Using some specific settings and materials, we can print transparent objects with our FDM printers in the Fab Lab. These settings result in stronger and transparent prints, but take much longer and much more material than standard FDM printing. Below are some quick-start settings, further down are some deeper-dives into how and why those settings are how they are.
Category Archives: Uncategorised
Axidraw V3/A3 Processing Integration
The Axidraw can be manipulated and controlled through Processing.
This is a brief look at how this can be implemented, download and unzip the files to continue.
If this is your first time using an Axidraw, I recommend checking out this tutorial first.

Draw Vector Images with Axidraw V3/A3 and Inkscape
AxiDraw translates vector lines and SVG files into physical movements, allowing you draw, paint, or write onto materials that you might not be able to normally.

JQ6500 MP3 Player Module
These little modules can be programmed to play mp3 sound bytes stored in their internal memory (8mb max).

Digi Spark / CJMCU Microcontroller
How to program a CJMCU with the Arduino IDE.

Thermal Camera for Arduino Boards
We have a couple of Thermal Cameras that can add heat imaging capabilities to Arduino projects. They have a low resolution 32×24 pixels, however the heat data image is still very useful if you need to track an object and measure its temp.

ESP32-CAM QR Code Scanner
This project combines two separate projects to get a system that acts as a WiFi Access point and web server to display QR codes scanned with an attached camera module.

Indesign Helpful Hints
Here are some useful hints we have used with our own projects:
Overview of 3D printing processes
A collection of 3D printing process explanation videos

Hand drawing to laser cutting with Inkscape
A quick overview of the workflow to get a hand-drawn part laser cut using Inkscape.

Spatial computing lab – Conference use
In the 2020 Christmas break, the design lab was set up into its film studio configuration to help the universities events team to host the APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference online.

Creating custom monochrome graphics for micro-controller screens
Arduino code Converting images into byte arrays for mono-colour screens with microcontrollers. Best suited for static splash screens or basic animation on small screen sizes when using the Adafruit_GFX library with Arduino.
Illustrator scripts
A repo for custom Illustrator scripts
3d Models to prototypes with the Pepakura App
The old art of paper folding comes to the computerised rapid prototyping paradigm with Pepakura Designer. Also if you are creating geometric structure that wont fit in the 3dprinter build space or a complex box that is not the simple ones available at boxes.py then consider exporting your 3d design to Pepakura so it can make you a laser cutting file. Pepakura Designer supports the export in several file formats, including BMP, PNG, GIF, JPG, EPS, DXF, and PDF.

Kinetic Light Art
I got to extend my skills by building some flyByWire artworks for an Art Festival in Queenstown.
To create my first Kinetic Art work I had to get used to using the Fablab’s CnC Machine and our Water Jet Cutter. Motor selection and power constraints featured highly as each art work would be at least 8meters up in the trees.

Estimating battery life of electronic designs
How to estimate the life of a battery-powered circuit design.

IoT in the Design Space
The Design spaces have a special WiFi network set up just for IoT (Internet of things) devices.
AI & Machine learning
Links and reading for Ai development

Raspberry Pi & Touchscreens
Testing Raspberry Pi with touchscreens.

Circuit Mockups: TinkerCAD, Fritzing and Circuito
Overview
Designers need to communicate their designs to others. They need to be able to document their work so they can refer to it later or to allow others to build their designs. Regarding the design of circuits there is two great places to start to showcase your circuit design. If one solution does not completely fulfill al lot your circuit design it can be useful to use several to answer connection questions.