We just brought the MakerBot Mixtape to a whole new level by releasing the negative file for the Mixtape audio component on Thingiverse! This means that with some skillful boolean operations in a 3D modeling program you’ll be able to make anything on Thingiverse into a Mixtape. If that’s not awesome then I don’t know what is.

We also put together a nice little video that features the creators of the Mixtape – John Briscella and Matt Kroner – to tell you a bit about how it works and how to assemble one. The MakerBot Mixtape was a collaboration that we did with Playbutton. Make sure you read the special little interview that The Creators Project, a wonderful forum for technology and art founded by Vice and Intel, did with our boys this week too.

And if you haven’t seen the video that we did to launch the Mixtape make sure you watch that as well. It’s kind of the most adorable thing ever.

Briscella has already put up a couple of new Mixtape ideas like the Beethoven Mixtape and the Heart Mixtape. I’ve been rocking the hell out of a stellar pink heart mixtape with acid blue buttons and it blows minds left and right.

And now what I want to know is – what Mixtape will YOU make!

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Hearts Gears by emmett

You probably remember Thingiverse citizen Pattywac‘s recent epic mashup design challenge.  This was probably the most participated-in design challenge ever, with 48 things on Thingiverse tagged “mashmeup”! ¹  Well, Pattywac is done weighing and considering the entries and we have a winner!  Here he is, in his own words:

Great job to everyone entering the MashMeUp Design Challenge.  Unfortunately, I had to DQ a few people because they combined items with unfriendly licenses….. but there were still a lot of great entries!  The community really made a few entries the front runners (through likes, ratings, and copies), but in the end the winner was Thingiverse citizen emmett with his Heart Gears entry.

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Again, congrats to everyone for doing a great job… my only advice is that people watch out for the licenses they place on and make derivatives from Thingiverse things.

emmett’s Hearts Gears entry garnered 93 likes, 31 comments, 20 Flattr’s, and was printed at least 4 times with one derivative.  It clocked in at 9 printed parts plus a little bit of hardware to put together.  He was also kind enough to include his OpenSCAD design files so that others may benefit from his design techniques.  This will probably be one of those cool printable things that really showcases the power and flexibility of DIY 3D printing.

Congratulations emmett!  Please send Pattywac a message on Thingiverse with your paypal name so he can get you your prize money.  And if you would leave a comment on this post, I’ll be sure and put you in touch with the guys at MakerBot so you can collect your $100.00 in store credit!

1. Unfortunately, there were a fair number of disqualifications for mashing up things that didn’t have licenses that would allow derivative works.  Please be sure and use an open license on your Things so that others can make awesome and cool stuff!!! [↩]

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’m happy to present this list of top ten prints to help celebrate the occasion!

1. Schmarty’s 8-bit Heart for that 8-bit Nintendo heart flavor!
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2. Nophead’s original heart box was uploaded to Thingiverse more than 2 years ago! 
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   Those of you who either don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day or do so with a certain theatrical flair might prefer the Twisted Heart Box from Wizard23.
3. 3D printable Heart by emili
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     While this model appears indistinguishable from an “8-bit” version, it’s actually a mathematically generated model!  For a smoother mathematically derived model, there’s always the excellent “exploitable heart” by emmet.
4. Message Heart Box by JadeKnight
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   Why just limit yourself to putting a message in a box?  JadeKnight was kind enough to provide numerous possible messages for your heart box printing delight!  These are like the 3D printed plastic of those chalky candy hearts. ¹
5. Valentine’s Day Heart Box by Starno
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   This is another model that makes use of the “exploitable heart” to great effect.
6. Heart shaped cookie cutters by CreativeTools and guru of the cookie cutter script fame
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   Cookies!
7. Illusionist Butterfly locket by McTrivia
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   A little locket and box that transforms from a butterfly into a heart and back again.  What’s not to love?
8. Printed LED Heart by worldgnat
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   How else would you find your sweetie in the dark?
9. Love Gasket by IHeartRobotics
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   Infinitely recursive fractal hearts?  Now, THAT says love!
10. Heart Gears by Emmet, inspired by the Broken Heart by GregFrost, are a spectacular mashup of the exploitable heart and the cube gears already on Thingiverse. 
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      What I like about Emmet’s design is that he provide details on how to create your own Whatever-Gear object!

1. Only far more palatable! [↩]

Broken Heart by GregFrost

When I saw the above picture I thought, “Oh, nice, a heart print.  Okay, that’s sweet.”

When I saw the video below, I thought, “OMG, that’s SWEET!”

Deceptively simple and beautiful.  GregFrost, that’s an incredible design.  It is simultaneously reminiscent of brain gears, a jack-in-the-box, and a valentine.  It truly lives up to your description as a kinetic sculpture. ¹

1. Honestly, it doesn’t strike me so much as a broken heart as a cranky heart. [↩]