Programmable Origami
A group of researchers from Harvard and MIT have pushed us closer to a world of programmable matter. Their approach is a self-folding surface that can take on almost any shape.
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!
How To: Make Your Own Gears
Gears are easy to understand, make, and use, IF you know the vocabulary and can space the gears at the correct distance apart.
Lovely 3D-printed skull
From Pat and Tim of BotHacker, printed on their RepStrap. STL files available on Thingiverse.
Spirograph from old CD-ROM
I had the very great pleasure of meeting Ari Krupnik at the recent Bay Area Maker Faire. Among other cool toys, Ari was showing off his “RecycloGraph,” which is a two-piece Spirograph (Wikipedia) milled from an old CD on Ari’s ShopBot. Once he’s milled the profile, Ari turns the plastic over and etches words or graphics in the metal foil using a CNC laser. Ari’s selling them now using a “name your price” PayPal widget on his website.
CNC-based “global building system”
MAKE subscriber Pierre Grand (France) has developed a CNC-based building system, sort of a Lego set for real-world applications (desks, chairs, tables, loungers, room dividers, etc.). He’s been working with 100kgarages.com and will be showing off some of his Ekkoflex concept models at both Detroit and NY Maker Faires (at the Shopbot booth). Ekkoflex
Bicycle wrench that looks like a fish skeleton
I designed this multi-wrench years ago but just now finally managed to get a prototype water-jet-cut in stainless steel by my pal, Makers Market seller Dustin Wallace. The design features 21 distinct wrenches for metric and SAE nuts, 3 flat screwdrivers, a serrated cutting edge, a can opener, a wire breaker, a centerfinding tool, and a lanyard loop hole. It’s a long way from perfect–the can opener tooth, the serrated edge, and a couple of the tail-fins that are supposed to serve as flat-blade screwdrivers still need to have their edges ground, and the surface of the tool needs to be polished up quite a bit, but I was so stoked to get it in the mail I just had to share. The DXF file is available for download on Thingiverse.
3D-printable baking soda & vinegar rocket
Thingiverse user Ben of Camas, WA, designed and printed this sleek rocket, filled it with baking soda and vinegar, shook it, then placed it on the ground and watched it take off. True success! Today, powered by pure bicarb ($1.99) and 5% strength pickling vinegar ($0.99) it flew as high as the house – about […]
