[Blindmath] 3-d printing

[Sean Tikkun]

Hope to hear from some of the folks doing more than me too!  This is a conversation that is really needed.  And it has particular relevance as I
m trying to design math specific learning models

I'll field this from my perspective.  The idea that people have of needing something and then printing it instead of buying it is a little overly simple.  In order to print it a digital design must exist.  Frequently this design may need slight modification because when it imports the relative or real side might change (in my experience).  Think of it as a print document with the font size getting larger or smaller.  No bid deal to the sighted, but some of the prints such as with this group: http://www.fittle.in The make braille puzzles.  I've seen more unreadable (tactile) products from my personal experience in braille than ever before.

The effective use comes in good designs for broad use and the development of a database that can be accessed.  Once people are familiar with the technology, and some standardization in file and rendering occur, we can have effective learning models to draw upon.  In collaboration an 3D model can be rendered in virtual space for the sighted to explore, and a physical version can be made so the person with a visual impairment can be a collaborative part of the team.

The DIAGRAM center is setting forth nice guidelines that should yield some better approaches to models.  One dilemma is that many new designers (myself included) are not sharing enough information regarding layer size, infill, material type and expected build time.  Which means the process of getting a good model is time consuming.

Sean Tikkun


On Mar 31, 2014, at 1:44 PM, Paul Chapin <pdchapin at amherst.edu> wrote:

> Can you give some examples of what you've used it for? Our experience is that the time involved was more than the results were worth.
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
>> On Mar 31, 2014, at 9:50 AM, "Vincent Martin" <vmartin at mindspring.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Out here in the STEM academic world, 3-d printing has been in use for many
>> years.  I have used it to make prototypes of devices for many of my classes
>> in graduate school.  It was always expensive and took a long time to use,
>> but was always worth it.  We've just been waiting for the production costs
>> to come down and make it a widespread tool for the masses.  
>> 
>> 
>> 
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