PepperPotts: Awesome!!!! I'm up for helping you in any way that I can, boss. :p
Lace: That makes two of us. It's looking really good so far. Good enough I'm about ready to slap the name IZation Labs above the door and publicly name it the official head quarters.
PepperPotts: I can't wait to work in the shop again...
Lace: Heads up! New post coming soon, pictures and video involving my new blast furnace!
Lace: I use what's called a schrader valve. You can purchase the kind you need from your local auto parts store (an AutoZone for example). This is the same valve used on bicycle and vehicle tires. You'll want the kind that is self sealing and simple screws down tight, they are easiest to attach for air cannon applications.
mr cool: What type of air fiting do you have on the air tank of your air cannon to get air in to it?
3D printers and Blender. What more could a SAG major ask for?
I’ve been toying with the idea of modeling a quality… something, using Blender, with intent to go ahead and print it using the services presented by shapeways.com, where I have been a member for some time now. Maybe If I get the right spark of inspiration (and some cash) I’ll give it a shot!
Until then, check out this 3D printer. We are well on our way to some interesting changes concerning just how much physical effort is involved in the prototyping process. If we can get the quality of prototypes printed by 3D printers up to that of standard injection molding, the production world is going to be flipped upside down.
These input devices could drastically change the way you get things done when it comes to computer interfaces!
And they call it the Optimus Maximus Keyboard. This thing isn’t your daddy’s keyboard, it’s the keyboard of the future. (At least, a future where you have nearly $1600 to spend on a computer input device.)
So why is it so special? Well, take a look down for a moment. See that old school keyboard just laying there in front of you? Well the Optimus Maximus Keyboard can transform into a killer robot!
Okay. So, not really. But what it can do is just as amazing. This keyboard has a single OLED screen for each and every button. Meaning you can change the image on every key, as well as the function. Still not convinced? I don’t think I can describe the awesomeness of this concept in words, so check out this video instead.
For an interesting side note, this if for you College-Now students who are really into Blender as well as anyone else who would have need for a better input environment for any kind of graphic work. This ‘iFrog’ has near the same input capabilities of a standard keyboard packed into the palm of your hand. More importantly, you could use it for Blender work to access all your hotkeys and necessary buttons with one hand and keep the other on the mouse (which is how Blender was designed for maximum efficiency).
Image from http://images.macworld.com/images/legacy/2005/02/images/content/frogpad2.jpg
And last but not least, C-N students, I’ve heard you are possibly looking into building a Blender machine? Check out the IZL forum, I’ve started a new thread under general projects where we can talk about it, as well as any future plans, (render farm, maybe?)
…no post! Sorry. This is what happens when school gets more difficult. I promise to make more of an effort from now on.
So for now, check out hackaday.com and this little comic. I recently purchased a new drawing tablet for my computer. Here’s some output from it. Click the image for full size! I need to change some things on the site, so keep an eye out for a face lift in the near future, too.
