Monday, September 30, 2013

3D printing wacky things

7 whacky things made by 3D printing

byt207  Fabrics: In an attempt to make needles and threads obsolete, designers from ‘Freedom of Creation’ developed 3D printed fabrics for the very first time.



byt21 6  Cars: Ecologic, a 3D design firm, has started constructing 3D cars named ‘Ubree’ that are strong as steel but half the weight.



byt225  Bionic limbs: Recently scientists successfully 3D printed actual living human kidneys, ears, nose etc. This is expected to revolutionize organ translates



byt234  Chocolates with face impressions: Want to see what happen if someone bites off your face? Now you can. Just print your face on chocolates. Bon Appétit!



byt243  Face Replicas: Recently a cancer patient got a new face that was printed out from a 3D printer. Cloning at it’s best!



byt252  Fetus: If you think ultrasound photos are too mainstream, than this is what you should be trying out. Warning though! It might cost you a small fortune (Roughly $1250).



byt261  A 3D printer itself: Yes! There were some grad students, crazy enough to make a functioning 3D printer out of a 3D printer. Anyone getting any ‘Inception’ vibes?

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Molten Metal 3D Printers Are Coming

Forget Plastic: Molten Metal 3D Printers Are Coming

By  - Source: Tom's Guide US | B 21 COMMENTS




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Print
The Vader is like an inkjet printer for molten metal.The Vader is like an inkjet printer for molten metal.Home 3D printers such as the Cubify Cube and MakerBot Replicator build objects by laying down layers of melted plastic filament. They've inspired a wave of creativity by allowing people to transform an idea into an original, custom-designed object. But still, it's a piece of plastic — good for industrial prototypes or low-cost toys, tools or tchotchkes, but not for precise parts or polished, durable items. 
Father-and-son team Scott and Zachary Vader aim to take 3D printing up a substantial notch by printing with molten metals such as aluminum and copper. In rough terms, their prototype machine, which debuted at Maker Faire in New York City over the weekend, is like an inkjet printer for metal.
You may not have one of their machines at home soon, or ever, though: The first units, to be called the Mark 1, will be custom-built works in progress and likely sell for between $20,000 and $100,000. But they could make many of the components in the products you buy and the machines that make those products, the inventors say. The Vaders intend to come out with a version under $10,000 in about a year, son Zachary Vader told Tom's Guide. "But at this point we don't have any idea of what that will be or look like."
Vader's Molten Metal Printer
In the future, the printers could allow "maker" inventors to build their own dream machines in small workshops. "I think in a few years this could be a maker product, a tool that a maker space might have for its members," Scott Vader, the father, said. (Their website, Vadersystems.com, waxes more poetic, reading "… our Direct to Metal printer will be not only be a tool of the corporate world, but also of the common man.") 

Metal printing state of the art 

Metal printing is possible now, but not for heavy-duty industrial parts. The most common process, selective laser sintering, lays down a layer of metal powder and heats it with a laser so that the metal melts and flows together. It's increasingly used to produce items such as jewelry that you can buy on sites such as Etsy. But the objects aren't ideal for building machine parts because they are slightly porous,  Zachary Vader said.
So the Vaders are going a different route — one that looks more than any other technology like the inkjet printers that inspired 3D printing in the first place. The startup's printer process begins with an electric furnace up top that melts metal ingots. That process is quite energy efficient. The printer runs off a regular wall outlet: Its 400-watt power supply would barely power a desktop computer. The furnace is encased in a glossy-black cube with the family name imprinted in bold, angular letters on the front — calling up the aesthetic of a more-famous Vader.
Zachary Vader, 20, who has studied mechanical engineering, was reticent to explain exactly how the family's technology works. But in broad terms, he said that the process — called liquid metal jet printing or direct-to-metal printing — uses magnetism to propel melted metal onto the printer bed. Some metals already have magnetic properties. For others, like the aluminum the machine will first support, the printer first has to apply an electrical charge to the metal. 
That mechanism closely resembles some inkjet printers, which apply an electrical charge to droplets of ink and use magnetic force to direct them onto a sheet of paper. Rather than squirting out one drop at a time, even cheap inkjet printers can propel them through thousands of nozzles, thousands of times per second. Zachary Vader said that their device can likewise have thousands of nozzles and run close to or even faster than the speed of an inkjet. Today's plastic printers typically have just one nozzle, and at most about a half dozen, that trace out a design.
Because the electrical conductivity of the metal is key to the printing mechanism, adding new materials may require some tweaking of the process, Zachary Vader said. But he believes copper, silver and gold will be fairly easy to add. 
The Vaders still have a way to go, however. They finished putting the prototype together a few days before the New York debut. And it was missing the most important part: the printhead. Nor did the team display any items made with its printer.

How metal printing makes a difference

What's the point of printing metal other than "because we can"? First, there's the generic benefit of3D printing — it can make a single, unique object that previously could only be mass-manufactured. That would allow companies to build a small number of products or prototypes, such as 100, or even just 10. And it could drop the cost of making one-off, custom metal items, such as prosthetics or medical implants, Scott Vader said. 
But metal printing could also create new types of lightweight metal components. Rather than producing solid pieces of plastic, 3D printers typically print out a honeycomb-like internal structure to save on weight and material. The Vader printer can do the same thing with metal. 
"What you could do that would be even cooler than a gear is you could do a gear that is hollow inside that has specific support structures for the direction of torque,"  the younger Vader said, "so it can be very, very light, and [have] very, very low material costs, but do the job extremely well."
For all those reasons, Scott Vader is upbeat that metal printing will go big. "It could be one-third of the manufacturing world someday," he said. "Of course, I'm being optimistic," he added

1 malaysia , 2 Bibles


Subject: National Anthem
  
JUST FOR LAUGH !

Marina Mahathir on the National Anthem..... 

 
Marina Mahathir on Negara Ku.....Interesting!!

 
She really made a very good point here, read on!

A comment posted on Marina M's blog in response to an article on the issue.......
 
Some self-appointed defenders of Islam including the chief of "1Malaysia " have insisted that Catholics should use "Tuhan" instead of "Allah" to address the Catholic or Christian God. But in the national anthem, "Tuhan" (not "Allah") bless the country (...Tuhan  kurniakan...).   
 
How now ?!!. If Malay-Muslims are that easily confused as portrayed by
 some politicians, they must be thinking that Malaysia is blessed by the Catholic/Christian God, and the Muslim God "Allah" is perpetually on leave. Perhaps, this confusion may cause the government to change the national anthem by replacing "Tuhan" with "Allah" But then again,  non-muslims will not be allowed to sing the national anthem. Then it would be non-muslims turn to be confused.....!!

If this issue goes to the courts, even the judges will get kepala pening...!!
 
So much for "1 Malaysia "!.  Malaysia Boleh!   There are 2 Allahs in Malaysia.....!?! 

What a joke....Absurd Triviality of M'sian Leaders and this is pretty funny and confusing.....!!


Nazri now says "Allah" OK for East  Malaysia !
 
Here are  some funny bloggers' comments. We can laugh to keep our sanity in this crazy country !  
  

Blogger  A:

Let me try to understand  what Nazri means:
 If you are an East  Malaysian Christian residing in East Malaysia,  you can use the word 'Allah'. But if you are a West Malaysian Christian residing in West Malaysia, you cannot use the word 'Allah'. If you are an East Malaysian Christian working in West Malaysia, you cannot use the  word 'Allah'. However, if you  are a West Malaysian Christian working in East Malaysia, it is alright to use the  word  'Allah'. But if you are either East Malaysian or  West Malaysian Christian on a plane that has just taken off from East Malaysia to West  Malaysia , you cannot use the word 'Allah'. Similarly if you  are either East Malaysian or West Malaysian Christian on a plane that has just taken off from West Malaysia towards East Malaysian, you now can start using the word  'Allah'...!!! 
   

Blogger B:

Welcome to 1 malaysia ,  2 Bibles  
  

Blogger C
 :

Welcome to 1 Malaysia , 2 Allahs (East M'sia & West M'sia)
    

Blogger  D:

In-flight announcement  before take-off in East Malaysia. "Ladies & gentlemen, please fasten your seat belt; put your seat upright and leave your "Allah" behind..... we're going to West Malaysia yeah !" 
   

Blogger  E
:

Can the Christian  Sabahans and Sarawakians in the Peninsular, of whom there are many, not use the word Allah here? Does that not sound  idiotic?  Whenever someone in the  Peninsular uses the word "Allah", do we have to check his IC to confirm if he is an authorised user? Christians all over Malaysia were told to pray even harder so that  
the word ALAMAK is not banned. Christians now worry that UMNO-BN leaders would think ALAMAK is the mother of GOD !!   I cannot understand how we can become so STUPID....!?!

 
Religious scholars in Jakim, etc, in Malaysia think they are like all-knowing, all-powerful beings dictating what religious words can and cannot be used -
Malaysia BOLEH!!!

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Malay sia - a laughing stock

Stop making us a laughing stock

Jeswan Kaur | September 22, 2013
The never-ending cronyism, nepotism and corruption - these are what have shamed Malaysia.
COMMENT
It has been seven days since former anti-colonialist Chin Peng died,  ironically at a time when  Malaysia was busy celebrating its golden jubilee.
Whilst Chin Peng has bid Malaysians farewell forever, he continues to make for interesting read, especially when it came to the issue of allowing the 88-year-old eternal resting place in his hometown in Sitiawan, Perak.
Chin Peng’s many attempts to return to Malaysia were rejected by the Malaysian government on grounds that he had rejected the offer the government made in 1989 via the Hatyai Treaty.
Through the peace deal signed during prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s reign over Malaysia, Chin Peng was allowed to return home provided he did so within the one-year grace period accorded under the agreement.
Chin Peng however declined and chose instead to live in exile in Thailand where he also breath his last.
But soon after his death, questions were abuzz as to the fate of his remains. Would Chin Peng be allowed to ‘RIP’ in Malaysia?
As far as the Barisan Nasional government is concerned, its mind is made up – that Chin Peng was no ‘son of Malaysia’ and there is no place on the face of Malaysia for him, be it when he was alive and now that he is gone.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has gone so far as to say that Chin Peng was a terrorist and who caused many atrocities in the country. The premier challenged Chin Peng supporters to sue the BN government from barring Chin Peng’s remains from entering Malaysia as the government had legal meanings to do so.
Traitor, terrorist, communist and good riddance – these are the sentiments of Umno, the patronising arm of the Barisan Nasional government, in dealing with Chin Peng’s demise.
M’sia not owned by Umno
The Chin Peng episode brings to fore the question as to whom does Malaysia ‘belong’ to. Does this nation of diverse faith belong to the rakyat or has the belligerent Umno turned Malaysia into an ‘Incorporated’, trying to emerge as the sole stakeholder over a nation that is famous for its multi-diversity?
By rejecting any move by anyone to give Chin Peng a final resting place back home in Malaysia, the Najib-led government has validated  the Oscar Wilde quote that ‘there is no sin except stupidity’.
Before the prime minister goes about throwing dares to Chin Peng sympathisers who are advocating for the latter’s right to rest eternal back in Sitiawan, Najib has to make it clear on what grounds is he challenging the people to consider legal recourse.
It is Umno who keeps on cashing in over Chin Peng’s death, villifying the man even after his death. For his role in combating the Japanese and then the British, he was stamped as a villain.
That was all Chin Peng did – he lived fighting the colonialists and made no apologies about it. Sadly, instead of learning how to forgive, Umno turned vindictive and continues to punish Chin Peng.
One wonders would the situation be different if Chin Peng had converted to Islam during his years in exile? Would Umno make an exception then?
A former inspector general of police, Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor says preventing Chin Peng’s ashes from reaching home only goes to make Malaysia a laughing stock.
Not only that, disrespecting the 1989 Hatyai Peace Treaty also puts the Malaysian government is a very bad light.
The question here is – does Najib care about how his leadership impacts the country’s image?
Clearly, the BN government has thus far been busy shaming Malaysia; zero accountablity over the ‘mishaps’ that keep taking place in the country has made not the nation but the Najib-administration a laughing stock.
Here is premier who gave his word that ‘people first, performance now’. But in reality, nothing of that sort is happening.
Continuing to shame M’sia
The common Malaysian is still struggling to own a house and enjoy a decent quality of life, without having to worry about bribing authorities and without going through the endless nightmare that the nation will soon end up being known for just one dominant race.
The regular Malaysian fears racism and yet Najib does nothing to assure Malaysians that all is well back home.
The premier has also not bothered to assuage the rakyat over the continuous abuse of power, be it by the police or by his own colleagues.
There had been little reaction from the prime minister over the furore surrounding the indelible ink which was used for the 13th general election that took place on May 5, 2013.
Likewise, the fact that the rakyat is affected each time they read about another death in police lockup does not worry Najib who has done nothing to reassure the people that all is good at the home front.
If there is something the premier has been busy doing, it is this – making sure those behind the heinous murder of a foreigner are let off the hook.
Not only that, with the Umno election due next month, Najib is using all time available to garner as much support possible to ensure victory is his; to this end, the premier unabashedly bribed an MP with a lucrative government- linked companies (GLC) position – the MP, Azalina Othman Said was earlier hell bent on challenging Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Jalil in the coming Umno election but has since forgone all intention to do so.
The never-ending cronyism, nepotism and corruption – and the blatant dismissal of the murder of a Mongolian woman – these are what have shamed Malaysia.
Closing the files on a woman who bodies who blown to smitherens using C4 explosives is what makes the leadership a laughing stock.
Chin Peng was simply living by his principles, fighting off invaders – this would be his true epilogue.
Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist

Friday, September 20, 2013

Orang Asli men speak their mind at Tribunal

Fed-up of broken promises, threats, Orang Asli men speak their mind at Tribunal

BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH
SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
LATEST UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 02:18 PM
The orang asli men who came all the way from Kuala Lipis to testify at the Bersih People's Tribunal today. The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 20, 2013The orang asli men who came all the way from Kuala Lipis to testify at the Bersih People's Tribunal today. The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 20, 2013Broken promises, deplorable living conditions and threats spurred six Orang Asli from villages in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, to travel at least 12 hours to Kuala Lumpur to testify in the Bersih People's Tribunal.
Norman a/l Kong took two hours from his village - Kampung Pos Senderut - to the nearest tarred road, for a bus, then another eight hours from there to KL, while Kampung Regang's Sani a/l Sobang took longer.
They are one of hundreds of villagers from deep within Kuala Lipis, which comes under the Cameron Highlands constituency, who are disheartened at the absence of amenities promised to them time and time again by Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates before every general election.
Worse yet, the villagers claimed that they were "threatened" and "forced" to vote for BN.
"After a meeting with the Orang Asli Development Department, our village head came back and told us that we would be arrested by police if we did not vote for BN," Sani, 33, said.
He revealed that, prior to that, he had gathered some villagers and urged them to vote for the opposition in the 13th general election.
Sani testifying during the session today at the Bersih People's Tribunal. The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 20, 2013.Sani testifying during the session today at the Bersih People's Tribunal. The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 20, 2013."I told them that I have had enough of BN's promises that were never kept and I wanted to vote for a change.
"But after the village head's meeting with us, many of my friends who had agreed not to vote for BN changed their minds out of fear," Sani told The Malaysian Insider today.
Norman added that the candidate for the ruling coalition had always promised water, electricity and better houses for his village.
"We have been listening to the same promises being made since Merdeka but until now we are still without electricity, we still live in bamboo houses and we still get water from a river nearby.
"We are concerned about our children's education as they cannot study properly at night. Many of them drop out as it takes two hours to go to school and another two to get back," the father of three said.
He disclosed that his villagers were also threatened by BN supporters.
"They said that our healthcare and education would not be free anymore. They said we would not receive any help from them if we did not vote for them.
"I voted for them three times before this. But I don't believe them anymore," Norman said.
Both men, crushed by the ruling government's empty promises, discussed the situation with their church members in Raub, who then informed the Orang Asli about the tribunal.
"Once we heard about this, we knew we had to come here and tell of what happened in our villages," Norman said, as his eyes glistened with tears.
Sani declared that he was not afraid of anyone when asked if he feared that there would be a backlash due to his testimony at the tribunal.
"The police or the village head...I'm not scared," he said with a wave of his hand.
Norman said he voted for the opposition despite threats that he and his family will lose certain benefits, such as free healthcare. The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 20, 2013.Norman said he voted for the opposition despite threats that he and his family will lose certain benefits, such as free healthcare. The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, September 20, 2013.In his testimony yesterday, Norman named MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel and claimed that he and the BN candidate for Jelai state seat "threatened" them, saying they would be charged for education and healthcare if they lost in the election.
Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail from Umno was the BN candidate for Jelai.
"So, I voted for the candidate with the rocket sign (DAP)," he said.
He also said the villagers were given RM20 each by Palanivel and were promised another RM80 if they voted for BN.
"Tetapi janji ini juga tidak ditepati (this promise, too, was not fulfilled)," he added. - September 20, 2013.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Jakarta’s and KL’s hazy deal

Jakarta’s and KL’s haze deal angers Asean partners

BY ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH 
SEPTEMBER 13, 2013
LATEST UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2013 07:07 PM
Malaysia and Indonesia have struck a deal to withhold critical information on forest fires in Sumatra which cause the annual haze in the region.
Southeast Asian counterparts Singapore, Thailand and Brunei, countries also affected by the haze, were understandably upset with the deal.
The Edge Review reported that the deal became known after the haze appeared for a second time this year after the worst haze since 1997 occurred in June and July. The haze caused schools and businesses in Malaysia and Singapore to be closed, health problems and affected air travel.
Documents retrieved from recent regional meetings showed that Malaysia and Indonesia signed an agreement to exchange digital-geo-referenced maps to show when and where the forest fires started. It will give information on who started the fires.
The maps would be evidence for authorities to take legal action and thus make companies like Sime Darby, plantation owners and governments more responsible and accountable when clearing forests.
The online magazine, quoting Asean sources, said Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta have conspired to keep the information to themselves and their relevant ministries.
A source complained that any favourable treatment given to big Malaysian companies by Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur would be at the expense of millions in the region forced to live with the thick smog.
"Singapore has said this does fall short of what it's been trying to achieve," the source said, adding that the new Asean secretary-general from Vietnam, Le Luong Minh, is also angered by the deal.
In 1997, then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad banned journalists from covering the haze when it struck the first time. He claimed there was an international conspiracy to smear the country's image.
The same year, climate scientists claimed that 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon were released into the atmosphere, enough to speed up the increase of global carbon dioxide levels.
There are about 24 million hectares of peat, of which 70% are in Indonesia. It can reach depths of about 20 metres and can take up to months to finish burning. Even heavy rains cannot put out the flames underground because of its depth.
The trans-boundary Asean treaty to provide regional response to the fires, first drawn up in 2002 by all  Asean members, met resistance when Jakarta was unwilling to sign it.
But during the latest haze incident, Jakarta seemed ready to sign until the cosy relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia came to light.
The Edge Review quoted yet another source who said self-interest had resulted in the latest "back-pedalling" after an announcement was made to share geo-digital information and agreements reached in Bali last year.
"Greater transparency is required to make plantation companies and land owners responsible for the haze, more accountable, and employing best management practices in land-clearing activities as well as to undertake concerted efforts in fire suppression," the group of Asean countries said at that time.
The deal between Malaysia and Indonesia has cast doubt on whether the Haze Monitoring System due to be signed by Asean next month will be realised.
Scientists, meanwhile, have predicted that peat deposits, necessary for the preservation of rainforests, could be wiped out by 2040 looking at the current rate burning.
The region's political credibility will be put to the test due to its inability to resolve the haze issue in a timely manner. - September 13, 2013.

Nigeria: Christian lawyer receiving death threats for defending victims of Fulani attacks - Where are the Christian state leaders of the World to voice out for the BLOOD of their brethren!

  Nigeria: Christian lawyer in hiding after receiving death threats for defending victims of Fulani attacks Nigeria: Christian lawyer in hid...