From zero to 3D printing

The first time I saw a 3D printer was at the 2012 Orlando Mini Maker Faire. Among the many interesting projects and technologies on display at the Faire were a number of hand built 3D printers. They seemed cool at the time, but didn’t stand out any more than the quadcopters, dancing robots or other technologies that I had read about on various websites and was now was seeing in person for the first time. I didn’t know it then, but I had just been introduced to a new hobby that would lead me to build three of my own 3D printers, run a Maker Camp session to teach 3D printing to local kids and launch an initiative to bring a Makerspace to Palm Beach county.

OMMF2012
MakerBot Cupcake 3D printer on display at the 2012 Orlando Mini Maker Faire

Continue reading…

Yet Another Wiimote Controlled Robot

As part of the Scripps Florida grand opening celebration in 2009, the volunteer robotics team at Scripps Florida was tasked with repurposing a laboratory robot for use as demonstration unit and an Educational Outreach platform. This volunteer team consisted of Lina DeLuca, Dr. Louis Scampavia and myself. The goal of this project was to create a hands-on robotic system which could be used to showcase the unique technology used in the drug discovery process and more generally, to generate interest in science and engineering.

Scripps Grand Opening - Science Education Day 057

Continue reading…