MakerBot Industries

Wendy-House Connectors by Bioluminescence

I don’t just like Bioluminescence’s “Wendy-House Connectors” because it makes an awesome house.  I like it because it’s really a system for connecting 1/2″ PVC pipes.  Using a pile of these connectors and some cheap PVC parts, you could knock out a cool play structure for those vertically-impaired persons in your life in a matter of minutes.  Better yet, enlisting their help to design the playhouse!

Wendy-House Connectors by Bioluminescence

With these connectors and different lengths of cheap and common 1/2" PVC pipe, you can construct the frame of a personalized Wendy House (or playhouse) for your miniature, chronologically-impaired, humans! The version I have built, creates a simple, 'traditional', gable-roofed, playhouse frame. NOTE: The gable end pieces are temperamental when I try to print them. The rotation I have them on the print bed is the only rotation that it doesn't break horribly with. Otherwise, the print-head knocks the model at the top of the tear-drop holes and shifts itself across - creating a geology-like shear across the model I have included the SketchUp model which shows the sizes of the house. Should you wish to change the lengths of the pipes to scale it up or down for your own use, this model should help if you don't want to just do the maths. (The gable is 45 degrees for ease of trigonometry.) (And the reason there's two extra struts on the bottom of mine, is that I was intending to wear this hut as part of a costume for Halloween - Baba Yaga's Hut, complete with chicken legs and miniature witch inside. I didn't finish it in time!)

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TARDIS Lollipop Mold by Bioluminescence

How do you make a time traveling, infinitely big on the inside, flying police call box even cooler?  You make it out of candy.

Bioluminescence has provided their design files, STL’s, materials list, and instructions for how anyone can make their own time traveling candy.

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly address the rumors that uploading anything Doctor Who related will definitely get liked, commented upon, and then blogged by me.  Let me put this issue to rest by assuring everyone, once and for all, this is completely true.

TARDIS Lollipop Mold by Bioluminescence

Using food-safe silicone sealant, a lot of patience, and a good lollipop recipe, you too can have TARDIS shaped lollipops to keep the kids (both big and small) quiet when the new Doctor Who episodes start up again.

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LED Micro-TARDIS by Bioluminescence

Thingiverse citizen Bioluminescence has contributed this magnificent Time And Relative Dimensions In Space, including a little glowing LED at the top.  It features a back panel that can slide into place, spaces for wire springs, batteries, and, of course, the glowing bit at the top.  Bioluminescence has also provided copious notes on their construction, even down to how to color the plastic with a blue sharpie to get just that right TARDIS-blue.  And, I always appreciate photos showing a design’s progression from prototype to final form. ¹

LED Micro-TARDIS by Bioluminescence

Who hasn't wanted their own TARDIS at some point? The Old Girl (or Sexy, as she prefers to be known) can be yours in miniaturized form, complete with light on top. This micro-TARDIS just looks small from the outside (5cm tall) - there's a lot more going on inside.---TARDIS Blue--- To get the best colo(u)r, I recommend printing with blue ABS, and covering it fairly evenly BEFORE printing, with a blue Sharpie. This changes the print colo(u)r from blue to dark blue. (Approx 0073CF to 0000B8)---Bits and Pieces--- You will need 1x 5mm LED (in white, blue or UV), some wire, 2x small cell batteries, and an empty drinks can (or similar). I've got some smaller LEDs coming in the mail, and I intend to get this small enough to attach to one of my infamous hair clips. The photograph shows my iterations, but it looks a bit like the TARDIS is moving through time in a way that only Baker-era special effects could claim ;)

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1. It’s all very Aristotelian.    [↩]

Bar Hairclip - Stars and Plain by Bioluminescence

Check out this super clever printed bar hair clip from Bioluminescence.  It makes excellent use of the plastic’s elastic properties while remaining very cosmetically pleasing.  These are probably going to be excellent demonstration pieces for a long time to come.¹

Bar Hairclip - Stars and Plain by Bioluminescence

After 16 iterations, and inspired by a Bruce Sterling story (Kiosk), I've designed and printed a working hair clip. Length: 8.4cm Height: 2.2cm Depth: 1.2cm Weight: 7g Printed in ABS, and utterly dependent on its mechanical properties, it features a working ABS hinge, three kinds of springs, and a snap fastener. This version is plain - the Sketchup file is included for those who want to go on and adorn their hair clips. Failing that, you can use the gently curved outer surface as a base for gluing on your own additions.Versions: hairclip-mk15 = This version has four embossed stars on the outer bar (as seen in blue in the photograph). hairclip-mk16-final = The flat backed version, easier to modify on your own. (Personal blog post regarding the Bruce Sterling story and other influences, here - myriadwhimsies.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/jovanicas-hair-toys-3d-printed-hair-clips/)

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1. I can’t wait to see someone upload a parametric derivative! [↩]