Good fabrication begins with a constraint: a board needs a consistent cut depth, a frame needs even contact, a tray needs clearance, and a fixture needs stiffness. This collection puts those constraints next to projects that make them tangible, from small material experiments to a full PCB-milling workflow.
Start with geometry, clearance, and a simple prototype.
A fixture for repeatable contact printing.
A complete fabrication process with calibration checks.
images/button_cnc_complete.jpg
mattwach · Apache-2.0Resized without cropping and converted to WebP for the project card.
The tangram tray and pen rest begin with geometry and fit. The marble funnel keeps failed transitions accessible instead of enclosing a jam. A cardboard or removable prototype lets you discover the important dimensions before committing to a finished object. These are focused design experiments, not claims of a manufactured product.
The cyanotype contact frame depends on the paper manufacturer's instructions and consistent contact. The CNC guide adds machine calibration, toolpaths, and verification. Soft-robotics and printed-mechanism stories cover research demonstrations; they do not establish that a new material will work in every geometry or loading condition.
Figures/fig1.jpg
Sander Baas, Vittorio Saggiomo · MITResized without cropping and converted to WebP for the project card.
Sander Baas and Vittorio Saggiomo's open laboratory build: original project chapters, apparatus images, assembly and operating PDFs, and the characterization document.
Sander Baas, Vittorio Saggiomo
doc/img/PXL_20220212_013249074.jpg
Scott Bezek · Apache-2.0Resized without cropping and converted to WebP for the project card.
Scott Bezek's complete SmartKnob README: brushless-motor haptics, configurable stops and clicks, original prototype photograph and exploded animation, PCB notes, and build limitations.
Scott Bezek
images/button_cnc_complete.jpg
mattwach · Apache-2.0Resized without cropping and converted to WebP for the project card.
mattwach's full end-to-end PCB-milling writeup: design constraints, FlatCAM, calibration, height maps, cutting, drilling, and finishing, illustrated with the creator's process photographs.
mattwach
A modular marble-run idea where recovering a stalled ball is part of the design, not an operation involving shaking the whole table.
A reusable frame plan for comparing contact and exposure with commercially prepared cyanotype paper.
A seven-piece puzzle tray concept with a visible reset state and enough finger room to pick up every piece.
A simple fixture plan that separates focusing from the accidental movement of a lightweight microscope base.
Ivan Miranda designed and built a 3D printed go-kart that can fit in a suitcase, making it easy to transport.
A reusable lensless camera plan, with the notes treated as part of the instrument rather than scraps to lose.
A removable switch plate idea that makes mounting and keycap differences visible instead of calling every change a switch improvement.
A modest woodworking plan: stop a pen rolling away without turning a scrap of wood into an elaborate desk accessory.
David Stein combined a 1928 projector, Raspberry Pi 5, Arduino, microscope lens, and FFmpeg to rescue thousands of frames from decaying football film.
Recent breakthroughs in continuum robots and 3D printing materials are transforming industries from manufacturing to healthcare, and beyond.
Advances in soft electronics and AI integration enable robots to learn and adapt, transforming industries like manufacturing, healthcare, and space exploration.
Chainlink is a free daily word-chain puzzle from Donuts or Else Games. Drag tiles to build chains where every word unlocks the next — Fire → Alarm → Clock → Tower.