MakerBot Industries

In 1987 I saw AC⚡DC live with friends at the Tacoma Dome near Seattle and they ROCKED! Here at MakerBot we’re excited to bring an AC⚡DC amount of ROCK to the 3D⚡DC event happening in DC on April 28th. We’ll be on a panel as and will be enthusiastically buying beers for 3D printing enthusiasts somewhere in DC later that night.

On April 28th at 3D⚡DC, the 3D printing community will descend on Washington, DC to show policymakers what they are up to. Panels will introduce the 3D printing community to the DC policy community, and explore some of the policy issues that this disruptive technology will implicate. During a demonstration phase, you will be able to see this technology in action first hand, and speak one-on-one with people and companies on the cutting edge. Be the first person in your caucus, at your GS level, or on your adult kickball team to see 3D printing live.

Hope to see you there! Please upload your 3D models of AC⚡DC style Gibson SG guitars to Thingiverse ASAP!

via 3D⚡DC: 3D Printing Comes to the Nation’s Capitol | Public Knowledge.

PS: She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean, she was the best damn MakerBot that I’ve ever seen!

PPS: For those about to PRINT, we salute you

PPPS: Back in Black (ABS)

PPPPS: Dirty Deeds Printed Dirt Cheap

PPPPPS: She printed all night long

Finally, what we’ve all been waiting for: a MakerBottable, desktop-sized version of a Roman siege weapon.  The future is really here.

That’s right, Thingiverse designer (and classical military historian perhaps?) AbFabFab has created a Thingiverse design for a ballista, the ancient Roman weapon which helped them rule entire world (OK…Europe and most of the Mediterranean) under Trajan.

The ballista was used under other emperors as well…but Trajan just doesn’t get enough respect these days.

Ballista by AbFabFab

This is recreation of a Roman ballista. Its small (obviously), and isn't an exact replica (Romans didn't work in plastic). Its about the right size to fire a pencil. It should be fairly obvious how it works, but I have some instructions below, and a short movie. P.S. I am aware of the Thingiverse policy not to publish "weapons". I see this as a toy -- it can fire a pencil about two feet with considerably less force than I can throw it. However, please be careful as points can always put out eyes. Also I know someone could potentially beef this up until it fires knives at a 100 miles and hour. Please don't. TODO: this is a work in progress because there's some things I want to add. -- a mounting point so you can put it on a "table" (a stand on a pedestal). -- a ratchet, winch and trigger mechanism, that are vaguely period

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