MakerBot Industries

The MakerBot Botcave Store Opens today! We will be open from Noon to 8pm Tuesday through Saturday until December 24th.

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We’re all set up. What do we have right now for you to just walk in and buy?

MakerBot Kits: MakerBot Cupcake CNC Kits, Sanguinos, TTL Cables, LED strips, pen plotters, extruders, filament spindle boxes, scanner kits, and ABS plastic in all colors.

Adafruit Kits: USBtiny, Minty Boosts, Motor Shields, Drawdios, TVBGones, Wave Shileds and Brain Machine kits!

Evil Mad Science: LED Menoras, Diavolinos, Larson Scanners, Meggy Jr. RGB Game kits, and Bulbdial clock kits.

Arduino: Besides the Sanguino and Diavolino, which are both arduino variants, we’ve got Arduinos and Megas in stock!

Jimmy Rodgers: LOL Shields and Open Heart kits.

W&L: Video Game Shield

We’ll have more kits arriving soon and we’ll keep you posted here on the blog when we put them on the shelves!

Stop on by! We’ll have a MakerBotted object to give away to every visitor!

Completely Printed Chess Set

Not only have I finished printing a full chess set, but the black pieces are in ABS while the clear/white-opaque pieces are in PLA.¹  When I was rocking my MK4 Plastruder² the 5 pound roll of PLA I had purchased was a sore subject for me.  Given the amount of heartache I went through trying to print with clear PLA, it seemed a natural foil to a black ABS side.

Basking in the warmth that follows a nice big Thanksgiving dinner I played chess against my younger brother, whom I haven’t bested in about ten years³ , on a board made by our father, using pieces designed by cbiffle, and printed on my MakerBot.  After a hard fought game⁴ with only nine pieces left on the board, I was up a knight, offered a draw, and we shook on a good game.⁵⁶⁷

1. Printing a full chess set has been on my to-do list for nearly a year, even before I had an operational 3D printer. [↩]
2. If you’ve got a MK4 Plastruder, I highly highly recommend upgrading to the MK5.  I could gush for days about my MK5.  You really deserve an extruder like this. [↩]
3. In chess.  Well, or anything else for that matter… [↩]
4. With much kibitzing from our dad. [↩]
5. Call me a coward, but I’d rather offer the draw while I was up, rather than fumble the endgame and get brow beaten by a pawn I forgot to take.    [↩]
6. See Allan?  I’m not ALL bravado! [↩]
7. Now, where’s did I place that printed thimble I keep all my humility in??? [↩]

Derivative Design Concept: Open Source Disc Gun

This idea occurred to me this morning.  It’s basically a derivative of about 5 different designs (mostly rubber band related) on Thingiverse.  I’ve scanned in the entire sheet, so you should be able to print it off at full A4 paper size.  As a kid I loved these cheap plastic disc guns – but the internal plastic parts broke so easily that they were quickly trash.  I’d like to make an open source version that can be easily repaired, upgraded, extended, improved. 

If people like the idea, I’d be willing to do a series on the design, development, and prototyping of such a concept from start to finish.

What do you think?

Are you a printing daredevil?

I think I’m finding these Thingiverse poll questions to be funnier than perhaps they were intended to be.¹  The topic of the poll is essentially – how do you deal with print anxiety?²

I really don’t have print anxiety.  Give me a ridiculous 3D model as an STL and I’ll run it through Skeinforge and try to print it.  Overhangs?  Narrow gaps?  Thin walls?  Bring it.³

There’s almost no downside to trying – the plastic and time investments are so incredibly low there’s just no harm.  I can always stop the print early if it’s just not going well.  I say don’t procrastinate – pick something wacky from Thingiverse and give it a shot!

1. “Broad Flat Bottoms”?  Sign me up! [↩]
2. Photo courtesy of Travis Gray [↩]
3. And, I’m just using the stock Skeinforge settings that come with ReplicatorG! [↩]

"Why I <3 MakerBot" by Adam Moon

There have been a number of comparisons between early Apple DIY computers and the MakerBot Cupcake DIY 3D printer.  Well, an Apple 1 just sold for more than $210,000. ¹

This begs the question – setting aside issues of historical significance and nostalgia, what is a functional obsolete machine worth?

I’m of the opinion that as long as a computer can (1) run word processing software (2) connect to the internet and (3) run a modern web browser² it’s still worth at least $100.  With those few features you could do any number of useful tasks including programming, staying in communication, and even bootstrapping/starting up a business.  Admittedly, you’re not going to want to use such a computer for long.  As soon as you’re able, you would probably want to move to faster machine – but that old slow machine sitting in your garage could actually be useful right now to someone who does not have a computer.  An old “obsolete” computer is still tremendously useful as a catalyst for future innovations.  After all, our current technology is constantly being used to develop the next generation of technology.

A functional “obsolete” 3D printer is an entirely different matter.  An operational “out-of-date” printer can always print useful parts or even the parts for a better 3D printer.  In 34 years from now, anyone with a Cupcake CNC could just download a slew of upgrades from Thingiverse to trick out their machine.  Right now Thingiverse has dozens of upgrades, large and small, that will make a Cupcake CNC easier to use, more accurate, and more reliable.  Most of these upgrades require little more than plastic, extra nuts and bolts, and perhaps some off-the-shelf parts.

34 years from now what would your NIB³ MakerBot Cupcake CNC fetch at auction?⁴

1. Image courtesy of Adam Moon and the A.M Project [↩]
2. Even IE 6 <shudder> [↩]
3. “New in box” [↩]
4. I am hopeful that in 34 years there are no unopened kits.  I like to think that by then every single Cupcake kit is assembled, operational, upgraded, and hacked to the point that it is still running and cranking out whistles, open source violins, and other brand new inventions. [↩]

Printed birdfeeder by araspitfire

I like this birdfeeder design by araspitfire for repurposing, recycling, and of course, for using 3D printed parts.  It looks too large for printing on a MakerBot Cupcake or Thing-O-Matic, but from the way it is displayed, I think it’s a pretty safe bet the birdfeeder outer ring can be printed on a RepRap Mendel.

I’ve got some family who live in Michigan.  One year for someone’s birthday we bought a hummingbird feeder online and had it shipped to us in the Bay Area, so we could gift wrap it and send it to him.  Now, take a moment and ask yourself – what would be funnier than a hummingbird feeder with a carbon footprint going all the way back to China?

Answer: A hummingbird feeder made in Michigan, shipped to California, only to be shipped back to Michigan.

Imagine if a loved one had their own 3D printer, you could just e-mail them a digital file of a lovely design that you thought they would enjoy – rather than shipping something from their home state/country, wrapping it, and shipping it back to them.

Science Hack Day SF is a weekend long gathering “that brings together various types of geeks in the same physical space for a brief but intense period of collaboration, hacking, and creating awesome things.”  The winning team of Stephanie and Eden won the “Best Physical Hack” competition which took place on November 13-14, 2010 with their Grassroots Aerial Mapping hack and will share the prize of a CupCake CNC Ultimate Kit!  Congratulations Stephanie and Eden!

Here’s some sketches and pictures from their winning contribution:

Grassroots Aerial Mapping Hack Sketch

Grassroots aerial mapping - results!

For some additional pictures of their progress:

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/blech/5180641977/
  
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/blech/5181240904/

Thingiverse user Pattywac has been running some pretty amazing design giveaways recently.  By pooling his own money with that of other Thingiverse users and coming up with interesting challenges, we’ve seen some pretty awesome results.  Who did Pattywac choose as the winners?  Well, first, a message from the giveaway sponsor himself:

I’d like to thank everyone for entering.  It was a great turnout and there were some awesome designs, it really was hard to pick the winners.  Thanks again to TwoTimes for more than doubling the prize pool.

Anyone that is willing to donate to the prize pool for the next Design Challenge is free to join the discussion in the Makerbot Google Group forum.

-Pattywac

MakerBot Improvement Design Giveaway Winner is…

Z Axis Extender Kit for Makerbot Cupcake by Zydac

The Z Axis Extender Kit for Makerbot Cupcake by Zydac!  Pattywac said this was a tight race (between community likes, # of copies out there, and printability on the makerbot) but the extender kit won because it goes a long way (pun intended) to improving the Makerbot.

Rubber Bands Design Giveaway Winner is…

Rubber Band Gear Mechanism by Skimbal

Skimbal’s Rubber Band Gear Mechanism!  Pattywac said he chose this one because it had over 40 likes by community members and it has a good future for use in other projects.

Congratulations to Zydac and Skimbal!  Thank you to Pattywac and Twotimes for posting the design giveaways, putting up the giveaway dough, and judging!  I can’t wait for the next one!

I'm sorry Captain, that's just impossible...

Scotty is the engineer on the first Star Trek series. Friday afternoon I was chatting with a friend about what it means to be the kind of person, like Scotty, who fixes things.  These are the rules we arrived at:¹

• Scotty Rule #1: Telling people it’s impossible, and then doing it anyhow is always a good idea.
• Scotty Rule #2: You’re the only one who can wear a red shirt and survive.
• Scotty Rule #3: People appreciate fixes more when you speak with a Scottish accent.²
• Scotty Rule #4: You can always tweak the tolerances to +/-5%. The warp drive will always give you just a little more even when you say, “I’ve given it all I’ve got”. She’ll hold.
• Scotty Rule #5: Real engineers don’t work in cubicles.³
• Scotty Rule #6: You only absolutely need to get the job done enough to rescue everyone and fly home.

1. Image property of Paramount Pictures [↩]
2. Or when they can’t understand what you’re saying. [↩]
3. May there never be cubicles in space! [↩]

Even Walt thinks the LoBotomy Clinic is a good idea

Do you remember the days of old?  Will you tell your grandchildren of the days when a robot with problems was left to fend for themselves with no chance of improvement feeding on stray bits of plastic, smelling of burnt hair and ABS.   This are things that will be lost in time, like tears in the rain, like the sound of a connecting modem or a hard drive spinning up.  For, our modern times have brought us the LoBotomy Clinic!  No longer will your ‘bots question your awesome makin’ skillz. ¹  Here’s the latest from the LoBotomy Clinicians:

lo·Bot·o·my
noun 1. A series of radical and invasive physical therapies, used to treat ailing robots.

Sad robots make sad humans. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, you could call the A-Team. Or you could check your robot into the LoBotomy Clinic. You can fill out the Intake Form in advance or just show up with your busted bot and we’ll help you diagnose and troubleshoot to get it in tip top shape. Learn the best tips for 3D printing and preventative maintenance, or drop by if you just want to see some finely tuned bots in action. We are looking forward to seeing you at Botacon 0!

Even if your ‘bot doesn’t need any TLC, you have to take a look at that sweet Intake Form.

1. “Can the maker repair what he makes?“ [↩]