The other day, I heard the last words said on our moon by Eugene Cernan, the commander of Apollo 17.
"And as we leave the moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came, and God willing as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind."
Clear skies and godspeed, Neil Armstrong. Thank you for the giant leap.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Fun with 3D Printing!
My research at UCSD has mostly been in the field of robotics, specifically through the Coordinated Robotics Lab. And one of the absolutely coolest tools we have there is a 3D printer, actually two of them. They are both of the Makerbot brand, specifically a Thing-o-Matic and a Replicator (which sadly, still cannot make a cup of earl grey tea). It has a really simple interface, with a bare minimum of confusing shenanigans. We simply design a part in CAD, save it as a .STL file (for stereo lithography) and then load up the interface software, plug the computer into the printer and hit 'go'.
The nozzle heats up to plastic-melting temperature, and the printer leaps into action, depositing layer after layer of ABS plastic onto the build platform, steadily creating the designed object. When it's done, after a minute of cooling or so, we reach in and pick it up. Done! A little while ago, I got fed up with doing actual work and decided I'd mock up a space shuttle model. Ten minutes of printing later, I had this!
Didn't turn out too shabby, it actually flies pretty well (which is to say, in a straight line without fluttering about). I could go on about how 3D printing is the disruptive technology of our time and that its inevitable ubiquity will happen more quickly than one might think, but that's been said better by more qualified people. I just think it's super cool.
Also, apologies for the total lack of posts. Every time I resolve to post more, I seem to post even less, which is to say, not at all. So, I'm back on the wagon! Or off the wagon? Wait, where's this wagon going, I didn't sign up for this, let me go!
The nozzle heats up to plastic-melting temperature, and the printer leaps into action, depositing layer after layer of ABS plastic onto the build platform, steadily creating the designed object. When it's done, after a minute of cooling or so, we reach in and pick it up. Done! A little while ago, I got fed up with doing actual work and decided I'd mock up a space shuttle model. Ten minutes of printing later, I had this!
Didn't turn out too shabby, it actually flies pretty well (which is to say, in a straight line without fluttering about). I could go on about how 3D printing is the disruptive technology of our time and that its inevitable ubiquity will happen more quickly than one might think, but that's been said better by more qualified people. I just think it's super cool.
Also, apologies for the total lack of posts. Every time I resolve to post more, I seem to post even less, which is to say, not at all. So, I'm back on the wagon! Or off the wagon? Wait, where's this wagon going, I didn't sign up for this, let me go!
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