Dot Folded Furniture June 23

Felix Klingmüller’s minimalist furniture.

“Dot” by Felix Klingmüller has only four parts; there are three wooden legs and a piece of sheet metal that acts as both the seat or tabletop and the holder for the legs. This stool/table is about as stripped-down and minimal as it gets; there isn’t anything left to remove unless you want to sit on the floor. While there are small holes in the triangular leg holders, presumably for nails, they look like they’re more for extra security than to perform an essential function.

We have previously covered folded steel furniture by Ran Amitai and MIO Culture. The pieces by Amitai are particularly similar.

More images after the jump.

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Posted in Furniture + Lighting, Taylor Gilbert by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

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Melt Yourself New Bones June 22

Digitally Manufactured Bone Implants

laser melt bone implant

We are used to digital manufacturing techniques for making stuff that goes outside the body. But what happens when you have a hole in your head? Research coming out of Germany recently announced the development of a breakthough system for producing degradable bone implants, particularly for filling bone defects in craniofacial surgery. The technique uses a scan of the affected area and then selective laser melting (SLM) to create a perfectly fitting implant. The implant is made from “Resobone”, a porous material that adjacent bone can grow into and is then absorbed as the surrounding bone grows.

One particular advantage of this process is that it can be mere hours between obtaining imaging of the patient’s anatomy to having an implant ready to go. Precision is achieved through computer tomography of the patient, and the SLM laser that is able to be manipulated down to accuracies within 80-100 micrometers. This is the first time that custom fitting degradable implants have been successfully demonstrated.

What does this mean for the patients?

  • - fewer operations
  • - faster procedures
  • - reduced recovery times
  • - eliminate the need to exchange long-term implants (particularly for growing children)

So, from the bare-bones DIY basics to the latest laser technology – digital manufacturing continues to push the boundaries. Much has changed since our last post on bone implants and printed skulls. Who knows, perhaps other projects such as the laser cut brain will someday inspire even more intricate manufactured implants.

Via Medgadget

Posted in 3D Printing, Digital Fabrication, Guy Blashki, Technology by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

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

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Biomimetic Butterflies June 22

Laser cut paper butterflies that flap their wings when you approach.

Biomimetic Butterflies was an installation by the barbarian group of butterflies laser cut out of paper. The installation combined laser cutting, the open source programming language Processing, open source Arduino hardware, and a Mac Mini with a webcam.

The wing patterns were designed with Processing using algorithmic design techniques. Essentially, the patterns are generated mathematically using random numbers within user-defined constraints. The barbarian group made five “families” of wing patterns using five types of algorithms–voronoi, flow lines, intersecting lines, cracking, and circle packing.

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Posted in Art, Digital Fabrication, Laser Cutting, Open Source, Programming, Taylor Gilbert, Technology by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

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

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Biotech Tools June 21

Xerox machine for DNA

Tito Jankowski from Pearl Biotech is a creator of Biotech tools — Smarter tools for the modern genetic explorer

Where are you based?

I’m living in sunny San Francisco. I moved out here in March to get closer to the garage biotech scene, and have loved every minute of it. Plus, I’m 2 blocks from a small farmer’s market on Sundays, so I’m always loading up on danishes, pasta, and awesome veggies.

I’m working with Josh Perfetto on the OpenPCR project — a xerox machine for DNA. We just launched a Kickstarter project

How did you come across Ponoko?

Well, there are a lot of people out in the world who really love the idea of what you’ve created with Ponoko. I think I heard about Ponoko first from Mac Cowell, the founder of DIYbio. It sounded like a cool service, and the OpenPCR project was perfect for laser cutting.

How did you used to make products before Ponoko?

About a year ago, I started out going to TAP plastic every week, but soon hit a ceiling. It’s pretty good, but the idea of taking a digital file in there and having them bang it out just isn’t going to happen. The project I was working on at the time (Open hardware gel electrophoresis) required crazy tolerances, ~0.001″ and TAP could only do 1/16″ so that was around the time I “graduated” from TAP. I came across two wonderful shops in the Bay Area and they’ve been working closely with me since. Problem is, their focus is more manufacturing, so when Josh Perfetto and I started the OpenPCR project started in March I knew I needed to try something new.

How would you describe your creative process

With open hardware for biotech, we’re making new and better tools for a completely new type of scientist. Sketching in a notebook, and Google sketchup and cardboard and foam board. Sketchup is awesome because it’s fairly straightforward to get into an Illustrator file to send to Ponoko.


Have you been surprised by anything in the Ponoko process: positives/negatives?

I took my OpenPCR project into TAP plastics and the guy there said he would charge $400 for something like that (my first birch prototype was $50 from Ponoko).

Do you have any tips for other users?

If you get stuck — write for help. My first night with Ponoko took 5 hours, I just wanted to make a simple box. (As a beginner, Inkwell was really frustrating — I use Sketchup+Illustrator now). I gave up and wrote for help, and Josh walked me through every step I needed to get my box uploaded to ponoko for a price quote.

http://openpcr.org/

www.pearlbiotech.com

Posted in Digital Fabrication, Interviews, Thoughts + Opinions, Laser Cutting, Maker Stories, Open Source, Technology, Yana Skaler by yana | Comments are off for this post

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

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July Competitions Listing June 21

The best design competition list on the Internet.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• Felicity: Change Your City, Change Your Life — 31 July 2010
The international competition of graphic design is an opportunity for graphic artists from all over the world to express, manifest, symbolize and imagine solutions for a better city capable of improving the lifestyle of its inhabitants. via Rebellion

• Pocket Luck — 31 August 2010
I don’t know what that picture is of, but I really like this one: “In a global context of crisis characterized by economic instability and by the inefficiency or inadequacy of the political world to resolve the major social issues, in which the lack of attention to the value of the individual and the environment emerges, the following is requested: the design of a pocket lucky charm/talisman to carry in all situations that require a vibration of “positivity”, of altruistic courage, of critical spirit, of creativity and of necessary irony.” There’s an even a special prize for the youngest designer selected.

This competition is only open to designers living in the following countries: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. via Art News Bulletin


• Your Curious Story — 30 September 2010
There are no boundaries to this call for creativity using paper from www.curiouscollection.com Your paper creation should tell a “curious story” and could win you a variety of technological delights including Macbook pros, iPads, Wacom tablets, Adobe products and more. Open to students and professionals.
via Design You Trust

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

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We Love Red TINT Acrylic June 21

Material Monday: paint the town red TINT

Now for a material that is available across the current Ponoko materials catalog — red tint acrylic. A lot of people gravitate towards the brightest, shiniest colors when it comes to acrylic. But personally, I prefer sophistication over fun. (I’m no fun.) So if you’re looking for a way to make your plastic design a bit less tweenie, but don’t want to be a total chromophobe, try out the red tint.

This particular color is a deeper garnet red than the cherry red acrylic also offered. Sue Tyler, designer behind the Super Very jewelry label, calls it a “ruby red” in a blog post she wrote devoted to the red tint acrylic:

“One of the new materials I’ve been playing around with at Ponoko is their red tinited acrylic. It’s a subtle warm red that isn’t too shouty, I’m not big on shouty colours for my jewellery, or for the jewellery I currently make.” (Sue debuted her latest ruby red designs at Craft 2.0 in Wellington, NZ)

Red tint acrylic is available from the US and NZ Ponoko hubs, Vectorealism in Italy, Formulor in Germany, and under the name Red TRANSPARENT at RazorLAB in the UK.

Featured at top, designs in red tint:
Digits Calendar from Digits; Transdot Pendant by Colin Francis; Alphabet Soup Necklaces from Taprobane; Orchid Pendant from Marmalade Park; card stands from igDesign Lab; Vambits from Drownspire.

Posted in Kristen Turner, Materials, Materials Catalog by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

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Fab Lab House June 20

Form Follows Energy: CNC + Laser Cut Solar Home

solar house fab lab

What’s the biggest thing you have ever laser cut?  We’ve seen examples of digital manufacturing at the smallest of scales through to explorations with serious construction materials. Laser cutting and CNC goes large in Spain where the challenge of building the cheapest solar home in the world has been tackled head-on by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia and MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms.

laser cut fab lab solar house

This 75 m2 house is designed around the needs of a family of four, and thanks to clever use of both CNC milled and laser cut wood for the main structural components it is possible to assemble the entire house in only fifteen days.

IAAC’s vision from the start was to achieve a new model of industrialization rather than simply resorting to mass standardization. By utilizing new production techniques and the latest in digital machines, IAAC saw each product being unique and adaptable to a specific set of issues.

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Posted in Architecture, CNC Routing, Digital Fabrication, Guy Blashki, Laser Cutting, Technology by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

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Stefan Schoning’s Folder Chair June 20

Stefan Schöning’s chair using the principles of origami.

Folder is a concept project by Stefan Schöning made out of folded polypropylene (plastic) sheeting. It has been exhibited in museums and shows around the world including the National Design Museum in New York, Colette in Paris, and 100% Design in London. Folder is Schöning’s first project for Polyline, a design label he launched for his personal projects

We have previously covered chairs made from folded sheeting here and here.

Via: designerhk

Posted in Design, Furniture + Lighting, Taylor Gilbert by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

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Animals & Elegance at Art Star Craft Bazaar June 19

12 makers from Philadelphia’s recent craft show

After highlighting jewelry maker Maria Eife’s experience at Philadelphia’s Art Star Craft Bazaar, I decided to check out the other vendors from the show. The Bazaar juried in over 100 crafters from all over the US. Twelve  jewelry, fashion, home decor, stationery and art makers after the jump.

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Posted in Events, Fashion + Textiles, Functional Art + Objects, Jewellery, Kristen Turner by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

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From Craft Show Novice to Philadelphia Art Star June 18

Maria Eife takes “Binary” to the Bazaar

It was her first big craft-show experience — the Art Star Craft Bazaar, a juried craft show on the Philadelphia waterfront. With support from a Ponoko Maker’s Grant, jewelry designer Maria Eife brought her “Binary” line of felt necklaces and bracelets to the outdoor bazaar.

“I decided to keep it simple and focus on one line of work,” said Eife. “The grant enabled me to order more of each style. Since I only had a few designs I was presenting, I wanted to have a lot of them!”

And it was a good thing she did. With a mention on the Martha Stewart craft blog and sunny skies over Philly; her first craft show was sure to be a success.  ”The reaction from the crowd was great,” Eife wrote back to the Ponoko team.

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Posted in Events, Jewellery, Kristen Turner, Laser Cutting, Maker Stories by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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