customized cases for an Arduino + a great technique for inking etchings in acrylic

Anything precious deserves a specially constructed case. And what could be more precious to a group of playful, robotic engineers than a bit of easy-to-use, electronic hardware part of an open-source platform?

I Heart Robotics has created a series of variations on a case structure built specifically for an Arduino board. Arduino is “an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple microcontroller board and a development environment for writing software for the board.” It’s meant for artists, makers, designers, and general techno-hobbyists. In addition to the case studies, I Heart Robotics has several Arduino based projects up on their blog.

The Case studies resulted in some amazing objects made in all sorts of ways, from plastic injection molding to aluminum construction to 3D printing in alumide. And they used Ponoko to laser-cut parts of some of their most recent versions.

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Posted in 3D Printing, Digital Fabrication, Electronics + Robotics, Kristen Turner, Laser Cutting, Maker Stories, Materials, Open Source, Technology, Tools + Apps by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, CNC Routing, App Gateway

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Saving yourself making time and cost

As many of you will know, you can save making time and cost by placing the pieces you want to cut directly side-by-side. This way the two pieces can share a cutting line between them – effectively cutting two sides in one stroke.

The trick to making this work, however, is the removal of the unneeded extra line. When you first place the objects directly side by side, you should be able to see the shared line as being a darker blue to the others – at this point it’s a double line – one blue line directly on top of the other.

Removing this extra line in Illustrator is straightforward, but in Inkscape it’s a bit more complex:

Before you begin: Select All and use the Path > Object to Path command.

Step 1: Select the Edit Paths by Nodes tool.

(more…)

Posted in Josh Judkins, Laser Cutting Tutorial, Various How-To by Josh Judkins | Comments are off for this post

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About two years ago I read a Help Wanted post on this blog. Ponoko needed a writer, and this what they said:

Writing for the Ponoko blog will be an incredible opportunity to promote your knowledge and opinion on a variety of emerging topics that will have enormous global influence in the near future.

That future is closer than ever. Since its beginning in January 2007, the blog has gone from not-so-famous to one of the top 100 design blogs in the world and one of a handful specializing in the 21st century revolution in the way things are made. And here’s your chance to be a part of it.

Ponoko is looking for a new writer to contribute regularly to the blog. We need someone with design savvy, a heavy interest in digital manufacturing technologies and make-it-yourself culture, and the ability to do the English language some justice.

Writers are expected to research article topics on their own and take responsibility for editing and replying to comments. Previous blogging experience is preferred, but not a must. Some familiarity with Twitter would be nice, too. Photo-editing skills are a plus!

(more…)

Posted in Ponoko News by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

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Silversmith Sinead Buckney embraces Ponoko materials.

Encouraged by Moyou’s experience, jeweller Sinead Buckney decided to expand from working only with precious materials

What type of products do you make with Ponoko?

Mainly jewellery items, pendants, earrings, brooches and cuffs.  I have experimented with belts, place mats, a jewellery tree and would love to make wall pieces too!  (more…)

Posted in Design, Interviews, Thoughts + Opinions, Jewellery, Laser Cutting, Maker Stories, Yana Skaler by yana | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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Ponoko made product from Nick Taylor

Bodgit Films is a guerilla film-making project/collective “by people who have absolutely no idea what they’re doing.” But they knew they would need a camera. And thanks to these Golden Mean Calipers designed by Bodgit Films founder Nick Taylor, they made enough money to purchase a Canon EOS Rebel T2i.

Taylor used Ponoko to create the prototypes of his stainless steel, brass riveted calipers. (He’s using water jet cutting now.) As he writes in a recent post on the Bodgit blog “I was selling a couple of them a week, but then Make Magazine helped by featuring them in their blog – and in the last week they’ve generated enough income to buy a thing capable of doing this:”

Congratulations to Nick on a such a successful “bit of artistic gadgetry”. Help fund more New Zealand guerilla movies; buy your own Phi device in the Ponoko Showroom or Makers Market.

Posted in Functional Art + Objects, Kristen Turner, Maker Stories by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

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the do-it-yourself little computer-numerical-control mill

A couple of artists/educators out of Chicago have built a low cost, open-source, desktop CNC mill: the DIYLILCNC. And you can really see the educational expertise in the way these guys (Taylor Hokanson and Chris Reilly) have introduced the project. The simplicity and accessibility is just beautiful.

The website introduces what a CNC mill is, how it works, how much their DIYLILCNC costs, and how to get it made.

“The DIYLILCNC can be built for around $700. This cost includes all the stock hardware and sheet material used in construction. CAD files for custom laser-cut parts are distributed along with the plans. Anyone with access to a laser cutter can use these files to fabricate all the panel parts necessary for construction; those without ready laser-cutter access can use local or online laser-cutting services.

Plans and instructions for building the DIYLILCNC are distributed freely and intended for wide distribution and modification with few restrictions. The plans are formatted to facilitate easy fabrication, especially for beginners. The DIYLILCNC can be built by an individual, a student group, or a class. Besides being immensely fun, building the DIY LIL CNC is a great way to learn about motion control and CAD/CAM/CAE.”

WOW, right? If just reading that doesn’t make you want one, then visit the site. There’s a nice little video about the history of the project with a plot test demo using a pen in place of the router, a helpful forum, and a small gallery.

(Plus, I am just in love with how simple and perfect the DIYLILCNC website is. A technical drawing on some legal pad paper in the header with a nice CSS rollover to that classic computer neon green!)

I’m thinking this needs to find a home in the Ponoko showroom.

via SolidSmack

• previous posts on more great stuff from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

UPDATE 10 Jan 2010: There is now an Instructable and open source plans for making your own DIYLILCNC.

Posted in CNC Routing, Digital Fabrication, Kristen Turner, Laser Cutting, Technology, Tools + Apps by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, CNC Routing, App Gateway

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Best Downloadable Design Concept

Treehugger recently announced their Best of Green 2010 winners. 100K Garages has been named “Best Downloadabled Design Concept” in the Design + Architecture category. Props to Treehugger for recognizing over 200 amazing endeavors to make the world a greener place.

Check out these posts for more information on 100K Garages:

• 100K Garages Digital Making Network

• The Latest News on 100K Garages

Posted in Kristen Turner, Ponoko News by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

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Cool Things You Can Design Yourself

In a slide show atttached to a special report in Business Week on Thinking About Open Design by Roland Harwood and David Simoes-Brown, Ponoko gets a mention in Cool Things You Can Design Yourself suggesting Ponoko to be a perfect place to Design and Make your own furniture.

Of course as their reference image above illustrates, Ponoko is perfect for designing and making a diverse range of items from jewelry to cutlery, lamps to iPad stands, clocks to coathangers, the possibilities are endless. The article also mentions Makerbot, LEGO’s Design byME, Converse, Blank Label and others that straddle a broad spectrum of DIY from open 3D printing to cosmetic mass customization.

Harwood & Simoes-Brown are co-founders of 100%Open, an agency devoted to open innovation. Their article sites an example of their work using consumers to lead innovation with Virgin Atlantic which led to six social media-based projects including a taxi-sharing scheme for Virgin Atlantic customers and a Facebook application that links with the company’s “Flying Club.”
I am not sure their example is really open innovation or crowd sourcing as 100%Open and Virgin were gatekeepers to which social media based projects were supported, although I guess the ‘consumers’ could start their own facebook page?

What do you think defines Open Design? Cosmetic customization, your hand held through an ideation process or access to data and tools?

Posted in 3D Printing, Duann Scott, Laser Cutting, Maker Movement, Ponoko News by Duann | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing, Laser Cutting

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explorations in laser-cutting

Architecture student Sam De Boever recently chronicled the lessons learned at a five day workshop he attended entitled superModels. The workshop was organized by De Boever’s school to explore the potential of their recently purchased laser cutters and introduce augmented models. His posts are full of excellent photos, videos, comments, and really cool design experiments.

I really love how free-form the workshop seems. It’s nice to see such a playful and experimental approach to using a newly acquired technology. And throughout the process sketches, unfinished pieces, left-over materials, and prototypes are all treated with the same respect. Experience the superModels yourself at Sam De Boever’s blog.

via a tweet from our own Derek Elley

Posted in Architecture, Kristen Turner, Laser Cutting by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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Decoylab specializes in making of unique and decorative clocks for home. Their goal is to create quality, eco-friendly* products that are affordable, functional and beautiful.

The Bamboo Clock Collection features a range of animal and Kirie, Japanese paper cut inspired designs that all have a certain playful charm. Along with their range of clocks Decoylab also sell cute laser cut animal shaped jewelry such as the Rabbit Pin available in their Etsy Shop.

Posted in Duann Scott, Functional Art + Objects, Jewellery by Duann | Comments are off for this post

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