If you’re a maker, 3d printing is an incredibly useful tool to have in your arsenal. Not only can it help bring your projects to life faster, but it can also offer unique results that would be difficult (or impossible!) to achieve with traditional methods. In these blog posts, we’ll provide you with some essential information and tips regarding 3D printing for makers—including the basics of how to get started, plus creative tutorials for spicing up your projects. Whether you’re already familiar with 3d printing or are just starting out, these resources will help take your game-making skills even further!
Jim Smith built a huge RepRap-based 3D printer and used it to print a really big part. It was supposed to be a little bigger, but the extruder jammed after running continuously for 48 hours. I recently printed what I believe is the largest single part printed by a custom designed, RepRap based, home-built 3D […]
This video of Thingiverse user dougc314′s motorized cube gears caught my attention, this morning, on one of my co-workers’ blogs. It’s a modification of user emmett’s much-copied screwless cube gears which replaces one of the corner gears with a motorized pedestal that constantly drives the geartrain, endlessly folding and unfolding the shape.
We just got our first peek at the 2011 Makeys trophies, designed and printed by our pals at MakerBot Industries, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Thanks to Jonathan Monaghan for the design work, Matt Griffin for running the printers, Keith Ozar for coordinating it all, and everybody else at MakerBot who helped out. Naturally, the STL files are available on Thingiverse to remix at your leisure. As you can see, “Makey” is built Mr. Potato Head-style, but right now he’s a bit short on accessories…
MakerBot Industries is blowin’ up the matrix with a new video series, MakerBot TV, featuring new video superstar Annelise Jeske. Looks great! Let me take you on a virtual adventure to an Afro Punk head-scanning party, watch how we MakerBot the heads of Angelo Moore (of Fishbone) and comedian Reggie Watts, get some tips and […]
It’s from Thingiverse user DieselG. You can click through to learn what it’s for. DieselG, if you read this, I very much hope you’ll let us see how it works out.
Bay Area maker John Knoll (of ILM and PhotoShop fame) just finished converting his old manual milling machine to CNC with a GRBLshield and took the time to thoroughly document the process. If you’ve ever thought about attempting this conversion, you won’t want to miss this informative overview. In it John runs through the entire process from start to finish, beginning with converting a model using a Python script, sending G-code to the board using a Processing sketch, and ending with cutting the part.
Earlier this summer, Brett was working on a nifty 3 LED and 2 AAA battery holder design at the Boston Area Makerbot meetup. We get together when enough people feel the need, generally at Sprout in Somerville. When we got together again this week, he was able to happily report on the project and the role his making played in the big day.
The initial plan was to use throwies, but I felt they wouldn’t give as much light as a commercial 3 LED solution. This led me to a fun, albeit time consuming project.
