In case you missed it (or like me, don’t have a TV), check out The MakerBot Replicator on this morning’s episode of Live! with Kelly. TWiT’s Leo Laporte shows Kelly Ripa “the future”… and she likes it!

Autodesk 123d is one of many freely-available apps that new MakerBot users might consider learning.  And unlike some other programs we love, it looks like Autodesk wants it to be easy to print your models on a MakerBot.  In fact, they want it so much that they’ve just posted the above video on their youtube channel.

It’s a bit long (over 9 minutes) but put it on your list for when you’re woodshedding your 3d-modeling chops.  While it’s specifically aimed at the Thing-O-Matic, most of what they’re saying should transfer to the Replicator.  Just model for a larger build area!

123d is a bit different from other modeling programs, and might be a bit counter-intuitive if you’re used to one of the others.  However, their youtube channel has a number of tutorials and there are some neat things about the project (like an iPad app and a photo-to-model program.)

If you’re looking to pick up some 3d modeling skills while you’re waiting for your Replicator, this is one of many great programs to learn!

Japanese hirajiro castle by arnsteio

How’s this for a first-time contribution to Thingiverse?  Arnsteio’s first design shared on Thingiverse is this incredibly intricate and detailed Japanese hirajiro castle.

This is a small Japanese “hirajiro” plains castle from the sengoku period. Bases were simply made of earth so for the castle to survive the vagaries of weather and earth quakes, superstructures had to be light. Hence we see simple walls, small houses and open-work towers. It is meant for use when wargaming, and will be suitable for campaigns in Japan in the 1400s and 1500s – I will use it for the Kawanakajima campaigns.

Awesome work arnsteio!  Please keep the models coming!

Japanese hirajiro castle by arnsteio

This is a small Japanese "hirajiro" plains castle from the sengoku period. Castle bases were simply made of earth so for the castle to survive the vagaries of weather and earth quakes, superstructures had to be light. Hence we see simple walls, small houses and open-work towers. The model is meant for use when wargaming, and will be suitable for campaigns in Japan in the 1400s and 1500s - I will use it for the Kawanakajima campaigns. I have made it for use with 10mm wargaming armies, though it would work equally well for larger or smaller scales. The ashigaru figure I placed in the courtyard for scale is 10mm foot to eye. He is a ripoff of Erik's excellent bride and groom from thingiverse.com/thing:3495 (and he's based on the bride, no less!).

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Tune in to your local ABC station tomorrow, Friday, February 3rd to see MakerBot featured on Live! with Kelly. TWiT’s Leo Laporte will be showing Kelly Ripa and co-host D.L. Hughley his favorite items from CES.

Check out this video interview of Bre talking to Leo Laporte during CES for TWiT’s Triangulation.

OpenSCAD Bathtub Sailboat

The hardest part of cranking out a Thing-A-Day for me is coming up with new ideas.  When I have an idea for a printable thing, I typically just design it, publish it, and get it out there on Thingiverse.  However, that means I generally don’t have many ideas left over for creating something new each day.

Thankfully, I have my daughter.  After explaining that February was Thing-A-Day month and that I wanted to design something that was printable on our 3D printing robot, I asked her what she would like me to design.  A saildboat for the bathtub was her answer. ¹

In many ways the challenge of coming up with something that will meet her arbitrary and completely unpredictable specifications is actually easier that thinking up an idea for something each day myself. ²

OpenSCAD Bathtub Sailboat by MakerBlock

After explaining Thing-A-Day to my daughter, I asked her what she would like me to design for her for day 2. Answer: A sailboat for the bathtub. Designed in OpenSCAD, but not very parametric.

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1. Actually, her answer was a paper sailboat.  I reminded her it had to be something out of plastic, so she revised her response.
2. After all, the spirit of the exercise is to create a new thing each day, not necessarily come up with the ideas for them yourself

Rubber Band Ties by lasivian

One of the most noble uses of a 3D printer has got to be making the world a safer place.  Thingiverse user lasivian described the reason behind his rubber band ties:

You might have seen these under other names, but most of them were no good for me because my girlfriend is allergic to latex.

Enter the printer and a box of latex-free rubber bands from a local office store.

Rubber Band Ties by lasivian

You might have seen these under other names, but most of them were no good for me because my girlfriend is allergic to latex. Enter the printer and a box of latex-free rubber bands from a local office store.

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Check ‘em out! We are extremely proud to have returned from this year’s CES with three awards!

CNET Best of CES 2012 – Best Emerging Tech

From CNET: “The MakerBot Replicator one-ups the Cube 3D with “dualstrusion” technology, meaning it can print objects in multiple colors and materials. Pre-orders available now for $1,999, shipping in 6 weeks.”

Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Award

Popular Science Product of the Future

Convinced you need The Replicator? Order yours today!

Hollow Calibration Cube by Starno

to this:

OpenSCAD Pirate Ship by MakerBlock

in no time!¹

Before you cringe at the prospect of taking on OpenSCAD, let me point out that the above pirate ship was designed entirely with just cubes and cylinders.

Recently I had need of a way to mount an Arduino to a project box.  Unfortunately, I hadn’t finished the rest of the project yet, so I didn’t know where the Arduino would end up or how it would be mounted exactly.  I ended up knocking out a simple friction fit holder.  While there are no mounting or screw holes in it, I figured I could always just drill them later if needs be.  Since my project is still need a lot of work be elevated to a “work-in-progress” status, for the time being this mount is being held in place by my second-favorite DIY tool… duct tape.

1. Admittedly, that pirate ship took a while.

Ben Fraser has a the Test Jig #4 ticking. Exciting!

There are a number of awesome clock projects that are ticking forward. If you have an interest in working on MakerBottable clocks, you’re invited to swing by the MakerBot workshop this Saturday, February 4th, from Noon to 6PM and hack on clocks.

Please RSVP on eventbrite and join the MakerBot Clock Google Group to stay up to date with the latest clock action. Bring any models you’ve made and a laptop so you can work on clocks while you’re here!

MakerBot Clockathon
MakerBot Workshop
Saturday, February 4th
Noon to 6PM
Pizza will be served.

Check out the slideshow of photos that Ben Fraser took of the last Clockathon

Paris Shellton, one of the hermit crab stars of Shellter East here at MakerBot Industries, got tired of her drab gray winter shell this weekend and decided to take on something more Spring-timey – a Daffodil Shell!

Check out the video of Paris adopting her MakerBotted shell:

Follow, share and contribute to help save hermit crabs by keeping natural shells in the wild! Use the hashtag #shellter or the shellter tag to let others know you are participating in this crowd-sourced science experiment!:

• projectshellter.com
• @ProjectShellter
• bit.ly/​ProjectShellter
• bit.ly/​ProjectShellterShells
• youtu.be/​ProjectShellter