SUREFLY! OOOOHHH, YEAH! E Engrenagens, a Roda de Genebra, um Instructable meu, 19(!) Programas CAD, e um Professor e seus Relógios

EU QUEEEERO!

Desde que apareceu o primeiro Quadracóptero que andava à espera que isto aparecesse, e agora...

Já cá tá!

E atenção, este veículo, não é uma carroça que se pilota a ela mesma, o que seria extremamante perigoso, pois podia até aterrar calmamente num Edifício em chamas.

É pilotável, cabe numa Garagem, e estará à venda em 2019:

The Surefly is Your Personal Octocopter That Flies Like a Drone and Can Even be Parked in Your Garage

The time has come. After 78 years, the helicopter has been reinvented. SureFly is a personal helicopter/VTOL aircraft designed for safe and easy flight. With eight independent motors each driving a single carbon fiber propeller, a backup battery power system, and a ballistic parachute to safely land in the event of emergency, the SureFly provides unparalleled safety for a personal aircraft.
SureFly is changing the helicopter industry. Now is the time to discover the affordable, easy-to-pilot, safe answer to personal flight.

http://workhorse.com/surefly

Ora aqui está um belo Mini-Curso, da Sculpteo, sobre Engrenagens, com a Teoria toda, e Links para onde mandar ou cortar a Laser, ou Imprimir a 3D, as ditas cujas.

Por isso, toca a aprender:

From 3D printed gears to functional mechanism
Boris Vaxelaire
 

In our previous blogposts, we explained how to create your own spur gear thanks to Sculpteo laser cutting service and to our 3D printing service. We now explain how to choose wisely between both technologies and how to succeed with each one.

 
https://www.sculpteo.com/blog/2017/06/21/from-3d-printed-gears-to-functional-mechanism/

Podem ver uma bela duma Roda de Genebra, na imagem acima, e se precisam de cortar ou imprimir uma, com N passos, pois não têeem mais do que seguirem este meu Instructable, que vos permite visitar um Site onde se calcula tudo para as rodas, e se cria um Modelo, que podem animar.

Daí, é um processo simples, que eu explico, para sacar esse modelo e transformar as imagens em desenhos Vectoriais, que podem depois mandar cortar por laser, ou imprimir em 3D:

Geneva Wheels À La Carte, to Sgv

Edgar

What Gizmo maker won't, some day, need a Mechanism that will transform a continuous rotation into a move-pause-move one?
That's the Geneva Wheel!

And the question is, where do you get a Vector Drawing of the parts, so you can Laser cut/3D print/machine from a template/whatever?
I've managed to make these parts in sgv format, from an Online Geneva Drive Generator, great program, highly configurable...

But I've not got an Svg directly! No such luck...
I've managed it by snapshotting that page, and then using both Gimp and Inkscape, to make Vector drawings of those parts.
And that's why I've made this Instructable.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Geneva-Wheels-%C3%80-La-Carte-to-Sgv/

Podem escolher, desta lista de 19 programas CAD, não é pouco, outra dica da Sculpteo, o Programa CAD que melhor vos sirva...

E são todos Grátis!

É bom.

Best free CAD software: Top of 20 simple CAD program
Claire Chabaud 

To make a 3D print, you need a 3D file, but to get it you don’t need to be an expert or have a significant budget; you can download 3D files from dedicated marketplaces or try to create it by yourself using 3D CAD & Modeling software. One of the main advantages of free modeling software is that they are often more intuitive than professional software, and are user-friendly for all experience levels.
Today we are going to give you an update about 20 Best Free CAD software for both personal or professional purpose that can be used to assist you in the creation, analysis, manipulation or optimization of a design

https://www.sculpteo.com/blog/2017/04/05/top-19-of-the-best-free-cad-software/

Todos queríamos ter tido um Professor assim...

Ensina a fazer Relógios, dos antigos, feitos pelos Alunos, a partir de Cartolina!

Abençoado.

Visitem este Site, convencidos que se vão fartar de aprender, porque é verdade, Mecânica, Autómatos, Relógios, tudo o que é Mecanismo:

Gears and Gravity: Finished Clocks (Day 13)

J. E. Johnson

Wow, took me long enough to post this. The last day of DEEP camp on June 28 and I learned so much from my students that I’ve been completely absorbed in revising the clock design that I haven’t taken time to post the photos of my student’s truly excellent work. Can’t wait for next year.
The video below shows six cardboard clocks running (mostly) all at once. What a lovely sound.

https://newgottland.com/2012/01/08/make-geneva-wheels-of-any-size/

 

 

Museu da Música Mecânica! E o FlashForge Inventor, uma DLP acessível, uma Dremmel de fazer em casa, e um Motor impresso em 3D!

Museu da Música Mecânica?

Eis algo de imperdível, para os lados de Palmela, uma Colecção de Caixas de Música, que só visto, obra do nosso amigo, o Prof. Luís Cangueiro, e só para terem uma idéia, visitem, para já esta Página, cheia de sons maravilhosos, de máquinas incríveis:

Mechanical Music Museum?

Something not to miss, near Palmela, Portugal, a Music Box Collection, you have to see, the work of our friend Prof. Luís Cangueiro, and just to give you a hint of the fun in that Box, here's ta page of the Bilingual Site, English version, too, hear the wonderful sound of some Glorious Gizmos:

A Colecção 

É constituída por mais de 600 peças que se movimentam por sistemas exclusivamente mecânicos, e abrangem fundamentalmente o período de finais do Séc. XIX até à década de 30 do Séc. XX, todas em estado de funcionamento. Trata-se de uma coleção particular, reunida ao longo de uma vida e representativa de toda a música mecânica. As diversas tipologias distribuem-se pelos mais variados instrumentos, desde as mais antigas caixas de música de cilindro de madeira ou de metal às mais recentes e populares grafonolas. É um privilégio podermos ver, ouvir e sentir peças centenárias que poderemos interpretar como um sinal da vida do homem através dos tempos, a expressão da sua cultura, a manifestação livre do seu poder criador.

http://museudamusicamecanica.com/a-colecao/

Eis uma Impressora 3D didáctica, com recuperação após paragem, opção de dupla cabeça de extrusão, câmara para visionamento da Impressão e mais uma data de coisas bos:

FlashForge Targets Education With Inventor 3D Printer LineTyler Koslow 

FlashForge has unveiled their latest 3D printer line. It includes the Inventor, a desktop printer geared towards educational use.

Like many other Chinese 3D printer manufacturers, FlashForge has thrived by balancing its efforts between affordability and performance. At the recently held Inside 3D Printing New York conference, the company was on the scene with their latest product line.

The new Inventor series is comprised of two different desktop 3D printers, both of which seem exceptionally intuitive. The Inventor is engineered for the educational sector, while the “II” 

model is said to operate with the intuitiveness of a smartphone

...

The build volume of this printer is 230 x 150 x 160 mm, and even includes dual extrusion via a MK9 extruder head. This allows for multi-color prints, as well as use of soluble support structures. It’s compatible with PLA, PVA, ABS, HIPS, and other speciality materials.

This new printer is also equipped with a heated build plate, while offering 0.1 to 0.4 mm layer thickness.

https://all3dp.com/flashforge-inventor-3d-printer-series/

Grande volume, acessível, cerca de 1600 dólares, e já à disposição no fim de Maio, eis um sonho de Impressora DLP, que imprime numa resolução incrível:

D2K Plus - Affordable DLP 3D Printer

Large Build Volume - 2K Resolution - Soonest Delivery in May, 2017 

To continue our success in the campaign "D2K Illuminate 3D Printer" in 2016, now we are glad to launch "D2K Plus 3D Printer" which is designed for those who demand larger size of printing, the build platform is much larger "198 x 120 x 150mm" whereas D2K Illuminate is only 121 x 68 x 130mm.  "D2K Plus" could satisfy most of designers or gadget lovers to accomplish their great ideas.  Not only large print platform but 2K resolution is kept unchanged, this is indispensable device for your development job . 

It's time to upgrade your printer to DLP technology, it brings along with lots of advantages that get rid of daily maintenance and fine-tuning. 

Our considerate design of "D2K Plus", you could be very easy to make further maintenance or proceeding with future upgrade by yourself.  Either electronic module or UV resins you can buy those replacement very easily in your local market or get it from us.   

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1037397144/d2k-plus-affordable-dlp-3d-printer

Já não há desculpa para não fazerem aquela engenhoca que imaginaram, por não terem uma Dremmel, façam esta, m casa, por cerca de 10 Dólares...
É bom! 

$10 DIY Dremel /RotaryTool

geekrex 

A Rotary Tool is perhaps the most used tool. It can Cut, Grind, Sand, Polish, Engrave with the Different types of bits.This small little DIY Dremel is easy to hold and cut metal, Acrylic, Drill PCB. Sand And Engrave too.

It is Easy to make and is very powerful.

It can work both with an adapter or with any battery Lipo, Lead Acid.

Mostly It will come really handy for future projects. 

https://www.instructables.com/id/15-DIY-Dremel-RotaryTool/step2/Designing-the-Enclosure/

E acabamos, por hoje, como começámos, com Maravilha Mecânica, desta vez...

Um Motor a Ar Comprimido, dum simples balão, que vicês imprimen em 3D!

Impecável:

Single Cylinder Air Engine

gzumwalt 

Before starting with this Instructable, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Instructables for featuring Single Cylinder Air Engine. I am indeed honored and humbled, again, many thanks.

Single Cylinder Air Engine runs on compressed air, a vacuum cleaner, a balloon, or even lung power. I've included three adapters in the design to interface with each. Please note the friction test video; your engine needs to pass this test before being successfully operated on balloon power.

The design incorporates two ports, one upper and one lower. When Single Cylinder Air Engine is viewed from the port side, "Wheel Piston.stl" rotates clockwise when pressure is applied to the upper port, and counter clockwise when a vacuum is applied to the upper port. As pressure or vacuum is applied to the upper port, the lower port functions as an exhaust (when pressure is applied) or an intake (when vacuum is applied). The opposite occurs when the lower port is used for pressure or vacuum. 

https://www.instructables.com/id/Single-Cylinder-Air-Engine/

Muáháháhá! Instructables e ideias geniais...

Um Efeito Especial barato, e seguro, SE for feito como deve ser... Maizena, e um Maçarico comum, produzem este espectáculo!

MUÁHÁHÁHÁ! 

Atenção Bombeiros, quando promovem Acções de Sensibilização, também serve como aviso bastante gráfico, do poder incendiário e explosivo de materiais aparentemente "inofensivos"...
Como qualquer material combustível, quando pulverizado, e armazenado sem cuidado, como pó de Cereais, pó de Serradura ou Carvão em pó.

Corn Flour Fireball

1veritasium

Corn flour blown through a funnel produces an excellent fireball. This both looks cool and demonstrates some interesting science. In any chemical reaction, the reactants must mix with each other significantly in order to increase the rate of reaction. Here we demonstrate that corn flour on a spoon burns slowly, but blown from a funnel, the reaction is dramatic and violent. This is because the surface area where the reaction can occur is greatly increased.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWEp_4fHX4Y&feature=g-all-lik

Um Instructable hilariante, como fazer o vosso Boneco Gagnam Stile, aconselho-o para se entreterem, quando os Uploads demoram que se farta... 
Ou quando estão a pensar na tromba do Patrão!  

http://www.instructables.com/id/Gangnam-Style-Paper-Machine/

O Movimento de Angariação de Fundos para Projectos, com Sites como o Kickstarter, está a fazer à Indústria o que a Internet fez ao Mundo. Democratizar o Consumo, e promover uma miríade de Ideias simplesmente... 
Bacanas!

Exemplo em foco, este incrível Micro-Projector!

Projecteo: A tiny projector for Instagram slide shows

Simon Crisp

Home slide shows of holiday trips used to be all the rage in the 70s, but these days most people prefer to share their snaps instantly via email or social media. But it appears many people are keen to bring the old fashioned slide show back with a tiny projector called Projecteo funded within just 24 hours of being launched on Kickstarter. The diminutive device uses 35 mm slide film to set your Instagram photos free from their digital confines and project them onto any surface.

http://www.gizmag.com/projecteo-instagram-projector/25040/

O Arduino não pára!

Eis uma maneira de controlarem os vossos Helicópteros controlados por Infravermelhos, usando o dito Arduino, que serve para de tudo um pouco...

Puzzlebox Orbit: Using an Arduino to Control an Infrared Helicopter
puzzlebox
 
In this Instructable we will explain how infrared signals are used by a remote to control a toy or device, then show how a simple circuit can be added to an Arduino to operate the same device through free, Open Source software.

This document is part of a series covering the Puzzlebox Orbit, a brain-controlled helicopter that features an open design, open hardware, and open software. The helicopter can be operated via an EEG headset plus either a mobile device or the dedicated Puzzlebox Pyramid remote control unit. The Puzzlebox Pyramid includes a micro-controller based on the Arduino.

While we refer to the Puzzlebox Orbit in our examples, the principles, source code, and to a large extent software are all directly applicable to most any toy or devices which use infrared (IR) for remote control.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Puzzlebox-Orbit-Using-an-Arduino-to-Control-an-In/

O Andrea Biffi, já cá figurou, e volta a aparecer com este Projecto para fazerem as vossas Panorâmicas Esféricas, usando um Arduino,  sem gastarem muito.

Serve ainda para aprenderem como o Arduino pode controlar um Circuito simples, e com Software Open Source.

Partindo daqui, podem conhecer o projecto mais amplo, onde controlam um Helicóptero a partir dum Headset, sim com as vossas cabeças.

É bom!

Light and Cheap Wood Panohead

andrea biffi

In this Instructable we will explain how infrared signals are used by a remote to control a toy or device, then show how a simple circuit can be added to an Arduino to operate the same device through free, Open Source software.

This document is part of a series covering the Puzzlebox Orbit, a brain-controlled helicopter that features an open design, open hardware, and open software. The helicopter can be operated via an EEG headset plus either a mobile device or the dedicated Puzzlebox Pyramid remote control unit. The Puzzlebox Pyramid includes a micro-controller based on the Arduino.

While we refer to the Puzzlebox Orbit in our examples, the principles, source code, and to a large extent software are all directly applicable to most any toy or devices which use infrared (IR) for remote control.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Light-and-Cheap-Wood-Panohead/

E para não vos assoberbar com notícias a mais, ficamos hoje bem com este último Instructable para hoje, uma Borla do nosso amigo Rob Ives, o Android para montar em Papel!

Android Robot - Print Out and Make

rob ives

Download, print out and make your own Android robot. This poseable robot is available for everyone to download for free.This project was originally published on the robives.com website.

The Android robot is the logo of Google's Android mobile device operating system.
This Android robot is modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

The project is poseable in three ways. The legs bend back and forth. The arms bend with two degrees of freedom The head rotates.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Android-Robot-Print-Out-and-Make/

Rokenbok, Inovação Brasileira, um Triciclo pedaleiro, e a Incrível Máquina da Pipoca!

Para a míudagem brincar, e os Pais "ensinarem como é", (Pooois...) mais maravilhas da Rokenbok:

ROK'n Roadways adds a dynamic twist to your adventure.

ROK'n Roadways is an awesome expansion set that allows you to connect and expand your Rokenbok world. Watch the road build it self as the roadway comes together for a loader to drive up and over just in time.

www.rokenbok.com/theater/988

O Brasil está atento à Inovação, e parabéns, Brasil, por ver mais adiante!

Da Agência de Notícias do Jornal Floripa:

Campo de batalha global agora é na inovação, diz diretor da área na ONU

O diretor-geral da Organização Mundial de Propriedade Intelectual (Ompi), o australiano Francis Gurry, veio ao Brasil para uma conferência sobre esporte no Rio e uma visita oficial a Brasília na última semana. Sua presença coincidiu com o anúncio pelo governo de uma contribuição de US$ 1 milhão à Ompi, órgão da ONU, e do estabelecimento de um centro de mediação conjunto.


Gurry, que foi eleito em 2008 com apenas um voto a mais que o candidato brasileiro, José Graça Aranha, saúda a crescente colaboração do país na Ompi e anota uma mudança de atitude, de três anos para cá, com maior aceitação da propriedade intelectual pelo governo.


Mas o Brasil vai mal nos rankings de inovação e patentes da organização, e Gurry alerta que "a inovação é, cada vez mais, o campo de batalha" global. Cita a disputa entre a americana Apple e a sul-coreana Samsung.


"É indicação do que vem por aí, ou seja, que cada vez mais a competição será baseada em inovação." Gurry diz que o Brasil será uma potência em inovação, mas "no futuro".

http://www.jornalfloripa.com.br/economia/index1.php

Eis um Triciclo que, francamente, qualquer um pode construír em casa:

N55's spaceframe tricycle can be built at home from plans

By Bridget Borgobello

Danish design studio N55, in collaboration with German designer Till Wolfer, has created a series of open-source human-powered vehicle designs that can be built at home using basic tools and materials. Dubbed XYZ Spaceframe Vehicles, the models incorporate weather-resistant and lightweight frames that are made using standard aluminum tubes. Those tubes are assembled using simple stainless steel bolts, washers and nuts. “Unlike the singular load-bearing tube seen in traditional bike structures, the main structure is an orthogonal spaceframe of standard aluminum tubes,” says N55.  

http://www.gizmag.com/n55-xyz-spaceframe-vehicles/24163/

A INCRÍVEL MÁQUINA DA PIPOCA!
MUÁHÁHÁHÁ!

Popinator: The mouth-seeking popcorn cannon

By Jonathan Fincher

You know you're living in the future when even the simple act of throwing a piece of popcorn in the air and catching it in your mouth gets a mechanical upgrade. Thanks to snack maker, Popcorn Indiana, eating popcorn is now as "easy" as asking for it and having the company's new Popinator fire a piece right into your mouth.
The Popinator was designed to make eating popcorn more fun and as a way to munch while keeping your hands free. It uses a binaural microphone system – similar to the way humans hear – to detect when the word "pop" is spoken and pinpoint where the sound came from. Then it flips up a small barrel and launches a piece of popcorn in the air for the person to catch in their mouth. Each piece of popcorn has a different size and shape though, so it might take a little maneuvering to snatch out of the air, but it still looks remarkably accurate.

 http://www.gizmag.com/popinator-popcorn-cannon/24174/

Injecto-bot

Depois de pensar nas Máquinas de Moldes de Injecção de ontem, estou convencido que nada impede algum Geek de montar uma Máquina Automática de Moldes de Injecção para Fabbing.

Quem consegue fazer com que uma Cabeça de Impressão se mova em 3 eixos, e até, criar uma correia que faz com que o Makerbot fabrique uns objectos atrás dos outros, automáticamente... De certeza que, quem faz isso, automatiza o que vimos no Vídeo de ontem.

Ainda mais com estes Moldes feitos em Epoxy, que qualquer positivo feito por Makerbot, ou qualquer objecto, mesmo, pode servir para criar:

EPOXY MOLDS

Epoxy molds provide a low cost way for you to convert your hand-made models and prototypes into real plastic parts. You can make your original model from wood, metal, carving wax, random pieces of plastic glued together, or whatever combination of materials it takes to create the shape you want. That model can then be used to make the impression in your epoxy mold.

http://www.injectionmolder.net/moldmaking.htm

Nardos... Mãos à obra!

E para apenas uns poucos de Objectos, outros Materiais que o Plástico, ou principalmente...

Fazer Protótipos impressionantes, que parecem já fabricados em série, em Fábricas a sério...

Vejam isto, é um Exemplo passo-a-passo duma Empresa a criar um Protótipo impecável, e vão ver, as imagens aumentam, ao Link:

Moen Prototype Shop Uses Smooth-On Products To Spark Development 

Moen®, Inc. (based in Olmstead, OH) is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bath and shower fixtures. Bringing a new fixture concept to market is a group effort and begins at Moen’s design center. Development involves several departments including Moen’s prototype team headed by Mr. Ed Solensky who is an experienced mold maker and caster.

Mr. Solensky uses the full spectrum of Smooth-On tin and platinum-based silicone rubbers as well as Smooth-Cast and TASK® plastics to develop and refine proposed designs. 

The following photo sequence begins with an original SLA model being extracted from a two piece Sorta Clear® 40 silicone rubber mold. Sorta Clear® is a high-tear platinum silicone used by many professional prototype designers because it offers the advantage of letting you see your model as you are cutting the rubber and minimizing damage to the model.

TASK® 2 urethane plastic is a premium urethane resin that offers higher performance properties vs. general purpose casting resins. The resin is mixed and injected into the mold with a syringe to produce a precise part that will be finished and presented for pre-production preparations to ultimately be sold as the Moen® “Icon Pulse” shower head.

http://www.smooth-on.com/gallery.php?galleryid=182

...E não é que os laboriosos Alemães já fabricam peças para o RepRap, usando estes Moldes?

Self-Replicating Machines
A replicating rapid prototyper (RepRap) is a 3D printer made out of parts that the machine itself can print. Although today's RepRaps still require a few non-printed parts (called vitamins) to help out, the bulk of the hardware needed to assemble a RepRap can be made from extruded thermoplastics like ABS or PLA. The Mendel is the second generation RepRap machine, and a popular variant–the Prusa Mendel–has been called the Ford Model T of 3D printers. The Prusa is made to be modified and as such has spawned a number of variants in the hobby 3D printing community.

http://www.smooth-on.com/a105/RepRap-3D-Printer-Parts-Made-with-Smooth-Cast%3D-ONYX%3D/article_info.html

ESPERA AÍ...

Estes Moldes, ver Vídeo abaixo, também podem servir para criar Objectos em Cera, certo?

Então, porque não criar moldes em Cera, com duas partes adicionais, para a entrada e a saída do Metal...

Depois, colocar em Gesso, que depois de secar, e de se derreter a Cera, fica com a forma da peça, em negativo, sim, um vazio...

Depois, é só derreter Alumínio, derramar por um dos Orifícios, e depois de solidificar, e de se partir o Gesso, têem a peça que quizerem... EM METAL!

Peças em Metal, quantas queiram, numa só tarde?
É bom! 

Lagostas Mecãnicas, a Multimáquina, o Kenguru, e Instructables

Aqui vai a Lagosta Mecânica, um Robot simples, que é controlado por um chip simples:

Lobsterbot - a simple LM386 based robot

Quite some time ago I built a Herbie Junkbot mouse. I liked the simplicity of the op-amp chip and the relay to determine motor direction. I was also looking at six-legged robots. The original lego site with the leg layout has since disappeared. Here is the closest site I can find now. The design can also be seen in the six-legged kit addition to the Boe-Bot. Jameco and others carry the kit. There's just something about a multi-legged robot that is so cool! So I decided to combine the Herbie brain with the Boe-Bot six-legged body and throw in feelers.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Lobsterbot-a-simple-LM386-based-robot/

A Multimáquina, uma adaptação da criação de Lucian I. Yeoman aparece-nos com o Site melhorado:

Description 

The new home of the Multimachine concrete machine tool project. 

Lucian I. Yeomans designed concrete machine tools that were used to produce most of the American cannon shells in the First World War. His techniques have been almost forgotten since then.

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Multimachine-Concrete-Machine-Tools/

E o Kenguru, obra original duma Companhia Húngara, entrou agora em producção:

Kenguru, the first drive-from-wheelchair EV, enters production 

James Holloway

Though its undoubtedly true to say that mobility vehicles designed for wheelchair access exist, like AM General's MV-1 these generally relegate the wheelchair user to backseat passenger. Vehicles that do allow a wheelchair behind the controls are expensive made-to-order conversions of people carriers and mini-buses. The Kenguru is about as far from a people carrier as it's possible to get, being a small nimble electric vehicle, but one designed specifically for quick, easy access by, and driving from, a wheelchair. Its makers claim it is the first drive-from-wheelchair electric car. 

http://www.gizmag.com/kenguru-enters-production/23412/

E dois Instructables porreiraços:

Um, é este Instructable sobre esta pequena maravilha que eu não conhecia, o ClampTite:

Os leitores sem tempo para nada, é melhor encomendarem logo a Ferramenta-Maravilha...

Mas sinceramente, qualquer engenhocas de meia-tigeja, com tempo, pode fazer isto, sem problemas;

Uma Porca de Orelhas, um Tubo de Bronze, uma peça com rosca, e 3 Pinos, um à frente, outros 2 de cada lado do Tubo??

Não é difícil!
E serve para muito mais do que só tubos...

Hose Clamp Magic

GeeDeeKay

Hose clamps are ubiquitous in plumbing, and clamping a hose to a fitting tightly is critical in any plumbing system. Traditional hose clamps work great, but they can be bulky, and they don't work well around irregular shapes. Using stainless steel lockwire (also called safety wire) and a tool called a Clamp Tite, a custom clamp can be fabricated quickly and easily.

Using this pocket-sized tool with lockwire, lots of types of connections can be fabricated, not just pipe clamps. This instructable will illustrate a simple example for fabricating an easy pipe clamp for a rain barrel.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hose-Clamp-Magic/

E para os Engenhocas dos Robots, mas também para todos os outros, "músculos" a Ar Comprimido, serve para de tudo um pouco, desde Aeromodelismo, a Inovação em Medicina, passando por Máquinas-Ferramenta feitas em casa...

E só a Imagem, desperta o Cientista Louco que há em todos nós, MUÁHÁHÁHÁ!

Air Muscles: Make an Artificial Muscle Robot Controller

Here are two ways to make a controller that can control artificial air muscles. The intro pic shows the more elaborate version that can control up to 11 air muscles using robot neurons. It is shown activating an air muscle robot gripper that is being developed.

Also explained in this instructable, is a more basic version that can control 5 air muscles with a more conventional circuit.

The air muscle controller can be controlled by infrared LEDs using a standard universal remote. In this way, individual muscles or sequences of muscles can be activated.

These air muscles are cast using layers of thin sheets of plastic and wood as molds. A laser cutter would greatly speed up the process and accuracy of creating Oogoo air muscle molds.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Air-Muscles-Make-an-Artificial-Muscle-Robot-Contr/

Bué da muita 3D! Mais Educação, e Robots prá criançada.

Esta lista de links do MIT, divulgada por Shannon DeWolfe, no Forum multimachine, é fantástica, com uma data de Máquinas e Peças que eu não conhecia:

21 Links? É bom!

Machines that Make 
he Machine that make project at the MIT Center for Bits and Atoms seeks to develop low-cost machines that can be made using CNC equipment, like available in fab labs.

http://mtm.cba.mit.edu/

Outra jóia, desta vez de Pat, do mesmo Forum multimachine, é esta Página de Educação Aberta, com uma data de outros Links, mas de Formação Online, atenção Engenhocas de toda a Lusofonia, tanto para a Universidade, como agora, também, para se ser um bom Técnico!

Do Opinionator:

Open Education for a Global Economy 

By DAVID BORNSTEIN


If you or your kids have taken an online lesson at the Khan Academy (3,200 video lessons, 168 million views), been enlightened by a TED Talk (1,300 talks, 800 million views), watched a videotaped academic lecture (Academic Earth, Open Courseware Consortium, Open Culture), enrolled in a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course, now being offered by companies like Udacity and a growing list of universities, including M.I.T., Harvard and Stanford), or simply learned to play guitar, paint a landscape or make a soufflé via YouTube — then you know that the distribution channels of education have changed — and that the future of learning is free and open.
This is good news for everyone, but it is particularly good for the vast number of people around the world whose job prospects are constrained by their skill levels and who lack the resources to upgrade them through conventional training. It’s a problem that a company based in Ireland called ALISON — Advanced Learning Interactive Systems Online — is helping to address with a creative model.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/open-education-for-a-global-economy/

E para se começar nisto tudo, de pequeno, que tal um Kit para os vossos Filhos criarem os seus próprios Robots, sim, que eles mesmos imaginam?

Hummingbird kit lets children design their own functioning robots

By Ben Coxworth

Children generally love to create art and are fascinated by robots, so what if there was a way for them to turn their art projects into robots? Well, there is. Carnegie Mellon University spin-off company BirdBrain Technologies has introduced the Hummingbird kit, which contains everything kids (or adults) need to add powered movement and interactivity to their dragons, kitties or spaceships.

The kit itself includes a controller, power supply, cables, servos, motors, colored LED lights, along with light, temperature, sound and distance sensors. The idea is that users will create projects out of rigid materials such as foam-core or cardboard (or Lego, or wood, or whatever), and then rig them up with the motors, lights, and/or sensors. Once everything is assembled, the finished product is connected to a computer, where the controller is programmed using a free drag-and-drop application.

The company claims that no technical or programming skills are required, although the kit is recommended for children who are at least 11 years old.

 http://www.gizmag.com/hummingbird-childrens-robotics-kit/23296/

...E saíu esta agorinha mesmo, mais engenhoquices com o Raspberry Pi, eis só dois Cabeçalhos:

Securely accessing your home network with Raspberry Pi – Pt. 2

In part 1 I went through setting up an SSH tunnel, and waking up machines on the home network. In this part I’ll run through how to use various protocols and clients to connect to machines on the home network.

Cobbling together a Pi Cobbler 

Today saw the launch of the Raspberry Pi Cobbler, a kit to attach your Pi to a breadboard. It looks great, but I won’t be buying one as I made my own over the weekend.

http://www.designspark.com/blog

Pepakura, 3D em papel

Pepakura, é bom...

E está cada vez melhor!

What's new in Pepakura Designer 3.1.0a:

January 24th, 2012

· A menu to export the unfolded pattern separately into multiple DXF files was added as [File]-[Export]-[Vector Format]-[Multi-Files DXF].
· The part which is selected on the 2D Window is highlighted on the 3D Window.
· A menu to check the overlapping parts was added as [2D Menu]-[Check Overlapping Parts].
· Double-clicking an edge on the 3D Window before unfolding selects multiple edges on the edge-ring at a time.
· An edit mode on which measures the distance between two points was added as [2D Menu]-[Edit Mode]-[Measure Distance between Two Points].

...E lá vou eu, fazer a experiência!

Faço os Sólidos em Wings3D, exporto para 3ds,

Um detalhe importantíssimo, quando exportarem os vossos Sólidos para 3ds, seleccionem as faces que importam, lembrem-se que vão fazer uma caixa em papel, e escolham "export selected", sim, guardem só as faces seleccionadas!

Importo para o Pepakura, estão a ver, importam uma caixa oca,

O Programa desdobra o Sólido,

Imprimo,

E Zás! Corta, cola, já existe no Mundo real!

Maravilha! Agora, já posso começar a minha nova Engenhoca, tão novinha, e já funciona!

Para compensar a minha ausência, problemas de Computador, grrr, eis mais 2 boas notícias, a Traceparts está com cada vez mais parts, e certificada para o programa Inventor:

http://www.traceparts.com/news/newsletters/newsletter.asp?idfile=newsletter-actu-201205-EN



E eis uma maravilha a juntar às outras, um Site chamado... Let's make Robots!
Com toda a espécie de peças para isso, fazer Robots!

Hi :)

This website is a free and volunteer based initiative, originally started by Fritsl in 2008, now 100% produced and maintained by members of the community. Thanks to everyone.

Who is in charge?

There is an inner core that tries to run the hard core issues of the show. There are hangarounds as well, but the most vital posts are currently held by TheCowGod (Hosting), Hugo_nl (CMS development) rik (finance), ignoblegnome (PR/other communities), Fritsl (all over)

http://letsmakerobots.com/shops

Agora, tudo pode mesmo funcionar no Papel!

Meditando sobre as Maquinetas fabulosas do Rob Ives...

Se este Autómato não é o Simbolo dos Inventores, sempre tentando o Impossível, não sei qual seja...

Die Fledermaus; the flying mouse. Turn the handle and the fiendish blend of crank slider and cam make the maus flap his arms frantically in a vain attempt to fly. He's batty even to try!
As the handle is turned, the mouse makes one pass for each turn of the handle while the arms flap four times! Print this model onto thin photocopier card then all you need to made the model are scissors, ruler, PVA glue and a sharp knife.

http://www.robives.com/blog/die_fledermaus_flying_mouse

 

E ocorreu-me agora que, realmente, TUDO pode funcionar no Papel, não no sentido antigo, de que, em teoria, tudo funciona, mas no sentido que muita máquina pode ser produzida num "esboço" simplificado, em Papel, ou Cartolina!

Ainda se torna mais útil, com o tradicional Bloco-Notas, que deve sempre acompanhar um Engenhoca: 

Juntem-lhe uma pequena tesoura, Cola, e um Cordador estilo X-acto, daqueles de Porta-Chaves, e poderão tanto testar uma ideia nova, como demonstrar as que já têem, em directo, e ao vivo, a potenciais Investidores!

http://theartofzencrochet.blogspot.pt/2010/06/diy-repurposed-brown-paper-bag.html

É bom!