Toolbox

Make: Electronics toolkit

We have the Make: Electronics toolkit back in stock! Do you want to learn to solder? Not sure what tools you need? We took the trouble out of searching for all the right tools for the job. This kit includes everything you need to get started in the wonderful world of kit making!

Buying the right telescope

Buying the right telescope

The Space Tweep Society Blog has an overview post up about the pros and cons of the four main types of telescopes, if you’re in the market! [Thanks, Rachel!] (Image: E550 with telescope finder, a Creative Commons Attribution image from R1CARD0’s photostream) In the Maker Shed: The Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders Our Price: $29.99 […]

Make: Projects – Simple 3D models with OpenSCAD

Make: Projects – Simple 3D models with OpenSCAD

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to use OpenSCAD to produce a simple 3D model by extruding a part profile produced in normal drawing software. I use Adobe Illustrator CS3 because I have access to it and am familiar with its interface, but the popular freeware drawing program InkScape will read and write DXF files natively, and there’s no reason why it couldn’t serve just as well if you prefer it. There are a number of other free and low-cost programs that will export DXF files. OpenSCAD’s developer mentions QCAD, which is available from its developer RibbonSoft for 24EUR.