Maker engagement ring created with 3-D printer

October 9, 10:51 PMWedding and Marriage ExaminerElizabeth Oakes

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Say bye-bye to Robbins Brothers: print your own engagement ring!
         fynflood via thingiverse.com/CreativeCommons license

If you're versed in computer graphics and have an artistic flair, you can draw a wedding ring design and have a jeweler make it for you.  If you're a modern Maker kind of person yourself, you could print out a custom ring on your own 3D printer and use it to propose to your beloved, just like this fellow fynflood did. 

Okay, whoa, I hear the mundanes thinking--3D printer?  Like, it prints a three dimensional design on paper with dotted lines and you fold it to make an origami thingie?  Not very durable, you say, and kinda tacky. 

No no, not your standard desktop printer loaded with paper!  These days you can buy or assemble your own CNC rapid prototyping machine (like the "CupCake CNC" or "MakerBot") that will "print" a three-dimensional shape in ABS plastic with remarkable accuracy. 

But who would want a plastic engagement ring?  Well, apparently the lady who received this one was thrilled.  And bear in mind, that plastic ring prototype can then be used to cast a form for a precious-metals version. The hopeless romantics of the Maker Movement can be proud, and I look forward to seeing more techno-DIY wedding gear soon.

But wait, there's more!  The folks over at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories have come up with a homegrown fabricator that can print with granulated sugar.  The "CandyFab 4000" utilizes a computer-controlled hot air gun that fuses sugar into the programmed shape.  Sugar's not the highest resolution CNC medium, but seems to me you could easily make fantastic structural cake decor (three-dimensional Celtic wedding knots, anyone?) Or put a technological spin on the traditional Victorian wedding breakfast--imagine the delight of your guests when they see each of their names written in a piece of toast as an edible placecard.  Or consider CNC printing a few papadums to upscale your Bollywood-themed wedding (all the rage this year.)

Finally, we wish fynflood (the designer of this 3D printer engagement ring) a happy wedding, and as his gift to you he has posted the software to create the ring at Thingiverse under a Creative Commons/GNU license.  Even if you're not yet Maker-inclined, take a moment of your online wedding planning to poke around the Internet and marvel at the neo-Renaissance men and women who are putting modern twists on old customs (including new ways to play with your food.)

Until next time, a sweet and long life to you all. 

National Wedding and Marriage Examiner Elizabeth Oakes welcomes your feedback at weddingexaminer@gmail.com; you can easily share this story or subscribe by clicking on the buttons at the top of this column, or read more of Elizabeth's stories by clicking here.

She's also happy to answer your questions about getting married in Los Angeles--check out her work and inquire about availability at MarriageToGo.Com and RosePedalsBikeWeddings.Com.

All National Wedding Examiner articles ©2009 by Elizabeth Oakes; reposts permitted with copyright notice and link back to original article. All other rights reserved.

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