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Today’s top stories: HueForge updates, Fusion sustainability add-on, Snapmaker’s 8th anniversary, and BMW 3D prints a LOT.

🤩 Hobbyist 3D Printing

HueForge Developer Releases v0.7.2 - Link

Over the weekend, the HueForge devlog acknowledged a gap in release notes and assured users they've been busy with updates and bug fixes. Here's a quick rundown of what's new in v0.7.2:

• Model Sides: Layers now display their colors in "Color Pop" and "Color Aware" modes, making color selection easier.

• Slider Colors: Sliders within the mesh border are now colored blue for better identification.

• Project Information: Project name or image name is included in the "Describe" function.

• Silent Serial Device Search: The log no longer shows messages when searching for serial devices.

• Settings Update: Changes to settings under "File->Settings" take effect immediately, except for "MaxTriangles" which requires a restart.

• Smoothing Improvements: Smoothing functionality is fixed and can now be used safely in all modes.

• Non-Square SVG Support: Non-square SVG files now maintain their correct aspect ratio.

• Auto-Focus: Auto-focus loss is now triggered when leaving the dock, preventing accidental text entry.

• Layer Height: Minimum layer height of 0.01mm is now valid.

• Undo Function: Undo now works correctly even when "Max Depth" is lowered.

• Crash Prevention: Fixed a crash that occurred when reducing width/height below a certain threshold.

• Other Fixes: Numerous other bug fixes related to undo functionality, filament dialog, file dragging, and color swatches.

Known Issue: Adjusting "MaxTriangles" requires restarting HueForge to take effect.

Check Your Designs Sustainability With This Free Fusion Add-On - Link

A new free tool called Manufacturing Sustainability Insights (MSI) integrates with Autodesk's Fusion software to analyze a product's environmental impact during the design phase. This is crucial because nearly 80% of a product's environmental footprint is determined at this stage. MSI helps designers make informed choices by providing real-time data on the carbon emissions of various materials, manufacturing processes, and even manufacturing locations.

Users can compare options, identify areas for improvement, and ensure their design decisions are truly sustainable. The free and easy-to-use tool works with the free version of Fusion for Mac and PC, allowing designers to analyze designs at any stage and track the impact of design changes. With transparent data and live design feedback, MSI empowers designers to create greener products from the very beginning.

🏭 3D Printing Industry

Snapmaker Celebrating its 8th Anniversary with New Artisan Premium - Link

Snapmaker is celebrating its 8th anniversary with a bang! To mark the occasion, they're launching the high-end Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3D printer on May 28th. This powerful machine boasts a dual extruder, a 200W CNC module, and a large 400mm x 400mm x 400mm workspace, making it ideal for professionals and hobbyists alike. It's priced at $2,999 (USD).

The anniversary festivities don't stop there. Snapmaker is also hosting a 48-hour Makerathon from May 31st to June 1st.During this creative challenge, Snapmaker employees will team up to design and build "playful and functional" objects using the company's versatile 3-in-1 machines. The event will be livestreamed on Facebook, allowing viewers to witness the creativity unfold.

BMW 3D printed more than 400,000 parts worldwide last year (3 minute read) - Link

BMW is a leader in 3D printing for car manufacturing. Last year, they produced over 400,000 3D printed parts globally,many of which were production aids. These aids help them reduce weight, cost, and emissions.

A key example is their 3D printed robotic grippers. These grippers are lightweight and can be customized for specific tasks. They are used for everything from handling CFRP roofs to entire car floor assemblies. Compared to traditional grippers, they can weigh up to 60% less and reduce the number of robots needed.

BMW has been using 3D printing for car parts since the early 90s. They were the first to use metal 3D printed parts in a commercial vehicle (i8 Roadster) and allow for 3D printed customization (MINI Yours). They are constantly innovating and exploring new 3D printing techniques for future car parts.

😎 Cool 3D Prints

MagSafe Charger Stand for iPhone and Apple Watch (rauwman on Printables) - Link

For those of you in the Apple ecosystem, this might be the perfect functional print for you. This print will hold both your iPhone’s mag safe charger and your Apple Watch’s magnetic charger so you can charge both at the same time. The upside is that you can turn your phone sideways which means you can use this on your nightstand to put your iPhone into nightstand mode at night. Click the link above and give it a print!

Modern Apple HomePod Style Plat Pot (HpInvent on Maker World) - Link

This is not the first time we’ve highlighted this creator on our newsletter, but for good reason. They create some stunning pieces that are so aesthetically pleasing that it would be in poor taste for us NOT to show them to everyone. This beautiful pot steals inspiration from the Apple HomePod and again, if your home is deep in the Apple ecosystem, it would be a great look for any of your plants to sit in one of these!

🔗 Quick Links

Deal of the Week

🛠️ $125 OFF - Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 12K [PRE-ORDER] - Link

Expected Shipping Date: July 10, 2024

Print stunningly detailed models in record time with the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra!

The Saturn 4 Ultra boasts a massive 12K monochrome LCD screen for unmatched precision and clarity. An innovative tilting technology lets you peel off models faster, achieving printing speeds of up to 150mm/h. Plus, a host of smart features like self-leveling, automatic resin shortage detection, and AI monitoring ensure a smooth and worry-free printing experience.

Pre-order yours today for just $399 (discounted from $524) and receive it in July!

Here are some highlights of the machine:

• Ultra-high 12K resolution for incredible detail

• Super fast printing speeds of up to 150mm/h

• Innovative tilt technology for faster model removal

• Self-leveling and automatic features for ease of use

• AI monitoring to catch potential printing issues

🤩 Recent Slicer Updates

• OrcaSlicer - 2.0 Official - 3/30/2024 -(GitHub)

• Cura - 5.7.1 - 4/24/2024 (GitHub)

• PrusaSlicer - 2.7.4 - 4/5/2024 (GitHub)

• Bambu Studio - 1.9.1 Public Official- 5/12/24 (GitHub)

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Until tomorrow!