Best of the Blog 2011 – Laser Cutting

I knew it was going to be tough when I picked the Laser Cutting category to pick the best posts from, but wow – there really were a lot of amazing stories in 2011 to choose from.

These are my favourites from last year, but if you think that I’ve missed a critical project, please mention it in the comments below!

1. The most advanced peanut butter and jelly sandwich yet

This is also #1 in my “favourite headlines of 2011″ category. Dr. Thomas Modeen used a laser cutter to engineer a perfect food experience, distributing pockets of PB & J into even, calculated bites.

If I am ever a wealthy man, there will be a laser cutter in my kitchen. Be sure to read through to the source for a video of the laser in action!

Read: The most advanced peanut butter and jelly sandwich yet

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Posted in Derek Quenneville, Laser Cutting by Derek Quenneville | Comments are off for this post

Today’s menu: Sandwiches and popcorn

We’ve seen a few tasty treats get the high-tech treatment, but this sandwich has a different flavour altogether.

Usually, a robot’s moves are pre-programmed so that precision outcomes are the end result.

Researchers at the University of Munich took a more human approach to their robot chefs, and equipped “James” and “Rosie” with fancy headpieces in the form of a Microsoft Kinect. This enables the robots to evaluate what is in front of them and make decisions on the fly.

The result is a less-than-perfect bowl of popcorn and multi-layered sandwich, and it does take them a while to get it right. Having said that, it’s a great deal more impressive letting the robots work out what to do for themselves, rather than transposing plastic and plywood for foodstuffs, as we’ve seen in the past.

Check out the video, after the break.  (more…)

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

The humble sandwich transformed into a technological accomplishment.

Dr. Thomas Modeen of Qatar has used a laser cutter to create what may be the most advanced peanut butter and jelly sandwich yet. At the very least, this is the most thought someone has ever devoted to the most humble of lunches.

While laser cutting is often used to decorate food, Dr. Modeen has actually tried to improve the food. Basically, he cut little individual pockets to keep the peanut butter and jelly separate until the last possible moment. I’ll let him explain the rest after the jump (with a lot more pictures).
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Posted in Laser Cutting, Taylor Gilbert by Taylor Gilbert | Comments are off for this post

3D printed turkey and more!

Since we eat the same meal every Thanksgiving, I figured why not post the same Thanksgiving story from last year. Enjoy your 3D printed turkey and lasercut Apple apple pie!

Snacks

While you’re waiting, have a coincidentally Jewish themed snack: portrait matzo from Matzography (via Printersting) or a lasercut banana from Wouter Walmink (via Craft).

Appetizers

I’m starting this Thanksgiving dinner off fancy: a duck consomme with a lasercut nori (seaweed) garnish from Seattle Food Geek (via Craft Gossip). Moving on to lasercut ham sandwiches by Jan Habraken and Alissia Melka Teichroew (via Dutch Art Events). Yum!

The full meal is after the jump.

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

Big crowd on hand for Ponoko and TechShop hosted event.

This past Wednesday Ponoko and TechShop hosted a gathering as part of San Francisco Design Week. By all accounts it was a huge success as designers from all over the Bay Area came to learn how to turn their design ideas into actual products.

We showed off creations made with Ponoko Personal Factory and the folks at TechShop gave tours of the facility which houses an impressive collection of fabrication machines for their members to use.  Of course the grilled cheese sandwiches were a hit and I enjoyed playing bartender for the night. I even refused a few tips!

We also had a drawing to win a material samples kit.  Congratulations to David Polifko of San Francisco.  David is a professional designer and will be teaching a design course this summer at UC Berkeley Extension, so the samples will come in handy!

We’d like to give a  big thank you to San Francisco Design Week for including Ponoko in their jam packed week of events.

Check out a few more pictures from the event.

Posted in Events, Ponoko News by mjdimond | Comments are off for this post

Register for the Ponoko/Techshop mixer June 15 at SF Design Week

San Francisco Design Week runs June 13—19, and Ponoko and Techshop will be there representin’ digital making — and eating grilled cheeses.

The Ponoko/Techshop mixer is Wednesday, June 15 from 5 to 8pm.
Held at TechShop SF: 926 Howard Street San Francisco, CA

There’s gonna be free drinks, and The American will be on hand grilling up gourmet cheese sandwiches. And you can talk with staff from Ponoko and TechShop about your making projects, learn all about 3D printing, CNC routing, and laser-cutting, and take a TechShop tour.

Plus, we’re giving away a FULL material sample kit.

This event is free, but RSVPs are filling up fast. So REGISTER NOW yo.

Be sure to check out the Open Studios going on nearby at the same time and all the other SF Design Week events.

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

The Laser Cutter Roundup — a weekly dose of laser-cut love: #21

Hey, Sam here. I’m back collecting this week’s posts from The Laser Cutter!

Starting off this woodsy-week is this laser cut mountain-man from Christopher Bettig and cut/etched by Grovemade.

After the jump a tree, another tree, somethings that have nothing to do with trees other than they are made of paper, and an amazing event. (more…)

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

Happy Thanksgiving! I’ve got a digitally fabricated feast for you:

Snacks

While you’re waiting, have a coincidentally Jewish themed snack: portrait matzo from Matzography (via Printersting) or a lasercut banana from Wouter Walmink (via Craft).

Appetizers

I’m starting this Thanksgiving dinner off fancy: a duck consomme with a lasercut nori (seaweed) garnish from Seattle Food Geek (via Craft Gossip). Moving on to lasercut ham sandwiches by Jan Habraken and Alissia Melka Teichroew (via Dutch Art Events). Yum!

The full meal is after the jump.

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

CNC cutter joins in the celebrations

It’s nice to see the machines that do so much hard work for us receiving a bit of love in return for their efforts.

The guys over at the Bay Area’s Because We Can recently celebrated five productive years with “Frank” in true CNC style.

After blowing out his own candles, he proceeded to cut the cake into perfect squares, one for each of the attending guests at the company’s open house event.

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

Well THAT was awesome!

Billed as a party from the future, the recent Laser Party hosted by Design Glut and NY Designs saw all manner of fun and games emerge from one action packed evening.

People were invited to submit ideas for laser cutting and laser etching to be produced for free as a part of the event.

The outcomes give a taste of the creativity and fun that ensued; and I mean that quite literally –  click through to see the laser cut ham sandwiches…

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Posted in Digital Fabrication, Events, Guy Blashki, Laser Cutting by Guy Blashki | Comments are off for this post