A chess set laser cut out of acrylic with free templates.

This laser cut acrylic chess set was made by peter_ on Thingiverse and he generously provided the templates for anyone to use or modify.

Instructions

Place the grid pieces on a 12×12 inch ~4.5mm sheet of acrylic in an 8×8 grid for the chess board itself. Because the acrylic glue can leave bubbles between pieces, I just left these unglued and loose. I like this a lot more, and makes it look a lot more haphazard and visually interesting.

Using two of your favorite colours, cut out two sets of chess pieces and grid squares. Depending on your cut quality, the chess pieces may press-fit together (though hopefully not too tight, or they may crack), or you may have to use a little acrylic glue to seal them together.

See other examples of laser cut chess sets here and here, and then try making your own with Ponoko.

Via: Make Via: Makerbot Industries

Posted in Downloadable, Laser Cutting, Taylor Gilbert, Toys + Games by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

Related posts:

1. 

   Lynne MacLachlan’s Dynamic Laser Cut Jewelry
2. 

   Laser-Cut Connect Four
3. 

   Laser Cut Brain
4. 

   President Obama’s Inaugural Laser Use

Maker Faire 2010: Interview with Ponoko’s Dan Emery

What event to be a part of!  With over 600 makers and a constant stream of eager enthusiasts, Maker Faire Bay Area  2010 was full of fun and excitement.  Thanks to the efforts of Dan Emery and his gang, the Ponoko stand was a real hit with everyone from bright-eyed first timers through to seasoned makers.

One of the highlights had to have been the Vambit construction area (pictured above), where the public were invited to put together their own unique little lasercut critters.   To see the good natured jostling as people searched for just the right panels from trays of pre-cut components was a true testimony to the endearing toothy grin of Drownspire’s Vambits.

The following interview with Dan should give you a few insights into what it was like not only at the Ponoko stand but also to be a part of the broader experience of Maker Faire 2010.

(more…)

Posted in Events, Guy Blashki, Interviews, Thoughts + Opinions, Maker Movement by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Related posts:

1. 

   Phil Torrone’s favourites from Maker Faire
2. 

   Some Assembly Required
3. 

   “Ten Rules for Maker Businesses” by Wired’s Chris Anderson — Rule #9
4. 

   “Ten Rules for Maker Businesses” by Wired’s Chris Anderson — Rule #2

A charmingly simple flat-pack DIY rotational moulder.

I spotted this flat-pack roto moulder from Studio Myfirst on Core77 and was so intrigued I decided to do an interview with one of the designers, Andy. Rotational moulders are usually huge, enormously expensive machines that are used to make hollow castings so this device is amazing in many different ways. As I mentioned, it flat-packs, but it’s also elegantly simple, operated by human power, and for sale for only about US$320. Oh yeah, it actually works.

Check out previous coverage of rotationally moulded shoes along with another example of a DIY roto moulder.

This interview has been edited slightly for clarity.

How is the roto molder manufactured? Your site says that the roto moulder “flat packs.” Is it cut from a single sheet of plywood?

“The machines are CNC routed from a single sheet of birch plywood, a single sheet of 8×4 allows us to cut 8 machines with minimal waste. A lot of the detail you see on the base of the machine is there to make this possible. Other processes were used including laser cutting (pulley guards) and CNC Lathe (All rods, counter weights and grip knobs) with around 80% of all parts being manufactured specifically for our machines.”

Your video and images all seem to show the roto moulder with one mold. Does this come with the moulder? Can it also be used with other moulds?

(more…)

Posted in CNC Routing, Digital Fabrication, Hardware, Interviews, Thoughts + Opinions, Inventions, Taylor Gilbert by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

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

Related posts:

1. 

   Rotational moulded shoe by Marloes ten Bhomer
2. 

   Ten Best Articles on CNC Milling
3. 

   July Plywood
4. 

   Eureka Light

Shopbot CNC Robot used to create steampunk irising peephole, wins Makerfaire Editor’s Choice

Emerging from the Shopbot forums and recently featured on Make: Online comes this brilliantly executed mechanical iris. Constructed from brass and wood, the polished outcome we see here was the result of a series of trials made possible by the versatile Shopbot CNC router.

The development of this peephole, which will apparently one day be fixed to a nautical-themed door, can be traced through the forum thread started by the guy behind the iris, Chris Schaie.

If you look closely you can see that the large brass ring in the final version is constructed from five segments. Clever techniques like this help to save on material costs and manufacturing efficiency. You’ll find many more tips and tricks for all manner of making scenarios in the Ponoko guides and FAQs.

Chris’ efforts have spawned a string of followup projects such as the acrylic prototype in this video, but perhaps the most engaging story comes from the guy who got so excited after reading a post about the iris on boingboing  that he whipped up a cardboard version… using flower pots for circle templates.

Outcomes with mechanical or kinetic elements have a charm all of their own, and this one was a well deserved recipient of the coveted Editor’s Blue Ribbon at Maker Faire 2010. Would you make an iris out of brass, like Chris did? Maybe the nautical steampunk theme doesn’t float your boat… luckily there is so much scope in the Ponoko materials library! And for those keen on a mechanical iris of their own – but can’t get their head around the finer details – remember there is always Ponoko’s request system where others can jump on board to help make your dreams come true.

source: boingboing

via Make

Posted in CNC Routing, Functional Art + Objects, Guy Blashki by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: CNC Routing

Related posts:

1. 

   Mechanical Iris Submarine Door
2. Why build an electromechanical computer?

   3d printed mechanical counter
3. 

   Ten Best Articles on CNC Milling
4. ShopBot need your input to let them know

   What Would You Want in a Small ShopBot

35 chances at fame, fortune, and free stuff

Every week I go through my Google Alerts for “design competition” and “design contest” and put together the monthly competition post for Ponoko. The list is getting pretty long; so for those of you who like a little curation with your content — introducing Editor’s Picks. With pictures! Enjoy.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Food Design — 15 June 2010
Design with food; design for food; and a tasting kit design: this is probably the coolest concept competition on this entire list. This makes the pick list just for that image: prosciutto juxtaposed with a linen sheet. Cured meat and textiles are both really my thing

• Sukkah City — register by 1 July 2010
Biblical in origin, the sukkah is an ephemeral, elemental shelter, erected for one week each fall, in which it is customary to share meals, entertain, sleep, and rejoice. This competition will re-imagine the Sukkah, develop new methods of material practice and parametric design, and propose radical possibilities for traditional design constraints in a contemporary urban site. Twelve finalists will be selected by a panel of celebrated architects, designers, and critics to be constructed in a visionary village in Union Square Park from September 19-21, 2010.

• Robot Design Competition — 1 September 2010
Anyone is welcome to create a social robot for the year 2020, an age where intelligent social robots built with consilience will grey the boundaries of human and machine interaction. Submission can be conceptual or work-in-progress concepts/prototypes.

• UNESCO Award of Excellence for Handicrafts Logo Design — 7 September 2010
Design a logo representing the UNESCO Award of Excellence for Handicrafts program. Through providing training and support services, the program aims to help strengthen sustainable livelihoods. Another guiding principle of the Award of Excellence program is to encourage the linking of traditional skills with innovation so that handicrafts remain relevant, valuable and marketable in today’s changing world.

(more…)

Posted in Contests + Competitions, Kristen Turner by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

Related posts:

1. 

   Open Design Chairs — Download, Fabricate, Assemble and Sit
2. 

   Design Ignites Change
3. 

   Machinate: Shapeways — 3D Printing to the Public
4. 

   Ten Great Examples of Ingenuity in Contemporary Product Design

A little more detail on our Italian connection for existing members
Now that Vectorealism has come on board with an independent making hub in Italy, you’ll notice a few changes when you log into your personal factory. Nothing major – but we’d thought we’d cover them off anyway just to be super thorough.

The addition of a new country flag
When you log into your personal factory, you’ll continue to see your existing products with a US, New Zealand or German flag. This flag tells you where your product will be made and shipped from. When you select Vectorealism as your preferred making hub and upload new designs to be made there, they will be auto tagged with an Italian flag.

A new set of terms and conditions
If you want to make and ship from Vectorealism, all you need to do is change your default country preference to Italy. Set it and forget it.

But remember, when you select Vectorealism (or Formulor in Germany) to make and deliver your stuff, you are contracting with them direct, and not with Ponoko. You will need to agree to Vectorealism’s terms of use, which are unique to them.

A reminder for Prime subscribers
Ponoko Prime is limited to items made at Ponoko USA and Ponoko NZ hubs, but not the independent European hubs. As a Ponoko Prime user, you will pay the same rate for their services as everyone else.

It goes without saying, but we love our Prime members (a lot). While we’ve figured out the bones of a new solution for you, we’re a little way off from implementing it because we’re so busy getting these new making hubs live. But we will, promise.

The effect of selecting Italy as your country preference
You’ll notice two things if you choose to change your country preference to Italy:

1) Your EXISTING products will be tagged with a US, NZ or German flag
Your existing products will continue to be made and shipped from whatever was your preferred hub at the time you uploaded them. This is because the materials have been selected from the US, NZ or German materials catalog.

2) Your NEW products will be tagged with an Italian flag
Your new products will be made and shipped from Vectorealism’s Italian hub. This is because the materials have been selected from the Vectorealism materials catalog.

USD currency
For the moment everything continues in USD – all making, materials and shipping in the EU are priced in USD. So while Ponoko USA and Ponoko NZ charge US$2 per minute for making, Formulor charges US$2.73 per minute, and Vectorealism charges US$2.50 per minute.

Now 4 materials catalogs to choose from
Ponoko shows the USA materials catalog by default. You can view the other catalogs by using the US/NZ/Germany/Italy toggle button at the top right hand side of the materials catalog.

New shipping rates
The simple rule is – the shorter the distance something travels, the lower the shipping cost (and lower the carbon footprint).

Currently if you live next door to one of our making hubs or one of the new independent hubs your shipping cost will be the lowest possible. If you live some distance from one of these hubs, the cost will be higher.

For those in Europe, the addition of Vectorealism’s Italian hub and Formulor’s German hub means that shipping rates to Italy and Germany are fantastic. Rates to other countries in Continental Europe are much better than they were before these independent hubs came on board.

The new rates to the UK are much lower than those from Ponoko’s US hub, but are comparable to those from Ponoko’s NZ hub. This is because we are still subsidizing shipping from NZ to the UK. We will continue to do this until a UK making hub opens and local shipping rates are available.

In all these cases, remember that shipping costs are controlled by shipping providers – not Ponoko and not Formulor or Vectorealism. That’s why our goal is to connect digital fabricators as close to you as possible. First Wellington NZ, then San Francisco USA, then Berlin Germany, and now Milan Italy.

For those in other countries, there are more hubs coming, and your location might be next …

Want to get making?

Check out the special $1 per minute offer from Vectorealism – it ends midnight May 31st 2010 !!

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

Related posts:

Laser cut and laser engraved profiles of a brain.

yksong on Flickr made this model of a brain by laser cutting and laser engraving profiles onto clear acrylic. When stacked they suggest a 3-Dimensional image of a brain suspended inside the acrylic. The profiles can also be individually removed from the stack.

How else can you use this application of laser cutting and engraving? Perhaps a pendant made by stringing laser engraved sections on a cord? What if the outside, laser cut form was one shape and the inside, engraved form was another? Try something with Ponoko Make.

Be sure to check out the posts on How to Improve Your Engraving Results, Part 1 and Part 2.

Via: The Laser Cutter

Posted in Functional Art + Objects, Laser Cutting, Taylor Gilbert by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

Related posts:

1. 

   Incredible Laser Engraved Belt
2. 

   Laser Engraving and Processing
3. 

   Creating Great Laser-Cut Designs
4. 

   Laser Cut Record

Solid Storage Set in Stone

Now this is a seriously weighty approach to data storage. Making great use of one of the more accessible DIY techniques – casting – RCA student Shu-Chun Hsiao has merged the casting of concrete with the world of high-tech products. We have previously seen concrete combined with steel to produce elegant jewellery. The outcome here may not appear quite as refined, yet the rugged presence of the Memory Weight does well to set it apart from your everyday USB storage device.

In a whimsical twist, the volume of data storage which is branded into each unit actually corresponds to the physical weight of the block.

Challenges to portability aside, this may be one of the most interesting twists in USB storage since the ever so clever USB eraser.

Via Yanko

Posted in Electronics + Robotics, Functional Art + Objects, Guy Blashki, Technology by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Related posts:

1. 

   Freeform Construction: Concrete Printing
2. 

   3d: The future of keys
3. 

   3D Print a Building
4. 

   Silicone Placemats from Modern-Twist

Material Monday: Fancy acrylics, colorful felts, and textured woods.

If there’s anything more interesting than what stuff people are making, it’s the stuff people are making things from. This year’s ICFF was all about returning to tried and true materials and making them better than ever.

Material ConneXion presented an array of materials from their compendious materials library. Their Garmento recycled denim panels received the ICFF Editors Award for Best New Material. Online access to Material ConneXion’s library is available for $250 a year, and you can contact the company for on-site access to their physical archive in New York.

3form debuted their Ditto and Gecko ranges alongside the latest additions to their Varia line of acrylic paneling (which you should really check out). Ditto is a modular partition system that snaps together to allow for easy customization. Click here to read more about 3form’s three-dimensional surfaces showcased at 2009’s NeoCon.

Several companies delivered beautiful acrylics ranging from shimmering, glass-like blocks to incredible faux stone patterns. Sublime Living had four adventurous collections of acrylic surfaces. The nebulous colors and textures reminded me a lot of the digitally printed fashions from the spring runways. (To clarify though, all of the acrylics from Sublime Living are individually made by hand painting and pouring. They are not digitally printed.) I would love to see some laser-cut designs from their Alchemy or Kismet materials show above.

More drama after the jump.

(more…)

Posted in 3D Printing, Events, Kristen Turner, Materials by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

Related posts:

1. 

   Ten Super Cool Materials for Creative Design
2. 

   Make your Valentine Meaningful with the Right Material
3. We’ve done all of the hard work fo

   Request your own materials
4. 

   3D Printable Materials from Ponoko

Laser cutting, digital textile printing, and CNC milling.

One of the prevailing themes at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair was an individualized sense of character for each object. It’s no surprise then that several of the smaller labels and independent designers were utilizing rapid and digital fabrication tools to create their lines. But the key was to push beyond the straight-off-the-machine look.

UK based textile designer Lorna Syson combined digital textile printing and traditional screen printing with laser-cutting for a sculptural take on florals. Although digital tools are involved in the design process, most of her designs — like her giant dahlia wall blossom — are constructed by hand.

Sisters Sael and Micol Bartolucci formed Isotrope Design just a year ago. Isotrope also takes a sculptural approach to transforming inspiration from the natural world, using CNC milling and laser engraving to create topographically influenced furniture designs.

As you can see, another prevalent theme at ICFF was an appreciation for natural materials and designs that were environmentally harmonious, both in the manufacturing process and the aesthetic. But a hint of the glamour of boom-time design was still around in the form of tasteful metallics.

(more…)

Posted in CNC Routing, Design, Digital Fabrication, Events, Fashion + Textiles, Functional Art + Objects, Furniture + Lighting, Kristen Turner, Laser Cutting by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

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

Related posts:

1. 

   Fall 2010 Fashion Trends
2. 

   Explorations in Digital Fabrication by Arthur Hash
3. 

   Food Meets Digital Fabrication — 3D Printed Turkey and More!
4. 

   Burn. Copy. Share. the digital revolution in design.