Category: Perverse Applications of Science…

Posted the original ‘Miniature’ 3D Printed Pump to Thingiverse because someone requested it, didn’t expect the huge number of comments and feedback on it.  I think a few Reprap/Makerbot users were jealous of the resolution of the Up! printer so I figured I’ll up the ante a little bit more…

I present… Super Miniature 3D Printed Pump!  [Micro is reserved for something more ridiculous…] :-

Read on for a few more photos for scale and the obligatory video demonstration/test …

Continue reading “Super Miniature 3D Printed Pump using Up! (PP3DP) Printer”

Weee, found that I had a crap load of spare motors hanging around from a mini motor shopping spree at Shenzhen in China last year so I thought I’ll give the Up! 3D Printer a workout printing mechanical bits.

So far most of the demonstration models on the internet of this wonderfully “affordable” commercial ready-to-print 3D printer has been of decorative pieces and figurines etc.  The usual impressive stuff to try out on a 3D printer (guilty of printing an Elvis head/bust as my first test pieces).

What about Engineering prototypes though?  Will the accuracy of the printer suffice?  Are there any tricks?  Short answer is, yes it will work but there are tricks you need to know to work around the quirks…

Continue reading “Miniature 3D Printed Pump using Up! (PP3DP) Printer”

Though it was my first choice for this project, the Australian 2 cent coin has been withdrawn from circulation in 1992 and is rather difficult to get a hold of.  Next in line is the Australian 5 cent coin, which apparently at certain times the metal value exceeds the face value.  The important attribute for this project is the weight of the coin, the 5 cent coin is almost half as light as the 2 cent, 2.83g vs 5.18g respectively.  What kind of project is this where the weight of the coin is important?!?

Sometimes while trawling the  stupidities of some internet forums [or Youtube comments!!!], one is tempted to put their 2 cents worth into the discussion.  Though the temptation is strong, that usually means lowering yourself to posting in a stupid thread just to try in vain correct some idiots stupidity.  Thus the idea was born of giving someone your 2 cents [5 cents now due to aforementioned difficulties] worth in a different way…

The 2 cent/5 cent coin dispenser 🙂

Continue reading “My 5 cents worth… where 2 cents just isn’t enough”

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Most of my Shapeways Cufflink orders have arrived!  Only waiting for a few more designs but these came out so well I thought I’ll share them first.  For those of us who are curious on the material, these are 3D printed Cufflinks made out of Stainless Steel, impregnated with Bronze then plated with Gold!  Yup, what a lovely combination of materials.  Lets take a tour of the other designs, I’m going to warn that there will be shameless plugs to the Shapeways website for you to buy them if you’re interested 🙂

Continue reading “New Shapeways Cufflinks are here! Buy buy buy!”

OK so I’ve been silent on all fronts, on new posts and on answering requests in comments.  Sorry but its been hectic these past few months.

Though to make up for it, I’ve been an eBay/Shapeways/Ponoko shopaholic for the past week and a flood of new goodies should be arriving for me to make new erm general “weird shiat” , which hopefully ought to be interesting!

• Hyperboloid Stool
• Monofilament Chair
• GLID Transmutation Circle
• Cufflinks!
• Wifi Router Rover
• Teeny Weeny Solar Boat
• “My 5 cents worth” [Unless someone wants to donate to me about 500 2 cent coins, any currency]

Coming soon…Stay tuned… 😉