How to make 3D Google Cardboard

How to make 3D Google Cardboard

In this tutorial, you will learn how to make Google Cardboard out of just a piece of cardboard. With this you can play virtual reality or 3d games, take a virtual tour, and much more. For this to work, you will just need an Android phone, cardboards and a pair of lenses. 

Note that if you have any doubts please ask me on comment.

Step 1: Things you'll need

Here's what you need to get started:

1. CARDBOARD :- Corrugated cardboard sheet, preferably E Flute (corrugated cardboard comes in a variety of thicknesses called "flutes"), available at many art supply stores and online . For best results, you should look for strong, thin cardboard (sturdy shoe box rather than moving box). Minimum size: 8.75in (22cm) by 22in (56cm), and 0.06in (1.5mm) thickness.

2. LENSES :- This is the trickiest component. Lenses that have a 45mm focal distance might work. Biconvex lenses work best because they prevent distortion around the edges. We used the Durovis OpenDive Lens Kit available on Amazon.com

3. MAGNETS :- One neodymium ring magnet and one ceramic disk magnet - like this or this. Approximate size: 0.75in (19mm) diameter and 0.12in (3mm) thickness.

4. VELCRO :- Two strips of regular strength adhesive-backed velcro. Approximate size: 0.75in (20mm) by 1.25in (30mm).

5. RUBBER BAND :- One rubber band, to prevent the phone from sliding out. Minimum length of 3.2in (8cm).

6. NFC TAG (OPTIONAL) :- One sticker NFC tag. Program it with the URL cardboard://v1.0.0

7. You'll also need a ruler, glue, and scissors, an X-acto knife, or access to a laser cutter.(not included in the picture above)

Step 2: Desinging the VR viewer

Actually, you don't need to design it. The design files are officially already available here - (https://cardboard.withgoogle.com/downloads/cardboard_design_v1.0.zip).

Step 3: Making the VR Viewer

Now, follow the procedure below to make your own VR viewer :-

Firstly, open the .zip file downloaded from the website(on step 2) and double-click on cardboard.pdf file.

Secondly, print the template(cardboad.pdf) in colour by clicking File > Print in Adobe Reader or any other software.

Thirdly, glue the template onto a piece of cardboard(listed in step 1) and after drying, glue the light numbers on above of the dark ones.

Fourthly, cut out the cardboard along the black lines. Do not cut the 'RED' lines. Also cut the boxes with black line using a X-acto knife.

Step 4: Assembly-I

To assemble it, you've two choices :-

First, assemble as on http://g.co/cardboard.(Recommended)

Second, just follow me in the next step.

Step 5: Assembly-II

For the assembly, 

First, fold along the red lines and also fold the lens part so that there'll be 3 layers od cardboard to make lens holder. But before folding affix two biconvex lens in it and then fold.

Second, attach the flaps of the cardboard into the boxes of the other cut earlier. It should look as shown in the picture.

Third, firmly assemble it by following the folds. The picture is shown.

Fourth, affix the disk magnet using glue on the dotted circle with mirror image of ''Magnet'' written. After that, stick the ring magnet with the other on the reverse side.(Now, don't use glue to fix it.)

Now, your own Cardboard VR viewer is ready to use. To use it, you'll need to download Cardboard app from Google Play Store.

Tags: how

How to make 3D Google Cardboard

By YM Humidifier → 2016/04/03

Handheld 3D printing BioPen can 'draw' human stem cells for cartilage repair

Handheld 3D printing BioPen can 'draw' human stem cells for cartilage repair

A team of Australian surgeons and researchers has developed a 3D printing pen that allows surgeons to draw and sculpt customized cartilage implants made from actual human stem cells during the live surgery. Dubbed the ‘BioPen’, this lightweight, handheld device gives surgeons unprecedented control as it 3D prints a mixture of hydrogel bioink and human stem cells directly into the patient’s body, ‘filling’ damaged cartilage with fresh cells that have a proven 97% survival rate and can actually heal the body over time.

Developed by researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) and orthopaedic surgeons at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, this landmark, proof-of-concept mobile 3D bioprinting device could help reduce the hundreds of thousands of arthritis-related knee and hip replacement surgeries that take place every year, reducing medical expenses and eliminating the need for patients to undergo painful and invasive surgical procedures.

Arthritis is an extremely common and debilitating condition, affecting close to 350 million people worldwide. As their cartilage breaks down, arthritis sufferers can experience excruciating pain, but since cartilage—which has no nerves or blood supply—cannot re-grow itself, invasive surgeries that involve drilling into the bone or implanting pre-fabricated implants, is often the only solution.

Luckily, the fact that cartilage has no nerves or blood supply also makes it a relatively simple tissue for 3D bioprinting applications. In fact, several universities and research institutions worldwide have already been exploring 3D bioprinted nose and ear reconstructions, 3D printed hydrogels, and even 3D bioprinted cartilage implants that have been successfully tested in mice.

The major advantage of the 3D printing BioPen, however, is that it gives surgeons an unprecedented level of control and allows them to sculpt bespoke, 3D scaffolds directly into the wounded area. Often, the exact geometry of a cartilage implant cannot be known prior to the surgery actually taking place—but with the BioPen, that won’t matter, since surgeons can 'draw' the implant on-the-spot.

The BioPen was designed by a team of cell biologists, electromaterial scientists, and 3D printing specialists specifically with the “practical constraints of the operating theatre” in mind. It is made from medical grade plastic and titanium, and is small, lightweight and ergonomic—much like the scalpels and forceps surgeons are already used to using. On the more technical, 3D printing side, it features custom titanium nozzles that allow the 3D printing of multiple ink formulations side-by-side.

Essentially, the cartilage-repairing BioPen works just like the 3Doodler or any other 3D printing pen, but rather than plastic filament, it extrudes human stem cells from the patient’s own body, surrounded by a protective hydrogel bioink. The hydrogel is made from a mixture of gelatin and hyaluronic acid that is hardened into a 3D scaffold with a low-powered UV light.

The hydrogel works to protect the stem cells as they begin to multiply and grow new cartilage. Over time, the scaffold dissolves back into the body, leaving only a “thriving community” of healthy, functional tissue behind. In lab tests, the researchers found that more than 97% of the human cells were still alive one week after being 3D printed.

“The development of this type of technology is only possible with interactions between scientists and clinicians—clinicians to identify the problem and scientists to develop a solution,” said Professor Peter Choong, Director of Orthopaedics at St Vincent’s Hospital and one of the lead concept developers.

“The BioPen project highlights both the challenges and exciting opportunities in multidisciplinary research. When we get it right we can make extraordinary progress at a rapid rate,” added Professor Gordon Wallace, ACES Director.

As a “personalized intervention that encourages the body to heal itself,” the 3D printing BioPen could pave the way for the use of freeform 3D bioprinting during a range of surgical processes. In addition to 3D printing cartilage directly into arthritis patients, it could potentially be configured to 3D print other tissues, such as skin, muscles, or bone structures. Despite its small size, this 3D printing BioPen could represent one of the biggest breakthroughs in 3D printed medicine to date.

The research was recently published in the journal Biofabrication. A second prototype is currently being tested by Professor Choong and experts at the University of Wollongong (UOW) to optimize the cell materials for use in clinical trials. Watch the video below to see Professor Choong explain the BioPen and demonstrate it in action:

Tags: printer → science

Handheld 3D printing BioPen can 'draw' human stem cells for cartilage repair

By YM Humidifier →

3D printed ovary implants to treat female infertility successfully tested in mice

3D printed ovary implants to treat female infertility successfully tested in mice

Scientists from Northwestern University have created 3D printed ovary implants that could one day restore fertility and hormone function in women who have survived childhood cancer or were born with reduced ovarian function and are experiencing infertility as a result.

The researchers tested the 3D bioprinted ovary implants in mice, who had had their original ovaries removed, and found that following the procedure, the mice were able to ovulate, give birth and even nurse their healthy young. The work is the first of its kind to demonstrate well-defined 3D printed scaffolds as an artificial environment for supporting follicle health and growth.

Data suggests that up to 12% of all people—men and women—are affected by infertility. While there are many possible causes, most cases of female infertility arise from an inability to produce eggs (oocytes), a function that occurs in the ovaries.

In particular, woman who have undergone chemotherapy or other radiation therapies, or who were born with developmental disorders, can suffer the “harsh consequences of gonadal toxicity,” resulting in infertility, hormone insufficiency, and even the inability to go through puberty.

Current female infertility treatments in these cases are quite limited. On the one hand, autotransplants of preserved ovarian tissue can be used to give patients short-term hormone cycling and live birth, however they possess a short life span and can increase the risk of cancer in the patient.

According to the Northwestern researchers, another option involves using biomaterials, such as hydrogels, however existing methods do not permit “advanced design to optimize transplant function.”

The team of endocrinologists  thus turned to 3D bioprinting as a flexible design tool for on-demand scaffold building, to develop a 3D printed artificial ovary for long-term fertility and hormone health options.

"One of the biggest concerns for patients diagnosed with cancer is how the treatment may affect their fertility and hormone health," said Monica M. Laronda, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and lead author in the study. "We are developing new ways to restore their quality of life by engineering ovary bioprosthesis implants."

Using an EnvisionTEC 3D bioplotter, the scientists carefully assembled 3D printed scaffolds from a gelatin material that can support hormone-producing cells (in addition to producing eggs, the main function of the ovaries is to produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone).

An important consideration was to ensure that the 3D printed scaffolds were rigid enough to be handled during surgery, while providing enough space for oocyte growth, blood vessel formation, and ovulation to occur.

Once the criss-crossing structure of the 3D scaffold was assembled, the scientists seeded them with ovarian follicles—that is, the cellular aggregation where the egg and hormones are actually produced.  Together, the 3D printed gelatin scaffold and ovarian follicles create an artificial ovary bioprosthetic.

To test these ovaries, the scientists removed ovaries from living mice and implanted the 3D printed versions. Not only did they find that the mice were able to carry their young to term, but the prosthetic ovaries also restored their natural hormone cycles. The researchers further reported that follicles with two or more scaffolds resulted in a 82.8% survival rate, and that the follicles remained viable within the 3D printed gelatin scaffolds for as long as eight days.

Finally, the 3D printed scaffold structure demonstrated the ability to support the growth of blood vessels in mice without the need for additional substances to stimulate the process, a finding that could pave the way for 3D printed transplant studies more generally.

"We developed this implant with downstream human applications in mind, as it is made through a scalable 3D printing method, using a material already used in humans," said Laronda. "We hope to one day restore fertility and hormone function in women who suffer from the side effects of cancer treatments or who were born with reduced ovarian function."

The research, titled “Bioengineering an Artificial Ovary with 3D Printing,” was conducted by the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology at Northwestern University, and will be presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, ENDO 2016, taking place in Boston this weekend.

Scientists are also investigating whether 3D printing technology can help solve male infertility, as with the 3D printed Spermbots research underway in Germany.

Tags: science

3D printed ovary implants to treat female infertility successfully tested in mice

By YM Humidifier →

Man builds $50,000 humanoid robot built from scratch in Hong Kong 3D printed life-sized robot that looks just like Scarlett Johansson

Man builds $50,000 humanoid robot built from scratch in Hong Kong

 3D printed life-sized robot that looks just like Scarlett Johansson

In what is either the most impressive or downright creepy 3D printing project of the year, 42-year-old Ricky Ma has designed and built an extremely realistic 3D printed humanoid robot that looks (and moves) eerily like Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson.

Ma, a graphic and product designer from Hong Kong who had no previous experience in robotics, electronic engineering, or programming when he started, built the entire humanoid robot--which is 70% 3D printed--from scratch, spending more than $50,000 and a year and a half of his time for the simple sake of fulfilling his childhood dream.

The 3D printed female robot prototype is known simply as Mark 1, despite ‘her’ obvious semblance to the woman once ranked as Sexiest Woman Alive (Ma would only confirm that his design was based on “a famous Hollywood actress” but wouldn’t name Johansson specifically).

The Mark 1 is life-size, has strawberry blonde hair, and can respond to a set of pre-programmed verbal commands by talking and forming eerily realistic facial expressions—including raising her eyebrows, smiling coyly, and even winking. She can also move her arms, legs and fingers, turn her head and bow.

In technical terms, the humanoid robot consists of a 3D printed skeleton enveloped in silicone skin that hides her internal mechanics and gives her a very realistic humanoid look. Ma took the illusion even further by dressing her in a trendy crop top and skirt and realistic makeup that accentuates Scarlett—I mean the Mark 1’s—full lips, eyebrows, and hazel-colored eyes.

Whether you’re a fan or not, the end result is truly impressive, though Ma admits that it was no easy task. Though he grew up ‘obsessed’ with robots from movies and cartoons and dreamt of building his own one day, Ma never pursued any formal or technical training in robotic engineering. He also didn’t know of anyone in the robotics community in Hong Kong pursuing a similar goal.

Thus, when it came time to make his dream a reality and create a humanoid robot from scratch, Ma had to teach himself every technical skill in the book through a painful trial-and-error process. Electric motors burnt out, the Mark 1 continuously toppled over, yet Ma persisted, eventually mastering robotics, engineering, 3D modeling and 3D printing technology.

“During this process, a lot of people would say things like, ‘Are you stupid? This takes a lot of money. Do you even know how to do it?’” said Ma. However, he refused to quit. “I figured I should just do it when the timing is right and realise my dream. If I realise my dream, I will have no regrets in life.”

Currently, Ma is looking for investors to buy his $50,000 Scarlett Johansson look-a-like, so that he can have the capital to build even more. He also plans to write a book about his experience to encourage other robotic enthusiasts to pursue their dreams.

The Mark 1 3D printed female prototype robot is an incredible story of one man's unbreakable determination to fulfill his dream against all odds, using the latest 3D printing and advanced technologies. In fact, it has all the makings of a Hollywood hit. Scarlett Johansson herself is no stranger to science fiction: she’s starred as an AI construct in Her, a genetically-modified superhuman warrior in Lucy, and of course, as ass-kicking superhero Black Widow in The Avengers. Should Ma’s forthcoming book ever get a studio contract, this seems like a match made in Hollywood heaven.

Watch the video below to see Ricky Ma's 3D printed Mark 1 humanoid robot in action:

Tags: money → robot

Man builds $50,000 humanoid robot built from scratch in Hong Kong 3D printed life-sized robot that looks just like Scarlett Johansson

By YM Humidifier →