NanoSapiens

Yet more glass-cutting inspiration

Posted on 24. Mar, 2010 by Gareth Branwyn.

Our coverage of glass-cutting continues to inspire inventive upcycling makers to dream up ways of improving the cutting process through various rolly jigs. Here, Adrian ("awalleigh" on Flickr) was inspired by Ben Light's rolling pin rig to create one out of skateboard parts.

Awalleigh's photostream

More:

• Glass-cutting rig from rolling pins
• How-To: Cut a wine bottle in 30 seconds
• Make: Projects - Bottle cutting
• Recycled beer bottle tumblers

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Green | Digg this!

Continue Reading

Steampunk Stormtrooper, Boba Fett, and Princess Leia

Posted on 24. Mar, 2010 by Phillip Torrone.

Steampunk Stormtrooper, Boba Fett, and Princess Leia.

The helmet was created for the TK Helmet Project, a charity event that the 501st Stormtooper Legion is holding for the Make A Wish Foundation. Check out more photos after the jump, including other photos from the week which include Steampunk cosplay photos of Princess Leia and Boba Fett, and a Steampunk-ified version of the Iron Man Helmet.

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Retro | Digg this!

Continue Reading

Win a MakerBot Cupcake

Posted on 24. Mar, 2010 by John Baichtal.

The Twin Cities hackerspace the Hack Factory is raising funds to buy a MakerBot Cupcake CNC. How? By selling raffle tickets! Borrowing a move from Providence hackerspace AS220 Labs' MakerBot raffle, the Hack Factory will sell enough raffle tickets for two Cupcakes, then keep one and award the other to the raffle winner.

Rules are simple: $5 a "ticket" (tickets are actually virtual- you'll get entered into a spreadsheet and we'll randomize a selection), 300 tickets are available, no limit (if you want to buy all 300, be our guest!). Need not be present to win, nor a member of TCMaker (and membership is, of course, not going to improve your chances of winning). We obviously can't guarantee the delivery schedule (currently, they are on backorder until batch 14 is ready in mid-May; they are accepting pre-orders, but unless we sell out of tickets in record time, we will probably miss the pre-order bus, too).

And if you think that just one ticket won't win, bear in mind our very own Becky Stern won the AS220 MakerBot with just a single ticket, and has been unleashing all sorts of awe-inspiring mayhem with it ever since.

Interested? Go ahead and buy a raffle ticket.

[image]

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in 3D printing | Digg this!

Continue Reading

Tricks of the Trade video: Two bikes, one lock trick

Posted on 24. Mar, 2010 by Gareth Branwyn.

One of our wonderful MAKE magazine illustrator, Tim Lillis, who does the Tricks of the Trade cartoon in each issue, did a video version. I really like it and hope we get to see more.

Tricks of the Trade: episode 1

More:

• Indirect Collaboration talks to Lego Group rep

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Bicycles | Digg this!

Continue Reading

Jetpack costume prop from junk

Posted on 23. Mar, 2010 by Gareth Branwyn.

Backyard FX have been running auditions for a new host of the show. I'm pretty impressed with many of the entries. Not only are the hosts surprisingly good, but the production values are fairly high, and the projects they document, decent. Here, Mike Smith and his robot sidekick, Tec, show you how they built a Rocket Man-worthy jet pack movie/cosplay prop from junk and hardware supplies.

Jet Packs and Robots: How to: Backyard FX

More:

• All of our DIY Movie Making coverage

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Video Making | Digg this!

Continue Reading