3D Printing Today #585

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

News: 

Printing company focused on designer shoes

https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/zellerfelds-gen3-printer-targets-mass-production-of-3d-printed-shoes-244432/

Segments: 

Elasticity in Extrusions, Printer Speedometer, Bricklayers

Thing of the Week: 

[Book Nook] Resident Evil Zombie

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7136390/comments

threedprintingtoday.libsyn.com or 

Search for 3D Printing Today wherever you get your podcasts

[vr...@optonline.net]

Hey Andy - I look forward to the podcast. Especially since...

A co. in SoCal is trying to do 3D Printed shoe stuff. I applied to a job with them about 9 months ago - and they got back to me - scheduled an interview - cancelled it last minute - claimed they were gonna reschedule - then simply Ghosted me! AT one point - I thought they had Tech with a Robotic Arm - and they somehow 3D Printed plastic onto this robotic arm with a shoe shape on it. Now - I can NOT Believe this - it looks SO LO-TECH, they are using a Sovol FDM Printer! Check out their site:   Koobz | Revolutionizing Footwear Manufacturing

And, Ironically - I learned about BrickLayer type of 3D Printing several months ago from a Co-worker Eng. - who also has a 3D Printer at home. I was going to post about it here - but, I think I totally failed to do so. I VERY Much look forward to see what you have to say about it. I would mention more - but, best to post more AFTER I listen to the podcast...

-K

 

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[Everson Siqueira]

Hi Andy, Whitney and everybody,

Brick Layers: last week I got very excited when you announced you would talk about It - I just listened to the show today.  

About the Metaphor of "bricks on a wall": Whitney got it right. Every other perimeter is shifted "UP" half of the layer height, so each bead is actually connected to 6 other beads instead of 4 - the better analogy is a honeycomb. But that's not the only way to do it: people discussed that by shifting it horizontally - like actual bricks on a wall, could make it stronger as well (just as Andy initially thought) - and guess what: BOTH arrangements were "recently" patented in 2020 by Addman Group. But only the honeycomb pattern makes it stronger. I measured both.

The really interesting twist is: the patent should have never been granted - because Stratasys had patented it in 1995 - and it became public domain in 2015, unnoticed. The Patents discussion itself is fascinating - and it shows how easy it is for USTPO to make mistakes when finding prior art.

Even though my implementation of Brick Layers is not perfect, it was a means for people to play with it and bring attention to what was at our disposal all the time since 2015. We just need to do it - ideally in the slicers.

It will be a pleasure to talk about Brick Layers with Andy, Whitney or anybody that has questions!

Everson Siqueira

Geek Detour

PS: the patent issue is way more interesting and important than my own implementation of the technique.

PS2: the patent application in Europe was disputed because of my first video on Brick Layers

PS3: a child patent of the same family, in the US, is currently in "final rejection" - there is hope we can see more attention from slicers soon

PS4: I didn't invent Brick Layers. Stratasys did, in 1995

[Kurt]

Hey there Everson,

Thanks for that interesting feedback. I started listening to this podcast episode earlier today - but, so far only finished the 3D print shoe news segment. I look forward to hearing more about the Brick Layers - and I will keep in mind what you wrote - as I listen to that segment. 

When my coworker told me about it, my interest was piqued. This was the webpage link he gave me:   Brick Layers - Make 3D prints stronger! — CNC Kitchen

Just looking at the 1st image at the top of the page - a kind of video preview image - you can see what Brick Layering is all about - for those folks who would like a quick visual...

-K

[Everson Siqueira]

Hi Kurt,

Stefan (CNC Kitchen)'s followers were asking him to test this: 

https://github.com/prusa3d/PrusaSlicer/issues/1823

...and it turns out this Feature Request from Prusa Slicer is VERY important, because it is Prior Art from the community (besides the Stratasys Patent) - but the USPTO never searched for it.

Stefan eventually tested the technique - it was promising: around 20% stronger for the same amount of plastic. BUT everyone got frustrated after we saw the 2020 patent. And the idea was abandoned. 8 months later, I stumbled upon the 1995 patent from Stratasys.

There is a whole explanation about Brick Layers, the Patent numbers in chronological order and Videos here:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/brick-layers-can-115566868 (open post)

Video on the patent that should have never been granted: https://youtu.be/9IdNA_hWiyE

This is my post-processing Python script: https://github.com/GeekDetour/BrickLayers

It is NOT perfect, but with the proper settings, it works fine. It is possible to reload the exported GCODE back to the slicer and preview the changes.

There are people working on a Fork of OrcaSlicer to have it implemented as a simple option - but it is not even beta yet.

The 1st Slicer that has Brick Layers implemented was Kiri:Moto, a fascinating slicer that runs in the Browser: https://grid.space/kiri/ (worth checking!), also experimental under developer mode.

The reality is: until Orca, Prusa or Bambu embrace it, for the average user, brick layers don't exist yet.

Patent issues aside, anyone can try Adman Group's commercial product:

https://realvision.pro/2025/03/11/unlocking-stronger-less-porous-fdm-prints-with-addcaamtm/

As a long time fan of 3D Printing Today - today's episode was special to me ❤️

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

And your posts are special to me! 😃 

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Wow Everson - even MORE Awesome replies from you, I Love it!!!

In fact, a couple years ago, when I was working at Essentium - folks were discussing  Kiri:Moto. And, I did peek at it at the time. Seems like it's still a potentially promising type of slicer - so, VERY Interesting to see the implemented the Bricks idea into it. 

Yes, it's true - the Bricks concept needs the impetus of a Major Co./Slicer - in order to make it gain traction in the world. But, I will also say - maybe folks must PROVE not only that it's powerful and makes stronger parts - and Continue to prove it - but, also prove Multiple use cases that truly take advantage of it!!

Thanks again,

-K