Chatting with Inventables’ Zach Kaplan About Shapeoko
This Monday, Chicago-based DIY resource Inventables announced the release of Shapeoko 2, hailed as one of the most inexpensive CNC mills in the world — $300 without electronics.
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!
Tutorial: Laser Cutting Techniques and Projects
Ideas for designing projects that exploit the strengths (and avoid the weaknesses) of laser cutters.
Here are three projects, each of which demonstrates techniques and systems I’ve developed specifically for this form of digital fabrication.
Shapeoko 2 Milling Machine Launches Today
Shapeoko promised a $300 desktop CNC mill, and the first version delivered. The Shapeoko 2 goes on pre-sale today.
5 Fun Projects to 3D Print
Print figurines and toys, learn scanning and modeling tricks, and make an extruder from a diesel glow plug!
3D Printing Umbilical Cord Clamps in Haiti
Our organization, iLab // Haiti has brought the first two 3D printers (Replicator 1’s) to the country of Haiti. We’re teaching them to 3D model using SketchUp and Rhino, with the hope of teaching Autodesk’s Inventor. They will be printing medical devices like umbilical cord clamps, to bypass the inefficient and corrupt import systems that are currently the only option available.
Ben Katz’ Electric Tricycle
One of the scooters at World Maker Faire that caught my eye was Ben Katz’ sweet scooter whose design is inspired by the Radio Flyer trike. Ben designed the tricycle around a brushless Turnigy motor, visualized the trike in Sketchup, welded, and machined the frame, and added a 40v LiFePO4 battery, motor controller, and gearbox. It can theoretically reach a top speed of over 45 MPH!
Building a Tribe With Kinetic Steam Works
At this past year’s Maker Faire Bay Area, I had the privilege of riding atop a steam-powered Case 40 horsepower steam traction engine from 1940 with Stephen Rademaker.
