Metropolis II kinetic sculpture November 23

is this every boy’s dream come true?

Cars zipping around on tracks have a way of mesmerising boys of all ages.

Soon to make its way to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is Chris Burden’s Metropolis II installation. Hailed as a portrait of Los Angeles, this remarkable construction includes 1,200 custom-designed cars that move across 18 lanes; through scattered towers and buildings made of wood block, tiles and Lego.

An estimated 100,000 circuits are completed every hour by the cars as they relentlessly trace their routes around the track. There is an uncanny resemblance to a real freeway (traffic jams included) that is, according to Chris, “quite intense”.

Click through to see for yourself. (more…)

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

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3D Printed Water Pump November 23

This 3D printed pump really works!

Anyone who has ever tried to 3D print something mechanical will know that this pump is pretty impressive. Moving parts are a challenge in and of themselves, but a working mechanical device, especially something like a pump, is quite a feat.

This mini centrifugal pump is still a prototype, but it shows a lot of potential. If you want to try to improve it or use it in your own project, you can download it from Thingiverse as an open source 3D model. And now that Personal Factory 4 is up and running you can have it 3D printed with Ponoko in wide variety of materials!

Via Thingiverse Blog

Posted in 3D Printing, Downloadable, Taylor Gilbert by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

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Packaging that’s Pretty Enough to be the Present November 23

lasercut favor boxes

They say it’s the thought that counts, but it’s really all about presentation.

And these favor boxes from DIY Lasercut are so gorgeous that I wouldn’t care if there wasn’t a thing inside.

Designer Kat Gottlieb of KatBlu Studio creates all kinds of celebration cards and accessories for various manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.

But her prettiest designs, in my opinion, are available in her Etsy store — and for prices low enough to package the small gifts for everyone on your list.

Whether your looking for something seasonal or a little different, DIY Lasercut’s got ya covered.

{above: clockwise} 1. set of 8 double happiness lantern box $13.99 {} 2. elegant plaid box $2.15 {} 3. roses box $2.15 {} 4. set of 8 eiffel tower box $13.99 {} 5. moroccan gate fold $3.75

{below: clockwise} 1. judaica rectangle box $2.99 {} 2. snowflake box $1.78 {} 3. set of 8 poinsettia lantern box $24 {} 4. star of david lantern box $2.15 {} 5. set of 8 snowflake box $23.99

(more…)

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

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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Join us for the Bay Area December Ponoko Meetup November 22

Come talk Personal Factory 4 with us!Our final meetup for 2010 is going to be a blast, and we hope you can join us.

Tuesday 7th December, 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Mechanics’ Institute
4th Floor Meeting Room
57 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
(Less than 5 min walk from Montgomery St. BART)

RSVP HERE

Naturally we’re buzzing with excitement following the launch of Personal Factory 4, and we’re looking forward to brainstorming with you about the possibilities it opens up.

We’ll start with drinks and nibbles, and then at 6:40pm we’ll kick off with some presentations – including Dan Emery talking about his Exclamation Lamp which has become the product ambassador of Ponoko’s combined offering of laser-cutting, 3D printing and open source electronics.

Other speakers will be announced in the lead-up to the night, and we would like to invite you to bring along any Ponoko project you’ve been working on lately to present to the meetup.

We will also have a card cutting machine on-hand – if you’d like to get a small design cut-out on the spot during the evening, either email it through or bring it along on a flash drive.

We look forward to celebrating the close of the year with you, and raising a glass to new beginnings!

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

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The Great Google Ponoko Challenge! November 22

Google and Ponoko challenge YOU

To make it as easy as possible for you to jump in and take advantage of the new Personal Factory 4 (now with 3D printing), we created a Starter kit for Google SketchUp showing how to export a DAE design for 3D printing.

But we both think you can do waaaay better.

So Google SketchUp and Ponoko have teamed up to give away $3,776 worth of prizes to the people who can help us show the world “How to use Google SketchUp for Ponoko 3D printing.”

Not only can you win some super-fab prizes, but you’ll also be helping people all over the world take the step into creating 3D printed designs.

The grand prize winner will also have their ‘how to’ displayed on both the Google SketchUp and Ponoko websites.

We’re looking for an easy-to-follow guide on “How to use Google SketchUp for Ponoko 3D printing”

Your guide can use text, images, and/or video. To enter, just upload your guide to Instructables and share it with the “Ponoko SketchUp” account over there.

Importantly, the title of your Instructable (and any video) must be: “How to use Google SketchUp for Ponoko 3D printing”.

You can enter as many times as you like from anywhere in the world, but you’ve only got from now until 17th December 2010!

Submit an Instructable to enter now!
(I pledge to obey the competition rules.)

There are 3 prizes up for grabs:

Grand prize (worth $1,500+)
Gorge yourself on the whole cake:

(more…)

Posted in Contests + Competitions, Ponoko News by Ponoko Team | Comments are off for this post

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3D Printable Materials from Ponoko November 22

Material Monday: Durable plastic + Superfine plastic + Rainbow ceramic + Stainless steel + Gold plate

You may have heard, thanks to the new partnership between Ponoko and CloudFab, 3D Printing is in the house.

So here’s a look at the five materials available for 3D printed designs.

(more…)

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

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

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Laser Cut Artists November 21

The Laser Cutter Roundup — a weekly dose of laser-cut love: #4


Hey, Sam here again, collecting this week’s post from The Laser Cutter! We featured some amazing things this week!

Above is Jennifer Loiselle’s beautiful Beaton Gold Mirrod Earrings laser cut from acrylic…

After the jump: a TV, an LP, and some SP (sandpaper). (more…)

Posted in Art, Laser Cutting, Sam Tanis by Sam | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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Ponoko’s 2000th twitter follower November 21

Unfinished, for as long as it takes

His website has the catchy title Unfinished, and true to his word… conceptual artist Kurt Bigenho is still at it.

Aside from being a maker of interesting things, Kurt was also Ponoko’s 2000th twitter follower not too long ago. We were intrigued not only by what led him to Ponoko, but also how his subsequent experience with the Personal Factory influenced his own particular methodology.

Read on to find out what Kurt had to say when Josh got in touch.

(more…)

Posted in Art, Guy Blashki, Interviews, Thoughts + Opinions, Laser Cutting, Maker Stories by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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3D Printed Swirl Earrings November 20

Ponoko Product of the Week

Just two days after announcing Ponoko’s addition of 3D printing to our digital making services, we are already seeing some 3D printed designs in the showroom.

This week’s product of the week is a pair of earrings with four stacked, swirling spheres designed by Helsinki based Pekka Salokannel.

They come 3D printed in durable white plastic for just $20.00. (Note: these earrings to not include the hardware hooks.)

Posted in 3D Printing, Jewellery, Kristen Turner, Product of the Week by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

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A treasure trove of modern design November 20

Impressive photo stream of design icons

If you’re feeling a little stuck on where to head with your next design, how about jumping onto flickr where user afghtiga has been steadily uploading an incredible collection of design icons.

There is a definite leaning towards products from the 1960s and 70s, as well as a particular fetish for gentlemanly wristwatches. You’ll also catch a few more recent industrial design goodies… and even a burst of architecture here and there. He is an architect, after all. This is an archive well worth immersing yourself in if design tickles you in even the smallest of ways.

What a fantastic opportunity to get inspired before firing up your Personal Factory 4 here on Ponoko!

Via Engadget

Posted in Architecture, Design, Functional Art + Objects, Furniture + Lighting, Guy Blashki, Jewellery, Technology by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

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