Interesting camera

I think this could be trained to recognize SMD parts for an automated pick and place machine.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/254449872/pixy-cmucam5-a-fast-easy-to-use-vision-sensor

3D Printer filament

I came across this on hackerday.com, it will be interesting to see the results.

http://bit.ly/19kwGbn

Delays

I've had a temporary set back in my cancer treatment am not strong enough to do any reprap stuff ATM. Back at it in a couple of weeks.

Printing a Robot Arm

For quite a while now the objects I have been printing have all had to do with extending, or improving, my Prusa.  So I decided that it was about time that I had  go at printing something else less machine  oriented.

So I found this on Thingiverse (Micro Robot Arm) and thought it would be fun to print it and to write the Arduino code to control it.

So the servos are ordered and I am starting to print the parts.  Photos and details to follow as the construction proceeds.

Update: 10 June

The main parts for the arm are printed, I am having problems printing the rack and gear.

Still waiting for the servos to arrive.

The future of 3D printing

It is nice to come across a post that helps to inspire you and make you feel that we are on the right track for the next generation.  Last year I took my Prusa to our local christmas faire and it was the kids who were most fascinated, a 6 year old who wanted one for making robots and a 10 year old girl who followed what was happening and pointed out at one point when I had forgotten to switch on the heated bed.  They get it.

So does this young inventor: An 11 year old and his 3d printer.

Making money on the side

My other half often asks if my 3D printer is ever going to make money (earn rather than print).  Up until today it seemed that the only way was to find local people who want to have something printed and to charge them  Finding these people has just got easier.  Enter MakerXYZ.

Raspberry PI Camera is now shipping.

I have been interested in the Raspberry PI with a view to using it as a driver for my Prusa, or as a general 3D processing workstation. e.g. Automating the production of GCode etc.  Well yesterday I found out that RS are now shipping the long awaited PI Camera module.  Well I just had to buy one and it should arrive soon.  I will post us my impressions of it once I get my hands on it.

Pi Camera module now shipping