unLab http://www.unlab.ca London, Ontario's hackerspace. Where artists, makers and techies converge so that they can gather, create and improve. It's a playground for 'big kids' like you! Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:21:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 The Unlab is building a Kossel ! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/ak_nzL6W-SE/ http://www.unlab.ca/2013/04/10/the-unlab-is-building-a-kossel/#comments Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:59:34 +0000 vice http://www.unlab.ca/?p=4317 What is a Kossel ?
A Kossel is a type of 3D printer that is based on a delta robot.
http://deltabot.tumblr.com/

Building it
Unlondon Board approved our plan and the first batch of parts has been ordered.
We will try to have most of the building process on Thursday nights,
and everyone is invited to participate.

The three main parts of the printer are:
Frame+Motors+Arm
Electronics
Extruder + Hotend

The parts that have been ordered are for the first stage, the frame.
We already have the plastic parts needs (Wess painstakingly printed all of them).

We want to make our own electronic boards if possible.
http://reprap.org/wiki/Gen7_Board_1.4.1
If you have access to PCB making tools and want to help out that would be great.

There is still debate on what kind of hotend we will use.
This is one of the options, it is a all-metal design that was released just a few days ago :
http://e3d-online.com/

I’ll post more updates when the parts arrive and we start hacking.
Cheers,
Vice.



UPDATE:
Parts from TriDPrinting.com have arrived !
Frame construction to start on Thursday.
20130419_133817

20130419_134353

]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2013/04/10/the-unlab-is-building-a-kossel/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2013/04/10/the-unlab-is-building-a-kossel/ Sourcing Guide for building a RepRap 3D printer http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/E6ppcolLt_E/ http://www.unlab.ca/2013/03/28/sourcing-guide-for-building-a-reprap-3d-printer/#comments Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:58:19 +0000 vice http://www.unlab.ca/?p=4286 Here is a collection of useful links for anyone that wants to build or buy a 3D printer.


Kits
Full RepRap Kits:

Partial Kits:

Other non RepRap 3D printer kits 

Assembled 3D Printers (Should not be used unless you have access to someone to help you fix)

  

Designs

General Stores

Hot Ends: (Not full extruder, just the part that gets hot)

Electronics: (Assembled)

Electronics (Kits)

Electronics (Bare PCB)

  • Ramps 1.3 PCB(no ledgend) for USD 5. contact karandex on irc or email on karanchapehekar@gmail.com

Stepper Drivers 

Firmware:

Electronics Power Supply

Heated Build Platform (HBP) PCB

Stepper Motors (new)

Geared Stepper motor:

Cheap PCB fabrication:

Hardware links: 

Prusa Hardware Kit 

Belts&gears

608zz Bearings:

Springs:

Drive Gear

Precision Linear Rod (used):
Used/Broken HP and MicroTek flatbed scanners are great sources for high quality 8mm linear rod and bronze bushings, as well as a pile of other useful bits (optical endstops, tin-can steppers, etc…).  Avoid Epson flatbed scanners, as they use 7mm linear rod.

Precision Linear Rod (8mm): 

Threaded Rod:

Self aligning linear bushings:

LM8UUs:
Please add sources

IGUS High Density plastic bushings:

    

Brass Bushings

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G15956 $1 a peice, great little Bushings
Note: The linked part numbers are for M8 rod.  If you try to use them on 5/16 rod, you will find that they bind, because the extra slop makes it impossible to align them.


Cheap PID Controller

PLA/ABS Plastic Filament

 *  protoparadigm – ordered 1.75mm PLA, seems to work well, fast ship.
 
Polyimide (Kapton) tape

]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2013/03/28/sourcing-guide-for-building-a-reprap-3d-printer/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2013/03/28/sourcing-guide-for-building-a-reprap-3d-printer/ Change of occupation http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/cA_kVyMUHwY/ http://www.unlab.ca/2013/03/15/change-of-occupation/#comments Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:37:47 +0000 Wess http://www.unlab.ca/?p=4219 There comes a time in a broken tables life, when it think’s:

“What would life be like, if I did not choose the career path of a table?”


“Why did my MAKER, not make me strong enough to hold the weight of more than a bag of chips?”


“What did I do, to deserve someone missing the couch and sitting on me, am I that transparent!?”


Well the day has come for this table to take it’s best parts, hold it’s head up high, arms up strong and get spools on like Donkey Kong! Avoiding life’s dustbin in the unemployment line.

I present to you… SP0000000000L HOLDER!


I wish you luck in your new endeavors, you’re a Champin’ Playr! ]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2013/03/15/change-of-occupation/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2013/03/15/change-of-occupation/ Fire Drill Feb 4th http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/-u6JqbSl0Gs/ http://www.unlab.ca/2013/02/02/fire-drill-feb-4th/#comments Sat, 02 Feb 2013 14:43:59 +0000 stuart http://www.unlab.ca/?p=4166 The Research Park semiannual fire drills conducted by the UWO Fire Department in conjunction with the London FD are scheduled for Monday, February 4 between the hours of 8:30am – 3:30 pm. These mandatory drills  take approximately 15 minutes to conduct. All three of our Research Park buildings will be completed on the same date.

Just a reminder if you are in the lab and the fire alarm goes off. Please exit the building and wait in the parking lot across the road from the front of the building. If this occurs during office hours other building tenants will be waiting there as well.

]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2013/02/02/fire-drill-feb-4th/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2013/02/02/fire-drill-feb-4th/ See a need, Melt a need? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/s8LYNyubIp0/ http://www.unlab.ca/2013/01/27/see-a-need-melt-a-need/#comments Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:09:45 +0000 Wess http://www.unlab.ca/?p=3995 One of our unLab community sculpture artist members, was looking for a better tool for defining lines in wax and melting / cutting PLA 3D models to clean them up.



Avi was using a wax carver from foredom




Looked like a fairly nice tool, but all the end bit’s we’re too blunt for what Avi wanted, which was the sharp precision of an X-ACTO:







A quick brainstorm of what we had to work with and then off to the Batcav… unLab.




First attempt:
Bore out the X-Acto knife blade holder threads with the drill press to 3mm, which is required to fit over the Foredom Wax Carver hot end. This was too much and all the threads just pulled right off blade holder.




Second attempt:
Shave down one of the brass extra blank end bits. Working as a heater core, for a smaller bore hole in the X-Acto blade holder, leaving a slight taper to add a friction grip with the brass core.



Worked like a charm!






Bore all the way in past where the blade hits the bottom of the holder and sliced a thin line in the tip of the brass core with the unLab Dremel. To grip the blade, to prevent the blade from spinning around the core. Found a 1/4 flange washer and nut in the extra parts bin at the unLab, so the blade would grip nice and tight and

put the puzzle together.






Made a gag faux product box of what should exist in the real world with FOSS gimp editing software:

X-ACTO Hellfire Series, now that’s hawt!





Let’s have a look inside:
Nice limited edition h4><0r'd signature.





Time for a test:
X-ACTO Hellfire ASSEMBLE!






Avi giving the tools of the trade, a test drive:

It slices, it dices, it makes julienne wax figured fries!






Last test 3D printed PLA, touch up, melt/cut:

Cut’s like a knife through Marag Dubh…






Faux Product completed and shipped,

Avinash approved!

Says “this will help him greatly with all that FINE detail”. Avinash does awesome work check him out @ http://aysculpture.deviantart.com



300°C Degree knives what could go wrong? If you cut yourself, it just cauterizes the wound for you, DoUbLe BoNuS!



To have more hack-ventures with me, drop me some tweets @WessleeT




Or come hang with us, on a community collaboration night! Every other Thursday, open and free public access, you can help with some inspiring thoughts in the create & critique process.
@unLab




Products used in this hack, X-Acto Blades & Foredom Wax Carver bit’s are trademarked by their respectable companies, in no way is this a factual product or affiliated with said companies. ]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2013/01/27/see-a-need-melt-a-need/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2013/01/27/see-a-need-melt-a-need/ Print Your Part Event http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/kMBP3gRjlBM/ http://www.unlab.ca/2012/11/01/print-your-part-event/#comments Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:17:27 +0000 Devon http://www.unlab.ca/?p=3926 Curious about 3D printing?

Would you like to get a part printed?

Techalliance will be hosting a 3D printing event on November 21 in partnership with Javelin Technologies.

Learn about this rapidly advancing technology, and see a live demonstration.

For more information and to register, visit Print Your Part

]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2012/11/01/print-your-part-event/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2012/11/01/print-your-part-event/ Lab iMac not available this Fri-Sun http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/8MWd6aesazc/ http://www.unlab.ca/2012/10/30/lab-imac-not-available-this-fri-sun/#comments Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:56:35 +0000 stuart http://www.unlab.ca/?p=3923 The iMac located in the podcast studio will be not available this coming weekend (Nov 2-4)  as the folks who allow us to use it, namely The London Short Film Showcase requires it’s use for a few days.

It will be back for Monday.

]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2012/10/30/lab-imac-not-available-this-fri-sun/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2012/10/30/lab-imac-not-available-this-fri-sun/ Augmented Reality Conference http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/KAAWT8uHpkU/ http://www.unlab.ca/2012/09/28/augmented-reality-conference/#comments Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:00:09 +0000 stuart http://www.unlab.ca/?p=3913 Hi,

 
There’s a conference on Augmented Reality in Toronto on Oct. 5. Just passing along info in case anyone is interested in that technology. There will be speakers from industry, research and art there, along with small group sessions. Bruce Sterling is the keynote speaker. There’s also a discount code in the information below if you’d like to register.
 
Devon
 
—–
 

Augmented Reality is becoming a major industry, and Ontario is leading the way. Researchers, developers, artists and anyone interested in AR will be gathering at Canada’s largest Augmented Reality conference on October 5, 2012 to share strategies, technologies and insights.  The event will be held at the Bram & Bluma Salon at the Toronto Reference Library (Toronto, Ontario).

 

The conference is drawing several of the world’s leaders in AR, including Wired Magazine contributing editor Bruce Sterling, a sci-fi author and AR guru, who will deliver the keynote, as well as Gene Becker, principal instigator of Samsung’s mobile and service user experience design group, and Helen Papagiannis, one of Canada’s foremost AR designers and consultants.

The conference is organized by the Ontario Augmented Reality Network (oarn.net).   As a valued supporter of OARN, Western University faculty and students can take advantage of a discount that you can pass on to your contacts: ”WESTERNSAVE25″.  This code will save $25 off the registration fee.  The code can be used an unlimited number of times, though the number of tickets for the event itself are limited.

For more information, see www.oarn.net/conference

]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2012/09/28/augmented-reality-conference/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2012/09/28/augmented-reality-conference/ Culture Days at the Unlab http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/GL7HFp5HMJ0/ http://www.unlab.ca/2012/09/24/3903/#comments Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:30:36 +0000 stuart http://www.unlab.ca/?p=3903 The UnLab is taking part in Culture Days this weekend, from 10am – 4pm on Sept. 28, 29 and 30. Stop by and check out what the UnLab has to offer — a podcast studio, work area, computers and electronics for projects, and tools. We’ll have interactive digital media projects you can try out, a 3D printer making things, and we can explain how you can get started creating with these technologies.

Culture Days is a collaborative coast-to-coast-to-coast volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. With the support of a National Steering Committee and volunteer Provincial and Territorial Task Forces, thousands of activity organizers self-mobilize at the grassroots level to present and coordinate free public activities that take place throughout the country over the last weekend of September each year. This year, London has one of the largest Culture Days events in Canada.

UnLab members — if you’re interested in helping out this weekend, or have projects you’d like to let visitors play with, contact Devon at delliot8@uwo.ca

For more information about Culture Days, search for London at http://www.culturedays.ca/

]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2012/09/24/3903/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2012/09/24/3903/ Call for proposals for Sooncon 2012 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/unlab/~3/LJS2Xn6lLWs/ http://www.unlab.ca/2012/09/07/call-for-proposals-for-sooncon-2012/#comments Sat, 08 Sep 2012 02:46:04 +0000 stuart http://www.unlab.ca/?p=3895 
From the inbox:
Sooncon is the annual southern Ontario conference for makers and hackers
running since 2009. As usual we’ve got talks, show and tell, and a party.
It will be hosted this year by the DIYode Community Workshop in Guelph,
Ontario, Canada. Sooncon 2012 is being held on Friday September 28th and
Saturday September 29th. The party on Friday will be at the DIYode’s space
and the rest of the conference will be at Innovation Guelph. We need
presentations for the Saturday main event and lightning talks for the
party the night before.

If you would like to submit a proposal send some details to
sooncon at sites.on.ca.

If you would like to see examples we have schedules from previous years.
http://sooncon.ca/?page_id=42

http://www.diyode.com

Thanks
-- 
David Croal, DIYode Community Workshop
]]> http://www.unlab.ca/2012/09/07/call-for-proposals-for-sooncon-2012/feed/ 0 http://www.unlab.ca/2012/09/07/call-for-proposals-for-sooncon-2012/