Soon, 3D-printed Christmas trees
Toronto: Just in time for Christmas, researchers have developed a new algorithm that can create 3D-printed X-mas trees with zero material waste. Richard Zhang, computing science professor at the Simon Fraser University in Canada has shown how to print a 3D Christmas tree efficiently and with zero material waste, using the world’s first algorithm for automatically decomposing a 3D object into what are called pyramidal parts.
A pyramidal shape is optimal for 3D printing because it incurs no material waste and saves print time. The algorithm promises to become a big deal in the world of 3D printing, and also has applications for designing molds and for casting, researchers said. Zhang developed the algorithm with PhD candidate Ruizhen Hu, an international student from Zhejiang University in China.
In 3D printing, the printer deposits melted plastic layer by layer in a bottom-up fashion. If the shape has an overhang, such as a tree branch, extra material has to be printed beneath it as support. This extra plastic is waste material and must be removed, which can be time consuming and difficult. And removing waste material that supports an object’s hollow interior or tiny fragile parts, like the star atop a Christmas tree, can be almost impossible without causing breakage. “Coming up with a practical algorithm to decompose 3D objects into the smallest possible number of pyramidal parts was quite a challenge,” said Zhang.
“Importantly, it is impractical for most real-world objects to be broken into exactly pyramidal parts since this would result in too many parts,” he said. “Ruizhen came up with a really clever way of transforming the problem to obtain an effective solution,” Zhang added. The new algorithm partitions the object into a small number of nearly pyramidal parts that can be 3D-printed with little or no material waste.
These printed parts can then be glued together to form the finished object. The Christmas tree, for example, is divided in half for fabrication, and then glued together. In molding and casting, the ideas are similar, said Zhang. “If the molded or cast parts are pyramidal, then removing the mold or cast after fabrication would not result in any breakage,” he said. In keeping with the Christmas theme, Zhang suggests chocolatiers could use the algorithm to design chocolate molds for Christmas trees or reindeer. (PTI)
Dubai successfully hosts its biggest ‘Mega FAM’ till date
Dubai: Dubai’s biggest ‘Mega familiarisation’ trip to date has been described as a “huge success” with over 440 travel operators, wedding planners, niche segment specialists and media experts from across the world, including from 16 Indian cities, attending the event.
Hosted by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) to raise awareness of the city’s offering as a destination for business events, the event from 6-9 December was attended by over 440 representatives of the travel industry partners from across the world and representatives from 16 Indian cities as well.
“This FAM trip was a huge success, we were pleased to be able to welcome and host such a large group from India, which is one of our key source markets. In fact in the first six months of 2014, India was our second top source market and saw tremendous growth,” said Issam Kazim, CEO of DTCM.
Kazim said India continues to be a key focus and roadshows to the country and FAM trips such as this are a great way to ensure partners in the market remain up to date with everything going on in Dubai. “In addition, this was a valuable exercise for our stakeholders in Dubai who through face-to-face meetings and networking sessions were able to exchange information and ideas which will prove beneficial as we further strengthen business relationships with our partners in India,” he said. (PTI)
Wrongly executed Chinese youth may get USD 2 lakh compensation
Beijing: China may give nearly USD 2 lakh to the family of an 18-year-old youth who was wrongly convicted and executed in a controversial rape and murder case in 1996. Huugjilt, from Inner Mongolia, was executed in 1996 for the rape and murder of a woman in a public toilet in Hohhot on April 9, 1996.
He was sentenced to death and executed in June 1996. His innocence was officially recognized yesterday by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Higher People’s Court. The family of the deceased youth is expected to get around USD 193,861 in compensation, official media reported. The sum covers compensation for death plus funeral expenses, state-run China Daily reported. As per the State Compensation Law for each death resulting from faulty legal procedure, compensation is 20 times the average worker’s annual pay in the past year. The average worker’s annual wage in 2013 was 45,676 yuan, and the state compensation in this case works out at about 913,500 yuan. The court brought 30,000 yuan (USD 4,500) in compensation while delivering the retrial verdict to Huugjilt’s parents at their home in Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Monday morning, and also pledged further compensation. The lawyer representing Huugjilt said a process will be soon initiated to ask for State compensation since his client was exonerated. Earlier this month, Inner Mongolia Public Security Bureau had established a team to investigate all the police officers involved in the processing of the case to find out the policemen, prosecutors and judges who were responsible for the wrong verdict. (PTI)