Digital Fabrication

Digital fabrication tools have revolutionized the way designers, engineers, and artisans express their creativity. With the right resources, you can learn to use these powerful instruments in no time! Whether it’s 3D printing or laser cutting that interests you, these articles will provide useful tutorials and inspiration for makers of all levels. Discover how digital fabrication can open up new possibilities so that your craftsmanship is truly extraordinary!

Browser-Based 3D Modeling with Tinkercad

Back a few years ago, if you wanted to design a 3D object, there were only a few options. Not many of those options were free or easy. TinkerCAD appears to be one of the many new modeling options that promises both free and easy. At World Maker Faire, I had a chance to see the browser-based TinkerCAD in action. It does appear that it is easy to operate, and free, if you can get it to run in the browser on your computer. TinkerCAD requires Windows Vista or OS X 10.6, so that will work on one computer at my house and one in my classroom.

Continue Reading September 25th, 2011July 2nd, 2015 Chris Connors10

Handlebar Moustache

I could not resist this 3D-printed sight gag from Thingiverse user mustachejack, who says it’s been on his bike for two months, so far, without breaking. The model includes an integral tube-clamp to be secured with a bolt or a zip-tie.

Continue Reading September 21st, 2011 Sean Michael Ragan

More About “Dualstrusion” from MakerBot

At this weekend’s Maker Faire, one of the exciting announcements came from MakerBot Industries, with their release of a new Stepstruder MK7 extruder head and their demoing of the experimental use of the MK7 in a dual-head, two-color in a MakerBot. I asked Noah Levy, one of the developers at MakerBot whose working on the “dualstrusion” project, a few questions.

Continue Reading September 20th, 2011 Gareth Branwyn6

Boston Brownstone 3D Print

Thingiverse user Steven Conine designed, printed, and published this excellent model of the Braddock park row house he inhabits in Bostn.

Continue Reading September 20th, 2011 Sean Michael Ragan4

3D Printing for 10-Year-Olds

Joris Peels and Artur Tchoukanov, both former i.materialise employees, have started Origo, a company which aims to develop a 3D printer for kids. Artur thought, “what would a 3D printer that would work in the home look like? What if we could make it easy enough so that kids could use it? What if it […]

Continue Reading September 20th, 2011 John Baichtal10

Proscribed Printables

Interesting milestone in open-source 3D printing over at Thingiverse: User crank has published a freely-downloadable magazine for the ubiquitous AR-15 rifle. As downloaded, crank’s magazine only holds five rounds, but a person with basic 3D modelling skills could modify it with little difficulty to produce a “high-capacity” magazine. I’m not sure what the current state of law on magazine size limits is, but prior to the sunset of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (Wikipedia) in 2004, manufacture of an AR-15 magazine with a capacity of more than 10 rounds was an offense.

Continue Reading September 20th, 2011 Sean Michael Ragan55

Printable Modular Origami Ball

Thingiverse user Benoît Josse created this clever plastic & rubbler-band ball: A few years ago I was interested in Penultimate Modular Origami by James S. Plank folding paper into geometrical spheres. Now there’s a RapMan in my stable and paper turned into polylactic acid. This is my first printed object, I hope you”ll enjoy it! […]

Continue Reading September 19th, 2011 John Baichtal4

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