SketchUp 2012 Basecamp and MakerBots

We just returned from the SketchUp 2012 Basecamp.

The Guest Speaker of this year's Basecamp was Bre Pettis of MakerBot who has developed a 3D Printer which interfaces with SketchUp to create plastic prototypes and plastic parts directly from SketchUp models.

The story of how they developed was fascinating.

 

 

With a MakerBot, you can design 3D objects in SketchIUp, export them with the STL format exporter, load the MakerBot up with either ABS plastic(what Lego blocks are made of) or PLA (biodegradable - made of corn), and create real objects -either as prototypes for as finished products.

 

Bre brought along several MakerBots which we got to try out on Tuesday,