I’m trying out a new online service that hopes to enable makers to work together on open source hardware projects. 3D Orchard is a web service designed by three enthusiasts hoping to ignite the development of many more open source hardware projects. To that end, the service offers three features: A browser-based community-style 3D CAD…
In the wide world of manufacturing—from seamless iPhone assemblies to precision watch parts—who would have thought that the manufacturing of ping pong balls would be so dang fascinating to watch? Yes—the little plastic balls, which can often be found in packs of six at your local convenience store for less than $5, have a considerably…
Great things seem to happen when you put a video camera in the hands of somebody with fabrication knowledge. We’ve seen this numerous times before with Frank Howarth’s creative woodworking videos—not to mention a slew of other creative types. More recently, engineer Brett Foxwell, who also happens to work as an armature builder on such…
Are you a dovetail-cuttin’ master? Chance are, old Peepaw (or maybe your high school shop class teacher) taught you the woodworkin’ ropes on ‘real’ woodworking equipment. We’re talking equipment before the days of neon green laser guides, table saws that stop automatically when you stick a wiener in front of the blade, and smartphone ‘measuring…
In the (relatively new) world of on-demand services ranging from car rides to grocery delivery, winners can come out on both sides: the buyer is happy to have more time in their pocket and the seller has a steady line of revenue that previously might not have existed before—all from the convenience of a smartphone…