Curated Resources
3D Capture
123D Catch - Free photogrammetry 3D capture software. Cloud based processing. Requires good photography skills. Watching the tutorials is a must. Produces high-resolution mesh for 3D printing.
Autodesk Recap 360 - Autodesk's commercial level photogrammetry software. Very similar to 123D catch. Supports creating models from photos captured by drones. Free for students and educators.
Agisoft PhotoScan - Stand-alone photogrammetry software.
NextEngine - An excellent laser scanner with excellent resolution. Complex objects require multiple scans and manual stitching. Scanning can take hours. Clear, reflective or refractive objects must be painted or powdered for the machine to capture a scan.
SCANN3D beta - 3D capture app for android platform. Created model on the phone. Excellent UV mapping. Mesh quality is too low for 3D printing.
Sense and iSense scanners - 3DSYSTEMS 3D scanners.
Occipital Structure Sensor - An excellent tool for demonstrating and introducing 3D scanning. IPad output is low resolution and requires extensive work for 3D printing. When connected to Mac or PC, output is higher resolution but does not produce UV texture map.
PI3DSCAN - Open source 3D capture photobooth.
UF Nanoscale Research Facility MicroCT Scanner - Non-destructive 3D scanning available to researchers, students and the public. 200 nm resolution. Objects may be shipped for scanning. Rates are surprisingly affordable.
Duke Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility MicroCT Scanner - Micrometer scale CT scanner at Duke University. Scanning services available.
3D Modeling learning Resources
Courses - Usually the best way to quickly learn 3D modeling. Many courses are geared toward computer animation. There are common skills, but modeling for 3D printing has more limits. Educators who wish to utilize modeling software in the classroom should take a course for the specific software they have available. Many professions require knowledge of specific software. Even though many skills are transferable, students should focus on the programs most commonly used in their field of study.
Lynda.com - Extensive training videos for many kinds of software. This is a great option when an in-person course is not available.
Youtube - Videos can range greatly in educational value. A good source for quick answers for many issues.
Autodesk Knowledge Network - Links to various Maya tutorial sources.
3D Modeling and Repair Software
THINGMAKER Design - An iOS and Android app for designing toys and jewelery. Based on Tinkerplay.
Tinkerplay - Build toys for 3D printing. iOS, Android and Windows.
TinkerCad - An excellent beginner modeling program. Skills developed in this program transfer to more powerful programs.
123D Sculpt - Haptic 3D sculpting. iOS and Android.
Forger - Haptic sculpting for iOS.
Truesculpt - Haptic sculpting for Android.
AutoDesk 123D Design - Another excellent beginner modeling program. Navigation and tools are similar to AutoDesk Maya.
Windows 3D Builder - Microsoft's surprising entry into the 3D world. Features an intuitive interface, functions that are not available in other programs, 3D scanning, 3D printing support, and automatic mesh repair by Netfabb. Downsides include export of imported models is buggy and the program is only available on Windows 8 - 10.
Blender - Free Open Source software. Very popular.
Sculptris - Haptic 3D modeling software from the company that makes ZBrush software.
Autodesk Free Student Software - Free software licenses for students and licenses. Includes most Autodesk software.
Rhino 5 - Standard modeling software for many industries. RhinoCAM is top of the line Computer-Aided Manufacturing software.
Solidworks - 3D CAD software popular with engineers.
Onshape- Cloud-based 3D CAD software. Comparable to Solidworks. Free and premium versions.
Autodesk Fusion 360 - 3D CAM, CAM, simulation, modeling and collaboration software from Autodesk. Free for students and educators.
Meshmixer - Free 3D model repair, analysis and manipulation software. Excellent for simple repairs. More complicated repairs may require the use of modeling software.
netfabb Basic - Free basic version of netfabb software. Good for automatic repairs and filling small holes. Advanced repairs may require the use of modeling software.
123D Make - Converts 3D models to forms that can be laser cut, printed on paper for folding, slices large models into smaller sections for 3D printing and more.
Box Maker - Free and easy notched box design for laser cutting and other applications.
Gear Template Generator - Online and standalone gear template generator.
3D Models (Free)*
Smithsonian X 3D - 3D models from the Smithsonian Institute.
Thingiverse - Makerbot's 3D model resource.
123D Content Library - Autodesk's free model resource.
Turbosquid - Free and premium models. Requires registration. Many models are not designed for print. May not be a good resource for beginners. Advanced users can rework models for printing.
*Always check models for watertight mesh before trying to print.
3D Printers
3D Platform - Very large volume 3D printers.
3DSYSTEMS (Formerly Zcorp) - Maker of a variety of 3D printers and scanners.
DeltaWASP - High end Delta-style printer with attachment for 3D printing plastic clay.
Fusion3 - Large build volume filament printer.
MakerBot - Probably the most well recognized consumer level 3D printer company.
Stratasys - Maker of Objet 3D printers, uPrint, and Stratasys printers.
Reviews and news
All3DP Top 10 Consumer Level Resin Printers - Current (3/15/2016) review of resin printers.
3D Printer Guide 2016 - Current 3D printer reviews.
3D Printer World - 3D Printer News.
3D Printing Industry - 3D printing news, reviews, and journalism. Covers topics from new technologies to intellectual property concerns.
CNC Mills
X-CARVE - An inexpensive tabletop CNC mill.
CamBam - Inexpensive Computer Aided Manufacturing software for converting vectors, rasters, and 3D models to G-code for CNC milling.
Universal G-code Sender - Open source CNC Mill control software. Works on any platform that supports Java, including RaspberryPi.
GRBL - Excellent open source firmware for Arduino-based CNC mills.
Die, Foam and Vinyl Cutters
KNK Zing Air Die Cutter - Computer-controlled cutting system. Great for stencils, paper and foam cutting and much more.
Hot Wire Foam Cutter - Foam cannot be cut on a laser cutter. This inexpensive tool will allow the use of foam for projects.
US Cutter Vinyl Cutters - Vinyl cutters are common in many Makerspaces. The software is vector based and is similar to laser cutter software.
Laser Cutters
Glowforge - Home consumer level laser cutter.
Universal Laser Systems - Commercial Laser cutters commonly used in academic settings.
Laser fume extraction - Filters fumes from laser cutter. Does not address ambient fumes from opening the machine and from materials. Systems that exhaust fumes outside and continiously draw new into the laser cutter room are more effective.
Laser Engravers - A list of laser engraver manufacturers from Thomasnet.com
Maker Conferences and Events
2016 – 3D Printing Fairs, Conferences & Events List - An extensive list of worldwide 3D printing events at 3dprintingforbeginners.com
Makerspaces
The Arts and Architecture Digital Fabrication Lab - a Fabrication Lab jointly founded by the UF School of Architecture and the UF School of Art + Art History. Access is fee based.
3D Printing at UF Libraries - The Marston Science Library is the primary location for 3D printing and scanning. The Health Sciences Center Library and Education Library both have a NextEngine scanner and a Makerbot Replicator 2 and Fusion F260 respecitvely. The Art and Architecture library has NextEngine Scanner.
Bucknell University Makerspace Annex at 7th Street Studio - A Makerspace annex in the previously established 7th Street Studio complex. Makerspace was established by a grant co-written by Art and Engineering professors. Makerspace is staffed entirely by students.
Case Western Reserve University Sears think[box] - Case Western Reserve University's center for innovation and entrepreneurship provides a space for anyone - students, faculty, and alumni and members of the community - to tinker and creatively invent. Located in a 7-story, 50,000 square foot facility, with 3 floors occupied and more to undergo renovation soon, this $35M project is one of the largest university-based innovation centers in the world.
MakerSpace - Additional Resources
Association of College and Research Libraries - Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. "Information Creation as a Process" frame is particularly relevant to the justification of Makerspaces in libraries.
Educational Origami - Bloom's Digital Taxonomy
Books
3D Printing: A Practical Guide for Librarians - A newly published book by University of Florida librarians Sara Russell Gonzalez and Denise Beaubien Bennett. Good implimentation information from a variety of libraries offering 3D printing services.
Makerspaces in Libraries - An introduction to makerspaces. Recently published guide by Theresa Willingham and Jeroen de Boer.
Exploring Arduino: Tools and Techniques for Engineering Wizardry - A multimodal textbook for teaching Arduino basics.
Websites
Library Makerspace Listserv - A community based resource for discussion of strategies and technologies for library Makerspaces.
Makerspaces and Digital Creation - Information from coloradovirtuallibrary.org
Making Your Space: Creators and Makers in the Library - Extensive resources on OCLC WebJunction from a webinar with Mara Siegel and Samantha Maskell.
Information and Technology Essential Standards - North Carolina Public Schools website.
Making a Makerspace - Appalachian State University, Learning Technology Services. Presenters - Michael Vaughn and Connor TeVault.
Microcontrollers / Internet of Things
Arduino - Originally developed as a prototyping platform for teaching C and C++, Arduino has simplified circuit development and is driving advances in technology literacy and entrepreneurship.
Arduino on Wikipedia - Great reading on the history and development of Arduino.
Makey Makey - A teaching interface that runs on top of the Arduino platform. K-12 lesson plans are available on the website.
Raspberry Pi - An inexpensive computer running the Linux operating system. As a full computer it allows an expanded variety of programming languages, programs to run, and HDMI video output. Limited GPIOs compared to Arduino.
Particle Photon and Electron - Internet native prototyping devices with web based programming IDE. Runs Arduino C, C, and C++. Arduino libraries may need to be modified to work with the new chipset.
NodeMCU - NodeJS based IoT prototyping device. Web based IDE.
Programming Software
Arduino IDE - The Arduino Integrated Development Environment.
Particle Web IDE - Particle Integrated Development Environment. Registration is required for access.
Processing - A JavaScript and Python programming environment developed to promote software and visual literacy.
Python tutorials - Python programming tutorials at Python.org.
Programmer's Notepad - An open-source program for viewing and editing a variety of programming languages.
Fritzing - an open-source circuit documentation and visualization tool.
Terminology
3D Capture and Modeling
Coordinate system - A three-dimensional system for describing spacial orientation. X, Y and Z are used in most situations.
CT 3D scan - (Computerized tomography) The creation of three dimensional models by arranging and combining a series of X-ray images.
Edge - A straight line connecting vertices. Analogous to a line in basic geometry.
Face - A flat area defined by three or more edges and vertices. This forms the surface of a model. Analogous to a plane in basic geometry.
Laser scan - A laser line is projected the form that is being scanned. A group of cameras that are slightly offset from the laser source measure the deviation of the line as it crosses the form.
Mesh - A group of two or more connected faces.
Normals - A property of faces and vertices that tell the computer which direction is inside and which is outside. Reversed or mixed normals are the second most common reason 3D prints fail.
Photogrammetry - Measurement based on photographic images and camera data.
UV texture - A two dimensional image or photograph that is wrapped or projected on the surface of a model.
Vertex - Analogous to a point in basic geometry.
Watertight - A completely closed mesh with no open faces or bare edges. Meshes that are not watertight are the most common reason 3D prints fail to render correctly.
Microcontrollers and IoT
ATTiny85 - A small microprocessor manufactured by Atmel. This chip is in the same family as the chips used in Arduinos and runs most of the same code. A very inexpensive solution for a small job.
Datasheet - A document containing technical specifications, mechanical and electrical limits and application information for an electronic component. Follow this link to see a PDF Datasheet for the ATTiny85 microcontroller used in the example circuits in this presentation.
IDE - Integrated Development Environment
Interface - A way to get data into or out of a device. The interface can be as simple as sound or light or very complex. Non-electronic components may also be part of the interface.
Internet of Things - Objects with communication enabled electronics. This could be a thermometer, a lawn sprinkler or a car.