Welcome to the UM3D Lab!
As an interdisciplinary service facility, the 3D Lab provides the University of Michigan community with access to high-end technologies in the general areas of 3d computer modeling, 3d visualization, and rapid prototyping of physical models. The Lab's resources and consulting services are available to students, faculty, and staff from all schools and colleges for exploration, education, and research. Through a combined directorship, the Lab cooperates closely with the Virtual Reality Lab.
Announcements
New Workshop Series in March 2008
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UM3D Lab in the "Detroit Free Press"Software created by the University of Michigan 3D Lab is being built into "Second Life." The "Detroit Free Press" article is here. |
New Glasses and Wand in the CAVEThe new FDM Elite RP machine allowed us to create new markers for our CAVE glasses and the CAVE wand. The new wand is also wireless, which mean we do not have any wires inside the CAVE anymore. |
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Mechanical Testing of RP PartsThe UM3D Lab has been conducting tensile testing on parts made from our RP machines. This data will provide our engineering and art students with material information that will aid in design for manufacturing via additive processes. |
Investment Casting Refinement with the School of Art and College of EngineeringWorking with the School of Art foundry, and College of Engineering Formula SAE Student Race Team, ZCorp and Barron Industries, the UM3D Lab has been working to refine the use of 3DP patterns for investment casting. Seen here are patterns for cast parts to be used on the MRacing 2008 car. |
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Dimension FDM Elite RP machine is fully operational!The new FDM ABS plastics machine is now running and available for print jobs. |
Welcome Shawn O'Grady to the 3D Lab!New UM3D Lab hire Shawn O' Grady will be assisting Senior Research Technician Brett Lyons with our various rapid prototyping technologies, as well as laser scanning. Shawn joins us from Ferris State University in Big Rapids. |
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Materialise Software Workshop Hosted in DuderstadtThe UM3D Lab hosted a Materialise workshop in the Windows Training Room on October 16 to demonstrate Mimics and 3Matics, two of their 3D editing packages available in the Modeling & Animation Lab. |
UM3D Lab at Inventors ReceptionThe UM3D Lab was invited by UM Tech Transfer to participate in this year's Celebrate Invention 2007 on October 3rd. For three hours we showcased three of our most interesting software projects: the Second Life Stereo Viewer, Virtual Jet Ski Driving Simulator and Virtual Disaster Simulator (poster pdf). |
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Ageia CAVE developmentThrough a close partnership with Ageia, the University of Michigan 3D lab has created several developments for the CAVE that allow the user to experience the virtual world in an entirely new way. Using the Ageia SDK, OpenSG, 3D Studio Max, and a Vicon tracking system, the user can receive a greater sense of immersion and freedom within the CAVE. For more information, see associate paper. |
Bright Minds 2007Brett Lyons of the 3D Lab will be assisting with the Rapid Technologies & Additive Manufacturing Community's annual mentoring program, Bright Minds. Fifty students will be paired with industry professional mentors who will guide them through the conference and exhibition hall. At times, students will be attending portions of the conference and tradeshow without the mentors and will most likely be traveling in groups of two students. Students will be provided with a package that includes information to share what they have learned with fellow students and teachers. Sponsored by General Motors. |
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The Color Rapidprototyping Machine Has Arrived!The ZCorp 510 Spectrum is here ! This new machine was acquired through a College of Engineering shared equipment grant contest, and the 3D CoStudio Project in collaboration with the Schools of Art and Music, the College of Engineering, and Kinesisiology. |
IADR Conference, New Orleans, March 23, 2007Eric Maslowski of the UM3D Lab will be offering a demonstration of the Z-brush 3d sculpting software at the International Association for Dental Research Conference in New Orleans, Friday, March 23. Proceed to the VRDent Project page for more information, including the Worskop Agenda and a downloadable Z-Brush tutorial. |
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Second LifeThe UM3D Lab has brought Second Life one step closer to real life by developing stereoscopic support for the Second Life viewer. This recent addition allows visitors wearing special glasses to see the objects of Second Life pop out of the screen similar to watching a 3D movie. The viewer code is described further in our Second Life Development section, and will be made publicly available once a final version is complete. Full press release in .pdf format. |
Art & Design 210 - 3D & TimeA new gallery on our Projects page features over a dozen RP models generated by students of Elona Van Gent and Andrew Kirshner's Art & Design 210 class. |
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QuarterbackThis detailed football player model was created to highlight improved CAVE capabilities to handle single-mesh avatars, and to generate interest in the VR Lab's Football Trainer project. Check out the Quarterback in the Projects section, including several screenshots and a playable .avi. Developed by Scott Hamm and Eric Maslowski. |
Sensics Head Mounted DisplayDuring the week of June 12, 2006, Sensics, Inc., showcased its newly released panoramic head-mounted display (HMD) in the 3D Lab. Representatives from several different companies, as well as faculty and students, came to preview this fascinating technology. Sensics' panoramic HMD, called piSight, delivers full 3d immersion through a 150 degree field of view and a resolution of 2,200 x 1,200 pixels per eye. The device uses 12 microdisplays (arranged 4 wide x 3 high) for each eye and a unique optics that seamlessly combine these displays into one large wrap-around image. Links: Sensics, Inc., Picture Gallery |
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Handyscan 3DThe Handyscan 3D Digitizer has finally arrived! Staff training and testing has been completed. For more information, check out the webpage in the Hardware section, here. |
Together again!Dr. Dan Fisher's mastodon skeleton from the Natural History Museum on main campus finally has a companion, the human skeleton. The Mastodon can now be viewed on all our visualization systems, including the virtual reality CAVE. |
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Pisidian AntiochThis is a 3d model from the Kelsey Museum exhibit "Building a New Rome - The Imperial Colony of Pisidian Antioch". |