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!

Printing your Kinect scans on a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic

Printing your Kinect scans on a MakerBot Thing-O-Matic

I got my hands on a Kinect a while back (thanks to Ashley Burns of Waggener Edstrom for sending me one to mess around with), and I’ve been itching to scan something and print it on my MakerBot Thing-O-Matic. I got as far as scanning things with Kyle McDonald’s KinectToStl, but as I have no skills with 3d modeling software, I had no clue how to turn it into something printable. I tried printing some of the STL files I got out of that tool, but they were way too complex. With some open source software, a few simple steps, and an occasional not-so-simple-step here and there, you can print what your Kinect can see.

Continue Reading Brian Jepson
Open Source Sniper Training

Open Source Sniper Training

OK, in point of fact, this cool gadget from Matt Bitz of Liquidware could be used for pretty much any type of marksmanship training, but “sniper” was a pretty hard headline to resist. It couples Liquidware’s TouchShield Slide, an Arduino Duemilanove, and a lithium battery-pack in a camouflaged aluminum case for a handy range-gadget that records hits on a target—just tap the touchscreen with the tip of a round to mark a hit—and calculates accuracy and precision in real time. [Thanks, Jake!]

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan38
Ultimaker: There’s a New 3D Printer in Town

Ultimaker: There’s a New 3D Printer in Town

The new Ultimaker 3D printer made in the Netherlands has arrived in the United States. The machine, which prints bigger and faster than the MakerBot printers, was created by three Dutch makers who met at the Fab Lab in Utrecht, Holland two years ago. The lab is one of dozens of digital fabrication centers around the world affiliated with MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms.

Continue Reading Jon Kalish77
CUBE 3D Printed 3D Printer

CUBE 3D Printed 3D Printer

Norwegian maker Christian Arnø (aka Webca) assembled his ginormous CUBE 3D printer from parts he printed on a Cupcake CNC he printed on a Cupcake CNC. Using over 15 pounds of plastic, his latest creation has a larger build envelope and a custom heated build platform. The project took approximately eight months and $3000 to complete.

Continue Reading Adam Flaherty6