Nikola Tesla's "Valvular Conduit" for your printing pleasure.

We started shipping the Ultimaker, parallel to that we publish the lasercut drawings.

This is the 5th version of my printable linear rail, I've gotten everything to finally work correctly. This can be used as a drop in replacement for a 3d printer's X or Y axis. It's rail system is designed to connect together to form any needed length.

This machine hopefully will be my entry for the Gada prize.


Update 06/16/2011:
I worked out a few modifications to the shuttle. Now the lower half of the shuttle can be printed as well, this removes:
4x 5/16(8mm) nuts
2x 5/16(8mm) bolts
2x 5/16 washers

-The next to go is going to be replacing the front 5/16(8mm) hardware with all printed parts. I'm trying to pare this down just the motor and the printed parts.

-I also redesigned the Large helical gear to incorporate the 608 bearing embedded inside of it. think this is an advantage of trying to use 2 bearings in the pillow block. The large helical gear is also now held in place by a printed 8mm bolt 40mm long. This removes one additional piece of hardware.

-The shuttle top now has 4 mounting holes, although I'm just securing the motor with 2 at this point.

-I printed 2 new 3-segment rails, redesigned lower half of shuttle to be printed.
-I also added 2 new pics of the x/y gantry system and uploaded all new parts - I should have another video.


Here is a youtube video of it in action:
youtube.com/watch?v=ScJMPw6UPtw

Comments and feedback are welcome.

I wrote a script to generate lasercut boxes. The script reads a config file with the box dimensions and generates a DXF file and an OpenSCAD model. We use the script for all types of cases here at metalab. The example file attached is the case of our electronic door lock system.

The script can be found here:
svn.clifford.at/handicraft/2009/boxgen/

You might need to install SPL (the scripting language I've used for the script) before you can use the script:
clifford.at/spl/

can't actually print it and I'm pretty sure it's off of the ground plane. whenever I try to render the rotation mechanism it crashes open scad on me. If anybody can figure it out I'll be forever grateful.

RotaVac is an experimental "centrifugal compressor", designed to be printable as a single piece and spun in a drill or machine to generate a negative pressure gradient.

RotaVac is designed to fit a standard 608 bearing like the sort used in Makerbots, so that a small nozzle (printed separately?) can be fitted through the bearing interior.

This is a pure experiment, and I'll post more when I have a chance to test it!

Safety is job #1, quality is also job #1, as is innovation.

Sometimes you might be working on a project and need a way of releasing something heavy without the risk of it landing on you. This self-locking release latch can be attached to carabiners on both ends and released by pulling on a string or wire through the middle hole. If the material being held is the right size the latch will lock shut without a spring.
Due to the geometry the force needed to release the latch is pretty much independent of the load being held, this prevents the latch from jamming.

It was inspired by the sea catch release latch and Vise-Grips.

Always wear your safety glasses. Do not use for large loads without checking the material properties and calculating the maximum load. Always design with a reasonable factor of safety. Don't be dumb, be safe.



youtube.com/watch?v=oQEopLOSnLg

This is a PostScript program to generate optical encoder wheels (suitable for printing out on a transparency). Unlike similar programs, it is highly flexible and has many features, such as:
-Correct inside and outside diameters, regardless of line width.
-Quadrature capabilities, with adjustable phase difference.
-Automatic scaling of text size.
-Optional index track, with adjustable size or automatic fitting to segment size.
-Automatic page filling with cutting allowances.
-Most features can be turned on or off.

Use this to guide your cables with.

This is a drag chain for the MakerBot extruder cable (or any other cable/wires).

It keeps your extruder cable out of the Z-stage belt and let your MakerBot look professional (kind of...)

The objects need very detailed printing in order to work. You definitely want a good tuned MakerBot and Skeinforge settings to print this (don't say I didn't warn you!).

The ZIP file contains GCode files for all objects, including 6 or 8 chain links on one raft. It might be the best to skeinforge the gcode with your own, tuned settings. The included GCode files worked for me (resp. my MakerBot), but (again): these are some really hairy objects to print.

An openscad parametric pulley for ball chain

This is an OpenSCAD parametric model for making THE timing pulley that you need. It's designed to generate a model printable without support material (observing the overhang rule of thumb).

You can configure it to fit the belt that you're using. The pulley can be fixed to a threaded shaft with a nut. On one side the nut (the setting for an M8 hex nut is configured for you already) will sink into the pulley. If you tighten a nut on the other side as well it will be very well fixed.

Another option is to use a set screw. You just specify the diameter of the screw and it will create a hub with a (capped) teardrop hole.

The STL file included works well with the Synchroflex(R) timing belt,1500Lx10Wmm from RS (order code 474-5892), spliced in half (to 5 mm width). This way you'll have a very good belt driven system for about 4 euros per meter. The belt comes as a closed loop, but you may need to glue it to get it to the right length.

Please share your settings in the discussion when you've tested it in combination with a commercial belt!