The folks over at the Additive Manufacturing Lab, GE Global Research, sent us this video about their 3D-printed jet-engine Christmas tree decoration. They’re looking to see what sorts of other 3D-printed and science-tech-themed tree ornaments makers are creating. If you’ve made any such ornaments, post them to their Edison’s Desk Facebook page.
In one of my classes, we’re making cell phone pouches recently. On Monday, we looked at some fabric iPod cases on Flickr, and then they made sketch models with paper and tape. Sketch models are a very quick model that allows you to see about what the design will be before committing lots of time, expense and materials to the design. The sketch model allows you to hold the idea in your hand in the fastest turnaround possible. They had about 20 minutes to make theirs, which placed an emphases on speed over perfection, which could come later.
Students next transferred the measurements to the computer and cut the shapes with the laser. On Thursday, some started cutting t-shirt fabric on the laser. A couple of students are sewing with hand but fabric glue is faster. As a finished product, glue probably isn’t the best, but it allows very quick feedback on the design’s measurements. One student wanted to photo on to his design, so we managed to raster an image onto the fabric. This weekend I scored a free sewing machine and associated gear, which should open up some new possibilities.
I read a great article a few years called “Where to Get a Good Idea: Steal It Outside Your Group“. Sociologist Ronald Burt argues that creative ideas aren’t magically created, but rather, they are well-known concepts re-applied in new arenas. Maybe that cool paper punch found in the stationary store will become the next best […]
Certainly there are lots of electronics and kits that have entered Makers’ lives lately. Some people already know how to solder, but many people are just getting started. Amy posted a comment voicing her frustration at learning the seemingly guild like skill of soldering. Below are my notes to Amy, which seemed like it would […]
How is your holiday hacking going? If you have been good, Santa has stocked you up with lots of clever goodies to keep you and yours entertained. Below are a few things that I found in my stocking and am looking forward to fussing with: Disposable battery/charger for cellphones. At two dollars (frugal Santa), if […]
Before Christmas this year, there seems to be plenty of neat holiday themed stuff with good parts about to go unsold. Anything with an overt holiday theme will be marked down the day after Christmas, so it is possible to think ahead and provision yourself for some maker fun for the months and years ahead. […]
Dan is an illustrator, and shares some information on how he creates his images in a few posts on his blog: These pencil sketches mark the initial step for all my illustrations where text and concept are distilled into a visual expression. Once I settle on sketches I think work the pencil roughs are scanned […]
