ShopBotTools CNC Routers How to Mesh Point Cloud with SketchUp Let’s confess: not everybody has talent to create an artistic 3D model. I don’t. I can create a couple of cubes in Google SketchUp (SU) and call it Toyota RAV4 (I suspect this is how they did it). But to create something a little more artistic let’s scan a thing, import point cloud into SU and make a polygon mesh model. I am aware of several triangulation tools for point clouds in SU, and though they arel limited to Delaunay triangulation method, these plugins are good! Let’s see how we can use them for My3DScanner: Points cloud triangulation by C. This is great plugin, but it requires delaunay2.rb plugin which you most likely will not be able to find : all the links are dead. Triangulate Points by TIG This is my favorite because it’s a package: you will get all you need in one place . Cloud_V8 (6,7.1) by D.Bur Draw a line_V1
Laser Cutting for Fun & Profit » Techspeak Laser Cut Flower I’ve been experimenting with laser cutting lately, and starting to get some results I like. It turned out to be more accessible than I expected, and what started as a single-purpose project is growing into an interesting creative outlet (You can follow my experiments on my Etsy store). Here’s what I’ve learned so far. Why & What to Laser Cut Laser cutting is awesome. Musical Notes Accent Mirrors Materials I’ve been working mostly with acrylic, which is light-weight, comes in a ton of colors, and relatively inexpensive (the images of my pieces on this page are all mirrored acrylic). Software I started out using Inkscape, an open source vector-based art program. Cutting As A Service I initially sent off the same design to two different cutting providers: Ponoko and Pololu. I now use Pololu exclusively, for two reasons.
Pricing guide to DIY CNC mill and router kits 18 DIY CNC kits from mini to mega Ponoko offers an online, on-demand CNC routing service where you can upload your design file and we’ll send you the CNC cut pieces. UPDATE: As of 18 February 2013, Ponoko is suspending its CNC routing service. But please check out our 3D Printing service and Laser Cutting service! But we know that lots of you makers would like your own CNC machine. This is a pretty thorough guide with brief introductions, images, and links to 18 different do-it-yourself CNC kits available for purchase. If you know of any other complete CNC kits available for purchase, please leave info in the comments. Also, I couldn’t have put this list together without the wealth of information available at the excellent and very active CNCZone forums. 1. Open hardware CNC & 3D printer kit. Successful Kickstarter project now offers complete kit for under $500. 3. Affordable & well supported project; perfect for beginners new to CNC. 4. micRo-kit™ — $699 6. 7. micRo m3-kit — $999 8. 9. 10.
10 Tips for CNC Router Aluminum Cutting Success « CNCCookbook CNC Blog CNCCookbook CNC Blog Folks often ask whether a CNC Router can cut aluminum. They’re used to seeing the primarily cut wood and plastics. My answer to this question is always, “Yes, if you do it right.” There are a couple of things to remember about how aluminum (and other metals) are different from wood or plastics. Metals have much smaller sweet spots (narrower range of acceptible feeds and speeds) than wood or plastics… The second thing is that for aluminum (and some other metals), there is a “stickiness” factor. Despite these challenges, you can cut aluminum very successfully on almost any router. 1. A CNC Router can cut aluminum, but it isn’t the ideal tool for it. 2. Look, you’re going to approaching the limits of what your machine can do in all likelihood. Once you’ve got one, your first problem will be dealing with the recommended rpms being too low. 3. One way to bump up the recommended rpm is to be sure you’re using cutters that are happy going that fast. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Conclusion
Stereolithography (SLA) | Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) | Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) SLS or SLA? There are quite a few things to consider when deciding which rapid prototyping process to use and these are mainly to do with the way each different process works and the materials they use. SLS machines are different from SLA machines in that they use a powerful laser to fuse together granules of material. The loose powder acts as a support for the parts, which means that no support structures have to be removed, and parts to be built can be stacked on top of each other filling the cube. The result is that SLS parts are generally cheaper than SLA parts due to the economies of scales from the build process. SLA materials come in quite a few varieties all with certain advantages.
Fab: The Coming Revolution on Your Desktop - From Personal Computers to Personal Fabrication:Amazon:Books Fab and over 2 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more Book Description Publication Date: 1 Mar 2007 What if you could someday put the manufacturing power of an automobile plant on your desktop? Frequently Bought Together Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought Product Description Review "Gershenfeld's account of the technology's evolution is delicious. About the Author Neil Gershenfeld is the Director of MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, and the former director of its famed Media Lab. What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item? 5.0 out of 5 stars Most Helpful Customer Reviews 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful Format:Hardcover I came to this book by accident. The book describes a mixture of zany and socially desirable case study applications of personal fabrication,the technology behind it,a discussion of the wider implications and a (too)short commentary on the dangers and ethical issues surounding self reproducing machines. By Jeff J. By D.