Show off your skills and solve real design problems

Boston Startup School, a 6 week intensive program for aspiring entrepreneurs and young professionals, is recognizing influential players in the Boston startup scene next week. They need your help designing 3D-printable trophies for their seven "Italics Award" winners.
The seven trophies will be 3D printed on a Dimension 1200 printer over the weekend and presented early next week at the 1st annual Italics award ceremony in Boston, MA.
The trophy should have a base structure upon which an ink well rests. A quill should protrude from the well. We envision a square frustum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frustum) base of approximately 150mm x 150mm. The entire build height cannot exceed 300mm.
On one side (the front) of the base, "2012 Italics Awards" should be engraved on one line with "Recipient Name" engraved directly below it. Once the challenge winner has been selected, he or she will be responsible for submitting seven additional models- each with a different name on it.
Creative entries are encouraged, but always keep in mind the ability to 3D print inexpensively (i.e. hollow everything out, avoid overhanging structures).
You can read more about the Dimension printer here: http://www.dimensionprinting.com/3d-printers/printing-productspecs1200series.aspx
CHALLENGE UPDATE 6/6/12 @ noon EST
- Minimum wall thickness for acceptable 3D printing is a significant factor, but the allowable thickness depends on a few factors-- does the wall support weight, is it curved etc... Wall thickness should never be less then 2mm, but thicker may be required depending on your model.
- The quill should be printed as well, affixed to the inside of the inkwell. The angle of the quill should be between 45 and 90 degrees from the frustum's base.
- Cost to print is one of most critical factors when selecting the winning design. Please keep this in mind at all times. A smaller trophy could be a better choice. The less material the better.
Trophy must be designed for 3D printing with minimal use of material while maintaining structural rigidity.
The ink well structure should be empty (hollow), as should the base. The feather or quill should be affixed to one side of the ink well structure (think of a straw in an empty cup).
Colors are restricted to white, black, ivory, nectarine, blue, olive green, gray, fluorescent yellow and red.
This challenge is open to everyone
Winners will be announced on GrabCAD blog and here on this challenge site under tab Results
Team entries are welcome. In case of team win, prize money will be transferred to team leader who is solely responsible for splitting it among team members.
You can submit several designs.
Tag your model with “StartupSchool” to make it easier to find.
You may upload a private model but you need to share access to gabe@grabcad.com and sej3@georgetown.edu
Privately uploaded models will be made public after the competition deadline.
Entries should be submitted as an STL (.stl) file. You are also encouraged to upload IGES (.igs), Rhinoceros 4 (.3dm), or SolidWorks part or assembly file (.SLDPRT, .SLDASM).
Competition starts: June 5th 2012
Competition ends: June 8th @ 2p Boston time
$500 Cash Prize
GrabCAD T-Shirt
The winner will be selected by Shaun Johnson of Boston Startup School and Gabe Blanchet of GrabCAD.
Boston Startup School is the best place for young professionals to learn the skills needed to have an immediate and positive impact on the startup they join. Your days will be spent working on real startup challenges, rapidly applying your new skills. You will have an opportunity to meet an incredible set of Boston startup companies that are looking for top talent to grow their businesses.
Our program is an immersive, six-week, full time experience that educates participants on startup culture, team dynamics and one of four in-demand skill sets.
40 comments
Fateh MERRAD over 13 years ago
NIce Challange!!
William over 13 years ago
Interesting little challange :P
Tobias Mattsson over 13 years ago
Nice challenge, short deadline :)
Tobias Mattsson over 13 years ago
whats the minimum material thickness? Is it one layer?
(0.245 or 0.33 mm) or is it more.
Nick Hampton over 13 years ago
Should be fun.
Is the quill provided or is it also to be printed?
Aleix over 13 years ago
Just wondering if support structures should be designed for de FDM printing process, or it would be done by the operators of the machine??
Shaun Johnson over 13 years ago
The quill should be printed as well, affixed to the inside of the inkwell. The angle of the quill should be between 45 and 90 degrees from the frustum's base.
Dragan Beljan over 13 years ago
@Shaun, I uploaded the one model, tell your opinion
naveen thontepu over 13 years ago
can i get some information for what the people are been given these awards so that might be incorporated in the trophy.
JF Brandon over 13 years ago
@Aleix support structures are created by the operators and removed later
Kristina Narusk over 13 years ago
Just some ideas tot he participants: such startup programmes usually help small and young teams to develop their business ideas. And the programme should inject the participants with energy, enthusiasm, speed and all other crucial characteristics. Like a Red Bull on a long exam prep night!
So the award could be looking something totally unexpected or colourful, too. I'd participate in this if I weren't a staff member :)
Gabe Blanchet over 13 years ago
TO ALL PARTICIPANTS: We have posted a few challenge updates in the main description section above. Please continue to ask questions as you have them.
Shaun Johnson over 13 years ago
This comment was removed
Shaun Johnson over 13 years ago
@evil, Wow, I'm impressed how quickly this was made! I think the tall base may not be an efficient use of material & I don't quite understand the spiraling circle in the background. Otherwise, good stuff.
Kyle Reeder over 13 years ago
Good challenge but I wish there was more room for more artistic freedom. Good luck everyone! I'm sure we won't disappoint.
Dragan Beljan over 13 years ago
Which material will used for this trophy?
Rob Sawatsky over 13 years ago
Is the support material the break-away type, or the water soluble type?
Aleix over 13 years ago
@JF Brandon. Thanks. Just what I needed to know¡
Ron over 13 years ago
Can you tell me what type of word font "Italics" is (the word in the logo)
Antonis Asimakopoulos over 13 years ago
Interesting challenge, I found it quite amusing modelling a quill
One question. Will you use any hardening resing on the final products? I know it will increase the cost a lot but the final products could be designed with less of the printing powder material.
Dragan Beljan over 13 years ago
I uploaded the new model but did not show up in Entries?
Italics award trophy 5
Gabe Blanchet over 13 years ago
@ Evil Worker - I am not sure why it is not showing up. We will consider the submission.
Ron over 13 years ago
As did Evil Worker, I uploaded an improved trophy design. Here's the link: 2012 Italics Awards Trophy V2
Ron over 13 years ago
Forgot to mention that my new design didn't appear in entries. Sorry!
Flaviano Crespi over 13 years ago
My file:
Italics award trophy (3)
regularly tagged d'nt appear in the list!
S. Castrena over 13 years ago
didn't appear in the list either, my file :
"Italics Awards" Trophy
Gabe Blanchet over 13 years ago
@Castrena @Flaviano, @Ron - We will accept all of your submissions. Good luck.
Ron over 13 years ago
@Gabe - Thank you
Flaviano Crespi over 13 years ago
@Gabe - Thanks
Nick Hampton over 13 years ago
Congrats to all the winners, cool little challenge!
CCG over 13 years ago
what the hell happend??? my design does not appear on the contest...i uploaded the design here but is not here...is only on the library.....does any of the site admin's know what happend...is it me or is a bug???
JF Brandon over 13 years ago
@Ghioca Sorry to hear that - Lets discuss this further over private chat and figure out what happened. If this happened to anyone else here please message me.
Kaspar Kiis over 13 years ago
@Ghioca, your design is among the entries and was accepted as a submission.
Ron over 13 years ago
@JF Brandon, it happened to me. And my other model was considered, I'm just saying it didn't appear in the entries.
HUSSAM KAMEL over 13 years ago
hi how can i get my prize? thanks
Kaspar Kiis over 13 years ago
@Hussam, I will contact you shortly.
Hardi Meybaum over 13 years ago
Just saw the winning product in real life - http://t.co/0Rca505T
Tobias Mattsson over 13 years ago
That dosnt look much like the winning design, seing as its flat mostly, and put on a glass plate...
Hardi Meybaum over 13 years ago
It's all about input the customer got from all the great work from you
joycefred over 13 years ago
This comment was removed
Please log in to add comments.
Log in