Category: General

Getting a 3D Printer can be expensive and not always what will work for you. So instead of getting a kit why not make one?
That is exactly what me and some friends over at MakerLabs did. We selected a frame on www.thingiverse.com and started from there.

First we got a frame assembled. We used 20×20 aluminum extrusions for the frame.

We then created  prototypes some parts to see which will wok best for the frame and design.

Then finalisation of parts in main colour. Even then it kept changing as is expected with prototyping.

Then I got most of my parts and started the real build.

Then when almost done with the build I started with calibration which took a week or two.

Now with the control unit sitting next to it and holding the ramps 1.4 and Raspberry Pi 3 B+, the build is almost done.

Building your own printer can be daunting but is extremely rewarding in what you learn and you save a little on cost also.
Unless your like me and burn out electronics because you don’t read specifications :p

Printed on a Prusa clone at 0.2mm layer height. Time 26 hours

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2245289
Fused filament fabrication, FDM Printing, 3D Printing

Weather balloon payload development and having a fun time doing it.

MakerLabs is going to participate more directly in the next weather balloon launch that Binaryspace launches on 4 August 2018 @ Deneysville. The callsign is Binary04.

MakerLabs’s payload has two components. Radio repeater and a community goal of a data acquisition module. The payload will include a temperature and humidity sensor that will store data using a data logger module. Everything will be controlled using a Arduino nano and powered with a LiPo 3.3v battery.

Optional sensors that can be included depending on how many participants assist in the build can include:

• altitude,
• voltage probe,
• solar cell.

Anyone that wants to participate in the project join us at MakerLabs and learn about electronics, robots, additive manufacturing, ham radio and even some magic the gathering if you feel brave.

So join us next time and have a blast doing learning all kinds of maker stuff.

Find us on meetup for regular meeting details.

We at MakerLabs are preparing to participate in the next weather balloon launch. This will include a science payload that still needs to be finalized.

So far we are going to either record temperature and humidity. Alternately we will record solar power performance at as it goes up so we would need a solar panel, power probe and altitude sensor.

Let’s see how it goes.

The previous launch was fun.

Payload

Prep

Release

Tracking

Recovery

So the HTC Vive Pro has been teased at CES2018 and it should come out this year. Lets hope it comes soon as I want an upgrade.

They say one can get just the headset and use your existing lighthouses. The extra sensors might be a great thing to get also.

https://www.vive.com/eu/product/vive-pro/

https://www.vive.com/eu/accessory/

Thomas Sanladerer has been doing stuff with 3D Printing for a long time and can be seen as an expert on the matter.

With his latest guide to build a Prusa Mk2 guide anyone can build a 3D printer as cheap as possible. On his guide he has the build items and where to buy them. He has also added some videos on the builds.

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The build continues and my parts are still in the mail. Ooh well it will happen soon.