MakerBot Printable Transistors December 27

Is there anything the MakerBot can’t do?

The Unicorn Pen Plotter is a versatile addition for anyone’s MakerBot.
Mr.Kim and John Sarik saw the magic in the Unicorn, and when they put their heads together some interesting developments soon emerged.

Presented at Botacon 0 was a work-in-progress demonstration of their project where transistors are being plotted using sub-micron silver inks.

I think we have a working process in hand. Now it is only a matter of engineering to refine it.

Does this mean we are one step closer to a self-replicating robot revolution? Hopefully the Botacon motto of Robots for a better future will still hold firm.

Kim and Sarik’s remarkable development is paving the way for DIY enthusiasts to print out their own circuitry and hardware for electronic devices. The maker movement sure looks to be in for quite a ride as more people explore the potential of these technologies.

You too can be a part of building the future now with a MakerBot from Ponoko.

Via Thingiverse

Posted in Digital Fabrication, Electronics + Robotics, Guy Blashki, Maker Movement, 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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A Very Retro Laser Cutter Round Up December 26

The Laser Cutter Roundup — a weekly dose of laser-cut love: #9


Hey, Sam here again, collecting this week’s post from The Laser Cutter!

Above is a laser cut paper experiment from Peter Baldes. Can you believe it’s made from only four different pieces?

After the jump: fashion, a stamp, cubes, and a calendar… (more…)

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

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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Videos From the DigitalCrafting Symposium December 25

Videos are online of all the presentations from the first DigitalCrafting Symposium.

DigitalCrafting, a research network focusing on the use of digital tools for architecture, recently hosted their first symposium in Copenhagen.

Fortunately for those of us who were not there, they have uploaded all nine of the presentations for anyone to watch for free. They are 20-30 minutes each, so there should be plenty to keep you busy during holiday downtime.

Via Rhino News

Posted in Design, Taylor Gilbert, Technology by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

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Morphed Bracelet December 25

Ponoko Product Of The Week

With Ponoko’s Personal Factory 4 now offering 3d printing services, things are becoming more and more interesting in the Ponoko Showroom.

This week we feature the Morphed Bracelet from design duo Nervous.
The organic cell-like structure is becoming a bit of a signature element for Jesse and Jessica, whose respective backgrounds in Mathematics and Biology (amongst other things) places them uniquely qualified to incorporate nature-inspired patterns into their eye-catching jewellery designs.

Available from the Ponoko Showroom in 3d printed Stainless Steel, the $120 Morphed Bracelet is a unique design that is sure to complement your own wrist’s angles, curves and indeed cells.

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

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

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Polynome 5000 December 24

RGB monome with a nixie tube display

For those not familiar with the Monome, it’s a simplified, pixellated interface used principally as a controller for experimental electronic music.

As a long-time fan of both electronic music and DIY projects, Colin Mann put his considerable creative powers to the test when he set out to build the Polynome 5000.

And what a musical delight it turned out to be!

(more…)

Posted in Electronics + Robotics, Guy Blashki, Inventions, Laser Cutting, Maker Stories by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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Data Visualization & Digital Fabrication December 22

explorations in data-fab

Students in the Data Visualisation and Design course at the University of Canberra, Australia created “tangible data representations realised with digital fabrication.”

Natalia Monroy, Subyeal Pasha and Garth Elvy worked together on table mats and coasters that depict forest area and deforestation in Mexico, Pakistan, and Australia.

The designs were created using Processing and lasercut with Ponoko.

(more…)

Posted in 3D Printing, Functional Art + Objects, Kristen Turner, Laser Cutting, Maker Stories by Kristen Turner | Comments are off for this post

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

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Inventor Demonstrates Safety Saw With His Finger December 22

How strongly do you believe in what you make?

Every inventor offers promises and guarantees to convince people to buy their products, but how many would stick their finger in a table saw? That’s exactly what the inventor of the SawStop did.

This incredible device uses a capacitance sensor to distinguish wood from your finger. Then, a metal brake stops the blade so fast you only get a scratch. Watch the video to see how it works. If you just want to see him put his finger into the table saw, fast forward to around 4:00.

See more great ideas in the Inventions category.

Via Make

Posted in Hardware, Inventions, Taylor Gilbert by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

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Ponoko-sponsored Events December 21

A few local (NZ) events that Ponoko has sponsored in the last few months.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4nitsirk/5213879502/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mangee/4681072899/

Kiwicon4 was a by hackers for hackers convention held in November.  As you can probably guess, this event was all about hacking.  Ponoko contributed a stack of tags engraved with the Kiwicon sheep icon.  Mmmm lamb.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4nitsirk/5213879502/lightbox/

Madebydan all time favourite customisable spinning tops were transformed into interactive prizes for the Annual Wellingtonista Awards.  Wellingtonista is all about celebrating the best of Wellington’s events and places.  And those best must be absolutely fantastic, given that Wellington is this year’s coolest capital city in the world.

Photo curtecy of Jo Hubris

We like jam.  The sweet kind with fruit in it.   The people behind the Jam Off jam making competition are clearly impartial to the odd spoonful or ten.  They also like the Ponoko made jam splatter badges.  They are just like the real thing without the mess.   Mmmm jam.

Posted in Events, Laser Cutting, Yana Skaler by yana | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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Announcing the Google + Ponoko Challenge Winner December 21

the winning Instructable!

Congratulations to Ed Lewis, aka Fungus Amungus, who created an all-around fantastic Instructable for using Google SketchUp with Ponoko 3D printing to win the Google + Ponoko Challenge.

His prize package is worth $1,500 and includes a Google SketchUp Pro license, a 12 month subscription to Ponoko Prime, plus a $537 Ponoko digital making voucher.

In the Instructable, Lewis walks you through 7 easy steps to go from a simple cube in SketchUp to a 3D printed, level-3 Menger sponge. (Shown below in Ponoko’s durable plastic.)

When asked what he likes about SketchUp, Lewis answered “I like that I can quickly jump in and get a 3D rendering of an idea out in a few minutes. For getting an idea across to someone, it often takes less time to make a model than it does to describe it verbally. You can quickly move on to the stage where you’re trying out several different variations, which is great because that’s the fun stuff.

I’ve tried a couple of other 3D programs and they’re pretty amazing, but for my purposes SketchUp is my go to program. Having a free version means I can share ideas with anyone else in the world. I can push a project as far as I want to, put up the file, and then see someone else take it even further. That’s awesome.”

(more…)

Posted in 3D Printing, 3D Printing Tutorial, Ponoko News, Tutorials + Making Help by Ponoko Team | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

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24 Hours Left to Enter — Win Making Things Move + $25 Ponoko Making Voucher December 21

Just a reminder that we’re giving away three copies of a new how-to book called Making Things Move: DIY Mechanisms for Inventors, Hobbyists, and Artists.

Each winner will also receive a $25 making voucher* from Ponoko which you could also print out at home and use as a bookmark, so this is a really good deal.

Time is running out. Make your move now.
Leave a comment on the original announcement telling us your idea for a project that can be made using Ponoko and incorporates movement.

* good for laser cutting only

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

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