Homebrew Customization Machines

There is tremendous opportunity to design software and products that utilize existing custom manufacturing technology like 3D printers and laser cutters. However, there is still a great deal of white space for innovation in the enabling technologies as well, as the MakerBot project shows.

Dae Kyung Ahn, an industrial design student, has illustrated an concept for a router that would enable large scale CNC cutting in a consumer friendly package. The “Microfactory” fills an interesting niche, between cutting machines like the CricCut and CraftRobo which are intended for use in the home, but limited to standard paper sizes and the ShopBot, a large scale CNC intended for industrial use.

The Microfactory may not be practical, yet, but it is inspiring. Ahn spent $300 on a Lego Mindstorms kit, a few hundred on 3D printed parts, and maybe another $300 on scavenged electronics and ended up with a functional prototype. This is Y Combinator level funding and shows how easy it is to get into hardware if you are so inclined.

If you dont have the time or inclination to watch the video, here are the highlights:

Rapid Hacking

One thing industrial designers do well is seek out validation for a concept quickly. In this case by threading part of a jewelers saw blade through a hair clipper. Startups looking to go into hardware should seek out ID folks, both to make their projects look good and their physical hacking tendencies.

Low Cost Digital Prototyping

Systems like the Lego NXT make it easy to prototype physical/digital interactions.

New Formats

Most 3D printers and cutters look sort of like printers. The Microfactory design takes an entirely different approach using tension cables to turn a table of almost any size into a cutting bed.

Using Custom Manufacturing Tools to Make Other Custom Manufacturing Tools.

This prototype was fabricated with a 3D printer.

Final Product – Looking Good

As with anything aesthetics play a big role in acceptance of new products. The MakerBot has a kind of “Hacker Chic” while the Microfactory more of a polished consumer product. Either way, to go mainstream you need an identity.

Tagged as: 3D printer, CNC, Custom Manufacturing, Industrial design, Lego Mindstorms NXT