‘cnc’

cnc-simulator

Get Your CNC Machining On, Without the Metal
Shavings

06 Oct, 2011 by in FAB, RESOURCES, TECH

The lonliness that consumes you when the CNC operators talk shop is all about to end. You may not know how to bolt a billet of aluminum into a chunk without removing half your arm skin, but you can download a program with less trauma and bring a CHUCKle to a machinists face. A fresh CNC simulator program, aptly named CNC Simulator is available and liable to interest anyone who has or has wished they could shape materials on a CNC Machine. Me? I’m gonna use it to simulate the 5-axis cut of a mechanical arm the drill press and milling machine operators can use to battle against each other. Prepare for the download and some jazzy CNC Simulation video down below.

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BigMachine1ADJ

Ambiguously Named “Big Robot” Brings Large Scale
3D Printing Closer To Home

01 Aug, 2011 by in FAB, ROCKIN', TECH

Metrix Create: Space – a collective of evil geniuses in Seattle Washington – recently posted their first results out of their current project, Big Robot. It’s an old CNC machine repurposed to carry a scaled up version of the plastic extruder from the RepRap open source 3D printer project. Aside from being built from mostly Home Depot sourced materials, it has one other penny-pinching aspect that it just too cool: it uses shredded milk jugs as it’s printing material. A few more details and photos after the jump!

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diylilcnc

DIYLILCNC V2: Growing Beyond “Cute”

13 Jul, 2011 by in FAB, NEWS

Yes. I did just tell you last week to go fund ShapeOko on Kickstarter. But some of you looked at it and thought that you needed an already proven design, and some input on new features. Man, you’re picky… but you’re also in luck! DIYLILCNC is just the machine for you and for 40 or so more days, you can help them fund development of the “cute” machine into a serious tool. Check out details and  the project video after the break.

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ShapeOkoTitleImage

New Kickstarter Project Promises Desktop CNC Fun for $300

01 Jul, 2011 by in FAB, NEWS, TECH

Ever built a CNC machine? I have. You never, ever hit your budget. Usually it’s because you don’t count on shipping costs or having to deal with sourcing hardware/parts from many different distributors. If you’re trying to recreate a project from instructables, you obviously missed the part where the author failed to mention he spent years scavenging parts to get the total project cost down. I don’t have years, I want my CNC now! Well, there’s hope for you! Project ShapeOko promises a build totaling under $300 for a 12′x12′x8′ cutting area. A summary of the project and why I just pledged $100 after the break.
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Ponoko Launches Maker Apps and CNC Routing: Plywood Running Scared

20 May, 2011 by in FAB

Ponoko, the New Zealand based purveyor of laser cutting services has been rolling out additional services this year under the name Personal Factory. In the past, they’ve added services such as 3D printing and have provided access to a huge catalog of electronics components. Now, they’re announced one more way to butcher that beautiful, flat-packed wood. Now, they are bringing us CNC routing with the new launch of Personal Factory 5. But that’s not all. They’re also launching maker apps – through the Ponoko App Gateway. What does this mean for you? It opens up larger-scale production to everyone and provides tools to make designing products easier than ever. Designers are going to have to rely on their abilities to make things prettier and more materials efficient than the average Joe. Or, if you’re like me, just learn to use those tools well and be lazier with your designs.

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iPhone Freaks. Kick It Cool with Custom Laser-Etched Bamboo

28 Apr, 2010 by in DESIGN, ROCKIN'

You’re gonna kick yourself after you see this and think about the grove of bamboo and blood-thirsty, wild panda you just cleared out of your backyard. You so could have fashioned it into an iPhone case.

Not to worry, Ken Tomita and his wily gang of sustainable-minded makers have you covered. It’s Grove, an Oregon-based shop whippin’ out delectable design for iPhones with your favorite perennial grass. It slams a little bit o’ nature into an accessory market filled with plastic and flaking metal. What’s the coolest things about their product? You can customize the pulp out of it with your own super sweet graphic. Check it.

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Extrude. Print. Manufacture. 10 Tips to Design Your Parts for Manufacturing in SolidWorks {CheckList}

28 Apr, 2009 by in CAD

Put the crackers down. The shop is calling. Nope, not to tell you they have to remake everything, but to let you know the part-makin’ is going perfectly. Why? You knew what to look out for.

On the screen it looks spectacular, right? but can it actually be made? For many designers and engineer’s designing parts to be manufactured is second nature. However, there are ways we model parts in SolidWorks that can get us severely scorned by the people making the parts and that’s what were here to deal with.

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