I have added some updates to Reticulatus which vastly improve the OpenGL display window. Now I am ready to start adding slicing tools to the UI. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cn2QE-PHxA&w=853&h=480]

Python based 3d printer slicers need to be faster: rantenki/reticulatus. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE1XwmJm848&w=853&h=480] It should be noted that this has no interface, no gui, not cmdline, andcannot yet be used for slicing unless you call the libraries directly from python. That is all.

Finished setting up for Maker Faire tomorrow. So tie tie! We cut the tigerwood for the clock last night, here’s a photo of the three pieces together:

Went to Greendale Pottery and Beef yesterday to pick up a quarter of a cow. You heard me. A quarter of a freakin' cow. What? It’s Barbecue season? Anyway, as I’m sure you’ve gathered from the name, she also makes amazing pottery. Check out our new pottery beer mugs. Looks like a beer poured into a clear glass and running down the edges but it’s just the glaze colour. ps. Maker Faire on Saturday!

This years Maker Faire prep has been a lot less stressful than last years. It’s at the PNE this year and I’m SO looking forward to a bag of hot mini doughnuts. We’ll be heading into Vancouver tomorrow with all our stuff including Derek’s 3D printer:

http://youtu.be/JbwcxqFSF-4 I have been having some issues with insufficient bed adhesion, especially when using some less than stellar PLA, so started experimenting with a variety of bed treatments. ABS paint, bluetape and Kapton all worked pretty well, but the new, all time champion is now PVA/Weldbond glue in an ultra-thin layer, only a few molecules thick, which gets the strongest (perhaps too strong) bond I have ever managed. This thin layer completely eliminates any corner lift, and prevents the tape from being pulled off of the bed as well.

Here’s a brand new clock we’re in the middle of making. The top shows the design, below that are a few snapshots of the first two layers cut. The base layer is a 2 inch thick slab of walnut, next is the maple, the top layer will be tigerwood. That’s the orange top part in the drawing. We will be cutting the tigerwood this afternoon. We’ll bring is along to Maker Faire in whatever stage of completion it happens to be.

Here’s another project we’ve just completed. The mirror frame is maple, cut on the CNC. Decorated with the blue dyed 2 part resin. Planning the next mirror now which will be a full length one. Hopefully I’ll post the design soon.

Well the pub sign is finally done! We’ll be bringing it to Maker Faire this year but it’s final home will be above our kegerator beside the bar. We cut the sign on our big CNC from scraps of HDU (High Density Urethane) kindly given to us by Dan Sawatsky of Imagination Corporation. Dan is pretty much the world’s greatest sign maker and a huge inspiration. Phew! I think it’s time for a beer.

Here is a photo of our first clock finished with the engraved brass inset parts.