Ready...

2020-08-03•Robotics

https://youtu.be/JRAo0PQYQ3M It Boots!

35 year old ROS Robot?

2020-07-12•Robotics

Meet Marty. Marty is a HeathKit ET-18 Educational HERO 1. ROS - the Robot Operating System - is an open source “system” for operating Robots. Can I ROS enable a...

HERO 1 & ROS?

2020-07-08•Robotics

When I was young - early ’80s - I was in the boy scouts. During one of our events, one of the parents introduced us to a Heathkit Hero 1....

Makers

2015-04-29•Makers

For the past year, I’ve been a developer in the Windows Maker team at Microsoft. The Maker team represents Makers within Microsoft; ensuring that Microsoft products have the capabilities that...

Bioplastic not the 'greenest'?

2010-12-04•3D Printing

I wrote an article a long time ago where I tried to determine which was better ‘Bioplastic’ or ‘Petroplastic’.

almost there...

2009-06-04•3D Printing

Fabr v3

2009-05-08•3D Printing

Fabr v2 uses a moving platform for the Z axis. This means it has a maximum volume is quite difficult to change. The platform requires a significant number of moving...

Super 'Struder

2009-05-04•3D Printing

I’ve been having problems keeping the my extruder up to temperature, and eventually, well dissolved my working extruder. So… I’m building a new ‘super extruder’ based on research by nophead’s...

Fabr motherboard

2009-04-12•Random, 3D Printing

“I love it when a plan comes together” The Fabr motherboard is complete, and the firmware refactor I’ve been working on is ready for testing. Here are some glamor shots...

Behavior - Device Abstraction

2009-03-28•Random, 3D Printing

You’ve coded your project with your x-axis step pin on GPIO11. But my device has it on GPIO3. Or even worse, I use a a servo and counter, which doesn’t...

Event Loop for the Arduino

2009-03-27•Random, 3D Printing

Making an LED blink or driving a single stepper using the Arduino is very easy - pulse a pin in the Arduino loop handler is all you need. However, as...

Updated Arduino plugin

2009-03-24•Random, 3D Printing

I updated the Arduino plugin with the following features: ATMega328 support Arduino programming model (setup/loop instead of main) Support for pde files (which are just C++ source files) Download link...

Retrofitting an EasyDriver

2009-03-05•Random, 3D Printing

Brian Schmalz’s easy driver, offered by SparkFun is a nice little stepper driver. There are two major deficiencies however: It is hard wired to eighth step mode, and the ground...

Grid Beam Workbench

2009-02-26•Random

Grid Beam is a building technique developed in the 70’s. It is a simple technique which uses perforated square beams, connected by normal furniture bolts. I first learned about the...

Why is my home so Drafty?

2009-02-22•Random

Couldn’t be the new Windows could it? Front Door has a 1” gap: Here’s the thermal: New Windows: No more gap:

Smart home improvement

2009-02-21•Random

Our home is expensive to heat. Not only is that, but it feels drafty. We were convinced that our main heating problems were the Windows in our family room (where...

avr-libc realloc 'fix'

2009-02-11•Random, 3D Printing

I’ve been working on patterns for Arduino, which relies on a dynamic array for managing event loops, observables, and device abstraction. However, I was blocked by a critical failure in...

avr-libc - Realloc bug

2009-01-30•Random, 3D Printing

A few months ago I proposed a refactor for the Arduino RepRap firmware. I was quick to code it up and build test cases on the desktop, then ported to...

First Grid Beam

2009-01-22•Random

I’ve created my first grid beam using the grid beam jig I posted about. It took me about a half an hour to cut beam holes in an 8 foot...

Arduino for TextMate posted (beta)

2009-01-12•Random, 3D Printing

I’ve added a page for the Arduino for TextMate plugin. Download from the dedicated page.

When we last left our hero...

2009-01-11•Random, 3D Printing

The problem with multitasking is that your time is divided amongst all the projects you have going on. Not only divided, but context switching has overhead. Because of this, and the...

Laser cut Hercules Extruder

2008-12-21•Random, 3D Printing

The Prometheus Fusion perfection blog has started working on a Laser cut Hercules Extruder. It looks pretty cool. I hope that the plastic can withstand the pinch forces involved with...

Cold workshop

2008-12-20•Random

My workshop is in the garage - an uninsulated and unheated area. Currently the workshop is too cold to work comfortably or safely (I don’t want to get wrapped up...

Pillars of Hercules

2008-11-28•Random, 3D Printing

Here’s an updated Sketchup (for the new version 7) for the Hercules extruder. The compact design of this extruder lends itself to stacking. By stacking two extruders, you can print...

Tetrix available for pre-order!

2008-11-28•Random, 3D Printing

Saw this kit at Make Faire in May - Metal Technix. Plastic gear trains have their limits, I can’t wait to see what people build with this stuff. The cool...

Arduino for TextMate 2.0 (coming soon)

2008-11-22•Random, 3D Printing

I’ve been working on an update to the ‘microcontroller’ plugin for TextMate. I’m putting the finishing touches on the release, and want it to bake. So far, it has the...

Herk Extruder 1.1

2008-11-19•Random, 3D Printing

After accidentally destroying the motor controller and motor, I needed to rebuild the extruder. This is the result: After the failure of the captured gear drive, I went back to...

Captured Gear Drive Conclusion - Too Complicated

2008-11-11•Random, 3D Printing

Developing the skills to build the captured gear drive took much longer than I had anticipated. When I began the development, I was new to machining, and had never cut...

Herk Barrel Mount

2008-11-09•Random, 3D Printing

Having moved past the pinion gear, I focused on the extruder barrel mount. It is fairly simple in design - a block of aluminum, bored to accept the barrel, slit,...

Pinion gear; take 4; no juice

2008-10-22•Random, 3D Printing

I attempted to cut a pinion gear again, with no luck. I’m using a 24 pitch 14.5o involute gear cutter on a Sherline gear cutting arbor. I want to cut...

Gears

2008-10-09•Random, 3D Printing

I’ve always loved gears. Who doesn’t? Since getting the lathe and mill, I couldn’t wait to try to make gears. Slowly, over the last year, I’ve acquired the components to...

Captured Gear Drive

2008-10-07•Random, 3D Printing

During the Seattle robotics meeting, I ‘crossed the streams’ (reverse polarity) and destroyed the motor controller (and presumably the motor, don’t want to take changes). Given that I wanted to...

RepRap Arduino Firmware refactor

2008-09-27•Random, 3D Printing

To teach the Karate kid how to defend himself, Mr. Miyagi used repetitive mundane tasks that mimic various defense maneuvers. This repetition created muscle memory for the moves which ultimately...

Hercules Extruder

2008-09-26•Random, 3D Printing

When I began working on an extruder, I spent quite a bit of time working on a screw based drive, attempting to engage the plastic in order to push it...

Fabr at Seattle Robotics Sept 20th

2008-09-18•Fabr, 3D Printing

Just some quick notes: Fabr will be at the Seattle Robotics meeting on September 20th. For more information about the meeting, visit http://www.seattlerobotics.org/. I’ve been posting updates to my twitter...

Adrian Bowyer Talking about RepRap

2008-08-18•Random, 3D Printing

Adrian Bowyer is the father of RepRap. Here’s a presentation he did about the RepRap and its potential. Check it out:

Drive Components

2008-08-10•Random, 3D Printing

There are 4 stepper motors on the 3d printer: one for each axis and another for the extruder. I wanted to user a motor that could be powered with a...

Stepper Motor Driver v2a

2008-07-23•Fabr, 3D Printing

One of the side effects of using 80/20 for the structure of a 3d printer is that it weighs significantly more than the reprap design using rods and plastic joints....

More on 80/20

2008-07-18•Fabr, 3D Printing

Fabr is built using the 80/20 T-Slot fractional building system. ‘New Stock’ items were purchased from the 80/20 Garage Sale on eBay. The service was excellent. Just make sure when...

Fabr is a RepRap

2008-07-14•Electronics, Fabr, 3D Printing

I became intrigued by the concept of ‘renewable manufacturing’ - owning the life-cycle of everyday things. This idealism was captured by the RepRap project; who’s tag line is ‘Wealth without money’. In...

Been awhile

2008-05-21•Electronics, Fabr

It has been awhile since I’ve posted an update. I’ve been working on numerous projects, all at various stages. I figured I’d post an update across the board with no...

First Extrude

2008-04-16•Fabr

It isn’t a printer until there’s melted plastic. Fabr has finally reached that milestone - An extrusion head which melts plastic: For this test, I was feeding by hand: I...

Y Axis, Extruder, Controller and Software

2008-03-30•Fabr

Y Axis Shortly after building the Z axis, I began working on the Y Axis. I was being cheap and wanted to attempt to use a single drive screw instead...

Bioplastics verses petroleum based plastics

2008-03-25•Fabr

I am building a 3D printer, a sister project to the self replicating printer project RepRap. A 3D printer is capable of building usable objects, such as toys, by ‘drawing’...

Elevator

2008-03-22•Fabr

My son and I put together the z-axis today. Watching a 4 year old use a hack saw was amusing - I kept it safe and he felt like it was...

Extruder Head

2008-03-16•Fabr

I spent quite a bit of time the last couple of weeks working on a feeder and heater for the extruder. I figured this was going to be the hardest...

Polystarch Material

2008-03-16•Fabr

Through the kindness of their heart, PSM North America has provided me with a small quantity of Polystarch plastic. Polystarch plastic is made with a biodegradable resin made from corn...

Reconsidering the voxel approach

2008-03-09•Fabr

My first approach at decomposing an object to voxels, then to generate primitives from this “voxel space” may not be the best algorithm. I’m finding that I use edges to discover if...

Lego meets Easy Bake Oven

2008-03-07•Fabr

I was discussing the prospect of “home fabricators” with a reluctant friend of mine recently. The idea that a “3D printer” would be as ubiquitous as Microwave ovens in 10 years may...

Voxels!

2008-03-01•Fabr

  The voxel generator is complete. I spent quite a bit of time attempting to use Sketchup’s intersection APIs in order to build voxels; only to discover that Sketchup doesn’t...

Sources and Specs Posted

2008-02-25•Fabr

I posted the Sketchups for the 3D printer, the motor controller board and what I have of the decomposer plugin. You can fetch the sources here: svn co https://ooeygui.com/Arduino ....

Started populating the motor controller board.

2008-02-23•Fabr

I received my order from Batch PCB today. After the boys went to bed, I started populating the board. This is my first board using surface mounted components. The variable...

Hardware!

2008-02-20•Fabr

Things are finally starting to get real. Time for some progress photos! Structure I ordered a bunch of components from the 8020 garage sale on eBay. I had opted for...

My Shop

2008-02-14•Fabr

Thought it would be fun to show off the “shop.”  It’s part woodworking, part auto, part metalworking, part robotics shop: And my workbench, with the ill fated toaster parts:

Reduce, Reuse, RE-MAKE, Recycle

2008-02-13•Fabr

In other words:Louie: 1Toaster: 0In the beginning of Jimmy Neutron, little Jim launches a satellite made from his mother’s toaster. I couldn’t help but think of the boy genius as I disassembled a...

3D Printer Status

2008-02-08•Fabr

Motor Control Board The motor control board is currently “panelized”, and being fabricated. I had expected it to be done last week, and started populating it this weekend. After I...

Lou's Theory of Volumetric Deconstruction

2008-01-30•Fabr

With the 3D printer, I’ve been vexed by the problem of deconstructing a volume into layers, then layers into a fill by path; all the while dealing with voids, unsupported...

Own the toy life-cycle...

2008-01-28•Fabr

Just before my son’s 4th birthday, my wife and I purged some of his toys. We looked for things he didn’t play with any more, stuff our younger son wasn’t...

Arduino for TextMate - Sources Posted

2007-11-28•Electronics

There’s been lots of interest in the TextMate plugin. I’m positing the sources in order to enable people to improve the code and share it back. The code is quick...

Arduino for TextMate

2007-10-20•Electronics

I’ve been playing with the Arduino Microcontroller for quite some time. It is a fantastic open source hardware project which really opens up the world of Microcontrollers to people all...

Font Rasterization

2007-07-10•Random

I remember the day the new font rasterizer was turned on in Safari for Windows. I couldn’t believe my eyes; something was wrong with text rendering. I was caught off...

Balancing Style and Substance

2007-06-08•Random

Over at the Rogue Amoeba blog, there’s a fantastic article about the “Delicious generation”. The moniker refering to a generation of application developers that are using the successes of  Delicious...

Life lessons from the island

2007-04-10•Random

Don’t mix plan B with plan A Your backup plan should never be part of the primary plan. In diving, some divers carry a backup air supply called a pony...

Wireless in Paradise

2007-04-02•Random

It’s nearly midnight, and I’m lounging on a beach chair by the rocky protected diver cove at Sunset house on the island of Grand Cayman. The dive gear is prepped...

Fail open - the blog

2007-02-19•Random

A previous blog post on “Fail open” talked about anticipating failure conditions and doing the most secure thing by default. It was a muse I had on the way to...

Data Visualization

2007-01-18•Random

I was blown away by this demonstration of a multipoint input system and associated user interface concepts: Perceptive Pixel.

"Fail open"

2007-01-11•Random

Story time. Several years ago, I was taking a deep diving class in February in a glacier lake in Washington called Crescent lake. Being February, the water was bitter cold....