Inkjet & Digital Printing
Objet Connex350 3D Printer prints iconic Blue Peter badge
Thursday 21. April 2011 - Blue Peter, an educational programme for young people in the UK, featured 3D printing in a special technology report on its show yesterday. Dr Greg Gibbons, head of WMGs Rapid Prototyping and Tooling team at the University of Warwick, demonstrated the process to viewers by printing the iconic Blue Peter badge on an Objet Connex350 printer.
“I mean thats brilliant,” Blue Peter presenter Andy comments on the result, “That is the badge
even to the point where theyve done a little pin on the back too. That is awesome.”
Blue Peter badges are given to guests appearing on the show, or in recognition of an achievement. The badge provides the wearer with free entry to many British attractions, particularly museums and exhibitions that are featured on the show.
Taking inspiration from the famous heres one I made earlier phrase that older viewers of Blue Peter may remember, 3D printed models of the Blue Peter mug and a tarantula were also presented, leading Andy to ask, “This is actually replicated from a real-life tarantula. Why is this so amazing?”
“It shows the great, amazing complexity you can reproduce with this technology,” explains Greg, “Whats unique about this system is that it can actually print in different materials, so it can print soft and flexible materials or very stiff and hard materials or a mixture of the two in the same part.”
Concluding the 3D printing feature, Andy remarks, “This is absolutely fascinating, I cant where to see where it goes,” with fellow Blue Peter presenter, Barney, adding, “That 3D printer may go missing. I want one.”
Andrew Fulton of OPS, Objet sales representatives in the UK, comments, “Were delighted to see Objet technology feature on a programme like Blue Peter. The fact that an education programme for young people is featuring this technology illustrates just how eager people are to see 3D printing become a commodity, so that they can have them in their homes. Objet continually strives to bring 3D printing to an ever wider audience, as illustrated by the recent introduction of two new desktop 3D printers – entry-level machines that maintain Objets impeccable quality standards at an affordable price tag.”