Ben Krasnow – of DIY electron microscope fame, among other impressive projects – has posted some useful notes on an unusual cutting process. Normally, of course, the recommended practice for cutting plate glass is scoring and breaking, but it can be cut using a more-or-less conventional milling setup provided you get the details right…
As I develop new projects for my classroom this summer, a recurring theme has been to explore just how many times it takes to get a new design right. As far as I am concerned, nothing ever works properly the first time, and it is useful for students and new learners to a subject to recognize this. Programmers call this the iterative process, Engineers use the Engineering Design Process, both of which are relatives to the scientific method. Sure, just about anything can be fixed with duct tape and zip ties, but to get beyond a temporary kludge, you will need to put some time and thought into analyzing the problem and crafting a proper solution.
If you’re into photography, and you’re not already following DIYPhotography.net, well, you probably should be. Their new tutorial from Jack Long shows you how to build a simple water sheet fountain and how to capture great pictures of stuff you throw through it.
Wow! This video lives up to that classic “How it’s Made” episode about Styrofoam, except this one reduces contributions to landfills. Look inside the Ecostar recycling facility in Wisconsin to see how plastic bottles are recycled. [via Core77]
A commenter on my recent dried orange peel box post pointed us at this truly outstanding phototutorial from Bushcraft USA forum member Eric Methven. Eric dshows off his classic leatherworking skills and equipment in a series of three detailed posts, featuring more than 50 photographs carefully documenting each step of his process for making these lovely flasks, from raw leather side to finished product. [Thanks, Tim Harris!]
Two weeks ago we covered YouTuber mcwolles‘ remarkable full-motion illusion appearing to show M.C. Escher’s impossible Waterfall in real-time operation. Those of you hungry for an explanation may be interested in this diagram from Boing Boing reader David Goldman, who thinks the video was shot using forced perspective, with a model as illustrated, in two cuts spliced together at the 0:45 mark.
Cool Hunting went inside the Hästens mattress production facility in Sweden to take a fascinating look at how horse hair, metal springs, and wool are combined to make “the best bed in the world.”
