Taniith’s Relto

In the past couple days, I’ve discovered a few interesting things. First is Ponoko. They have a whole host of materials that they will laser cut (from felt to plastic to wood). I got a few small bits laser cut for Heek, but that was just in plastic. I’m now starting to think about my plan for Heek, and I think I might take advantage of Ponoko for some of it. I’m thinking something like interlocking MDF for structure (either laser cut or I’ll do it myself with a bandsaw somewhere). Maybe with decorative top parts, especially on the master box; I can actually get it cut and engraved in cherry or walnut to look like a real Heek table!

Ok, so that covers the box structure, but MDF is kinda boring. After some thought, I think I’ll go with a Steampunk theme. I’m going to get some sort of aged leather to put on the sides (while I can get engraved leather from Ponoko, I don’t think it’s worth it). Then, I’ll get aged, thin copper or brass to wrap the edges and corners. I’ll top it off with some tacks/rivets all around the metal. And it will be epic; far more interesting than just simple boxes like I was first thinking of. I already found some interesting thin (36 gauge) copper and brass foil, including some reclaimed rolls of the copper, so I ordered a sample pack to test the look and formability.

Also, another pair of sites I found were the MakerBot and the RepRap. Both are personal 3D printers that you (partially) build yourself. They are both pretty rough right now, but the development plans look pretty cool. The MakerBot is sort of an offshoot of the RepRap; Its more interested in usability while the RepRap is about building a fabricator that can replicate its own parts. RepRap is working on things like 3D printing circuit boards (and the actual transistors that are solder on as a pipe dream), so you can use it to replicate more of itself. MakerBot, on the other hand, is working on ideas like adding additional nozzles to use support material like the professional printers. That way, anything can be printed without the worry that overhangs will break before they have structure build up, or before they totally cool off/dry.

Its all very interesting, and I look forward to seeing where it goes. Now there are good way to get 2D stuff, laser cut pieces, and 3D stuff, and the possibility to build or buy all of those fabricators in some way. Dave has this idea he’s been saying for a bit that 3D printers will be so affordable by the time that I graduate that everyone will be able to pool together and get one as a gift. Who knows, maybe he’ll be right…. but then again, maybe I’ll have built my own by then ;p.

-K

I just watched this TED talk… I knew some perception stuff, but the way he puts it really opens your eyes (no pun intended). I also suddenly got several interesting game ideas, including one for my current MQP (not that things can be changed at this point, but still…)

Check out this article about the Museum of Jurassic Technology. This place souds totally awesome, and I want to go. Sadly, it is in LA, otherwise known as that place that I never want to go to again.

Oh well, I guess I’ll have to make do with watching Warehouse 13

On the Arduino forum, someone linked to this very interesting TED talk on the science of motivation. Its about 18 minutes long, but I think its well worth the watch.

Today was going great. I was working on Ayoheek and getting really far. Then, after dinner, I discovered that I suddenly had malware that made any link I clicked on google (in any browser) re-direct to other sites; and I couldn’t get rid of it. So I had to back up everything and re-install windows, which was made all the more difficult because of how Boxx setup my hard drives (the right way, but requiring a floppy with drivers for the Windows installer to work, which I had to figure out and make myself). I do this shit so often on my many computers that I’m getting fast, at least.

So now its just about 5am, and I didn’t want to be up super late tonight… but two things have suddenly made up for it:

First, I totally want to go to this restaurant!

Second… nano nano :D

Now for sleep.

-K

Hmm, I wonder when the last time I posted was. Lets just take a loo….. oh. Sorry bout that, my bad. Things got really busy at the end of the term there, and then I just sort of crashed. I’ll try to sum up everything.

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