, was designed by Haya Alnibari and Ti Fu of Ryerson University in Toronto, ON, Canada.

The Helico was designed to simplify the manual motion involved in sharpening a pencil. It featured an ergonomic form which was mathematically generated and prototyped using modern digital tools. To achieve the task, the sharpener moves in the form of a helix, and the rotational force and linear force are combined into a single, helical movement which simplifies the act of sharpening into a single fluid movement.

The judges selected the Helico not only for its elegance, but for the versatility it offers with the one-hand operation.