This appears to be a LEGO 3D milling machine / CNC router. The site has photos of the specific X, Y and Z motors – along with an example of a 3D part being milled out. There are not a lot of details, but it’s really impressive – is there anything LEGOs can’t do? Thanks Karel! Link.
Judah writes “We run free community events around the NY/NJ metro area, and have a great opportunity to have our events broadcast nationwide, via a cable modem to sattelite uplink. The challenge: some of these events take place in buildings with SLOW internet connections. After some research, I have found in every location a cable modem within about 1,000 feet (either in an office or someone’s house) that we can use, but these cable connections can be across a busy street and/or a few buildings away. Attaching antenas to these buildings is not really an option. We need a free standing ethernet port (i.e. not a card in a computer – needs to be a port on a router, access point, etc.) to connect the polycom camera to so it can talk directly via IP to the sattelite uplink. My first guess was the Belkin pre-n routers, but it turns out you can NOT bridge them. Any ideas for a low budget solution?” Post up in the comments!
The folks over on the Manufacturers’ Blog (Coolstuffbeingmade.com) have videos of interesting manufacturing and this week they need your vote for which one to show…Ford Cars and SUVs (just b-roll, no narrative), Deep Impact (Animation of how a device that collides with a comet was made), Microchips Being Made (Animation mostly with on screen text), and How Aluminum Is Made (video, narrated, begining with the mining process). Link. Vote Aluminum!
Logan writes “I was tired of waiting for the commercial manufacturers to ship their covers for the new iPod. So, I bid on an eBay auction for some remaindered clear static cling vinyl from Earl Mich Company and made my own cover. Total cost: $16. Total playtime: 3 hours” Link.
In MAKE 03 we showed you how to make a VCR into a cat feeder, here’s MSN’s article about the project and the decline of VHS – “Don’t tell English inventor James Larsson that a VCR is useless. He’s got an idea what to do with that aging video gear–turn it into an automatic cat feeder, using the VCR’s timer to dispense food on a regular schedule.” Link.
We’ve covered some of the LEGO software, but it’s always worth another looksie, it appears LEGO has added more resources for designing your own LEGO bot – JBB writes “Lego factory A boon to lego robot builders, the lego factory lets you build a virtual model of your unique lego structure and order those blocks as a custom set. Add your robot’s sensors and other such items, and you’ve got a beautiful custom robot.” Link.
This is a custom 1957 Nash Metropolitan that’s been Saskatchewan-ized for the snow! The wheels have been replaced with sleds and snowmobile tracks to power it along. Uses a 700cc, Yamaha triple, the insides look really rugged and solid – and of course, it’s a convertible! [