Founded in 2007, GROWit is a California (Lake Forest) based additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping service bureau. They were also the first bureau to acquire the Objet Connex500, released by Objet in the same year.
Since then, GROWit has gone from strength to strength. The following excellent model photos were sent to us by the lovely Karissa Campbell and the staff over at the GROWit blog.
Every now and then they hold an internal design competition - just for the company's own staff. Their latest competition was to see who could design the best non-electrically amplified iPhone dock.
Engineering Manager Josh Morrison designed this part (left) using a number of technologies including the Objet Connex, printing in Objet TangoBlackPlus material (at Shore70) for simulating the rubber-like effect of the tires. The part is intended to look like a stack of RC car wheels when the iPhone is not present. This way the dock doesn't look like an unsightly 'brick' when sitting on someone's desk.
The non-electrical sound amplification works by allowing the sound to resonate in the chamber below the lower rim and a hard surface (such as a table top). The sound is then directed toward the listener via a channel and bowl-shaped reflector behind the upper wheel.
This second amplifier (right) was printed entirely on the Objet Connex (again in Objet TangoBlack) as an exhibition giveaway and combines amplification capabilities with a cute stand for watching movies. All in all, very smart!
To see the rest of the photos from the competition and to vote for your favorite design, go here.
