14 DAY TRIAL // 3D printers may be starting to become affordable to the common man, but the same cannot be said about the material used in making the actual objects.
Wanting to do something about this problem, a PhD Student from the Human Computer Interaction Group at the Hasso-Plattner-Institute in Germany invented a new program.
Specifically, she (the name of the student is Stefanie Mueller) thought that it could help if LEGO blocks could be used instead.
That's what her software does: it allows users to replace low-resolution areas in a 3D print with LEGO blocks, while only 3D printing the high-resolution ones, thus saving 3D printing filament (or resin or whatever else is used).
It won't be much help if you're making something that is meant to be put on display somewhere, because the whole point is to take the blocks away and use them for other things.
Still, for Show and Tell, or temporary prototyping, it can be a big money saver. The software even generates instructions on how to assemble the LEGO bricks after the printing is completed, so you don't have to spend ages puzzling through the best order.
Stefanie has named her software faBrickation, a play on the words fabrication and Brick.
