http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php Shapeways: Bring your creativity to life in 3D http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61604&th=12766#msg_61604

Okay, it's weekend - time for some fun! Curiosity spotted an interesting looking piece of metal on Mars. What is it?

We'd like YOU to tell us. You have until Monday morning 10:00, GMT+1 to come up with the answer.

How to enter

Model the Martian Mystery, upload it to your gallery, tag it with 'Weekend Contest: Mars' and post the link and picture here (upload the image, and click 'Insert image into message body' to embed it in your forum message).

Who wins?

You decide! Visit the model that you like most, and add it to your favorites. The model with the most votes wins.

What's the prize?

Eternal fame! Kudos from the Shapeways team! Riches! Okay, well, the winner will get a $25 gift certificate.

That's all?

Yep, grab a drink, goof around in your favorite modeling app this weekend and have fun!

Bart

PS: Curiosity's Twitter feed is awesome.]]> bartv 2013-02-08T15:07:53-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61622&th=12766#msg_61622 ]]> stonysmith 2013-02-08T18:06:24-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61624&th=12766#msg_61624 ]]> Youknowwho4eva 2013-02-08T18:24:54-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61670&th=12766#msg_61670

Actually, in all seriousness, I think I might know what that is. It's a Martian fulgurite. A fulgurite is sometimes what results when lightning strikes the ground. The high amperes melts the sand and gravel and turns it into glass.

[url= https://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&t bm=isch&q=fulgurite+glass&revid=1000229056&sa=X& amp;ei=TFoWUY6fMumuiAKv1IAY&ved=0CFEQgxY&biw=1429&am p;bih=706[/url]

Lighting has been detected on Mars created from the huge seasonal dust storms and the triboelectrification between dust particles. Mars also has ever changing sand dunes just like on earth. So, there was about 6 inches of sand at that spot at one point and then a lightning bolt struck there and melted the sand into a fulgurite and then the remaining sand eventually blew away revealing the fulgurite. The shiny spots, of course, would be from the glass.

On the other hand, it does appear to be the head of an encrusted titanium putter! ]]> UniverseBecoming 2013-02-09T14:39:29-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61737&th=12766#msg_61737






http://www.shapeways.com/model/917031

WHAT GREAT CATACLYSM DESTROYED THEIR WORLD?!!! ]]> UniverseBecoming 2013-02-10T14:48:46-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61738&th=12766#msg_61738
or just one old, buried (created in hurry)]]> Keymaker 2013-02-10T15:08:37-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61778&th=12766#msg_61778 . I've sent you a $25 coupon code via PM.

Do you guys think the weekend contest is something we should do more often?

Cheers,

Bart]]> bartv 2013-02-11T09:18:51-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61834&th=12766#msg_61834

Now we need to call Richard Hoagland and see what he thinks it is.

Yes! A weekend contest would be great! This one was a hard one cuz there are only so many things that artifact can represent, yet more open ended contests would attract more participation. I would not have entered had it not later crossed my mind that it looked something like a bicycle pedal.



]]> UniverseBecoming 2013-02-12T02:21:28-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61854&th=12766#msg_61854 bartv 2013-02-12T09:50:32-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61856&th=12766#msg_61856 UniverseBecoming 2013-02-12T09:58:57-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61863&th=12766#msg_61863 that one!)

I think a week-end contest is a good idea, although ideally I'd like it to be a weekend-to-weekend contest... just not enough time in one weekend to sit down and work on something, especially if future contests involve more serious modeling.

Glenn
]]> lensman 2013-02-12T12:45:41-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61890&th=12766#msg_61890
I think the weekend contests will/should be simple and fun. In the Blender community I once ran a contest that allowed people to make anything they wanted, but they could only use 10 cubes. The results were awesome:

http://www.blendernation.com/2012/06/18/weekend-mini-contest -winners/

That's the kind fo contests I'm thinking about doing..

Bart]]> bartv 2013-02-12T16:57:19-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61895&th=12766#msg_61895 )

Yes, that would be an awesome sort of contest for just one weekend.

Glenn
]]> lensman 2013-02-12T17:33:40-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61902&th=12766#msg_61902
In addition to fun 'artsy' challenges, how about some engineering/design questions?
-design something that snap fits
-design something with a living hinge(s)
-design something with a moving part(s)
-design a fabric-like mesh

These wouldn't even need to be entire models, but could be just a creative solution to that one problem. (Extra credit for documenting the design or making the model available to everybody.)
]]> denali3ddesign 2013-02-12T18:56:21-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61904&th=12766#msg_61904
- design something that uses two Shapeways materials creatively (damn, I guess Kaetemi just won that one!)

]]> lensman 2013-02-12T19:29:53-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61921&th=12766#msg_61921
Though a super simple contest like you thought of Bart would be really fun, I cannot readily think of any simplified ideas at this time. Simple and elegant, perfect for a weekend of fun. Makes me think of the Eight queens puzzle, simple and fun. All I can think of along this line would be something like designing a device that uses a predefined magnet to do a predefined task.

The ideas I have are way too complex for a weekend I think, but still, these are a sampling of the kinds of things I think about every day that I think would be fun as contests.

Design the ultimate printability demonstration model. One of the biggest problems with 3D printing is getting to know and conforming to the design rules for each materiel. I'm thinking of a demonstration model that could be devised and printed that shows what can and cannot be readily done and then make it downloadable so people can use it for reference.

Using free software, find the best way to make a hollow shell of a predefined design.

Design a rocket that uses a predefined rocket motor that is completely 3D printed, including the recovery mechanisms.

A zarf for the modern age. Design a zarf that uses a predefined ceramic model as the cup.

Design a 3D printed flying machine using a predefined rubber-band.

Design a device that keeps time.

Design a device that uses hydraulics to preform a particular task.

Design a device that measures weight.

Design a mechanical computer.

Design a device that crosses a gap by its own self contained means.

As for Glenn's multiple materials idea, design solar powered ANYTHING that uses multiple materials.

James]]> UniverseBecoming 2013-02-13T03:38:45-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61940&th=12766#msg_61940

UniverseBecoming wrote on Wed, 13 February 2013 03:38

Design the ultimate printability demonstration model. One of the biggest problems with 3D printing is getting to know and conforming to the design rules for each materiel. I'm thinking of a demonstration model that could be devised and printed that shows what can and cannot be readily done and then make it downloadable so people can use it for reference.

This, for me, is brilliant. If this resource could be available it would be so helpful to me, and I imagine, to many other designers both new and not so new. This should be the start of a new thread and I would suggest should be something that SW could usefully invest in, whether as a competition or just as marketing/education tools that they develop themselves.
]]> AmLachDesigns 2013-02-13T08:42:49-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61945&th=12766#msg_61945
@UniverseBecoming - that's a great idea for the AAE series, I'll discuss it with them. The idea for the ultimate printability demonstration model is so good, that we may want to turn that into another type of contest, thanks!

We'll start thinking about our next weekend challenge

Bart]]> bartv 2013-02-13T10:43:19-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61947&th=12766#msg_61947
Glenn
]]> lensman 2013-02-13T12:16:27-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61964&th=12766#msg_61964

When I was in my mid teens I decided one day that I wanted to start learning about words, so I started reading the dictionary. I started at the end cuz the Z words were the coolest! I read about one page before I got sick of the idea, but from that I learned the word ZARF, which stuck with me my whole life! HAHAHA! ]]> UniverseBecoming 2013-02-13T15:56:48-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61970&th=12766#msg_61970
Glenn
]]> lensman 2013-02-13T16:56:35-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61971&th=12766#msg_61971 ]]> UniverseBecoming 2013-02-13T16:58:20-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61975&th=12766#msg_61975 lensman wrote on Wed, 13 February 2013 16:56
Freakin' hilarious! Just think if you'd managed to go a little further you could be an expert xylophone player now!

Glenn



I've seen these experts, playing with 4 (mallets?) at once. Not even if I had too much time on my hands .]]> Youknowwho4eva 2013-02-13T17:55:59-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61980&th=12766#msg_61980
Glenn
]]> lensman 2013-02-13T18:45:18-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61981&th=12766#msg_61981 ]]> Youknowwho4eva 2013-02-13T18:49:28-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=61983&th=12766#msg_61983 together in Eindhoven and/or New York ?

PS: and the walls came tumbling down ]]> mkroeker 2013-02-13T19:12:38-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=62048&th=12766#msg_62048 Youknowwho4eva wrote on Wed, 13 February 2013 18:49
lol as awesome as that would be, the only way to test it would be to print it. Delivery times aren't down to a weekend yet


*yet* ]]> bartv 2013-02-14T14:15:05-00:00 http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=rview&goto=62144&th=12766#msg_62144
We;ve got another weekend contest for you, check it out here:

http://www.shapeways.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&th=12870& amp;start=0&

This one's from Mike!]]> natalia 2013-02-15T20:41:59-00:00