Innovative 3D prints from the 2017 Simplify 3D contest

Simplify3D CEO Clayton Webster tells us:

"We are thrilled to showcase how our community is using Simplify3D Version 4.0 to unlock new capabilities. We were very impressed with the intuition and skill shown to create these fantastic models. As we continue to pioneer new techniques for additive manufacturing we are excited to see what our users will come up with next!"

Let's look at them now.

A father/son team used single extrusion and thin wall features to get the fine features of this print.

We like the mix of 3D printing and electronics (plus, you can never go wrong with Nixie tubes).

Look how small this is!

Printed at 1/3000 scale, Simplify3D 4.0 small features and thin wall settings were used to print the small details.

With the right printer and the right settings, you can get incredible detail.

Speaking of bridges, this meter long model is based on New Zealand's Te Rewa Rewa Bridge.

Beyond its basic cool factor, what makes this model interesting is that it was built for wind tunnel testing.

If you're curious about the exact settings for Simplify3D, check out the attached image. This is a camera case for a Raspberry Pi.

My wife sometimes knits with yarn that varies in color. You can also get filaments that come in many colors, providing a wonderful rainbow effect. This 57 hour print used special settings to reduce the infill for large base areas.

There are a lot of 3D printed cookie cutters. What sets this one apart is the different depths and effects, allowing individual cookies to come out with texture and wording. Yum! Hungry now.

It's a 3D printed shoe. How much cooler can you get from that? Using TPU (a flexible filament) and special extrusion settings for the sole and base of the shoe, this project is a preview of what shoes might be like in coming years.

This is a custom designed walking robot. Internal structural details were managed in the Simplify3D slicer.

Remember that a 3D modeling program can determine shapes and dimensions, but the internal material properties are the domain of the slicer.

Notice the hair in the two lions above. First, you can 3D print hair. Wow! But second, the hair on the right lion is thinner than the lion on the left. It's using a single wall extrusion feature that allows for very fine printing.

Combining "vase mode" (a way of printing continuous layers in a spiral) with a layer-by-layer printing process, the artist was able to create a unique ring design with a unique look.

Yo-Yos aren't just donuts on strings. Paper yo-yos are long strips of paper on a stick that also fling out and return. Unfortunately, they can break easily.

This yo-yo is modeled on the paper design and is paper thin, but since it's plastic, it's far more durable.