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!

Webcam + CNC robot = high resolution scanner

Webcam + CNC robot = high resolution scanner

Tormach wants to sell you an upgrade package for your Mach3-compatible CNC robot that includes a 1.3M USB microscope with 220X optical magnification, a mounting bracket, and all the necessary software to turn your CNC equipment into a scanner. The cool part is they’ve also produced a video showing how to hack together a slightly-less-powerful system using a $20 pen cam and some free software that will let you make 2000 dpi scans limited only by the size of your CNC bed envelope. The “killer app” for this equipment is automatic reverse-engineering of parts, but you could also use it to easily scan maps, posters, artwork, or other oversize stuff. [via Hacked Gadgets]

MakerBot Cyclops 3D scanner

MakerBot Cyclops 3D scanner

MakerBot Industries’ autumn of innovation continues (their Automated Build Flatform made a lot of fans happy) with this neat 3D scanner framework: The Cyclops is a three-dimensional scanner mount made fit for a pico projector, a webcam, and an optional iphone/ipod. Using a method called Structured Light 3D scanning, common and available components that fit […]