With 2020 the way it is, celebrating Christmas might be a bit lonely for some. Maybe you’ve been cooped up “two weeks” already. Maybe you’ve thrown off the restraints of government tyranny. Either way, everyone needs a good hug. You can’t do much about social distancing and the rampant virtue signaling, but you can do…
With 4K screens the norm nowadays, you would think there are many an option for portable 4K displays. Well, there are. There are just a couple of problems. First of all, there are a lot of options. Second, the combo of 4K, touchscreen, and features means a price point that skimps on one or the…
German startup iFactory3D has now launched their inexpensive belt 3D printer on Kickstarter. Inspired by the 3D print community, Artur Steffen and Martin Huber developed an open source belt 3D printer design way back in 2018. They posted this design on Thingiverse, and apparently received demand from visitors to provide a kit to build the…
Well, they’ve done it. They’ve hacked into our brains. Barely a day after my neurons were all a-buzz with interstitial activity over the thoughts of the next-generation console as “mini-fridge”, Microsoft busted out a premier release of a CGI trailer for their new Xbox Series X Fridge and it’s slick! Now I’m pretty sure they…
Reproductions of the classic Darth Vader helmet can be found all over the web. I’ve seen them in construction paper and EVA foam. But when it comes to Darth Vader constructed in metal, the Gold Point Props (GPP) build is as epic as the voice behind the mask! Finding this video afforded a welcomed moment to reminisce of…
It’s always fun to watch someone repair something that looks beyond the point of fixing. It takes vision, creativity, and some serious craftsmanship. An this is what’s on display at The Small Workshop (TSW) YouTube channel. Man, what they can do is just crazy! The channel features homemade tools and workshop projects specializing in wood…
Ah, the shower – the last bastion of human privacy. In it, relief is attained, life-changing decisions are made, and some of the best acoustics can be found. Anyone can be whoever they want to be in the shower, even a Grammy-award winning singer. So why not up the ante and add some tunes during…
Adobe announced the coming availability of a new feature in their Capture app: Scantastic. The Capture app, which is available for iOS and Android platforms, has been around for a while and has been used in the Adobe ecosystem for capturing vector graphics. One of the frequently used functions in graphics arts is to convert…
Mezco Fabrication creates all sorts of custom metal fab projects. You may remember the 12 gauge desk organizer we featured a while back, design by Bryan Lagrange, CAD Manager at Mezco. Well, recently he shared a very cool, custom fire pit design which includes a top cover that converts it into a chimenea. Based in…
MakerOS produces a cloud-based system designed to assist companies “making” things for others. While that sounds straightforward, it’s actually quite a complex set of tasks: product designs must be iterated, discussed with clients, invoices sent, files shared, and more. All of this must be tracked as well, and done at scale. MakerOS provides a platform…
Have you ever sat on a chair and thought, “Man, I wish there was a more comfortable place to sit”? Well, there is – it’s called the sofa. Still, the limitations of the conventional office chair limit you to sitting, ooooor shifting from one butt cheek to the other. Try sitting another way and you’ll…
With just 88 of them made worldwide, the Aston Martin V12 definitely fits the bill when it comes to rare cars. By combining elements from some of the car company’s most revered models and infusing them with aeronautical design, the Aston Martin V12 feels very much like the culmination of all their work built under…
An incredible demonstration of the capabilities of belt 3D printers has been completed: a 20 foot (6-meter) long part has been produced. Karl Brown of NAK 3D Designs achieved this incredible feat on a pre-release version of the upcoming 3DPrintMill from Creality, likely as a demonstration of its capability. Belt 3D Printers Belt 3D printers…
Crocs, Inc. is an American company based in Niwot, Colorado that offers comfortable leisure footwear and is known for innovation. In 2020 Crocs sales have surged partly due to people staying at home in response to COVID-19. The company saw a 14% increase in March 2020 when compared to 2019 sales numbers. Crocs has done…
Different pillow types fit different people. I, for instance, like rock-hard pillows and can’t stand pillows that are too soft and airy. You might think the opposite, which is why pillow companies work tirelessly to create a wide variety of choices for those with distinct sleeping patterns and behaviors. There have been countless attempts to…
It’s always nice to see old machines get a new lease on life, and old cars are no exception. After digging their 1950 Chevrolet pickup truck out of the junk yar, the guys at Hagerty decided to take it apart and restore it to its former glory. While they have taken the liberty to fix…
If you’ve always dreamed of making your own robot or love the STEMI Hexapod bot but never had the technical know-how to do so, then boy do I have just the robotic dog for you. The Bittle may not be the giant, Gundam-sized mech of your dreams, but it’ll definitely get you started in the…
I’m reading a fascinating story about how a small motorsport company is using 3D printing in a very different way. The company is Finland-based JML-Sports, which is an automotive company specializing in rebuilding decades-old “cult cars”, like the Toyota Celica or the Mitsubishi Lancer. It’s the brainchild of Finnish rally car driver Jari-Matti Latvala, Latvala…
It’s one thing to make a stunning light fixture, but it’s another thing to make a statement with it using a whole different medium. San Francisco-based industrial designer John Mauriello is well-known for his ability to create eye-catching and functional designs, but the effort that went into his Coral Lamp Lighting Collection is something else…
We’ve covered our share of multi-tools in the past, from the classic Leatherman all the way to the heavy-duty COMBAR. But none of these tools are as small as the one I’m going to show you today. The Claw by London-based design company Malboro & Kane is a multi-tool that measures only 18mm. That’s less…
BMF has released details about their new industrial-grade 3D printer targeting the micro parts market – the microArch S240. Projection Micro-Stereolithography The Boston-based company has been on our pages earlier this year when they revealed their technology. The resin-based 3D printing process they use is called “PμSL”, for “Projection Micro-Stereolithography”. PμSL is able to achieve…
It’s been a while since we’ve checked in on BLACKHAND, who has since taken a break from his famous matchstick creations to focus on less flammable projects. His latest work isn’t as grand as the others but it’s definitely going to interest you if you enjoy playing racing games on your mobile phone. Using pieces…
There’s rarely worse pain in life than stepping on a stray LEGO block (and I speak from experience). First-world problems, right? Yet, it’s sad so many floors are littered with LEGOs. We could blame the kiddos, but… we buy the LEGOs, encourage their imagination and, dogonit, there’ll be time to have a clean house after…
We may not all have a complete scientific understanding on how radio frequency identification (RFID) works, but we do know it plays an integral role in how our credit and debit cards transmit data, and includes our passports and driver’s licenses. Should someone happen to use an RFID scanner without your knowledge, they can easily…
With months of self-isolation getting to him, YouTuber The Q thought it would be a good idea to buy a pair of Nike Air Force shoes. He must not have thought too far ahead however, because now he has a new pair of shoes with nowhere to run. What’s one to do? Recreate the same…
Software company nTopology has announced a hefty Series C funding round set to accelerate its offerings of engineering design tools for advanced manufacturing. The $40 million round is led by Insight Partners and joined by Grant Verstandig and existing venture partners Root, Canaan, DCVC, and Haystack. Insight Partners’ Josh Fredberg is joining the nTopology Board…
For some, using a CNC machine may be an intimidating skill. If you don’t have access to one or someone who knows how to use one – nevermind the cost of most commercial CNC machines – it’s difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, desktop CNC machines are becoming more prevalent. The CNC ONE is…
If you’ve never watched a Studio Ghibli movie before, stop what you are doing and watch one now. From ever-popular classics like My Neighbor Totoro to the most recent 2014 release When Marnie Was There, the distinct art style, animations, and methods of storytelling are wholly unique and what I like to call, “classic Disney…
I bumped into a 3D print accessory I’d never heard of, and think it’s a pretty good idea. The accessory is “Plastic Repellent Paint”, distributed by Slice Engineering. They are a reseller of unusual components for 3D printing since 2017, and their product line consists of a few exotic hot ends, replacement parts, accessories, and…
It seems that Creality is developing a belt-driven 3D printer, and that has several implications. Creality is well-known for producing several very popular and inexpensive desktop 3D printers that have gained lasting places in the community. The CR-10 was perhaps their first big hit, followed by the immensely successful Ender 3. Most recently they updated…
While most people remember the Nintendo Game Boy as one of the first portable game devices, they tend to forget the number of peripherals you could attach to it: a modded backlight to illuminate the screen, a Game Link Cable to connect two or more Game Boys together, the list of accessories goes on and…
MakerBot announced a new service called MakerBot CloudPrint, which is intended to deliver a seamless 3D printing experience to clients. MakerBot Print Up to now MakerBot 3D printer operators would use MakerBot Print to prepare and schedule jobs for attached MakerBot devices. That tool has been around for several years, and it’s proven to be…
For those who are only familiar with its Minecraft counterpart, obsidian is a volcanic glass formed when lava cools so quickly that a crystalline structure is unable to form. It isn’t terribly hard to find either, so maker Patrick Adair decided to combine his love of Minecraft with his love of making things to craft…
Without a doubt, if ever a virtual reality was needed, 2020 is it. With the insanity of social distancing, self-isolation, and tyrannical mandates looming, it’s important to get your exercise and stay healthy. With that, we need equally ridiculous, yet helpful products to make lockdowns bearable. While you SHOULD just GO OUTSIDE for a walk…
Or rather, for a sports car, but it’s a start. As of the moment, Porsche has succeeded in 3D printing production-grade pistons for the engine of their newest 911 sports car, the 911 GT2 RS. Now you might wonder why Porsche didn’t try putting 3D printed pistons on a vehicle with less demanding speed capabilities.…
You’ve spent countless hours and thousands of dollars on it, but have you ever wondered about what goes on inside your car whilst you’re driving it? Thanks to modern technology, Matt Mikka of Warped Perception helps answer at least ONE question mechanics and drivers have pondered: “Just what happens inside a car tire while it’s…
There’s now at least one new app that takes advantage of Apple’s new LIDAR capability. A few months ago Apple unexpectedly announced a new iPad Pro model equipped with LIDAR. LIDAR is a range-sensing technology that is often used in high-end equipment for 3D scanning, particularly for landscapes. Seeing it appear in an affordable consumer…
For those of you who don’t have the free time to play them, Cuphead is a side-scrolling, run-and-gun videogame created by StudioMDHR for the Xbox One and PC back in 2017. Heavily inspired by old 1930s cartoons, the game is famous for its hand-drawn animations, authentic watercolor backgrounds, and jazz music. To commemorate the game’s…
The tour of this makerspace just outside Denver and Boulder, Colorado took place in September 2019, long before COVID-19 flipped spaces like these on their heads. However, as of today, TinkerMill is open for business, albeit with several precautions in place. Take a peek inside this massive, and well-equipped space in the video below with…
Arkansas-based AMBOTS is developing a concept called “Swarm 3D Printing”, describing themselves as “an advanced manufacturing company with a focus on swarm 3D printing and assembly” that will bring us “the next manufacturing revolution.” “This technology aims to automate manufacturing with a swarm of smart and autonomous mobile robots, from everyday products to houses and…
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a method of using holography in 3D printing. Holography is an optical method of producing and recording a three-dimensional light field by using multiple light sources to create an interference field. You’ve likely seen holograms from time to time; they are those strange images that suddenly burst…
“If you want something to stand out, the best way to do so is to light it up like a Christmas tree.” Creators Ollie Hanton, Michael Wessely, Stefanie Mueller, Mike Fraser, and Anne Roudaut have taken this idea to heart and crafted a method to add light on any surface using a unique electroluminescent coating.…
Today I’m looking at a 3D printer I had not seen before, the Incus Hammer Lab35. Incus Background Incus is a spin off of Austria-based Lithoz, who have done very well with their line of ceramic 3D printers. Now it seems they’ve leveraged their expertise to produce a metal 3D printer that is capable of…
Already bored of his Formula 1 wheel-equipped hoverboard and walking bicycle, YouTube creator The Q’s newest vehicular project is a monowheel made entirely out of wood. I’ll be honest… I want to build one. In his latest video, he shows us just how he managed to create a driveable wheel which can hold a single…
Even if you don’t have the best poker face, you know there’s a lot of fun to be had with playing cards. You can use them as bookmarks, fling them into open hats, or with your card-flicking accuracy, pelt your friends with a ninja-flurry of hearts, spades, and clubs. While DIY YouTuber BLACKHAND’s new card…
Researchers at UC Davis have developed an unusual new form of 3D printing that uses Droplet-Based Multiphase Emulsion. One of the big challenges in 3D printing is the inability to handle multiple materials. Typical 3D printers of today can 3D print a single material at a time, with certain more advanced models being able to…
Here’s a question for all us maker types. “Is it possible to both cut and sand a piece of material simultaneously using a common table saw?” Having pondered the question himself, John Heisz on his Youtube channel I Build It could not hold back his curiosity any longer! He set out to give us all…
A new online service has emerged that hopes to guide 3D printer operators to better printing parameters: 3DOptimizer. FabControl SIA, the producers of 3DOptimizer, seems to be a spinoff from well-known 3D printer manufacturer Mass Portal. Their claim to fame was being able to achieve 3D prints of astonishing quality, so there’s definitely skill present.…
We’ve all been there before: your package arrives in the mail and you have nothing to open it with. It’s times like these we reach for the closest sharp object in the vicinity: a pair of scissors, a letter opener, an untrimmed fingernail. In my case? You guessed it. A Swiss Army knife. However, the…

















































