Show off your skills and solve real design problems

Turn a sketch that was made hundreds of years ago into a 3d printable model.
The Goal of this Challenge is to produce a 3d printable design from Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches, which were originally meant to be manufactured in wood. The Challenge will be adapting the sketch for a new manufacturing process, minimizing the need for support and optimizing elements of the design specifically for 3d printing.
In this challenge, you’ll get inside the shoes of a great artist, inventor and engineer. Your task is to:
1. Find a da Vinci machine sketch and reproduce it using CAD.
2. Consider the ways in which 3d printing differs from Renaissance-era fabrication technologies and adjust the designs accordingly.
3. Consider different 3d printing methodologies (FDM, SLS, SLA and PolyJet) and materials available, and pick the best method for the production of your design.
4. Consider the tolerance and layer thickness capabilities of the 3d printer you’ll use, and document design decisions related to those capabilities.
To win, your design must be:
1) 3d Printable (FDM, SLS, SLA or PolyJet).
2) Require minimal post-processing.
3) Be imaginative and creative.
Resources:
Stratasys Education Curriculum "Da Vinci Gear" (available for download via "Download Specifications" button, will help to walk you through the design process. Learn more about 3d printing curriculum on the Stratasys Education website.
You can access a library of Leonardo da Vinci sketches here or here.
To learn more about product design, visit GrabCAD blog.
You can find out about different 3d printing methods on the Stratasys website. Stratasys Direct Manufacturing has a great comprehensive overview of FDM (Full Deposition Modeling), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) as well as preparing STL files.
Once you master the fundamentals of 3d printing, check out "After the Basics: a 3D Printing Handbook".
Your entry must include:
• STEP/IGES
• Rendering of your design
• STL file format
• Link to the da Vinci design that inspired your creation
• 3d printed method & material selected
• Description of design process - why did you choose the particular method for 3d printing your design?
• Proof that your design can be 3d printed (screen capture from a 3d printing service, or photo of the printed design)
Technical requirements:
Your design must be 3d printable via one of the widely available 3d printing methods: FDM, SLS, SLA or PolyJet. Please upload and check your file via one of the 3d printing services, to make sure that it can be printed. If you are printing the design yourself, make sure to upload a photo of the final design.
Judging criteria: Judging criteria will be based on achievement of accomplishing criteria listed above, including:
1. Printability: ease of 3d printing the design.
2. Minimal need for post-processing of the design.
3. Creativity and innovation.
ENTERING THE COMPETITION The Challenge is open to everyone except employees and families of GrabCAD and the Sponsor. Multiple entries are welcome. Team entries are welcome. By entering the Challenge you: 1. Accept the official GrabCAD Challenges Terms & Conditions. 2. Agree to be bound by the decisions of the judges (Jury). 3. Warrant that you are eligible to participate. 4. Warrant that the submission is your original work. 5. Warrant, to the best of your knowledge, your work is not, and has not been in production or otherwise previously published or exhibited. 6. Warrant neither the work nor its use infringes the intellectual property rights (whether a patent, utility model, functional design right, aesthetic design right, trademark, copyright or any other intellectual property right) of any other person. 7. Warrant participation shall not constitute employment, assignment or offer of employment or assignment. 8. Are not entitled to any compensation or reimbursement for any costs. 9. Agree the Sponsor and GrabCAD have the right to promote all entries. If you think an entry may infringe on existing copyrighted materials, please email challenges@grabcad.com
SUBMITTING AN ENTRY Only entries uploaded to GrabCAD through the "Submit entry" button on this Challenge page will be considered an entry. Only public entries are eligible. We encourage teams to use GrabCAD Workbench for developing their entries. Entries are automatically given the tag "davincigear" when uploading to GrabCAD. Please do not edit or delete this tag. Only entries with valid tag will participate in the Challenge.
AWARDING THE WINNERS The sum of the Awards is the total gross amount of the reward. The awarded participant is solely liable for the payment of all taxes, duties and other similar measures if imposed on the reward pursuant to the legislation of the country of his/her residence, domicile, citizenship, workplace, or any other criterion of similar nature. Only 1 award per person. All judging decisions are final. All winners will be contacted by the GrabCAD staff to get their contact information and any other information needed to get the prize to them. Payment of cash awards is made through PayPal. All team awards will be transferred to the member who entered the Challenge. We will release the finalists before the announcement of the winners to give the Community an opportunity to share their favorites in the comments, discuss concerns, and allow time for any testing or analysis by the Jury. The Jury will take the feedback into consideration when picking the winners. Winning designs will be chosen based on the Rules and Requirements. - Entry deadline is May 15th, 2016 (11:59pm UTC). - The finalists will be announced by June 3rd, 2016. - The winners will be announced by June 29th, 2016. Void where prohibited.
SPEC REFINEMENT We want to make sure that you have all of the information that you need to tackle the challenge. As such, in the first week of a challenge we may refine the specifications or offer clarifications based on member feedback. Please ask any questions that you have!
Prize pool of $2,500, and GrabCAD Swag for top 10 places!
$1,000 + GrabCAD Swag
$750 + GrabCAD Swag
$500 + GrabCAD Swag
$150 + GrabCAD Swag
$100 + GrabCAD Swag
GrabCAD Swag
The jury consists of experts from the 3d printing community, Stratasys and GrabCAD.
Stratasys Education supports all teaching and learning kindergarten through post-secondary and has the goal to empower educators, inspire students, prepare our future, grown industry and shape lives by encouraging applied learning, real-world skill acquisition and innovation through 3D printing. Visit Stratasys Education for education resources and solutions or follow us on Twitter or on Facebook
If you don't receive the email within an hour (and you've checked your Spam folder), email us as confirmation@grabcad.com
93 comments
Aqil Ghaffar over 9 years ago
@ Allan is right, no download option..
Bernard Brits over 9 years ago
Best challenge ever
shankar gonti over 9 years ago
hi, her it is one , https://afaltademochuelos.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/cc3b3dice-de-leonardo.jpg
shankar gonti over 9 years ago
one more
http://www.tecnozona.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Leo-da-Vinci-maquina.jpg
Ali ZAHI over 9 years ago
Amazing challenge!
seghier khaled over 9 years ago
Hello ; i have question
the challenge about creating the same model in the specifications or any other model designed by Da vinci ?
Travis Petersen over 9 years ago
This is right up my alley.
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
"The Goal of this Challenge is to produce a 3d printable design from Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches"
seghier khaled over 9 years ago
but which one ? the sketch in specification or any other sketch ?
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Hi Aqil Ghaffar, sorry about that! We added the Da Vinci gear curriculum powerpoint for download early today.
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
seghier khaled, you can model any Da Vinci sketch that inspires you!
Chokpisit Kasemphaibulsuk over 9 years ago
Is there a limitation on the adjustment of the design that we allow?
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
You're only limited by your imagination and capabilities of the 3d printing method you choose!
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
@Ben Ewing Should the sketch be a working mechanism? Or are we talking even the Mona lisa here?
Momin Bashir over 9 years ago
Now this is some fun. :D
Jacek Zieliński over 9 years ago
From what I could to figure browsing the internet, there is not much choice of the available sketches of Loenardo da Vinci. Therefore, I think that the projects will be repeated, and that is why I suggest you carefully place the files before the deadline, so there was no suspicion of using/copying someone else's project.
khaled emad over 9 years ago
but what about the size of the printed model , what is the maximum dimensions of the model ?
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Hi Nathaniel Andresmooi, the challenge entry should be a working mechanism inspired by the da Vinci mechanical sketches - you can use any da Vinci mechanical sketch in your inspiration to create a 3d printable design. Make sure to include a link to the da Vinci sketch that inspired you, as well as the 3d printing method and material you would select for 3d printing your design!
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
https://grabcad.com/roger.marie.couture-1, while many Da Vinci models have been done before, this challenge looks at how you could take those designs and make them work with a manufacturing technique he never had: additive manufacturing (3D printing). We definitely encourage entries that creatively improve on a Da Vinci design in the context of 3D printing
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
khaled emad, it depends on the technique used. But if you check out the FDM link above, for example, it has information of the thickness of parts and the maximum size that a part can be!
Andrés Iborra López over 9 years ago
Hi everyone, here is a link to the Madrid Codices I and II, you can see in the link the full Codices in high quality, this Codices include the Da Vinci studies about mechanics, statics, geometry and construction of fortifications :
http://leonardo.bne.es/index.html
Bieber Alexis over 9 years ago
Is there any size limitation ? Like 350mm ? 500 mm ?
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
If Its to be 3D printed the size of individual pieces is based on the size of the build plate. Its nice to fit everything on one plate but not always a good plan. Individual pieces can be printed and fit together. I don't think there is a size limit stated. But whatever 3D printer is to be used will choose that limit. For example an Ultimaker 2 has an approx 200x200x200mm print volume. If your part fits inside that it could be printed on that printer etc. Also parts can typicly be scaled. Be careful with very small details especially if you scale something down.
Bieber Alexis over 9 years ago
I think that I will do 2 version of it, the first one, with the biggest part being ~500mm and the second version with those long parts cut in half ;)
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
Depending on how your design works you may be able to draw it at one size and scale it to fit on the printer.
Chokpisit Kasemphaibulsuk over 9 years ago
can we submit more than one thing
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Hi Chokpisit Kasemphaibulsuk, you can submit as many entries as you would like but only 1 entry per person can be selected as a winner.
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
"Minimal need for post-processing of the design." Means minimal cleanup of support structure etc not assembly work am I correct in assuming?
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
"Stratasys Direct Manufacturing can make single FDM parts as large as 36 in. x 24 in. x 36 in. (X, Y, and Z) (914 mm x 610 mm x 914 mm)"
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Hi Nathaniel Andresmooi, when we say post processing, we mean anything that happens after the print is complete. This includes cleanup of support as well as the assembly. Just think how much time and effort it would take to finish after the part is printed. The less work left, the better!
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Hi all, throughout the challenge we will be randomly picking designs to 3D print and test. Keep an eye on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GrabCAD) for pictures from the prints!
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
Will there be some sort of return for being printed? Since that's like using the intellectual property? Like a Grabcad T-shirt or some such? Since it's still technically the posters property till someone declares winners? It would also be cool if the model kept a maker mark like their name to get some kudos. (would be different if it was posted anywhere other than the competition area)
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Hi Nathaniel Andresmooi, the benefit of having your design printed is getting feedback on your challenge entry and seeing how it turns out! We will be linking the original models on GrabCAD for the pictures that we post though.
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
Hello Ben, that makes sense I suppose. What will happen to the models that are printed?
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
Ohh and can we assume that the models printed won't effect the challenges judging? Since not everyone will have their models in early enough to be be test printed? (likely)
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Nathaniel Andresmooi, we are going to try to print as many of the models as possible. Especially in the judging process. The models printed won't have any advantage vs. those that weren't. That being said, how 3D printable a model is, is one of the judging criteria. We will be using 3D printing analysis tools in addition to 3D printing to determine that!
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
The models that we print are just for testing purposes but I imagine the ones that come out well, we will keep in our office as a reminder of the awesome work that GrabCAD members are doing!
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Additionally, based on our prints thus far, I wanted to give a little advice: It is important to consider the orientation that your design would print in and how much support material would be needed for an FDM print. Many designs use pegs and levers, and these can be weaker in certain print orientations, and can have issues if too much support material is necessary!
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
Not trying to be deliberately difficult just playing devils advocate in uncharted territory. I'm a huge fan of the idea of 3D printing.
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
Also the pegs aren't so much a design choice I think as staying true to many of his sketches and drawings.
Angelo Segatto over 9 years ago
Hey! ive got a question, i dont really own a 3d printer, but ive been working with a colleage with a FDM printer, according to him my entry is fully printable but i have no means on testing it.
One of the tech requirements says "Please upload and check your file via one of the 3d printing services, to make sure that it can be printed"
Im a little lost there, what printing service? where is this service? how can i do this? can i have a direct link if its online? im only working with solidworks, its the only thing keeping me from submitting :(
thanks!
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
@Angelo you need a free printer translation software like CURA. You export your model as an STL file then open the file with CURA. Your friend also probably has some sort of model slicer program he uses. CURA will translate the file to GCODE like a 3D printer uses. If the file opens well for you and your friend in the slicer program you are probably good. CURA can also be used to make the support structure many printed objects need. It's not the only software out there but its a free one.
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
http://www.timelab.org/sites/all/files/Cura_User-Manual_v1.0.pdf
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
https://www.stratasysdirect.com/resources/how-to-prepare-stl-files/
Centralarm Ingeniería over 9 years ago
This comment was removed
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
@Centralarm Ingeniería Looks like it might work to check printablility. It reads as if that's the purpose of the site. I have only used Cura myself so that's the only one I can vouch for. As a recap you want to export as an STL or other supported file (specific to printer) and import into some sort of printer program. STL is the standard go between format file for many printers. The program will then covert it to the file the printer will run. Some programs will add support structures and brim or raft structures (supports for your print). Others require you to model everything by hand.
Angelo Segatto over 9 years ago
@Nathaniel @Centralarm Ingeniería thanks both of you for your help! your guidance will help me a lot!
Angelo Segatto over 9 years ago
Hey another question, is it enough if i upload my .SLDPRT files as they are or is it mandatory to export them as STEP/IGES? i was planning on uploading both i just wanted to keep a lightweight entry for those with slow internet.
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
If you already have them drawn nearly 100% of the programs that are used to model can save as the needed STL format. Go to the save as location and try to find .STL or .stl as the file format option. Everything can do STL files just about. It's an industry standard go between for like CNC and machining.
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
You may need to go to a section called EXPORT
Žiga Strmšek over 9 years ago
Does anyone know when tomorrow this challange ends? I'm working on the barell/drum/auto loading crossbow thing that da Vinci designed, but I'm way tired from work. I'm only doing this as a hobby, I am not an engineer, so I want to enter this competition with something else than the cryptex I made. Since this might be my only chance to make any money.
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
Entry deadline is May 15th, 2016 (11:59pm UTC)
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
https://www.google.com/search?q=utc+time&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
Nathaniel Andresmooi over 9 years ago
*About* 25 hours from now
Žiga Strmšek over 9 years ago
Thank you kind strangers. I'm making the drum crossbow, the self loadin one. Except I'm improving it
Žiga Strmšek over 9 years ago
Wellp, I made it. when will they elect winners?
Primož over 9 years ago
Was this closed 1 hour to early? It should be closed at 11:59pm UTC (23:59), but now is 23:04 UTC and is already closed? I managed to publish my design, but I didn't have time to add all renders and write a proper description.
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Hi Primož, I'm sorry that you had this issue. I sent you an email!
Ben Ewing over 9 years ago
Thank you Žiga Strmšek and everyone else for your hard work in this challenge. We will be announcing winners on June 3rd!
Travis Petersen over 9 years ago
I realize I forgot to attach my .stl file is it ok for me to update my model?
shubham gupta over 9 years ago
Please announce the finalists...
Angelo Segatto over 9 years ago
Im dying here XD
Pouya Hosseinzadeh over 9 years ago
Today is "Tuesday - 2016 07 June"
Pouya Hosseinzadeh over 9 years ago
Really?? I had checked in a "Global Website".Sure was wrong.I'm so sorry.
Good luck for you and Grabcad team.
Travis Petersen over 9 years ago
Thanks for the nomination! I was very excited to see my model in there. Good luck to everyone!
Pouya Hosseinzadeh over 9 years ago
Thanks for selected the finalists. I am so happy that I've selected.
Congratulations to all the finalists.Good luck!
Ali ZAHI over 9 years ago
Good luck for all finalists!
Adriano Ordoz Barissa over 9 years ago
Congratulations to all the finalists.
Naveen Raj N over 9 years ago
Congratulations to all the finalists !!!!!
dedehendi k over 9 years ago
Congratulations ........and next to me
ANOUAR BARODI over 9 years ago
Congratulations to all !!! good luck !!!
Ali ZAHI over 9 years ago
Congrats to all winners!
Nicolas Marc over 9 years ago
Congrats to all winners and participants of this great challenge.
Thank Stratasys and Grabcad for this cool challenge.
For my design more coming...
Best regards.
Nicolas.
Hein Miessner over 9 years ago
Very dissapointed in myself that I did not upload seperate STL files.
Apologies for that to the judges. And thank you for the 6th place and kind comments.
The design as can be seen in my uploaded images
was never intended or designed to be printed as one piece. Post-Processing was actually my strongest point of the design in my opinion. The pieces fit together effortlessly when printed seperately and assembled. Just so used to uploading only STEP and IGES files for challenges and thought that those would be used the seperate into different stl's for printing.
I will upload all my seperate stl files so that the judges "can print one for their desk":)
And so that other people who want to print it can enjoy the design also. Congrats to all the winners and thanks to Stratasys and Grabcad for the challenge. Looking forward to the next ones.
Hein Miessner over 9 years ago
All seperate STL files uploaded to Da Vinci Giant crossbow
Bieber Alexis over 9 years ago
Thank for this challenge and for voting me on the 3rd place :)
But I have a question: what is the "Grabcad Swag" ?
Lorand Veres over 9 years ago
Thank you Judges.
I'm very pleased and excited, this is my first challenge success. I have tried to focus on the challenge requirements, first criteria was the printability, second the simplicity and third the minimal post processing. Congratulate to all designers. It is refreshing to watch other designs and ideas. Thank you again. Keep going GrabCAD.
Gus Ti over 9 years ago
Thank you judges.
Why the winners announcement have not declared at "finished" menu bar at grabcad competitions, but still at "selecting winners" menu bar?
By the way, I am happy and get more lesson to follow this challenges.
Tibor over 9 years ago
Can we expect prizes this week?
Or GC staff goes on vacation.
Simone Morra about 9 years ago
It was fantastic, but I have not received the GrabCAD Swag yet from July.
Bieber Alexis about 9 years ago
don't worry you're not alone !
Travis Petersen about 9 years ago
So, what was the swag supposed to be? was it an e-badge, or a T-shirt?
Simone Morra almost 9 years ago
what happened?
Bieber Alexis almost 9 years ago
I Kind grabcad sent me te wrong printing: https://www.dropbox.com/s/alodnyas02p5szn/20161103_181453.jpg?dl=0
it is this one: DaVinci's catapult #01
(ignore the filament on the right)
Bieber Alexis almost 9 years ago
I think*
Simone Morra almost 9 years ago
Yes, it is my model.... unfortunately I have not received anything yet :(
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