#HackAroundBerlin Tour Of The Berlin FabLab

My #HackAroundBerlin continues with a visit to the Berlin Fab Lab. This place is a product developers dream with a laundry list of high end prototyping equipment, from 3D printers and lasercutters all the way up to a full on CNC mill.

Special thanks has to go to the guys at the Space Sylvester, Laslow, Rose, Erick and Murat for making me so welcome.

The main public area 

Wood working area

Heavy Metal Lab

Composites Lab

These are little Lasercut models that the FabLab created to give away at Maker Faire Berlin  

The Challenge (Pimoroni vs Oomlout vs DoESLiverpool)

So in Sheffield we have just had an Open Source Hardware User Group event that brought a few makers, maker business owners, open source enthusiasts and social enterprises together.

Now after the event on Open Source Business we all adjourned to the Rutland Arms for a quick one before home.
Well that many Makers and Tech nerds in the same building it was bound to happen.  

A CHALLENGE between myself of Pimoroni,  Oomlout and DoES Liverpool 

The Challenge:

To build a device that can propel small light weight projectiles against a target. The ammunition can be chosen between from:

• Nerf Darts 
• Ping Pong Balls 
• Ball Pool Balls 

Design Constants:

Apart from of the shelf fixtures and fittings and available motors etc. the device can be made from no more then a single sheet of A0 (1200mm x 900mm) 3mm acrylic. Must be ready by MakerFaire UK.

Winning Conditions:

The greatest number of projectiles hitting against a target in 30 seconds.

I'll keep you up to date in my progress :) already have a few ideas 

 

Quick Tour Of Infinte Crypt @ThePortlandWorks

When I was with The Sheffield Hardware Hackers And Makers having a look at a new base of operations at the Portland Works click here to read that post.

Portland works mail system :)

One of the other business owners is James Wallbank CEO of a Start-up company called Infinite Crypt.

Infinite Crypt is a real Kickstarter success story, designing and making cost effective scale scenery for war games and table-top role play, composed of well thought out elements doorways,walls and even a great big face motif.  

James uses two HPC lasercuters two create the elements in kit from from 3mm MDF sheets. The thing I like is the couple of Hacks he has done to ease the process. The first thing to not that he uses a single industrial chiller to cool both of the 60 watt CO2 laser tubes buy hacking up a large Really Useful Box for and extra water bath.

But my favourite hack is using and old monochrome monitor with a Raspberry Pi to keep track on the temperature of the coolant going into the laser tubes. The nice thing about this hack he has taken a little monitor with very poor resolution and used ASCII art to create large numbers that can be easily seen from the other side of his workshop.  

Spot the Pi :)

You can follow @InfiniteCrypt

And on Facebook 

Improving Photos with an Overhead Camera Jig

As part of my New Years Resolutions I'm am going to make steps to improve my camera work. I have a very limited or no Budget to improve my camera equipment I have a Compact Digital Camera my Laptops webcam and my Android phone,This I have to make best of what I have, So:

I made an over head camera Jig:

Lasercut from 6mm MDF 

My compact Digital Camera sit snugly at the top of the arch 

I have shared this design on Thingiverse please feel free to download and remix. Personally I'm looking to make a actuator for the shutter button and somewhere for lighting. 

Happy Hacking