Intricate sculpture that leaps from the pages

In a stunning follow-up to his award-winning 360-degree laser cut book, Japanese architect Yusuke Oono has produced a Christmas-themed version just in time for the festive season.

This delicate, intricate artwork opens from a seemingly traditional book to form a 360 degree, 3d diorama within the pages. The original laser cut book deservedly won Oono the You Fab 2012 laser cutting contest in Tokyo and this next version is just as impressive.

To produce the paths for the laser cutter, CAD programs were used to create a 3D landscape that is then sliced by rotating the plane around a central point.

(more…)

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

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting

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Learn about microcontrollers without using breadboards

The Arduino system has done much to help introduce makers both young and old to the world of DIY electronics. Much lauded for its remarkable versatility and ease of use, all it takes are a few components and you’re on your way to new and exciting programming pleasures.

For those just starting out who find breadboards and wires a little daunting, the Arduino Esplora is a hand-held unit already fitted with a number of sensors, controllers and connections all ready to go right out of the box.

“…a ready-to-use, easy-to-hold controller that lets you explore the infinite possibilities you have in the world of Arduino, without having to deal with breadboards or soldering. Shaped like a game controller, it’s designed to be used out of the box without extra parts since it comes with many sensors and actuators already on it.”

Built around the same core as the popular Arduino Leonardo, the Esplora boasts an accelerometer, microphone, analog joystick, button array, light sensor, temperature sensor, linear potentiometer and audio buzzer. Although it lacks the facility to connect extra components like we are used to seeing with Arduino shields, there are two TinkerKit inputs and outputs that will enable further expansion.

Additional modules such as LCD displays are in the works, and knowing the Arduino community, it won’t be long before there is a whole host of enhancements available. Eager beavers can get their hands on an Arduino Esplora right now for under €42.

Arduino Esplora via Engadget

Posted in Electronics + Robotics, Guy Blashki, Hardware by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

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Indiegogo campaign spreads the word about DIY digital manufacturing

What exactly does it take to be crowned the king of CNC? Amongst those jostling for Regal top honors is the prolific and wildly enthusiastic Jon Cantin, a fellow you may recall as the guy behind WoodMarvels, now known as CNCKing.com.

Jon has launched an Indiegogo campaign to help make Volume 4 of his CNC book series available to a wider audience. It draws on many years of experience making children’s toys using the distributed manufacturing models offered by companies such as Ponoko.

This book contains all the knowledge I wish I had access to all those years back… if you want to learn how to design using a CNC table router or laser cutter, you must add this book to your library!

Beyond selling a few books, a broader goal of the campaign is to encourage more kids and educators to embrace the potential that CNC machines have to change peoples’ lives. Jon imagines a day when children ask Santa for a CNC machine so that they can build their own toys.

Learn more about the campaign and pledge your support at Indiegogo.

Posted in CNC Routing, Guy Blashki, Laser Cutting, Maker Movement, Toys + Games by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: Laser Cutting, CNC Routing

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Artist wires his brain up to CNC machine… and thinks of nothing

Digital manufacturing is often lauded as the ultimate solution for turning thoughts into reality. But what happens when you want a physical representation of complete lack of thought?

To answer this challenging proposition, London-based artist Gustav Metzger had his brain analysed by an EEG machine while he diligently cleared his mind of all thoughts. The resulting data was converted to a volumetric format and fed into a manufacturing robot, which then carved the piece titled Null Object out of a single block of stone.

Visitors to London’s Work Gallery can see the sculpture of Metzger’s empty thoughts through until February 2013.

via Design Week

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

Make your own stuff using: CNC Routing

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Fully functional Autobot transforms from Robot to Car in seconds

A walking, bipedal robot that can transform into a sleek street car may sound like the stuff of Hollywood fiction, but visitors to the Maker Faire in Tokyo next week will be in for a treat when they encounter the Brave Robotics Transforming Robot 7.2.

The latest incarnation from these masters of automation, this 1:12 scale robot can walk around in the familiar shuffling gait of its humanoid counterparts, while shooting missiles from weaponised forearms. In a matter of seconds the robot transforms into a fully functional vehicle that can be driven around just like a standard RC toy car. Further enhancements include a wifi camera that sends a live stream from the transforming robot to a nearby tablet.

Click through for an impressive video highlighting just what this robot can do.   (more…)

Posted in 3D Printing, Electronics + Robotics, Guy Blashki, Technology, Toys + Games by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

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Integrated components from your home printer

Printing new hardware components is something 3D printers are commonly used for all across the globe. The way that these prints are being used is much the same as the commercial parts that they replace – as a plastic shell or block of material to surround the electronic innards of a device.

Imagine if you could use your 3D printer to produce a part with all of the electronics built in! Scientists at the University of Warwick have been making some exciting advances towards low-cost intergrated 3D printing with a material known as Carbomorph.

Working examples of this technology include game controllers with embedded sensors and touch-sensitive buttons, and a mug that can tell how full it is.

“In the long term, this technology could revolutionalise the way we produce the world around us, making products such as personal electronics a lot more individualised and unique and in the process reducing electronic waste.”

The Education sector is projected to be among the first to embrace Carbomorph, as this new conductive material will allow students to design high-tech devices and products that can be integrated with freely available open-source electronics and software.

Warwick University via Engadget

Posted in 3D Printing, Electronics + Robotics, Guy Blashki, Technology by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

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Sugru sheds light on the unsung hero of creativity

Most of us have already encountered Sugru, and many are using it in all kinds of interesting, creative ways. The team behind this extraordinary putty have enjoyed becoming a hub for Fixers so much that they put their heads together to come up with an equally extraordinary document: The Fixer’s Manifesto.

“We made this to fuel the conversation about why a culture of fixing is so important.”

Drawing inspiration from documents such as the Repair Manifesto by Platform 21 amongst others, this variation seeks to expand and grow by tapping into the huge community of makers, thinkers and fixers that have already shown such inspired creativity using Sugru.

Click through to see the The Fixer’s Manifesto in full, and keep in mind that this currently exists as Version 1.0 in what is intended to be an ever-evolving credo that can be tweaked and tinkered with, in true Sugru style. (more…)

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

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Simple technologies enable objects to take form before your eyes

One of the gorgeous explorations from the students at ECAL, the University of Art and Design Lausanne, Animal Growth challenges the automated production processes that most designers have come to rely on.

In Animal Growth, simple hand tools are utilised to break down the manufacturing process of expanded foam animal toys. Templates that enable an operator to cut, glue, and fill the animal form have the appearance of something much more refined than the prototyping model-shop roots that these techniques would suggest.

The Low-Tech Factory projects were recently exhibited as a part of a local design festival, and showcased six fun, unique production processes. Each project is supported by an engaging video of the process in action, where you can really get a taste for the physicality of the forms as they come to life before your eyes.

“Students look at showcasing the manufacturing process of an object, from the machine to the finished product.”

Click through to see the Animal Growth clip, and we’ve also thrown in the other quirky Low-Tech Factory videos. They’re just too good to skip over.

(more…)

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

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Surprising updates seamlessly blend reality and imagination

Bringing 3D printing into the public arena on a more subtle level than we are used to seeing, Greg Petchkovsky’s entry to the Instructables Make It Real challenge is quite an eye-catcher.

Focusing on modifying or updating objects in unexpected ways, his technique involves taking dozens of pictures at different angles of an object, and then importing them into Agisoft PhotoScan for processing. The result is a high-resolution, full-colour point cloud that can be used for 3D modelling.

Click through for a video that shows just how he came to this clever outcome. (more…)

Posted in 3D Printing, Functional Art + Objects, Guy Blashki by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

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Saying Cheese takes on a whole new form in Japan

In a neighbourhood that is famous for unique photo opportunities, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd in Harajuku, Japan. Yet the Omote 3D photo booth is doing just that in what may be the world’s first 3D printing photo booth.

Operating for a limited time at the exhibition space Eye of Gyre, the service will offer a miniature replica of passers-by in three sizes and three not-so-small price points. Having said that, the quality of these personal reproductions is remarkably good.

Following a 15 minute 3D scan, the subject can then tweak the model to choose features such as hair colour and clothing details, before proceeding to the final print.

Click through for further examples and details on how to reserve a booking to get ahead of the crowds.   (more…)

Posted in 3D Printing, Functional Art + Objects, Guy Blashki by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post

Make your own stuff using: 3D Printing

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