MakerBot Up and Running

Robot Arm Stacks Blocks

Milling Limitations

Dot

The world's smallest stop-motion animation character shot on a Nokia N8:

Robot Arm Following a Path

Steven's Component

I have received a few emails requesting an example of a possible component, so I have created the first iteration of a component prototype to show you.

These are the first attempts to transform my idea into a component in Rhino:

These were the next attempts to refine the component in Rhino:

This was the first prototype fabricated using the CNC Mill.
Note the distance between cutting lines was too large, resulting in a rough edge:

This was the second prototype, milled with curved cutting paths.
The mill cut the outline first, so the piece moved when it tried to cut the hole:

These next 5 components were milled with similar settings to the first prototype,
but with a finer distance between the cutting paths:

These 10 prototypes were milled using curved cutting paths,
but this time they were attached to the board with tabs:

This is not the end of the process! The prototypes are tested:

As you can see, the prototype doesn't allow as much rotation as I anticipated from the Rhino model, and the pieces don't fit perfectly together. At this stage, I would go back to Rhino, alter the design and fabricate a few more prototypes.

Finally, when the prototype works well, it would be used to cast a silicon mould and the components cast in plaster or resin from the mould.

Scribbled Out

I've been too lazy to make any posts lately, so head over to Scribbled Out to get your fill of digital fabrication links!