Hello everyone,
With the holidays fast approaching and students on winter break, the 3D Lab is still going strong. Betty Rogge has graciously offered to record instructional videos for the equipment use in the lab, starting with the 3D printers. Morgan will write scripts and Dusty will star in the episodes. I’ve been told that the videos will have a Crocodile Dundee flair to them; so they should be quite interesting. We should have our first video available in a few weeks!
Dusty and Kenny have improved the design of the portable 3D printer’s spool holder as the existing one was falling apart. The new holder is stronger and supports different spool sizes. It’s quite an improvement and interesting to realize that the portable printer made a part to fix itself.
Daniel in the Business Office is deftly learning how to use the vinyl cutter. He recently created lettering for office hours that now appears on the cashier window. It looks professional! The trick to applying the lettering is using “transfer tape” to move the sticky letters from the vinyl backing to the tape, then from the tape to the window. It makes aligning the words and letters a cinch.
The highlight of the week was a trip to the Lorrain Community College “Fab Lab” in Elyria, Ohio. Similar to think[box] at Case Western Reserve, the Fab Lab is a collection of equipment and resources for people to “make” just about anything. It is open to the public for free use two days a week. Pictures explain more than words, so take a look at our adventure there!
Made at the Fab Lab, including the ghost
An original Makerbot
A multi-color vinyl print
Shop area of Fab Lab
Morgan and a StrataSys 3D printer
Industrial mechanical arm robot
Dusty operating an unknown machine
Assembly line track system
Kenny next to a metal cutting machine
Laser sintering 3D printer (for metal)
Resin 3D printer (an old one)
Swordfight at the computerized router
Clock made with a laser cutter
Someone engraving a water bottle
Creating a design for laser engraving
Engraving text on a wine glass
Dusty explaining the milling machine
Student-made arcade machines!
Our design being engraved on a plaque
The finished product, a success!
The Fab Lab was a busy place with the laser engravers being used ‘round the clock. Most everyone was talkative and helpful, eager to show us their projects and how they were made. While the trip home was late, dark, and wet, but well worth it. We hope to come back to the Fab Lab next year with projects to make.
See how unique, custom 3D printed prosthetics allow Derby the dog to run for the first time. Thanks, Andrew for the tip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRmoowIN8aY
With the college closing next week for the holidays, the 3D lab will take a break until the new year. We have plenty of new projects to embark upon and plenty of news yet to announce. Until then, have a Merry Christmas and dream of 3D printed sugar plums!
Tom