DIY Archive

Stop Alien Abductions offers free plans for an inexpensive, easy-to-make Thought Screen Helmet which is “a tested device that works.” Apparently no one wearing the helmet has been abducted by aliens. It’s quite stylish; I expect in the future it will be very fashionable to wear these.
It is unclear whether this helmet is [...]

Guy Kawasaki reviews TechShop

Guy Kawasaki calls TechShop “Geek Heaven“.  If I didn’t already live in the bay area, TechShop might have convinced me to move.

…though not very many people know it yet.
Richard Hart, the television journalist who hosted the Discovery Channel series “The Next Step“, visited TechShop last week. He interviewed Jim Newton, TechShop’s founder, as well as some of the members. I happened to be there working on a 3D CAD model that I’ve built using [...]

In order to use the Dimensions 3D printer at TechShop, I needed some 3D CAD software, so I purchased the Student Edition of SolidWorks. In my spare time have been learning to use it. The built-in tutorials are good, but I felt that a book might also be helpful, so I purchased a [...]

I’ve now taken four classes at TechShop:

Laser Cutting and Etching SBU (Safety and Basic Usage)
Milling Machine SBU
MIG Welding SBU
Soldering

The SBU classes are intended to ensure that the student knows how to use the equipment safely, and are a prerequisite for using the equipment. They demonstrate very basic skills only.
I’ve enjoyed the classes I’ve [...]