steve cooley presents

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-02-05

2012-02-05T08:25:00Z

Nine hundred seconds to get a pair of pants on. #3yearold #
RT @theobscurefan: Mitt Romney does to businesses what Newt Gingrich does to wives #preparethem #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-29

2012-01-29T08:25:00Z

J.Lamarche: "The most favorable contract I've ever gotten from a publisher starts at 12%" of net, Apple pays 70% http://t.co/xCspGwHR #iBA #
There's easily a hundred employees on campus who can't get into a room to hear wtf is going on. Very frustrating. #
Easy HTML5 Animations in iBooks … http://t.co/g3duKTXE #
Wheeeeew. Just finished a 450 calorie burn workout. First two weeks of xbox UFC personal trainer gets a thumbs up. Feeling good on my bday. #
Do not buy me one of these. http://t.co/UkZVq5ih #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-22

2012-01-22T08:25:00Z

The 3d file format that iBooks Author uses is Collada, or .dae. The free version of Sketchup can export that format. #
iBooks Author will be an awesome tool to make product manuals in. #
iBooks Author compliments the entire iLife tool set. It provides the wrapper and deployment strategy. #
DJ Nobu on RA http://t.co/RDz43msS wow, the end of this mix is great. via @somesndswelike #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-15

2012-01-15T08:25:00Z

Nice new layout of the http://t.co/EaoSA8NP site… #
There's going to be a Party Down movie!! http://t.co/I3fNv8jp #
RT @shiffman: RT @brotgans: Processing(JS) editor for iOS, now available! http://t.co/ql7rBDNQ #processing #ios #
China, if you're going to fly into a rage because you waited all night in line but couldn't buy an iPhone, you just joined the first world. #
We're lol'ing watching nick nolte in 48 hours light, puff, or toss a cigarette, throw a punch, or take a drink in every friggen scene. #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-08

2012-01-08T08:25:00Z

I got an xbox. I'm "beatseqr". Friend me if you're there I guess? #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-01

2012-01-01T08:25:00Z

December 28– apple store is packed. Microsoft store… Not so much. #
Also, Microsoft store greeter just couldn't be bothered to help me with a kinect question. #imperfectcopy #
I published a Thing on @thingiverse! http://t.co/9iTi9QQW #thingalert #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-12-25

2011-12-25T08:25:00Z

I made a Thing on @thingiverse! http://t.co/1tCWVbNy #thingalert #
I made a Thing on @thingiverse! http://t.co/T5N3G4ao #thingalert #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-12-18

2011-12-18T08:25:00Z

whoa! Napier's Bones are awesome! http://t.co/gqpT2foo #math #

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makerbot thing-o-matic y axis drift video

2011-12-16T23:52:47Z

My makerbot thing-o-matic has a problem with a drifting y axis, but only when a layer is complete. There’s lots of vague advice about how tight or loose the timing belt should be, but I’ve tried a dozen different tension guesses, and nothing seems to work without shifting the print mid-way through.

derek-trax1.mp3

2011-12-14T21:50:40Z

http://sc-fa.com for more info

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-12-11

2011-12-11T08:25:00Z

Phasers set to boil. http://t.co/onKXYfvq #
Kapton tape's evil twin brother http://t.co/GvJocVjX #
Makerbot thing-o-matic no. 6233 … Gettin' real up in here http://t.co/dwPUp8P8 #
I published a Thing on @thingiverse! http://t.co/Uqk7VAjW #thingalert #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-12-04

2011-12-04T08:25:00Z

LOLOL …
0. pick ANY youtube video
1. go to 'CC'
2.choose Transcribe Audio
3. LOL #
I published a Thing on @thingiverse! http://t.co/gEa4Z1jg #thingalert #
Hey moveon: Siri is not a person and you should not treat it like one. #
If you need advice about an abortion, you should talk to some real human beings, not a smart phone app. #SIRIously #
Oh, @kickstarter. Out of you, the project owners, and the funders, the deal works best for you, doesn't it. You collect $ and you're out. #
Wow. Bungie's original fps Marathon really didn't have "jump"?? Amazing. #
Guess what showed up today? #thingomatic !! http://t.co/hJBiUDRw #

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energy_chain.mp3

2011-11-28T21:07:00Z

http://sc-fa.com for more info

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-11-27

2011-11-27T08:25:00Z

These 32db cut earplugs are not enough to drown out the awful awful music as #Safeway #
Kre-o, I don't know who you are, but 10 year old me doesn't care, these not-Lego transformers are awesome. http://t.co/SW6VMf1c #
I published a Thing on @thingiverse! http://t.co/0PR153VI #thingalert #
I published a Thing on @thingiverse! http://t.co/uCmzbQQ7 #thingalert #
Hmm. Feeling' kinda crunky. http://t.co/mwb6m0v0 #

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-11-20

2011-11-20T08:25:00Z

My 3 year old and I were having fun playing with tinkercad.com tonight. Building my case to get a makerbot thing-o-matic #
iTunes Match is available. IT'S AWESOME. #
I published a Thing on @thingiverse! http://t.co/TlzERDlQ #thingalert #
I'm joining the 3d printing revolution. I ordered a thing-o-matic. #
2 days after I order a thing-o-matic, here comes the printrbot, a $500 3d printer. http://t.co/ut78vqWG #

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This is not a distraction

2011-11-19T04:27:24Z

I ordered a thing-o-matic. It should arrive in a month. Then another month to build it. Then I can get on to the important task of making beatseqr keychains.

No, but seriously, I think I can prototype top panel layouts and button arrays using the 3d printer. That could be a welcome change from the seemingly endless cycle of wasted time and money while producing new… things. Crap. I’m supposed to not say any more, aren’t I.

wholelotofones.mp3

2011-11-17T19:52:50Z

http://sc-fa.com for more info

A slow march

2011-11-16T05:44:42Z

The new baby in our house is almost 3 months old. We’re still on a pretty unpredictable sleep schedule, so doing much in the garage has been next to impossible. I have, however, acquired a couple of work desks to make my production environment more official. Doesn’t look like much, but it’s a huge step up from what I was using previously.

I really can’t say when I can kick back into gear, but there have been signs of progress lately beyond the desks. I don’t want to say much yet, but there’s something coming to me in the mail soon. Then I’ll be extra not talking about it until its working, then more not talking about it until I can figure out the enclosure and whatnot. It might be fun. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be fun. I’m predicting a high chance for fun.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-11-13

2011-11-13T08:25:00Z

Yawn. 2 month old baby. I can't wait to get back on a regular sleep schedule. #
In the unlikely event of his winning, would Herman Cain be the first professional special interest lobbyist to become president? #
I helped fund this kickstarter project for a grassroots radiation detection network in Japan. Check it out:
http://t.co/98Bpp8xT #
coming up next: Mic Check Day 12/12/12 #

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2011 small budget 3d printer round up

2011-11-11T02:38:37Z

Now that I’m a dad, I’m starting to realize that I need to give my kids the cutting edge advantage like my dad did for me. For him, it was getting us an Apple ][+, at no small expense. It was a huge gamble, but my dad was right to take the risk. It paid off for my brother and I. It wasn’t just that my dad committed the family resources to an unproven technology, it was that he could see that this technology was the start of an important new path that his kids would have the option to travel down. The sooner we could start, the better. Who knew where the path would lead? Nobody.

For my kids, I think 3d printing is going to be one of the important tools of their lives. It uses the stepping stone that I was given and takes it further. Now not only can you visualize anything your mind can think of, but you can hold a copy of it in your hand. No doubt that 3d printing at home is in its infancy, much the same way that computers at home were when I was a kid. So, to me, 3d printing appears to be the most likely tool my kids can have to propel them into their future. In my opinion, a 3d printer in the home will foster: problem solving skills, imagination, healthy non-conformity, the concept of iteration, no fear of being wrong or failing, and hands on application of the scientific method.

So, I’m in research mode. Here are the links I can find to commercially available sub-$5000 hobbyist 3d printers. I’m mostly focusing on fused deposition modeling type printers. The other technologies I’ve seen for 3d printing are either experimental, lacking in resolution, lacking in base affordability, or the media is too specialized (and presumably expensive).

MakerBot Industries has one called the thingomatic. These guys have been at the heart of the maker/DIY front and honestly, they have a lot of momentum. Their machines are iterating very quickly, and they have a huge community rallying around their project. Their laser-cut plywood product is undoubtedly borne from the DIY mentality their product aims to foster. They have some super nice features like an automated build platform, and a new dual extruder head option. They’ve generated a lot of buzz about attracting $10M in investor funding, so it’s likely they will be able to afford support staff for the foreseeable future. Has Mac software available and/or printing from an SD card. Their wiki and build instructions are incredibly detailed. $1,299 kit, $2,500 assembled.

Reprap, represents the wild west of 3d printers. It sort of kicked off the DIY 3d printer revolution happening now. As such, it’s really focused on bootstrapping quickly with the least amount of time spent on worrying about what the machine looks like. (what the machine looks like?? Look what it’s DOING!) There’s no official source for parts. That’s kind of the point, though. It’s open source, so you need to find someone who will print our the parts for you (and you presumably pay them)

botmill surprise! a presumably reputable source for reprap based 3d printer design. No exterior enclosure, all wires exposed. This machine will undoubtedly appeal to the mad scientist crowd. $1,395.00 assembled. Pretty cheap, actually.

Ultimaker The videos I’ve seen of this thing are of it printing really really fast. Designed and sold out of the Netherlands. €1,194.00 base (kit)

UP! best consumer based enclosure design. The machine itself looks great. Sensible and clean. Definitely made to alleviate concerns about reliability and reputability. Looks like a real product. Compact. Comes with integrated software. Higher on the price scale. Has Mac software. You’d think they could price it under $2650+~$150 shipping. C’mon, China. What the hell. Alibaba says I can buy whole laser engravers for that price.

RapMan. Pretty. laser cut clear acrylic. Alibre sells software, so they probably will support the machines they sell for a while. With the revolution happening at the pace it is, your mileage may vary on how long they do support it. (5 years?)

Bits from Bytes 3DTouch lots of options for number of print heads. mo’ printheads, mo’ problems. It may be the most capable from an aspect of possibilities, but the workflow must be significant to munge multicolor GCode. Maybe not.. It’s probably right on the edge of being past the scope of being a machine for the home.

buildyourcnc’s white ant I have the buildyourcnc.com blacktoe 2×4 cnc machine and it’s great. Their white ant 3d printer is still in active development, and given the flexible nature of their design ethos, this could be cool. The downside here is that you can’t buy everything you need right from them. You have to pick up some of the required parts from MakerBot. Which is kind of a drag. What I think we owners of blacktoe and blue chick machines are waiting for is some word about why an extruder print head for our existing machines is impossible. I guess I could image why. I’d gladly replace my 3 axis control board with a 4 or 5 axis board if I could interchangeably use a router or a 3d printhead. GLADLY. Use the motion control table and hardware I already have for multiple tool heads? Yes, remind me why I can’t have this? A ridiculously large 2′ x 4′ FDM 3d printer. It’s probably impossible because its a ridiculous idea.

So, for me, time to make a verdict… and that task is pretty easy. MakerBot has the juice right now. I love how they’re dedicated to the movement and driving innovation. They have lots of instructions and a huge community. And funding, so more brains getting paid to focus on it means good things for the future.

If price is a sensitivity for you, buildyourcnc’s white ant would be a good choice, with botmill coming in a close second. If I was in the Netherlands, I’d probably go for the Ultimaker. UP! sure looks nice, but I can’t fathom why it’s so expensive. Cut the price in half and then it’s a horse race.