Check out all the hot DXF thingy action here.
I’ll add the code to github as soon as it works.
Most people get a 3D printer because they want to print things, not because they want the maintenance headache. 3D printers sound cool – and they are – but the hidden cost of maintaining them and supplying them is expensive.
At Marginally Clever we’ve got a lot of experience with these machines. Enough that we’ve been quietly trialling 3D printing as a service for a few months. It’s paid for the equipment so we’ve decided we’re ready expand that offer to the general public on our new sister site mc3dprinting.com as of today. We’re starting with white ABS. You send us an STL file, we send back your printed model.
We’re also looking to connect with other 3D printer owners to create a portal to a resilient network. Think “distributed Ponoko” or “hurricane-proof Shapeways”. If you have a machine and are interested in collaborating, please contact us.
If you’ve done the math and decided that getting a printer is cheaper than leasing printing services, that’s great! Whether is a complete machine or parts and education to build your own 3d printer, we have what you need.
Got kids interested in printing? Worried about the high voltage and hot temperatures? Start them with a Makelangelo and when they’re a little older they can reuse the electronics to build their first 3D printer.
Whatever your decision, we’re here to support you. Together we can make the future more awesome.
This month’s meeting of the Vancouver Robotics Club was great! I showed off my Stewart platforms and got to see all kinds of nifty creations.
Aaron made this awesome sumobot from a LEGO mindstorms kit. It doesn’t follow sumobot rules, but who cares? It can out-push anybody there today.
There was also this great string of addressable LEDs. One light per address is exactly what I needed to build my ticker clock. Consider me sold! Even better, this string is run from an arduino connected to a linux box hooked up to a website running html5 sockets. What does all that mean? you can change colors on a web site and the string of lights changes to match. You can even see other people’s changes. Color Fight!
The same inventor made this cone of blinking LEDs. I wish I’d made video so you could see the patterns.
Marius and his two kids showed up with their home made sumobots. So nice! Meet YELLOW MONSTER and FLOWER HUNTER. I told them what I tell anyone: if you get me design files and schematics I’ll sell it in my store and give you 50% of the profits.Edit: They did!
The dad made this incredible Wall-E robot. It has all the range of motion and uses a kinect sensor to SLAM (Simultaneous localization and mapping) it’s way around a room.
As long time readers will know I like building virtual models of my robots before I invest in the real thing. This is the first time I’ve seen someone do the same thing, and it’s very clever. It even simulates the lag from the Kinect
I love the details int the head motions.
The challenge for next month is to build a line following robot. We have 12″ tiles with 3/4″ black lines that snap together to make a course. The challenge is to see which robots can follow the entire line. If more than one succeeds we’ll have a race. One of the newest club members promptly bought a CanDo line following robot. I like his moxy!
Next months’ meeting is Sunday February 10, 2013 at 10:00. See you there!
CanDo line following robots were $75 + tax & shipping.
As of today for the next 30 days they are $55 + tax & shipping.
Enjoy!
Marius, creator of the fantastic Wall-E robot, has generously shared the design files and source code for the sumo robots his kids put together. It even includes a couple photographs from different angles so you can piece together the bill of materials. If you build one, please share your story in the forums. I know I’ll be reading your words with undivided attention.
Bill of materials is as follows:
Maybe instead of 5 ir sensors try this 6-sensor array, save $2.50 and time soldering.
