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!
Yesterday, 3D Printing service Shapeways announced the availability of a new material in their already-impressive lineup, a flexible plastic polymer. Printing with this “Elasto Plastic” will cost $1.75/cm3, and like many of the other materials, is laser-sintered one layer at a time.
Last summer a student organization based out of the University of Washington, WOOF (Washington Open Object Fabricators), successfully created the world’s first 3D Printed Boat. The boat was printed on a large-format FDM printer, which was hacked together from a plasma cutter, and prints with post-consumer milk jugs.
Leather lends itself to the intricate design possibilities of a laser cutter, because it is pliable enough to wear on the body, but sturdy enough to hold its shape, even with large cutouts. I’ve collected a few of my favorite examples of laser-cut leather here, to serve as inspiration.
Engineer Ben Kokes created this incredible engagement ring featuring LEDs that light up when he and his fiance hold hands.
Jeshua Lacock recounted his experience of casting metal parts directly from 3D Printed PLA with a fantastic photo-filled writeup and video. He prints the part with his Ultimaker and pours mold material around it before letting it set. After the mold hardens, it’s placed in his homemade furnace to melt away the PLA, leaving a beautiful female mold behind, into which he can pour molten metal.
If you were hoping to pick up Brook Drumm’s new Printrbot Simple at Maker Faire Bay Area this year, well…you’re too late. The Printrbot Simple beta edition sold out Saturday afternoon. Still, with alpha availability slate for June, you don’t have too long to wait.
MakerBot and Autodesk, who are sharing a booth this weekend at Maker Faire Bay Area 2013, just announced a partnership deal involving the Replicator 2 and Autodesk’s 123D suite. Folks who purchase subscriptions to Autodesk’s 123D tools get a discount towards the purchase of a Rep2, and Autodesk has become an authorized reseller of the popular 3D printer. The “Autodesk edition” Replicator 2 also features custom face- and buildplates. Deets at Autodesk’s 123D site, below.
