The STL has been the quasi-default file format for 3D printing/rapid prototyping since the mid 80's when it was developed by 3D Systems but a lot has changed in 3D printing since then with increased quality and complexity yet STL has remained the same.

Now we have a new contender called AMF (Additive Manufacturing File Format) that is better suited to today's and hopefully tomorrow's) 3D printers. Developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials under the leadership of Professor Hod Lipson of Cornell University AMF addresses what STL lacks with a more advanced file structure including object, material, texture, constellation and metadata with a specifiable unit system, curved triangles, Metadata and all of this in half the size of a comparable STL file..... 

UPDATE: You can download the STL converter and some sample files to take a look.

Entoforms is a really interesting project by Dolf Veenvliet aka macouno using Python scripts in Blender to create a series of Future Fossils using 3D printing.

Macouno is using IndieGoGo to crowd source funding to fully realize the creation, and exhibition of a series of limited issue, highly collectible, art pieces. They are artificial life, generated in the computer, 3D printed, grown, and presented in classic specialist entomology style. In august of 2011 the Entoforms will be exhibited in association with a renowned art gallery in Amsterdam.

Wow, we thought the first ever ready to wear, fully 3D printed article of clothing would get some attention, not only because it is a bikini, but also because of the innovative use of materials and software processes, but the response has been huge.

The N12 has been featured on MSNBC, Time, Wired, Gizmodo, cnet, dezeen and hundreds more blogs around the world with much excitement about the prospect of 3D printing clothes to fit.

It is important to note that the garment/fashion industry is one of the few remaining industries where mass produced items are still assembled almost entirely by hand.  This means that although design may happen in the first world, production is often outsourced to the third world where labor is cheap and working conditions can range from questionable to appalling.  The N12 3D Printed bikini may at first impression seem like nice story with little depth, but what it represents is a possible end to the sweatshop with a completely 3D printed garment pulled direct from a machine. This of course may not be about to happen with the material properties currently available to produce 3D printed fabrics but as the materials become more complex, stronger and more flexible with simultaneous decreases in wall thickness we will see 3D printed garments become increasingly viable. 

Sweatshop project / marissaorton / CC BY-SA 2.0

We will follow up soon with more images of the N12 3D printed bikini in use, how it responds to water and address questions about the comfort of the fit and fabric, but for now we would like to go over the fabrication process in a little more detail, to share how Continuum Fashion designed the N12 and what might happen next.

For starters check out the intro video by Continuum Fashion

Impractical, awkward and ugly but I still REALLY want to have a go at gestural 3D printing using Kinect and a RepRap. No need to learn that tricky CAD software when you can wave your hand in the air..