Before I settled on Blender for all my modeling needs I experimented with many different programs including Sketchup. It was owned by Google when I started playing with it, now its owned by Trimble. Some people seem to like it, but it never really worked for me mostly because getting STLs out of it was more trouble than it was worth. But …
Chessbot added to an interesting collection
Ty Kroll has an interesting hobby. He has a great collection of chess sets to which my chessbot was recently added. I highly recommend you check out the write up. He’s got some of the best pictures ever taken of this set plus an amusing set where he uses two chess sets to replay the famous Kasparov vs Deep Blue, fittingly, and then …
3DGeni.us convincing me to try out 123D Design
I wasn’t so sure about 123D Design before, but this bath plug tutorial on 3DGeni.us makes it look as easy to use as TinkerCAD, with even better features, and still free (as opposed to $120 a year). When I get some time I’m gonna try making a chess set in it and see if I can start recommending 123D Design. Plus the …
Celtic Skull Gears V1
Started this what feels like months ago. May actually be months ago. I wanted a smaller version of the skull gears so to differentiate my version I use the Celtic Skull. This involved figuring out OpenSCAD, fixing an extremely non-manifold base model, and doing some modification. I love the idea of a key sticking out of the back of the skull, but …
Why the 3D Doodler doesn’t thrill me
The moment I saw the 3D Doodler I was underwhelmed. Doubly so when I saw the price tag. Let me express why the 3D Doodler disappoints in mathematical terms: Hot glue gun + Computer Control = 3D printer.3D printer – Computer Control = X.Solve for X. Okay, a 3D printer’s hot end is slightly more complicated than just a hot glue gun. …
Newest tool in the family
Sometimes those stuck prints just need a little love tap. Sometimes your 5-in-1 tool needs some love getting under the edge. A full sized hammer might be just a little too much for the job but the 4oz build and grow hammer from Lowe’s is perfect. Actually, I suppose and 4oz hammer would work since I haven’t really needed the claw but …
Fixing the crack by poking holes
Problem: Printing large flat surfaces in ABS causes cracks in the final build. Theory: Increasing the plastic around corners will strengthen adhesion. Method: Adding little holes in the print around the corners the result will use the shells to increase the plastic around the corners. I’ve proven that more plastic does decrease cracks, but adding extra shells adds plastic everywhere. …
Buy my junk
A few additions to the store. Restocked the hypnorings, added the PLA TARDIS charms I made to test print temperatures effect on PLA translucence, and finally I’ve added something new. Since I did the resolution test I’ve had these chess knights just sitting on my desk feeling like I should do something with them. Finally I had the bright idea that I should …
Now I know where the value is
Restocking Glow-in-the-Dark 3D Hypnorings had a the black filament stop midway through the print. Actually, it’s kinda of cool looking. But when I tried to figure out why the black stopped none of the usual suspects presented themselves. No knot in the spool, things were going good on that side. But if I did the load procedure no filament came …
Fixing the Heated Build Platform Cable
When my heated build platform cable burned out my more DIY centric friends suggested I just cut the cable and solder directly to the connectors. Maybe one day, but for now I’ve got the new cable from makerbot support so I’m gonna go that route. The PDF that makerbot sends with instructions to help you install your cable looks like this: …