Collaborate Disseminate
If you do much practical 3D printing, you eventually need some sort of fastener. You can use a screw to bite into plastic. You can create a clearance hole to …read more Continue reading [Thomas Sanladerer] Gets New Threads
Back in mid-2020, a project out of Taiwan launched on Indiegogo to produce a gorgeous little mechanical music box that could play tunes loaded in using a smartphone app. Now its makers are aiming for double the fun with the Muro Box N40.Continue Readin… Continue reading Beautiful app-controlled mechanical music box extends the range
Researchers have developed a novel material using tiny organic crystals that convert light into a substantial mechanical force able to lift 1,000 times its own mass. Without the need for heat or electricity, the photomechanical material could one day d… Continue reading Light-responsive nanocrystal array lifts 1,000 times its own mass
Here’s an unusual concept: a computer-guided mechanical neural network (video, embedded below.) Why would one want a mechanical neural network? It’s essentially a tool to explore what it would take …read more Continue reading Physical Neural Network Can Be Trained Like a Digital One
Complex behaviors can arise from simple mechanics, and that’s demonstrated by a block of rubber that acts as a counter. The block contains beams, and by controlling how the block …read more Continue reading This Block of Rubber Can Count To Ten
Who was [Leonardo Torres Quevedo]? Not exactly a household name, but as [IEEE Spectrum] points out, he invented a chess automaton in 1920 that would foreshadow the next century’s obsession …read more Continue reading The Chess Computer from 1912
Off-the-shelf stock parts are the blocks from which we build mechanical projects. And while plenty of parts have dedicated uses, I enjoy reusing them in ways that challenge what they …read more Continue reading The BSides: more curious uses of off-the-shelf parts
Overactive bladder syndrome (OBS) causes a frequent, uncontrolled urge to urinate, which can interfere with a person’s daily activities and affect their mental health. A new hydrogel-based device has been developed that can continuously monitor overact… Continue reading Hydrogel-based sensor improves outlook for people with overactive bladder
Clocks are such mundane objects that it’s sometimes hard for them to grab your attention. They’re there when you need them, but they don’t exactly invite you to watch them …read more Continue reading Flip-Segment Digital Clock is a Miniature Mechanical Marvel
We’ve seen a lot of clever re-imagining of the classic 7-segment display, and proving there is still room for something new is [Jack]’s 7-segment “DigiTag” display. This 3D printable device has …read more Continue reading Seven Segments, But Not As We Know Them